JENEARY – SCHOOL FUNDING
The Iowa House is working on a supplemental education funding bill that’s 2.25% higher than last year. State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says it is a contrast with what the Senate has passed.
The House bill includes additional school aid beyond allowable school budget growth.
Now the two chambers must reconcile their differing school funding proposals.
This is the third year of Education Savings Accounts, but the first year in which all non-public students in Iowa will be eligible to receive them..
Jeneary says the cost of ESA’s increases each year at the same rate as the number set for public schools..
Rep. Jeneary will host a town hall meeting Saturday morning, 10 a.m., at the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Citizens can discuss this, and any other issue which they want to address with Rep. Jeneary.
BIRD FLU STRIKES BUENA VISTA TURKEY FLOCK
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and U.S.Department of Agriculture have detected a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County..
This is Iowa’s third detection of H5N1 bird flu within domestic birds in 2025.
Governor Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County effective now through March 15th.
The proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection.
It remains safe to eat poultry products.
If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.
A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE REFLECTED IN FLOYD VALLEY HEALTHCARE EXPANSION
An architect and designer who work on the expansion at Floyd Valley Healthcare say the overall protect reflects
Adam Wheelock is an architect at CMBA in Sioux City. The firm helped design the expansion of Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Wheelock says FV wanted facilities that reflected their standard of care.
Beyond that, Wheelock says Floyd Valley Healthcare wanted to serve the community better at the health care center.
Shelbie De Laughter is an interior designer with CMBA. She worked on the physical therapy expansion and the maternal health upgrade.
De Laughter says the expansion also is a reflection on the community.
De Laughter herself has had a child recently, so she realizes the importance Floyd Valley’s maternal health area.
Creating the right environment for patients and their families was an important part of the room design.
She even worked with a photograther to create pictures and wall hangings which set the right mood in the patient rooms.
CMBA Architect Adam Wheelock says Floyd Valley Healthcare’s approach to maternal care makes it unique among rural hospitals
Wheelock says more rural hospitals are closing down their maternal care services. He hopes what’s been done at Floyd Valley Healthcare can reverse that trend.
Both say the work on the recently opened maternal health wing is a testament to how other communities who are struggling with maintaining obstetrics services can grow and thrive.
CONGRESSMAN FEENSTRA SUPPORTS TARIFFS ON STEEL, ALUMINUM
Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says the United States will benefit from tariffs on imported steel and aluminum imposed by the Trump Administration.. Feenstra says the president’s move is an attempt to spur the production of more American-made products…
The Republican from Hull says the president is using tariffs as a bargaining chip to get better trade deals and increased border security.
Published reports indicate the aforementioned border agents were actually provided under previous agreements reached under then-President Joe Biden. Feenstra adds any short-term pain from tariffs experienced by Americans should be offset by tax relief. Feenstra also calls for new trade markets with countries such as India, Thailand, Japan and the African nations.
REYNOLDS HAS POSITIVE VIEW OF POTENTIAL FEMA SHUTDOWN
Governor Kim Reynolds says if President Trump shuts down the Federal Emergency Management Agency the State of Iowa will be able to significantly streamline the process of getting federal disaster aid to Iowans. Reynolds says there’s too much bureaucracy involved in getting federal aid distributed to disaster victims who qualify for it today. The governor says disaster victims who’ve lost everything should have one single sign-in, so they don’t have to fill out paperwork for FEMA, the U-S-D-A and the S-B-A and answer almost the same questions each time. President Trump posted a statement on social media about FEMA, calling the agency slow and totally ineffective and calling for FEMA to be terminated.
WEBSITE SHOWS YOU BOTTLE AND CAN REDEMPTION SITES
The group which represents Iowa’s non-alcoholic beverage producers, bottlers and distributors has launched a website called empties.org to help you find a place to take back your cans and bottle. Iowa Beverage Association Executive Director Jon Murphy says they found many people don’t know where to take empties.. He says you can go to the website and in your zip code or your address, and it’ll show the closest redemption locations near you. Murphy has seen fewer places taking back cans and bottles since the legislature revised the deposit law in 2022 and let businesses opt out of taking back deposit cans and bottles. Murphy says the end goal is to keep the cans and bottle out of ditches and recycled.
DEERE & CO. SAW SALES SLUMP IN LAST QUARTER
Deere and Company is reporting its worldwide sales and revenue fell 30 percent during the last three months. Deere and Company’s C-E-O John May says the company’s customers are facing uncertain market conditions, but he’s seeing compelling evidence the company is positioned to successfully navigate the current environment. Deere has reduced its workforce to slow production at plants in Iowa and elsewhere. Deere saw sales slippage the last quarter for not only its farm machinery, but for John Deere lawn mowers and its equipment for the construction and forestry industries.
