PROPERTY TAX REFORM BILLS INTRODUCED
13th District Representative Travis Sitzmann says work has begun on property tax reform legislation in the Iowa House. He says there are several bills introduced which deal with different aspects of property tax reform.
This measure would also contain a means for local governments to go above the cap.
Rep. Sitzmann says it will be a slow process to consolidate plans into one tax reform bill.
Sitzmann was asked if there are any parts of this bill that he likes or that concern him.
One bill also ends the rollback that controls the amount of property tax revenue raised each year.
LE MARS SCHOOL BOARD MEETS
The Le Mars Community School Board will deal with budget issues at their meeting tonight. The Superintendent will present the district’s proposed tax levy and budget estimate to the board. The board will also take action on personnel resignations and contracts. Later, the board will go into closed session to discuss collective bargaining strategy, and will also consider a real estate purchase.
IOWA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROGRAM HITS 20
A program that gives money from state gambling profits to the 84 counties without a casino is now 20 years old. Iowa Gaming Association president Wes Ehrecke gave the annual report on the County Endowment Fund to the Racing and Gaming Commission. He says they gave out 18-hundred-30 grants for 11-point-six million dollars in the last year. Ehrecke says the program has had a lot of impact since it was created by the Iowa legislature in 2004, with 38-thousand-745 grants for 160 million dollars. You can see more on the money and how it was spent at IowaCommunityFoundations.org.
DAYCARE PROVIDER ARRESTED
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office arrested Elizabeth Kainrath of Inwood for an incident reported at an Inwood daycare.
The Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the situation last Thursday at Kingdom Kids Daycare, and an investigation into reports of abusive behavior by Ms. Kainrath was opened. Daycare staff, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Sheriffs Office identified 14 different incidents in approximately 75 minutes in which Kainrath acted in an aggressive, inappropriate, and charge worthy manner with approximately five different children.
Kainrath was arrested Friday and charged with 13 counts of child endangerment, all aggravated misdemeanors, and one felony count of child endangerment. Kainrath was transported to the Lyon County Jail where she is being held with a bond of $31,000 cash or surety.
MORE BIRD FLU REPORTED IN IOWA
There’s been another flock of birds found to be infected with bird flu in Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and the U. S. Department of Agriculture say the latest case of highly pathogenic avian influenza is in a mixed species backyard flock in Dallas County.
This is Iowa’s fifth detection of H5N1 HPAI within domestic birds in 2025.
It remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products.
The Centers for Disease Control continues to believe the threat to the general public remains low.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources asks those who find five or more sick or dead flocking birds within a week to report their findings to their local wildlife biologist or state conservation officer.
EASTERN IOWA COURTS HAVE “VOICE WRITER” COURT REPORTER
An Iowa judicial district is using a new technology to address its shortage of the court reporters. Crystal Beaman is a “Voice Writer” court reporter and tells K-C-R-G T-V she talks into a microphone to dictate what’s happening through a software program instead of typing it on a traditional stenotype machine.
Certification for a voice writer takes half the time of a stenographer. Kelle Cortez hired Beaman after state lawmakers made it possible for “voice writers” to be court reporters.
There are 20 court reporter positions in the sixth judicial district and only eight are filled, which causes scheduling issues.
There are two candidates about to finish the “voice writing” program. Beaman says part of what she is doing is showing that this new technology isn’t going to be a distraction in the courtroom.
The sixth judicial district includes Linn, Johnson, Iowa Tama, Jones, and Benton Counties. This includes the cities of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
FUNDING CUT FOR U-I WRITING PROGRAM
The U-S State Department is ending its support of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. A statement from the State Department says the University of Iowa’s program for authors from around the globe is no longer a priority for the agency and a nearly one MILLION dollar grant is being withdrawn. Program director Christopher Merrill says it’s a devastating turn of events as they’ve had a 58-year relationship with the State Department that has been very productive. The program typically hosts 30 writers from around the world for 11 weeks during the fall. Merrill says they’ll cut that to about 15 writers. Three past participants in the program have won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
