CAR-DEER ACCIDENT INJURES THREE
Three people were injured in a car-deer accident Wednesday evening in Plymouth County. The Sheriffs Office was notified of the accident, which occurred near the intersection of Iowa Highway 12 and Butcher Road. A vehicle driven by 22 year old Elura Presnell Montoya of Akron was southbound on highway 12 when it struck a deer. Montoya and two juvenile passengers received minor injury, and were transported to Mercy One in Sioux City for treatment. Akron Fire, Akron Ambulance and Stockton Towing assisted the deputy at the scene of the crash.
BIRD FLU IN BUENA VISTA COUNTY
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture say they’ve detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial pullet flock in Buena Vista County, Iowa. This is Iowa’s sixth detection of H5N1 HPAI within domestic birds in 2025. H5N1 HPAI is a viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations. H5N1 HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. H5N1 HPAI can also impact dairy cattle, and 13 cases were detected in Iowa dairy herds in June of 2024. With supportive care, dairy herds recover with limited, or no mortality associated with the disease.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is strongly encouraging Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to bolster their biosecurity practices and protocols to protect their flocks and herds.
It remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.
The Centers for Disease Control says the threat to the general public remains low.
REPORT PREDICTS IOWA TAX REVENUE TO FALL 6.9% NEXT YEAR
Governor Reynolds and other Republicans say the latest state revenue projections show tax cuts are working as intended. Democrats say the data shows a looming crisis as the governor’s budget plan calls for spending more than the state will collect in taxes and requires using 900 million dollars in state reserves. Kraig Paulsen, the governor’s top budget advisor, says there are no surprises in the numbers.
Paulsen and other members of the state Revenue Estimating Conference predict tax collections will fall well over six percent during the current year and drop nearly seven percent the following year.
Democrats say using one-time withdrawals for on-going state operations is bad budgeting. They point to long-term forecasts from the governor’s budget office showing billions of dollars will be pulled from the state’s reserves over the next five years to balance state budgets. Paulsen says the state is not draining reserve accounts, Iowa’s economy is strong and the tax base is expected to grow in a couple of years.
The other members of the State Revenue Estimating Conference cited concerns about tariffs that will raise the price of goods and services for Iowans and impact Iowa farmers and manufacturers.
SUMMIT ASKS FOR HALT ON ITS SOUTH DAKOTA PERMIT APP
Summit Carbon Solutions has asked the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission to halt proceedings on a permit application for its proposed carbon capture pipeline.
The Ames, Iowa-based company requests a suspension and an indefinite extention of the deadline.
Last week, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed a law banning the use of eminent domain to obtain land for a carbon pipeline.
Summit’s permit is approved in Iowa, but they can not begin construction until they gain approval in all other proposed states.
DROUGHT MONITOR
The latest Iowa Drought Monitor shows little change from the previous week. The northern three quarters of Iowa are abnormally dry or in moderate drought. Western Plymouth and Sioux, and the Sioux City area, are in severe drought. Southern and most of southeastern Iowa have normal conditions.
U.S. REP. HINSON SLAMS MINNESOTA’S DEFICIT AS WALZ VISITS IOWA
Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz is scheduled to appear at a town hall event in Des Moines at 3 o’clock this afternoon. Walz posted on social media: “If your Republican representative won’t meet with you because their agenda is so unpopular, maybe a Democrat will.” Second District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she’s not ducking the G-O-P agenda — or her Iowa constituents. Hinson says she spent all of Thursday “out in the district” and continues holding town hall meetings. Reports say the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee warned vulnerable Republicans not to hold in-person town hall events after several viral instances where they were scolded by the members of the public. Hinson says: “I love that Tim Walz is leaving his budget deficit in Minnesota to come to Iowa to learn how we balance budgets…he’s taken Minnesota in the wrong direction.”
HOUSE BILL WOULD CLAW BACK DEERE & CO. TAX CREDITS
Republicans on an Iowa House Subcommittee have voted to require that Deere and Company return half of the lucrative state tax credit it received for research activities in 2024 — due to what the bill describes as “mass layoffs.” Republican Representative Derek Wulf of Hudson calls it an “America First” proposal — suggesting it goes along with President Trump’s threat to slap tariffs on John Deere products if the company moves more production to Mexico. About 17-hundred workers at Deere plants in Iowa were laid off in 2024. Stacey Pellet, a lobbyist for Deere and Company, says the bill sends a concerning message to industries, companies and individuals who invest in research in Iowa. She says layoffs are a last resort and not uncommon at Deere during market downturns.
