SUPERVISORS PASS BUDGET AMENDMENT
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors today adopted a budget amendment for the current fiscal year. There was no oral of written comment on rthe amendment, which adjusts the 2024-25 budget by an extra 408-thousand dollars in revenue, and 622-thousand dollars in expenses. Half the additional revenue comes from investment interest, and another 100-thousand dollars from FEMA Flood reimbursements and jail insurance claim reimbursement. Another 80-thousand came from additional auto registration fees. 300-thusand dollars in expenses were added from the county Wind Energy project, another 149-thousand for public safety and legal services, and 106-thousnad in administrative expenses. After the public hearing, the Supervisors voted to approve and appropriate the additional funds.
JUVENILE ARRESTED FOR FALSE REPORT
Plymouth County authorities arrested a Westfield teen Saturday, after making up a story of his abduction. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office says they received a report Saturday at 1 p.m. about an attempted abduction in the Westfield area. County Deputies, the State Patrol, Iowa DCI and Iowa DNR responded to the area. They located a juvenile male near Westfield, who said an older male in a pickup had taken him from Westfield. After an extensive search and interviews with law enforcement, it was determined the story was a fabrication of the juvenile. He was charged with false reporting of a forcible felony and referred to juvenile court in Le Mars. At no time was the juvenile or any other member of the public in danger.
SENATE SENDS GOVERNOR BILL LOWERING AGE FOR POSSESSING A HANDGUN
The Iowa Senate has sent the governor a bill to lower the minimum age for possessing a handgun from 21 to 18. Senator Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf, says his nearly 19 year old daughter is an adult who has a constitutional right to be able to defend herself, just like every other adult. A few recent federal court rulings have overturned state laws that bar 18, 19 and 20 year olds from owning or possessing a handgun or pistol. Senator Mike Zimmer, a Democrat from DeWitt who’s a retired teacher and coach, says he’s worried about students in high schools who are 18 years old having access to a handgun on school grounds. If the governor signs the bill into law, it also says a parent or guardian who lets a child under the age of 15 possess a handgun would be liable for any damages the child might cause.
SITZMAN CO-SPONSORS SNAP REFORM BILL
The Iowa House has passed a bill which changes what kinds of foods are eligible for SNAP benefits in Iowa. State Representative Travis Sitzmann says the bill would focus recipients toward healthy eating.
Sitzman says the program is run efficiently in Iowa.
The bill would focus recipients toward purchasing healthy foods and encouraging healthy eating habits. It also provides a million dollars to the state’s Double Up Food Bucks program, should it receive a waiver from federal rules.
COUNTY BUDGET AMENDMENT
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing this morning on an amendment to the current fiscal year budget. The amendment covers 408-thousand dollars in additional revenues, and 622-thousand dollars in additional expenditures. The hearing is at 10-30 a.m.
Also today, the Supervisors will consider several rural infrastructure projects. They will let bids on a local bridge project east of Akron, and let contracts for 5 local culvert projects in the county. They will also consider approval of right of way purchases for all six of these projects.
COOL, WET WEATHER IN THE PAST WEEK
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and the USDA says much of Iowa experienced cooler than normal temperatures and much needed rain showers leaving Iowa farmers with 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 6. Minimal fieldwork was done during the week, but some producers were able to plant oats, apply anhydrous, and dry fertilizer. Topsoil moisture condition rated 28% short to very short, and 72% adequate to surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 44 percent short to very short, and 56 percent adequate to surplus.
| State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the first week of April brought unseasonably wet conditions across the state. Some points in northwest and southern Iowa reported over 200% of normal rainfall. Precipitation in the last week ranged between .5 and 1.5 inches in Plymouth County Temperatures were colder than average over Iowa’s northwest corner, while near normal conditions were found in southeast Iowa. Plymouth County temperatures were three to seven degrees below normal, with the greatest departure in an area from Le Mars to the Cherokee County line. |
REPUBLICANS SETTLE ON GENERAL STATE FUNDING FOR K-12 STUDENTS
A two-month-long stalemate among House and Senate Republicans over general state funding for students in Iowa’s K-through-12 schools has been resolved. All but one Republican in the Iowa Senate have voted for a two percent increase in per pupil state funding for students in public and private schools.
The final plan has two House G-O-P priorities — more money for schools with high transportation costs along with nearly a million dollars so small districts may share more staff.
Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, spoke just before Monday’s vote.
House Republicans had pressed for slightly more per pupil spending, too, but House Speaker Pat Grassley says it was time for compromise since school districts must certify their budgets April 30th.
Grassley says the House is likely to vote on the school spending package later today (Tuesday) and send it to the governor.
State spending for public schools will be nearly eight-thousand dollars per student. The same amount will be deposited in each state-funded account for private school students. Democrats like Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines say using taxpayer dollars to cover the costs of a private school education is blowing a hole in the state budget.
Evans responded.
The two percent increase in general state spending amounts to an extra 162 dollars per student.
IOWA FREQUENT FLIERS WILL SOON NEED TO HAVE A STAR ON THEIR ID’S
A month from now, some Iowans may find their driver’s license is no longer an acceptable form of I-D if they’re planning to get on a commercial flight. Starting on May 7th, travelers will be required to have what’s known as a REAL I-D or another acceptable form of identification to fly, though Triple-A spokesman Brian Ortner says the majority of Iowans have likely already made the switch.
The ball started rolling on this process when the REAL I-D Act was passed by Congress in 2005 on a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission. Several deadlines to require the stronger I-D have been pushed back, but Ortner says that’s unlikely now. For some Iowans, he notes, a REAL I-D may never be needed.
The requirement also extends to anyone wanting to access federal facilities like military bases and nuclear facilities. If you don’t have the gold star on your license and want to get set up with a REAL I-D, Ortner says you’ll need proof of identity, like a passport, proof of Social Security, and a way to verify where you live.
And you only have to go through the REAL ID process one time. So if you’re up for renewal of your driver’s license before May 7th, it’s the perfect time to do it, if you’re not in place right now with the REAL ID.” Learn all about what’s required to get a REAL I-D and how it can be used at the Iowa D-O-T website.
