GOVERNOR REYNOLDS NOT SEEK REELECTION
Governor Kim Reynolds made a surprise announcement Friday about her political future:
In a recorded video released on the governor’s personal X account, Reynolds talked about how her parents, her husband, their daughters and their grandchildren have long supported her:
During a news conference in February, Reynolds said she was proud of her conservative record and would seek reelection. Reynolds got her start in elected office as Clarke County Treasurer and has served as a state senator, lieutenant governor and as governor since mid-2017.
JENEARY ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM
State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars isn’t in a hurry to pass a property tax reform bill, even though there is a sense of urgency to the matter. For example, people are concerned about a jump in tax assessments on property.
He says he’d rather see lawmakers address all the issues, rather than devise a quick fix that may have to be modified later.
The current solution under discussion would cap tax increases at 2%, bring to 50-thousand dollars the homestead tax exemption, and remove the rollback feature in 2027.
WINDS OF HOPE EXHIBIT
The Le Mars Arts Center is showcasing a special art collaboration called “Winds of Hope” throughout the month of April. Draven Haefs, the Executive Director of the Le Mars Arts Council, says the sculpture, featuring two children, is woven from wire and vision.
Haefs says the display has an interactive element that draws you in.
The collaboration was made possible by the support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council.
DROUGHT CONDITIONS IMPROVE
The latest Drought Monitor report shows improvement in most areas of the state thanks to above-normal precipitation in March. The D-N-R’s Jessica Reese McIntyre says northwest Iowa in particular had areas of severe drought that have now disappeared after the rains. The eastern side of the state has the largest area of drought as she says northeast Iowa did not see a whole lot of improvement. Much of that area is still in the D-1 moderate drought classification. McIntyre says that overall we are in a significantly better position than we were at this time last year, as far as drought is concerned. She says we didn’t bust out of the record drought until the end of May, early June last year.
