BRIDGE PROJECTS ADVANCE
Two bridge replacement projects were before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors this week.
Bid letting was held on a local bridge project across sections 29 and 32 in Union Township. Four contractors submitted bids for construction of a 80-foot pre-stressed concrete beam bridge. The low bid of 461-thousand dollars was approved from Christianson Brothers of Cherokee. The project estimate was 472-thousand dollars.
The Supervisors also approved plans for a local bridge project across sections 16 and 17 in Garfield Township. The plans call for a 150-foot steel beam bridge across the West Fork of the Little SIoux River, two miles northeast of Kingsley. Bid Letting will take place on May 13.
STUDY ESTIMATES COSTS OF MEDICARE CUTS IN IOWA
A report from a private, independent research firm devoted to healthcare issues details what will happen in Iowa — and to Iowans — if Congress moves ahead with a plan to enact deep cuts to Medicaid. Rachel Nuzum, a senior vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, says some U-S House Republicans propose 880-billion dollars in cuts to Medicaid, the nation’s public health insurance program for low-income residents. Nuzum says about 673-thousand Iowans are covered by Medicaid, which includes 38-percent of all Iowa children. If Congress follows through with the cuts, the foundation says Iowa could lose 865-million dollars in economic activity, and more than 33-thousand jobs. Medicaid is not just a health care program, she says, but a major economic engine in every state.
LSC FOUNDATION BANQUET
The Le Mars Community Schools Foundation honored its best at a banquet last night at the convention center.
Their highest award, the Decades of Excellence Crystal Bell Award, was presented to Le Mars High School science teacher and coach, Tami Dunn.
She described her focus to build up students
Dunn described what is most memorable about her career.
Dave Grosenheider of KLEM radio was honored as this year’s distinguished alumni
He said service is a big part of his motivation in his work and community life.
Grosenheider described what has been most memorable in his 50 years since graduation.
Also honored at last night’s banquet were the top 5 percent of the class of 2025; employees with 25 years of service to the district; and the employees of the month in this academic year.
BILL WOULD ALLOW THE SALE OF RAW MILK
A bill that would legalize the sale of raw milk in grocery stores and at farmers markets in Iowa has cleared a House subcommittee. A state law passed in 2023 allowed on-farm sales of unpasteurized milk. Farmers selling raw milk directly to consumers say they’re concerned about expanded retail sales. Abby Costello is selling raw milk from her farm and she supports farmers market sales because it would be a farmer selling directly to a consumer, but Costello says there would be a middleman if raw milk is sold in a grocery store — and that would create questions about who’s responsible if someone buys the product and gets sick.
LEGISLATOR AND FORMER REYNOLDS AIDE CONSIDERING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR
A state senator who was Governor Kim Reynolds’ budget director is exploring a run for governor. Forty-two-year-old Mike Bousselot of Ankeny has been a legislator for nearly four years. He also served as legal counsel and chief of staff to Governor Terry Branstad, and Bousselot says Branstad encouraged him to take a look at a race for governor after Reynolds announced she wouldn’t seek a third term. Bousselot says he’ll focus on an “Iowa First” agenda and try to capitalize on President Trump’s effort to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.
WORKZONE AWARENESS WEEK
The Iowa D-O-T is one of several states participating in “National Work Zone Awareness Week.” Work Zone Operations Engineer Brian Worrel (War-all like coral) says distracted driving is an issue. You’ll see the traditional orange cones and warning signs for work zones, and in some cases, the D-O-T has added radar speed indicators. There’s a new warning signal that you might see, orange stripes across the roadway, that are actually temporary rumble strips to let you know a work zone is coming. One worker died in a work zone accident last year on I-80 near Council Bluffs. Worrell says nationally, the vast majority of people killed in work zones are motorists or passengers.
LEGISLATURE SENDS COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY ACT TO GOVERNOR
The legislature has sent the governor a bill to set an April 30th deadline for a tuition rate decision from the board that governs the three state-supported universities. The Board of Regents currently sets the next academic year’s tuition rate for the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa in June. The bill also calls for a study of a fixed tuition rate, so the rate charged in a student’s first year at one of the state universities would be the same rate they’d pay in the next three years. The bill directs each of the state universities to start offering — in the fall of 2027 — at least one undergraduate degree that can be completed in three years.
