FORECAST PREDICTS NORTHERN IOWA FACES WORST RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER
There is a risk of severe weather this afternoon and tonight across the area, including Plymouth County.
The hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service in SIoux Falls says scattered thunderstorms will push across northwest Iowa this afternoon.
Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and
evening, with the greatest risk between 3 pm and 8 pm. These storms would likely become severe east of Interstate 29, with large hail, damaging
winds, and isolated tornadoes all possible.
Wide temperature swings are likely into tomorrow. The Le Mars high temperature today is forecast at 83, with an overnight low at 39. The high temperature Tuesday is 65.
SENATOR TAYLOR SAYS DISASTER RELIEF BILL WILL HELP HIS DISTRICT
State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center says the disaster relief bill recently signed by Governor Reynolds will have significant impact on the 2nd district, which includes communities damaged by floods in Lyon, Sioux, and Plymouth counties.
Several area communities, including (ROck Rapids, Rock Valley, Hawarden, and ) Akron in Plymouth County, will receive assistance.
The bill includes nearly 12 million dollars to help repair homes, along with two million dollars to help cities demolish damaged buildings. It puts 19 million dollars in a revolving loan fund for projects that prepare for future floods, droughts, wildfires and severe storms.
LEGISLATURE IN A HOLDING PATTERN OVER BUDGETS
Most spending decisions for the state budget year that begins July 1st have not been made by lawmakers. Republicans control the debate agenda and Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner (WY-ner) says House and Senate Republicans haven’t agreed on the total level of spending yet.
The Iowa Constitution does not require the legislature to end on a certain date. However, this Friday is the 110th day of the 2025 legislative session and lawmakers will not get payments to cover expenses for traveling from their homes to Des Moines after May 2nd.
Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says while Senate Republicans and Governor Reynolds have agreed on an overall level of spending, House Republicans have not revealed what their total spending target is.
Republicans say making withdrawals from state reserves was part of the plan when they passed income tax cuts.
House Republicans have not released their spending targets. Speaker Pat Grassley — the top Republican in the House — says Republicans are meeting in private to hammer out budget details.
Lawmakers have made one spending decision — on how much the state will spend on K-through-12 education in the next budget year. However, there was a two-month standoff between House and Senate Republicans before that decision was made in early April.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says he’s hopeful overall budget negotiations don’t drag out much longer.
Key House members are at the Capitol today for private meetings, but there will be no debate in the House. Senate leaders have released a list of 15 bills eligible for debate this afternoon. The Senate is likely to take confirmation votes today so two members of the board that governs the three state universities may continue serving on the Board of Regents.
EPA ORDERS NATIONWIDE E-15 AVAILABILITY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is issuing an emergency fuel waiver allowing the sale of E15 gasoline nationwide during the summer driving season. By doing so, EPA will keep E15 on the market giving consumers more options across the nation. This is consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order Declaring a National Energy Emergency, directing the EPA to consider issuing emergency waivers to allow for year-round E15 sales.
This emergency action will provide families with relief at the pump by increasing fuel supply and ensuring a variety of gasoline fuel blends from which consumers can choose. More options at the pump helps protect consumers by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels, and bolstering U.S. energy independence, all while supporting American agriculture and manufacturing.
BUDGET DIFFERENCES AMONG HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICANS
It seems to happen each year at the Iowa Legislature. Adjournment draws near, budget bills are advancing… and there’s disagreement over budgets between House and Senate. State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center says that’s the case this session.
State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says the House wants to make sure the budget includes increases promised in this budget cycle.
The House insists that they deliver what they promised.
Taylor expects there will be another week of budget negotiations beyond the scheduled adjournment.
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Sen Taylor hopes to come to agreement on several bills before adjournment. One is an education bill concerning fetal development.
SENATE PASSES BILL ON PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN CHILD CARE CENTERS AND PRESCHOOLS
Governor Kim Reynolds’ bill to provide 16 MILLION dollars in new grants to partnerships between child care centers and preschools that provide a full day of care to four-year-olds has cleared the Senate. The grants could be up to 100-thousand dollars a year over a three year period and could be used for things like expanding four-year-old enrollment or providing transportation between a preschool site and a child care center. The bill would require shifting funds from existing child care programs. Senator Lynn Evans of Aurelia says Senate Republicans decided to have the changes go into effect in the middle of next year after hearing concerns about making the changes immediately.
Senate Democratic Leader Janet Weiner says the bill is not a real solution for Iowa’s child care crisis.
Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says it would make more sense to provide state funding for a full-day of preschool for four year olds.
Evans says full-day preschool would cost the state another 90 million dollars. The bill would qualify the state for five MILLION dollars in additional federal funding and Evans says state funding will still be provided to support half a day of preschool for four-year-olds. The bill also eliminates the requirement that preschool programs partner with a public school district in order to get state funding. Evans says churches and non-profit groups may choose to open more preschools as a result.
The governor says two-thirds of Iowa four-year-olds are currently enrolled in preschool and her bill seeks to help working parents find seamless options for preschool as well as child care.
CONSERVATION GROUP GETS FEDERAL FUNDING BACK
A nonprofit that promotes soil and water conservation on Iowa farmland says federal grant money that was put on hold has now been released. Conservation Districts of Iowa executive director Dien Judge says they support 500 locally-elected soil and water conservation district commissioners. Judge says they can now rehire 39 staff laid off in February after the Trump administration froze federal funding. Judge says Inflation Reduction Act funds are still frozen, but non-I-R-A grant money is coming through and invoices are being paid.
LEGISLATORS VOTE FOR POLICY TO SPEED CARE FOR INJURED POLICE DOGS
A bill that could ensure severely injured police dogs get speedier care is way to the governor. The bill lets an emergency medical care provider diagnose or treat a severely injured police dog. Under current law, a vet has to be called to a crime scene to provide care to a police dog that’s critically injured. Under the bill, E-M-Ts would not be required to provide care, but could volunteer to do so if the K-9 is on duty and treatment is necessary to stability the dog. The bill also requires E-M-Ts to treat all injured humans first before attending to an injured police dog — and the injured K-9 could not be transported to a veterinary clinic in an ambulance intended for humans.
WHEELCHAIR IOWA WANTS TO MAKE AMUSEMENT PARTS MORE ACCESSIBLE
Iowans with disabilities have a new spokesperson. Lisa Campbell of Tama is the new Ms. Wheelchair Iowa and she’ll spend the next year traveling the state, making public appearances at parades, county fairs and sporting events to advocate for people with disabilities. Campbell was born with spina bifida, a condition where the spine and spinal cord didn’t form properly, and she got her first wheelchair around age five. She loves riding rollercoasters and Campbell says her platform for the year ahead will focus on making amusement parks more accessible for wheelchair users. The Ms. Wheelchair Iowa program aims to focus -not- on disabilities but on the -abilities- of people who use wheelchairs. Campbell will represent Iowa at the Ms. Wheelchair America National Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan in August.
