STORMS DROP HAIL IN LE MARS
Severe thunderstorms struck Le Mars with hail yesterday.
A storm came through the city shortly after 6 pm. Nickel to quarter size hail fell between 6:04 and 6:10 p.m.
There were also reports of 1 inch and 1.25 inch hail south and southeast of Le Mars.
SUPERVISORS APPROVE ELECTION COMPENSATION
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors today passed a resolution which sets compensation for precinct election officials. Under this resolution, compensation rates will increase in .50 annual increments, from 12 dollars, 50 cents per hour in 2025 to 15 dollars per hour in 2030. Precinct chairs and co-chairs will continue to receive a flat 25 dollars per election. Precinct election runners will see an increase to 25 dollars per hour, plus the federal mileage reimbursement rate. The new compensation schedule takes effect July 1.
LE MARS STREET WORK DOWNTOWN
On Wednesday, April 30th at 5 a.m. starting at Central Ave NW/NE the Le Mars Street Dept. will close 1st St. starting at Central going one block west and one block going east. Barkley Asphalt will be laying new asphalt. Street Closure will be all day Wednesday and possibly Thursday morning.
ORANGE CITY JUVENILE CHARGED WITH ARSON
Orange City Police have arrested a juvenile after a fire was reported at Unity Christian High School. The incident occurred on April 24, when a fire alarm paged the city fire department to the high school at 1:43 p.m. When police officers arrived, they were told that someone started paper towels on fire in a school rest room. Police reviewed camera footage and conducted several interviews. They later arrested a juvenile, who was charged with first degree arson, a class B felony.
SENATE APPROVES NEW GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CLASSES
The Iowa Senate has sent the governor a bill to mandate that Iowa public school students — starting in fifth grade — be shown ultrasounds and videos of fetal development in health classes. It doesn’t directly mention an anti-abortion group’s animated video, but the bill’s description matches the content of “Meet Baby Olivia.” The bill also bars the use of educational materials that come from any entity that promotes, performs or makes referals for abortions. Senator Jeff Taylor, a Republican from Sioux Center, says the bill will promote respect for life in all stages.
Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner and other Democrats in the senate opposed the bill.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa says the bill promotes material that presents medically inaccurate information as scientific fact and injects politics into Iowa classrooms. Pulse Life Advocates says the bill is a significant victory because 78 percent of young adults say abortion should be legal in all or more cases and the group says it is vital for children to learn at an early age the beauty of life in the womb.
This bill is a priority of Senator Taylor. There are two other bills Senator Taylor hopes to debate in the chamber.
NATIONAL E-15 SALES THIS SUMMER
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday issued 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.
Currently, in about half of the country, E15 cannot be sold from terminals starting on May 1 and at retail stations starting on June 1. EPA’s emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the affected regions of the country and will initially remain in place through May 20, the maximum number of days allowed under the Clean Air Act.
CROP REPORT
Periodic rains last week resulted in just 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. While needed, the precipitation slowed or stopped fieldwork and cool temperatures hampered crop emergence.
Corn planted reached 34 percent, 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Statewide, corn emerged was 2 percent. Twenty-five percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 1 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Oats seeding reached 81 percent complete, 4 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-one percent of the expected oat acreage has emerged, 3 days behind last year but 4 days ahead of normal.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 14 percent short to very short, 75 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 25 percent short to very short, 67 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.
