(Creston, Iowa) – No one was injured Thursday night in Creston, when an SUV struck a utility pole. Creston Police say a 2022 Mazda CX9 driven by 41-year-old Jennifer J. Kenyon, of Creston, was traveling north on Highway 25 in Creston, when the vehicle drove onto the right shoulder of the road. Kenyon over-corrected and failed to maintain control of her SUV. The vehicle went off the road on the east side and struck a utility pole. The accident happened at around 9:34-p.m.

The pole wasn’t damaged. The SUV sustained $2,000 damage. No citations were issued.

(Creston, Iowa)-  Police in Creston report an arrest occurred at around 1:30-p.m. Thursday, following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and Cherry Street. Authorities say 25-year-old James Edward Sullivan, III, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He was transported to the Union County Jail, posted bond, and was released.

And, a man residing in the 700 block of N. Cherry Street in Creston, reported to Police multiple chainsaws were stolen from his pickup truck. The loss was estimated at $798.

(Corning, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a man from Corning was arrested Thursday evening, for child endangerment causing bodily injury–a class D felony. Authorities say 35-year-old Benjamin Warren Rice was arrested in the 800 block of Davis Avenue in Corning, at around 8:40-p.m. Rice was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Fertilizer prices have skyrocketed over the last year and Iowa’s Attorney General says he is looking into the reasons behind the 200 and 300 percent increases. Fertilizer companies blame natural gas cost spikes and production shutdowns because of Hurricane Ida. But Attorney General Tom Miller says he wants to know if these justify the jump in prices. “We’re taking a look at why this increase, what happened? What’s the relationship to supply and demand? And ask them for their side of the story,” Miller says.

Miller has written letters to the C-E-O’s of the top fertilizer companies — but he emphasizes that it’s not an investigation. “It’s sort of the initial look to see why this happened. And afterward we can make decisions,” he says.

Miller says he’s talked with attorneys general in eight other states — primarily in the Midwest — about fertilizer prices. But he wouldn’t share which states have shown interest. Miller says he’s also asked economists to study the issue — and he hopes to have some findings in a few months.

(Radio Iowa) – Backers of a proposed beef processing plant near Council Bluffs are holding investor meetings in Iowa and around the region. Cattlemen’s Heritage is planning to construct a 450-million-dollar plant that would slaughter about 15-hundred head of cattle per day. Frank Maher, with Jennings Kallen Advisors, says they’ll be taking in cattle from across a wide area. “The cattle is coming from a 180-mile radius of Council Bluffs,” Maher says, “so that includes southeast South Dakota, north Missouri, and then as far west as Grand Island (Nebraska) and as far east as Fort Dodge.”

Maher says it’s a chance for livestock producers in the region to invest in themselves and get a fair return.  “It’s an opportunity for the producers to get back control,” Maher says. “We’re in a marketplace where packer pricing is increasing and the amount of money that the producers are getting is falling and that’s been happening since the beginning of 2014 and there’s no end in sight because the packers are getting more and the producers are getting less.”

Cattle producers are being asked for a minimum investment of 100-thousand dollars which would get them priority for shackle space at the plant. Maher says they want to make physical progress soon at the site near the Mills/Pottawattamie county line. “The timeline is, we’re looking at putting the first shovels in the ground in May of 2022 and wrapping it up in December 2023,” he says.

The plant will employ about 750 people in a single shift and will offer onsite childcare and health services. Nearby subsidized housing will also be an option. Cattlemen’s Heritage officials claim the plant will have a $1.1 billion annual impact on the state of Iowa with the goal of not being bought up by one of the nation’s four major meatpackers.

(Radio Iowa) – A plan to shrink Iowa’s personal income tax to one rate of three-point-nine percent by 2026 has cleared the Iowa legislature with the votes of 89 Republicans and four Democrats. The bill also eliminates the state tax on retirement income and creates a new tax break for retired farmers. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says state tax revenues have soared above expectations and it’s time to seize the opportunity.

“Our state is charting a new way forward wherein, for the first time, we are treating all Iowans’ work fairly and equally by enacting a flat tax,” Dawson says. Representative Lee Hein, a Republican from Monticello, guided the bill through House debate. “We can deliver, tonight, the largest tax cut in Iowa history,” Hein said, “while continuing to deliver Iowans’ priorities.” Democrats say the state has excess cash on hand because of the influx of federal pandemic relief money. Others, like Senator Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, say a flat tax primarily benefit the wealthy — and trickle down economics doesn’t work.

“Whether you like it or not, this tax plan — the governor’s tax plan — is going to shift the tax burden to those who can least afford it,” Jochum said. Representative Lindsey James, a Democrat from Dubuque, says Iowans living paycheck-to-paycheck will get little, if any benefit. “It will take the average Iowan a century to receive the same tax benefits that the ultra rich will receive in a single year,” James said.

Democrats accused Republicans of rushing the bill through because Governor Kim Reynolds will be giving the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address Tuesday night. “Everybody knows why we’re debating this bill today, because our governor is going on the national stage next week, bragging about the tax bill.” That’s Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines who voted for the bill because it eliminates the tax on pensions and other retirement income.

Governor Reynolds issued a written statement last night, using words like bold and transformative to describe the bill, which she intends to sign in the next few days. House Speaker Pat Grassley says the bill sped through the legislature yesterday (Thursday) because it’s a priority.  “We’re Republicans,” Grassley says. “We want to sustainably provide tax relief to Iowans.” Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, says the plan has been in development for six months and makes Iowa’s personal income tax rate fourth lowest in the nation.

“We have a surplus in Iowa and when Republicans have a surplus in Iowa, we’re going to give it back to the taxpayers,” Whitver says, “and so this is delivering on what we have told voters over the last year.” The bill sets up a mechanism that could shrink the state’s corporate income tax to a single rate of five-and-a-half percent, but the bill also reduces some business tax CREDITS that are refundable. Whitver says that’s a remarkable step forward. “There are lobbyists that are paid here to protect all those carve-outs,” Whitver says, “so it’s just a determination from the House, the Senate and governor to do what’s right and reform the system.”

Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, says reducing the state’s research activities credit may be the wrong move. “Research and development are so important in the state of Iowa,” Jacoby says. “…I think we’re taking from one silo and putting into another and rolling the dice.”

The centerpiece of the bill, however, is the reduction in personal income taxes. Republicans say every single Iowan will have more money in their pockets as a result. Democrats say a Department of Revenue spreadsheet indicates 30 percent of tax filers will not see any reduction in their income taxes.

(Radio Iowa) – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already led to an increase in Iowa gas prices. Triple-A Iowa spokesperson, Meredith Mitts says the price of a barrel of oil went up — leading to the gas increase. She says oil went up five to seven dollars a barrel which is roughly a six percent increase and that translates into a ten to 15 cent increase at the gas pump.
Oil prices are hovering around the 100-dollar mark today (Thursday) — the highest price for crude since 2014. Mitts doesn’t know when gas prices might drop again.

“It’s a little too early to tell how long this is going to last. It’s going to depend heavily on the geopolitical tensions and how this conflict impacts the supply in an already tight market. Mitts crude oil prices will continue to be the key. She says gas prices will change accordingly with the change in the price of oil. Mitts says the supply of gas in Iowa is not the problem.

“That’s not a reason to rush out to the pumps or to go and try to fill up and store up on this — because we shouldn’t see much impact on our supply,” Mitts says. The Triple-A survey heading into today (Thursday) found gas prices averaged three dollars, 35 cents in Iowa. That price was up two cents from last week’s price and 70 cents higher than one year ago.

DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Thursday) received notification that President Biden has granted her request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for 25 counties** (Including Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Mills and Sac) that were severely impacted by Dec.15, 2021, high winds, severe storms, and tornadoes.  Storm damage in the 25 counties was estimated at $5.2-million. The declaration provides assistance to public entities and select nonprofit organizations.

Under the declaration, FEMA Public Assistance Program funding is available to eligible public entities and nonprofit organizations that were impacted by the Dec. 15 severe weather. Public Assistance funding may be used for emergency work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures, or for the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

The governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future disasters by taking steps to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards.

**Counties included in the declaration are: Appanoose, Audubon, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cass, Cherokee, Davis, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Mills, Mitchell, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Van Buren, Webster, Worth, and Wright. Storm damage in those 25 counties is estimated at $5.2 million.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Board met in-person at City Hall and via Zoom, Thursday evening (Feb. 24th). Their main order of business was to approve Sunnyside Pool season pass rates.

The Board voted to approve Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen’s recommendations, which includes:

• Seasonal Family Pass: $120 (previously $90)
• Seasonal Single Pass: $80 (previously $60)
• Senior Pass: $60 (previously $50)
• Nanny Pass: $25
• Daily Pass rate: $5 (Previously $3)

• Plunge (Punch) Pass (10 days for $35) [previously not offered]
• Pool Party rates:
  • 1-25 people $225
  • 26-50 people, $180
  • 51-75 people, $145
  • and 76 or more guests, $100.

Those rates were based upon comparisons with several other pools in similarly sized communities, with the closest comparison being Harlan.

Rasmussen said none of the city officials in those communities he’s spoken with have a sliding fee for low income families, and the Board agreed that would not be necessary in Atlantic, given the rates that were approved tonight.

Rasmussen said also, Kris Erickson (Code Enforcement Officer) is working on getting the online calendar synced-up to allow for online reservations and payment for campgrounds and park equipment.

Chart shows current & new rates; and rates in other cities, for comparison.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrats say the Republican tax plan making its way through the state legislature today (Thursday) gives the biggest benefits to the richest Iowans. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, of Coralville. “So for every dollar in tax relief that your average Iowan is getting, the ultra-rich are getting $112 in tax relief,” Wahls says, “so when Democrats say this plan rewards wealth, not work — that’s what we’re talking about.” Earlier this month, Wahls and other Democrats in the legislature proposed expanding the child and dependent tax credit and the earned income tax credit, to benefit low and middle income Iowans.

“If Republicans want to provide real, targeted tax relief for middle class families, they should accept the Democratic fair tax plan, but they don’t,” Wahls says. “They’re more focused on the ultra-rich who fund their campaigns.” Wahls says the G-O-P tax plan does nothing to address the state’s most pressing issue — its workforce crisis. “They are going to make it exceptionally difficult for our state to provide the essential services that everyday Iowans depend on,” Wahls says. “I would say that this plan is not fair, it’s out of touch and it’s completely disconnected from the lives of everyday Iowans.”

Senate debate began shortly after two o’clock this (Thursday) afternoon. Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, says it’s shocking the G-O-P picked this day for a massive tax debate. “I think everyone’s focus is what’s going on over in Ukraine right now,” Jacoby says. Jacoby says the lingering pandemic and Russia’s invasion make it difficult to expect the economy will grow as steadily as Republicans project.