Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported 3,891 coronavirus related deaths on the final day of 2020, ending the year with the 15th highest death count per capita in the United States. But with a lag time of reporting deaths of up to two weeks, it’s likely not all have been accounted for by Thursday. The state reported an additional 69 deaths on Thursday ending December with a staggering one-month total of 1,382 deaths reported during the month, about 35% of the entire year’s total deaths and twice the number reported in November. The high number is likely reflective of the escalation of virus transmission in early to mid-November when daily new case counts surged to between 4,000 and 5,000 a day.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. farmers are expected to end the year with higher profits than last year and the best net farm income in seven years thanks to the government paying nearly 40% of their income. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest farm income forecast. Farmer challenges in 2020 included the impact of trade disputes, drought and wind damage, and low prices for corn, cotton, wheat, chicken, cattle and hogs. Farm cash receipts are forecast to be the lowest in more than a decade. But farmers are expected to receive $46.5 billion from the U.S. government. That’s the largest direct-to-farm payment ever. It lifts net farm income to $119.6 billion. And that’s the highest profitability since 2013.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say the number of initial unemployment claims increased slightly last week. Iowa Workforce Development said Thursday that 7,644 Iowans filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending Saturday. That’s an increase of 373 from the previous week. A total of 38,296 continuing weekly unemployment claims were recorded last week, an increase of 804 from the prior week. Unemployment claims are generally higher between November through February because of seasonal layoffs in construction, agriculture, landscaping and manufacturing. The agency said 70.6% of claimants who filed last week indicated their claims were not COVID-19 related, an increase from 68.9% the previous week.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state House ethics committee has dismissed an ethics complaint against a Scott County lawmaker. The panel found on Tuesday that a complaint against Republican state Rep. Ross Paustian of Walcott did not meet content requirements and did not warrant further investigation. The panel voted unanimously with little discussion. The Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund had argued that Paustian, a crop and livestock farmer, used his position as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to block legislation to strengthen regulation of livestock confinement operations. They alleged Paustian also promoted support for legislation that protects factory farms. Paustian called the ethics complaint a “political stunt” by a “rogue group.”

(Updated 1/1/21) –

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Thursday, met with Curt Holste and Corey Kirchhoff, representing the Secondary Roads Employees Bargaining Unit group, to discuss an apparent breach of\ the current employee agreement. Board Chair/Supervisor Steve Baier told KJAN News, the issue began when one of the Secondary Roads Department’s Shop Foreman developed medical issues that are in the process of being taken care of. In the meantime, he is unable to perform his duties.

Since the Foreman became ill in mid-October, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken proposed having the person who fills the position become the Interim Foreman, and be paid accordingly.

So, if a laborer works at a yardman’s position for at least eight-hours, the pay would be bumped to yardman’s wages, but, because of the classification as written, in the past, there was no extra pay to perform the duties of foreman.

The Board agreed to his proposal, and a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was drawn-up confirming their approval. The MOU is set to expire at the end of the current Fiscal Year (June 30, 2021). The bargaining group, Baier said, questioned why the change was being included now, when it hasn’t been before. The discussion, Thursday, he said, included whether or not the matter would at least be considered for part of the permanent contract, in the future, going forward.

The Board and the Bargaining Unit Representatives set a date in the first full week of this month (January, 2021) to meet and begin work on a fiscal year 2022 bargaining agreement.

Baier says it is an unusual situation, for sure, but one that will be worked out.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Steve King says he plans to stay active in the country’s political debates once his ninth term in the U.S. House ends at noon on Sunday — and the 71-year-old is not ruling out another run for public office.

King served six years in the Iowa legislature before winning his first race for the U.S. House in 2002. He narrowly won re-election in 2018, then was defeated by fellow Republican Randy Feenstra in the G-O-P Primary this past June. Feenstra will take King’s seat in congress on Sunday.

King periodically gained national attention with controversial comments. Nearly two years ago the Republican leader in the U.S. House removed King from committees after King’s remarks about white supremacy. King says you “never say never” and he’s not ruling out running for some other office OR endorsing a presidential candidate before the 2024 Iowa Caucuses.

King has written a book titled “Walking Through the Fire” and he announced this fall that it would be released in November.

Once the book is published, King plans to embark on a publicity tour. King was not in Washington this past Monday when the U.S. House voted to override the president’s veto and to endorse sending two-thousand dollar federal stimulus payments to most every American. King says he had a cold and it did not seem wise to fly.

King, in one of his final acts in the U.S. House, filed a 20-page ethics complaint against House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy — a final protest of McCarthy’s decision to strip King of his committee assignments. King says a search of House records by congressional staff suggests every other member of the U.S. House who’s been tossed off committees either switched parties, was under some sort of investigation or had been convicted of a crime.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say the number of initial unemployment claims increased slightly last week. Iowa Workforce Development said Thursday that 7,644 Iowans filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending Saturday. That’s an increase of 373 from the previous week. A total of 38,296 continuing weekly unemployment claims were recorded last week, an increase of 804 from the prior week.

Unemployment claims are generally higher between November through February because of seasonal layoffs in construction, agriculture, landscaping and manufacturing. The agency said 70.6% of claimants who filed last week indicated their claims were not COVID-19 related, an increase from 68.9% the previous week.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court is severely limiting the financial damages that can be awarded for injuries and deaths caused by state police officers who are found to have used excessive force. The court ruled 6-1 that punitive damages, which are intended to punish and deter future misconduct, are not available in lawsuits alleging state officers used excessive force in violation of constitutional rights.

Instead, the court says lawsuits brought by injured individuals and the families of those killed by police are subject to limits in the Iowa Tort Claims Act. Justice Edward Mansfield says compensatory damages are still available and offer “an adequate remedy.”