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(Radio Iowa) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says she hopes to cut taxes again if she is elected to a full, four-year term this November. “We’re working on that right now,” Reynolds says. “We haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid anything out.” Reynolds took over as governor in late May of 2017, so the 2018 legislative session was her first as governor. Reynolds approved a plan to cut taxes by two BILLION dollars over the next six years. The package imposed new sales taxes on digital goods and services, but also reduced state income taxes on individuals. The plan calls for reducing taxes for corporations in future years. “This isn’t a one and done,” Reynolds says. “We’re going to continue to look for opportunities to make Iowa more competitive.”
The governor says a primary target for future action should be greater reductions in Iowa’s income tax on corporations. “We’re the highest in the country,” Reynolds says. “Remember we said we were going to do a comprehensive review of our tax credits and then we’ll bring the two together and look for opportunities to maybe realign some of those.”
Reducing the amount of state tax credits that are awarded would then give policymakers room to reduce corporate taxes, according to Reynolds. Democrats in the legislature have said the tax cuts Reynolds already approved will create state budget deficits. Jeff Holmes is a spokesman for Fred Hubbell, the Democratic Party’s nominee for governor. He says Reynolds is showing that her “fiscal irresponsibility and mismanagement seem to have no end” as she ponders more tax cuts. Hubbell has proposed limiting or reducing a series of state tax CREDITS and boosting state spending on schools and the health care system.
(UPDATE) — WOODWARD, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa school district business manager cut unauthorized checks to herself for nearly $217,000 over the course of about five years, state auditors wrote in a report forwarded to prosecutors. The auditors identified more than $270,000 in improper and unsupported disbursements by the Woodward-Granger Community School District over that time, including the 101 checks the now former manager, Melissa Lantz, issued to herself on top of her authorized paychecks, the report states. Those additional checks, which weren’t approved by the school board, ranged from $315 to $6,500.
In addition to the $217,000 in unauthorized checks, the audit found improper disbursements including nearly $12,000 in health and dental insurance premiums that were paid for people after they had stopped working for the district and $14 for excess mileage in a reimbursement check issued to Lantz.
The Wellmark Foundation today (Tuesday) has announced 12 Iowa organizations were awarded Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grants. Applicants were able to request up to $100,000 in grant funding. To ensure community support for the grant project, recipients were challenged to match the award amount dollar-for-dollar. Each of the grant recipients submitted projects that can help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity and/or access to and consumption of nutritious foods.
Among the award recipients, was
Wellmark Foundation Executive Director Becky Wampler said “The Wellmark Foundation is proud to award a cumulative total of $996,289.50 to these 12 grant recipients. We are proud to support these organizations as they focus on sustainable initiatives that will improve the well-being of citizens and their communities well into the future.”
The Iowa Dept. of Transportation’s Cherokee Construction Office reports that due to the upcoming holiday weekend the contractor has moved the planned closure/detour start date for the road construction project on U.S. 30, east of the north junction with U.S. 59 in Denison. The closure and detour were originally slated for Wednesday, Aug. 29th. The new schedule places that at 7-a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12th, weather permitting.
During this closure, traffic will be detoured around the work zone using Seventh Street, Avenue C, Iowa 39, and U.S. 59. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.
A traffic stop on a pickup truck Monday evening in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of 23-year old Travis Gusman, from Carson. Pott. County Dispatch advised the Deputy that Gusman had a valid warrant from Pottawattamie County for Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree. Gusman was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, after two plastic bags containing a green, leafy substance was found. The substance was determined to be 11.2-grams of marijuana. Gusman was transported to corrections and booked-in on the warrant and drug charge.
And, a man from Marshalltown was arrested today (Tuesday) at around 2:50-a.m., after Deputies and Underwood Fire was dispatched to 24936 Mulberry Lane, for a male complaining of withdrawals. Upon arrival with the fire dept the Deputy spoke with 30-year old Michael James Johnson. While Johnson was being treated by medics, the Deputy ran a records check on him and found two warrants out of Polk County for pubic intoxication, and one out of Marshalltown for Probation Violation.
Johnson was transported by rescue squad to Mercy Hospital. A hold was placed on him until he was released by medical staff, at which time Johnson was transported to Pott. County corrections and held for the other agencies on their respective warrants.
A call about a man passed out or sleeping in a vehicle lead to a drug-related arrest Monday night, in Mt. Ayr. The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies made contact with 41-year old A-J Miller, of Mt. Ayr, at around 11:35-p.m. in his vehicle located near the intersection of Walnut and Webster Streets, in Mt. Ayr. Drug paraphernalia was observed inside the vehicle, in plain view. After Miller was arrested, the K9 “Heky” was deployed and located additional drug paraphernalia. Miller faces charges that include Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Prescription Pills. He was being held without bond in the Ringgold County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled in February for a Dubuque man accused of killing a Bellevue man. Jackson County District Court records say the trial starting date is Feb. 4 for 23-year-old Drew Mangler. In June he pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in the slaying of 59-year-old James Remakel. Police found Remakel’s body after being called to a house in Bellevue on Dec. 25, 2016. An autopsy showed Remakel had been stabbed 33 times in his upper body, neck and head. He was believed to have been dead for several days before police found him.
Court documents say Mangler was developed as a suspect following witness accounts to police. Investigators say they found a shoe with Remakel’s blood on it during a search of Mangler’s house.
More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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Police in Red Oak report two people were arrested on felony Burglary charges Monday afternoon. 35-year old Kyle Anthony Zeigler and 43-year old Amy Pearl Hunter, both of Red Oak, were taken into custody at around 1:55-p.m. on Class-C Felony charges of Burglary in the 2nd Degree. They were arrested in the area of E. Hammond Street and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where Zeigler and Hunter were being held on $10,000 bond, each.
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa jury has found a man accused of murder guilty of a lesser offense: voluntary manslaughter. Jurors took about three hours Monday to return their verdict on 21-year-old Braedon Bowers. He’d been charged with first-degree murder in the May 30, 2017, stabbing of 23-year-old Wraymond Todd in Mason City. Todd died five days later. Bowers, who didn’t testify during his six-day trial, is a Mason City resident.
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