(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Republican Party leaders celebrated “super majorities” in the legislature early this (Monday) morning during a fundraiser, calling it a mandate for the G-O-P’s policy agenda. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford will lead a 67 seat majority in the House. “You keep hearing, ‘Oh, Republicans are struggling in the suburbs all across the country. Republicans are struggling in certain areas,'” Grassley said. “Well, it feels so good for us to be winning in Dubuque like we did…knocking off a long-time Democratic incumbent. We represent Mason City for the first time in 20 years, so we continue to expand our map all across the state,” Grassley said. House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl says the election results show Iowans approve of Republican policies.

“Katie bar the door!” Windschitl said. “Here we come! The 91st General Assembly.” The crowd at the breakfast recorded a celebratory dance video that Iowa G-O-P chair Jeff Kaufmann said would be sent to President-elect Trump. “We want people to know that Iowa Republicans are fired up. We want people to know that Iowa Republicans like Donald Trump,” Kaufmann yelled as the tune YMCA started playig in the room.

Governor Reynolds was next at the microphone, promising Republicans would deliver a bold, conservative agenda in 2025. The Iowa Democratic Party held a private fundraiser Sunday night.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests occurred over the past week. Sunday night, 21-year-old Tyler James Grubb, of Henderson, was arrested for Domestic Assault with Bodily Injury/1st offense, and Child Endangerment. Bond was set at $2,000. At around 5-a.m., Sunday, Mills County Deputies arrested 28-year-old Aguilar Rito Casteneda, of Council Bluffs, for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct/Threat. His bond was set at $600.

Friday afternoon, 33-year-old Sarah Marie Wentz, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested by Mills County Deputies, for Violation of Probation. And there were two arrests last Wednesday in Mills County: 39-year-old Nicholas John Horgdal, and 29-year-old Paige Marie Clark, both of Henderson, were arrested at around 12:15-a.m.  Horgdal was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. Bond was set at $7,000. Clark was charged with Interference with Official Acts. Her bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa – State Treasurer Roby Smith announces 2024 was a new record-breaking year for reuniting unclaimed property from Great Iowa Treasure Hunt with individuals and businesses.

“In 2024, we returned more than $30.9 million in unclaimed cash back to rightful owners and beneficiaries – shattering the previous record set in 2022 by more than $6.5 million,” said Smith. “As the State’s Banker, one of my favorite things to do is return unclaimed property and money back to Iowans. With more than $587 million currently in safekeeping, I encourage all Iowans to search for their name at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov and see if they have something to claim – even if you’ve done so before.”

Coins and property abstract from unclaimed safe deposit boxes.

Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property. Each year, millions of dollars in abandoned property are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office after financial institutions and businesses lose contact with the owner. Examples include forgotten checking and savings accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility refunds and safe deposit box contents. The State Treasurer’s Office safekeeps these assets and works to reunite owners and heirs with their unclaimed property through Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.

To see if you have unclaimed property in Iowa, visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov. Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up-to-date on all areas of the office.

(Radio Iowa) – Blood from eastern Iowa donors is now helping struggling hospitals in the Los Angeles area, as the still-burning wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives. Amanda Hess, spokeswoman for ImpactLife in Davenport, says they’re part of a national coalition of blood centers that routinely share supplies wherever they’re needed. Hess says, “Our responsiveness in disaster situations, whether we’re talking about severe weather or whether we’re talking about wildfires, that is possible because of volunteer blood donors.”

Blood collection efforts in L-A and the surrounding region are very limited by the fires, but for patient care to continue, hospitals are seeking outside support. It’s the second time this month ImpactLife has been asked to support the blood supply in response to a major crisis. The first time was following the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.

She says, “It’s the volunteer blood donors that give blood routinely in the days and the weeks in advance of these disaster situations that save lives when moments matter.” Hess urges Iowans to donate blood, as all blood types are needed. ImpactLife is headquartered in Davenport with offices in Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine and Ottumwa.

https://www.bloodcenter.org/

According to the U-S Department of Treasury, the guidance issued Friday provided clarity on eligibility for the credit and how lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions will be determined. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said “This guidance will help put America on the cutting-edge of future innovation in aviation and renewable fuel while also lowering transportation costs for consumers.” A press release from the Treasury said the department intends to release its Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies, or GREET, model for determining 45z emissions rates “in the coming days.”

The tax credit was announced in 2023 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act and was set to give a per-gallon tax credit on fuel produced with in a set range of lifetime emissions guidelines.  Monte Shaw said since September, IRFA and other industry groups have been calling on the Treasury to issue a safe harbor rule that would use existing carbon models to estimate the value of credits while the department finalizes its guidelines. Shaw says “We have biodiesel plants that are sitting idle today, that are not running, because they don’t know what the value of the credit is. Feedstock suppliers don’t know how to price the feedstock, biodiesel producers don’t know what to pay for them.”

Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC in Council Bluffs. (Photo courtesy of David Kosling, USDA AudioVisual Production Specialist)

Shaw said he presumes the incoming administration will want to put “more than a few fingerprints” on the intended regulations that were issued by the Treasury. To him, that means Iowa biofuels plants cannot claim the credits “with any certainty or lack of risk” under the unfinalized rules.  Shaw says “Iowa biofuels plants, collectively, made hundreds of millions of dollars of investments based on this 45z program that’s supposed to be here for ‘25, ‘26 and ‘27 and right now they can’t access it.” He said IRFA will work with the Trump administration and hopes to get rules for the credit, or a safe harbor, in place as soon as possible.

(Creston, Iowa) – In an update to our previous post, the Creston Police Department says a Ringgold County man was arrested this (Monday) morning. 20-year-old Braydon Michael Swietlik, of Tingley, was taken into custody at around 1:45-a.m., for Driving While Barred. Swietlik was subsequently released on a $2,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report four recent arrests:

Thursday night (Jan. 9th), 43-year-old Erik Speed, of Creston, was arrested for Assault. He was released on a Promise to Appear (in court).

Friday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 45-year-old Lela Ann Churchwell, of Creston, for Public Intoxication. She was transported to the Adams County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

At around 1:46-a.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 38-year-old Christopher Paul Stolk, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense. He later posted a $1,000 bond, and was released.

Early Sunday morning, 36-year-old Vaughan Gordon Long, of Red Deer, Alberta Canada, was arrested in Creston for OWI/1st offense. Long later posted a $1,000 bond, and was released.

(Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Most Americans continue to support the legalization of cannabis, as the medical use of cannabis is legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia and recreational cannabis is legal in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Early indications are the second Trump administration will continue the cannabis legalization policies of the Biden administration, including the rescheduling of cannabis at the federal level. Although three of four state ballot measures for recreational legalization failed in the November 2024 election (Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota), as many as five states are projected to legalize it in 2025. Iowa is increasingly becoming the exception.

Like most public policy issues, expanding the availability of medicinal cannabis products and legalizing recreational cannabis sales in Iowa is complex. Social justice, health, law enforcement, employment, agriculture and many other elements are part of the legalization movement and counter-movement. Ultimately, some observers say, it’s about the money: the potential tax revenues that the state coffers may eventually need after cutting the income tax rate and administration spending to the bone and then spending significantly more on the private school tuition voucher program. Mike Tramontina, former state deputy treasurer and former director of the Iowa Department of Management, says the Republican-controlled state Legislature and administration have “walked into a fiscal trap.”

“The state has a strong financial balance now, primarily because of federal money and the strong economy. Public education, natural resources, regulation of nursing homes and every form of regulation have been cut much further than they should. The overspending for private school vouchers will continue to escalate rapidly,” Tramontina said. Estimated to cost $106.9 million during the first year (2023–24), private school voucher spending totaled $128 million. The projected cost for the 2024–25 school year was $132.3 million, but the Legislature approved $179.2 million. Critics of the program say most of that money subsidizes affluent households with children already attending private schools. “When it becomes apparent the state will experience shortfalls, it will need new revenue. The Legislature, as in most Republican-dominated states, dare not go for more income and sales tax. The taxes on cigarette and alcohol sales are already quite high. They will need a new sin tax and, I predict, it will be the legalization of cannabis,” Tramontina added.

Robust Cannabis has a 75,000-square-foot greenhouse in Missouri, one of the states Iowans visit to buy cannabis products that are illegal in their home state. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)

He estimates the state will need $40 million to $50 million in new revenues and the current and very limited Medical Cannabidiol Program will never generate those amounts. Although statistics are difficult to find, Iowans who want to purchase either medicinal or recreational cannabis can drive a few hours or even minutes across the borders into Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri, boosting the economies and tax revenues of those states. Last fall, Iowa House Democrats listed the legalization of cannabis for adult use as one of their primary legislative initiatives for 2025. During a news conference in September, House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst predicted Gov. Kim Reynolds would likely oppose any cannabis legislation from Democrats during 2025, although about 60% of Iowans support legalization.

As is the case in many other states, the legalization of recreational cannabis and the expansion of the current legal medical cannabis program in Iowa will continue to be a hot issue. Internal and external forces will determine whether and when the majority of Iowans who support the legalization of recreational cannabis and a majority of Iowa legislators, who don’t, will agree the time has come.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking for the public’s help with a carcass dumping investigation. The DNR says five dead deer were found at the Highway 44 boat ramp of the Raccoon River, in Dallas County.

In Iowa, it is illegal to leave a dead animal without disposing of it in a timely manner. If you have any information, call 515-883-0228 or email dustin.eghmy@dnr.iowa.gov.

The DNR says you can remain anonymous and there could be a reward for your tip.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will discuss and likely approve 2025 Bridge Embargoes during their meeting that begins at 9-a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 14), in Red Oak. Bridge embargoes are designed to prevent accidents involving overweight vehicles that cause damage to a bridge, such as what occurred in Audubon County in October, 2008, when a farmer was hauling a load of corn across a four span wood bridge. The structure collapsed and a grain wagon dropped into a creek. At the time, officials said the load likely weighed about 70,800 pounds, with ~64,800 bearing on the single cart axle. Along with his tractor the total load was around 90,0000 pounds. The posted bridge weight limit was 9-tons.

Bridge collapse under heavy grain/tractor load in Audubon County (2008 file photo)

In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors will discuss and likely approve:

• Signors for Treasurer’s Bank Accounts
• The Treasure’s Semi-Annual Report, ending fund balance for Dec. 31, 2024, in the amount of $13,065,329.08
• A Resolution naming Depositories
• Board and Committee appointments to:
  • The Planning & Zoning Commission
  • Eminent Domain Compensation Commission.

Their next regular meeting will be Jan. 21st, at 9-a.m.

*Please note the Jan. 14th meeting is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM

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Meeting ID: 850 3969 3411

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