(Radio Iowa) – The state appeal board has approved a payout by the University of Iowa for nearly two million dollars in discrimination suits involving two Christian student organizations. A federal judge ruled that the U- I violated the First Amendment rights of Business Leaders in Christ and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship by deregistering the groups for requiring leaders to affirm statements of faith. The U-I said the groups violated its human rights policy for practices such as banning openly gay leaders.

The federal judge ruled in both cases that the University did not apply the policy uniformly to all student groups — and had unfairly targeted the Christian organizations. A federal appeals court upheld the rulings last summer. The settlement funds will go towards attorney’s fees and damages.

(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the Iowa Senate’s tax-writing committee says he’s drafting a five-year plan to dramatically cut state income taxes for individuals AND corporations. Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs says the one billion dollars sitting in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund is just the start.  “We have an opportunity to do a tax moon shot this next year,” Dawson says. “…There’s no reason we should settle for mediocrity.”

Dawson is aiming for a reduction in PERSONAL income tax rates along with eliminating or reducing some of the long list of state tax credits — to reach the other goal of cutting the CORPORATE income tax rate as well. “I will say right now I have no interest in lowering corporate rates without substantially reforming some of our incentives and credits,” Dawson says, “because if we don’t change the back end of the system then all we are is just making the winners more winners and making the losers not as much of losers.”

Dawson says he’s not talking about blowing up the whole tax credit system for businesses. “It doesn’t mean just throwing everything in the trash can, right? There’s obviously different metrics that affect everyone’s individual bottom line,” Dawson says, “but if we work together…the legislature with the corporate entities here in Iowa, we really can reform this and make it a better system.” But Dawson says he’s prepared to abandon the idea of reducing CORPORATE income taxes if there’s major pushback to changes in tax credits.

Representative Lee Hein, a Republican from Monticello, is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He says Republicans in the HOUSE are focused on reducing taxes for individuals. “There’s a multitude of ways to do that, whether it’s cutting rates, property tax relief,” Hein says. “It could be as eash as cutting a check.” Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, says he wouldn’t be shocked if Republicans decide to mail Iowans a tax refund check in an election year. Jacoby says when it comes to business taxes, tax CREDITS must be reduced or eliminated before the corporate income tax rate is lowered.

“I’m for lowering the rates,” Jacoby says. “I’m also for everyone paying them.” Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says the projection is that Iowa will provide more than half a billion dollars in tax credits this next year. Is this just one more big giveaway to some very large, profitable corporations? And I say that ’cause we have some really large corporations — we love them dearly here — they pay zero corporate income tax in this state,” Jochum says. “In fact, we are writing them out checks.”

That’s because the state’s research and development tax credit for some businesses sometimes larger than what they owe in corporate income taxes, so the state sends those businesses a tax refund.

(Radio Iowa) – School bus drivers in Sioux City have been seeing an increase in motorists ignoring the extended stop sign and flashing lights when a bus is dropping off or picking up students. School district transportation supervisor, Chris Wellenstein, says drivers who break the law will be identified. “The majority of our buses have stop arm cameras on them. So even if our drivers are unable to physically view the stop arm violation happening — they will come into my office and let me know that one has occurred — at which time I can pull video from the bus,” Wellenstein says.

The video allows the district to get the license plate number, make and model of the car, and sometimes a view of the driver. That information is turned over to police. “Ninety-nine percent of the time we are able to catch folks with correct info. And then at that point in time, the police department goes and sends out a citation to the owner of the vehicle for a first offense violation of the stop arm. It is 465 dollars,” he says. “I think there’s quite a few people who don’t know the money involved in a stop arm violation.” Wallenstein says the number of violations is way up.

“Right now I am having to pull video for stop arm violations at least a couple of times a week,” according to Wellenstein. “Previous years — it has been hit and miss — you might have one every other week. Sometimes one every three weeks. But this year it seems like it has just been reoccurring, over and over.” Wellenstein says drivers are placing students in danger when they ignore the stop sign and pass a stopped school bus.

A driver who gets a second citation for the offense will have their license suspended and have to take classes to get it back.

(Fort Madison, Iowa) – A correctional officer at the Iowa State Penitentiary suffered non-life threatening injuries during an assault by an inmate Sunday evening (December 5).  The Iowa Dept. of Corrections says a response team was assisting with an inmate that was uncooperative and had attempted to assault another officer. The officer involved was assisting with the removal of the uncooperative inmate from a cell when assaulted with a sharp object.

The officer involved was taken to the hospital by department vehicle for an injury to the arm. He has since been released and has returned to duty. The inmate has been evaluated by medical staff and this incident remains under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A stabbing incident late Sunday night in Atlantic resulted in an arrest. Atlantic Police late Monday afternoon reported A-PD was notified by staff at CCMH at around 11:51-p.m., Sunday, that a man who had wounds from a stabbing arrived at the E-R. The incident occurred at the Walnut Hill Terrace Apartments at 1300 E. 10th Street, Apartment 26-B. The victim suffered serious injuries and was flown to the UNMC in Omaha.

Early Monday morning, 34-year-old Richard J. Doss, Jr., of Atlantic, was taken into custody without incident. He faces felony charges of Attempted Murder and Willful Injury – Causing Serious Injury. His cash-only bond was set at $500,000. Doss Jr.’s preliminary hearing is set for 2-p.m., Dec. 16th.

Photo of Richard DOSS Jr. (Iowa DPS photo)

Atlantic Police were assisted in their investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). No other details are currently available.

(Radio Iowa) – A few Republicans from the Iowa House are questioning why record private fundraising at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University hasn’t translated into a tuition freeze. Representative Gary Mohr, a Republican from Bettendorf, led an online forum today that focused on a variety of issues at the universities. “Many of our members and some constituents say: ‘If fundraising’s going so well, why do they need to keep raising tuition every year?’” Mohr asked.

Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen said tuition would be higher without that record fundraising, since the majority of what’s donated is spent on student scholarships and degree programs as well as research. “It makes all the difference at Iowa State because it fills in the gaps,” Wintersteen said. “It keeps us from having to raise tuition more.”

University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson indicated 98% of donations are restricted, meaning the donor has directed exactly how the money can be spent. “We can’t turn around and use that to pay faculty and staff and do the kind of deferred maintenance work we need to do and other things here at the University of Iowa,” Wilson said.

Wilson started at the University of Iowa in mid-July after serving as executive vice president for the University of Illinois system. “I’ve been here five months. I can tell you that Iowa universities, the Regent universities, have kept tuition low,” Wilson said, “…but we can’t keep doing that forever.”

David Barker, a member of the board that governs the three state universities, said the Board of Regents has kept tuition as flat as possible. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that inflation is a real thing,” Barker said, “and that our costs are increasing every year, even before this latest increase in the rate of inflation.”

University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook said the toughest fundraising pitch to potential donors is for campus building projects.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the time of year when some Iowans like to pack the family into the van at dusk, switch the radio to Christmas music, and drive around town taking in the colorful holiday light displays. Triple-A-Iowa spokeswoman Meredith Mitts says if you’ll be making the rounds, remember to follow the rules of the road — and don’t stop dead on the street to take selfies.

“As you’re looking at the lights, whether they’re in a residential area or a little bit more high traffic, there are still pedestrians and other drivers around,” Mitts says. “You need to remain focused about driving on the road and if you want to enjoy the lights, make sure you find a place where you can safely pull over.” Some spectacular holiday displays may rival Clark Griswold’s house, but while the lights are beautiful to look at, they can also be a dangerous distraction.

“Make sure everybody in the car is buckled up — you are still out on the road and things happen,” Mitts says. “Make sure the driver is staying focused on the road and that you are constantly scanning the area for bicyclists, pedestrians, any young children who might be playing in the snow. And then, make sure someone other than the driver is taking photos.” Many Iowa communities have professionally-lit light displays in parks, golf courses, arboretums and other locations. Some are walk-through shows, but those that are the drive-through style demand drivers stay vigilant so the jolly mood isn’t wrecked by a fender bender.

Baird family Christmas display (Dec. 2018)

“A lot of these places have lots of vehicles so make sure you’re keeping an eye on the vehicle ahead of you and going whatever the posted speed limit is,” Mitts says. “Also, remember to turn your lights back on when you are leaving the park because generally, they have you turn them off as you’re going through the park so you can enjoy the lights better.” She suggests you make sure to have the appropriate winter gear in the car in the event of a roadside emergency. The kit should include things like: blankets, water and snacks, a flashlight with fresh batteries, tools, a shovel, an ice scraper, jumper cables, sand and a first aid kit.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Positive COVID-19 tests are spiking in Iowa and the state’s 14-day positivity rate is nearing 12%. The Iowa Department of Public Health on Monday reported 12,254 positive tests in the last seven days, up from 9,706 on Friday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate increased from 11.5% to 11.9%.

Hospitalizations, however, have declined since Friday. There are now 721 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 747 on Friday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 71.9% are unvaccinated, while 86.5% of those listed in intensive care with the virus are unvaccinated.

The number of long-term care facilities reporting outbreaks also declined from 20 to 17. IDPH reports 4,276,328 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with 69.2% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated and 72.5% of those 12 and older with at least one vaccine dose.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the County Board of Supervisors will conduct, at 10-a.m. Friday, Dec. 10th, a manual recount of the ballots counted in each and all of the three City of Atlantic precincts, of the votes cast for Mayor in the Nov. 30th city run-off election. The recount takes place in the Supervisors Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.

Afterward, they will complete a written report of the findings from the recount.  Following the election on Nov. 30th, the unofficial results showed Grace Garrett won by just four votes over Tim Teig. Since the race was so close, Teig requested the recount. The election had been held because none of the four candidates received 50.1% of the vote during the Nov. 2nd election. Garrett and Teig received the most votes, though, resulting in the run-off.

A recount is a formal procedure in which ballots that were voted and counted at an election, are counted again. Any candidate whose name was printed on the ballot may file a request for a recount. Recounts, like all canvasses of votes, are open to the public. Observers may watch and listen, but they may not participate in, or interfere with, the recount. Observers cannot touch the ballots.

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa organizations say “donor fatigue” is setting in as everyone gets overwhelmed by donation requests. Salvation Army Captain Shawn Debaar in Cedar Rapids says they’ve already through November a massive decrease in the number of donations from last year. He tells K-C-R-G T-V donors stepped up during the pandemic, and more locally the August 2020 derecho. “The challenge of course for us and other non-profits in the area is that while we’ve been abundantly blessed by donors the last couple of years –the need is continuing,” Debaar says.

Debaar says they’ve had to come up with some new ideas for donors who have been giving about their normal levels. “Some of the need for some of our givers to go back to their normal giving patterns means we’re having to come up with some creative ways to still meet that increased need,” DeBaar says.

Debaar tells K-C-R-G T-V one issue they are seeing is increased operating costs for the organization. For example, the cost of the hams the organization donates at Christmas has more than doubled. That means the money donated doesn’t go as far as it did before.