(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would tax the liquid carbon dioxide flowing through a proposed pipeline has cleared an Iowa Senate committee, although lawmakers who advanced the bill say they’ll work on the mechanics of how the state tax would be assessed. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says he’s interested in having the state collect taxes from the project.  “The State of Iowa has invested substantially in the ethanol industry,” Dawson said. “…We’ve can’t just exempt things up front, let a bunch of revenue generate and then all the monies that we spent on these things, nothing is ever returned back to the taxpayer.” Jake Ketzner, a lobbyist for Summit Carbon Solutions — the pipeline developer, says the company opposes the bill.

“Just like any other tax, it increases the cost of doing business and it increases the cost of the service we would provide our customers, which in our case is the ethanol plant producers,” Ketzner said. “We’re rather see ethanol producers paying farmers more for their corn instead of paying for a new tax to the government.” Dawson, the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, questions why Summit should get a special “carve out” after telling the Iowa Utilities Commission its project is a benefit to the public. “You can’t just say it’s a public benefit and then have a declaration made by the IUC for eminent domain and then the public doesn’t benefit,” Dawson said. Pipeline critics urged legislators to focus instead on a different bill focused on eminent domain, to protect the property rights of landowners who don’t want the pipeline on their farms.

Kathy Carter owns land in Floyd County that’s along the proposed pipeline route. “It’s a pat ’em on the head, make ’em feel good gesture,” Carter said. “Throw Iowans a bone and they’ll shut up.” Julie Glade, a Wright County landowner, also testified during the Senate subcommittee hearing. “I guess unless you in the senate know something we don’t, there is no pipeline yet. Why are you looking at a revenue stream from a pipeline project to nowhere right now? It seems like Senate leadership and the governor for some reason want this project to happen so badly, they have to manufacture reasons to push ahead.”

The bill is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh. It would set two tax rates, one for carbon that’s eventually used to extract oil from underground reserves and a higher rate for liquid carbon directed to other uses.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City is looking to add to the license plate reading cameras police are already using. The city council approved allowing Police chief Rex Meuller to seek a grant to fund 21 more cameras.
“This is something that we value as an intelligence tool and for apprehension of the criminals, nothing more. So we’re just trying to be more effective. And when somebody presents a technology that can make us more effective, we want to try to utilize it for the benefit of the citizens,” he says.

It will cost around 77-thousand dollars to purchase the new cameras, and Sioux City would then have a total of 33 cameras. Mayor Bob Scott oppose adding the additional cameras, citing privacy concerns and the ongoing cost of running them.

“This is another one of these deals where we get a grant and then we got to come up with the money. I found out Sergeant Bluff, the businesses pay for it. They get sponsors for it. We’ll never do that, it’ll be on the taxpayers,” Scott says. “I’m just not into putting any more taxpayer dollars into technology right now.”

Chief Mueller says they are seeking private sponsor to pay for the ongoing future cost of using the cameras. The annual recurring cost would be 63-thousand dollars. The A-C-L-U of Iowa has raised concerns recently after Clear Lake and Corallville each added the license plate reading cameras. The A-C-L-U says their concern is the cameras would be used to let local government “track and spy on the very people they are supposed to represent.”

(Atlantic, IA)  – Cass Health and its affiliate organizations have released their scholarship applications for the upcoming school year. The deadline for all scholarship applications is Friday, April 3, 2026.

2026 Scholarships:

• Cass Health offers a $500 scholarship to a southwest Iowa student who is enrolled or accepted into a nursing program.
• Cass Health offers a $500 scholarship to a southwest Iowa student pursuing a degree in a health-related career.
• Cass Health Auxiliary provides $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career.
• Cass Health Foundation offers $5,000 scholarships to a graduate from a Cass County high school with a goal of becoming a healthcare provider subject to licensure requirements in the State of Iowa, including testing to obtain certification and requires continuing education to maintain that licensure.
• The Cass Health Nurse Honor Guard is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to an individual with the goal of entering the nursing profession. Applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a nursing program leading to completion of LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, or DNP. Pre-nursing, other pre-programs, and CNA students are not eligible.
• Cecile E. Kopecky Nursing Scholarship is awarded to a graduate of Atlantic High School or a nurse currently employed in Atlantic. Applicants must be accepted to or currently enrolled in a nursing program leading to completion of LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, or DNP. Pre-nursing, other pre-programs, and CNA students are not eligible.

Applications are available at casshealth.org/scholarships and can be submitted to Human Resources by the respective deadline. For more information, contact Kat Niemann, Human Resources Coordinator, at 712-250-8022 or nieka@casshealth.org.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would ban simulcasts of greyhound races for gamblers at Iowa casinos has cleared initial review in the Iowa Senate and House. Iowa ended live greyhound racing in Dubuque in mid-2022 and there are only two greyhound tracks still operating in the U.S. Both are in West Virginia. Carey Theil is with Grey 2-K Racing, an organization that has been lobbying to end greyhound racing worldwide.”There was only $2.4 million wagered on greyhound simulcasting last year,” Theil said. “That’s declined by 70% since 2018.” Forty-four states have banned live greyhound racing and lawmakers in seven other states have taken the step of banning simulcasting of dog races into casinos in their states.

“When greyhound simulcasting has ended at other facilities, there has been a migration from greyhound simulcasting to horse simulcasting. I believe,” Theil said. “If you look at simulcasting in total, 86% of all simulcasting in Iowa is on horse, not dog, so this is a very small piece of the overall simulcasting pie.” Doug Struyk is a lobbyist for Caeser’s Entertainment, which operates the Harrah’s and Horseshow Casinos in Council Bluffs. The company opposes the bill. “We have a not insignificant amount of traffic that comes from Omaha, where they do not simulcast dog races,” Struyk said. “We simulcast dog races and horse races. That allows us to bring traffic from Omaha that has recently legalized wagering.”

John Moss is executive director of the Iowa Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents over 12-hundred thoroughbred owners who race their horses at Prairie Meadows. The group ALSO operates all the simulcasts at the casino in Clinton. He says 18 percent of the bets on simulcasts of horse and dog races in Clinton are placed on greyhounds. “We significant flow from out of state that actually contributes to that,” Moss said. “We have a big group of individuals who come down from Wisconsin…We’re actually seeing an influx of people from Illinois.” Moss says the Clinton casino would take a half a million dollar hit if greyhound simulcasts end. Jeff Boeyink, is a lobbyist for Wild Rose Casinos, which operates the Clinton facility.

Boeyink says a number of people from Dubuque who used to watch live greyhound races there drive to Clinton to bet on the simulcast dog races. “The margins are not super great in these facilities, so you’re always fighting for traffic and so any amenity that brings traffic into the building is an amenity you want to keep,” Boeyink said. “It’s not a huge revenue source for us and I’m not here to argue the ethics of dog racing. I’m just telling you it brings people into our facility. That’s meaningful to us and if this sport is going to die, let it die on its own. Iowa doesn’t need to be a part of that.”

Boeyink also told lawmakers his reading of the bill indicates simulcasts of greyhound races could continue at Prairie Meadows in Altoona and a Council Bluffs casino if the bill becomes law. Live greyhound races at the Horseshoe in Council Bluffs ended in December of 2015.

(Atlantic, IA) – A large crowd filled a conference room at the Atlantic Middle (this) Wednesday morning, where the Atlantic School Board was set to act on approving the resignation of High School Counselor Jesse McCann. School Board President Josh McLaren read a statement when the meeting got underway at 7:30-a.m. His statement is as follows:

“After careful consideration as the Board President, I decided last night (Tuesday night) that the Board would not hold this meeting this morning. Director (Gini) Jordan and I still wanted to be here to inform everyone of the situation…decision in-person. While we understand that there may be questions concerning the facts and circumstances related to current ongoing employment matters occurring within the District, the Board of the District cannot provide specific information regarding personnel matters, as this information is considered confidential under State law.

“We can assure you that the District takes any concerns for students, families or staff seriously and appropriately addresses concerns consistent with legal requirements and best practices. This includes investigating and working closely with outside legal counsel to evaluate any necessary and appropriate next steps. The Board of the District considers the safety and well-being of our students and staff to be the highest priority, and will continuously act in the best interest of our school community. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

As mentioned Tuesday, a social media post from the Atlantic Police Department said “The Atlantic Police Department has been made aware of an incident involving a school staff member and students. The Atlantic Police Department has been investigating and looking into the information that has been provided.” Their post did not name the employee who is being investigated.

(Red Oak, IA) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Elliott was arrested at around 7:46-a.m. today (Wednesday), in Elliott. 41-year-old Cory Ross Smith was taken into custody on a Fremont County warrant for Failure to Appear on charges of Driving While License is barred.

Smith was turned-over to Deputies in Fremont County and held on a $2,000 bond.

(Greenfield, IA) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors have set March 3rd at 9:15-a.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on the vacating the Level-B portion of 350th Street, east of Stuart off of Whitepole Road. They also passed a resolution to that effect.

In addition, the Board acknowledged receipt of a Prestage Farms Manure Management Plan for their facility off of Gibbon Avenue, and the FY25 Southern Iowa Trolley Audit.

The Supervisors authorized Board Chair Jerry Walker to sign the contract and performance bond for the Orient Energy Center (OEC) paving project, the front page of plans for the FY26 Granular Surfacing Plans, and, they received a weekly Secondary Roads Department report from Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman.

(Creston, IA) –  The driver of a vehicle that was struck Tuesday afternoon in Creston, was checked-out by medics after displaying an apparent shortness of breath, but was otherwise not transported to the hospital. According to the Creston Police Department, 21-year-old Anjel De Jesus Saturno-Hernandez, of Creston, was traveling south on S. Oak Street at around 4:35-p.m.  He told police he looked but did not see a full-size pickup truck being driven by 22-year-old Wyatt Beebe, of Creston, approaching from the east on Highway 34.

When he proceeded into the intersection, Hernandez’ vehicle was hit on the rear passenger side by the pickup. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000 altogether. The SUV sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene.

No citations were issued.

(Onawa, IA) – The Monona County Sheriff’s Office reports a suspect is charged in connection with a series of suspicious fires that were deemed to have been the result of arson. 43-year-old David Ira Bryan is charged with Arson in the 2nd Degree following an investigation that began after two fires occurred during the evening of January 26th in Onawa, and a third fire at the Monona County Fairgrounds on January 28th.

The Monona County Sheriff’s Office was joined by members of the State Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF in the investigative efforts. Authorities thank members of the community who came forward with crucial information. They added that the two fires in Onawa on Jan. 26th remain under investigation.

Anyone with information on those incidents is urged to contact the Monona County Sheriff’s Office at 712-433-2525.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s in the midst of a what’s called a snow drought, according to the state climatologist. While we had three weekends in a row of heavy snows starting right after Thanksgiving, Justin Glisan says there’s been very little statewide snowfall since then. While some Iowans may rejoice at having to do less shoveling, Glisan says it may become a problem once spring arrives — especially for farmers — if there’s little snowmelt and runoff in our rivers. “We’re in a snow drought across the upper Midwest,” Glisan says. “We’ve been running, after a fast start at the end of November and into December, we’re about 2.3 inches statewide average, and that’s about 6 inches below average.”

The new year started out warmer than normal in Iowa, which meant winter storms were dropping more rain than snow. “The interesting thing on the precipitation side is the rainfall event we had early in January,” Glisan says. “We had a wide swath of rainfall — in January — that amounted to, through the state, over nine-tenths of an inch for the monthly average, and that’s about 4/100ths below average.” January was something of a roller-coaster month for temperatures, Glisan says, but we ended up with an average statewide temp of 19-point-3 degrees, just two-tenths of a degree below average. “If you look at the first half of the month, we were running six degrees warmer than average, and then the cold snap through the end of the month dropped that average by about six degrees,” Glisan says, “so here we are, just right around average in terms of temperature.”

Long-range forecasts point to that groundhog being correct, he says, with six more weeks of winter ahead. “If you look at the short-term outlooks for the first half of the month, though, they tell a different story on the temperature side,” Glisan says, “higher probabilities of warmer-than-average temperatures, and we’ll see the temperatures rise through this week and into next week.”

Forecasts call for parts of Iowa to see temps climb into the 50s next week. While the calendar shows winter will last through March 19th, meteorological winter ends February 28th.