WASHINGTON—The Office of Senator Joni Ernst says “After Democrats tucked a little-known provision into their $1.9 trillion “COVID relief” bill that would ban states, like Iowa, from cutting state taxes, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is backing legislation to reverse the provision. According to Ernst, “The Democrats’ partisan, nearly $2 trillion ‘COVID relief’ package rewards states that have mismanaged their budgets while punishing those who have acted responsibly during this pandemic. It’s no surprise that this rushed bill also prevents states—like Iowa—from cutting taxes for its hardworking taxpayers. We shouldn’t punish states, and our working families, for prioritizing fiscal responsibility, and this commonsense legislation will repeal this ill-conceived provision that infringes on states’ rights.”

Governor Kim Reynolds said “Iowa’s fiscal health is strong and we are cutting taxes so that Iowans can keep more of their hard-earned money, but unfortunately our approach is in jeopardy because of what’s happening in Washington, D.C.” She added, “Biden’s stimulus plan is full of reckless spending with strings attached aimed at bailing out mismanaged states and cities. I appreciate Senator Ernst taking the lead on the State Fiscal Flexibility Act to help prevent the federal government from slowing down Iowa’s economic recovery.”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate is again near where it was before the pandemic hit more than a year ago, but the state’s leisure and hospitality industry now employs 25-thousand fewer people than it did in February of 2020. Jessica Dunker, president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, says many businesses that scaled back to follow health precautions are now looking to bring workers back. Dunker says, “If April 5th offers everything it promises to, which is allowing any Iowan who wants to be able get vaccinated the opportunity to go find an appointment, we expect a summer that will be vibrant and busy and really help us on the path to recovery.”

Job numbers in the industry may not add up to what they were before because Dunker says many restaurants are doing more take-out, which requires fewer workers. She says public health restrictions were a critical blow, but there is growing optimism as businesses reopen their patios and more people become vaccinated.  “As vaccines get out there, people are coming back out, the weather is warming, carry-out and delivery is now an integral part of what we’re doing,” Dunker says, “and so for restaurants and bars that made it to the other side, the future looks bright.”

Employment in all industries was down by more than 80,000 in Iowa from February of 2020 to February of 2021. While the greatest decline in job numbers from a year ago is in leisure and hospitality, that’s followed by education and health services, and government.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

The 8:05-a.m. News w/Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston report three arrests. On Sunday, 26-year-old Ashley Starlin, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:50-a.m. for OWI/1st offense. She was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond. And, 48-year-old Eric Shawler, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Domestic Abuse Assault with the Intent to Inflict Serious Injury. He was later released from the Adams County Jail, on a $2,000 bond.

On Saturday, 66-year-old Vernon Loudon, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.

The News at 7:07-a.m. from News Director Ric Hanson.

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KCCI reports a recent Iowa Poll reports a majority of Iowans who would be in favor of legalizing marijuana. The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll was conducted between March 7 and March 10 and 775 Iowans participated. It reports 54% were in favor of legalizing marijuana, 39% were opposed and 6% were unsure. The results were similar to the March 2020 Iowa Poll.

The poll also asked participants about expanding the medical marijuana program in the state. Of the participants, 78% said the program should include more diseases and conditions, 14% opposed the expansion, and 7% were unsure. There was a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

(Updated 10:30-a.m., 3/29) – Police in Newton have released the name of a man who’s body was found Sunday morning, in a creek. The remains of 47-year-old Gregory Jayson Zwick, of Newton were discovered on the bank of a creek at around 10-a.m. in the 1400 block of South Fourth Avenue. An investigation is continues. Authorities say while there were no apparent indications of foul play, the cause of death was unknown, pending the results of an autopsy.

(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says a House committee is likely to debate a bill this week that’s designed to boost the use of ethanol in Iowa. Grassley says both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations have not always been the best friends of the ethanol industry. “We need to stand up and send a message to the country that we’re going to do what we have to do in the state of Iowa to also promote the product,” Grassley says.

Grassley describes the core of the bill as providing incentives to retailers to install new gas pumps that can dispense ethanol-blended fuels. “We’re not making those complete investments, but being a partner in that, to make sure that we can continue to promote it,” Grassley says.

Earlier this year, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds suggested a proposed renewable fuels standard for Iowa to require all retailers to offer at least a 10 percent ethanol blend — and require any new pumps installed be designed to dispense fuel that includes ethanol. Iowa’s convenience stores and gas stations have lobbied against that mandate.

(Radio Iowa/KCCI) – Iowa State University officials say a boat with five members of I-S-U’s Crew Club capsized Sunday morning on Little Wall Lake. Three students were rescued, transferred to the hospital in Ames and released. A dive team recovered one body from the water later on Sunday. The search for a fifth team member was suspended at 8 p.m. Sunday and will resume this (Monday) morning. Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons credits nearby residents for being heroes in the initial response.

According to the Iowa State Crew Club’s website, the team regularly practices at Little Wall Lake, which is two miles south of Jewell. The Hamilton County sheriff says several state and county agencies responded after a 9-1-1 call came in from the scene at about 9:30 Sunday. “At the time that the call came in, there were pretty good northwest winds,” Timmons says, “we’re guessing anywhere from 20-25 mile and hour winds and the lake was pretty rough.”

Little Wall Lake covers 249 acres and is about a 20 minute drive from the I-S-U campus. In a written statement, Iowa State president Wendy Wintersteen said the campus community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic accident and the university is focused on providing support to club members, their families and friends.

A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect from Noon today (Monday) until late this evening all but extreme northeast Iowa, and far western Nebraska, for Extreme Fire Weather Conditions. In addition, a WIND ADVISORY remains in effect from Noon today until late this evening. A combination of warming temperatures, strong southerly wind, low relative humidity, and relatively dry prairie grasses and other fuels will create extreme fire weather conditions. Any fires that start this afternoon may spread rapidly and become uncontrollable.

Red Flag Warning for counties shaded in pink

* Relative Humidity…Minimum relative humidity between 20 and 30 percent during the afternoon.

* WIND…Strong south to southwest winds with sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts over 50 mph possible.

* FUEL…Prairie grasses and any lingering crop debris will dry out quickly in these conditions and may be able to burn easily and lead to extremely fast fire growth.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.