(Radio Iowa) – Republicans say a new report on state tax revenues aligns with their plans for state finances. Democrats say the report shows the state won’t be able to meet its financial obligations. The pace of state tax collections has surged this year, but once recently-approved tax cuts take effect July 1st, a state panel predicts total state tax revenue will decline by about two-tenths of a percent. The following year, the drop is estimated to be in the range of two-and-a-half percent.

That would be the first time in 12 years that state tax collections have declined. Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls say it shows the G-O-P’s tax policy will likely result in future state budget cuts for public schools, law enforcement agencies and Iowa’s health care system.

In January, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds said the state would have less to spend after the tax cuts kick in — and she’d prefer Iowans spend their money in businesses rather than on bureaucracies.

(Radio Iowa) – Regional air carrier SkyWest Airlines has announced they are planning to pull their commercial service out of three Iowa airports. SkyWest has provided the U.S. Department of Transportation with a 90-day notice of intent to discontinue service to 29 communities served by the Essential Air Service program, including the airports in Mason City, Fort Dodge, and Sioux City.

SkyWest in their notice cites the ongoing pilot staffing shortages as the reason for ending service. SkyWest last month announced they planned to reduce the number of weekly flights from Mason City to Chicago and from Fort Dodge to Chicago from 12 to 10 because of staffing issues.

SkyWest plane in Mason City. (KRIB file photo)

SkyWest had recently suspended one of its three daily flights from Sioux Gateway Airport to Denver, and Sioux City officials last month announced they were extending their service agreement with the air carrier.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — March 10, 2022 – To begin the next phase of interstate reconstruction in Council Bluffs, southbound Interstate 29 at 9th Avenue is expected to be closed to traffic on Tuesday, March 15, weather permitting. Several closures and detours will be in place to prepare for this traffic shift.

Expected Nighttime Closures – Sunday, March 13:

The 9th Avenue ramp to southbound I-29 will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow workers to restripe pavement.

Expected nighttime closures – Monday, March 14:

Southbound I-29 will close between 16th Street and 9th Avenue from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow workers to set up the new traffic configuration. The 25th Street, Avenue G, eastbound I-480, and 9th Avenue ramps will also be closed.

Beginning Tuesday morning, March 15, southbound I-29 will be closed at 9th Avenue. This closure will be in place for approximately 8 months (late 2022), when all southbound traffic will be shifted to the Southbound Frontage Road. Traffic not destined for Council Bluffs should use detour routes. Local traffic will be detoured at 9th Avenue through the intersection.

Iowa DOT encourages motorists to follow signs and use caution while becoming accustomed to new traffic patterns. Interstate traffic will be slowed to 35 mph near the I-480 interchange. Traffic on the Southbound Frontage Road will need to yield to interstate traffic on the southbound I-29 to 9th Avenue ramp.

Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29, and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area as part of the Council Bluffs Interstate Improvement Program. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports two candidates for County Office filed their respective nomination papers, today (Thursday). The candidates include:

• Mark O’Brien-Republican-Cass County Board of Supervisors, District #2 (incumbent)
• Non-Partisan (General Election only):
  • Travis Erickson-Edna Township Clerk.

Earlier this week, Cass County Supervisor John Hartkopf announced his intention to run for re-election on the Board of Supervisors for District 3, and Republican Cass County Recorder Mary Ward filed her papers to run.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Wednesday of 45-year-old Jason Richard Berendes of Red Oak. He was arrested at approximately 1:17 p.m. during a traffic stop. Berendes was arrested on a warrant our of Union County for Failure to Appear to Serve Sentence. Berendes was taken and booked in to the Adams County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel is predicting tax payments being made to the State of Iowa will grow slightly more than they’d predicted three months ago. The Revenue Estimating Conference cites the continuing increase in sales tax payments to the state, an indication of consumer confidence.

“The State of Iowa continues to be on very solid financial footing.” said Kraig Paulsen, the governor’s top budget advisor who is also director for the Iowa Department of Revenue,” and I see no reason to expect that to change for the foreseeable future.”

Paulsen and the other two members of the Revenue Estimating Conference now predict total tax collections for the current state fiscal year will be 4.2% higher than the previous year. David Underwood, a CPA from Clear Lake, said there’s been two years of wage growth, but that seems to be leveling off in Iowa — and the war in Ukraine has injected uncertainty in the economy. “I would suggest we not be too optimistic, given the current circumstances,” Underwood said.

Holly Lyons, director of the fiscal services division in the Legislative Services Agency, expressed a similar opinion. “As long as employment numbers continue to improve, tax revenue growth should remain positive,” Lyons said. “The headwinds facing the economy I mentioned at the December meeting still exist, it just seems a little more turbulent now.”

State tax collections over the past eight months are running 7,8% ahead of the same period in the previous fiscal year. The panel expects that pace to decline over the next few months, but remain in positive territory. Republican lawmakers and Governor Reynolds say the group’s analysis shows there’s room for the tax cuts they approved last week.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who want to donate to Ukrainian relief efforts need to make sure those donations are actually going to help people in need and not to a crook. A-A-R-P-Iowa state director Brad Anderson says when it comes to fraud, vigilance is our number-one weapon. First, Anderson says to be wary of how you’re being asked to donate.

“They will urge you to pay through a payment app, an online app, or even gift cards. That’s an immediate red flag,” Anderson says. “Anytime that you’re seeing an outside organization pressure you into contributing, that’s also a red flag.” Sending cash or a personal check in the mail is a potentially risky venture, but Anderson says using plastic can be iffy, too, so choose your payment option wisely.

“Use a credit card as opposed to a debit card,” Anderson says, “because if you do use a credit card and the organization or the person you’re trying to pay is identified as fraudulent, then you’ll get that money back, but if you use a debit card, that’s connected directly to your bank account and you won’t be able to get that money back.” Some charities might spend more money paying their executives than on the cause they claim to support. Anderson suggests plugging the charity’s name into one of two websites: Give-dot-org or Charity-Watch-dot-org.

“The websites that we’ve identified do allow contributors to know exactly where that money is going and insure that the money is going to the people who need it,” Anderson says, “and not towards exorbitant administrative costs or potentially other causes that aren’t the ones that they’re trying to support.” Bogus charities often use names similar to existing charities to legitimize themselves, so double-check before you double-click.

A Red Oak man was arrested Thursday morning on an assault charge. Red Oak Police report 20-year-old Dyllan Hunter Hansen was arrested at around 10-a.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Hansen was taken into custody in the 1200 block of E. Summit Street and transported to the Montgomery County  Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Dyllan Hansen

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Officials with the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital + Clinics (MCMH) have announced Tom Schmadeke, PA-C, is now working at the MCMH Internal Medicine Clinic (effective Thursday, March 10, 2022). Schmadeke says “In 2022, I decided to return home to the community that had welcomed me in 2009. MCMH CEO, Ron Kloewer, graciously accepted my application. I am looking forward to serving the community.” Officials say Schmadeke brings an extensive background in primary care, including sports medicine.

Schmadeke grew up on his family farm in rural Southwest Iowa. He attended Wayne State College obtaining a degree in Education and Athletic Training. After several years of teaching and athletic training, he returned to Omaha and attended University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and earned a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree in 2002. Tom began his PA career in Madison, Minnesota, where he practiced until 2009. He then moved to Red Oak and practiced with the Methodist Physicians Clinic until 2013. Tom continued to practice and serve patients in Southwest Iowa, and has now chosen to join MCMH + Clinics.

To schedule an appointment with Tom Schmadeke, PA-C, please call MCMH Internal Medicine at 712-623-7280.