(Radio Iowa) – The amount of taxes paid to the State of Iowa continued to grow over the past six months, fueled in part from state sales taxes on electronic commerce — like online shopping and streaming services like Netflix. Jeff Robinson, senior fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency, says net tax payments to the state last month were up more than five percent over the previous December.  “A $27 million increase in corporate income tax deposits and a $19 million decrease in overall tax refunds issued provided much of the month’s net revenue boost,” Robinson says.

Over the past six months, total state tax revenue increased 117 million dollars — and 44 percent of that was due to an increase in sales tax collections. The rest of the increase came mainly from an increase in corporate income taxes.  “Growth in net individual income tax revenue for the fiscal year has been just $16 million or 0.9%,” Robinson says.

The State of Iowa began taxing internet purchases on January 1st of 2019. Federal reports indicate online sales accounted for 14 percent of all retail activity in the third quarter and early estimates indicate online shopping skyrocketed during November and December.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — The former city clerk in Westfield has been sentenced to five years of probation in the theft of more than $70,000 in city funds. Fifty-one-year-old Angela Sorensen, of Akron, was sentenced Monday after entering an Alford plea to first-degree theft. She was city clerk in the small northwest town of Westfield from May 2013 to August 2017.

An audit found more than $74,000 in undeposited utility collections and improper payments. Sorensen was ordered to pay restitution of $7,781 — the amount not covered by the city’s insurance carrier. A presentence investigation recommended probation for Sorensen because she has ongoing mental and physical health problems.

Mills County Public Health Director Julie Lynes reports “Mills County Health is working with facilities in our county to allocate vaccine doses to the Phase 1A priority populations. Mills County will continue to provide updates for other priority populations as we receive additional allocations of vaccine. While right now, the vaccine is being made available to the priority populations, it is anticipated that by mid-2021, there should be enough vaccine for anyone who wants to receive it.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has partnered with county public health departments to begin vaccinating Iowans. Both vaccines are currently being administered in Iowa to the Phase 1A priority populations of health care personnel and long-term care residents and staff. As more vaccines become available, Iowa’s Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC), will review guidance issued by the CDC’s advisory group after the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) further prioritizes populations to receive the vaccine in Iowa. IDAC is currently reviewing ACIP recommendations for Phase 1B and 1C priority populations.

Until vaccine is widely available to all, it is critical that Iowans continue to practice the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• Wearing a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, last Thursday, arrested 45-year-old Michael Lee Rose, of Hepburn. He was taken into custody at his residence, in Hepburn, on a valid Page County Warrant for Failure to pay child support. Rose was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond, pending further court appearances. And, on Friday, Page County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in Coin.

During the investigation 33-year-old Rachell Lynn Shaw, of Coin, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was transported to the Page County Jail and held without bond, pending appearance in front of a Magistrate. The male party involved in the altercation left the scene prior to deputies’ arrival. A warrant was issued for the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Wesley Allen Stubbs, of Coin. Stubbs was arrested Monday (Jan. 4) at the Page County Jail, on a Page County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. His bond was set at $300.

(Radio Iowa) – If Vice President Mike Pence decides not to attend tomorrow’s (Wednesday) U-S Senate debate over counting the electoral college votes, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will preside instead over what promises to be a bitter, partisan battle. Grassley, a Republican, is senate president pro tempore.  “I’m going to be sitting in the chair listening to what all of my colleagues have to say during that debate,” Grassley says, “and at that time will decide how to cast my vote after considering all of the information before me.” Some Republicans plan to challenge the results of the electoral college vote, claiming there’s widespread election fraud and President Trump is the true winner. Grassley says the move by fellow Republicans is perfectly legitimate.

“First of all, it’s a legal process under the law and under the Constitution, for these folks to do what they’re doing,” Grassley says. “It was done by the Democrats in 2004 and I think one other time. People that are finding fault with Republicans doing it shouldn’t do it when it’s done by Democrats.” He says it follows the same procedure as in 2004 when Democrats objected to certifying President George W. Bush’s election, particularly the electoral votes from Ohio. Grassley says this is an important issue and it merits an open discussion. “It gives an opportunity for the entire country to hear during two hours of debate the pros and cons of fraud in the election,” Grassley says, “and whether or not the election was conducted correctly.”

Grassley says the debate “gets lost when the social media platforms don’t carry it.” University of Northern Iowa political science professor Donna Hoffman says the expected challenge by Republicans will almost certainly fail. Hoffman says, “And it’s all really very symbolic in many ways, because at the end of the day, we would put the odds at something happening here, where Joe Biden is not certified here, as very, very, very minute.” Hoffman says it may be wise for Iowa’s Republican representatives to “hide in the corner” to see how politics may change after President Trump’s loss.

“There’s a lot of time that passes before even the next midterm election when, of course, all of them will be up, and certainly two more years before the next presidential election,” Hoffman says. “The conditions right now in this country, related both to elections but also in terms of governing, is extremely fluid.” Hoffman says focusing on constituent services may be the best bet for Iowa’s freshmen House Republicans, who are in the minority. A retiring Congressman from Michigan announced Monday he’s quitting the Republican Party and becoming an Independent. Paul Mitchell is calling the effort to overturn the presidential election “disgusting and demoralizing.”

(Iowa Public Radio’s Kate Payne contributed to this report.)