(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting, which began with a moment of silence, at the request of Board Chair Charla Schmid, for Montgomery County Veteran’s Affairs Executive Director Curtis White, who passed away April 3^rd. Under regular business, Montgomery Engineer Karen Albert provided her weekly Secondary Roads Department report.

Under New Business, the Board approved the Iowa Department of Transportation FY 26 Budget (in the amount of $13,539, 200), which is the same as the Secondary Roads Budget, and, they approved the Secondary Roads Department FY26 5-year Construction Plan. Board member Mike Olsen had a question for Engineer Albert, prior to the vote, with regard to the FY 26 projects. Karen Albert said they have a very busy fiscal year ahead for numerous projects.

Montgomery County Board of Supervisors mtg (4-8-25)

The Board discussed an appointment to the Eminent Domain Compensation Commission. Auditor Jill Ozuna said they have received an application for Rick VanSyock for the Commission. She said there is no directory for the Commission on County’s website, because it “is constantly changing.” VanSyock is falls under the category of “City owned property,” where the Commission is concerned.

The Board approved the appointment as presented. Auditor Ozuna said there are still openings on the Commission.

Supervisor Bryant Amos explained the Eminent Domain Compensation Commission’s purpose.

The next meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors takes place at 9-a.m. Tuesday, April 15^th.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll continue drumming up support for his bill that would limit a president’s power to impose tariffs, even after President Trump vowed he’ll veto the measure if it reaches his desk. Grassley says he’s long pushed for changes in two laws dating back to the 1960s and ’70s in which Congress delegated to the president most of its power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. “It’s one of 18 powers specifically listed for Congress to do,” Grassley says. “Congress gave up this authority. I think Congress ought to try to recapture its constitutional authority, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Grassley says his bill is bipartisan and he notes six fellow Republican senators have signed on to support it, but he didn’t comment on the bill’s chances to pass. Just last week, the president enacted another round of steep tariffs, impacting trade with dozens of nations. “This bill obviously doesn’t affect what Trump did, because it’s not retroactive,” Grassley says, “but Trump did give me the opportunity when he raised the issue of tariffs to get back on my bandwagon.”

The bill would require Congress to approve the president’s tariffs on trading partners before they could take effect. Calling himself a “free and fair trader,” Grassley says trade benefits the family farmer, while tariffs usually target agriculture. He says the timing of the bill was intentional. “I’m just taking advantage of an opportunity when people are talking about tariffs, because people wouldn’t pay any attention to my efforts if tariffs wasn’t already highlighted,” Grassley says. “I see it as a conversation worth having.”

Even though a veto looms, Grassley says he’ll continue shepherding this legislation, “regardless of the president’s comments, because the Constitution’s on my side.”

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) –  A Webster County Sheriff’s Deputy is on paid administrative leave (per standard procedure), following a shooting incident Monday night, near Gowrie. According to a statement from Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener, at around 9:45-p.m., Monday, Webster County Telecommunications received a 911 call regarding a domestic disturbance in Gowrie, Iowa. Information gathered was a male involved had been consuming alcohol and was currently driving a GMC Sierra. The caller stated it was also believed the male had a firearm inside his vehicle.

While en route, Webster County Deputies located the vehicle in question and attempted a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and attempted to elude deputies through Dayton and the southern part of rural Webster County. Hamilton County Deputies assisted in the pursuit and were able to Stop-Stick one of the vehicle’s tires near Taylor Avenue and Highway 175.

A Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) was utilized to eventually disable the vehicle near River Road and Highway 175. Deputies then exited their vehicles and ordered the suspect to put his hands up. The suspect then reached down to the passenger seat area and stated he was getting his firearm. He then made a shooting motion toward a deputy through the back window of the vehicle.

A Webster County Deputy then fired one shot through the back passenger window, striking the suspect in his right hand. Deputies were then able to detain the suspect and render medical aid. The suspect was transported by ambulance to Unity Point ER in Fort Dodge and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A pistol was located on the driver floorboard of the suspect’s vehicle. There were no injuries to law enforcement or members of the public. The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave until the Webster County Attorney’s Office has reviewed all evidence and case facts.

Agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were notified and responded to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this incident by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Iowa State Patrol, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Reserve Officers, Webster County Attorney’s Office and Dayton EMS.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting next Monday, April 14th, to consider approval of a Softball sharing agreement with the CAM Community School District. The meeting takes place 5:30-p.m., Monday, in the Griswold School’s Conference Room.

The public will be offered a chance to provide input on the matter prior to the Board making a decision on the agreement.

(Des Moines, Iowa/Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Senators sent legislation on Iowa’s elections to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk Monday that included provisions on verifying Iowa voters’ citizenship status. The Senate also passed bills addressing the governor’s math instruction proposal, vaccines for a sexually transmitted virus, and fireworks.

House File 954, passed 32-15, was a bill proposed by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate that would allow the Secretary of State’s office to contract with federal and state agencies, and with private entities, for voter roll verification and maintenance. The bill also laid out steps for setting a voter’s registration status as “unconfirmed” in cases where the state registrar or a county commissioner “has received information from a reliable source indicating that the registered voter is not qualified.” A “unconfirmed” voter’s status would be changed to “active” after they provide proof that they are qualified to vote under the legislation. The bill also allows for a voter to be challenged at the polls over their citizenship status. A challenged voter is allowed to present precinct election officials evidence or facts to prove they are qualified to vote. If the challenge is not withdrawn after this procedure, the voter would cast a provisional ballot.

Senators approved House File 784 in a 46-1 vote, sending it to Reynolds. The mathematics instruction bill is the governor’s proposal seeking to improve Iowa students’ mathematics aptitude after the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found mathematics scores decreased for both fourth and eighth graders. The legislation would require Iowa schools to assess K-6 students’ math skills at least three times a year. If students are deemed “persistently at risk,” schools would be required to implement a personalized mathematics plan for the student, alongside other intervention strategies, to help the child reach grade-standard proficiency. The Iowa Department of Education would also be required by the bill to develop and distribute a comprehensive mathematics plan to Iowa schools to increase math proficiency, and provide mathematics instructional aid for teachers and parents.

(Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Senate File 304 would remove a current exemption in Iowa law allowing minors to consent to receive vaccinations for sexually transmitted infections, like the HPV vaccine, without their parent’s permission. Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said the bill would prevent children from accessing a vaccination that can prevent cancers caused by human papillomavirus infections. She also said the measure does not acknowledge the fact that minors who are seeking this vaccination may be the victims of child sex abuse. Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, said the bill only applies to vaccinations, and does not change other sections of Iowa law that allows minors to receive medical care related to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases or infections without their parents or guardians’ consent.

And, Senate File 303, a bill passed 31-16 after it was deferred by lawmakers in March, would prohibit county boards of supervisors and city councils from placing restrictions on the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31 outside of existing restrictions in Iowa Code on fireworks. Local governments would still be allowed to set restrictions on fireworks for other days.

Senate File 608 would increase the minimum of the grain indemnity fund to $5 million and the maximum to $12 million. This is an increase from the current parameters, which are set at $3 million and $8 million, though it is not as great an increase as a bill proposed in the Iowa House of Representatives. The House bill would increase the fund’s range to $8 million and $16 million.  SF 608 would also include “grain purchased under credit-sale contract” under the definition of “purchased grain” meaning grain purchased on a credit sale would be eligible for the same indemnity protections.

The House version of the bill would also include credit-sale contracts, but would reimburse those contracts at a rate of 70% of the grain purchased.  Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, R-Walcott, added a minor clarifying amendment to the bill, which passed.  The bill advances after a vote of 39-8.

House File 508 has yet to be debated on the House floor.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Business Council’s first quarter survey shows optimism for the next six months, though numbers are down compared to last year. I-B-C president Joe Murphy says the survey measures member expectations for sales, capital spending, and employment on a 100-point scale. “Anything above a value of 50 represents a positive outlook, and we’re well above that. Overall, the Outlook Survey is more than 57 points. So that’s a great that’s a great indication for where we are currently,” Murphy says. Murphy says there’s cautious optimism with some federal proposals ahead. “We’re definitely going the right direction on the tax packages to extend the 2017 tax cuts and Jobs Act. We’re heading in the right direction from a policy stance on regulation. So that’s all great, but none of those things have been enacted yet,” he says.

The survey was completed before the latest round of federal tariffs. Murphy says the anticipation of the tariffs did have an impact. “Trying to evaluate the impact on Iowa companies. And you know as the larger concern that we have with tariffs would be that the tariff policy of the United States could result in retaliatory tariffs placed on key sectors of Iowa’s economy,” he says. Murphy says the outcome of the tariffs is still unknown. Iowa has seen some job losses in manufacturing recently, but Murphy says other industries are absorbing those workers. “We are seeing that. And I think when you take a step back and look at it more broadly, from an economic standpoint, that’s what makes Iowa very resilient in some of these downturns and some of these key industry areas,” Murphy says. “We have a great and well diversified economy in our state, with financial services, manufacturing, agriculture, obviously, bio sciences.”

The I-B-C’s 21 members are the chief decision makers of major Iowa employers. You can see the full survey on their website at iowabusinesscouncil.org.

(Radio Iowa) – Buds are beginning to pop on trees across Iowa and the green grass is starting to come up, meaning, spring allergy season is also upon us, and doctors are offering tips on how to help allergy-prone kids to cope. Pediatrician Dr. Megan Yanny says it can be easy to confuse allergies with a cold, but there are certain symptoms for which you should watch. “Common symptoms of seasonal allergies that kids might have are going to be a runny nose, congestion, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, a bit of a tickle in their throat,” she says, “but shouldn’t have things like fevers, really severe, sore throats, trouble swallowing.” The latter may be signs of something -other- than allergies. Yanny says preventing kids from being exposed to what’s impacting them can also be helpful.

“Things like changing the bedding and their towels often to just rinse that pollen off,” she says. “Keeping the windows closed to keep allergens out of the bedroom. Showering, bathing at night to wash those allergens off their clothes and their bodies from the day. And then watching the weather report for really high pollen count days.” She says it’s important that parents know what medications are okay for treating kids’ spring allergies, and that cough and cold medications should -not- be used. “Better medicines to reach for for seasonal allergies are going to be your antihistamines,” Yanny says, “the non-drowsy oral medicines and they come in liquid or pill form, and when kiddos have a lot of stuffy nose or itchy eyes, they can even add in a nasal steroid spray or allergy eye drops.”

Some 81-million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, and Iowa chalked up some of the nation’s highest pollen counts in April of 2024.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Red Oak was arrested Monday afternoon on an assault charge. According to Red Oak Police, 20-year-old Sebastian Michael Thompson was arrested at around 2-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault (A Simple Misdemeanor). Thompson was being held without bond, in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has sent the governor a bill to lower the minimum age for possessing a handgun from 21 to 18. Senator Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf, says lowering the age would let more young people have a gun to protect themselves. “As the father of an 18 year old, almost 19, I believe that my daughter has the constitutional right to be able to defend herself, no different than anybody else,” Webster said. “She’s 18 years old. She’s an adult. She can vote. She has that right.”

A 2022 U-S Supreme Court ruling on gun rights has led to some federal judges overturning state laws that bar 18, 19 and 20 year olds from owning or possessing a handgun or pistol. Senator Mike Zimmer, a Democrat from DeWitt who’s a retired teacher and coach, says he’s worried about students in high schools who are 18 years old having access to a handgun on school grounds. “A sidearm or a handgun is a different situation, it’s ability to be concealed,” Zimmer said.

If the governor signs the bill into law, Iowans under the age of 21 would still be prohibited from buying a handgun from a licensed federal dealer. The bill also says a parent or guardian who lets a child under the age of 15 possess a handgun would be liable for any damages the child might cause.