(UPDATE) [Radio Iowa] – A two-month-long stalemate among House and Senate Republicans over general state funding for students in Iowa’s K-12 schools has been resolved.

All but one Republican in the Iowa Senate have voted for a 2% increase in per pupil state funding for students in public and private schools. The final plan includes House GOP priorities – more money for schools with high transportation costs along with nearly a million dollars so small districts may share more staff.

Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, spoke just before the Senate’s 32-15 vote.

“This bill makes a promise to local school districts that can be kept,” Evans said. “We believe it’s important to be honest with our school districts about the state’s finances and not overpromise.”

House Republicans had pressed for slightly more per pupil spending, at 2.25%, but House Speaker Pat Grassley said it was time for compromise since school districts must certify their budgets April 30.

“We were getting to the timeline where we needed to give some certainty to schools,” Grassley told Radio Iowa, “and at the same continue to provide the support I think our school districts have been asking of us.”

Grassley indicated the House is likely to vote on the school spending package tomorrow and send it to the governor. “Working with the senate and working with the governor, I think we were all able to come to an agreement,” Grassley said, “and, with the clock ticking, it’s good for us to get that certainty for schools.”

State spending for public schools will be nearly $8000 per student. The same amount will be deposited in each state-funded account for private school students. Democrats like Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines say using taxpayer dollars to cover the costs of a private school education is “blowing a hole” in the state budget.

“Ninety-two percent of our children who go to public schools are going to get a measly increase,” Petersen said. “…We would put millions more into our public school districts instead of having (the money) over to wealthy families who are already sending their kids to private schools.”

Evans responded. “This bill continues our focus on funding students over systems,” Evans said. “This proposal continues to demonstrate our commitment to education, dedicating funding to help students in the educational setting that is best for them and will prepare them for future success.”‘

The 2% increase in general state spending amounts to an extra $162 dollars per student.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has brought back a lawsuit in a zoning case involving a Christian conservative group. The Family Leader sought the rezoning of a former pumpkin farm and cornfields in rural Polk County so it could turn it into an office area and events venue. Nearby landowners and the One-thousand Friends of Iowa group sued to stop the rezoning, but the district court ruled they did not have standing to sue.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the landowners do have standing, and One-Thousand Friends should be able to fill in other information in their suit to prove they have members with a direct interest in the zoning.

Three justices dissented on that point, and the case now goes back to the district court.

(Radio Iowa) – The Avenue of the Saints between Charles City and Nashua (Highway 27) is back open after being closed for eight hours by a fire at Hawkeye Mold and Design. Charles City Fire Chief Sam Deverell says the initial call came in just after 8:30 p-m Sunday and firefighters fought the fire until about 11:30 before having to pull back.

“When the scene became unsafe due to several store materials that became involved in the fire, requiring the evacuation of personnel from the immediate scene to a safe location,” he says. Deverell says they also had to get some residents out of the area.

“Residents within a half-mile of the fire in the downwind direction were being told to evacuate by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office,” Deverell says. Deverell says all residents were allowed to return home around noon and the fire continues to “burn itself out.”

No one was inside the facility when the fire started. The State Fire Marshal has been called in to determine the cause of the fire.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department and Atlantic Community School District, Monday (today) announced Officer Ben Sandy joined the Atlantic Police Department in April of 2025, and will be assigned to the role of School Resource Officer (SRO).

Officer Sandy comes to the A-PD with three years of experience as a police officer. He has previously worked for the Centerville Police Department, as a Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy. Officer Sandy is married with three children.

Outside of staying busy with his family, he enjoys woodworking and illustrating in his free time. Officer Sandy is excited to take on the role of SRO and looks forward to working with the staff and students of the Atlantic Community School District.

Officer Ben Sandy, Atlantic’ new School Resource Office (SRO) 4-7-25

Officer Sandy will spend his first week getting to know our town and he will also spend some time shadowing the Shelby County SRO. Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue said beginning next week, the plan is to have Officer Sandy in the schools.

Because of the level of training and knowledge that needs to be learned for this position, Chief Hogue said “We intend for him to use the rest of this school year as an opportunity to acclimate himself to the schools, get to know the students and staff, and begin building relationships for success.”

(Radio Iowa) – A legislator who’s been a volunteer fire fighter for 33 years is sponsoring legislation that could lead to a five-hundred dollar property tax credit for first responders who are volunteers.

Republican Senator Adrian Dickey of Packwood said the idea came after new fire alarms were installed in a local school, prompting several false calls to the local fire department. “(School officials) were apologizing, you know, we do this for free, we take time out of our jobs, leave our families — whatever (and) if there was a way that they could help us a little bit,” Dickey said today, “and that’s a little bit where the idea came from.”

Senator Adrian Dickey (R-Packwood) (official photo)

The proposed property tax credits would be voluntary, not mandatory, giving each county, city and school district authority to decide whether to extend the credit to voluteer fire departments and ambulance services. Dickey said the bill, as written, would let each fire chief set some standards volunteer fire fighters would need to satisfy to qualify for the credit. “He says, all right, you’ve got to make 75% of the calls. You’ve got to make 90% of the training,” Dickey said. “…Let that chief decide what his requirements or what their department’s requirements are going to be to sign off on this.”

The bill cleared a senate subcommittee early this afternoon. Dickey first introduced this concept a few years ago. His call to double the state income tax credit for volunteer fire fighters has failed to become law and Dickey’s proposal a reduced vehicle license fee for volunteer fire fighters has stalled, too.

(Radio Iowa) – Gasoline prices in Iowa have crept up slightly in the past week, but some states are seeing pump prices jump as much as 30-cents since the start of April — and some blame the new international tariffs. Brynna Knapp, spokeswoman for AAA-Iowa, says the changes we’re seeing in the state are common for the season.

“This is typical for the March-April timeframe,” Knapp says, “as demand for gas generally goes up in the spring and we switch into our summer blend from our winter blend of gas.” Knapp says the tariffs President Trump imposed last week on imports are -not- to blame for the latest gas price hikes. She says tariffs on crude and refined oil were excluded from the latest round of tariffs.

Radio Iowa file photo

“So no tariffs on Canadian or Mexican petroleum, and no tariffs on European gasoline cargoes that come into the U-S,” Knapp says, “but it’s too early for us to comment on if they will impact gas prices directly.”

AAA says the current average gas price in Iowa is $3.09 a gallon, up from $3.02 a week ago and from $2.99 a month ago. The current national average is $3.25.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report the City of Atlantic was recently honored with the 2024 Tree City USA Award at the 34th Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Ankeny. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on April 3rd, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.   

“The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees,” says state forester Jeff Goerndt. “Your community has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”

In the picture are Kayla Lyon, Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Dolly Bergmann with Atlantic Trees Forever and Jeff Goerndt, State Forester (Photo courtesy the IA DNR)

 Atlantic was one of 73 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan. 

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI-TV) — A western Iowa man recently accused of murder in a 1989 cold case is pleading not guilty. 61-year-old Robert Allen Davis was arrested in March and charged with first-degree murder, 36 years after the disappearance of Barbara Lenz, his then-girlfriend. Davis, then 25, is believed to be the last person to see Lenz, 31, before her disappearance. Lenz, who lived in Woodbine, has not been seen since. Her body has not been found.

Davis filed a written plea of not guilty in court documents filed Monday morning in Harrison County. Court records say Lenz told others she was scared of Davis just days before her disappearance, and feared he would “kill her if she ever left.” A criminal complaint alleges Davis had assaulted Lenz several times during their two-year relationship, including multiple incidents where he strangled her.

The documents show Davis admitted in 1989 to assaulting Lenz and having a violent temper.

ATLANTIC, IA (April 7, 2025) – Produce in the Park’s “EGG-cellent Spring Celebration Market” is all about farm-fresh eggs. Spring Celebration Market will be held at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022) on Saturday, April 19 from noon to 3:00 PM. Market visitors will find farm-fresh egg vendors, a 4-H poultry exhibitor sharing information and offering a free egg art craft, and Cass Health Dietitian Sarah Andersen sharing information on the benefits and nutrients of eggs, as well as different ways to prepare this versatile food. Cass County Extension will be sharing information on raising chickens, and Sarah Selders will be offering Easter-themed face painting–which of course will feature Easter eggs.

Spring Celebration Market attendees will hear tunes from the Squeezy Pease Accordion Due, get to see a live Easter bunny, and enjoy a free bounce house and playland thanks to the YMCA. Pim’s Thai Food Truck and Lucky Wife Wine Slushies will be parked outside the YMCA during the market.

Vendors at the spring farmers market will offer lots of local vegetables including fresh greens, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, as well as beef, pork, lamb, chicken, honey, and farm-fresh eggs. The market will also offer a variety of baked goods and desserts including gourmet cupcakes, cookies, kringle, pies, rye bread, and other sweet breads. Craft vendors will be selling jewelry, home decorations, candles, wax melts, a variety of bath and body products, and more. Lastly, late April is a great time to buy plants, and vendors will be selling both potted plants and plant starts. As with all Produce in the Park farmers markets, there is no cost to enter the farmers market, and local organizations–including Cass County Tourism and Healthy Cass County–will be at the market sharing information on various community happenings and resources.

All Produce in the Park farmers markets accept SNAP EBT, otherwise known as food stamps, for all qualifying food items. Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications for Spring Celebration Market, and is also now accepting vendor and sponsor applications for summer markets in the Atlantic City Park. Vendor and sponsor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the applications are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Spring Celebration Market Market 2025 is sponsored by Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.
For the latest information on all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).