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.

(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.