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Republicans propose requiring supermajority vote to raise Iowa income taxes

News

January 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A proposal advancing in the Iowa Senate would amend the Iowa constitution to make it more difficult to raise INCOME taxes. The amendment would require any income tax increase to be approved by a two-thirds supermajority in the House and Senate. Republican Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City says the requirement would help Iowa be more competitive with South Dakota, which does not have a state income tax.

“In our part of the state we have seen so many jobs drive across the river and take all their tax revenue with them because we don’t have any competitive footing on taxes with South Dakota,” Carlin says. Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, says it would make it harder for lawmakers to raise the INCOME tax in order to cut OTHER taxes, like the state sales tax.

“This piece of legislation would protect the wealthiest individuals in our state from paying their fair share,” Dotzler said. If the proposal clears five other hurdles in the legislature this year, it would still have to be approved again by the legislature sometime in the following two years before Iowans could vote on it in 2022.

In 1999, Iowa voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have limited state spending. In 2010, Iowa voters approved an amendment setting up a new state water conservation and outdoor recreation fund, to be filled the next time the sales tax is raised.

Posted in News |

IA School Superintendents: Small Funding Increases Won’t Do

News

January 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) Des Moines, IA – Iowa lawmakers kicked off the 2020 legislative session this week and already, school funding has become a key topic. The state has increased spending for K-through-12 students in recent years, but education advocates are convinced state leaders could be doing more. The past few school-funding increases have been between one and two percent. Roark Horn, executive director of School Administrators of Iowa, says people in charge of the school districts are telling him that isn’t enough to keep up with their annual costs.

“You think about the increase in health insurance costs, [that] would be an example. Those are not something districts can necessarily contain.” Horn’s group is asking for a three-point-75 percent increase in state funding to help with those rising expenses. In a statement, Governor Kim Reynolds says she’ll propose a two-and-a-half percent hike, but declined to say whether she’d endorse anything beyond that amount.

She says her increase builds on “historic investments in K-through-12 funding. But those who want to see more school spending say that can be misleading – since recent hikes don’t match with inflation. Horn says the school administrators realize that what the governor is proposing is a larger increase than what they’ve seen in recent years. But they still feel they owe it to students and parents to ask for more.

“It’s really not enough to be able to provide the education that I think Iowans expect out of their schools.”  After accounting for salaries, he adds, most districts only have about 20-percent of their funds left to deal with extra but important costs, such as health insurance and facilities. He says cutting into salaries, which are negotiated, is hard because they want to attract quality teachers.

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the area: 1/24/20

Weather

January 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Today: A chance of snow and freezing drizzle before 9am, then a chance of snow between 9am and 4pm. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 30. Blustery, with a north wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 18. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. West northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tom. Night:: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Calm wind.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 32.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 36. Our Low 30. We received a little more than a trace of snow and drizzle yesterday. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 23 and the Low was -12. The record High for Jan. 24th in Atlantic, was 66 in 1981. The Record Low was -24 in 1894.

Posted in Weather |

Midwest Sports Headlines: 1/24/2020

Sports

January 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kathleen Doyle scored 13 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 19 Iowa defeat Ohio State 77-68. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder picked up her 200th Big Ten win while the Hawkeyes won their seventh straight game and 31st consecutive at home. They are tied atop the Big Ten with No. 22 Northwestern. Dorka Juhasz scored 22 points with 16 rebounds for the Buckeyes.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 takes a break from conference play this weekend when its teams match up with members of the Southeastern Conference for the SEC-Big 12 Challenge. Third-ranked Kansas will be without suspended big men Silvio De Sousa and David McCormick when they face former Texas coach Rick Barnes and Tennessee on Saturday. Top-ranked Baylor heads to Florida and No. 18 Kentucky welcomes No. 15 Kentucky in the other two big showdowns Saturday.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — KJ Robinson matched his season high with 24 points that included five in overtime to help Omaha beat Western Illinois 87-82. Robinson had a chance to win it in regulation, but Zion Young blocked his layup attempt with 3 seconds left to force overtime knotted at 72. Robinson added a 3-pointer, and a pair of free throws with 2 seconds left to seal it. Matt Pile added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Omaha. Kobe Webster scored 17 points to lead the Leathernecks.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Keandre Cook poured in 27 points and Missouri State jumped out to a big first-half lead and held off Valparaiso 67-60. Cook buried 6 of 12 shots from the floor and 12 of 16 free throws for the Bears (10-10, 4-3 Missouri Valley Conference). Mileek McMillan topped the Crusaders (10-10, 3-4) with 12 points, while Javon Freeman-Liberty and Daniel Sackey scored 11 each.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 21 Illinois is tied for first place in the Big Ten heading into a matchup at Michigan on Saturday. The Illini are even with Michigan State after the 11th-ranked Spartans lost at Indiana on Thursday night. That’s a big deal for Illinois, which hasn’t finished above .500 in conference play since 2010. Coach Brad Underwood’s team has won five straight games, and the Illini now face a Michigan team that’s going through a rough stretch. The Wolverines, who have been without injured forward Isaiah Livers, have lost three in a row and four of their last five. Illinois beat Michigan 71-62 when the teams met in December.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Terrell Suggs joined the Kansas City Chiefs at the perfect time. The 17-year veteran was waived by the Arizona Cardinals late in the season and claimed by the Chiefs, joining them in time for the final two games of the regular season. He has continued to play well for Kansas City during the playoffs, and now the Chiefs are leaning on his Super Bowl experience as they get ready to play the San Francisco 49ers in the big game. The guy nicknamed “T-Sizzle” certainly has the Chiefs sizzling as they get ready for the pomp and circumstance of Miami.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals star catcher Salvador Perez is about to become a U.S. citizen. The Royals say Perez passed his citizenship exam earlier this month and will be be joined by Chief U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips on the Royals FanFest main stage Friday at the Kansas City Convention Center to take the oath of allegiance. He says he is “grateful to this country for the many opportunities I have been given; including the ability to play professional baseball.” Perez was sidelined last season by Tommy John surgery but is preparing to return to the roster this year.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, 1/24/2020

News

January 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

CORNING, Iowa (KJAN) – A collision Thursday afternoon in Adams County between a semi-tractor and a passenger van has claimed the life of a Coon Rapids man. The Iowa State Patrol reports 64-year old Jerome Koester, of Coon Rapids died, when he pulled away from a stop sign near Highway 34 and Highway 148, and his van was struck be a semi tractor, driven by a man from Lenox. The accident, which happened at around 1:20-p.m., remains under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With all eyes on Democrats as they prepare to cast their ballots in Iowa’s kickoff caucuses, President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is working to try to persuade Republican voters that they should turn out at their caucus sites, too. The push is complete with a presidential rally next week, GOP-led training sessions and a new video featuring the president’s daughter-in-law. It makes clear that the campaign is trying to avoid the optics of empty Republican rooms on caucus night juxtaposed with Democratic gatherings brimming with enthusiastic voters and keep the focus on Trump.

STANTON, Iowa (AP) — The impeachment trial that got underway this week is happening at an inopportune time for all four senators in the Democratic primary. But it’s a particularly bad moment for Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The three-term senator built her campaign on a strategy of a slow and steady build in Iowa. She spent campaign funds conservatively all year, hoping a late surge would bring a strong showing in Iowa and catapult her to the top tier in New Hampshire and beyond. Now her absence from the campaign trail could blunt the gains from what Klobuchar described Wednesday as “quite a 48 hours.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Environmental groups and community activists rallied at the Iowa Capitol to push lawmakers to consider halting the growth of hog farms in the state. Food and Water Watch and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement sponsored the Thursday event. They have sued the state, claiming it has violated its obligation to protect the Raccoon River from hog farm pollution. Activists at the rally called on lawmakers to consider a House bill introduced last year that would impose a moratorium on hog farm expansion. The bill sponsored by a group of Democrats was not assigned by Republican leaders to a subcommittee for discussion.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A resolution amending the Iowa Constitution to declare there is no right to an abortion in the state has passed a Senate committee, making it eligible for floor debate. The measure passed Thursday with only Republican votes from the Senate State Government Committee. Republican Sen. Jake Chapman has long been disturbed by a 2018 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that gave women the right to control their bodies. He calls the decision judicial tyranny and says the amendment restores the people’s voice. The amendment must pass the legislature this year, again next year and then would go to voters as early as 2022.

Posted in News |

Doyle scores 26, No. 19 Iowa women defeat Ohio State

Sports

January 24th, 2020 by admin

Kathleen Doyle scored 13 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 19 Iowa defeat Ohio State 77-68. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder picked up her 200th Big Ten win while the Hawkeyes won their seventh straight game and 31st consecutive at home. They are tied atop the Big Ten with No. 22 Northwestern. Dorka Juhasz scored 22 points with 16 rebounds for the Buckeyes.

Posted in Sports |

High School Wrestling Scoreboard Thursday 01/23/2020

Sports

January 24th, 2020 by admin

TRI AT GLENWOOD

Atlantic-CAM 63 Clarinda 18
Atlantic-CAM 45 Glenwood 28
Clarinda 37 Glenwood 33

QUAD AT HARLAN 

Harlan 58 AHSTW 18
Harlan 58 Kuemper Catholic 24
Harlan 42 Red Oak 31
Red Oak 43, AHSTW 36
Red Oak 46 Kuemper Catholic 28
Kuemper Catholic 37 AHSTW 36

QUAD AT SHENANDOAH

Creston-OM 53 Riverside 18
Creston-OM 76 Shenandoah 3
Creston-OM 82 Denison-Schleswig 0
Riverside 59 Denison-Schleswig 18
Riverside 66 Shenandoah 5
Denison-Schleswig 66 Shenandoah 6

AT DES MOINES EAST

Des Moines East 70 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 6
Des Moines Roosevelt 47 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 30

AT PERRY

Carlisle 78 Coon Rapids-Bayard 4
Perry 72 Coon Rapids-Bayard 12

QUAD AT WOODBINE

Underwood 61 St. Albert 10
Underwood 57 Treynor 15
Underwood 69 Woodbine 12
Treynor 50 St. Albert 25
Treynor 63 Woodbine 12
St. Albert 48 Woodbine 15

Posted in Sports |

High School Basketball Scoreboard Thursday 01/23/2020

Sports

January 24th, 2020 by admin

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Atlantic 67, Des Moines North 36

Western Iowa Conference

Audubon 69 Tri-Center 35
Underwood 53 Boyer Valley 39

Rolling Valley Conference

CAM, Anita 68 ACGC 57
West Harrison 71 Whiting 34

Pride of Iowa Conference

Bedford 48 Clarke 45
Earlham 56 Lenox 36
Southeast Warren 62 Moulton-Udell 49
Southwest Valley 67 East Union 37

Corner Conference

Diagonal 61 Essex 54

 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Corner Conference Tournament Semifinals

Stanton 60, Sidney 45
East Mills 58, Fremont-Mills 40

Western Iowa Conference

Tri-Center 56, Audubon 48

Pride of Iowa Conference

Bedford 66, Clarke 53
Earlham 86 Lenox 45
Martensdale-St. Marys 69 Saydel 32
Southwest Valley 64, East Union 54

Rolling Valley Conference

ACGC 72 CAM 66 OT
Boyer Valley 53 Underwood 40
West Harrison 79 Whiting 21

Other Scores

Diagonal 72 Essex 34

Posted in Sports |

AC/GC rallies and grabs overtime win over CAM boys

Sports

January 23rd, 2020 by admin

The AC/GC Chargers sank 10 of 14 free throw attempts in overtime and grabbed a 72-66 win over the CAM Cougars on Thursday night in boys hoops. The Chargers rallied from 7 points down in the final minute to force the extra session, and then came through at the line. CAM Head Coach Nick Hodges was disappointed that his team didn’t hit the free throws they needed down the stretch in regulation.

It was a good back and forth ballgame for the entire night, with a total of 8 lead changes. The Cougars led at the end of the first 17-14 but the Chargers grabbed a 36-28 lead by halftime, and they lead by four at the end of the third. A scoring error in the fourth quarter made things awkward down the stretch. CAM had jumped in front 58-52 and Jacob Holste headed to the foul line for two shots. He made both free throws but only one was added to the scoreboard. Bryce Littler then hit a three before Nate Hensley was fouled going the other way. Coach Hodges appealed to the officials to check on the score but the home book apparently matched the scoreboard so it was left 59-55 after the Littler 3. Littler eventually buried another three to tie the game at 60, and ultimately send it to overtime.  Coach Hodges said the error shouldn’t have mattered with the lead the Cougars gave away.

AC/GC was led by 19 points from Littler and  17 points from Quynton Younker. The Chargers improved to 6-7 with the victory and they head to Panorama for a conference game on Friday.

CAM got officially 16 points from Jacob Holste and 13 from Ethan Arp. The Cougars fall to 9-4 and have now lost 4 of their last 6 games. The Cougars travel to Ar-We-Va on Friday.

Posted in Sports |

Spieker helps propel CAM girls to win over AC/GC

Sports

January 23rd, 2020 by admin

Allison Spieker scored the first 11 points of the second half for the CAM Cougars and propelled them to a 68-57 win over AC/GC. Spieker finished the night as the high scorer with 15 points. Allison said making an early shot in the half gave her confidence.

The game started a little sloppy for CAM with a few turnovers against the AC/GC press and the Chargers took advantage with a 7-0 start to the game. CAM settled in an ripped off 14 unanswered to take the lead. CAM Head Coach Joe Wollum said the girls settled in well after the poor start.

The Cougars led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Chargers would take a brief lead in the second period but CAM got a late three from Reese Snyder to take a 29-26 edge into the half. Spieker’s big third quarter allowed the Cougars to extend that lead to ten after three quarters at 50-40. Coach Wollum was proud of Spieker’s effort.

The Cougars had three other player finish in double figures; Marissa Spieker and Mallory Behnken both had 12, and Sammi Jahde added 11 points. The Cougars improve to 12-2 on the season and will head to Ar-We-Va on Friday night.

AC/GC was led by 15 points from Alaina Bunde and 10 each from Kendra Campbell and Kennedy Young. The Chargers fall to 8-5 and will travel to Panorama on Friday.

Posted in Sports |