(Radio Iowa) – Iowa U-S Senator Chuck Grassley met Monday with President Trump’s nominee for commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, who he says has “very aggressive plans” for overhauling the agency. Grassley, a Republican who serves on the Senate’s Budget and Finance committees, says it will be difficult for former Missouri U-S Representative Billy Long to accomplish all he’s hoping to do at the I-R-S. Grassley says, “He says he’s going to change the IRS letters to something that — I don’t know exactly the three letters he gave us, but it’s to make IRS a more friendly organization.” If he is placed in charge of the agency and its 90-thousand workers, Grassley says Long would have an uphill battle trying to change the public’s long-held perceptions of the I-R-S, which collected some four-point-seven trillion dollars in gross taxes during Fiscal Year 2023.

“Instead of being feared, he wants to be a service for the American people, and we ought to applaud him on that because the IRS is actually feared by people,” Grassley says. “If you get a letter from the IRS, it just scares the heck out of you.” Grassley says he told Long, if he becomes commissioner, how important it is that he respond to inquiries from Congress as they relate to government oversight. “I asked him to reinstate the IRS whistle blowers, (Gary) Shapley and (Joe) Ziegler, that were so prominent, whistle blowers, blowing the whistle on Hunter Biden not paying his taxes, and they were treated like skunks at a picnic,” Grassley says. “And they ought to have their job back. They ought to have even a promotion.”

Grassley says he also told Long about legislation he got passed in 2005 that focused on blowing the whistle on corporations that evade paying taxes. He says it’s brought the U-S Treasury more than six-billion dollars, but Grassley says the I-R-S isn’t making adequate use of that law and could be netting much more money from corporate tax evaders.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Ringgold County woman was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning in Creston. The Creston Police Department says 49-year-old Robin Louise Hoskins, of Diagonal, was arrested at around 2:15-a.m., following a traffic stop. Hoskins was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine-1st Offense, and Interference with Official Acts. She was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted a $2,300 bond, before being released.

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Republican Representative Zach Nunn, from Iowa’s 3rd District, Monday, introduced bipartisan legislation to help prevent another infant formula shortage. The Infant Formula Made in America Act of 2025, which is co-led by U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), will diversify the formula supply chain by supporting small-sized manufacturers based in the United States. In a press release, Representative Nunn said “Just few years ago, millions of parents were scrambling to feed their babies – some even traveling miles or paying out-of-this-world prices just to get the formula their child needed. We may be past that crisis now, but we should work to stop this from ever happening again. By supporting small-sized American manufacturers making infant formula, we can prevent another shortage and keep children fed and happy.”

In May 2022, the infant formula shortage hit critical levels as nationwide out-of-stock rates reached 70% with just two brands accounting for 60% of the shortfall. The shortage was the result of not only the pandemic but also a February 2022 recall from a facility estimated to produce 43% of the total consumption of formula in the U.S. The shutdown immediately skyrocketed out-of-stock levels of infant formula to 25%, up from 11% in December 2021, and continued to increase into the summer.

Infant formula is the most highly regulated food. In the U.S., oversight and regulation of infant formula is akin to pharmaceuticals rather than food products. Due to the high and costly barriers to entry, there had not been a single new manufacturer registered with the FDA in 15 years until 2022. The bipartisan Infant Formula Made in America Act of 2025 would create a transferable tax credit for small, domestic infant formula manufacturers across the nation. For any taxable year, manufacturers may receive a credit equal to 30% of their qualified investment, including manufacturers impacted during the height of the infant formula shortage crisis in 2022. Additionally, this bill provides a production tax credit to allow companies to receive $2.00 per pound of infant formula produced.

Text of the bill can be found here.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a regular, monthly meeting beginning at 6:30-p.m., Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. The Board is scheduled to receive comments from Pete and Aubrey Molgaard, and act on the resignations or retirements of: A Communications Specialist, and Middle School Football Coach. They are also expected to act on the following recommendations to hire:

• Softball Coaches for 7th and 8th Grade: Brett Johnson – 8th grade; Makenna Askeland – 7th grade
• Assistant Girls Soccer Coach, Irelyn Gundy
• Volunteer Coaches for 2025 Spring and Summer sports
• Internal Transfer Teacher for 25-26, Dara Bartz
• Substitute Bus Driver, Harrison Hoegh
• Building Secretary, Emma Langer
• Teachers for 25-26: Bri Wilson; Val Torres;Ben Andersen and Ashley Coffman.

The Atlantic School Board will then discuss the 2025-26 School Calendar, and FY26 Property Tax Levy. They’re expected to set March 26th at 6:30-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on the 25-26 Calendar and Budget. The hearing will take place in the HS Media Center. The Board will hold a closed session for an evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, and consider a National Honor Society (NHS) request for an April 11th fundraiser.

Public AGENDA 03122025

(Montgomery County, Iowa) – Area firefighters battled a brush fire next to a residence southwest of Villisca, Monday evening. Crews from the Villisca, and Stanton Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene in the 2700 block of S Avenue, at around 6:40-p.m. The fire was near a residence and extended into a field.

According to Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce when the first crews arrived, they saw the fire extending into a field from the structure’s north side. Those crews were able to suppress the fire. Despite the close proximity of the flames to the structure, no damage to the residence was visible.  Minor damage was reported to the surrounding residential utility units and residential siding, though. No injuries reported.

Red Oak FD photo

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County and Page County Communications provided assistance during the incident. Personnel with the Clarinda Fire Department were initially dispatched to the scene, but were told to cancel while they were en route.

(Radio Iowa) – Cases of measles are being reported in a dozen states, with outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. So far, there are no outbreaks reported in Iowa — or in any Midwestern state — but that could quickly change. Megan Meller, an infection preventionist with Gundersen Health, says measles is an airborne, extremely infectious, and potentially-severe rash illness and most of the cases are in populations of people who are unvaccinated. “Measles is very preventable,” Meller says. “There’s two vaccines that children get in their youth, and it prevents measles infections, and what it’s nice about is it prevents you from spreading measles to other people. So it not only protects you, but it protects others as well.”

Meller says she understands some people have concerns about vaccines, but she says the evidence in favor of vaccines is “astoundingly solid.” She says it’s vital to stay up-to-date on shots. “One of the things that I think we tend to forget as a society is that there are individuals out there who are immuno-compromised, or who can’t otherwise protect themselves or who can’t get vaccinations, who can be protected because you get protected,” Meller says. “Also young children. They have to be a certain age before they can get a measles vaccine, so that means at that really critical period of development, they’re completely vulnerable.” The C-D-C reports more than 200 measles cases this year in 12 states: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington.

What they measles look like on human skin.

“Currently, there aren’t any cases of measles identified within any of the Midwest states. That’s not to say that can’t happen in the future, because people travel all the time,” Meller says. “It’s really important if you are vaccinated, or if you’re unsure about your vaccination status, to talk to your healthcare provider.” Before the measles vaccine came out in the early 1960s, the disease caused some 48-thousand people in the U-S to be hospitalized, and up to 500 deaths each year. While most children are vaccinated now, she notes, adults may be eligible for a measles booster that can offer more protection.

“It’s really important to protect those who can’t be protected, and it’s such a simple act to get immunized,” Meller says. “One of the other things, too, with measles is that there can be some very rare complications, and we’re starting to hear about that now in the media — of a child who recently passed away. These are rare complications, but they are also easily preventable through getting a vaccination.” Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has voted to move ahead with selling the 48-year-old Wallace State Office building that sits across from the State Capitol. The building has a series of issues and Governor Kim Reynolds recommended it be torn down. Democrat Senator Cindy Winckler of Davenport spoke out against selling the property. “Makes no sense at all, in my opinion, and I think that people, the public, will be disappointed to find that we have eliminated parking,” she says. The building has a parking ramp as well. Winckler says she understands the building is not salvageable. “But I wish that we would take some additional time and figure out an appropriate use of prime real estate next to the Capitol,” she says.

Fellow Democrat Bill Dotzler of Waterloo says the parking is important because it is across from the State Historical Society and parking is at a premium around the capitol complex. Dotzler says he doesn’t like giving up prime property near the capitol. “Once you give away or sell a piece of property in this complex, somebody else can own it. They put up whatever, basically what they want,” Dotzler says. Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom of Pella answered the concerns. “As far as ownership of the land, perhaps you make a valid point with that. On one hand, on the other hand, the state of Iowa doesn’t have any business being the real estate business. That’s not what we do,” Rozenboom says. He also addressed Dotzler on the parking ramp issue.

Wallace State Office Building

“The parking ramp senator is exclusively for use of the people that work in the Wallace Building. It is not open to the public, so this perhaps, would make that ramp available for you when you want to go to the legislative reception across the street or down the street,” he says. All of the state employees who had worked in the building have moved out. Representative Gary Mohr, a Republican from Bettendorf who is chair of the House Appropriations Committee expressed concern last month about selling off the property. He told Radio Iowa they don’t need to make a quick decision on the issue.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship launched a $70,000 pilot program Monday to help schools purchase local meat, poultry, produce, dairy, eggs or honey through the Choose Iowa program. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, schools are eligible for a dollar for dollar match up to $1,000 per building, which means up to $2,000, per participant will go to local food producers. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig called the program a “win for everyone involved.”

“Students are served fresh, locally produced foods. Schools can support and build relationships with Choose Iowa members in their communities,” Naig said in a press release. “School food service programs create new markets for small and beginning farmers to sell their products, and that helps generate economic activity in rural communities.” Choose Iowa is a state-run program that identifies, brands and promotes Iowa grown and raised foods, beverages and products. The pilot purchasing program was authorized by the Legislature in 2024, and its first tranche, which helped food banks in Iowa purchase from local producers, launched over the summer. This pilot program allocated $225,000 in total to food banks that purchased from local growers.

Specialty crop growers and local food advocates hope to see the purchasing programs, which are currently in the pilot stage, funded permanently. Naig also stressed the importance of Choose Iowa when talking to lawmakers about the department’s funding for the upcoming fiscal year in an appropriations subcommittee. According to a 2021 study by researchers at Iowa State University, about 95% of table food consumed in Iowa is grown outside of the state.

The Iowa Food System Coalition said local food purchases made by institutions like schools, hospitals and food banks are “essential” to strengthening a local food system and supporting more farmers to grow fruits, vegetables and other crops that end up on Iowa tables. The coalition has listed a number of 2025 legislative priorities, including a push to make the Choose Iowa purchasing program permanent. Choose Iowa has more than 170 members across the state who sell Iowa-made products from meat and vegetables to prepared foods and goods. Schools must purchase from Choose Iowa members to be eligible for the funding. “I strongly encourage schools around the state to apply for participation in this purchasing program,” Naig said.

Iowa producers can become Choose Iowa members online. Interested schools can apply for the pilot purchasing program online through April 7. IDALS said participating schools will be announced in April, and reimbursement for schools will begin in the fall school semester.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A Henry County family is suing the sheriff  for false arrest and malicious prosecution, alleging the county has waged a campaign of “wild west justice” against them.
Curtis and Lori Wagler are suing Sheriff Rich McNamee, Henry County Deputy Carlos Lopez, and the county in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. They allege Lopez’s conduct was “so clearly abusive and in violation of the law that he earned his way to being the sole member of the county’s Brady-Giglio list” – a reference to the list of law enforcement officers known by prosecutors to have been untruthful in the course of their police work.

The lawsuit, originally filed in state court before being transferred last week to federal court, says the Waglers own a family lumber business called Outdoor Tradition. On April 21, 2023, Lopez and seven other police officers are alleged to have arrived at the Wagler home to execute a search warrant allowing them to seize financial records related to Outdoor Tradition. The couple and their 20-year-old son, Owen, were arrested on 10 felony counts each, the lawsuit claims, and Curtis allegedly was subjected to two body-cavity searches.

The Waglers were released later that day and returned home to find “their belongings were all over the floor,” with closets “ripped out” and their house ransacked by police, the lawsuit claims. It also alleges that Lopez then “commenced a smear campaign against the Waglers” and contacted the couple’s customers claiming they were being scammed and defrauded. In early November 2023, the criminal case against the Waglers was dismissed by Henry County Attorney Darin Stater, the lawsuit states.

In December 2023, Stater placed Lopez on the county’s Brady-Giglio list, citing the April 21 incident. Since then, the lawsuit claims, the sheriff’s office has publicly claimed the Waglers are being “actively investigated” and has continued to imply they are engaged in criminal activity. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for unlawful arrest, illegal search, assault, battery and malicious prosecution.