(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is backing a plan to charge students from the six states that surround Iowa the same, LOWER tuition rate Iowa residents pay at the University of Northern Iowa. U-N-I president Mark Nook says it’s a creative approach to one of the state’s challenges.  “We’ve got to find a way to grow the number of workers in this state and that means grow the population,” Nook says. Between 45 to 50 percent of U-N-I graduates wind up taking a job in Iowa and Nook says U-N-I is offering degrees in workforce shortages areas, like nursing.

“At the University of Northern Iowa, we have capacity for more students,” Nook says. “We currently have about 9300 students. We’ve have facilities that we could go to 13,000 fairly comfortably. I’m told we had as many as 14,000 on our campus in the past. I was told that was a little tight, but we could handle up to 13,000.” About 450 current students at the University of Northern Iowa come from the six states that surround Iowa.

Governor Kim Reynolds is recommending the legislature provide U-N-I with three MILLION dollars a year to replace the proposed reduction in out of state tuition. Nook estimates once a new batch of out-of-state students paying in-state tuition graduate, up to 300 of them would take a job in Iowa each year. “They’re each leaving us $10,000 in tuition for four years and $10,000 in room and board whether it’s to us — UNI — or to private rental properties in Cedar Falls,” Nook says. “…While they’re being educated, they will leave $54 million in the Iowa economy every single year.”

Wisconsin residents may pay in-state tuition at public universities in Minnesota and Minnesotans who go to public universities in Wisconsin can pay the same rate as Wisconsin residents.

(AGENDA UPDATED 2/11/25: PUBLIC AGENDA 02122025 #2 )

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting this Wednesday evening (Feb. 12th), beginning at 6:30-p.m., in the High School Media Center. Among the items on their agenda, is discussion with regard to the 2025-2026 Proposed District Calendar(s) and the setting of a Public Hearing on the proposed calendar(s).

The Board will also review FY2026 Tax Rate options and due dates, and then set the dates for two public hearings on the FY 26 Budget. They are also expected to act on approving an agreement with Partnership for Progress, and the following personnel matters:

Resignations:

• Aubrey Schuler, Para resignation, effective January 30, 2025
• Casandra Van Ert, Para resignation, effective February 7, 2025
• Mandy Parks, Middle School Secretary, effective February 7, 2025
• Chelsea McCunn, Elementary teacher resignation, effective end of current school year
• Nicole Holst, Elementary teacher resignation, effective end of current school year
• Mikayla Stockhaus, Supplemental position, High School Musical Director, effective end of current school year
• Mikayla Stockhaus, Vocal teacher resignation, effective end of current school year

Terminations:

• Custodian, effective January 24, 2025
• Nutrition Cook, effective February 3, 2025

Recommendation to Hire:

• Bryan Guy-Notice of Transfer: from high school evening custodian to elementary daytime custodian
• Caine Page from substitute bus driver to transportation assistant
• Ligia Cohrs, substitute bus paraprofessional
• Chris Melanson, high school evening custodian
• Ella Bryant, Washington Elementary and Achievement Center custodian
• Crystal Sunderman, Substitute custodian

The meeting will be held live, in-person, and viewable through YouTube.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra says extending the tax cuts from Donald Trump’s first term is one key in restoring the economy. He says those 2017 cuts doubled the standard tax deduction, made sure that our businesses got a 20 percent reduction, corporate got 21 percent baseline tax, and included the Child Tax Credit.

Feenstra says all these things will sunset if they aren’t extended. The Republican from Hull is on the House Ways and Means Committee and says a group of Ways and Means members had a meeting with the administration on how we move forward without creating any more debt.

(Radio Iowa) – There was a 33 percent increase in the amount of money Americans spent on home improvement projects between 2021 and 2023. If you are looking to renovate rather than move, you can see the latest trends at the Des Moines Home and Garden Show, which opens this weekend at the Iowa Events Center. Amber Shaw is a managers of the event. “More than 350 local home experts all under one roof, there to provide inspiration for homeowners, homeowners that are just starting out a project or have a project in mind in any sphere of a home project,” Shaw says.

“Really, every resource that you would need, all under one roof, and with the convenience of being able to shop and compare pricing while you’re there, which is great.” This year’s celebrity headliners are Chelsea and Cole DeBoer, who built their dream home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and host a hit remodeling show. “They have the hit HGTV show, ‘Down Home Fab.’ We’re excited to have them in because they are a couple that tackles home projects together,” Shaw says. “We think it matches well with Valentine’s weekend, where we can provide couples, hopefully at the show, with some inspiration and confidence that they can tackle a home project together as a couple, too, and still love each other in the end.”

The four-day event features the Made in Iowa Market, showcasing products from Iowa artisans, giving visitors the chance to shop for handcrafted items while supporting local businesses. “We bring a lot of really great educational components to the shows, too, which I think people really respect and appreciate,” Shaw says. “That stage is filled with presentations throughout the weekend, from gardening tips everyone should know to the art of making a perfect floral arrangement to farm to table dinners and things like that.” The show runs Thursday through Sunday.

(On the web at DesMoinesHomeAndGardenShow.com)

(Griswold, Iowa) – An upcoming Agriculture Legislative Forum will be held on February 22nd at 9:00am at the Griswold Public Library. For more information, see the flyer below:

WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship passed a bipartisan bill to increase the availability of child care for small business owners and working families. The Small Business Child Care Investment Act led by Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) would allow non-profit child care providers, including religious organizations, to participate in the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs.

“One of the biggest pressures on working families is access to high-quality, affordable child care,” said Ernst. “By advancing this bill, we are one step closer to clearing the red tape and expanding options, especially in rural communities. Not only will it drive down costs for Iowans, but it will strengthen the workforce and make it easier for small businesses to hire and retain capable staff.”

“The lack of affordable, quality child care options is hurting hardworking Nevada families and forcing them to make tough financial choices,” said Rosen. “That’s why I’ve been working across the aisle to pass my bipartisan bill to help lower costs by increasing access to affordable child care in our state. This legislation will help nonprofits, community organizations, churches, synagogues, and others to set up or expand child care centers, and I’m glad to see it advance out of committee today.”

The Small Business Child Care Investment Act would:

• Ensure that qualified non-profit providers have equal access to key SBA loan options that allow providers to invest in and expand their operations;
• Create local jobs and give working families more options for affordable and quality child care; and
• Protect religiously-affiliated non-profit providers’ access to the larger and more flexible loan programs like 7(a) and 504 that can be used for real estate, construction, remodeling, and other expenses critical to maintaining and expanding high-quality child care operations.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order late this (Monday) morning creating an Iowa “Department of Government Efficiency” task force.  “It’s work will be organized around three broad goals: maximizing return on taxpayer investment, further refining our workforce and job training programs,” Reynolds said, “and leveraging technology, such as artificial intelligence.”

Reynolds plans to appoint up to 20 business executives and local government officials to the task force. She’s already named the leader of the group. It’s Emily Schmitt, the chief administrative officer and general counsel for Sukup Manufacturing in Sheffield. “In manufacturing, we continually do this every day,” she said, “We move layouts, we switch machines different pieces are made on, and we also integrate technology to reduce heavy workloads or duties which all leads to a better employee engagement.”

Reynolds describes this “Iowa DOGE” effort as the next step to her state government realignment plans which merged, consolidated and eliminated a number of state operations. She says the goal is to make state government run like a business, so the task force will examine potential efficiencies in Iowa local government. “We need to work with the federal government, we need to work with local government and figure out how we can streamline all our processes and if there’s duplication happening — well, guess what? — that’s a cost to the taxpayers,” he said. “…We have to obligation to be responsible to them.”

Reynolds signs order creating Iowa ‘DOGE’ task force

An account called “Iowa DOGE” has been created on X, formerly known as Twitter, to seek public input. Once the task force has its first meeting, Reynolds says she’ll expect its report 180 days later.  “I want the expertise to come to the table,” Reynolds said, “encourage Iowans all across the state to look at different ideas they may have.” Reynolds says her task force will not have the same kind of powers Elon Musk and his team have had to implement immediate changes in the federal government.

Reynolds will review the report from the Iowa DOGE task force and compile a package of recommendations for the legislature NEXT year. “In Iowa, we have a different process. We balance our budget. We have a surplus,” Reynolds says. “We’re saving taxpayer dollars by continuing to look at how we can make it more efficient and more effective.”

Reynolds says government isn’t a family business and she won’t rule out layoffs in state or local government if that’s in the task force’s report.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A rollover accident resulted in minor injuries and an arrest Saturday afternoon, in Guthrie County. The Sheriff’s Office reports an SUV traveling at excessive speed on 315th Road went out of control and entered a ditch and struck a culvert before rolling over and hitting the ground a second time – about 30 feet from where the vehicle first impacted the terrain. The accident happened at around 2:10-p.m.

Authorities say the driver of SUV, 35-year-old Alexander Oponski Sims, of Adel, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered suspected minor, non-incapacitating injuries, but refused medical treatment. He was arrested on charges unrelated to the accident and cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the SUV – a 2013 Dodge Journey – was estimated at $15,000. The vehicle was a total loss.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports that on February 4th, 2025, they received multiple car burglary and theft reports, involving stolen wallets, cash, and debit/credit cards from Diamondhead Lake. Victims provided the Sheriff’s Office home security footage of the suspect(s) and the suspect(s) vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office, lifted fingerprints off one of the victims’ vehicles, presuming to be that of the suspect(s). It was discovered that one of the stolen credit cards was used at the Wal-Mart and Lowes stores in West Des Moines. Security footage from both stores were provided to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, showing the suspect(s) committing the transactions.

The suspect(s) were identified as being the same individual(s) from the victim’s residences, and could be seen entering and leaving the stores in the same suspect(s) vehicle. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist, and their license plate readers confirmed that the registered owner of the vehicle was located in Kansas. It was discovered that the vehicles registered owner admitted his son and his son’s girlfriend had taken his vehicle approximately 30 days prior and has not seen them since.

When running a driver’s license check through Kansas, the suspect(s) can be 100% identified and confirmed as being the suspect(s) in the Lowes/Wal-Mart security footage. The suspect(s) are believed to be out of the area, and continuing their crime spree in the same manner. Authorities remind citizens to “Please remember to lock your vehicle doors and do not leave items of value in them overnight.”

Criminal charges are pending and the Sheriff’s Office appreciates the help and intel from all participating law enforcement agencies.