(Radio Iowa) – The 2025 Iowa legislature convenes later this (Monday) morning and Republican lawmakers say setting new limits on property taxes is their top priority. House Speaker Pat Grassley says it’s time for a broad conversation that shifts the focus to providing certainty for property tax payers. “I also want to be very aggressive and bold in our aproach to this, because Iowans have an expectation and they’ve seen from the legislature when we work on big things, we’ve been able to achieve results,” Grassley says.

House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl says during the 2024 campaign, lawmakers heard from property owners in every corner of the state. “People want to make sure that their homes are affordable and if they’ve made the investment into their homes that they’re not being taxed out of them,” Windschitl says. “They also want to make sure that if they are paying property taxes that they are being used for the appropriate purposes that property taxes should be used for.” Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican of Wilton is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee where a property tax bill would first be considered.

“Everything’s on the table intentionally so that all options can be considered,” Kaufmann says. “I’ve been having many meetings with the affected stakeholders — cities, counties and planning on meeting with education folks and then, of course, we’ll narrow things down, but only after we’ve had productive conversations about what should or should not be included or eliminated from the bill.” Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says it’s time for a holistic review of Iowa’s complicated property tax system.

House Speaker Pat Grassley on the “Iowa Press” set. (Iowa PBS photo)

“It’s something we hear about on the campaign trail,” Whitver says, “and we want to be responsive to Iowans.” Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Like other key lawmakers, he says a wide array of options will be considered, but Dawson says the focus must be on the taxpayers, not the tax collectors.

“To ensure that some relief gets to those property tax owners out there, we’re going to have to either improve upon what we already have in place to look at going to a different model,” Dawson says. Dawson says property tax CREDITS may also be part of the conversation. Democrats say they’re interested in providing property tax relief, but House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says city and county officials as well as school board members need to be consulted.

“The needs of Ackley are not the same as the needs of Ankeny,” Konfrst says, “so sometimes I wonder about these one-size-fits-all solutions.” Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says property tax changes approved two years ago are already having an effect. “Whether the community is large or small, whether the county is large or small in terms of population, everybody that I’ve talked to realizes they’re coming into a very difficult budget year right now,” Weiner says.

All types of property in Iowa are assessed in odd-numbered years — like this year, 2025 — and assessment notices must be mailed to property owners by April 1st.

(Radio Iowa) – The 2025 legislative session starts today (Monday) with Republicans in control of the debate agenda for the ninth consecutive year — but it’s the first time in decades Republicans are holding supermajorities in BOTH the House and Senate. Last year’s Republican majority of 64 seats in the Iowa House has grown to 67 this year. That’s a two-thirds “super majority.” House Speaker Pat Grassley says he doesn’t expect a major shift in the approach Republicans take, however. “Making sure that when we can reduce the tax burden on Iowans, we do,” he says. “Making sure we’re funding our commitments, but also making sure that we’re not overspending.”

House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, like Grassley, has been a legislator for 18 years — but this is the first super majority in the House since the 1970s. “Is it going to be interesting? Absolutely. Is it going to be challenging? Certainly,” Windschitl says, “but, as a United States Marine, I improvise, I adapt, I overcome and I’m looking forward to the work that House Republicans can do moving Iowa forward.” Windschitl, who is in the Marine Reserve, says his primary job as majority leader is counting to 51 — the number of votes needed to pass a bill in the House.

“People will automatically assume, ‘Well, you’ve got 67 and 35 in the Senate and a Republican governor, you should have the proverbial ‘magic wand’ and just be able to make it happen,'” Windschitl says, “but with 67, end up getting people that can’t vote for a bill for this reason…or that reason. All of that goes into the calculation of when do we have the opportunity to run legislation.” Democrats in the legislature say they’ll press to hold Republicans accountable for policies that aren’t supported by a majority of Iowans.

There are 100 members in the Iowa House of Representatives (RI file photo)

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says the 33 Democrats in the House represent over a million Iowans. “Our job is to be here representing our constituents,” Konfrst says. “They deserve to have a voice at the Capitol, just like those that are represented by Republicans.” Senate Republicans had a “super majority” for the past two years and have one again this year. There are just 15 Democrats in the Senate today — the lowest number since 1970. Senator Janice Weineris the third Democrat to serve as Senate Minority Leader in the past 19 months.

“Senate Democrats will focus on the everyday things that matter to all Iowans,” Weiner said. “We want to help people get ahead, not just get by.” A special election is scheduled for January 28th to fill the senate seat previously held by Chris Cournoyer of LeClaire. Cournoyer resigned in December, just before Governor Reynolds appointed Cournoyer to be lieutenant governor.

FORT DODGE, Iowa [KCCI]— The Fort Dodge community is mourning the death of middle school assistant principal Aaron Miller. School officials say Miller died in a recent crash, but didn’t provide details on when or where the crash happened.

According to Miller’s LinkedIn page, he was a social studies teacher for more than 10 years in the district before becoming the middle school assistant principal last year. Throughout the years Miller coached several athletics teams including the middle school football team and middle school girls’ basketball team.

Aaron Miller – Ft. Dodge MS Asst. Principal

Fort Dodge School District officials released a statement saying:

“We understand that this news may be difficult for many of our students and families,” according to a statement by Fort Dodge school officials. “To support our students, school counselors and additional support staff will be available to talk with any student who needs assistance processing their feelings or emotions. If your child would like to meet with a counselor, please encourage them to let their teacher know, or feel free to contact the school directly.

“During times like this, it’s important that we come together as a community to support one another. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to support your family.”

(Anita, Iowa) – Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting beginning at 6:30-p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13th. The meeting in the High School Media Center in Anita begins at 6:30-p.m.

Action items on the agenda include approval of :

• A Sharing Agreement with Nodaway Valley (Payroll)
• Board Policy Revisions
• Mid-Year Graduates
• An SBRC request for a modified supplemental amount ($129,130) for At-Risk and Dropout Prevention programs

Matters for discussion include:

• Opening proposals for Negotiations (CAMEA and Board)
• Facility Projects and Direction, and
• Sharing Options and Future Meetings.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – The Exira-EHK School District’s Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting in Elk Horn, beginning at 6-p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13th, in the Conference Room at the High School. Among the discussion items, is an update and information with regard to a four-day instructional week, and future Board set-up.

Exira-EHK Superintendent Trevor Miller has stated one reason the Board may consider the four-day week is to help with  staff recruitment and retention. Miller has an e-mail from the District’s attorney to share with the Board, Monday, if it wants to make changes to the way the Board is set up. In his agenda notes, Miller says “It was brought to my attention that maybe [we] should look at going from seven-members to five, with the 2025 election, as [there are] a couple [of members] that will not be running.” He’ll ask the Board if they wish to stay with the current seven members, or pursue the process to arrange for a Special Election before November, to see if the district’s patrons will or will not allow the switch.

In other business, the Exira/EHK Board will act on approving the FY23 Audit Report and discussion the findings, which include issues with Segregation of Duties and FY23 Expenses which exceeded the Budget Amendment. Other actions items pertain to:

• A PMIC agreement with the Des Moines Public Schools
• CAM Special Education Contract
• APEX Sped Contract
• Homeschool participation in Graduation
• Therapy Place MOU
• Appointing Audubon & Shelby County Conference Board Representatives
• Set additional Board Meeting dates/times for Public Hearings:
  • FY26 Budget Public Hearing #1: March 24, 2025 at 5:30-p.m.
  • FY26 Budget Public Hearing #2: April 14, 2025 at 6:30-p.m. (prior to the regular meeting).
• The Board will act on the resignation of Jackie Petersen – Yearbook Sponsor
• The hiring of Cynthia Fredericksen – PT Title Teacher
• and the Transfer of Megan Wilkerson – Track Coach.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Another round of budget discussions are set to take place Monday morning in Greenfield, as part of a Special Session for the Adair County Board of Supervisors. The Board will hear from County Engineer Nick Kauffman with regard to his department’s FY26 Budget requests, and a new Office Manager hire.

The Board will also receive budget requests from the Veteran’s Affairs Office and Conservation Department. Last week, the Adair County Supervisors held budget discussions and received requests from several other County Department heads and agencies.

Monday’s talks begin  at 9-a.m. in the Adair County BoardRoom at the Courthouse in Greenfield.

(Appanoose County, Iowa) – A collision Saturday evening between a pickup truck and an SUV in southern Iowa, left the driver of the pickup dead and two people in the SUV injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports the pickup, driven by 63-year-old Jeffrey Robert Underwood, of Centerville, was traveling east in the westbound lanes of Highway 2 in Centerville, at around 6:10-p.m., when his vehicle struck the SUV, driven by 59-year-old Ronald Kevin Bedford, of Sun City West, AZ.

The crash occurred just east of the intersection with North B Street, on the northwest side of Centerville. Underwood, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Ronald Bedford, and a passenger in his SUV, 68-year-old Esther Bedford, of Sun City West, AZ, were injured and transported by Centerville EMS to Mercy Hospital in Centerville. Both were wearing their seat belts. A report on their condition was not immediately available.

Numerous agencies assisted at the crash scene, according to the State Patrol. The accident remains under investigation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  Police in Red Oak arrested a woman on assault charges early Saturday morning. Authorities say 33-year-old Olivia Margaret Kruse, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 12:18-a.m. in the 200 block of East Joy Street. She was charged with two counts of Simple Assault. Kruse was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans who serve in the U-S House have voted for a bill that would require federal authorities to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft, burglary or shoplifting. Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is a co-sponsor of the bill.

It’s the first bill passed by the U-S House this year.

It’s called the Laken Riley Act, named for a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student murdered last year by a Venezuelan who’d been arrested twice before. Since 2016, Iowa’s congressional delegation has been proposing a bill named for Sarah Root — the 21 year old from Council Bluffs killed by a drunk driver from Honduras who vanished after being released on bond. That bill would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants charged with killing or seriously injuring someone. It also had some victim notification requirements.

Hinson says it’s possible congress could combine the Laken Riley Act and Sarah’s Law in a package that would deny federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities where police are discouraged from detaining people who’ve entered the country illegally.