(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says there are too many strings attached to federal funding and she’s asking congress to deliver more federal money to states in the form of block grants.  “It takes an army of people to manage the federal programs that are coming in, especially with the Department of Education,” Reynolds says, “and then the school districts also have to take people off their line of sight on really educating our students and they’re doing compliance instead of working on instruction.” Reynolds testified today (Wednesday) before the U-S House Oversight Committee about the restructuring she has done in state government.

“Like most Americans I’m thrilled by the priority that President Trump is placing on shrinking government and making it work better,” Reynolds says. “Not only do I believe Iowa is model, but I’m committed to doing everything I can in the months ahead and I look forward to working with you and the Trump Administration to do just that.” In the past two years, Reynolds proposed and signed legislation that cut the number of state agencies from 37 to 16 — and another bill merged or eliminated over 80 state boards and commissions.

“There’s just so much waste at all levels of government — at the federal, at the state and at the local levels — and we’re all serving the same constituency. We need to do it better,” Reynolds said. “Every time there’s a duplication, that’s a cost.” Reynolds lauded Elon Musk’s so-called “DOGE”efforts and she told lawmakers her consolidation of state agencies has saved 217-million dollars in 18 months. North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is among those who asked questions of Reynolds.

“What advice do you have for the Trump Administration to reduce the cost and the size of the government and what advice do you have for congress?” Reynolds responded: “Well, don’t buy into the fact that you can’t do it. You can do it and it needs to be done.” The top Democrat on the committee said Reynolds did not unilaterally revamp state government or bring in an outsider like Elon Musk to make changes, but had her efficiency plans reviewed and approved by the state legislature.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak this (Wednesday) morning, arrested Corey Uriah Jones, of Omaha,  for Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana/1st offense. Jones was taken into custody at around 7:45-a.m. in the 2300 block of N. Broadway Street and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County have approved four matters to come before them during their meeting today (Wednesday), in Greenfield. The Board approved claims and an appointment to the Library Board. Supervisors Board Chair Nathan Baier..

They also acknowledged receipt of a Manure Management Plan (MMP) update from Prestage Farms, a Child Abuse Prevention grant draw-down amounting to slightly more than $698, and the authorized the Board Chair to sign a contract with Crossroads Mental Health for the use of Opiod Funds.

In other business, the Board authorized Chair Nathan Baier to signs a resolution for Right-Of-Way and temporary easement compensation, along with a resolution for a fence compensation. The Adair County Supervisors approved the purchase of a truck for the Secondary Roads Department for FY26., and they received a regular, weekly report from Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill under review in the Iowa House would give the state’s smallest school districts a bit more budget flexibility. The bill is designed for districts with fewer than 200 students for three consecutive years. It would let them redirect property taxes for equipment and technology as well as sales tax money that’s currently designated for construction projects — if 60 percent of voters in the school district approve the transfers. Representative Austin Harris, a Republican from Moulton, is the bill’s author.

“The idea is that some of these smaller districts are struggling financially. It allows them to use locally taxpayer funded dollars that are already being collected for General Fund expenses to make sure that the children’s education isn’t being affected and helps give a little bit more relief to the districts,” Harris said. “It doesn’t increase state spending and does not increase taxes.” The redirected tax money could NOT be used for salaries and benefits but could be spent on things like utilities, textbooks or transportation costs. Margaret Buckton, a lobbyist for Rural School Advocates of Iowa, says cuts a good balance between ensuring kids get a good education and ensuring tax dollars are spent appropriately.

“In California they actually have a statute that defines a ‘necessarily small school’ and they get extra resource from the state,” Buckton says, “and this would be short of that kind of proposal, but I think it would be helpful.” The Farm Bureau opposes the bill because it expands what property taxes could be used for. It appears the bill would apply to fewer than school districts in the state.

(Decorah, Iowa) – A sheriff in northeastern Iowa says his office will not comply with immigration enforcement if they are acting unconstitutionally. In a post on Facebook, Tuesday, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx said if a federal agency attempts to detain someone in his county on a detainer rather than a warrant, “then we will make every effort to block, interfere, and interrupt their actions from moving forward.” Marx says detainers are issued when the agency has not taken the time to request a warrant from a judge. He says detainers could lead to violations of amendment rights because the wrong person could be detained.

Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx (Facebook photo)

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a man serving a maximum term for crimes committed more than 60-years ago in Pottawattamie County, has died. Authorities say 84-year-old Leon Robert Tice, Jr., died late last Thursday morning (Jan. 30, 2025) at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. His sentence began on Sept. 27, 1963.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are warned our sidewalks and roads may be dangerously icy this (Wednesday) afternoon and tonight as a winter storm front moves across the state, bringing the potential for freezing rain. National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Lee says 64 Iowa counties are under a Winter Weather Advisory from noon until 9 o’clock tonight. “We’re looking at freezing drizzle moving up from Missouri into Iowa for a lot of this afternoon or evening,” he says. The advisory covers about two-thirds of Iowa, roughly from Highway 20 south. Lee says Iowans need to be prepared for a thin layer of ice and slick conditions later today.

“It looks like the amounts will be very light, but any icing that does manage to occur, especially on untreated surfaces, can obviously be treacherous,” Lee says, “so definitely something to keep an eye on today if you’re getting ready to head out.” Lee says sunshine should return on Thursday, but there could be more precipitation this weekend. “We should get some pretty nice weather out with the high or maybe in the upper 30s or so, but it looks like maybe a quick shot of precipitation again late Friday night into Saturday morning or so,” Lee says. “The types and amounts are still up to question, but right now, it doesn’t look like anything particularly heavy.”

The state D-O-T offers an updated road conditions website that shows where icy roads are located at 5-1-1-i-a-dot-org.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from California was arrested on a warrant and drug charges Tuesday morning, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 35-year-old John Franklin Smith, III, of San Jose, CA, was arrested at around 10-a.m., the the Creston Amtrak Depot. Smith was taken into custody on a warrant from an outside agency. He was also charged with possession drug paraphernalia; intent to deliver marijuana; attached used drug tax stamp; and possession of a controlled substance. Smith was being held in the Union County jail on local charges, with bond set at $11,300. He was also being held without bond on the nationwide warrant out of California.

Creston Police report also, at around 1:42-a.m. Today (Wednesday), 26-year-old Monica Nicole Johnston, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. She was released from the scene of her traffic stop, on a promise to appear in court.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reminding anglers, that ice fishing shelters, left unattended, must be removed from state-owned lands and waters, including parking lots and boat ramps by Feb. 20th. Ice fishing shelter owners who camp in a paid campsite within a state park can remain past the February 20 deadline. Ice fishing shelter owners are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to get their shelter off the ice. If a shelter falls through the ice, the owner is responsible for getting it out of the lake.

On a separate note, the DNR says the walleye fishing season on Spirit, East and West Okoboji lakes is open through Feb. 14th.  It will close after that date and reopens on May 3. Those are the only Iowa lakes that have a closed season for walleye. For more information on fishing regulations, go to www.iowadnr.gov/fishing.