DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A nonpartisan group that reviews Iowa’s finances has estimated a shortfall of about $37 million in the current $7.2 billion state budget. The Legislative Services Agency provided the data in a report this week. The agency adds that the next state budget, set to go into effect in July, has an expected shortfall of about $65 million. That’s due to built-in increases like plans to return money to Iowa’s emergency reserves, which helped plug previous budget shortfalls.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds will release budget recommendations in January that are expected to address any shortfalls. Her budget director previously said cuts to government departments were possible. Lawmakers must approve any proposals. An LSA analyst says their figures could change as additional accounting comes into play, including the new federal tax overhaul.

The Atlantic Police Department reports a woman from Anita was arrested Thursday on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. 40-year old Kodi Newman was transported to the Cass County Jail and booked-in. And, this morning (Friday), 51-year old Richard H. Lewis, Sr., of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, 3rd or subsequent offense. Lewis was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Cass County arrested a Nebraska man Dec. 12th on a Cass County Sheriff’s warrant for two Felony counts of Sex Abuse 2nd Degree. 26-year old Donavvan Ace Smith, of Bellevue, NE, was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond. On December 16th, Cass County deputies arrested 49-year old Rhonda Annette Stanley, of Atlantic, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Stanley was taken to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office where she was released the following day on $1,000 bond.

On December 19th, 22-year old Matthew Henry Paulsen, of Adair, turned himself in at the Cass County Jail on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Paulsen remains held at the Cass County Jail on $10,000 bond.

And, on December 21st, at 7:31 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on 620th (Olive) Street. A 1996 Ford Ranger driven by 29-year old Charlie Bennett Hadfield, of Exira, was southbound on 620th Street when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the icy roadway and the vehicle entered the east ditch and came to rest on the passenger side. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $1,500. Upon further investigation, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hadfield on charges of OWI 2nd Offense and Driving While Barred (Aggravated). Hadfield was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on $5,000 bond.

The top Republican in the legislature says she’s hoping to find a way to help the thousands of Iowans who can’t afford to buy individual insurance policies for 2018.  “My gosh, we have got people that are paying up to $40,000 was one I heard with an $8000 deductible for each person. How is that sustainable? I’ve heard bankers talking about people coming in to borrow money to pay for health insurance. How do we sustain that kind of thing?” Upmeyer asked. “We have to move this needle.”

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake plans to consult with the state insurance commissioner and the head of a federal agency to see what options may be available. One could be helping to set up “associations” that let people join, so they’re part of a group insurance plan. “We’ve moved away from those. Maybe we need to take another look. Maybe we need to dust somehting like that off,” Upmeyer says. Republicans have long favored arrangements which let small business owners, for example, join a professional or trade association that offers insurance to its members. The group insurance policies purchased by these associations could be even cheaper if state officials remove regulations on what insurance policies must cover.

“Maybe we can figure out a path,” Upmeyer says. “We just have to be creative and if we’re not going to get this accomplished in congress, at least we should work on it and shine a lot of light on it and maybe folks in Washington, D.C. will be more motivated.”

Upmeyer made her comments during an interview with Radio Iowa.

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy on routine patrol Thursday in the area of West High Street and South Elm in Avoca, saw the driver of a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup, allegedly fail to obey a stop sign. A traffic stop of the vehicle resulted in the arrest at around 4:45-p.m., of 61-year old Russell Dean Hargens, of Avoca. Hargens was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense, and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 2.9 percent for November. The last time the rate was this low was in December 2000. The state’s jobless rate was 3.5 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in November. Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development Director, says “Following two months of losses, Iowa businesses displayed growing confidence in the economy in November and added 6,300 jobs to their payrolls. Manufacturing is vital to our state’s economic security, and job creation has been especially strong within Iowa’s factories. Compared to last year, no sector has added more jobs to the Iowa economy than manufacturing. This growth has no doubt contributed to the state’s falling unemployment rate which now rests at 2.9 percent.”

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 49,100 in November. The current estimate is 10,700 lower than the year ago level of 59,800. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,637,600 in November. This figure was 2,000 higher than October and 2,100 higher than one year ago.

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment:

Iowa businesses added 6,300 jobs in November, rebounding from losses accrued during the prior two months. Private sectors were responsible for all of the job growth with the largest growth being in service industries. This is welcomed news as over the past two months private services were responsible for much of the job loss. Goods producing industries have now trended up for three consecutive months with hiring within Iowa’s factories offsetting construction sector losses. Government trended down slightly (-400) and is nearly unchanged versus this time last year.

Professional and business services added the most jobs in November following losses in September and October (+2,500). Within this super sector, administrative and support services gained 2,000 jobs to fuel most of the monthly growth. Manufacturing gained 1,700 jobs and was fueled by hiring in durable goods factories (+1,600). This is now the third consecutive month of growth for manufacturing which has unmistakably trended up throughout the year. Financial activities rebounded from a slight decline last month and gained 1,500 jobs in November. Finance and insurance was responsible for most of the growth although real estate and rental industries contributed 300 jobs. In total, seven of ten private super sectors added jobs in November. Overall, losses were slight and limited to other services (-700), construction (-400), and information (-100).

Over the past twelve months, Iowa establishments have gained 22,700 jobs (+1.4 percent). During that time, no sector has added more jobs than manufacturing (+9,200). Nondurable goods factories are up 5,000 jobs and durable goods are up 4,200 jobs. Healthcare and social assistance has advanced by 5,700 jobs and has fueled all of the growth in the education and healthcare super sector. The financial activities sector experienced two months of declines in August and September, but has since rebounded and is now up 4,400 jobs versus last year thanks to this month’s gain. Losses have been dominated by construction (-6,100) which has trailed last year’s mark for much of the year and has been steadily trending down following record levels last year. Other services are down 1,400 jobs over the past twelve months and information has pared 1,000 jobs.

An accident investigation Thursday night in Audubon County resulted in the arrest of 52-year old Michael Donald Shriver, of Audubon.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the accident happened at around 7:15-p.m. near the intersection of Highway 71 and 150th Street. Shriver was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. He was transported to the Audubon County Jail, posted bond and was released. Shriver is scheduled to appear in front of a magistrate on Dec. 28th.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 39-year old Felix Gomez, who was convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault- 3rd or Subsequent offense and Sex Offender Violation in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Correctional Facility as required Thursday night.  Gomez is a white (Hispanic) male, 5-feet 8-inches tall, weighing about 258 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on November 1, 2017.  Persons with information on Gomez’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Felix Gomez