The administrator of the state’s economic development agency there’s a big need for more housing in Iowa and she’s proposing a change in the way state tax incentives are awarded to “workforce housing” projects. State income tax credits and sales tax rebates are currently awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for new or renovated housing projects. “I just don’t think that’s how you run a program and we want to go to the legislature where they would let us make it competitive and we’d do a scoring process.”

That’s Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham. Each year, the state awards 20-million dollars worth of tax incentives to developers building housing aimed for working-age Iowans. Durham says the waiting list for these tax credits stretches to 2021. In the future, Durham says the projects should be prioritized and awarded in areas with the most critical housing shortages. “And then we can be a little bit discerning about how we can distribute it around the state and so that’s one of the changes we want to make,” Durham says. “…If we’re not going to get more capacity in the program, then we need to make sure we’re putting the dollars where they really need to be.”

Iowa’s housing shortage is magnified in smaller cities, where few new houses are being built. Durham’s agency has set aside five-million dollars in its 20-million dollar yearly tax incentive package for housing projects in “small cities.” “Places like Tama or Wright County where you’re seeing Prestage go, I mean they’re really, really needing houses up in those areas,” Durham says. “…That $5 million, I think it’s too low. If we had the capacity, I think we need to do a stronger carve-out.”

But given state spending constraints, Durham has presented a “status quo” budget plan to the governor for the coming year. Many business owners cite the shortage of single-family homes and apartments in Iowa as an impediment to hiring new employees.

(Radio Iowa)

Two Democrats are accusing Republicans of planning a major change for Iowa public employees’ RETIREMENT BENEFITS next year, but the governor and G-O-P lawmakers say they have no plans to do so. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has talked about enrolling new state workers in a 401-K-style plan rather than the state pension system, but her spokeswoman says the governor will not ask lawmakers to make that switch. Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republicans “gutted” the state’s collecting bargaining law “in 10 short days” this past February and he warns public workers’ pensions may be “dismantled” just as quickly next year.

“To all Iowans: be alert. Be ready to speak up loudly if legislation to harm Iowa’s financially-sound, high-quality public retirement program comes up for debate.”

McCoy serves as a non-voting member of the board of directors for the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System, called “IPERS”. State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says one out of every 10 Iowans are depending on an IPERS pension either now or in the future. “It’s one of the best pension systems in the country,” Fitzgerald says. “But, there’s still people like the Koch brothers and some leaders in the Republican Party want to change it.”

Senator Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, is sponsoring a bill that would switch state employees hired after July 1, 2019 to a 401-K system. However, his bill did not advance in the 2017 legislature and the chairman of a key senate committee says he has no plans to see the bill debated in 2018.

(Radio Iowa)

The FBI is warning Iowans about an email scam. Public Affairs Officer Huston Pullen, with the FBI office in Omaha, says the messages threaten harm to the email recipient and their family. Pullen says Iowans who receive such an email should report it to the agency’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at the website: IC3.gov (I-C-three-dot-gov).

“Whenever somebody gets something where it’s threatening to hurt them or hurt loved ones, that’s definitely when red flags will go up,” Pullen says. “We take these matters very seriously and want to make sure people know they can do something about it. That’s why we have our IC3.gov set up.”

The email message being sent to Iowans demands they obtain and pay in bitcoin to avoid harm to themselves and their family. Pullen says the FBI has determined there is no threat or validity to these emails and Iowans who get such an email shouldn’t panic and definitely shouldn’t respond to the sender. “One of the things they’ll prey on is your trust,” Pullen says. “A lot of these scam emails prey on your lack of knowledge.”

Instead of responding, Pullen says it’s critical to report the email to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).  “So, we can look at them, check the validity of them, and properly handle the situation to make sure you’re safe,” Pullen says. “That’s our number one priority – making sure you and your loved ones are safe and this is not something you need to be concerned with.”

In addition to Iowa, Pullen says the scam emails are surfacing across Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa w/Thanks to Karla James, Omaha)

Local community band Popcorn Button will provide another free evening of live big band music on Saturday, December 23rd at 7 PM at the Elks’ Lodge, located at 501 Poplar Street in Atlantic.

Photos from Let Freedom Swing 2015, & Holiday Ball 2013, by Doug Auerbach.

Popcorn Button, a 17-piece jazz band composed of community talent, plays a range of hits from the big band era, with favorites like “In the Mood,” “Flying Home,” and “Little Brown Jug.”  Many long-time members of Popcorn Button are alumni of the AHS jazz program and at this event the band is excited to welcome special guest Jazz I of the Atlantic High School music program to play a set.

To further its mission of supporting community music, the band offers a scholarship for young music students to take private lessons and attend band camps and honor bands. Awards have been distributed yearly since 2012. Applications details are at popcornbutton.org/ scholarship.

Dancers of any level of experience are welcome and encouraged to take advantage of the dance floor throughout the evening. Anyone interested in taking a free beginner swing dance lesson should email info@popcornbutton.org.

Holiday Ball is a free public event. A free will donation will be accepted at the door to help defray costs of the event and to support the Popcorn Button Community Music Scholarship. Event organizers encourage those of all ages and dancing or listening abilities to attend from 7-10 PM on Saturday, December 23rd at the Elks Lodge in Atlantic. For more information, follow the band at facebook.com/popcornbutton. org or email them at info@popcornbutton.org.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Highway Administration has withdrawn from consideration for the post, a surprise development given his widespread support and qualifications. A U.S. Department of Transportation spokesperson says Paul Trombino III is stepping away from the federal appointment for family reasons. Trombino told colleagues in an email that he had decided to stay in Iowa to take care of his ailing father, whose condition has recently deteriorated.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A key state official says mid-year reductions are possible next session because Iowa’s revenue growth for the current budget year remains below initial projections. Department of Management Director David Roederer said Monday the state’s roughly $7.2 billion budget could be reduced between about $45 million and $90 million when lawmakers return in 2018. Roederer’s comments came after a three-person panel known as the Revenue Estimating Conference presented its latest budget forecast.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who stopped to help what he thought was a stranded motorist in eastern Iowa ended up getting robbed. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 23-year-old William Grimm was traveling on U.S. Highway 218 around 8 p.m. Friday when he stopped near an exit to assist a man with a green Pontiac Grand Am. Authorities say the Pontiac driver pointed a handgun at Grimm and took his wallet and cash, then drove off in the Pontiac.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three hunters have been accidentally shot while hunting deer in Iowa with shotguns. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says an 11-year-old boy was struck in the hip on Sunday by his 13-year-old brother when a deer ran between them and they both fired.