(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is among more than two-thirds of the states that have no state program requiring paid parental leave for teachers. The report from The National Council on Teacher Quality found just two states offer required fully-paid parental leave for teachers up to 12 weeks. Another 14 states have some other kind of required paid leave, while seven have optional programs. Council president Heather Peske says research shows paid parental leave can reduce turnover.

Peske says, “Specifically when it comes to teachers, we know from national research and national surveys that many teachers rank ‘encouraged family support’ as one of their top three incentives to recruit and retain them.” Peske says without paid parental leave, teachers struggle to balance the demands of their job with their family, and some teachers simply chose to quit. “What this means is that teachers have to hoard their sick days or try to plan to have children in the summer,” she says, “because the state doesn’t offer paid parental leave for teachers.”

An Iowa law went into effect last year that offers state employees up to four weeks of paid parental leave, but it does -not- include teachers as they are employees of their school districts, not the state.

(Radio Iowa) – The new majority leader in the Iowa House is promising to push for a pay increase for state legislators. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says he knows it’s not political popular to raise lawmakers’ pay. “But here’s what’s going to happen if we do not do this there are going to be two qualifiers to serve in the legislature: Are you retired and are you wealthy? Nothing wrong with retired people, nothing wrong with wealthy individuals, but that is going to be the candidate pool if we continue to do it the way we are doing it,” Kaufmann said. The current salary for an Iowa legislator was set 18 years ago.

“$25,000 is simply not enough money for a family to serve and I think it’s in our best interest for us to have families, on both sides of the aisle, serving in the legislature,” Kaufmann said. A bill introduced in the House in 2024 would have raised the base salaries for House and Senate members to 35-thousand dollars a year and then link future increases to the negotiated pay hikes for state employees represented by a union.

The six lawmakers who have leadership roles in the House and Senate are currently paid a salary of 37-thousand-500 dollars a year. The other 144 legislators are being paid that 25-thousand dollar base salary. Most legislators also get over 17-thousand dollars in expense payments each year to cover things like mileage and renting hotel rooms or apartments in Des Moines during the legislative session. Polk County lawmakers get less since they have homes near the Capitol.

(Radio Iowa) – Senate Republicans are introducing a property tax plan on this first day of the 2026 legislative session — a plan that injects new ideas into the debate over how best to reduce residential property tax rates. Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh. “Real meaningful property tax relief requires the will to disassemble that system completely down to its bare bones and then rebuild in a way that we can provide real, sustainable relief for Iowans that are concerned about their property taxes and, inevitably in the end, in their ability to stay in their home without being priced out of it from property taxes,” Klimesh says.

Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the plan’s main architect. “It’s not a tweak. It’s a total overhaul,” Dawson said. “Our viewpoint has always been that the greatest vehicle to build wealth for the middle class is home ownership.” The bill would permanently increase the state’s homestead tax credit to 50 percent of a home’s taxable value. And it would eliminate property taxes for older Iowans who own their home.

“We want to make sure the middle class can own their own home to the end and not pay rent to the government forever,” Dawson said, “so in this new proposal once your house is mortgage clear and once you’re above the age of 60, your involuntary property taxes will be eliminated, so ultimately in the end this bill can be real relief.”

Two elements of the plan would offset property tax revenue losses in city and county budgets. Local governments could go to voters and ask to increase the local option sales tax to one-and-a-half percent. It’s max today is one percent. The Senate Republicans are also proposing to add an inflation index to the state gas tax, which hasn’t been raised in a decade.

“If we want to deliver real property tax relief and steep property tax relief to Iowans, we have to consider off-setting some of those losses because we still do have local, important serves that need to be provided,” Dawson says. The plan has other elements, like eliminating several state-funded property tax exemptions and sending that state money to public schools — to reduce the amount property owners pay to their local school districts.

Governor Kim Reynolds has said she’ll present a property tax plan to legislators. House Republicans are expected to unveil their own approach and a key House lawmaker has indicated it will focus on limiting city and county budget growth.

(Radio Iowa) – This year’s Iowa legislative session is underway, with Republicans in control of the House and Senate for the 10th consecutive year. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford opened House action shortly after 10 a.m. “Today marks the starting line for the 2026 legislative session,” Grassley said. “It kicks off about a four month sprint to accomplish the goals the people of Iowa laid out for us over the past year.” Grassley says the chief goal will be reducing property taxes.

“Iowans have made it known the current property tax system is not working for them,” Grassley said. “Seniors on fixed incomes are being priced out of their homes, the high cost of taxes are causing young people to delay homeownership and every day Iowa families are seeing their taxes rise with no predictability.” Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, are unveiling their alternative today (Monday).

“Over the next hundred days, we will be addressing property tax reform to help bring relief to Iowans who have decided to build their lives, grow their families and dedicate their careers to our state,” Klimesh said. House Democratic Leader Brian Meyer of Des Moines says Democrats have three primary goals. “Our agenda is rooted in what we hear every day from families across this state,” Meyer said, “public education, affordability and quality of life.”

Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, began her remarks with a call for civility. Sinclair says it was shocking and horrifying that two Democrats from the Minnesota legislature were shot in their own homes and prominent conservative Charlie Kirk had been killed on a college campus. “When people disagree, it has become disagreeable,” Sinclair said. “The debate no longer stops with policy descriptions, it spiraled into slurs dehumanizing the opposition. Calling people facists, scum, deporables, bigots and a host of things I cannot and will not repeat on the Senate floor cannot be embraced as the status quo here.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner of Iowa City says recent political violence in Minnesota and in Mississippi, where a Jewish synagogue was attacked, has shaken the country to its core. “We Iowans, we take care of our neighbors,” Weiner said. “We are tolerant and we stand up for the rights that are our rights, too, because we all know ‘Love thy neighbor,’ comes with no exceptions.”

Two women who won special elections in December have taken their seats in the state legislature. The 50th member of the Iowa Senate took the oath of office this (Monday) morning. The seat had been vacant since Senator Claire Celsi’s death in October. Democrat Renee Hardman is the first black woman to serve in the state senate. The 100th member of the House was sworn into office, too. Republican Wendy Larson of Odebolt won the seat that had been held by Mike Sexton of Rockwell City, who resigned after President Trump appointed him state director of U-S-D-A Rural Development.

(Glenwood, IA) – Officials with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office have issued a report on arrests that occurred over the past week. Sunday night (Jan. 11), Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 27-year-old Dylan Brendon James Miedl, of Pacific Junction. He was arrested in Silver City for Violation of a No Contact Order – Domestic related. Miedl was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

At around 1:40-p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 8), deputies in Mills County arrested 23-year-old Cole Jacob Bergantzel, of Council Bluffs, in Glenwood, for Failure to Appear in court. His bond was set at $5,000.

On Jan. 7th, at around 1:20-a.m., Mills County Deputies arrested 26-year-old Jonathan Jo Arrick, of Glenwood, for Domestic Assault – Choking or Bodily Injury. Arrick was arrested in Glenwood and held on a $5,000 bond.

And, on Jan. 5th, 34-year-old Damian Blain, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Des Moines, for Violation of Probation His bond was set at $2,000.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, today (Monday), said in light of events around the country, the Council Bluffs Police Department (CBPD) has received a number of questions about ICE and immigration enforcement over the past few days. To address these questions, provide guidance, and alleviate apprehension in the community, [Police] Chief Matt Davis has issued the following statement:

“At this time,’ Davis said, “there are no enforcement changes at the CBPD as it pertains to immigration status of individuals. To date, the CBPD has not been requested by our federal law enforcement partners to assist with any immigration enforcement efforts.

“If requested, the CBPD will cooperate with our federal law enforcement partners on their immigration enforcement efforts as permitted under Iowa law. The cooperation could consist of information sharing, logistics, scene security, and coordination with local resources in and around the City of Council Bluffs.

“The CBPD’s main concern,” according to Chief Davis, “is the safety and security of all people in the City of Council Bluffs.” He said, “We strongly discourage anyone to actively interfere with law enforcement or immigration enforcement efforts. While publicly observing and recording law enforcement officers is lawful, actively impeding them is not. The CBPD asks that if you are observing/recording law enforcement activities in public that you remain a safe distance from officers performing their duties. The CBPD also strongly encourages everyone exercising their civil liberties to do so in a safe and lawful manner.”

The statement concluded with Council Bluffs Police Chief Davis saying, “As with all our enforcement efforts, the CBPD will ensure all people are treated with dignity and respect and their civil and constitutional rights are protected.”

(Atlantic, IA) – A trial for the former Atlantic Chamber Director who faces multiple felony charges, has been continued for another month. 33-year-old Bailey Linn Smith had been set to stand trial January 27th, will instead appear before a jury in Atlantic on February 24th. Online court records show Judge Michael Hooper granted the requested continuance today (Monday). Smith’s pre-trial conference scheduled for today (Jan. 12th, will instead be held February 9th.

Bailey Smith faces a Class-B charge of Ongoing Criminal Conduct – unlawful activity, and Class- Felony charges, that include Theft in the 1st Degree, Fraudulent Practice in the 1st Degree, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card over $10,000. Smith entered a written plea of not guilty back in November, and has waived her right to a speedy trial.

Bailey Smith resigned from the Chamber on September 15th. She turned herself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on October 8th and was released on bond. According to a criminal complaint, between January 2020 and August 2025, Smith allegedly made 761 personal transactions with Chamber funds totaling $26,913.22, of which $6,632.38 was admitted by Smith. She was charged with Theft in the First Degree for allegedly misappropriating over $10,000.

Smith also allegedly orchestrated a scheme from November 2022 to August 2025, making 47 fraudulent transfers between Chamber bank accounts to cover up her theft. The loss amounted to $76,215, and resulted in the charges of Fraudulent Practice in the First Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

Additionally, Smith allegedly used Chamber-issued credit cards for approximately $25,065.71 in personal expenses, with $6,632.38 acknowledged by her in a letter to the Chamber Board. She was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card over $10,000.

(Guthrie Center, IA) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports there were three, non-injury accidents in the County, last week. Authorities say on Jan. 6th, at around 2:35-p.m., a vehicle driven by 61-year-old Deana Arends, of Bayard, was stopped facing eastbound on State Street/Highway 44, waiting to turn north on 7th Street, when her SUV was struck from behind. The driver of the other vehicle, 39-year-old Ali Abdulmehdi Alhussaini, of Ankeny, told deputies he failed to notice the SUV was stopped in the roadway, prior to his pickup striking the SUV. Deputies cited Alhussaini for Failure to Reduce Speed to a reasonable and proper rate. Damage from the collision amounted to an estimated $13,000 altogether.

Another accident January 6th in Guthrie County caused a combined, estimated $2,000 damage to a van and an SUV. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says the registered owner of a 2021 Chevy Blazer came to the Sheriff’s Office to report a fender bender that had occurred earlier in the day in the courthouse parking lot. The witness said she saw a 2022 Chrysler Voyager van driven by 27-year-old Charlie Quinn Walker, of Menlo, back out of a parking space and strike the legally parked SUV. The accident happened at around 9:30-a.m. Walker was cited for No insurance – accident related.

And, on January 8th, a 2013 Nissan Juke driven by 36-year-old Rachael Tenk, of Manning, was traveling on Highway 141 at around 11:47-p.m., when a deer came out of a ditch and crossed in front of her vehicle. When the vehicle hit the deer, the driver’s side airbags deployed. Tenk, who was wearing her seat belt, and not hurt. The vehicle was disabled in the collision. Authorities estimated the damage at $3,000.

(Greenfield, IA) – A man from Adair County was arrested Jan. 5th at the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, by officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections. According to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, 57-year-old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, was arrested on the warrant for Violation of Parole. Davis was being held in the Adair County Jail without bond.

(Creston, IA) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say four people were arrested on separate charges between late Friday morning and early Saturday evening. Three of the arrests took place on Friday:

• 19-year-old Ava Nicole Sales, of Cedar Rapids, was arrested late Friday morning at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, on an Outstanding Warrant by an Outside Agency, on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. Sales was released from the Union County Jail after posting 10% of her $1,000 bond;
• 49-year-old Liliana Cabrera Castro, of Lenox, was arrested Friday afternoon in the 1300 Block N. Cherry, in Creston. She was charged with Interference w/Corrections Official Acts, and Public Intoxication/1st offense. Castro was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted a $300 cash bond;
• And, 26-year-old Jairon Darien Oliva Bernal, of Osceola, was arrested Friday afternoon in the 200 block of S. Maple Street, in Creston. Bernal was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense – Causing Bodily Injury. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Judge.

And, at around 5:25-p.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 56-year-old Charles Leon Harris, of Creston. He was taken into custody in the Creston Walmart parking lot, for Driving While License Denied/ Suspended/Cancelled or Revoked. Harris was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.