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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
IOWA — In a press release this (Thursday) morning, officials with Google said the tech/search engine company – “As part of its annual giving,” awarded more than $1 million to Iowa non-profit organizations across the state last year to support education and community initiatives. In this area, the recipients and projects include:
Other recipients from across the State, include:
Google says it’s “Community giving program supports eligible organizations and initiatives directly impacting the immediate community surrounding a Google data center, along with other initiatives around the state.” The funds are awarded to nonprofits working on issues like STEM education, efforts to bridge the digital divide, sustainability, efforts to strengthen the startup or small business ecosystem, and more. Collectively, the projects supported by this year’s funding will enable these organizations to serve hundreds of thousands of Iowans through educational programming. In addition to grant funding, Google has supported numerous organizations through event sponsorships this year.
Google first broke ground on its Council Bluffs data center in 2007, and has established a long-term commitment to the state since then. Last spring, Google announced $7B of new investment in the state, including a new data center in Cedar Rapids. In 2024, Google helped provide $2.1 billion of economic activity for thousands of Iowa businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators, and developers. To learn more about Google’s commitment to Iowa, visit https://economicimpact.google/state/ia/.
(Anita, Iowa) – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) posted on their social media page, Wednesday, a picture of home being delivered to the City of Anita, in preparation for the structure to be set on its foundation. The house was constructed through the Homes for Iowa program. SWIPCO says it “Was glad to be a part of connecting the city and this wonderful program.”
Photo of the home delivered in Anita through the “Homes of Iowa” Program. (Photo from the SWIPCO Facebook page, 1-14-26)
Inmates at the state prison in Newton began building homes in 2019 and the program reached a major milestone. The 150th modular home built on a 100-acre site inside the prison complex was delivered to Mason City last week. Iowa’s Department of Corrections and Prison Industries works with Habitat for Humanity programs throughout the state on the “Homes for Iowa” program.
In the program, incarcerated individuals acquire marketable job skills, so that they can become contractors and subcontractors when they get out of prison. The hope is that those prisoners learn skills they can use so that they don’t go back into the system. So far, over 160 of the inmates who’ve gone through the program have become certified in one of the construction trades, like carpentry.
Each house built in the “Homes for Iowa” program has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The program has placed homes in more than 50 counties in the past five years.
(Some information in this report is from Radio Iowa)
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she’s not concerned President Donald Trump’s focus on foreign issues it hampering work on domestic concerns. “Well, I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time here, we are the leader around the world,” she says. “We’re the strongest country around the world and people are looking to us for how we lead in this space. And thank goodness we have a president that is finally respected on the world stage.” Hinson says she and other lawmakers are continuing to work on domestic issues. “My priority is making sure that everyday essentials are more affordable for American families, whether that’s healthcare or gas prices or what they’re buying at the grocery store. So I’ll continue to review any proposals coming out of…. the White House and the administration,” Hinson says.
Hinson was asked during her weekly conference call with reporters why she didn’t wait for an investigation to make a statement on ICE shooting and killing a woman in Minnesota. “ICE needs to become be able to come in and do their job to deport these dangerous criminals out of our communities. And when you see protesters getting in the way of our ICE agents doing their job, that’s wrong,” Hinson says. :It’s why my legislation to make sure we’re standing up for and respecting our ICE agents to double those penalties is even more critical to get done.”
Hinson says ICE should not be put in danger from protesters while they are doing their job. “I look forward to continuing to see what this investigation shows, but I’ve seen those videos and it’s very, very clear this woman did not respond to law enforcement calls to get out of the way, and while it’s unfortunate she made that choice. I stand with our ICE agents and our law enforcement and their ability to do their jobs in our communities and do it safely for themselves,” she says.
Hinson is not seeking another term in her eastern Iowa House District as she launched a run for the U-S Senate after incumbent Senator Joni Ernst said she would not run again.
(Radio Iowa) – Motorists in some Iowa cities can’t miss the fact that gasoline prices have risen more than 60-cents a gallon since New Year’s Day, but one expert says it appears to be more the exception than the rule. Brian Ortner, at Triple-A Iowa, chalks it up to isolated fluctuations in certain metro areas of the state, as he says the major factors that typically influence big gas price swings just aren’t appearing. “We look at the usual suspects: markets, demand, refineries being shut down for maintenance or if there’s an emergency situation at a refinery or production plant — none of that is taking place,” Ortner says. “The thing we can see today is the markets are up a little bit from what they were in the last two weeks.”
Crude oil has been trending around 60-dollars a barrel the past few weeks and it’s slightly above that now, but he says it’s not so high that it would trigger drastic price hikes. “If we look at trends, we’re sitting almost 30-cents lower than we were a year ago, which is great,” Ortner says. “I know when you see a 50- or 60-cent increase over two weeks, you’re like, ‘What the heck’s going on?’ but when you look at the larger picture in the trend, we are sitting in a better spot than we were last year.”
Ortner wouldn’t speculate on whether the U-S military actions in oil-rich Venezuela have had an impact on gas prices in Iowa, as there haven’t been any significant jumps in the national figures. Still, some Iowa cities are seeing big bounces in pump prices. For example, regular unleaded was selling in Des Moines for a dollar-87 a gallon on January 1st, but now the average price in Iowa’s largest city is over two-50. “Nothing is standing out to be significant in making those changes as drastic as some may have seen,” Ortner says, “and it may be just adjustments for changes that are taking place in the communities and in the markets as they move each day.”
Triple-A says the cheapest gas in Iowa is now in Council Bluffs at two-29 a gallon, while it’s the most expensive in Ames at two-66. The statewide average is two-50, which is 34-cents below the national average.
(Radio Iowa) – A bill on the fast track in the Iowa House would ban the use of eminent domain to seize property along the proposed Summit Carbon pipeline route. The bill cleared a House committee on a 19-to-two vote yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and is eligible of debate in the full House next week. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says House members have been trying for five years to find a way to protect property owners who don’t want the pipeline on their land.
“This year the language is as simple as it can be,” Holt said. “No eminent domain for CO2 pipelines in Iowa.” Representative Ross Wilburg, a Democrat from Ames backed the bill in committee, but he says there’s been no signal this approach will break through the statehouse impasse — or that the governor would sign it into law. “The conditions haven’t changed on this,” Wilburn said.
Holt says he, along with what appears to be a majority of House members, are ready to take a stand and pass the bill. “The House does not control the Senate and the governor, but what we do is do what is right and we move forward,” Holt said, “And who knows what dynamics might change based upon the actions that we take.”
The top Republican in the Senate is proposing an alternative that would let Summit re-chart the path of its pipeline, to go around landowners who haven’t signed voluntary easements. Holt says that’s a non-starter because Summit could still use eminent domain in some circumstances.
(Atlantic, IA) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, approved several personnel matters, including (the previously mentioned) retirements or resignations of:
Atlantic School Board, 1-14-26
The Board also approved the following Recommendations to Hire:
In other business, the Board received a Special Presentation with regard to the Home School Assistance Program, which currently has 95 enrolled students, and serves 55 families. Home School Director Tina Olson and Cara Andersen spoke to the Board. Olson said the program has been very successful, and while they enjoy their space at the Achievement Center, they would love to have a permanent classroom.
In her report, Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen gave an update on the District Facilities building project.
The District’s attorney’s have reviewed a multitude of documents related to the project, so Johnsen said she feels good about their thoroughness efforts. The Board then acted on approving an “Agreement between Owner and Architect, and Proposal for Design Services from SVPA,” and a “Snyder and Associates Topographic Survey Services Agreement.”
Resigning Atlantic School Board member Laura McLean.
Their final order of regular business was to approve the retirement of Board Director Laura McLean, effective Jan. 15, 2026. McLean explained she is moving out of the area along with her husband.
The Board accepted her resignation and thanked McLean for her enthusiasm and diligence in serving the District. Board Chair Josh McLaren said moving forward, the IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) recommends is to publicize the vacancy and accept applications to fill the position, followed by interviews and Board action to act on McLean’s replacement to fill-in until the term expires. There is always the possibility a petition could be filed to call for a Special Election.
(Radio Iowa) – Five of the six states that border Iowa have a significantly higher minimum wage and Democrats in the Iowa House say Iowa’s minimum wage should be raised to 15-dollars an hour. That would equal the minimum wage rates in Nebraska and Missouri. House Democrats are also calling for a five-year freeze on electric and natural gas rates for Iowa homes and for more state help for first-time home buyers.
Representative Dan Gosa, a Democrat from Davenport, is a member of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and president of the Quad City Federation of Labor. “Our plan is built on a simple belief: if you work hard in Iowa, you should be able to afford a good life,” Gosa said. House Democrats are also proposing that Iowa become the 14th state to require that private sector employers offer paid family leave.
Representative Larry McBurney, a Democrat from Urbandale, notes Governor Reynolds approved four weeks of paid parental leave for state employees. “Now it’s time to go a step further and ensure that every Iowan has the opportunity to take time from work and spend time building their family,” McBurney said.
Republicans occupy 67 of the 100 seats in the Iowa House and are unlikely to advance any of these ideas
CORALVILLE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a man serving a sentence for crimes out of Pottawattamie County has died. 81-year-old Robert Kenneth Hammond was pronounced dead at 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 in a hospice room of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center.
Hammond’s sentence began on April 16, 1963.
DES MOINES (Press Release) — Governor Kim Reynolds has introduced a comprehensive property tax reform bill to the Iowa House and Senate that is projected to save Iowans $3 billion over six years.
Over the last two years, Iowans’ property taxes have gone up by an average of more than 10 percent, and are outpacing inflation, salaries, and the state’s population growth.
In order to curb rising property taxes, Governor Reynolds is proposing to cap local government revenue growth at two percent plus new construction on all taxing authorities except debt services and school funding.
“The rate at which property taxes are rising is unacceptable, and Iowans expect legislation that delivers meaningful relief to be passed this year,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Spending drives taxes, and because property taxes are driven by local government, the most reliable way to protect taxpayers is to limit local spending.”
Last fall, the governor hosted roundtable meetings with local officials and community leaders across the state to discuss ways to make local government more efficient. Some local governments have formalized agreements to share the cost and operations of specific public services such as law enforcement, public health, or waste management.
To encourage more communities to do the same, Gov. Reynolds is standing up a $10 million grant fund to assist local governments who choose to consolidate positions and pursue shared service agreements with neighboring cities and counties.
The bill also proposes to conduct property assessments every three years instead of every two years to protect families from sharp valuation increases and create more predictability and less volatility in the market. The governor’s plan also shifts the burden of appealing large property tax increases from homeowners to assessors who will have to justify them.
The bill also reforms Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to improve transparency and limit overuse, limiting TIF projects to public purposes for 20 years.
Additionally, Gov. Reynolds’ bill creates a property tax freeze for Iowans ages 65 and older with homes valued at $350,000 or less, improving affordability for seniors living on fixed incomes.
The bill also helps young Iowans who are hoping to buy a home for the first time. FirstHome Iowa Accounts, based on Iowa’s 529 Plan, will empower families to begin saving for a home years in advance, preparing sons, daughters, and grandchildren for homeownership right here in Iowa.
(Radio Iowa) – The Linn County Board of Supervisors has given the go-ahead for NextEra Energy to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant by rezoning nearly 400 acres in Palo for nuclear power production and storage. Board chair Kirsten Running-Marquardt says the rezoning gives Linn County residents a seat at the table
“This has been a lot of work for many people here at the county for Duane Arnold, for different communities, Palo included. I think this is a good reflection of us working as a good partner and a good community member moving forward,” she says. Running-Marquardt says there are still state and federal approvals needed.
“Linn County does not have the authority to make the final approval or disapproval, nor do we have authority over nuclear waste. But through this rezoning, this gives Linn County residents a seat at the table,” she says. NextEra has agreed to supply Google with a majority of the power generated by the plant if it reopens.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the final say on the plant. NextEra hopes to have it open by late 2028. The board approved an agreement last week requiring NextEra to pay the county for costs related to hosting the nuclear plant. The first payment will be for one-point-nine million dollars with a five percent increase each year the plant operates.
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