Iowa’s revenue forecasting panel is projecting state revenue will come in just shy of the level needed for more income tax cuts to kick in.
Revenue would need to grow 4 percent next fiscal year to trigger more income tax cuts in 2023. But the latest estimate from today is 3-point-8 percent growth, potentially pushing tax cuts to 2024 or later.
Governor Kim Reynolds and the Senate Majority Leader released statements calling on the House to vote to remove that threshold and allow the tax cuts to take effect regardless of growth levels. The Senate passed it this week, but the House hasn’t committed to doing that.
The Iowa Department of Education today announced that the state is slated to receive nearly $775 million in federal relief for Pre-K-12 schools through a fund to address costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sioux City Community School Board Member Dan Greenwell says the school district is expected to receive an additional $43 million in aid for a total of $63.3 million.
As U.S. health officials relax social distancing recommendations for schools, the Sioux City Community School District says it will not change any current practices at this time. New guidelines from the CDC announced today indicate three-feet between desks is fine, compared to six.
This week the Sioux City Community School District reported one more student tested positive for COVID-19 and four staff members. There are 344 students in quarantine.
Nebraska will move to its next coronavirus vaccination phase on Monday with a focus on residents who are 50 to 64 years old and those with certain health conditions. Gov. Pete Ricketts says the change will apply to the entire state, unlike previous phases where the transition has taken place by public health district. Under the new phase, 90% of doses are required to go to residents in the 50-to-64 age group or people who qualified under previous phases. The remaining 10% will go to people with health conditions that are chosen by local doctors and public health officials in each region. Health officials have spent the last several weeks vaccinating residents who are at least 65.
After sending teams home after the start of last year’s tournament the NAIA Women’s Basketball Tournament is underway in Sioux City with some changes. Instead of 32 teams there are 16, including Morningside College. The Tyson Events Center has limited spectators to 20% of capacity. Plus, COVID-19 testing will be done on site. A spokesperson for Morningside College says nursing students will help administer those tests at the tournament.
Gov. Kristi Noem has signed legislation bringing sports gambling to Deadwood. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming met in Deadwood this week to begin framing the rules for the sports wagering. Voters approved a constitutional amendment in November that legalized sports gambling at the town’s casinos. Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman says he expects the gaming commission to have the preliminary set of rules ready by their June 16 meeting, where it will then go to a legislative committee for approval. Sports wagering will be allowed on the premises of Deadwood casinos through sports betting windows, kiosks or a mobile app.
