One person has died after the crash of a small helicopter southeast of Yankton, South Dakota. First responders say it happened just before 10 a.m. today.
A Sioux City man has been arrested and charged after a pursuit with authorities after a shooting in Morningside early this morning. Click herefor the story from Siouxland News CBS 14-FOX 44.
Another Iowan has been sentenced to serve time in prison for participating in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
38-year-old Kyle Young of Redfield was ordered to spend more than seven years in jail after pleading guilty to assaulting an officer who was trying to stop the mob from getting into the building.
Former D.C. police officer Michael Fanone testified in court. He said Young grabbed his arm and held him down as others in the crowd beat him and shocked him with a taser gun.
Young’s sentence is the longest so far handed out to any of the eight Iowans charged with crimes from the Capitol insurrection.
Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the state of Iowa has a nearly $1.9 billion budget surplus. That’s as the state prepares to close the books this week for the last fiscal year that ended June 30th. The state budget in the last fiscal year was a little over $8 billion.
It’s a much larger budget surplus than state officials initially projected. And a boost in corporate tax revenue is triggering a corporate tax cut that’ll take effect next year.
Reynold signed a bill into law that says the top corporate tax rates will be brought down over time based on how much corporate tax revenue comes into the state each year. The top corporate tax rate will drop from 9-point-8 percent to 8-point-4 percent next year, according to the governor’s office.
That means Iowa will have two corporate tax rates instead of three, something that wasn’t expected to happen before 2027.
MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center was deficient in its recording of whether staff was vaccinated against COVID-19 or had a medical exemption, according to documents posted on the Iowa Department of Inspection & Appeals' website and reported by the Sioux City Journal.
Sioux City's Police Chief and Woodbury County's Sheriff took part in a roundtable discussion on fentanyl in northwest Iowa last night.
Police Chief Rex Mueller and Sheriff Chad Sheehan joined Iowa Senator Joni Ernst and area law enforcement leaders in Primghar to discuss the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into northwest Iowa.
A judge has struck down a state law that enhanced the penalty for trespassing at an ag-related business if the person took pictures or recorded video that was shared.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch was first to report that a federal judge ruled that private property rights are an important governmental interest, but taking photos and recording videos is protected speech under the First Amendment.
Farmers used some dry weather to move into full harvest mode last week.
The U.S.D.A. says 5% of the statewide corn harvest is now complete, which is 5 days behind last year and one day behind the 5-year average. The corn condition remained 64% good to excellent condition.
The report says 7% of the soybeans are in the bin. That is 4 days behind last year and 3 days behind the average. The soybean condition was rated at 62%, good to excellent.
A World War Two Army veteran from Buena Vista County was honored with a special set of medals on Monday.
Several of Stanley Peterson’s family members were on hand for the presentation led by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst. Peterson, who is an Alta native, was given the Good Conduct Medal, the World War Two Victory Medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.
Stanley, who will soon turn 100, joined the Army in 1942 as a Corporal and served until 1946. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic. The story from Radio Iowa can be found here.
News release from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds:
Gov. Reynolds announces Iowa budget surplus of $1.91B, significant drop in top corporate tax rate
DES MOINES -- Today, Governor Kim Reynolds announced the State of Iowa will end Fiscal Year 2022 with a balance of $1.91 billion in the General Fund, $830 million in reserve funds and $1.06 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund.
"Time and again over the last five years, we’ve ignored the self-appointed experts who insisted that tax cuts and economic prosperity wouldn’t be worth the cost,” said Gov. Reynolds. “In fact, as today’s budget numbers show, they were worth every penny. It turns out that growth-oriented policies and fiscal restraint are a powerful combination.”
“Iowa’s strong financial status again proves that we continue to over collect from Iowa taxpayers,” said Kraig Paulsen, director of the Iowa Department of Management. “I applaud the Governor for finding ways to return these funds to the taxpayers.”
The Governor’s tax bill, HF2317, signed in March 2022, includes the formula to reduce the corporate tax rate when net corporate income tax receipts exceed $700 million. For Fiscal Year 2022, net corporate income tax receipts exceeded $850 million, triggering a drop of 14.2% in the top corporate tax rate to 8.4% from 9.8%. This drop reduces the number of corporate tax rates from three to two, which was not projected to happen until at least 2027.
"Iowans want common-sense responsible policies even when it requires going against the grain. We cut taxes when many said our budget couldn’t handle it; we kept our economy open when few others were; we chose growth over government even when it was hard. As a result, our fiscal health is strong, and our tax code is more competitive than ever,” said Gov. Reynolds.
Fiscal Year 2022 closed on June 30, but the accrual period officially ends on September 30. During those three months, Iowa closes the books and pays and receives any outstanding obligations. Fiscal Year 2021’s budget surplus was $1.24 billion.
News release from St. Luke’s College:
St. Luke’s College Adds New Accelerated BSN Program
(SIOUX CITY, IA – September 27, 2022) St. Luke’s College – UnityPoint Health® adds new, full-time Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (ABSN) for students interested in becoming a Registered Nurse.
Located on the campus of UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, the St. Luke’s College ABSN program provides an additional pathway for students to become a Registered Nurse with small class sizes and access to real-life patient care experiences in a hospital-based educational setting.
The ABSN program was developed as a response to the changes in health care and the increased need for nurses and nurse leaders. The tri-state area of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota have all identified the need for additional nurses.
“There has been an emphasis on the growing need for nurses due to increased retirement from the profession and the rise of an aging population,” says Dr. Shannon Merk, Associate Dean of Nursing. “The accelerated program will create more opportunities to increase the nursing workforce and improve patient outcomes for the growing populations in need of health care.”
“This unique program is the only one of its kind in western Iowa,” says Dr. Kendra Ericson, St. Luke’s College President. “It will enable students who are looking for a fast-track program to complete their nursing degree within 12 months, getting them started in a nursing career sooner.”
Transfer students who have completed all required prerequisite general education courses are potential candidates for the accelerated program. The first semester will begin in January 2023. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a Registered Nurse.
Students interested in joining the program can apply online at stlukescollege.edu or contact admissions via email at college@stlukescollege.edu.
News release from the Wellmark Foundation:
The Wellmark Foundation awards more than $1.6 million in MATCH grants Projects in 21 Iowa communities encourage physical activity or provide access to healthy foods
DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 27, 2022) — The Wellmark Foundation has provided 21 Iowa organizations with their Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant awards. These organizations were notified in May of their pending awards and had 16 weeks to secure the required matching funds. All the funded projects will help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity or provide access to healthy foods.
“We know the neighborhoods people live in have a major impact on their health and well-being,” said Mary Lawyer, The Wellmark Foundation executive director. “That is why we are proud to award a total of $1,682,650 to these 21 Iowa organizations. Each of these projects provides an opportunity for residents to be active where they live, work, learn and play, or ensures access to healthy foods.”
Since its inception in 1991, The Wellmark Foundation has awarded nearly $58 million in grant and special project funding to initiatives that positively impact the well-being of Iowans and South Dakotans.
The 21 Iowa organizations awarded a Wellmark Foundation MATCH grant include:
· Carroll County Conservation Board, $100,000 Sauk Rail Trail Resurfacing – Swan Lake to Maple River (Carroll)
| · Davis County Trails Council, $100,000 Davis County Trail System – Phase 4A (Bloomfield) |
· Casey Service Club, Inc., $100,000 Abram Rutt Park Trail (Casey)
| · Friends of Eldora Parks and Recreation, $42,650 Park Street Corridor Improvement Project (Eldora) |
· Cherokee Community Foundation, $75,000 Cherokee Skate/BMX/Scooter Park (Cherokee)
| · Friends of Lacey–Keosauqua State Park, $100,000 Campground to Bath House Trail(Keosauqua)
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· City of Afton, $65,000 Trail Extension to Rec Complex (Afton)
| · Jasper County Conservation, $100,000 Red Rock Prairie Trail (Mitchellville, Monroe and Prairie City)
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· City of Burlington, $100,000 Dankwardt Park Playground Project (Burlington)
| · Lake View Foundation, $49,866 Pickleball Courts (Lake View) |
· City of Laurens, $100,000 The Laurens Pool Project (Laurens)
| · Nahant Marsh Education Center, $100,000 Nahant Marsh Connector Trail Project (Davenport) |
· City of Lenox, $100,000 Recreational Trail Extension — Phase I & II (Lenox) | · Polk County Conservation, $100,000 Easter Lake North Shore Capital Campaign (Des Moines)
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· City of Marcus, $100,000 Marcus Trail Plan — Phase I (Marcus) | · The Cedar Falls Schools Foundation, $100,000 Communiy Natatorium (Cedar Falls)
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· City of Sioux City, $100,000 Cone Mountain Bike Park (Sioux City)
| · WesleyLife Community Services, Inc., $100,000 So Much More than Meals Capital Campaign (Des Moines)
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· City of West Burlington, $100,000 Gear Avenue Trail Expansion — Phase II (West Burlington)
| · YMCA of Washington County, $100,000 Indoor Aquatic Center Project (Washington) |
· City of Winterset, $100,000 Winterset All-Inclusive Playground (Winterset)
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To learn more about these projects, visit Wellmark.com/Foundation.