DES MOINES – The first of two budget estimates that determine how much Iowa lawmakers can spend from its coffers was released on Thursday. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the Revenue Estimating Conference predicts revenue will drop by nearly $600 million from the current fiscal year heading into the next. The non-partisan panel says a strong economic situation overall in the state is not enough to pull revenue into the black, citing deep tax cuts approved by the Iowa Legislature earlier this year. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement claiming the cuts were a positive change, citing a large budget surplus and a growing taxpayer relief fund that can be used to pay down tax reduction legislation. Reynolds and the Republican supermajority in both state chambers intend to cut property taxes in the session that begins in January.

IOWA – Another taste of winter is coming to the state’s residents later today, this time, in the form of freezing rain and sleet. According to the National Weather Service, anywhere from a trace to up to a quarter-inch of ice is possible across most of Iowa, starting in the evening hours and continuing into Saturday morning. The first ice storm warning of the 2024-25 winter season has been issued from near Marshalltown to the Interstate 380 corridor. The National Weather Service indicates even a small glaze of ice can cause travel hazards.

IOWA CITY – It’s a winter CyHawk split as the state’s two biggest schools clashed in basketball this week. The Iowa State Cyclones men pulled away late after coming back from behind to defeat the Iowa Hawkeye’s basketball team 89-80 late Thursday. This came a day after the Hawkeye women pulled a similar move against their rivals to win 75-69 on Wednesday at Carver Hawkeye Arena.