IOWA – Tax revenue in the state of Iowa is expected to drop by more than $1.1 billion by the end of fiscal year 2026, according to the October meeting of the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. The Des Moines Register reports the result is tied to a 3.8% flat tax law signed by Governor Kim Reynolds this past spring. Reynolds claims the state’s fiscal state is still strong. Director of the Iowa Department of Management Kraig Paulsen cites a $1.9 billion surplus and $3.75 billion in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund as to why he believes there are no risks short term to state spending. DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 2.9 percent in September amid a labor force that remained largely static despite job reductions. The state’s labor force participation rate held steady at 66.3 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in September. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 49,400 in September from 48,400 in August.

PERRY – The Dallas County Attorney’s Office released a report about the shooting that killed two people at Perry High School in January. Details surrounding the circumstances of the attack were included, which involved 17-year-old student Dylan Butler entering the school with a shotgun, revolver, knife, and improvised explosive device concealed from view at 7:12 a.m. on January 4th. Butler began live streaming just before his attack at 7:35 a.m., when he opened fire and killed sixth grade student Ahmir Jolliff. A school emergency alert was issued just ten seconds after administration heard the first shots fired. Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger was shot multiple times in an attempt to stop Butler from his assault. He later died from his injuries. A press conference has been scheduled today in Perry by law enforcement to discuss the details from the document. DES MOINES – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a three-count indictment this week, charging Shawnna Marie Cunningham with offenses related to her possession of a firearm as a drug user and her aiding and abetting the possession and disposal of a firearm to a person she knew was a felon. According to court documents, on September 16th, Cunningham was a passenger in a vehicle that refused to stop when law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, Joshua Dean Green, a convicted felon, produced a nine-millimeter pistol and fired at Des Moines Police officers. One officer was struck in the head and another officer was struck in the arm. Officers returned fire and Green ultimately died from his injuries. Cunningham was searched immediately following the traffic stop. If convicted, Cunningham faces a sentence of up to fifteen years in prison on each count. DUNLAP – An Iowa resident has won the state’s Best Pork Tenderloin Contest for a second time. The Des Moines Register reports Dairy Sweet, owned by Lori and Greg Thomsen in Dunlap, was the winner in 2024 in the contest held by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The restaurant is the first in the 22 year history of the contest to earn the top honor twice. This year’s 2nd place finisher was Ruby’s Bar & Grill in Stuart.

IOWA COUNTY – One person died in a single vehicle crash near Millersburg on Tuesday morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports Jeanne Kashindi of Des Moines was traveling on F-52 and failed to stop her Kia Sportage. She then proceeded onto a downhill driveway into a county gravel storage area, striking broken pieces of concrete before landing on the driver’s side. Kashindi was pronounced dead on scene and a passenger was injured and transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. IOWA – Outdoor burning continues to be discouraged as an extremely dry fall has increased fire danger in the state. Most of Iowa has been placed under a red flag warning today as relative humidity dips below 20% and winds up to 40 MPH remain possible for most of the day. Two-thirds of Iowa’s counties have been under burn bans for several weeks, especially along and north of Interstate 80. Little to no rainfall remains in the long range forecast, along with warmer than normal temperatures well into next week, according to the National Weather Service. IOWA – The Iowa Department of Revenue announced the 2025 tax year individual income tax rate on Wednesday — with a new twist for filers coming after this upcoming filing period concludes. Since the enactment of Iowa Senate File 2442 in May 2024, Iowa law provides for a flat tax rate of 3.8 percent for all levels of taxable individual income beginning with tax year 2025, meaning there will be no income tax brackets for those filing in the winter of 2026. Those preparing for the upcoming tax season will still have some marginal rates, based on previous tax laws. INDIANAPOLIS – It’s been a year of special honors for a former Iowa women’s basketball superstar, and that has continued in the pros. Caitlin Clark was a first team All-WNBA selection, according to WHO-13. Clark is the first rookie selected to the team since Candace Parker in 2008. Caitlin averaged 19 points per game and set the league record for assists in a season in her first year professionally, which came after leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the National Championship game for the second consecutive season.

IOWA – Early voting begins across the state in-person today at county courthouses. Voter ID laws remain the same, so a driver’s license or other qualifying document must be brought. Registration can be done in person at any of those sites on election day and during the early registration window. Ballots can be requested for absentee voters until 5 p.m. on October 21st through mail. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 5th. IOWA – Continued dry weather and above normal temperatures allowed Iowa farmers 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 13, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans, baling corn stalks, applying manure and fertilizers, and fall tillage. Fire danger in fields remains a threat. Topsoil moisture condition rated 35 percent very short, 41 percent short, and 24 percent adequate, Corn reached 97 percent mature or beyond, and the crop harvested for grain reached 45 percent, which is three days ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average.ANKENY – For the third consecutive year, new cancer diagnoses in Iowa ranks the second highest in the nation. KCRG-TV reports there were 21,000 new cases of cancer in the past year, and an estimated 6,100 will die this year in the 2024 Iowa Cancer Report. While there is no one reason, the report cites increasing excessive alcohol use as one area for concern.

IOWA – A Council Bluffs man was arrested Monday for the alleged murder of a woman found dead this past February. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is accusing 45-year-old Justin Sickler of being responsible for the death of 28-year-old Brianne McIntosh. Earlier this year, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office found an unidentified dead body with severe injuries that resulted in her death. McIntosh was reported missing in December 2023. Sickler is charged with first degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and theft in the 3rd degree. WASHINGTON – A Washington High School student died in a crash involving a train early Monday morning. KCII Radio reports the Iowa State Patrol responded to a vehicle vs. train collision. The Iowa State Patrol says a Ford Fusion ran a stop sign and entered the crossing. The Washington Community School District told parents the person who died in the crash was a student, identified as Rowan Ross. AMES – While the Iowa State football team makes its first landing in the Associated Top 10 rankings this week, so does another athletic team in Ames. The Cyclones Men’s Basketball team is the No. 5 preseason team in the country. ISU returns four of its top five scorers from its No. 2 seeded 2024 NCAA tournament team.