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.

IOWA – A former U.S. Representative for the state of Iowa for three decades has died. The Des Moines Register reports 82-year-old James Leach passed away on Wednesday. Leach served eastern Iowa in the House from 1976 to 2006 as a Republican, co-founding the Congressional Humanities Caucus. The Davenport-native then worked in the Obama Administration as the Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Leach also was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003. DES MOINES – While it feels about as far away as possible weather-wise, the Iowa State Fair has started to roll out announcements for the 2025 entertainment lineup this coming August. Among the early headline entertainers coming to perform at the Iowa State Fairgrounds are Forrest Frank and Megan Moroney on August 7th and 9th respectively. The fair board is expected to continue rolling out announcements of performing acts in the coming weeks. AMES – After leading the Iowa State football program to its first 10-win season in the program’s 133-year history and its seventh bowl game in nine seasons, three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year Matt Campbell has agreed to a new eight-year contract that will keep him on the Cyclone sideline through the 2032 season. The announcement was made by ISU President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. Campbell’s Cyclones roared to the program’s best start since 1938 (7-0) and its first-ever 4-0 start in Big 12 play en route to a 10-3 regular-season record.

IOWA – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service obligated a record $112.1 million in conservation practice funding to Iowa farmers in fiscal year 2024. The distributions were made through nearly 2,000 conservation program contracts that will help treat natural resource concerns such as soil erosion and water quality on nearly 400,000 acres. Iowa USDA staff obligated about 42 percent, or $47.2 million, of the FY24 conservation funding through the Inflation Reduction Act and the other 58 percent through the 2018 Farm Bill.IOWA COUNTY – One person died in a Wednesday afternoon crash in Marengo. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Ford Escape operated by 52-year-old William F. Myers crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic and collided with a cattle truck and trailer operated by Russell Trimble. Myers was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the head on crash, and died from his injuries. DES MOINES – A Des Moines woman was recently sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for distribution of a pill containing fentanyl that resulted in a victim’s death. According to court documents, Nevaeh Simone Botts sold pills containing fentanyl to a 16-year-old, who subsequently overdosed and died. Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, and fatalities related to the drug in youth ages 15 to 24 more than doubled between 2018 and 2022.

SIOUX RAPIDS – Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow announced Melanie Bloom, a 16-year veteran agriculture teacher, as the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year during an assembly at Sioux Central Community School District in Sioux Rapids. Bloom is a full-time agriculture and FFA advisor, and was selected from nine finalists who were named last month as Iowa’s first-ever Regional Teachers of Year representing all education regions of the state. The Iowa Teacher of the Year award was first established in 1958.WASHINGTON D.C. – Both of Iowa’s senators met with two of the more contentious nominees for leadership positions in President-Elect Donald Trump’s second administration. Senator Chuck Grassley released his endorsement for potential FBI Director Kash Patel following what he called a vote of “no-confidence” in current director Christopher Wray. Senator Joni Ernst met with Army Veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth following Republican criticism of holding our her potential vote for his nomination. Ernst called the meeting “productive.” Votes on nominations will take place after inauguration day on January 20th. IOWA – An organization intends to lobby lawmakers at the Iowa Statehouse ahead of their new general assembly beginning in January about driving with cellular devices and creating legislation to address it. The End Distracted Driving Iowa Coalition includes dozens of organizations from law enforcement, healthcare, labor, transportation, insurance, and state agencies. The group cites Iowa DOT data that shows distracted driving crashes have increased by 43% in the past decade. It also references states with laws that have seen reductions in such incidents.

IOWA – Governor Kim Reynolds announced the extension of a disaster proclamation for Sioux and Palo Alto Counties effective immediately through January 7th. The USDA has confirmed positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in both counties. This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The recent bird flu detections do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.  MUSCATINE – A multi-county pursuit resulted in two fatalities Sunday afternoon on Highway 218. KCII Radio reports a crash took the lives of two people near Mile Marker 78 in Washington County at 3:51 p.m., according to the Iowa State Patrol. The Muscatine Police Department received multiple reports of a female driving through the community and firing a weapon at others. When that woman did not stop, she led police on a chase through Louisa County and eventually toward the area of the crash. IOWA – Both the Cyclones and Hawkeyes have one more football game to play before the 2024 season ends. The No. 18-ranked Iowa State football team is heading to Orlando to take on No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on December 28th. It marks the Cyclones’ seventh bowl game in eight seasons, and comes after they lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship game Saturday morning with a College Football Playoff Bid on the line. The Hawkeyes are traveling to Nashville on December 30th to take on No. 19 Missouri in the Music City Bowl.AMES – An Iowa State Cyclones football player was arrested for alleged operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The Des Moines Register reports Jaylon Jackson was taken into custody at 2:38 a.m. on Sunday morning by Ames Police. The graduate transfer has gained 429 total yards of offense in 2024.