Fiscal Policy

Poet to expand in Emmetsburg (02/18/10)
While the parking lots outside resembled pickup truck sales lots, the ballroom featuring Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook keynote speakers inside the Clay County Regional Events Center touted the simultaneous messages of using alternative energy, making money, creating jobs and reducing the nation's dependency on foreign oil this week. ...

Grant applications for four trail projects submitted (02/11/10)
Spencer Park Board members plan to file grant requests for the placement of trails in three city parks and for a trail connecting East 10th Street and Stolley Park via 18th Street. The first grant application -- which lists potential trails in North School, Deerfield and Westview parks -- could be awarded through a second federal stimulus package deemed Stimulus II. ...

Governor appoints Clay County native IDED director (12/29/09)
DES MOINES -- Governor Chet Culver continued his efforts to reorganize state government by making two new appointments for key government positions. In addition, the Governor took further steps to streamline state government by moving a key housing program from the Department of Economic Development to the Iowa Finance Authority...

Transportation projects roll on despite cuts (12/15/09)

Krause stumps for Grassley's seat at fair (09/15/09)
U.S. Senate aspirant Bob Krause (D-Fairfield) campaigned Saturday at the Clay County Fair. The 59-year-old, who acknowledges he faces stiff odds in his bid to defeat Iowa's senior senator, readily recited the handful of colorful statements his foe has made over the last few months, recited the incumbent's voting record and then forecast "that the winds they are a changing." ...

Spencer's second religious liberty draft policy (09/10/09)
Any discussion of the place of religion in public education must be grounded in the principle of religious liberty, or freedom of conscience, particularly as embodied in this nation's First Amendment to the Constitution, which states that: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or...

Spencer's second 'religious liberty' draft policy released (09/04/09)
Spencer Superintendent Greg Ebeling admits that portions of the district's second "religious liberty" draft policy have been taken from other sources and sample policies. The second draft's author also acknowledges it still needs some wordsmithing, which is currently occurring as feedback is being received from various groups throughout the community. ...

Teacher, student feedback received on draft 'religious liberty' policy (09/04/09)
***Community input to be sought on evening of Sept. 10

As Senate debates, local dealers wait for 'clunkers' payments (08/06/09)
Local car dealership managers acknowledge a bit of confusion and a lot of red tape through the "cash-for-clunkers" stimulus program. They also see a little more traffic on their lots, suggesting at least some aspects of the federal incentive program are gaining traction...

Plan to address school leadership structure change (06/12/09)
Classes may have dismissed for the summer, but some Iowa school officials still find themselves working to develop and approve new leadership structures for their districts. As requested by the Department of Education, the move marks one of the first requirements for the eventual statewide implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum. ...

Hundreds join tax protest at Clay County Courthouse (04/16/09)
Wednesday's national tax day, tea party government spending protests weren't limited to state capitols and major metropolitan areas. About 275 people filled in around a makeshift podium on the courthouse square in Spencer for a local version of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party. The event was organized by Kris Thiessen of Everly, who co-owns White Glove, a janitorial business in Spencer...

East Milwaukee gets to stretch (03/11/09)
The city of Spencer is seeing the first drops of a $789 billion economic stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama in February. The money was funneled through the Iowa Department of Transportation, to Spencer on Tuesday. The city will receive $422,500 for an extension of East Milwaukee Street through a Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) grant...

School board to act on 2009-10 reductions next week (02/21/09)
The Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene a special meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24 to make adjustments to potential 2009-10 budget reduction packages following feedback received during a 10 a.m. public hearing on the matter today...

School site visits deemed 'valuable process' (01/23/09)
A recent two-day Iowa Department of Education (DE) site visit to an area school district has its superintendent confidently proclaiming: "From all indications, things went real well for us as a district." For those district representatives who do not enjoy such visits, Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District Superintendent Ervin "Erv" Rowlands added/assured, "For other communities, as this comes up, try to be a part of it. ...

Obama, McCain argue over taxes, federal spending (09/27/08)
OXFORD, Miss. -- Barack Obama accused presidential rival John McCain of supporting Bush administration policies that produced the current economic crisis Friday night in their first debate of the campaign for the White House. Both men readily agreed Congress must act soon to prevent millions of Americans from losing their jobs and homes...

Iowa Department of Education releases state report card (09/19/08)
The Iowa Department of Education (DE) released the state report card for No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Thursday. The report shows a change in the state's proficiency targets, which is the percent of students across the state that must be proficient in reading and math...

Agriprocessors supervisor faces additional charge (08/20/08)
DES MOINES -- A supervisor arrested after a massive immigration raid at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday to charges he knowingly hired illegal immigrants, according to court filings. Juan Carlos Guerrero-Espinoza is expected to plead guilty to charges he conspired to hire illegal immigrants and aided and abetted the hiring of illegal immigrants...

Activity transportation fees not imposed (08/13/08)
As Spencer parents and guardians registered their children for classes on Monday and Tuesday, those enrolling middle and high school students were treated to a surprise: They were not charged a new "activity transportation fee." As approved by board members early last month, the $25 and $35 fees for secondary-level students were designed to cover a portion of activity transportation costs, as well as pay for the cost of a student's activity ticket...

King among lawmakers refusing to accept vacation (08/06/08)
Congressman Steve King didn't get to visit the wheelhouse of the Storm Lake dredging boat on Monday as planned. Instead, the western Iowa U.S. Representative raced back to Washington to join about 24 other Republican House members in an unprecedented efffort to guide a vote on a comprehensive energy bill through treacherous waters...

School districts notified about budget course (07/29/08)
Statewide coverage Monday, surrounding a letter issued in March, raised some eyebrows about school budget deficits. The Okoboji School District received one of 60 Iowa Department of Education letters regarding a perceived trend toward negative unspent balances. The form letter was cited in news coverage Monday from Des Moines...

English continuing his 'battle for good public policy' (06/14/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff Bryan English found himself "just showing up and volunteering" on the political front about five years ago. As he found the opportunities to be endless if he simply raised his hand and said, "I'd be happy to do that," he also realized a new career...

Raid in Postville: Authorities confirm largest work site enforcement ever (05/17/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff A total of 306 people who were detained at Agriprocessors Inc of Postville have now been arrested on criminal charges, federal prosecutors confirmed in a statement released Thursday. The 281 men and 25 women are part of a group of 389 people who were administratively arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday...

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