Local Taxes

Bailout passes Senate, House foes soften (10/02/08)
WASHINGTON -- After one spectacular failure, the $700 billion financial industry bailout found a second life Wednesday, winning lopsided passage in the Senate and gaining ground in the House, where Republicans opposition softened. Senators loaded the economic rescue bill with tax breaks and other sweeteners before passing it by a wide margin, 74-25, a month before the presidential and congressional elections...

Assessor leads off town meeting series (09/18/08)
Some county officials are taking on a night shift to help keep residents informed. Members of the Clay County Board of Supervisors have arranged a series of town meetings, featuring various branches of county government. Clay County Assessor John Lawson will lead off the series. He'll be in the board room at the Clay County Administration Building for a 7 p.m. meeting on Monday, Sept. 22...

Lawson: No impact on Spencer cameras (09/02/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- The Iowa Supreme Court, in a split ruling on Friday, upheld the city of Davenport's use of traffic cameras to catch speeders and drivers who run red lights. The ruling involved the case of a man who challenged the city's ordinance, which authorized the use of cameras and sensors to catch motorists who violate traffic laws...

Iowa Lakes soccer coming to Spencer (06/07/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff "When" is only half the story for local soccer fans: Starting in the fall of 2009, Iowa Lakes Community College will field mens and womens soccer programs. "Where" is a first for the college. The Lakers will play their games at the Spencer Soccer Plex, which is along 10th Avenue East near the site of the current Spencer Middle School...

Supervisors race features six candidates (05/31/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Republicans have a choice on the ballot as the party tries to find two nominees for a pair of available seats on the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Del Brockshus of Spencer is near the end of his fourth term. He has filed to run again...

Judge denies bond reduction in Milford murder case (05/28/08)
Judge Patrick Carr has decided to keep the bail set at $750,000 each for three men accused of a Milford murder earlier this spring. John Allen Swan, 30, of Crossett, Ark.; Scott Thomas Adair, 29, of Crossett, Ark.; and Michael James Friedrichs, 29, of Forest City, appeared in court for a bail review hearing last Monday. Judge Carr's decision reached the Clerk of Court's office this week...

Council to review budget at city meeting (05/17/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Land transactions, a $1 million loan and a budget amendment are on the agenda when the Spencer City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers. State law requires that cities hold a public hearing to take action on amending the budget and City Manager Bob Fagen has asked for a change Monday night...

Deputies press King for federal grant support (05/03/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Funding for the Iowa Great Lakes Task Force was a central point of conversation Friday as U.S. Rep. Steve King met with Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow in Spencer. Krukow is concerned about cuts to the Byrne-JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) program. The grants were established in 2005 to allow states and local governments to support improvements to the criminal justice system...

Meetings 4-22 (04/22/08)
The Clay County Board of Supervisors will meet at 8:30 a.m., today in the board room at the Clay County Administration Building. A full agenda is planned. The Spencer Finance and Personnel Committee will meet at 5:15 p.m., tonight, in the conference room at City Hall. A full agenda is planned including discussions on financing the golf course clubhouse and the combined sewer initiative...

Republicans unhappy with collective bargaining attempt (04/01/08)
-Minority party raises flags over Democratic party effort to overhaul 34-year old legislation- Without Democrats Sen. Jack Kibbie and Rep. Marcie Frevert present due to other commitments in their district, Republicans Sen. David Johnson and Reps. Mike May and Royd Chambers used the final Eggs & Issues session Saturday to decry the efforts of the majority party to change the state's collective bargaining laws...

Mailbox case returned to Clay County (03/25/08)
Federal authorities are going to loosen their grip on a local "MacGyver bomb" case, according to Clay County Attorney Michael Houchins. Seventeen federal felony charges of destruction of letter boxes were originally filed on Saturday, March 8, after a group of teenagers were suspected of planting explosive devices in the mailboxes in and around Spencer. Seven state felony counts of destruction of letter boxes with an explosive device also were filed...

Grassley continues probe into ministries (03/20/08)
The travel plans may include Bettendorf -- but not Baghdad -- according to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. He met with Clay County residents Wednesday morning at the Clay County Administration Building. His town hall meeting in Spencer was included in a 35-county tour from March 17-28...