State Legislature

No fireworks in final Eggs & Issues session (03/16/10)
With Democrats Sen. Jack Kibbie and Rep. Marcie Frevert -- both of Emmetsburg, -- absent from the final Eggs & Issues session Saturday, Spencer City Council chambers never really heated up with back-and-forth dialogue. Rep. Mike May who was participating in his final Spencer Chamber of Commerce legislative event, took the opportunity to thank those he has served in District 6...

Conlin concerned about health care (03/09/10)
The availability of health care is a top priority for U.S. Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin, largely because she can relate to those without insurance. When she was 14, she got an ear infection. With no money for medication, no insurance and no car to take her to a doctor, she was forced to let the infection run its course, resulting in permanent, partial hearing loss in her left ear...

Legislators discuss rising health care costs, texting while driving (03/02/10)
When the third Eggs and Issues legislative forum of the season began Saturday morning in Spencer, attendees were encouraged to not ask the three participating state legislators about same-sex marriage or right-to-work issues, common themes of the first two sessions held this year. Even with the majority party not represented at the gathering, Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan; Rep. Mike May, R-Spirit Lake; and Rep. Royd Chambers, R-Sheldon; addressed a variety of issues ranging from oversight of the Department of Natural Resources and texting while behind the wheel to health care concerns and statewide budget cuts. ...

Health care, job bills on Grassley's agenda (02/27/10)
Following his participation in a 7 1/2-hour, televised health care summit involving President Barack Obama and 38 lawmakers Thursday, Sen. Chuck Grassley's concerns about sweeping health care reform have not waned. "What's the point of negotiating, you know?" the frustrated Republican from New Hartford asked. "Maybe sprinkle in a couple Republican ideas and you've got a bipartisan bill? Well, I don't think so."...

Lt. Gov. Judge emphasizes jobs (02/19/10)
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Reporter Thursday, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge focused on jobs from start to finish, as she discussed items she and Gov. Chet Culver hope to see accomplished during a shortened, 80-day legislative session. "We're very much aware -- as everyone in the state is -- that we're in the midst of a worldwide recession and people are concerned, and rightfully so," Judge said. ...

Tea Party to Iowa legislators: You're not listening (02/19/10)
DES MOINES - Kris Thiessen used to get tired of people who talked politics. Now she's one of them. The Everly business owner was talking politics at the Capitol on Tuesday along with a couple of dozen fellow Tea Party activists. High among their talking points were legislative proposals they say will weaken Iowa's election laws, gun rights and other proposals that expand government and limit freedom...

Applications sought for 2010 Clay County Fair Queen (02/18/10)
The search is under way for candidates to compete for the title of Clay County Fair Queen. The winner, to be crowned Sunday, April 18, will reign over this year's Clay County Fair and will also compete for the State Fair Queen title. Females between the ages of 16 and 21 by Aug.12, the first day of the 2010 Iowa State Fair, may apply. ...

Eggs & Issues: Legislators weigh in on status of the state (02/02/10)
There were eggs - eggs sandwiches to be exact. And there were issues - there are definitely issues. Local state legislators met in council chambers at Spencer City Hall Saturday morning to take part in the first of four scheduled Eggs & Issues forums. Republicans: Senator David Johnson (Ocheyedan) and Representatives Mike May (Spirit Lake) and Royd Chambers (Sheldon),...

Budget, street projects top council meeting (02/02/10)
Before diving into a department-by-department breakdown of Spencer's budget at Monday's city council meeting, City Manager Bob Fagen made one thing clear. While the tax rate is not increasing, the amount of taxes paid by residents will increase due to a change in the state of Iowa rollback.

Roberts concerned about spending (01/29/10)
"Money doesn't grow on trees... Until I was first elected to the Iowa House, I thought all adults were like that," Rod Roberts told a small, vocal group of about 25 individuals at the Clay County Regional Events Center Thursday night. "(Other elected officials) began making decisions and acting like there's an orchard out back the capitol."

High Court: Castillo-Alvarez case won't be reviewed (01/22/10)
Clay County Attorney Michael Houchins on Friday confirmed a decision from the Iowa Supreme Court to deny further review of the 1997 gang-related murder of Estherville teenager Gregory Sky Erickson. Judge Don Courtney found former Estherville restaurant owner Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez responsible for orchestrating Erickson's death, based on a January 2008 ruling at the Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg...

Branstad's back (01/22/10)
He's not Michael Jordan and he has probably never had quite the following of Mötley Crüe, but Terry Branstad has launched his very own comeback campaign, which stopped at the Spencer Public Library Thursday. ...

Rants emphasizes lowering property taxes (01/21/10)
A perfect storm is brewing in Iowa, gubernatorial candidate Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, told a group of about 50 people at the Clay County Regional Events Center Tuesday night. The former Speaker of the House identified a lack of job development, escalating taxes and an outdated, unconstitutional school aid funding formula as the three biggest problems currently facing the state at the Informed Voter Forum sponsored by the Clay County Tea Party Patriots...

Spencer among stops on Branstad's 'Iowa Comeback Tour' campaign (01/15/10)
URBANDALE -- The Branstad 2010 Committee have released a detailed schedule for former Gov. Terry Branstad's "Iowa Comeback Tour" events, where he will announce his run for governor. The tour begins at the Iowa State Historical Society building in Des Moines on Tuesday, Jan. 19, and will cover 17 cities in four days...

' ... We're going to win in November, (01/14/10)
"We're going to win in June, then we're going to win in November, then we're going to lead." Those words at the conclusion of Iowa GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats presentation to a small group of voters Tuesday night drew a round of applause. ...

Local Tea Party members bring GOP candidates to Spencer (01/08/10)
Local Tea Party Patriots are calling for the area citizenry to "get informed and get involved." And they are offering a way to do it. Plans for two voter forum opportunities with a pair of the GOP gubernatorial candidates have been announced by the Tea Party Patriots, organizers of the event...

Whiting second to announce plans for District 6 seat (01/05/10)
Spirit Lake native Zach Whiting announced Monday that he will seek the Republican nomination for the District 6 seat in the Iowa House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Mike May, who has announced that he will not seek re-election in November...

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...

Kibbie: Education to remain a priority in 2010 (12/24/09)
Sen. John "Jack" Kibbie told Spencer school board members this week that education will remain a priority in 2010. He also forewarned that state legislators will be looking at the possibility of more school districts sharing in order to save money. Incentives for them to share and discussions about more distance learning occurring will transpire this upcoming legislative session, he said Tuesday evening via a teleconference connection with board members...

Board members, legislators mull over upcoming legislative session (12/17/09)
Spencer school board members have received predictions, as well as advance warnings, from three area legislators in regard to what challenges the district's coffers and local taxpayers' wallets may expect in response to Iowa's budget shortfall and across-the-board cuts ordered by the governor. During a nighttime work session held this week, Sen. David Johnson, Reps. Royd Chambers and Mike May told the locally-elected representatives that the upcoming legislative session will probably be a "compressed situation" that will be "all about budget and very little about policy." ...

Area economic development programs adapt to loss of funds (12/17/09)
Despite a cut of over $7 million reaching state economic development services, many Lakes area corridor organizations under this umbrella are keeping their heads above water. The solvency of programs including the Mainstreet/Rural Mainstreet Program in Spencer, the the Iowa Lakes Corridor Corporation and the regional offices of Iowa Workforce Development are the result of a number of financial alternatives, including federal funding, local business support and grants...

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

Natural resources at risk in State cuts (12/12/09)
Iowa's natural resources have not been spared in the State's 10 percent across-the-board budget clear-cutting, and northwest Iowa environmental leaders wonder how deep the roots of economic damage may run. One of the largest expenditure cuts from the DNR falls in the state parks funding...

DHS program changes to save millions (12/11/09)
In order to slash over $132 million from its budget this fiscal year, Iowa's largest service agency is looking at sizable cuts to jobs, provider rates and service delivery. While an Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesperson describes the impact of the cuts being made as "drastic" and "quite severe," Roger Munns is also trying to assure state residents and DHS clients that the state will make it through and the situation will turn around eventually...

Area banker seeks May's District 6 seat (12/08/09)
Okoboji banker Jeff Smith on Tuesday announced plans to run for the Iowa House District 6 seat currently held by Mike May. May said he will not be seeking re-election in 2010 and voiced support for Smith -- a fellow Republican -- as part of the statement that officially announced Smith's campaign for the seat...

State cuts taking a toll on NW Iowa (12/05/09)
"The first cut is the deepest," muses a classic song. The global economic crisis has hit home belatedly, but with full force, in Iowa and local communities this season. The bleeding can be felt from the slashes in school budgets to the trauma of sudden job losses...

May won't seek reelection in 2010 (11/24/09)
State Representative Mike May (R-Spirit Lake) announced this week that he will not be seeking reelection in 2010. "I've been thinking about this all summer," said May. "Probably in early fall, I decided I wouldn't seek reelection in 2010." May, owner of Triggs Bay Resort, says it's time to focus on his business and his family. May and his wife Marge have three children and five grandchildren...

Poet laureate to headline 'Written Word' event (11/17/09)
In February 2009, Governor Chet Culver announced Mary Swander's appointment as Poet Laureate of the State of Iowa. For Swander, a graduate of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop and a Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University, this was just the latest of a long string of awards, including an Iowa Author's Award in 2006 and the Carl Sandburg Literary Award in 1981...

A Hunting we will go (11/10/09)
Camouflage and orange may not be big on the Paris fashion scene, but during the fall, the combination is pretty popular in northwest Iowa. Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (second from right) was in Spencer over the weekend to take part in the annual Governor's Hunt which was hosted by the Clay County Pheasants Forever chapter. ...

Ne'er too late: 95 year old votes for first time (11/07/09)
Marion Peters heard the same question asked in disbelief, over and over, earlier this week. "You've never voted?" her daughter-in-law, Betty Peters asked. The same question came from Darlene Enderton, the chairwoman of the city of Webb's voting precinct...

State cuts to create cash flow issue for Spencer schools (10/31/09)
School districts across Iowa are attempting to figure out how to deal with Gov. Chet Culver's 10 percent across-the-board cut, and what it means for their annual budgets which have already been set. Spencer residents were told this week that the diminished amount they'll be working to offset is $890,735. ...

Rep. King wades into Limbaugh, Rams ownership (10/30/09)
U.S. Rep. Steve King used a Capitol Hill appearance by Roger Goodell to press the NFL Commissioner about conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who was removed from a group trying to purchase the St. Louis Rams. Goodell was testifying before a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday to examine the long-term effects of head injury among NFL players...

Cruise vessel safety legislation passes House (10/24/09)
Advocates for cruise ship safety are applauding House passage Friday of language authored by U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) to improve safety of cruise ship passengers on the high seas. Matsui's Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act of 2009 was included in H.R. ...

Public forum will focus on potential mental health service reductions (10/17/09)
Earlier this year, the Iowa Department of Human Services was directed by the Iowa Legislature to assist an appointed task force with an evaluation of the four state mental health institutions (MHI) at Cherokee, Clarinda, Independence and Mt. Pleasant...

Attendees request full REAP funding (10/08/09)
Residents from the nine-county area gathered in Spencer this week to voice their individual thoughts on how Iowa's REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) program might be made better. The 49 people who gathered at Tuesday night's assembly in the Clay County Regional Events Center unanimously expressed a desire for the program to receive full funding, allowing it to more fully enhance and protect Iowa's natural and cultural resources...

Fong campaign comes to Spencer (10/06/09)
"It's spin or accounting tricks," Christian Fong said of the state budget. "But it's not common sense." The insurance executive from Cedar Rapids made his first campaign stop Monday in Spencer and touted himself as a social conservative and economist who pledged to shrink the size of state government by 5 percent in his first year as governor...

Ag reps encouraged, warned about future of industry (09/19/09)
While times may be tough, nearly 100 agricultural representatives were encouraged to keep their chins up and focus on the prize during a luncheon held Thursday at the Clay County Fair. ...

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." ...

Lost at sea -- Kendall Carver's crusade (09/12/09)
The days of business cards and power-point presentations were supposed to be in the past for 72-year-old Kendall Carver, a member of the Spencer High School class of 1954. He retired to Phoenix 15 years ago after a successful career as an insurance executive in New York City. It's the stage of life when hobbies, grandchildren and travel should replace the appointment book...

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...

Castillo-Alvarez conviction overturned (09/02/09)

South Clay residents invited to attend public hearings (08/07/09)
Three public hearings are scheduled next week to address the South Clay school district's dissolution following the 2009-10 school year. The gatherings will serve as an opportunity for area residents to have their questions answered, as well as a chance to receive additional information about the six contiguous school districts their children and property are expected to fold into in 2010-11. ...

Sales tax holiday continues through Saturday (08/07/09)
Retailers are used to the routine by now, but the weekend's "sales tax holiday" in Iowa can still cause a bit of confusion, according to Iowa Department of Revenue spokeswoman Renee Mulvey. "First of all, it's just two days," she said. "It's only Friday and Saturday. It's not Sunday."...

Rep. King announces Spencer stop (08/07/09)
U.S. Rep. Steve King included a Spencer stop as part of a series of town hall meetings in late August. The hourlong Spencer event will take place at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, in the round room of the Spencer Public Library. The address is 21 East Third Street...

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...

'Patriots' return to protest health care reform (07/30/09)
A visit by Nathan Vander Plaats, staff member for Sen. Tom Harkin, to conduct a listening post on the issue of health care reform at the Spencer Public Library Wednesday morning, served as a call to arms for a small group of area Tea Party Patriots...

Johnson has cancer, plans to retain senate seat (07/28/09)
State Senator and Assistant Republican Leader David Johnson said he fully intends to run again, and is optimistic about recovery after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. "I haven't officially announced that I'll be a candidate again, but I have every intention of running for a third term," Johnson said. "An official announcement is coming within the next 60 days."...

Residents can weigh in on pet cemetery issue (07/18/09)
It won't come to a vote, but residents who want a place of rest for their beloved pet will have a chance to be heard Monday. Members of the Spencer City Council will hold a pet cemetery public hearing as part of the regular meeting Monday night. A 5:15 p.m. public works committee hearing precedes the 6:30 p.m. council meeting at Spencer City Hall. The pet cemetery issue is early on the council agenda...

Patty Judge kicks off Travel Iowa tour (07/09/09)
Vowing to take a ride on one of the attractions at the Arnolds Park Amusement Park and grab some candy from the Queen's Court, Iowa's Lt. Governor Patty Judge made a stop in the Lakes area this week to tout Iowa's tourism opportunities. The stop was part of Travel Iowa '09, a 67-stop statewide tour designed to highlight some of Iowa's many unique, fun, and affordable attractions...

Check point stops cars, raises awareness (07/03/09)
Travelers heading north to Spencer or the Iowa Great Lakes may have experienced a moderate delay Thursday night. The Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force and Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Program organized a safety check on U.S. Highway 71 south of Spencer...

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