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Iowa lawmakers rewrite MEGA tax credit program to clear path for $15 billion steel mill
DES MOINES — Iowa has rewritten a major economic-development incentive program to accommodate the proposed $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel complex, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing House File 2801 after lawmakers approved the measure during a one-day special session Friday.
The new law allows the Iowa Economic Development Authority to offer a single qualifying business in a rural county an investment tax credit worth up to 10% of its qualifying investment, spread evenly over 10 years. The previous MEGA structure allowed incentives of up to 5% for each of two eligible businesses.
The change was crafted with the massive Mesabi Metallics project in mind. State officials say the proposed Iowa complex would represent a $15 billion investment and the largest steel-manufacturing investment in U.S. history.
Worth County eyes up to $6 million in borrowing for new administration building
NORTHWOOD — Worth County supervisors have moved another major step toward financing a new county administration building, setting an October public hearing on a proposal to borrow up to $6 million while also approving more than $246,000 in county claims and filling the county recorder’s office ahead of the November election.
Grassley says “deranged” Jack Smith ensnared Osage donor and scores of Iowans in subpoena dragnet
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is sounding the alarm after whistleblower records showed former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation obtained thousands of personal donor checks from Americans who gave money to President Donald Trump and Republican-aligned organizations — including 42 people from Iowa and at least one northern Iowa resident from Osage.
Grassley singled out the Osage donor after learning the person contributed just $10 to Trump.
According to Grassley, Smith’s team subpoenaed the personal check, placing information including the donor’s home address and banking information into the hands of federal investigators.
Chicago solar company seeks permission to invade Cerro Gordo County drainage districts for massive 500 MW project
MASON CITY — A Chicago-based solar developer is asking Cerro Gordo County for permission to cross and use portions of several county drainage districts as it advances plans for a massive utility-scale solar project capable of generating up to 500 megawatts.
River City Energy, LLC, a Delaware-organized company with its principal office in Chicago, is seeking right-of-way easements involving Drainage Districts 19, 21, 45 and 71.
The application says underground electrical infrastructure tied to the project could cross drainage rights-of-way through excavation, directional boring or trenching.
Iowa Falls seeks permission to draw up to 50 million gallons a year from Iowa River for recreational waterfall
IOWA FALLS — The City of Iowa Falls is asking the state for permission to withdraw as much as 50 million gallons of water each year from the Iowa River to help maintain a recreational waterfall, a sizable increase from the city’s current annual allotment.
The proposed modification to Iowa Falls’ water-use permit would raise the city’s authorized annual withdrawal from 36 million gallons to 50 million gallons, an increase of 14 million gallons, or nearly 39 percent.
The request comes as water availability continues to draw attention across Iowa.
Special session called as Iowa races to reshape MEGA program for massive $15 billion steel project
DES MOINES — Iowa lawmakers are being called back to the State Capitol for a rare special session Friday as state leaders move quickly to alter a major economic development program for the enormous $15 billion steel complex planned for southeast Iowa.
Gov. Kim Reynolds will convene the Iowa General Assembly at 8:30 a.m. Friday, October 2, with what her office described as the “sole and singular purpose” of amending the state’s Major Economic Growth Attraction, or MEGA, program.
Winnebago County eyes new rules for data centers, solar and battery fields as officials raise water, road and electric-rate concerns
FOREST CITY — Winnebago County leaders are considering changes to county zoning rules aimed at some of the biggest and fastest-growing development issues facing rural Iowa, including data centers, large solar developments, battery fields and cryptocurrency operations.
Supervisor Terry Durby raised the issue during the September 22 meeting of the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors, discussing possible changes to the county’s zoning ordinance to specifically address solar, battery fields, crypto operations and data centers.
Cerro Gordo County supervisors approve $565,240 in claims, review farm manure plan
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors approved more than $565,000 in county claims Monday while also reviewing a manure management plan involving a local farm and receiving an update on county road and engineering matters.
Floyd County backs sheriff’s $32,000 safety equipment project, approves bridge work and reviews county finances
CHARLES CITY — Floyd County supervisors backed an effort by the sheriff’s office to obtain new ballistic protection for deputies while also approving bridge-related work, reviewing county finances and handling the official canvass of a Charles City school election during meetings September 22.
Socialism gains ground nationally, but red Iowa offers Democrats a history lesson
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Socialism is enjoying its strongest positive rating in Gallup’s tracking, but translating changing national attitudes into Democratic victories is another matter — especially in Republican-controlled Iowa, where promising polls have repeatedly collided with unforgiving election results.
Gallup’s September 23 report found 43 percent of Americans view socialism positively, up from 39 percent last year and the highest reading since the organization began measuring the question in 2010.
Yet capitalism remains more popular at 55 percent, and small business towers over both at 95 percent.
The findings describe a country with mixed economic attitudes.
Supreme Court clears expanded citizenship checks ahead of November election
WASHINGTON — A major U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday has cleared the way for the Trump administration to resume an expanded citizenship-verification system just weeks before Americans vote in the November midterm election, giving Iowa and other states greater access to federal information that can be used to determine whether people on voter rolls are U.S. citizens.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on September 25 to stay a lower-court decision that had blocked the Trump administration’s expanded Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, better known as SAVE.
The ruling allows the federal government to resume operating the expanded system while the larger legal battle continues.
Cerro Gordo supervisors to review hog manure plan near wildlife areas, river tributary
MASON CITY — A manure management plan for a 3,400-hog operation will come before Cerro Gordo County supervisors Monday after county health staff identified nearby wildlife areas and a Winnebago River tributary crossing one of the fields designated for manure application.
Cerro Gordo supervisors close stretch of Swallow Avenue, approve $601,926 in county bills
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors unanimously closed a portion of Swallow Avenue and approved $601,925.98 in county claims during an 11-minute meeting Monday, September 21. Chairman Casey Callanan, Vice Chairman
Floyd County extends battery storage moratorium, advances road projects and Nora Springs shop plans
CHARLES CITY — Floyd County supervisors are giving themselves more time to write rules for large battery energy storage projects while county road crews push ahead with fall work and officials continue exploring a new Secondary Roads facility in Nora Springs.
Worth County supervisors set administration building bid dates, advance drainage work in two meetings
NORTHWOOD — Worth County’s proposed administration building moved closer to bidding at the Board of Supervisors’ September 21 meeting. A week earlier, supervisors approved wetland work, a drainage repair claim and a request to join a regional juvenile detention center.
Northern Iowa community lands $675,000 state grant for new swimming pool
DES MOINES — A new swimming pool planned for the small town of Jewell will receive $675,000 in state assistance, giving the Hamilton County community a substantial boost toward a $2.59 million recreation project.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved the Community Attraction and Tourism grant September 18 as part of a statewide package supporting manufacturing expansions, startup businesses and public recreation facilities.
Cerro Gordo supervisors approve $370,285 in claims, accept annual DOT report
MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County supervisors approved $370,285.53 in county claims, accepted an annual transportation report and forwarded a manure management plan update to state officials during a 14-minute meeting Monday, September 14.
Ilhan Omar’s days in Congress could be numbered as DHS probe, fraud-linked circle and inflammatory record catch up
WASHINGTON — The heat surrounding Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is reaching a new level as the nation’s top immigration official says a federal investigation is underway, convicted fraudsters with ties to her political orbit draw renewed scrutiny, questions persist over her family finances, and years of inflammatory remarks about America and white men return to haunt one of Congress’ most controversial members.
Mason City council weighs 10-year, 100% city tax break for nearly 200-unit Willow Pointe development
MASON CITY — A developer planning nearly 200 rental townhomes in Mason City could receive a 100% break on the city portion of property taxes generated by the new development for 10 years under an agreement headed to the City Council.
The Mason City Council will consider the development agreement with Willow Pointe, LLC at its Tuesday, September 15 meeting. The project is planned for the west side of North Eisenhower Avenue, north of the MercyOne West Campus.
Worth supervisors move toward TIF funding for RV park, new county administration building
NORTHWOOD — Worth County supervisors are taking another major step toward two significant county projects, setting a public hearing on a proposal that would allow tax increment financing to help pay for a new RV park and a new county administration building.