Gazette Daily News Podcast, February 25

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This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for Friday, February 25.

It’s going to be cold again on Friday but the good news is it will be getting better from here over the next week. According to the National Weather Service it will be partly sunny with a high near 28 degrees on Friday. On Friday night it will be mostly cloudy, before gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 11 degrees. A light wind during the day will calm even more Friday evening.

Iowa Republicans compromised with themselves Thursday and as a result have passed a new tax cut. Most Iowa workers would pay a 3.9 percent state income tax under a new $1.9 billion tax cut proposal that is likely to become law soon.

The Senate and House approved the legislation Thursday, giving Reynolds time to sign it into law just before she is scheduled to appear on national television next week to deliver the Republican Party’s response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

“There’s never been a better time in Iowa for bold, sustainable tax reform,” Gov. Reynolds said in a statement issued just after the bill passed. “This bill rewards work, takes care of our farmers, and supports our retirees, all while protecting key state priorities.

Democratic critics said that not only will the tax cuts take a chunk out of the state budget if steady economic growth does not occur to offset the loss of revenue, the cuts also disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Analysis from the state budget office predicts the median Iowa household will see an annual reduction of $593 on their state income taxes, while the wealthiest Iowans — those earning $1 million or more — will see a $67,000 reduction.

Linn County is slated to receive the lion’s share of nearly $57 million awarded to the state by the federal government to assist with long-term recovery from the August 2020 derecho.

The Iowa Economic Authority is administering $56.94 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds, 80 percent of which must be spent in Linn County — nearly $45.6 million.

According to Kanan Kappelman, IEDA communications and tourism leader, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development determined the county was the “most impacted and distressed” area.

As part of the requirements determined by HUD, 70 percent of these funds must benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and 15 percent of the funds must be spent on activities to mitigate the risks of future disasters.

Overnight drivers moving through the Cedar Rapids metro area on Interstate 380 will have to find different routes next week.

I-380 from Highway 100 to County Home Road will see northbound and southbound closures throughout the week for the installation of beams for a new north bridge over the interstate.

The northbound lanes of I-380 will be closed from Highway 100 to County Home Road from 10:30 p.m. Monday to 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The southbound lanes will be closed from County Home Road to Boyson Road from 10:30 p.m. Wednesday to 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

During the closures, there will be a marked detour route for interstate traffic using Highway 100, Highway 13 and County Home Road that takes traffic around the Cedar Rapids metro area instead of through it.

Support for this news update was provided by New Pioneer Food Co-op. Celebrating 50 years as Eastern Iowa’s destination for locally and responsibly sourced groceries with stores in Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids; and online through Co-op Cart at newpi.coop.