Week in Iowa: Recap of news from across the state

Reynolds delivers SOTU response: Americans feel like they are “the enemy,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds told a national audience Tuesday evening as she gave the Republican Party’s response to Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. Wearing dual American and Ukrainian flag lapel pins, and with the Iowa Capitol in the background, Reynolds spoke for roughly 15 minutes shortly after Biden’s address. Reynolds blamed Biden for inflation, crime and Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

Tax cuts: Iowa workers will see a gradual reduction in the state income tax on their paychecks over the next five years, thanks to legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The tax cuts will be phased in over five years, at which point they will provide tax relief — and reduce state revenue — by $1.9 billion. Iowa’s current state budget is roughly $8 billion. Democrats criticized the new law for favoring higher-income workers.

They said ...

“I am certain that Ukraine will prevail, and that I will meet my dear friends there again one day. My heart is filled with hope, and at the same time with great sorrow, that such great tragedy which has caused so much pain, never had to happen in the first place.”

- Mitchell County native Nathan Penfold, who lived the past 12 years teaching English in Ukraine before fleeing the ongoing conflict, in a piece written for the Mason City Globe Gazette.

Odds and ends

Bird flu: Iowa officials confirmed Wednesday that a positive case avian influenza was found in Pottawattamie County. Bird flu usually does not infect people. However, rare cases in people have been reported. Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, mucous and feces. Human infections can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth or is inhaled.

Alcohol sales: In a symbolic gesture of support for the Ukrainian people who are under Russian attack, Gov. Kim Reynolds has directed the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to remove any Russian-produced alcoholic liquor products from its wholesale purchase list. However, Russian vodkas account for a very small portion of overall sales in Iowa. Over the past 12 months, the sale of Russian vodka has totaled about $95,000 out of more than $93 million in vodka sales.

Water cooler

Caitlin Clark Big Ten Player of Year: Iowa sophomore guard and women’s college basketball “It Girl” Caitlin Clark was named the Big Ten Player of the Year on Tuesday. Clark leads the nation in scoring and assists and has been the Hawkeyes’ top rebounder during a 20-7 season.

More in the news

Transgender bill passes, is signed by Reynolds: Transgender girls and women no longer are allowed to play sports at Iowa schools, colleges and universities after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law that enacts those restrictions Thursday. The bill is effective immediately. Iowa becomes the 11th state to ban transgender athletes from participating in athletics, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank that researches state policies. The legislation passed through the Iowa House and Senate with only Republican support.

Park rangers aggrieved: Iowa park rangers facing eviction by the Department of Natural Resources have filed a grievance claiming the state is unilaterally changing the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. The DNR decided in November it would require park rangers, park managers and other staff living in state-owned houses in Iowa’s state parks to move out by the end of November 2022, partly because the agency does not want to pay up to $1 million to repair housing.