Legislation

Law would take away guns from domestic violence offenders (03/18/10)
Convicted domestic violence offenders in Iowa could lose their right to own guns and ammunition if the governor signs a bill into law Monday. A person accused of domestic violence who has a protective order placed against them can be required to relinquish their firearms temporarily, the bill states...

State looking to raise revenue from traffic violation fines (03/17/10)
The Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that could double or triple traffic violation fines. The purpose of the bill, which passed the Senate 31-17, is to combat shortfalls in the state's budget. The 207 proposed fine increases would add $8.8 million in revenue to the general and judiciary funds, Sen. Randy Feenstra said...

MidAmerican customers may help finance nuclear study (03/16/10)
The 7,184 MidAmerican Electric Company customers in Plymouth County may see a monthly increase in their payment due to a proposed law. The increase would come if Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signs a bill to allow MidAmerican to boost electric consumer payments throughout the state by $15 million to study the possibility of bringing a second nuclear plant to Iowa...

Cyclists hope bike safety bill pedals through Legislature (03/04/10)
Last year a Plymouth County woman was hurt after being struck by a beer can while riding her bicycle along a country road. Erin Schroeder still gets butterflies in her stomach when she climbs on her bike. She hopes a proposed bicycle safety bill in the Iowa House of Representatives moves forward to help protect cyclists on the roadways...

Proposed texting and driving ban receives local support, criticism (02/26/10)
As soon as this summer, Iowa drivers who text and drive might see flashing blue and red lights in their rear view mirror. The Iowa House and Senate have both passed their own versions of a bill that would ban texting and driving. However, they have to come to an agreement before the law can move forward...

Legislators and taxpayers talk budget, unions (02/15/10)
Iowa Legislators Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra discussed the gaping hole in the state budget, union bills, ethanol requirements and state tax returns Saturday with about a dozen people at the Le Mars Public Library. Soderberg and Feenstra were in Le Mars for a legislative forum where they invite the public to come and ask questions and find out how the legislators feel about the current legislative session...

Public employee bargaining: Designed to protect citizens (02/11/10)
(Editor's note: This story is the first of two stories taking a closer look at public employees' bargaining.) In the business world, salaries and benefits of a business' employees are somewhat dependent on how well the business is doing. However, in the public sector, employees like teachers and city workers are given the chance to organize and bargain collectively based on Iowa Code Chapter 20...

New library law reads: Sex offenders stay out (07/07/09)
People convicted of a sex offense against a minor will need permission to check out materials at Le Mars Public Library and libraries across the state. A new law, which became effective July 1, states sex offenders convicted of a sex offense against a minor cannot be on public library property without permission of a library administrator...

New law pushes for gender balance on boards (06/10/09)
Gender will matter when it comes to appointing board members in the future. A law signed by Gov. Chet Culver last month says that all boards, commissions, committees and councils with appointed members across Iowa will need to have a gender balance among members on and after January 2012...

Iowa law now effective for same-sex couples to marry (04/27/09)
The Plymouth County recorder and others across the state can today begin accepting applications for gay and lesbian people wanting to marry. The official order allowing same-sex couples to marry was handed down by the Iowa Judicial Branch today (Monday), reflecting a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court...

Opinions divided on biodiesel mandate (04/24/09)
A proposed law that would require all diesel sold in Iowa to contain 5 percent biodiesel has made it partway through Legislature but may not pass this year. Biodiesel is diesel fuel made from animal fats, corn oil and soybean oil. The Iowa Senate passed the measure in a 31-19 vote last week...

Police see complaint, arrest numbers fall (04/16/09)
Le Mars Police records show that in the past year, complaints are down. Tickets are down. Arrests are down. Is Le Mars simply becoming a more law-abiding community? Police Chief Stu Dekkenga said he'd like to think so, but he's not jumping to conclusions...

Rumors about changing gun control laws shot down (04/13/09)
Rumors surrounding federal and state changes in gun laws can be laid to rest for another year. Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-2, said last week any bills on the state level pertaining to gun control restrictions or taxes on ammunition are dead. "There are no bills that will be happening concerning the Legislature this year," Feenstra said...

Legislators challenge proposed tax changes: Who wins and who loses? (04/06/09)
A new tax law that would mean a tax cut for about one-half of Iowans and an increase or no change for the rest is at the center of legislative debate this week. Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra visited with area residents in an open forum in Le Mars on that proposed tax bill and others Saturday...

Students question college textbook legislation (03/27/09)
A new bill approved by the Iowa House of Representatives could help college students find lower priced textbooks. If signed into law, the bill would require public colleges to provide students with specific textbook information at least two weeks before semester classes begin...

New tobacco tax leaves retailers, smokers cornered (03/25/09)

Attempt to legalize marijuana for medical use fails again (03/13/09)

Ethanol debate: Is your car ready for E-15? (03/12/09)
Currently, government rules allow non-flex-fuel vehicles to use only 10 percent ethanol in their gasoline. Politicians from Iowa are pushing for that to change. Earlier this week, newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, spoke in support of allowing higher blends -- 15 percent...

Senator sees issues with law to put more parents on abuse list (03/12/09)
A bill that could put parents or guardians on the child abuse registry if they allow a child to view pornography is working its way through Iowa legislature. Both the Iowa House and Senate are working on versions of the bill. However, Sen. Randy Feenstra, of Hull, is worried that if this became a law, it might be abused...

Legislators tackle citizens' questions (03/09/09)
From cuts in the judiciary budget to can redemption, Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra answered citizens' questions at a public forum Saturday. Of the about 10 citizens gathered, one woman, who said she worked in the Plymouth County Clerk of Courts office, wanted to know why other departments weren't facing the same cuts...

State funding uncertainties plague LCS budget process (03/06/09)
Even as the City of Le Mars council members and Plymouth County Supervisors certify their budgets, the Le Mars Community School officials, along with districts across the state of Iowa, are faced with the task of preparing a budget for April 15 certification when they don't know how much money they have to work with...

911 calls could alert family, friends (03/04/09)
Would you want to be notified if a loved one dialed 911 in an emergency? A new bill already passed unanimously by the Iowa Senate last week and now in the House could make that notification available. The bill proposes that Iowa residents could designate a friend or relative to be notified if they dial 911 in an emergency...

Eliminating electoral college could impact Le Mars (03/03/09)
Before he was president, Barack Obama shook Le Mars residents' hands. He answered their questions. He stopped at the fairgrounds and spoke in the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Not only that, locals had face time with other major players in the 2008 presidential race. Hillary Clinton. John McCain. Joe Biden...

Judicial system limits clerk of court hours (03/02/09)
The Plymouth County Clerk of Courts office will be closed several Fridays and have limited hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The closings come from Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Termus' order filed Friday. Termus ordered that all Iowa courts and court offices -- including clerk of courts offices -- be closed on the following Fridays: March 20, April 10, April 24, May 8, May 22, June 5 and June 19. ...

New S.D. law keeps door open for Greater Hoyt (02/27/09)
A bill currently making its way through the South Dakota Legislature will assure that students from the Greater Hoyt and Greater Scott School Districts in South Dakota will be able to attend school across the state's border in Iowa at Akron-Westfield and West Sioux Community Schools respectively...

Legislator plans forum (02/24/09)
On Saturday, Feb. 28 Representative Chuck Soderberg will be attending the SIMPCO Legislative Forum. It will be held at 10 a.m. at the Siouxland Center for Active Generations located at 313 Cook Street in Sioux City. Soderberg will be discussing various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature...

Pheasants Forever to offer scholarship (02/24/09)
At the Pheasants Forever annual banquet April 4, a new $1,000 scholarship will be announced. The scholarship is open to Plymouth County graduating senior's with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be pursuing a career in conservation, natural resources, environmental education, conservation law enforcement, biology or related field...

Bill would close four Plymouth County schools (02/20/09)
An Iowa senator plans to introduce a bill that would force school districts with less than 750 students to consolidate. Senator Matt McCoy, a Des Moines Democrat, is pushing to introduce the bill, which would cut two-thirds of Iowa's school districts...

Legislators plan forums in area (02/17/09)
Representative Chuck Soderberg and Senator Randy Feenstra are planning another local town hall meeting. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the duo will be hosting legislative forums at 9 a.m. in the Brunsville Corner Cafe and 11 a.m. in the Hawarden City Hall. The legislators plan to discuss various issues involving the Iowa Legislature. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings and address any issues that are of concern...

Economic downturn means havoc for Iowa budget woes (02/09/09)
Plymouth County legislators Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra said the economic downturn is presenting some real challenges for the Iowa Legislature this year. The two spoke at a 9 a.m. Legislator's Forum Saturday at the Le Mars Public Library...

Iowa House Republicans ask for advice on what to cut (02/06/09)
Over the past year it's become apparent that no simple solution will right the nation's economy. With that in mind, some state legislators are starting a new website where citizens can suggest ways for Iowa's government to cut their budget. Republicans in the House of Representatives launched the website, iowahouserepublicans.com/contact/budget-savings-ideas, last week, and already members of the public posted more than 275 suggestions...

Honey I shrunk the ECO Center? Planners make cuts (01/23/09)
The plans for the environmental learning and meeting center at Hillview Park are showing signs of shrinking. At a special meeting this week, planners of the ECO (Educational Conservation Opportunities) Center worked to cut back on the project due to less money available than anticipated...

Greater Hoyt continues fight to keep district (01/22/09)
An open enrollment agreement between Iowa and South Dakota doesn't solve the Greater Hoyt and Akron-Westfield School districts' problems, the Greater Hoyt board president said this week. "A lot of people have been misled by this cross border agreement, thinking that it is going to be a good solution for us, when in fact it is an agreement that is doomed to fail," Greg Heeren said...

State's cut pulls more than $150,000 from LCS budget (01/14/09)
The Le Mars Community School District could see a potential cut of $157,483 in state aid with the 1.5 percent across-the-board reduction in general fund expenditures authorized by Gov. Chet Culver. That's the news LCS board members received from Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt at Monday's board meeting...

2009 city council/staff assignments approved (01/13/09)
City Councilman Rex Knapp will be serving as mayor pro-tem for the coming year heading up the list of mayor/council/staff assignments for the city of Le Mars for 2009. Additional appointments as approved Tuesday by the council at its regular session include the following assignments:...

Huitink not ready to hang up his robe yet (01/09/09)
He doesn't change in phone booths or have a sidekick in spandex, but northwest Iowa judge Terry Huitink has created a legacy of justice. Huitink, of Ireton, retired from the Iowa Court of Appeals last month and was honored Thursday at a celebration in the Sioux County Courthouse...

Schools prepare for Iowa Core Curriculum (01/06/09)
Action by the 2008 Iowa Legislature will have all schools in the state of Iowa following the Iowa Core Curriculum at the high school level starting in the 2012 school year. The Iowa Core Curriculum identifies essential concepts and skills for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies, as well as 21st century learning skills (civic literacy, financial literacy, technology literacy, health literacy and employability skills), that all students will be taught before they graduate from high school in Iowa.. ...

2008 in review: Hellos and goodbyes (12/31/08)
Editor's note: This is the second of two stories recapping 2008's top stories in the Daily Sentinel. 5. Iowa begins Smokefree Air Act Indoor smoking, except in people's homes, became a rarity after the Smokefree Air Act went into effect in Iowa July 1. ...

Huitink retires from Iowa appeals court (12/29/08)
Iowa Court of Appeals Judge Terry Huitink has announced that he will retire effective December 31, 2008. Huitink was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals in 1994. Prior to joining the court, Huitink served as a district court judge from 1988 to 1994. He also served as a part-time juvenile court referee from 1981 to 1987...

Negotiators propose 1.19 percent raise for teachers (12/16/08)
Members of the Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education bargaining team presented their initial proposals for the 2009-10 master contract to the Le Mars Community Education Association bargaining team members at a 5 p.m. meeting Monday. The board's proposal calls for a 1.19 percent total package increase, or $122,059 spread among the teachers as set forth in the teacher salary schedule in the Master Contract. The proposal also includes no benefit changes...

Legislators predict budget crunching, right-to-work laws to top session (12/12/08)

Community Foundation awards more than $106,000 in grants (12/12/08)
More than $106,000 in Community Foundation grant money was awarded to 26 organizations and groups in Plymouth County at a breakfast meeting Thursday, Dec. 11. The grants were presented by members of the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County. The presentation was postponed from Dec. 9 due to weather and road conditions...

LCS teachers group proposes salary, insurance increases (12/02/08)
Le Mars Community Education Association members are proposing increases in base pay and insurance for the 2009-10 school year. Members of the bargaining team for the LCED met with Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education members Monday to present their initial proposal...

LCS board crunches numbers for 2009-10 (12/01/08)
It was numbers and more numbers as Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education pondered whether to seek an Instructional Support Levy (ISL) or implement a Cash Reserve Levy as a funding source for the 2009-10 budget year. At the Nov. 24 board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt gave the board information on preliminary fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget information. He also outlined various options for the board to consider as they decide whether to pursue the ISL for the next budget year...

SIMPCO and WITCC to host Siouxland Regional Legislative Forum (11/28/08)
The Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO) and Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) will host the Siouxland Regional Legislative Forum Friday, Dec. 12, at WITCC, 4647 Stone Avenue (Advanced Sciences Building, Room L416-417), in Sioux City...

Consumer tips for holiday shoppers (11/26/08)
The holiday shopping season is by far the busiest time of year for most shoppers and retail stores -- and the season also generates more than its share of consumer problems. Why? Most likely, it's because of the sheer volume of purchases, because many consumers are in a rush, and because people will make more gift returns and exchanges than during other seasons. It's a very important time to be a smart shopper...

Johnson begins term on Board of Regents (11/25/08)
An Iowa State University student and Le Mars Community High School graduate is the newest member of the Iowa Board of Regents. Greta Johnson, a junior political science major and daughter of Carl and Joann Johnson of Le Mars, was appointed to the position by Iowa Governor Chet Culver in October. She began her term immediately...

LCS board hears about potential cuts (11/25/08)
Possible budget cuts for Le Mars Community schools were on the table Monday at the Board of Education meeting. This comes as the board members continue to gather pieces of the puzzle that will help them in preparing the 2009-10 school year budget. At their Nov. ...

School board predicts money crunch, weighs ISL option (11/20/08)
A "mixed bag" is how one board member described the input on the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) received from the Le Mars Community School's District Learning and Instructional Impact Team, (DLIIT) at the board's meeting Monday, Nov 10. The Instructional Support Levy provides a funding source for general fund expenditures through property tax, income surtax and a small amount of state aid...

Feenstra claims seat in Democrat-dominated Iowa Senate (11/05/08)
Republican Randy Feenstra who ran unopposed as Iowa Senator, District 2, hopes to bring his everyday work experiences into government. He joins a Democrat-heavy Senate -- the party maintained control following Tuesday's election. Feenstra said there are main areas he hopes to change in the state government during the next four years...

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