From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a new bill intended to provide more support for public charter schools. The governor’s bill would enable all state per-pupil funding to follow a student from their public school to a charter school. Right now, charter schools receive almost $8,000 per student. The governor’s bill would allow charter schools to access more than $1,200 in state funds per pupil for things like professional development and early intervention programs, and allow them to join sports teams if those athletic programs aren’t being offered at the charter school.
A study from the Common Sense Institute shows Iowa is among the most affordable states for homeowners and buyers. Leaders with the non-profit say homes have gotten more expensive over the years, but stayed affordable in Iowa partly due to growing supply, higher wages, and dropping interest rates.
New data from a statewide housing dashboard is giving communities a clearer look at what it costs to rent a place in eastern Iowa. The statewide housing dashboard reports the median rent in Cedar Rapids is $915 a month, compared with $1,100 in Johnson County, and $949 statewide. In Cedar Rapids, the median home value is more than $204,000, while the median home value across Iowa is about $196,000.
Iowa City is working on its budget, and looking ahead to designing new fire stations. The department wants to rebuild two fire stations and construct a sixth station. In upcoming budget discussions, the city will consider $1.5 million dollars for conceptual designs.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley says he is seeing more Iowans voice their concerns about what’s happening in Minnesota. He told reporters his office has received a massive increase in telephone calls and emails, saying most of them express concern about the deaths of two people and whether the investigation will be handled correctly. Grassley says he will wait until the investigations finish before drawing any conclusions.
Tax season is underway, as the IRS has started accepting 2025 income tax returns. Processing started this past Monday. The Iowa Department of Revenue’s website offers resources for state tax-related questions. GovConnectIowa also has a virtual assistant available 24-7 to answer questions.
