Next Step: Bachelor's Degree!
04/15/2019

Northwest Iowa Concert and Jazz Band Spring Concert
04/15/2019

Lenten Suppers and Worship at Trinity Lutheran Church
04/18/2019

Easter Storytime
04/18/2019, 04/19/2019, 04/25/2019, 04/26/2019

Community Good Friday
04/19/2019

Estherville Parks & Rec Annual Easter Egg Hunt
04/20/2019

3rd Annual CARES Carnival
04/27/2019

Iowa Lakes Community College Coffeehouse Concert
04/30/2019

May Day Come & Go Craft
04/30/2019

Iowa Lakes Music Department Spring Recital
05/01/2019

Author Stacey (Iverson) Spangler
05/02/2019

Defiance Trail Run
05/04/2019

Iowa Lakes Spring Handbell Concert
05/05/2019

Andrew Allen Saxophone Recital
05/05/2019

The Defiance Trail Run registration is officially open!! Join us on May 4th in Fort Defiance for some fun! There is a 5k option that starts with man-made obstacles and then challenges you with natures obstacles. Also for the second year we will be having a 1-mile fun run that takes you through the man-made obstacles but let's you skip the hills and deep woods of Fort Defiance! Both options are lots of fun so join us and bring some friends for a team discount!
Click HERE for more information and to register!!

New Feature: Each Month we will be providing a short update from the Iowa Legislature. These updates are courteous of the Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives Association. 

Final Funnel Week Last week was the final funnel week in the Legislature. Any policy bills that have not made it across the chamber, besides tax or funding-related bills, have either continued on or have died. This has been one of the busiest legislative sessions in recent memory. As committee work on policy bills winds down, attention turns to the budget process as both the House and Senate begin to move appropriations bills for FY 2020. In the House, three budget bills as well as Health and Human Services and Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure have moved to the floor for consideration. Here are some highlights:

• Education budget bill — $7 million additional funding to Iowa’s 15 community colleges • Future Ready Iowa’s Last-Dollar Scholarship program — $14.7 million to increase number of Iowans with job skills and job training • University funding — $15.0 million to board of regents • Medicaid funding — Remained largely the same; however, $19 million additional for nursing homes • Children’s mental health — $3 million for schools to train and identify kids having mental health issues • HHS budget — $1.2 million is provided to expand   Still Alive: HSB 204/SSB 1193 – Empower Rural Iowa. Initial meetings have been favorable to Gov. Reynolds' Empower Rural Iowa legislation. An amendment is expected to the legislation that will address feedback on the broadband components of the bill. Now that the funnel is over, we expect to see the legislation advance. Both bills are in Ways and Means. SF 608/HF 758 – Future Ready Iowa. Workforce continues to be a legislative priority of ABI  members. ABI supports legislation to fund Future Ready Iowa. The Senate Economic Development budget includes $1.2 million for the Employer Innovation Fund, and the House Education budget includes more than $14 million for the Last-Dollar Scholarship program. HSB 252 – Rural Tax Credit Set-aside. The legislation would establish a rural economic revitalization center. The bill also requires the Economic Development Authority to issue at least 50% of certain tax credits to rural communities and outlines criteria. The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee. SF 507/HF 593 – Idiopathic Falls in Workers’ Compensation. The legislation codifies that if an employee falls from a level surface onto the same level surface due to an idiopathic or unexplained fall because of the employee’s own medical condition, it is not compensable under workers’ compensation. It passed the Senate 32-17 and is on the Unfinished Business Calendar and eligible for debate in the House. HF 327 – Franchisee/Franchisor Relationship. Establishes clear law with regards to employer-employee relationship when a franchise agreement exists. Legislation is a result of a federal NLRB decision that blurred the lines of the employment relationship. It passed the House 51-45 and was approved by the Senate 32-18. The governor is now reviewing the legislation. Bills Dead. SF 459 – Employer Firearm Prohibition. Employer Firearm Prohibition. Prohibits employers from preventing employees from bringing a firearm onto the employer’s parking lot. SF 459 passed Judiciary with a bipartisan vote. An amendment was drafted to the bill to add additional employer protections, but the bill was not debated prior to the funnel deadline. This language could still appear in end-of-session policy language, so ABI  will remain vigilant the remainder of session. SF 516 – E-Verify. Legislation requires all public and private employers to use E-verify. Includes good faith language and that Iowa Workforce Development is the state agency that will ensure compliance. Substantial penalties exist if an employer does not comply with the legislation. The legislation also extended to subcontractors of a business. It passed the Senate with a 33-14 bipartisan vote and was referred to House Public Safety. SF 508 – Religious Freedom.  Legislation enacts strict scrutiny when businesses use religion as a reason for not doing business with a customer.