TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""

Iowa achieves impressive gains in early literacy, science in new 2025 spring statewide student assessment results

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Education today released new spring 2025 assessment results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) for students in grades 3-11. The state-level results show encouraging improvements in student achievement across most grade levels in English language arts and science, while high school math proficiency rates continue to lag behind those of earlier grade levels.

Overall state-level results from the 2024-25 ISASP show gains in student performance over last year, often surpassing pre-pandemic levels across most grades and subjects. Iowa’s proficiency rates for English language arts (ELA) ranged from 68 to 80 percent while mathematics ranged between 64 and 76 percent. Science ranged between 64 and 70 percent.

“Iowa made literacy a priority in every classroom and for every student over the past year by implementing proven, evidence-based approaches that we know work,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “By empowering Iowa teachers with critical training in the Science of Reading and through strong collaboration with students, families and school partners, ELA proficiency for last year’s third graders jumped an impressive 11 percentage points just one year later. Together we will continue this transformational work in literacy while also prioritizing math through the implementation of the Math Counts Act to ensure Iowa’s education system is helping every student achieve their potential.”

Following the enactment of landmark early literacy legislation enacted in 2024, students who were in third grade during the 2023-24 school year showed outstanding gains as fourth graders in 2024-25, with ELA proficiency increasing 11 percentage points. Compared to last year, ELA proficiency rates increased or were maintained in grades 3-5 and 8-10, with grades 3 and 8 showing the most significant increases of 4 and 3 percentage points, respectively.

“Over the past two years, Iowa has advanced rigorous academic standards, high-quality instructional materials, early student identification, strong instructional interventions, professional learning, educator preparation, and family-centered resources–and our collective work has made a remarkable difference for students across Iowa,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “Together, we celebrate the extraordinary gains of our young readers and the leadership of Iowa’s teachers and families in implementing these comprehensive, statewide investments in evidence-based instruction.”

Math proficiency in high school grades is much lower than that of earlier grade levels, with differences ranging between 4 to 12 percentage points lower. Students in ninth grade experienced the largest long-term decrease in math proficiency, down 5 percentage points from 2019. Compared to last year, math proficiency rates do not show change beyond 1-2 percentage points, reinforcing the need for the Math Counts Act passed in 2025.

“The data show Iowa’s investment in evidence-based literacy instruction is working, and, last winter, we set out to mirror these transformational structures in math through the historic Math Counts Act,” said Snow. “Heartened by student progress and determined to meet student needs, Iowa will continue to reassert our commitment to evidence-based instruction that improves student achievement and narrows and closes achievement gaps.”

Following the recent passage of the Math Counts Act, Iowa is implementing new statewide supports for mathematics teaching and learning. This will include early identification and progress monitoring for students who are not on track to be proficient, personalized math plans and interventions for students in need of support, evidence-based professional development for teachers, alignment of Iowa’s educator preparation programs to evidence-based instruction and availability of family-centered resources to support children’s mathematics development at home.

In the 2024-25 school year, science proficiency was included in Iowa’s new, unified school accountability system for the first time. This spring, science proficiency rates show gains across all tested grades, exceeding pre-pandemic performance with a 12-percentage point increase in both 5th and 8th grade since 2019. In just one year, science proficiency increased by 4 percentage points in 5th grade, 5 percentage points in 8th grade, and 7 percentage points in 10th grade.

“Instructional leadership and accountability matter, and we commend our students, educators, and families for the long-term progress and exceptional improvements made following the inclusion of science proficiency in our new accountability system last year,” said Snow.

While the data show some long-term narrowing of proficiency gaps between overall student results and those of certain student groups, significant proficiency gaps persist. Students with disabilities and students who are English learners experienced much lower proficiency rates than their classmates, with average differences across grade levels in ELA proficiency of 45 and 53 percentage points, respectively. The average proficiency rate gaps in mathematics for students with disabilities and students who are English learners was slightly lower at 41 and 45 percentage points, respectively.

For the Oskaloosa Community School District, 5th grade students saw the highest leap in English Language Arts proficiency, going from 58.0% proficient to 73.0%. They also had the biggest gains in math, going from 59.8% proficient in 2023-24 to 77.8% last year. In science, the largest leap came from 10th graders, who jumped from 40.8% proficiency to 64.8%.

The ISASP is administered each spring and is the general summative accountability assessment in Iowa that meets the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The assessment reflects what’s being taught in Iowa classrooms and how students are progressing toward grade-level expectations outlined in Iowa’s academic standards. The ISASP helps teachers understand where students are succeeding and where they may need more help.

The spring 2025 ISASP results, proficiency rates by public district, public school building, nonpublic school building and fact sheet with additional graphs and charts can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s PK-12 Education Statistics webpage at: https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/data/education-statistics#student-performance.

US troops won’t be sent to help defend Ukraine, Trump says

Posted on by Sam Parsons

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to help defend Ukraine against Russia after seeming to leave open the possibility the day before.

Trump also said in a morning TV interview that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO and regaining the Crimean Peninsula from Russia are “impossible.”

The Republican president, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders held hours of talks at the White House on Monday aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. While answering questions from journalists, Trump did not rule out sending U.S. troops to participate in a European-led effort to defend Ukraine as part of security guarantees sought by Zelenskyy.

Trump said after his meeting in Alaska last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Putin was open to the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine.

But asked Tuesday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” what assurances he could provide going forward and beyond his term that American troops would not be part of defending Ukraine’s border, Trump said, “Well, you have my assurance, and I’m president.”

Trump would have no control over the U.S. military after his term ends in January 2029.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later on Tuesday emphasized that “U.S. boots will not be on the ground” as part of any potential peacekeeping mission.

The president also said in the interview that he is optimistic that a deal can be reached to end the Russian invasion, but he underscored that Ukraine will have to set aside its hope of getting back Crimea, which was seized by Russian forces in 2014, and its long-held aspirations of joining the NATO military alliance.

“Both of those things are impossible,” Trump said.

Putin, as part of any potential deal to pull his forces out of Ukraine, is looking for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.

Trump on Monday said that he was arranging for direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy.

But the Kremlin has not yet said whether Putin, who has resisted previous calls by Trump and others for direct negotiations on ending the war, is committed to a face-to-face meeting with the Ukrainian leader.

Asked whether Putin has promised Trump that he’ll meet directly with the Ukrainian leader, Leavitt responded affirmatively. “He has,” Leavitt said of Putin.

Trump, early on Monday during talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders, said that he was pressing for three-way talks among Zelenskyy, Putin and himself.

But after speaking to Putin later in the day, Trump said that he was arranging first for a face-to-face between Zelenskyy and Putin and that three-way talks would follow if necessary.

“It was an idea that evolved in the course of the president’s conversations with both President Putin, President Zelensky and the European leaders yesterday,” Leavitt explained.

But when discussing a phone call held after the meeting between Trump and the Russian leader, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov gave no indication that either a bilateral or a trilateral meeting with Ukraine had been agreed.

Trump said he believed Putin’s course of action would become clear in the coming weeks.

“I think Putin is tired of it,” Trump said. “I think they’re all tired of it. But you never know. We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks. That I can tell you.”

2025 Iowa State Fair attendance ranks third, food sales on par with 2024

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

The Iowa State Fair is the state’s largest tourism event and State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons says that was affirmed this year. Nearly 1.2 million people attended the 2025 Fair — just about 22,000 or so short of the attendance record set last year.

“I have always known that Iowans love their Fair,” Parson told Radio Iowa, “but at this Fair when you had periods of just absolute downpours and then periods of miserable heat, they were still here.”

Parsons says the Iowa State Fair’s Blue Ribbon Foundation has raised the money to install creature comforts on the fairgrounds that have mitigated the weather’s impact on attendance. “If it’s a rainy day (there are) a lot of buildings you can get into…You’re not walking in the mud. There are a lot of sidewalks, those types of things,” Parsons said. “When it’s hot, of course through the efforts of the Foundation, we have way more air conditioned buildings than we did 30 years ago.”

State Fair Grandstand ticket sales did set a record over the Fair’s 11 day run. Nearly 132,000 people attended the nightly concerts. Parsons credits a diverse line-up for appealing to a wide variety of people. “I think if you would survey people and ask them: ‘What were two of the best selling shows at this year’s Fair?’ they would have said: ‘Rascal Flatts and Def Leopard.’ You know, country and classic rock,” Parson said. “Ironically, those were number five and six.”

The top draw was 27-year-old country star Megan Moroney, with the second and third largest Grandstand audiences for the concerts by rappers T-Pain and Pitbull. “As time changes, definitions for classic performers are evolving,” Parsons said. “Several years ago, the ‘Rock ‘n Roll Reunion’ of course was people from the ’50s and ’60s. Well, T-Pain and Pitbull are people who became popular 20 years ago.

Fair-goers were allowed to bring in non-alcoholic drinks and food in soft-sided coolers this year. It does not seem to have dampened sales by licensed vendors on the fairgrounds, according to Parsons. “Based on our preliminary food and beverage numbers that I have seen, they are on par with last year and, of course, last year was a larger Fair,” Parsons said. “…Anecdotally, I heard from several fair-goers who actually talked about the fact that because they were allowed to bring in outside food and drink, they were able to come to the fair and treat their family to maybe one item, like a treat at a food stand, rather than not coming at all.”

Preparations for the 2026 State Fair are well underway. Renovations are starting on the inside of the historic Horse Barn and on Monday the Iowa State Fair Board approved spending $1.8 million for repairs on the Swine and Cattle Barns. Fundraising is underway for a $15 million Ag Education Center on the fairgrounds and Parsons said they hope to have a groundbreaking for the project during next year’s State Fair.

Mahaska Health’s 14th Annual Run in the Sun Event a Success

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — On Saturday, August 2, 2025, the Mahaska Health Foundation and Hospice Serenity House welcomed runners, walkers, families, and volunteers to the 14th Annual Run in the Sun at the Statesmen Community Stadium. Over 600 community members participated in the fundraiser. Every contribution, from runners to donors to volunteers, supports the Hospice Serenity House in their mission to provide compassionate end-of-life care to patients and their families.

The event began at 8:00 am with a warm welcome from Mahaska Health leaders, a heartfelt prayer led by local pastor Jon Nelson, and the presentation of colors by Oskaloosa’s Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack. Attendees joined in singing the National Anthem, led by Noah Rouw, great-grandson of this year’s honored Serenity House patient, Walter Cubit.

This year, the family of Walter Cubit was featured to share the powerful reminder of love, strength, and grace that hospice care makes possible. Walter’s daughters Carole Comstock and Lorri Grubb shared a few heartfelt words to honor his life and legacy, extending gratitude to all who offered care through their journey, and participants for supporting the mission.

5K runners and 2K walkers completed their courses on the recreation trail just outside the stadium finishing on the track, where awards were given to winners in their respective categories. After the official race, families participated in the Kids Fun Run, and enjoyed the inflatables, a foam pit, face painting and vendor booths, SnoBiz treats, and refreshments from Untamed Nutrition. Attendees also enjoyed interactive trivia about the Hospice Serenity House and learned ways to get involved as volunteers and supporters.

Donations were encouraged throughout the event. Money raised goes directly to the Mahaska Health Foundation and Hospice Serenity House so they may continue to provide expert care to families who need it most. 

“We are so grateful to everyone who came out to run, walk, volunteer, sponsor, and cheer,” said Amanda Doud, Mahaska Health Foundation Director. “This event is a wonderful example of community members uniting to care for one another.”

Next year, the 15th Annual Run in the Sun will be held on August 1st, 2026. Save the date for another great event benefiting Mahaska Heath Foundation and Hospice Serenity House.

Pella City Council Discusses Possible Formation of Recreation Department

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council held a regular meeting last night and hosted three public hearings. Those led to the approval of a contract with Excel Mechanical for the first phase of HVAC improvements to the Pella Public Library in the amount of $243,500, as well as the approval of a contract with Cushman Excavation for a hangar and apron expansion at the Pella Municipal Airport for $200,204, and the approval of a rezoning application from Pella Partners for a property near the intersection of Brook Circle and Idaho Drive from Agricultural (A1) to Two-Family Residential (R2).

The council also passed a resolution accepting the resignation of their city attorney. Emily Duffy had been serving that role since January of 2024, and her resignation will be effective on August 22. As part of the resolution, the city is appointing Kristine Stone to replace Duffy.

And the council held a policy and planning discussion surrounding the possibility of creating a recreation department for the city. The department would be responsible for the operation of the upcoming Pella Indoor Recreation and Aquatics Center, outdoor pool, and programming at the Pella Sports Park and Soccer Complex. City administration said that they believe that based on the city’s experience with the Bos Landen Golf Course, they can operate and maintain the Indoor Recreation and Aquatics Center more effectively and at approximately the same cost if they hire a contractor for that purpose. No action was taken following this discussion.

The next regular meeting for the Pella City Council is scheduled for September 2.

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, threatens dangerous rip currents

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DARE COUNTY, NC (AP) — Holly Andrzejewski hadn’t yet welcomed her and her family’s first guests to the Atlantic Inn on Hatteras Island when she had to start rescheduling them, as Hurricane Erin neared North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Tuesday and threatened to whip up wild waves and tropical force winds.

Although the monster storm is expected to stay offshore, evacuations were ordered on such barrier islands along the Carolina coast as Hatteras as authorities warned the storm could churn up dangerous rip currents and swamp roads with waves of 15 feet (4.6 meters).

Andrzejewski and her husband purchased the bed-and-breakfast, known as the oldest inn on the island, less than a week ago. By Monday they had brought in all the outdoor furniture and made sure their daughter and her boyfriend, who are the innkeepers, had generators, extra water and flashlights as they stayed behind to keep an eye on the property.

“It’s just one of those things where you know this is always a possibility and it could happen, and you just make the best out of it. Otherwise you wouldn’t live at the beach,” said Andrzejewski, who will also remain on the island, at her home about a 15 minutes’ drive away.

Erin lashed part of the Caribbean with rain and wind Monday. Forecasters are confident it will curl north and away from the eastern U.S., but tropical storm and surge watches were issued for much of the Outer Banks.

Officials at the Wrightsville Beach, near Wilmington, North Carolina, reported to the National Weather Service rescuing at least 60 swimmers from rip currents Monday.

By early Tuesday, Erin had lost some strength from previous days but was still a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It was about 675 miles (1,090 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and 770 miles (1,240 kilometers) south-southeast of Cape Hatteras and was moving northwest at a slower 7 mph (11 kph).

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands, where government services were suspended, some ports were closed and residents were ordered to stay home.

On North Carolina’s Outer Banks, coastal flooding was expected to begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday.

The evacuations on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke came at the height of tourist season on the thin stretch of low-lying barrier islands that jut into the Atlantic Ocean and are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.

A year ago, Hurricane Ernesto stayed hundreds of miles offshore yet still produced high surf and swells that caused coastal damage.

This time there are concerns that several days of heavy surf, high winds and waves could wash out parts of the main highway. Some routes could be impassible for days.

This is the first evacuation for Ocracoke since Hurricane Dorian in 2019 caused the most damage in the island’s recorded history.

Tommy Hutcherson, who owns the community’s only grocery store, said the island has mostly bounced back. He’s optimistic this storm won’t be as destructive.

“But you just never know. I felt the same way about Dorian and we really got smacked,” he said.

Scientists have linked the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change. Global warming is causing the atmosphere to hold more water vapor and is spiking ocean temperatures, and warmer waters give hurricanes fuel to unleash more rain and strengthen more quickly.

Bermuda will experience the most severe threat Thursday evening, said Phil Rogers, director of the Bermuda Weather Service. By then, waters could swell up to 24 feet (7 meters).

“Surfers, swimmers and boaters must resist the temptation to go out. The waters will be very dangerous and lives will be placed at risk,” acting Minister of National Security Jache Adams said.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Warm and muggy conditions didn’t deter visitors from enjoying another successful Iowa State Fair,” said Secretary Naig. “Drier weather in western Iowa broke an eight-week streak of unseasonably wet conditions, and for the first time in over a year, Iowa’s drought map is free of drought and abnormal dryness. The outlook through the end of August suggests cooler temperatures and more seasonal rainfall potential.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report

Scattered precipitation across the State allowed Iowa’s farmers 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 17, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats and hay and a few reports of fungicide and insecticide applications.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 4 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 23 percent surplus.

Nearly all of Iowa’s corn has reached the silking stage. Corn in the dough stage reached 78 percent, 1 day behind last year’s pace and 3 days behind normal. Corn in the dent stage reached 27 percent, 1 day ahead of last year, but 1 day behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 56 percent good and 30 percent excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 96 percent. Eighty-three percent of soybeans were setting pods, 1 day ahead of last year’s pace, but 4 days behind normal. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 60 percent good and 22 percent excellent. Ninety-one percent of the oat for grain crop has been harvested.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 65 percent complete. Pasture condition rated 83 percent good to excellent. Frequent rains have kept pastures growing and extended grazing periods. Livestock were generally in good condition, with a few reports of stress caused by heat and humidity.

Oskaloosa Welcomes Second School Resource Officer to Strengthen Safety and Community Connection

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – For Oskaloosa Police Officer Jenna Stengel, serving her community has always been about more than enforcing the law. Now, as the district’s second full-time School Resource Officer (SRO), she is stepping into a role that blends her passion for safety with her commitment to building trust and being a positive influence for students.

Stengel, who has served with the Oskaloosa Police Department for six years, brings a diverse background in law enforcement to her new position. Since joining the department in 2019, she has worked on a variety of cases, from operating while intoxicated (OWI) offenses to sex assaults and even attempted murder. She also served as a defense tactics instructor, teaching both within the department and at the Indian Hills Community College Police Academy. In 2024 she was named the Oskaloosa Police Department Officer of the Year.

Her work has often intersected with schools. She has assisted with active shooter training, supported the district’s Standard Response Protocol drills, and regularly conducted walk-throughs at elementary, middle, and high school buildings. “I’ve definitely been in the schools,” Stengel said. “It’s cool to see students’ reactions, especially when they realize I’m a female officer. I hope I can be a positive example for them.”

Before her SRO appointment, Stengel also taught a substance abuse course at William Penn University for three years and worked on Internet Crimes Against Children cases in partnership with the state. She views the SRO role as an opportunity to deepen those connections. “I’ll be more hands-on in the schools, creating a safe space where students know they can come to me,” she said. “It’s about showing them that law enforcement isn’t just about the bad things, we’re here to help.”

For Stengel, being approachable is key. “In law enforcement, we often meet people on their worst days. This is a chance to see students as they are, to be where they’re at, not set a rigid standard, but be a role model,” she said. Her goals include fostering trust, supporting staff, and showing that officers can be allies in students’ lives.

Her personal story shapes her perspective. A U.S. Navy veteran, Stengel credits her military service with giving her the structure and stability she needed after a difficult childhood. “The military was a turning point in my life,” she said. “It opened doors. I earned a four-year degree without debt, traveled the world, and gained financial stability. I want students to know there are so many opportunities out there.”

Stengel’s commitment to the community is also personal. She lives in Oskaloosa with her family, including her daughter, who attends school at Oskaloosa Schools. “I want parents and students to know I have an open door and I’m always here to listen,” she said.

Superintendent Mike Fisher said adding a second SRO reflects the district’s commitment to both physical and psychological safety. “Safety isn’t just about securing buildings, it’s about relationships,” Fisher said. “Having our students work with law enforcement in a positive way builds citizenship and shows them that police officers are a resource and partner.”

With the elementary and pre-K campuses on the west side of town and the secondary campus on the east side, Fisher said having an SRO stationed at each location will improve response times and enhance daily support. He credited Oskaloosa Police Chief Ben Boeke and the City of Oskaloosa for pursuing the position and applying for a grant to help make it possible.

“Our partnership with Oskaloosa Police is the best I’ve experienced in my career,” Fisher said. “From football games to prom to mentoring students interested in law enforcement careers, it’s always been positive. This just makes sense for our community.”

Fisher believes the initiative could serve as a model for other districts. “So often, the conversation about police in schools is controversial,” he said. “Here, it’s not. We’re better together.”

Teen Seriously Injured in Ottumwa Accident

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OTTUMWA — On Monday, August 18th, 2025 at approximately 12:53 AM, emergency services were dispatched to the 100 block of Church Street for a medical call.  Upon arrival, a 17 year old female was found injured on the edge of the roadway.  Initial information and witness accounts indicate that the female was standing on the top of a car while it was traveling southbound on Church Street.  The female fell from the car while it was in motion causing her to sustain serious injuries.  The female was transported by ambulance to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center.  Due to the extent of her injuries, the female was later transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by helicopter.  The accident is currently under investigation.

Oskaloosa City Council Rejects 8th Avenue West Reconstruction Project

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and formally rejected the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the 8th Avenue West reconstruction project. The project was a source of some contention among the council dating back to a meeting in July when the plans were first rejected via a 6-1 vote, after residents spoke in opposition of the construction of sidewalks on either side of the road. In the council meeting on August 4, the project was brought back to the agenda, where it was tabled on a 3-3 vote. Last night, more residents of 8th Avenue West spoke to the council, again in favor of re-paving the road, but 6 of the 9 property owners on the street were in opposition of the construction of sidewalks. The project was officially nixed on a 4-3 vote, with council members Joe Caligiuri, Bob Drost, and Abu Ibrahim voting “yes.”

Public Works Director Sean Murphy told the council that the rejection of the plans means that the project won’t be returning to the fold until at least next spring. With the city’s existing complete streets policy stating that any road construction must be accompanied by sidewalks on either side, as long as the sidewalks are not prohibitively expensive (i.e. making up for at least 20% of the overall cost of the project), the project’s future is uncertain.

The council also approved a 28E agreement with the Oskaloosa Community School District to fund a second School Resource Officer (SRO). The district agreed to fund 60% of the costs for both SRO positions and they approved the 28E agreement from their end in their board meeting last week. The 28E agreement was approved unanimously, and officer Jenna Stengel will officially be joining the district as an SRO this fall, along with current SRO Logan Nord.

And the council approved a resolution calling for a city special election on the possibility of creating a continuing capital improvements reserve fund and levying an annual tax for that fund. The matter will be brought to the ballot during the city and school election this November. 

In other business, the council tabled a resolution to support an agreement for private development between the city and One West LLC. The development project would feature the construction of an $11.2 million, 3-story mixed-use building on a 3-acre site on Coal Mine Loop. The council originally approved the site plan, which includes first-floor commercial space and up to 36 apartments on the upper floors, in June 2023. One West LLC had applied for city financial assistance through Tax Increment Financing; ultimately, however, the proposal was tabled with a 3-3 vote from the council. Council members Joe Caligiuri, Andy Holmberg, and Abu Ibrahim voted “yes,” while council members Lisa Ossian, Ronda Almond, and Janet Hermsen voted “no.” Council member Bob Drost abstained from the vote.

NEWSLETTER

Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.