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Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds discuses task force for Iowa 'DOGE'Hear from Gov. Kim Reynolds as she talks about Iowa's 'DOGE' on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at the Iowa State Capitol.Iowa's DOGE task force is considering issuing a recommendation to consolidate the state's 99 counties to improve government efficiency and enable property tax cuts.The task force argues that the current county structure is outdated and wastes resources, citing Iowa's low population density.The task force is focusing on streamlining services and regionalization rather than directly addressing property tax reform.Iowa's government efficiency task...

Mae Anderson and Paul Harloff  |  Associated PressNew York — The typical compensation package for chief executives who run companies in the S&P 500 jumped nearly 10% in 2024 as the stock market enjoyed another banner year and corporate profits rose sharply.Many companies have heeded calls from shareholders to tie CEO compensation more closely to performance. As a result, a large proportion of pay packages consist of stock awards, which the CEO often can’t cash in for years, if at all, unless the company meets certain targets, typically a higher...

4-minute readAndrew P. Napolitano  |  Special to the USA TODAY NetworkCan FBI be sued if agents raid wrong house? Supreme Court to weigh in.Trina Martin, son Gabe Watson and partner Toi Cliatt seek compensation after their house was mistakenly raided by the FBI.The British government's use of general warrants, allowing searches of colonists' homes without specific cause, contributed to the American Revolution.The Fourth Amendment, designed to protect the right to privacy and property, requires probable cause for government searches.The author argues that the probable cause standard is insufficient, as natural...

No state has yet eliminated property taxes and in Florida they are the biggest source of dollars for 51 of 67 counties and almost half of the state’s 411 cities.With Florida lawmakers now in overtime trying to settle a state budget, the prime source of financing for many cities and counties could soon be headed for the chopping block.In whatever budget deal is decided by the Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants included some kind of commitment to rolling back property taxes – now or through a ballot question put before...

Dave Williams  |  Capitol Beat News ServiceReal estate investor headed to prison in Atlanta fraud schemeBy Dave WilliamsBureau ChiefCapitol Beat News ServiceATLANTA - The head of a commercial real estate investment firm has been sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay $45 million in restitution in a fraud scheme involving the Atlanta Financial Center in Buckhead.Elchonon (Elie) Schwartz, 46, of New York City pleaded guilty in February to one count of wire fraud. Schwartz convinced more than 800 investors to send him $62.8 million, including $54 million...

Daedo Kim and Jaehyun Eom  |  BloombergThe dollar erased this week’s gains on fresh speculation President Donald Trump favors a weaker greenback and will prod other governments to let their currencies rise in return for trade deals with the US.The US currency extended an earlier decline on Wednesday after a Bloomberg News report that South Korea and US officials discussed exchange rate policies at a May 5 meeting in Milan and will continue to do so.The won rose nearly 2% and the Japanese yen also climbed, helping to push the...

FBI opens investigation into NY Attorney General Letitia JamesThe Department of Justice opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, multiple news outlets reported.WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice has opened up an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James over real estate transactions, multiple news outlets reported.The FBI investigation is tied to loans and property purchases in New York City and Virginia, the Albany Times Union, Guardian and Washington Post reported on May 8.President Donald Trump has frequently attacked James since she won a $454 million...