(Radio Iowa) – Next year, Iowans will vote on a proposed amendment that will align the Iowa Constitution with an election-related change made nationally more than five decades ago.

In 1971, the 26th Amendment the U.S. Constitution was ratified, changing the legal voting age in America from 21 to 18. The proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution would specify that U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and residents of the state may vote in Iowa elections.

“It also says 17 year olds who will be 18 by the General Election to register to vote and vote in the Primary, so this is how we already run our elections,” Representative Cindy Golding, a Republican from Palo, said during House debate this week. “It puts in our constitution what is already in our code.”

This proposed amendments to the state constitution got final approval from the House and Senate this spring. It means Iowa voters will see the language for proposed amendment on their 2024 election ballots.

(Radio Iowa) – The police chief in Keota says he is concerned people are staying way too close to tornadoes to get videos and pictures.

Two tornadoes struck the Keota area on March 31st, including an EF-4 tornado packing winds of more than 170 miles an hour. Keota Police Chief Doug Conrad tells KCRG TV that too many people are ignoring warnings to shoot videos.

“You can go on Facebook or Tiktok — people where the storms were, were 300-400 yards from the tornado, and it was a big tornado,” Conrad says. Chief Conrad says it was a trend that was becoming all too common and all too dangerous. He says you may think you are a safe distance away from the storm, but you’re not, and flying debris could be fatal.

Keota storm damage. (KCRG TV photo)

“It wouldn’t be hard to believe that a 2 x 4 or glass could kill somebody,” Conrad says. He says you should think of safety first. “When we get these warnings, don’t ignore them,” Conrad says.

The National Weather Service says the Keota tornado traveled 50 miles. It destroyed 19 homes and one person was injured.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Spring is in the air, and plans are underway for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning community gardening, beautification or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2023 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for donation, for gardening education, and/or for gardening projects to improve local communities. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2022 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2023. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. All grant recipients will be expected to submit a report at the end of the growing season, detailing how the money was spent. Recipients will also be given a sign to place in their garden area for the 2023 growing season.

Applications must be received by 4:30 PM on Monday April 24 for guaranteed consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their application status no later than Monday, May 8 so they can make plans for the growing season. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email  keolson@iastate.edu.

Application forms can be printed from the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. You can also call or email the office to request a form be mailed or emailed to you, or stop by 805 West 10th Street in Atlantic to pick one up.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis, with the next statewide training class open for enrollment in the summer of 2023. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. Two men from Anita were arrested March 30^th on warrants charging them with Theft 2nd Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. 48-year-old Kevin St. John and 22-year-old Matthew St. John turned themselves in to the Cass County Jail. Both were booked-in and later released on bond.

On March 24th, 2023, Cass County Deputies arrested 45-year-old Jessica Craddock, of Benton, IA, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Craddock was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

And on March 23rd, 26-year-old Sotonas Aten, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Revoked.  Aten was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

(Oakland, Iowa) – The Riverside Community School District has a new Superintendent. Dr. Stephanie Anderson was selected to lead the District, effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Anderson is the Director of Elementary Education and Student Services, Fort Dodge Community Community School. Current Riverside Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Mitchell, announced his retirement in January and will be leaving the District at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

Dr. Anderson said she “Is excited about this new opportunity and shared “I am honored and excited to have been chosen to be the next leader of the Riverside Community School District. The community cohesiveness, academic and extracurricular celebrations, and amazing people were the highlights from my research and interview experience. I look forward to continuing the great work you are already engaging in as a community and school district.”

Dr. Stephanie Anderson

Her bio reads: “Dr. Stephanie Anderson brings a variety of educational experiences to the superintendent position. She grew up on a farm outside of Newell, Iowa, graduating from Newell-Fonda High School and earning her BA from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She started her teaching career as an elementary classroom teacher in Vermillion, South Dakota and then in Storm Lake, Iowa while earning her MA from the University of South Dakota. She attended the Iowa Principal Leadership Academy to earn her administrative endorsement, which led to her serving as the assistant elementary principal and early childhood principal in Spencer, Iowa. She then served as the head elementary principal in Fort Dodge, Iowa while earning her PhD from the University of Kentucky. Most recently she has held the position of director of elementary education and student services in Fort Dodge, Iowa while earning her superintendent certification from the University of Northern Iowa. These educational experiences have grounded her in her educational beliefs of being strengths-based, making decisions that keep students at the center, and the importance of building collaborative relationships within the school community and beyond, while leading with integrity every step of the way. She is excited about what the Riverside School District and communities have to offer, and she looks forward to the opportunity to serve the district and communities. Her husband, Chris, is a computer science teacher at the Fort Dodge Middle School; their daughter, McKaelyn, is a junior at Iowa State University majoring in special education; and their son, Carter, is a junior at Fort Dodge Senior High attending the ICCC Triton Academy simultaneously.”

The Riverside Board of Education will meet and offer a contract at their meeting 6:30-p.m. Monday April 17, 2023.

(Radio Iowa) – More than 100 members of the legislature have voted to get rid of the requirement that tattoo artists show they’ve completed high school in order to get a state tattoo permit. Republican Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says if the bill becomes law, you’d still have to complete first aid training, pass health screenings and have reached the age of 18. “Let us remind ourselves that the average age of a graduate in high school is 18 years of age. Do we require farmers to have a high school degree?” Wilz asks. “…This skill is learned through apprenticeship, which is one to three years if not more, yet another of the many ways to be educated in your chosen field. It gives another path to choose a career.”

Representative Josh Turek, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, is among the 43 lawmakers who opposed the bill. “It erodes a basic standard of education. We’re just talking about a high school diploma here. We’re not talking about an associates degree or a bachelor’s degree,” Turek says. “I think that this is incentivizing a few individuals, however just a few individuals, to not get their high school diploma.”

The bill cleared the Senate in March. House Republicans made a minor adjustment this week, to account for changes included in the state government reorganization plan the governor signed into law Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are seeing buildings lit up at night with blue lights, and gardens filled with blue pinwheels as part of an effort to raise awareness about April being Prevent Child Abuse Month in the state. Kylie Spies, spokeswoman for Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, explains the purpose of this month-long observance. “Child Abuse is preventable through things like social connections, building those really strong communities and strong families,” Spies says, “and we do that by getting to know our neighbors and learning the ways that we can be a positive force in the life of a child in the family.”

Studies show child abuse numbers dropped in Iowa during 2020, but rebounded in 2021, and Spies says there are a few theories about why. “One idea is that children in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, they spent less time around mandatory reporters like teachers, folks like coaches,” Spies says. “But there’s also been some research that’s come out since then that shows that there actually may have been a decrease in stress during that time, because there are also things like less emergency room visits for suspected abuse.”

A conference about child abuse prevention is scheduled for May 9th and 10th at the F-F-A Enrichment Center in Ankeny. “There’s an in-person conference in Ankeny or there’s a virtual option as well,” she says. “Our theme this year is called, ‘By Design, Creating Spaces Where Children Thrive.’ It’s a community issue. We can really build those spaces that are welcoming to families, that are supportive of families, and we’re going to have a lot of experts from all different fields, talking about ways that we can create those supportive spaces for families.”

To register and for more information, visit: pcaiowa.org.

DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its first-quarter Economic Outlook Survey (EOS) for 2023. The report measures member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. If the index measures above 50, sentiment is positive. The first-quarter survey’s overall economic outlook index is 59.72, an increase of 0.46 index points from the 2022 fourth-quarter report. Although the overall EOS index is flat, the results project continued confidence in Iowa’s economy and across all aspects measured by the IBC including expectations for sales, capital spending, and employment.

Sales expectations among IBC members decreased by 2.78 index points to a value of 65.28. Capital spending expectations increased by 2.77 index points to 56.94 and employment expectations increased by 1.38 index points to a value of 56.94. Concerns relating to workforce attraction and retention remain the number one concern with 83% IBC executives listing it as a primary business challenge. 56% of IBC executives surveyed stated inflation as a primary business concern while 56% further reported an unfavorable business climate as a top challenge.

From a workforce perspective, 94% of IBC executives surveyed report that it is somewhat to very difficult to hire employees while reporting more than 5,500 currently open/available positions in Iowa. “The fact that IBC members continue to project confidence in Iowa’s overall economy is significant,” stated Phil Jasper, President of Mission Systems for Collins Aerospace and Chair of the Iowa Business Council. “The business community continues to be optimistic about the future direction of our state and we will remain steadfast as an organization to bring forth policies and solutions that enhance Iowa’s ability to expand business in Iowa,” he added.

“As the legislature works towards adjournment, the IBC will remain engaged with the General Assembly and the Governor’s office in advancing pro-growth strategies that increase our ability to attract and retain business and workforce opportunities in Iowa,” said Iowa Business Council President Joe Murphy. The Economic Outlook Survey has been completed by IBC members on a quarterly basis since 2004. The report provides insight regarding the projected trends for the state of Iowa, which can be used for business and economic planning. The reported trends have a state-wide impact, especially when considering that IBC companies have a presence in all 99 counties.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Guthrie County Youth “Investigated STEM” at STEM Fest 2023! The event was held April 1, 2023, at the ACGC High School in Guthrie Center, hosted by Guthrie County ISU Extension and the Southwest Iowa STEM Region housed at Southwestern Community College. At STEM Fest there were several educational stations held inside the school, as well as some educational stations outside. (See photos submitted from the event, below – click on an image to enlarge)

Krista Downing, Program Coordinator said hands-on activities included gear ratios on a conveyor belt, creating cover crop monsters, semi-truck driving simulator, ethanol’s pH changing demonstration and much more. Youth Coordinator, Laura Larson, said “STEM fest 2023 was a huge success. We had a great turnout from the community and so many youth got to take part in some hands-on learning activities. They were also introduced to some potential career paths they could take down the road. It was a great morning!”

Participants at STEM Fest included youth of all ages with their family’s attendance was around 300 participants total. There was participation from youth in multiple school districts in the county as well as some home-schooled youth, and multiple registrations from outside of Guthrie County! Door prize winners for teachers with the most youth at STEM Fest were from Guthrie Center Elementary – Gruber and Renslow. Youth door prize winners from around the county were Hunter Hays, Blythe Michelsen, Donovan Wetzel, Kroy Redfern, Blaine Udelhoven, Hazel Comly, Reed Leo, Hope Recker, Waylon Sudbrock and Charolette Owens.

Businesses and organizations that volunteered their time to host booths included: Guthrie County Master Gardeners; Blank Park Zoo; Panorama FFA; Iowa Motor Truck Association; Iowa PBS; New Opportunities Inc.; Iowa Corn Growers – Guthrie, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE); Whiterock Conservancy; Guthrie County REC; Guthrie County Farm Bureau; MidAmerican Energy; POET, Coon Rapids Plant; Guthrie County State Bank; Mary Barnett Library; Iowa DNR; Guthrie County ISU Extension; Rose Acres; Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office; Guthrie County Hospital and Clinics, and Guthrie County EMA.

Guthrie County ISU Extension officials say “We would like to extend an enormous thank you to all who helped make this event possible. Thank you to our businesses that volunteered time to host a booth, thank you to the youth and families that came out and participated, thank you to ACGC Schools for hosting the event, and thank you to the committee for all the background work they put into the event. Events like this are not possible without the support of the community.”