(Radio Iowa) – October wrapped up as one of Iowa’s 20 driest Octobers in 150 years of record keeping. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the northwest and central regions of the state were as much as two-and-a-half inches below normal for rainfall for the month. “We’re starting to trend down into the driest part of the year which is December, January and February,” Glisan says, “but if we look at the statewide average total, we were just under an inch, and that’s about one-and-three-quarter inches below average across the state.”

Temperatures were widely varied for the month, with some days in the 90s for highs and some nights falling well below freezing and into the teens. November is starting off warm but the short-term forecasts indicate that won’t last but another day or so. “Outlooks are showing us a trend towards cooler-than-average temperatures but also a wet signal is building in,” Glisan says, “which is good in terms of replenishing at least some subsoil moisture for the next growing season, given how pervasive drought has been across the state.”

Glisan says it appears the weather pattern known as La Nina will continue into the winter ahead for a third straight year, which is unusual. “Typical La Nina years, historically for the state of Iowa, we’ve seen above-average snowpack,” Glisan says. “If we look at the outlooks, we’re not getting a clear signal on precipitation right now, but we are getting a slightly elevated signal for colder-than-average temperatures in that December, January, February timeframe.” La Nina happens when cold sea surface temperatures in the Pacific impact where the storm track sets up across the country. With the wide temperature swings during October, Glisan says it all balanced out as the average temperature for the month was less than one degree below normal.

The month of October, here in Atlantic, was both warmer and cooler than average, and much drier than it should have been. Weather records compiled at KJAN (the OFFICIAL National Weather Service data site for Atlantic) show we were slightly more than 2-degrees warmer than the average of 64.1-degrees. We departed with an average of 67.3 degrees. On the Low side, we came in at 31.5-degrees for an average, which was seven-degrees cooler than average.

Rainfall, typically 2.76-inches in October, came in a little more than three-quarters of an inch, at .79.”

Here’s what the stats normally are for November:

• Avg. High, 46.3
• Avg. Low, 26.5
• Avg. Precipitation, 1.85 inches.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – Police in Shenandoah report two arrests. A little after 12-a.m. today (Wednesday), Shenandoah Police and the Shenandoah K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an equipment violation, in the 1000 block of S. Maple Street. Upon further investigation, 43-year-old Jennifer Marie Ray, of Columbia, MO., was arrested for: Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine (Class B Felony); PCS/Marijuana – 3rd offense (Class D Felony), and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jennifer Ray was being held in the Page County Jail on bond amounting to $30,600.

And, at around 10:05-p.m., Tuesday, Shenandoah Police arrested 46-year-old Derek Eugene Wallace, of Shenandoah, on a valid Page County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Wallace was able to post a $300 bond before being released from custody.

Two people were arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop at around 11:50-p.m. Tuesday, in Montgomery County. The Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies stopped a vehicle at Highway 34 and A Avenue. The Montgomery County K9 “Bane” alerted on the vehicle, and upon further investigation, 42-year-old Angela Kay Rolling, of Glenwood, and 47-year-old Brent William Michael, of Malvern, were taken into custody.

Rolling was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense. Brent Michael was charged with Poss. of Marijuana/1st offense. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond, each.

Sac-Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass Counties…Elevated Fire Weather Danger and Strong Winds in Western Iowa Today…

South winds increase by late morning through the afternoon with gusts in excess of 40 mph likely at times. This may blow around loose, lightweight objects and create difficult driving conditions for high profile vehicles, especially on west to east
routes. The strong winds combined with low RH values in the 30 percent range will lead to fire weather concerns this afternoon. Any fire starts will have the potential to become out of control and spread quickly.

Scattered field and ditch fires occurred Tuesday afternoon in southwest Iowa, including a corn field off 720th, between Seattle and Tucson Roads. Massena and Cumberland Fire crews were dispatched to the scene at around 4:57-p.m. Another fire was reported in Harrison County.

As  reminder, Burn Bans are in effect for nine southwest Iowa Counties until further notice.

(Radio Iowa) – Two former T-V journalists are running to represent Iowa’s new second congressional district. Republican Ashley Hinson of Marion, who worked at K-C-R-G in Cedar Rapids for a decade, is seeking a second term in the U.S. House. Democratic challenger Liz Mathis of Hiawatha, a state senator, was a news anchor for two and a half decades at K-W-W-L in Waterloo, then at K-C-R-G. They are running in the new second congressional district, which includes the cities of Grinnell, Mason City and Dubuque as well as Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

The latest data shows nearly equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and independent voters in the area. University of Northern Iowa political science professor Donna Hoffman uses the word “swingy” to describe the district. “If you just look at the last 20 years, it was represented by Republican Jim Nussle and then Democrat Bruce Braley and then Republican Rod Blum and then Democrat Abby Finkenauer and now Republican Ashley Hinson,” Hoffman says, “and so people nationally who look at House races have moved this race more competitive.”

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report lists Iowa’s second district as among 88 competitive U.S. House races, with a current rating of leans Republican. Hoffman says there’s a degree of uncertainty in this race, like many others around the country. “For example, we don’t know what effect the Dobbs decision might have on activating Democrats to vote in a midterm election, whereas they might have stayed home,” Hoffman says. “We don’t know how much Republicans will be activated by their concerns about the economy and inflation.”

Loras College professor Christopher Budzisz says there have been a barrage of commercials in this race, but the advertising strategies have been fairly traditional. “Whatever the nationalized, negative element is, both candidates have tried to hit on that,” Budzisz says, “which I think is symptomatic of the kind of nationalization of these congressional races, no matter if it’s in the second district or other parts of Iowa.”

Budzisz says there’s a lot of head scratching about early voting trends, since Iowa election law changes shortened the duration of early voting. That makes it hard to compare this year’s data with what was happening in the week before the midterm election in 2018.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is proposing that congress issue fines to the Internal Revenue Service if the agency oversteps its plan to hire more auditors. “Follow up on what the Democrats said they were going to use this money for, that they’re only going to use this money against people that make $400,000 and corporations,” Grassley says. “We don’t believe that.”

This summer, President Biden approved the plan congressional Democrats passed that will give the I-R-S 80 billion dollars over the next 10 years to modernize agency computers and hire 87-thousand auditors.  “They did this without providing any oversight mechanisms to make sure that money is wisely spent,” Grassley says. Grassley is proposing that the I-R-S submit plans to congress on how it intends to spend each year’s allotment. If the agency doesn’t follow its plan, Grassley says the agency should forfeit some of its budget, as a fine.

Other Republicans have proposed shifting the spending from the I-R-S to the Border Patrol. It’s unlikely President Biden would rescind the plan to hire more auditors to go after wealthy Americans who have failed to pay the taxes they owe. The I-R-S estimates about 15 percent of federal taxes owed are not paid.

(Radio Iowa) – The monthly survey of business leaders across Iowa and eight other states finds the region’s economy remains weak and improved only slightly. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the survey ranks the economy on a zero to 100 scale, with 50 being growth neutral. “The overall index rose from September’s 52.7 to October’s 53.1, but this is only the second increase in the last seven months,” Goss says, “so I would still place the manufacturing economy of the Mid-American states in a slow-to-no growth stage.”

Iowa’s overall Business Conditions Index for October sank below growth neutral to 49.8, falling from September’s 50.9. Supply managers across the region were asked about what they see as their biggest obstacles for the rest of the year and Goss says their responses focused on four key areas. “Supply chain disruptions remains the number-one challenge, one third indicated that,” Goss says. “Labor shortages, about one-fourth indicated that. Higher input costs, of course, growing there. That rose significantly from last month up to almost one-third, and then higher interest rates, likewise, increased as the Federal Reserve raised rates.”

One telling factor on the October survey, Goss says, is how the Economic Confidence Index is at its lowest point since March of 2020 when the wide impact of the pandemic first kicked in. Also, hiring levels in Iowa and across the region are still lagging. “Some of that, just the inability to get the workers, find the workers, hire the workers, that’s a big, big issue,” Goss says. “The regional employment is still down from pre-COVID levels, and we’re seeing a loss since COVID of about 77,000 workers across the nine-state region.”

Inflation rates are still high, but Goss says they’re dropping and are now at the lowest level since August of 2020. He predicts inflation may reach six-percent during the fourth quarter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (November 1, 2022) – Doug’s Feed Service, Inc., of Baxter, Iowa has consented to a voluntary revocation of its grain warehouse license, effective October 31, 2022, by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Due to the revocation of the license, Doug’s Feed Store, Inc., is prohibited from storing grain after November 30, 2022.

The warehouse license revocation was due to the licensee being unable to provide proof of insurance as required by Iowa Code, Section 203C.15 (2020). Doug’s Feed Store, Inc., will maintain their grain dealer license.

A grain depositor has three options available to them for their grain storage obligation with Doug’s Feed Store, Inc.

They may:

1. Remove their grain from the facility on or by November 30, 2022
2. Price their grain obligation for payment on or by November 30, 2022
3. Arrange with Doug’s to transfer the storage obligation to another licensed warehouse on or by November 30, 2022.

Any grain storage obligation must be finalized on or before November 30, 2022.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Grain Warehouse Bureau regulates and examines the financial solvency of grain dealers and grain warehouse operators. The functions of the Bureau include warehouse licensing, warehouse examination, grain dealer licensing, and grain dealer examinations.

DES MOINES, Iowa – On Friday, October 28, 2022, 73 year old Daniel Wiechmann was arrested at his residence in Hampton, Iowa by Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol on several warrants as a result of a joint investigation conducted by the Ankeny Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Polk County Attorney’s Office, which began in October of 2021.

On October 25, 2021, a report was filed with the Ankeny Police Department regarding historical sexual abuse that had been occurring between Wiechmann and several juvenile step-grandchildren over the course of several years.  Due to the fact that abuse was alleged to have taken place in multiple counties in Iowa, and that Wiechmann had served as an attorney in the Franklin County area, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was asked to assist.  Due to a conflict of interest, the Franklin County Attorney’s Office requested that the Polk County Attorney’s Office serve as a special prosecutor for this investigation.

Dan Wiechmann

As a result of the investigation, Wiechmann was charged with one count of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree (class C Felony), two counts of Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse (Aggravated Misdemeanor), one count of Indecent Contact with a Child (Aggravated Misdemeanor) and one count of Indecent Exposure (Serious Misdemeanor).  These charges were filed in Polk, Dallas, and Franklin Counties.

Wiechmann is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail on a $5000 cash bond and a detainer from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office regarding warrants currently on file related to Polk County charges.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is adding another layer of protection to Iowa’s electoral process by expanding post-election audits. All 99 counties will be required to conduct a hand count audit of two races following the November 2022 general election. Previously, they audited one race.

One randomly selected precinct in each county will hand count the votes for the Governor’s race to match with the ballot tabulators to ensure the accuracy of the vote. On November 9, the day after the election, Secretary Pate will announce an additional race in a randomly selected precinct in each county.

“This is being done to ensure Iowans of the integrity of the vote,” Secretary Pate said. “Our post-election audits consistently match the ballot tabulators perfectly. Adding another race to the process gives greater protection, transparency and security to the process. We want Iowans to know their vote counts.”

Every ballot tabulator in Iowa undergoes a public pre-election audit to ensure it will count votes accurately on Election Day. Post-election audits are mandatory in all 99 counties following each election.

For more information about election security in Iowa, visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.iowa.gov. Information about casting your ballot is available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov.