(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says he publicly released a document that could have information about alleged bribes to Joe and Hunter Biden because the F-B-I censored part of the memo when it was shown to a House committee. “They were trying to cover up that there were possible phone calls between Vice President Biden and some Ukrainian oligarch that he had to give the Bidens some money,” Grassley says. “Now, it’s up to the FBI to determine if there were any crimes committed.”

President Biden has denied the allegations. F-B-I officials say Grassley’s public disclosure of the document last Thursday has put a confidential source at serious risk. Grassley says it appears to him that the Justice Department isn’t investigating allegations against President Biden as aggressively as the allegations against former President Donald Trump.

“It’s very unusual in the 240 year history of our country…to have one party put the possible candidate of the other party on the dock and probably in prison,” Grassley says. Grassley says he began pushing the F-B-I about the allegations against the Bidens in 2019 and he was able to release the document last week because of government whistleblowers.

A White House spokesman says the claims in the document Grassley released have been debunked for years.

(Afton, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a semi tractor-trailer rollover accident in Union County, this (Tuesday) morning. The Union County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened at around 8:55-a.m. on Ridge Drive (southeast of Afton). Authorities report a 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by 54-year-old Marcos Aurelio Gutierrez, of Cushing, OK, was traveling south on Ridge Road, when he missed the turn going onto eastbound 230th Street.

The trailer rolled over into the north ditch, taking the tractor/cab with it. Authorities noted the trailer was an over-size load. The semi – registered to The Railroad Yard, Inc., out of Stillwater, OK, sustained $2,000 damage. There were no citations issued.

(Council Bluffs, IA) – When southwest Iowa students head back to school next month, they will have unique opportunities in the classroom and beyond thanks to Iowa West Foundation grants. A long-time supporter of arts & culture in southwest Iowa, the Foundation continues to financially assist organizations that provide outreach to southwest Iowa students for enrichment opportunities. This includes local museums, performing arts spaces, music venues, and play-based, interactive STEM facilities. A partial list of the grant recipients can be found below. The entire list can be found HERE.

“We want to support access to the amazing amenities Council Bluffs and the metro have to offer,” said Brenda Mainwaring, President, and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “By focusing on school outreach, we can help ensure our support is available to all families in our communities so everyone is able to take full advantage of what is in our own backyard. These attractions are one reason southwest Iowa is a place where people love to live,” she said.  

This includes the Arts Center at Iowa Western, which has featured a youth series for the past 16 years, said Director Tim Dickmeyer.  “Each year we bring over 4,000 students from Council Bluffs and surrounding districts to see either the Omaha Symphony or a nationally touring performing artist, free of charge,” he said. “These professional arts experiences uniquely help to develop well-rounded students and we could not provide these opportunities without the support of the Iowa West Foundation.”

In addition, the Foundation awarded two ASPIRE grants, a county-wide Iowa West initiative that provides funding for workforce development, including $350,000 to the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation to support parents returning to school. Woodbine’s IGNITE Pathways Regional CTE Center also received a $500,000 grant to support a workforce development initiative in Harrison County. 

“As we strive to connect students to career opportunities while finding employment solutions for our region, the financial support provided by the Iowa West Foundation comes at a critical time,” said Michelle Barry, Director of IGNITE Pathways, referencing the organization’s continued efforts to complete the capital project as well as develop innovative programming and community engagement. “This funding is another example of how the southwest Iowa region is committed to developing our future leaders. 

In response to community input, Iowa West is intensifying its focus on addressing the regional housing shortage. The Foundation awarded more than half a million dollars to increase housing stock with the construction of affordable homes, help homeowners repair existing properties, and provide rental assistance and resources to those in need in Pottawattamie County. This follows two IWF-hosted housing symposiums that brought together multiple organizations to collaborate on innovative solutions. The Metropolitan Housing Collaborative received a grant of $50,000 to streamline the application process for renters and property owners and managers. 

“Iowa West has shown their commitment to innovation in the housing ecosystem,” said Felicia Bonner, Program Manager of the Metro Housing Collaborative (MHC). “We are overjoyed that the Foundation has given MHC the means to address the barriers to housing in a new and innovative way. Together we are going to change the game!” 

Partnerships with local casinos Ameristar, Harrah’s, and Horseshoe make it possible for the Foundation to continuously award impactful grants in the community. Fees from gaming and income from Foundation investments provide funding for operating, capital, and programmatic grants throughout 14 counties in southwest Iowa. 

The Iowa West Foundation now accepts Letters of Inquiry (the first step in the grant application process) year-round. The deadline to be considered for the third and final funding cycle of 2023 is Sept. 1. For more information, visit www.iowawestfoundation.org and sign up to receive the newsletter via email. 

2023 Cycle 2 Grants and Initiatives (partial list)

City of Villisca
Building Demolition for Farmer’s Market & Performance Square 
$100,000 

East Mills Child Care Solutions 
Capital Support 
$75,000 

Food Bank of Iowa 
Pantries in Rural Counties (Adams, Audubon, Carroll & Taylor)
$30,000 

Golden Hills RC&D
Capacity and Operating Support 
$90,000 

Iowa Western Community College 
Arts Center 2023-2024 Programming 
$34,000 

Lewis Central Community Schools 
Titan Plastics 
$50,000 

Macedonia Fire & Rescue
Equipment 
$10,000 

Shenandoah Medical Center 
Community Garden 
$20,000 

Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund
Housing Repair 
$100,000 

The Rose Theater 
Educational Programming for Southwest Iowa Students 
$12,977  

Treynor Community School District 
ASPIRE Investments 
$25,000 

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Eligible nonprofits and governmental entities that are interested in applying for an Iowa West Foundation grant are invited to register for a free workshop to be held on Wednesday, August 2nd in Atlantic, IA in advance of the third and final funding cycle of 2023.

The purpose of Iowa West Foundation’s grant application workshop is to help interested applicants from nonprofit organizations and government entities learn about the grant process and for our staff to answer any questions you may have on your proposals.  Ideally, attendees will come to the grants workshop with a specific program, capital project, or use for operating funds in mind. You will have an opportunity to:

• hear from program officers
• ask questions about the grant application process,
• work through budget inquiries;
• and much more.
  

  Grant Application Workshop photo (courtesy Nicole Lindquist, IWF Director of Communications)

(Radio Iowa) – University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook says the U-S Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action in college admissions doesn’t alter the ways a prospective student’s application is evaluated. Nook says his university has never used quotas as a rigid means of admitting students of different backgrounds — and instead relies on metrics like the Board of Regent’s admissions index

“They said look if a student hits this mark with their grades and the classes they’ve taken and their test scores than they’re admitted to any of the Iowa Regent’s institutions if you hit that mark, you’re in,” Nook says. He says extracurricular activities are another way they evaluate a student to see if they are prepared for the coursework.  “We know we have students who may have missed it by a little bit but were extremely involved in other activities. … And it’s clear from their record that they have the abilities to be successful,” he says.

For the 2022 academic year, ten percent of U-N-I’s student population belonged to non-white minority groups. While some elite colleges have ended their practice of legacy admissions that give preference to the children of alumni following the court ruling, Drake University President Marty Martin says his school won’t end its program. “Our legacy program, as moderate as it is, is not one that impairs the attendance of other qualified students. With those other qualified students getting as well robust financial aid packages,” Martin says.

Martin says the school works hard to attract students from all backgrounds. “One-hundred percent of the entering class at Drake University receives financial aid from the institution, we work incredibly hard to make our education as affordable as possible for as many of our admitted students as possible,” he says. Martin says more than a quarter of Drake’s student body are students of color.

Martin and Nook made their comments on Iowa Public Radio’s “River to River”program.

(Radio Iowa) – The Army Times is reporting the 19-year-old from Pella who died earlier this month at a military base in Georgia fell and hit his head during a nighttime drill. The Army Times cites an accident report indicating J.T. Atchison was on a five mile march carrying a backpack when he tripped and fell onto the pavement and sustained a severe head injury. It happened just after midnight on July 12th.

Atchison was two days away from completing basic training. His obituary shows he had earned top shot for his company, was made team leader in his platoon and his ultimate goal was to become an Army Ranger.

Atchison’s funeral was held Monday afternoon at the Federated Fellowship Church in Pella. Atchison is survived by his mother, father and sister.

(Radio Iowa) – A recent court ruling means thousands of people will need to restart payments on their student loans this fall after more than three years of delays, and Iowans are being warned that scammers are lurking. Lisa Schiller, spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says this is the type of situation that will bring out crafty crooks.

“People will either receive an email or a letter or a phone call from someone claiming that they are eligible for student loan consolidation, or a payment reduction program or something similar,” Schiller says, “and this new benefit is allegedly, according to them, part of the new 2023 guidelines.” Schiller says the confusion over what’s happening with student loans gives scammers a hook to try and get your money.

If anyone asks you for money or personal banking information over the phone, she says to hang up and report the scam. Schiller says criminals use events like this as leverage to try and get you to hand over money or personal information. “This information might include them asking for your Social Security number, or your name and address, and even your FSA.gov login information,” she says, “so be aware of that and be very careful.”

As always, no government agency or lender will ask you for information they should already have, nor will they ask for money over the phone. Last month, the U-S Supreme Court rejected President Biden’s plan to eliminate up to 20-thousand dollars in federal student loans for eligible borrowers. The pause in payments ends October 1st and student loans will start accruing interest on September 1st.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), announced today (Tuesday), they will provide free rides for anyone who needs them to the Cass County cooling stations, effective immediately, and through Friday, July 28th.  There are no eligibility requirements to ride.

To reserve a ride, simply call 1-800-842-8065 between 6am and 5pm.  Free rides are only available to the designated cooling stations during their normal business hours.

In Anita, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, and Massena these are the public libraries.  In Atlantic the cooling stations are the public library and the Nishna Valley YMCA. 

Ride scheduling is subject to driver availability, so please plan ahead if possible to give SWITA staff time to arrange the transportation.  If you are experiencing a health emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.

SWITA is open to the public, and SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.