(Radio Iowa)  – Planned Parenthood is closing three of its nine clinics in Iowa over the next year. Clinics in Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, and the south side of Des Moines will be closed, due to what Planned Parenthood officials say are staffing shortages and increased costs. The organization plans to relocate some staff and expand abortion services at its Ames, Iowa City and Omaha clinics. Mazie Stilwell with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa says they also plan to offer medication abortion at the clinic near Drake University in Des Moines.

(as said) “Consolidating locations will prevent the routine closing of health centers due to staffing shortages, ensuring that patients experience a continuity of care,” Stilwell says. “I must emphasize that while the number of Planned Parenthood health centers will decrease, these changes will increase the number of patients that we can see.”

Planned Parenthood’s clinic in Cedar Falls has already closed. Stilwell says the south Des Moines and Council Bluffs locations won’t be closed until the Ames and Omaha clinics are ready to take on more patients.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld part of a lawsuit against the state by the former spokesperson of the Department of Public Health. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

(As said) – Polly Carver-Kimm sued the State of Iowa, the Governor, and her communications director for wrongful discharge alleging she was forced out after refusing to deny public records requests in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled it is possible that Carver-Kimm will be able to prove that she was actually terminated for carrying out her mandatory legal duty, and if the state fired her for that reason, it “would have a chilling effect on other employees by discouraging them from engaging in similar conduct.” Her claim against the state can proceed, but the Supreme Court dismissed Governor Kim Reynolds from that claim. It agreed with the governor’s assertion that she did not have the authority to fire Carver-Kimm, the department director did.

(Note: Polly-Carver Kimm is the wife of Radio Iowa Sports Director Todd Kimm)

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand will continue his fifth “100 Town Hall” tour with public town hall appearances Wednesday, June 28th, 2023, in Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Harlan, and Audubon.

His office says as part of his promise to meet Iowans where they are and operate with the transparency and accountability they deserve, Sand will deliver remarks and take questions on the work of the State Auditor’s office and the condition of the state’s finances and governance.

Expected topics of discussion include the lack of accountability and transparency in the new school vouchers legislation that will take tax dollars away from public schools to pay instead for private school tuition, new pro-corruption legislation that allows state agencies to hide documents from the State Auditor, and advancements in his Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program for saving tax dollars.

In advance of his upcoming trip, Auditor Sand says “It helps our office to hear from Iowans and helps Iowans to hear from someone who is willing to go after insiders’ corruption and waste in Iowa’s governments. I’m proud to continue that work in all Iowa’s counties this year.”

Details:

WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 10:00 am-11:00 am
WHAT: Harrison County Town Hall with State Auditor Rob Sand
WHERE: Missouri Valley City Park, 800 W Huron St, Missouri Valley, IA 51555

WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 11:45 am-12:45 pm
WHAT: Shelby County Town Hall with State Auditor Rob Sand
WHERE: Potters Park, 1218 College Blvd, Harlan, IA 51537

WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 1:30 pm-2:30 pm
WHAT: Audubon County Town Hall with State Auditor Rob Sand
WHERE: Albert the Bull Park: World’s Largest Bull, 1108 Division St, Audubon, IA 50025
WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm

The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors traveled to the city of Wiota to celebrate the new renovations to the Wiota Steakhouse and Wiota City Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The Ambassadors also had the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of Wiota while touring a museum, which has been set up in the Wiota Community Center for this weekend’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Brenda Williams, owner of the Wiota Steakhouse, shared about the history of the restaurant and how important their business is to the community. After a fire forced the restaurant to close in 2013, locals realized that this was a business that needed to be brought back. A team consisting of Brenda Williams, Ross Havens, and Lawrence Havens worked together to bring the business back to life and reopened in 2015 after an initial remodel. Recently, Williams has applied for different grants, which have allowed for new outside renovations. The process is nearly close to completion, but already looks stunning.

Williams also shared about the work that went into renovating the Wiota City Park. Members of the Wiota Boosters and Wiota City Council worked hard to receive a Community Development Block Grant which helped fund brand new equipment for children to use. The finishing touches were completed two weeks prior, which is just in time for Wiota’s 150^th Anniversary Celebration. The community has a busy weekend planned, with festivities starting the morning of June 24^th and will run until after dark that night. Some of the activities planned include a tractor ride, a parade, a “town royalty” coronation, a swap market, and a steak sandwich supper with a beer garden and live music. The Wiota Steakhouse will be serving beverages Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the “Drunkin’ Junkin’” event.

To learn more about the Wiota Steakhouse, visit their Facebook page, Wiota Steakhouse, or call 712-783-9232. More information pertaining to Wiota’s Sesquicentennial Celebration is also available on their Facebook.