(Radio Iowa) – The estimated Mega Millions jackpot is now more than one BILLION dollars after there was no winning ticket in Tuesday’s drawing. Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says be sure to carefully check to see if you’ve won any lower prizes. “I think a lot of folks maybe check to see if they won the jackpot and they don’t check any further — but there are nine prize levels in Mega Millions,” she says. You could win enough to buy another ticket or much more. “It starts down at just two dollars, but it goes all the way up to the jackpot. So please check to see if you won any prize in addition to the jackpot ,” Neubauer says.

Prizes in the game expire if they are not redeemed one year from the drawing date. Neubauer says you should be sure you have a set plan if you decide to go in with others for the next drawing. “This is the level at which we really see office pools kick in so people playing with their co workers are pooling their money with their family and their friends, and at the Iowa Lottery we keep a list of group play reminders on our website,” Neubauer says. “We just don’t want anybody to be cranky later or to have questions about you know which tickets before the group or maybe which tickets were for you if you’re the person buying it.”

The next Mega Millions drawing is Friday evening.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on Monday, July 25, 2022, a Davenport man, 27-year-old Darion Daquan Gardner, pleaded guilty to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Causing Death Through Use of a Firearm, and Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering.

In 2016 and 2017, as a member of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Gardner was involved in multiple shootings, including at a dice game in December 2016, and at the Hotel Davenport in February 2017. On December 16, 2016, Gardner and other SLB members robbed and physically assaulted another male, including pistol-whipping him. SLB members also shot at the male’s vehicle as the male and an associate fled the area.

On February 12, 2017, at a concert at the Hotel Davenport, Gardner and several other SLB members started a physical altercation with an individual they believed had disrespected their gang. During the altercation, Gardner fired several shots, striking and killing one male and striking and injuring another. Gardner committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase his position in the gang.

Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2022. As part of the plea agreement, the government and Gardner have agreed to recommend a sentence of 450 months in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held a brief meeting this (Wednesday) morning, due to a short agenda. During their session, they approved a Fireworks Permit for an August 5^th event, and acknowledge the receipt of a Prestage Farms Manure Management Plan (MMP) update.

In other business, the Board approved a payment to Schneider Geospatial, for Geographic Information System Maintenance, in the amount of $1,472 as a one-time cost for data processing.

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa survey about nurse midwifes finds Iowans understand they deliver babies, but don’t know much else about them. Professor Peggy Stover, director of the U-I’s Undergraduate Marketing Institute, says she was shocked at how little people knew about the midwife profession. “In addition to birth care, prenatal care and post delivery care,” Stover says, “midwives also offer women’s wellness checkups, birth control, menopausal care.”

The U-I’s Carver College of Medicine is planning to open the state’s first nurse midwife education program this fall to help fill gaps in rural areas. Stover predicts it will be an important addition for the state’s health care offerings. “I think the program is going to go very well, especially given the fact that in a lot of rural areas, there is definitely a need for women wellness providers,” Stover says. “Our goal is to help attract and retain students into the program, in addition to making people aware of all the services a midwife provides.”

While “wife” is in the name, being a midwife is not exclusively a job for women, but it’s a matter of perception. “In other countries, a male midwife, it doesn’t even blink an eye, but here in the United States, it’s still associated as being and attracting women,” Stover says. “So there’s going to be that learning curve to recruit men into this field, just like the nursing industry went through many, many years ago.”

The survey found a majority of respondents didn’t realize most insurance companies cover the services of a midwife, and that nurse midwifes can deliver babies in a hospital in the event of an emergency.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning in Red Oak, for Breach of Peace. Authorities say 23-year-old Brook Anna Marie Moon was taken into custody on the Simple Misdemeanor charge at around 2:13-a.m., in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street. She was being held in the Montgomery County LEC on a $300 bond.

And, no one was transported to the hospital following a rear-end collision Tuesday evening, in Red Oak. Police report vehicles driven by 40-year-old Michelle Renee Shuffler and 31-year-old Cheyenne Sue Meek, both of Red Oak, collided at around 5-p.m., near the intersection of Broadway and Corning Streets. Officials say Shuffler was driving a 2006 Ford Escape and had stopped at the red light, when her SUV was hit from behind by a 2018 Ford Focus, driven by Meek.

Meek complained of pain/possible injury, but refused medical treatment. No citations were issued. Damage from the collision amounted to $11,000. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak/Montgomery County First Responders and all of their friends and colleagues in southwest Iowa will be joining forces on Aug. 2nd along with 38 million others, in celebrating National Night Out. This is the 39th year of the National event (the 6th year in Red Oak), and there will be more than 10 other Iowa cities officially registered for the event.

Red Oak/Montgomery Co. officials say the theme of the evening is Public Safety-Safety of the Public. First Responders confirmed to be on hand are from ROPD, ROFD, MCSO, MCSO Communications/Corrections, Mont Co EMA, Stanton Fire, Villisca Fire & Rescue, Elliott Fire & First Responders, Grant Fire, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT MVE, Secret Service, IA National Guard, BNSF Police, Iowa DNR, Mont Co Conservation, Air Evac.

Surrounding counties/cities have been contacted and first responder invites have been extended – and there is always a great showing of cooperation and support from those agencies, as they all truly work together. The Safety of the Public aspect will focus on Fire Safety (Local FD, Elks), Farm Safety (AgriVision, IA Corn Growers), Health related (MCMH, MOCO Public Health, Zion, MOCO Child Abuse Council, Blank Children’s Hosp, Kiwanis, Red Oak Comm Schools, and others. (Click on the map to enlarge >>>)

There will be a Helicopter landing. Throughout the Park and around the square will be FREE food (Elks, Rainbow, Eagles, Walnut Creek Acres, HyVee, Fareway, United Group, Rotary, Grand Theater, and others), info booths and handouts, displays, games, SuperHeroes, vintage police and fire vehicles, (Prescott car club, racecars, photo booth, tribute vehicles and displays, and monster trucks. As of the most recent report, there are over 96 total partners helping with food/displays/ vehicles/ exhibits/events/and other participating factors and many more expected by August 2nd.

Please join Emergency Personnel at the beautiful Fountain Square Park in Red Oak, for a FUN and FREEEEEEEEE, evening. A reminder also, that the Square area and one-block in each direction, will be shut down at 4:00 pm to allow for set up and all of the partners to get prepared for the night. As a sign of support please turn your porchlight on for the evening. The National theme is to take back the night, take back our neighborhoods and communities.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging say they still have vouchers available for the Senior Farmer’s Market Voucher Distribution program. Seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $30.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce. To request an application call 800-432-9209 x8888 and leave a message with your name and phone number. All calls will be returned within five business days in the order they are received. Applications will then be mailed out every Thursday with an addressed return envelope. Once your completed application is received, vouchers will be mailed out to you. Please note applications not completed will not receive vouchers until all information is provided.

Program Criteria:

• Must be at least 60 years of age or older
• Your Annual income must be less than: $25,142 Single; $33,874 Married. When a staff member returns your call, please indicate whether you are applying as an individual or a married couple.

Outline of Process:

• Connections Farmers Market line open for applicants to leave their name and number for an application call back.
• PLEASE LEAVE ONLY ONE MESSAGE PER INDIVIDUAL OR COUPLE. DO NOT LEAVE MORE THAN ONE MESSAGE. MULTIPLE CALLS WILL ONLY DELAY APPLICATION PROCESS.
• All calls will be returned within five business days.
• Applications will be mailed out on Thursdays of each week.

This method is the only way to obtain Farmers’ Market vouchers in 2022.

ATLANTIC, IA – This week at Produce in the Park customers will find Pim’s Thai Food Truck and local vegetable favorites including sweet corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. The July 28 market will also include popular dessert vendors Frosting Inc. and Kringleman Pastries and an expanded local meat selection. Brun Ko Farm and Noble Provisions have been selling beef, pork, and lamb (Brun Ko only) at the market this season, but this week Bridgewater Farm will also start selling meat. Bridgewater Farm has been selling produce and eggs at the market all season, but starting July 28 Bridgewater will also be selling both chicken and beef. In future weeks, the farm will also offer pork.

Chickens on Bridgewater Farm. Bridgewater Farm will begin selling chicken at Produce in the Park July 28

Produce in the Park customers are reminded that vendors accept a variety of payment methods. All vendors accept cash, and some vendors accept credit and debit cards and Venmo payments. All meat, produce, honey, and jam vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps), and all produce vendors also accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for produce purchased with SNAP/EBT). Brun Ko Farm, Bridgewater Farm, Sue’s Country Garden, Piper’s Brae Farm, and Corn 4 a Cause all accept both senior and WIC farmers market vouchers for produce and honey purchases (as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program).

DETAILS for Produce in the Park July 28:
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
Food Trucks: Pim’s Thai
Product Highlights: Fresh produce (sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, onions, and more!), meats (beef, pork, lamb, and chicken), farm-fresh eggs, honey, popcorn, lemonade, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, fruit crisps, soaps, candles, lotions, art prints, jewelry, greeting cards, plants, lawn decorations, and more!
Fun: Live music, yard games, and more!
Guest Chef: Homemade Hamburger Helper from July sponsor United Church of Christ of Atlantic
Visiting organizations including Cass County Master Gardeners and Nebraska AIDS Project
Free drawing for a dozen eggs sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council. (Anyone age 18+ can enter for free. Winner will be drawn after the market and receive eggs the
following week.
Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit cards, Venmo, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Senior and WIC checks. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The 2022 Cass County Fair begins today (Wednesday), with a couple of judging events and other activities. According to the Fair schedule, 4-H and FFA Static Exhibits Judging takes place from 9-a.m. until 2:30-p.m. The Bucket of Junk Judging is from 10:30-a.m. until 12:30-p.m., and the Clover Kids Showcase runs from 9:00 a.m. until Noon, today. A full slate of activities at the FREE Cass County Fair in Atlantic begins in earnest on Thursday, with: The Horse Show; 4-H & FFA Exhibits opening, and the Food Sale; Thursday night features the Little Miss and Little Mister contest, followed by the King and Queen Contest, and Senior Recognition.

Other activities and events at fair include a Carnival, beginning at Noon (Beginning Thursday); Commercial Booths open (Beginning Friday), from Noon until 9-p.m. through Monday. Don’t forget all the great tasting food! The Foodstand is open Thursday through Monday, from 6:30-a.m. until 10-p.m., and on Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, from 6:30-until 10-a.m.. The Chuckwagon Hours are from 11-a.m. to 10-p.m., Thursday through Monday, and the FFA Foodstand is open Thursday through Monday from 7:30-a.m. until 8-p.m., and from 7:30-a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, until the end of the Livestock Sale.

The Cass County Fair runs through Tuesday, August 2nd. Check out the schedule, below (Please click on the image to enlarge):

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa casinos took in a record amount of money in the fiscal year that just ended — despite a slowdown in the finals months. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko  says pent up demand showed early. “The industry really had a lot of success at the beginning of the fiscal year. So that would have been July through December of 2021. A numbers were still very strong from coming out of the pandemic,” Ohorilko says. Iowa casinos reported one-point-seven-six billion dollars in gross revenue for casino games and slots. “Many of the other entertainment options we saw either closed or had reduced hours, where the casinos in Iowa, for the most part did not. And so the casino industry really was able to kind of fill that gap — and that drove a lot of the revenue,” he says. He says things slowed down in the second part of the fiscal year, especially in this last quarter.

“It will be interesting to kind of keep an eye on what will happen here in the next fiscal year, just based on some of the early signs that we are seeing a slowdown at a number of the facilities across the state,” according to Ohorilko. He says finding enough staff has been a significant problem throughout the casino industry this year and the casinos are doing a number of things to try to counteract that problem. “We’re starting to see some wages increase, we’re seeing a number of the the businesses or other amenities associated with casinos, maybe adjusting some of their hours to maybe be more friendly or favorable for people seeking employment,” according to Ohorilko. ” But it still is a difficult time in terms of finding employees. And so the facilities are starting to figure that out.” Casinos generally see a little downturn this time of year as people are on vacation or doing more outdoor activities.

Ohorilko says the state is also seeing the Nebraska casinos ramping up their operations. “That really will be another thing to monitor closely — will be how does gambling in Nebraska impact the western Iowa casinos? And what do those casinos in western Iowa do to counteract some of that competition?,” he says. He says it appears that Nebraska will have temporary facilities open up relatively soon, or at least in the fall.