(Radio Iowa) – State climatologist Justin Glisan says November numbers were unremarkable except for a little bump up in precipitation. “A little over two inches for the statewide average — and that’s almost three-tenths of an inch above average. So, the first month of the fall season in which we had above average precipitation for the state,” Glisan says. He says the temperature was right in line with the average.

“Overall if we look at temperatures right at 37 degrees that average temperature, so the daytime high overnight low add them together and divide by two, so right on the button in terms of climatology,” he says. Glisan says the short-term forecast for December is mixed.

“As we move into December and January — the two coldest and driest months of the year — when we look at the outlook for six to ten and eight to 14 days — we do see an elevated signal for colder temperatures and then near normal precipitation, so at least to the first half of the month,” according to Glisan. The longer-term forecast doesn’t signal a lot of snowfall.

“Elevated probabilities of colder and drier conditions for the state. So, that suggests less snowfall. Now we’re still stuck in that La Nina phase which dictates where the storm tracks that’s up over the United States,” Glisan says. “So we are seeing basically a classic line in your signature on the precipitation front and what you see a bullseye of above average precipitation in the Ohio Valley in the Pacific Northwest, but that dry signal is showing up for the state of Iowa.” He says the forecast now for later in the winter shows a shift from LaNina to a more neutral position.

“Right in between La Nina and El Nino as we get into the February, March April timeframe. So we’re seeing a shift in the probability of what are the normal conditions across the eastern half of Iowa, and an equal chance of above below, or near average in western Iowa,” Glisan says. Today marks the beginning of the meteorological winter in the northern hemisphere.

(Radio Iowa) – The economy usually perks up with year-end holiday shopping, but there are few signs of optimism heading into December in the latest survey of business leaders in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says for the first time in recent years, the region’s overall index — or business barometer — plummeted below growth neutral, and it’s now fallen six of the past eight months.

“The Mid-American economy, at least according to the November survey, is not good at all,” Goss says. “It dropped to 48.0 which is the lowest reading we’ve recorded since the early days of the pandemic. That would be in May of 2020, right after the pandemic began, so this was not a good reading.” The individual business barometer for Iowa fell even farther during November. On the zero to 100 scale, where 50 is growth neutral, Iowa dropped two full points, from 49.8 in October to 47.8 in November. In the Creighton survey, supply managers in Iowa and the eight other states were asked about the biggest threats they see looming for the rest of 2022 and into 2023.

“Number one, by far, was higher input prices, so inflation is still rearing its ugly head out there, according to supply managers,” Goss says., “Number two was recession, that’s first time we’ve recorded that in some time. Supply chain disruptions came in number three, and then labor shortages, which is a big issue in this part of the country, and then higher interest rates.” While labor shortages ranked fourth out of five on that list, the survey finds employers across the region are still having significant trouble finding qualified workers to fill vacancies.

“Sixty-five percent of the supply managers are reporting shortage of applicants out there, so they have job openings and not many are coming in to fill those positions,” Goss says. “Regional employment is still down from pre-pandemic levels, that was being February of 2020. We’re off 32,000 workers across the nine states.” There were a few bright spots. Goss says the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows in the past 12 months, private wages of all workers in Iowa expanded by a little over five-percent, while manufacturing wages climbed by almost eight-percent.

(Mount Ayr, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Ringgold County report a man from Kellerton was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for assault. Authorities say Tyler Lee Brammer faces a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault by Impeding the flow or air and/or blood. He was booked into the Ringgold County Jail.

Tyler Lee Brammer (Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office photo)

(Radio Iowa) – Most of Iowa’s 2022 General Election results have been officially certified. According to a news release from the Secretary of State’s office, the governor and other elected officials who serve as the Iowa State Board of Canvassers have met by phone and signed off on nearly all the results county officials certified in November. There are still recounts happening in Linn and Scott Counties in races for seats in the Iowa House, however, and the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors has not yet met to certify their county’s results. More than one-point-two-MILLION Iowans voted in this year’s General Election. That’s the second highest turnout for an election held when there’s no presidential contest at the top of the ballot.

Sixty-four percent of voters in Winnebago County cast ballots in the General Election. That’s the highest turnout in any county. Seventeen other counties saw voter turnout top 60 percent. According to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, 55 percent of all registered voters participated in this year’s election. Among the other counties that surpassed 60% total voter turnout was Dallas, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, and Ringgold, in our listening area.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans serving in the U.S. House have voted for a tentative agreement to prevent a railroad strike next week, but Congresswoman Cindy Axne was the only Iowan to vote to force the railroads to give workers paid sick days. Democrat Cindy Axne, along with Republicans Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire, Randy Feenstra of Hull and Ashley Hinson of Marion, all voted to impose the railroad deal negotiated at the White House in September. Hinson says a railroad strike would cripple the economy and she blamed President Biden for helping to broker a deal that four of 12 unions rejected. In a separate vote, Hinson, Miller-Meeks and Feenstra all opposed adding seven days of sick leave a year onto the contracts for rail workers — something the unions were seeking. Axne, the lone Democrat in Iowa’s delegation, says all workers deserve basic rights like paid sick days. Axne says she hopes outspoken Senate Republicans follow through and add sick days to the tentative agreement.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has said a railroad strike would be devastating and congress must act to prevent it, but Grassley has not indicated whether he supports adding sick leave to the labor deal. Joni Ernst, Iowa’s other Republican senator, has not announced how she intends to vote. A senate vote is expected sometime today (Thursday). Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, has said he will not vote for an agreement that does not include sick days.

DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today (Thursday) announced a total of nearly $20 million in investments to advance homeownership opportunities for more than 90 families through the development and rehabilitation of single-family homes and down payment assistance initiatives in dozens of Iowa communities. The grants were awarded to 16 organizations, including 12 Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the state to assist in meeting local housing needs.  Among the grant recipients is Iowa Habitat for Humanity, serving parts of southern Iowa, including Creston ($1,023,014 for six housing units), and, the Region 12 Council of Governments, serving 13 western Iowa communities, among them is: Audubon; Carroll; Denison; Adel; Sac City, Guthrie Center; De Soto and Redfield. The Region 12 COG received a grant amounting to $850,000, for five housing units.

Governor Reynolds says “We know that homeownership is the leading driver of wealth creation.  The investments announced today will not only assist many Iowan families in opening the door to homeownership, upward economic mobility and the ability to live in the communities where they work.”  Lisa Houser, Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity of Iowa, said “The awards made to Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the state will fuel a historic and transformational investment into sustainable homeownership opportunities for Iowans. Habitat for Humanity of Iowa commends Gov. Reynolds’ commitment and leadership in advancing housing opportunities for Iowans.”

Examples of projects awarded funds include: 

• The construction of 69 single-family homes by Habitat for Humanity affiliates to be sold to income eligible families in communities throughout the state.  
• The development of six 3-D printed homes for first-time homebuyers in Muscatine with a specific focus on qualified first-time homebuyer teachers. 

The program had $20 million available for awards and received 24 applications requesting more than $30 million in funding.  The Iowa HOME Grant Program was created as a part of Gov. Reynolds’ $100 million investment to increase the supply of housing options and protect and expand housing opportunities for Iowans to live in or near the communities where they work. The funds are made available through Federal American Rescue Act State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds. 

December 1:

• Thatcher Hillyard of Cumberland (winner)
• Andi Riesgaard of Brayton
• Char Jesperson of Exira

Davenport, IA – A 26-year-old man from Davenport was sentenced Wednesday to nearly three and one-half years in prison, for bank robbery. Rayontrez Demar Brown will serve 41 months. He was also ordered to pay $26,399 in restitution. Following his imprisonment, Brown was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

In January and February 2022, there were a series of bank robberies in Davenport. With the assistance of surveillance video and thorough investigative techniques, law enforcement identified Brown as the suspect. On January 14, 2022, Brown entered a Great Southern Bank and jumped over the counter, demanding that tellers give him all the money. On January 21, 2022, Brown entered the Family Credit Union on West Kimberly Road, jumped over the counter and demanded the tellers give him all the money. Finally, on February 2, 2022, Brown robbed a third bank, the Family Credit Union on Rockingham Road, again demanding that tellers give him all the money. In total, Brown stole $26,399. Law enforcement recovered $9,315 in Brown’s residence and on his person at the time of his arrest.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Davenport Police Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Here’s a reminder from the Montgomery County Extension Service: With the weather getting colder and heating bills going up, LIHEAP can help. The program assists eligible households with bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs. Applications are being accepted through April 30, 2023. The maximum income for a one-person household is $25,760, and $53,000 for a four-person household. You can apply at your local community action agency.

You can find yours by visiting, https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/where-apply