While this Friday, or Black Friday, is considered one of the busiest shopping days of the year for big box stores, there’s an effort underway in Iowa and nationwide to brand the following day as Small Business Saturday. Brad Jones, a spokesman for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, says, just as the name suggests, shoppers across the state are urged to visit their hometown businesses. “It’s those small business folks who put the jerseys on the Little League teams and help support the things at the high school and all of the various charity events,” Jones says. “It’s really an opportunity for the general public to thank them.”

Jones says many small businesses plan to offer extra deals for shoppers on Saturday. Those bargains might be greater this year with five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas compared to last year. “I know there’s a lot of small businesses that are going to be offering certain discounts or coupons or things for shopping with them that day,” he says. More than 98-percent of the businesses operating in Iowa are considered small businesses. This event, Jones says, is an effort to reinforce something the federation tries to promote every day.

“Shop local,” he says. “It’s always good. Always support your small business folks because they certainly do support your local community.” The National Federation of Independent Businesses is asking local business owners to contact them via the group’s website with activities and offers for Small Business Saturday. There’s a list of Iowa businesses taking part at: http://www.nfib.com/small-business-saturday

Experts say it’s not just the pay that keeps new doctors from setting up shop in rural Iowa, it’s the pressure of being on their own AND on call at all hours. Bill Lever is president and CEO of Unity Point Health which has hospitals and clinics in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, the Quad Cities, Sioux City and Waterloo. He says most young doctors just starting out want to be around other doctors, rather than starting up a solo practice in a small town.

“Most of them want to be in practice with someone else and they want enough technology — you know, imaging services and so forth — around them, ” Lever says. “So the role that critical access hospitals play, providing that kind of place where physicians feel comfortable, ‘I have the resources necessary,’ — that’s the real key.” Lever says advances in tele-medicine will also help.

“Tele-health will be a great boon to supporting medicine in rural Iowa because we’ll be able to link that primary care physician in rural Iowa to specialists here in Des Moines or other places in the state,” Lever says. “So then you won’t have this feeling: ‘I’m out here. I have this situation I don’t know what to do with.’ (Instead that doctor will say): ‘I have somebody I can consult.'” Lever’s hospital just donated 50-thousand dollars to a foundation raising money for grants that will help pay off the college debt of new doctors who choose to practice in rural Iowa.

“Loan repayment is important to get physicians to see, ‘I can make a career out of medicine without being bankrupt,'” Lever says. “That’s important, but once again in practice, you’ve got to support them in terms of that practice environment.” Being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year isn’t attractive to new doctors, either, and Lever says smaller hospitals in rural areas can provide emergency services so primary care doctors in rural Iowa get some time away from the practice of medicine.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Composer and famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma is coming to eastern Iowa in 2015. The Quad City Symphony Orchestra says Ma will perform with them in a special concert on May 14, 2015, at the Adler Theatre in Davenport. The announcement is part of the orchestra’s preparation to celebrate its 100th season.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City officials say the city has reached a deal for a Florida-based company to buy and renovate a downtown hotel. Conor Acquisitions, of Fort Myers, Fla., would buy the property for $4 million and spend another $6.5 million on renovations. The 193-room hotel, now an independent, would be converted to a national brand.

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) — The murder trial of a Rockwell City man accused of killing a police officer during a standoff has been rescheduled for next year. 32-year-old Corey Trott is charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 13 death of Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie Buenting, an eight-year veteran of the small town’s department. Trott has pleaded not guilty.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man has been accused of multiple disturbances while being intoxicated, including causing a car crash and removing his clothes at a hospital. Police say 23-year-old Matthew D. Roberts crashed a vehicle into a guard rail earlier this week on Interstate 380. Roberts is charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and interference with official acts.

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) — The murder trial of a Rockwell City man accused of killing a police officer during a standoff has been rescheduled for next year. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports 32-year-old Corey Trott recently waived his right to a speedy trial. It is now scheduled to begin April 21 instead of Dec. 3. Trott is charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 13 death of Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie Buenting, an eight-year veteran of the small town’s department. Trott has pleaded not guilty.

Buenting was responding to a standoff involving Trott, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for assault. Trott is accused of firing a rifle that fatally hit Buenting.