(Radio Iowa) – Feeding America’s latest annual study shows that the hunger problem in Iowa is getting worse. Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book says the new “Map the Meal Gap” report covers 2022.

“Twenty-22 is higher, the highest it’s been since 2017, food insecurity in the state of Iowa. But we also know that in addition to what these numbers reflect with 2022 that we’ve seen a 30 percent increase year over year in ’23 and ’24,” Book says. The report shows nearly 11 percent of Iowans and 15 percent of Iowa children aren’t getting enough food.

“Appanoose County is the highest level of food insecurity according to the Map the Meal Gap at nearly 15 percent of the population. Wappello County, where Ottumwa is, comes in a near second at about 14.2% or 5,000 residents in Wappello County being deemed in need of food assistance,” she says. Other counties facing food insecurity issues are Crawford, Lucas, Clarke and Des Moines counties.

Book says Iowa’s wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. “The last thing they spend money on is food at the grocery store, they’ve got to keep a roof over their head. They’ve got to keep an operating vehicle. They’ve got to pay the utilities at the end of the day there’s just not enough money for food,” Book says. The complete report can be found on line at FeedingAmerica.org

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic firefighters were dispatched at around 4:17-p.m, to a garage fire at 1310 Poplar Street. Atlantic Police reported the structure, which is detached from a residence, was fully engulfed in flames. Residents of the home were safely evacuated. A vehicle was said to be inside the garage.

Cass EMS was sent to the scene as a precautionary measure. Cass County EMA Coordinator Mike Kennon was also on the scene.

Additional information was not immediately available.

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF 2545 into law, a bill which improves educational standards and requires teaching on: World War I, World War II, the Holocaust, Cold War, 9/11, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and amendments, the Emancipation proclamation, and more. 

Gov. Reynolds signed the bill at Beit Shalom Jewish Community alongside leaders from around the state and members of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities. Gov. Reynolds released the following quote in response to signing HF 2545:  

“As part of a broader update to our educational standards designed to promote a deeper understanding of both American civics and Western history, this bill specifically requires that students be taught about the Holocaust. It also requires instruction on the broader context of World War II, as well as the significance of ancient Israel.

“At a time when so many young people today fail to learn the lessons of history, this legislation will help to keep Iowa on a different and better path. It will also ensure we provide our students with the foundation necessary to be active participants in our democracy – the best form of government in the world.” 

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), awarded a bid from Hilltop Securities from Dallas, TX, for the sale of $5-million dollars in General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds, Series 2024. Maggie Burger, with Speer Financial, said the last bond offering was in 2022. The interest rate at that time was 2.55%. There were five bidders for the bonds.

Hilltop Securities, she said, offered an interest rate of 3.3620%, which was lower than anticipated, and comes with a premium.

Burger had some great news for the County Board, with regard to the County’s Bond Rating. She said Moody’s Ratings and Investor Services, rated Adair County as Double-A three (AA3).

Moody’s said Adair County is doing well with regard to its fund balance.

She went on to describe more details with regard to the bond.

In other business, the Adair County Supervisors approved an Attorney Engagement Agreement for Commercial & Industrial Development Regulations. County Conservation Director Dominic Johnson updated the Board on equipment and maintenance activities. County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented a Resolution set May 29th at 9:30-a.m., as the date & time for a Public Hearing to vacate a portion of 277th Lane. The proposal includes about 187-feet of the lane, west of Vinton Avenue, in the southeast part of the County, south of Hebron.

And, the Board authorized Chair Jerry Walker to sign the final vouchers for the N24 Prussia (Township) Reinforced Box Culvert (RCB) Project (in the amount of $214,228), as well as the N26 Lincoln (Township) RCB Project (in the amount of $314,704).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – KJAN News Director Ric Hanson, today (May 15, 2024), received recognition from the National Weather Service, for 25-years of service in reporting weather observations. KJAN is the OFFICIAL National Weather Service reporting site for Atlantic. Our records (some of which date back to the 1800’s, and were passed-on from previous Cooperative Observers), have been kept at KJAN since the 1950’s.

A Cooperative Weather Observer gathers information with regard to rainfall, accumulated snow, hail and other weather phenomenon. That information is sent daily to the NWS, and is used other media as a reference point, and for historical data.

Ric Hanson (Left) receives a 25-year Service Award from NWS Observing Program Leader Marvin Percha.

DES MOINES, Iowa (via Dave Price, KCRG Iowa State Capitol Bureau) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s campaign confirmed Tuesday that Governor Kim Reynolds will speak at the 2024 Roast and Ride campaign fundraiser on June 1st. “I’m honored to be joined by Governor Kim Reynolds at Roast and Ride against this year. Kim stands in stark contract to Biden’s liberal, progressive agenda. And under her leadership, Iowa is moving in the right direction,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst’s campaign previously announced that Texas Congressman Wesley Hunt will also serve as a featured speaker at the event.

The annual Roast and Ride begins at the Big Barn Harley-Davidson in Des Moines. It includes a motorcycle ride to the Iowa State Fairgrounds where the campaign hosts a hog roast fundraiser and political speeches. The motorcycle ride costs $20 with proceeds benefiting Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Iowa. There is no charge to attend the speeches at the State Fairgrounds.

The Roast and Ride has become a popular stop for Republicans considering a presidential run. Last year more than 1,000 people gathered to hear from eight presidential candidates ahead of the Iowa Caucuses. Former president Donald Trump skipped the event.

(Radio Iowa) – The chair of the Federal Reserve says interest rates will hold steady for now. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says his survey of manufacturers showed improvement in the economy, but things have still not improved enough to lower rates. “I think there’s still more inflationary pressures in surveys out there, including ours, that indicate that inflation while coming down significantly is still above what the Fed is comfortable with,” Goss says. There had been expectations of three rate cuts, that dropped to two, and now Goss says it will probably drop again.

“I think we’ll probably move to one rate cut which will probably come in July or later on in the third quarter,” Goss says. Goss believes investors took the idea that the Fed would lower interest rates more positively than they should have.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will create a new, merged system to provide mental health services and substance use treatment to Iowans. “To build a system to change lives for the better,” Reynolds says. The state currently has 13 regions to provide mental health treatment and another 19 regions to serve people with substance use disorders. “The result is duplicative and inconsistent programs statewide, an inefficient system and — worst of all — poor outcomes,” Reynolds says, “and we can do better for Iowans in need and we are. We will.” Seven Behavioral Health Districts will be established.

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia says they’re working on the timeline to complete the merger by mid-2025. “For the first time we will have an intentionally planned system that includes, in statute, prevention, treatment and recovery,” Garcia says.

Governor Reynolds signed the bill creates seven behavioral health regions into law in Cedar Rapids at Foundation 2 Crisis Servies. (RI photo)

Reynolds signed the bill at Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids. Emily Bloome, the C-E-O of the organization, says the merger is a step in the right direction.  “To help individuals achieve stability and remain mentally well,” Bloome says.

The law gives the state authority to manage the unified system and state officials may choose a public or a private agency to lead each of the seven districts.

(Radio Iowa) – Red Lobster shut down more than 50 of its restaurants and is putting them up for auction, and the auctions are billed as containing “the entire contents” of the closed eateries. TAGeX Brands, a company that helps firms with closures and liquidations, says all of the auctions are now live. Included among the Red Lobsters which closed are those in Council Bluffs and Waterloo.

The auctions come after the chain announced last month it was considering filing for bankruptcy. The chain still has Iowa locations in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Davenport, Des Moines and Sioux City.