(Radio Iowa) – Economic growth slowed in Iowa and in the Midwest during August, according to the latest survey of supply managers in the nine states. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says while the numbers slipped on the Business Conditions Index at the state and regional levels, both remained above growth neutral for the 27th straight month. Still, he says the forecast remains cloudy.

Hiring during August dropped compared to July, while inflation rates remain punishingly high. Goss says they asked supply managers to identify the biggest challenges moving forward in 2022.

Supply chain issues are continuing to disrupt the flow of goods, and while gasoline prices have dropped, prices for groceries and most other goods and services remain very high.

The survey finds durable goods manufacturers in Iowa, including metal producers, are reporting solid growth, while Goss says non-durable goods producers, including food processors, reported healthy expansions. Looking ahead six months, economic optimism increased to a very weak 32.2 from 26.8 in July, that’s on a scale of zero to 100. Goss says confidence levels for 2022 are the worst since the 2008-09 recession.

September 2, 2022 (DES MOINES) – At their meeting held Thursday, in Des Moines, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants totaling $775,000 to a pool project in Akron and a gymnasium expansion in Audubon.

The details for the projects receiving CAT grants are as follows:

Project Name: Audubon Recreation Foundation Gymnasium Expansion, Audubon
Total Project Cost: $1,964,682
Amount Awarded: $390,000
Project Description: An expansion to the existing Audubon Recreation Center will house two basketball and volleyball courts, a two-lane walking track and spectator seating. Additionally, the current basketball area will be repurposed into a fitness and weightlifting equipment area.

Project Name: Akron Family Aquatic Center, Akron
Total Project Cost: $3,200,720
Amount Awarded: $385,000
Project Description: The construction of a zero-depth entry and ADA compliant aquatic center will include six in-pool and deck shade umbrellas, multiple spray structures, two slides, a one-meter diving board, a new pump house and renovation of the existing bathhouse and concession building.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 101 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $32,283,183. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2022.

(Des Moines, Iowa) The Iowa Department Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the first case of West Nile virus infection reported in 2022, in a middle age adult (aged 41-60 years) from Buena Vista County. The case was confirmed through a test at the State Hygienic Lab.

Humans get infected with West Nile virus through a mosquito bite and being outside means there’s a risk for West Nile virus infection. But we have easily accessible preventive tools like insect repellent, that can help keep Iowans safe from mosquito bites, which lowers the risk of West Nile infection.

With Labor Day activities on the horizon, HHS reminds all Iowans take the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

• Use insect repellent with DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone or IR3535.

• Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children.
• For example, oil of lemon eucalyptus and Para-menthane-diol should not be used on children under 3 years of age and DEET should not be used on children less than 2 months of age.

• If possible, avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks outdoors whenever possible.
• Eliminate standing water around the home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs. Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes. Change water in bird baths every three to four days.

In 2021, 6 Iowans were diagnosed with West Nile virus, with zero deaths. For more information on West Nile virus, visit https://www.idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus.

The Creston Police Department has released information on 6 recent arrests.

On Wednesday, August 31st Creston Police arrested 44-year-old Dennis Gerald Tyler of Creston at 7:37 p.m. on West Montgomery Street. Tyler was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and held on no bond in the Union County Jail until seen by a Judge.

Also on Wednesday, August 31st at 8:09 p.m. Officers arrested 34-year-old Tahara Renee Johnston of Denison on West Montgomery Street for Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense. Johnston later posted bail at the Union County Jail.

On Friday, September 2nd at 12:52 a.m. Creston Police arrested 55-year-old David Scott Miller of Creston on a charge of Driving While Barred. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted $1,300 bond.

Three people were arrested early Friday morning at 802 North Cherry Street in Creston. At 2:27 a.m. Creston Police arrested 41-year-old Christopher Julian Bell, 33-year-old Natasha Ann Campbell, and 30-year-old Richie Rodriguez all of Creston. All three were charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana 1st Offense. All three were taken to the Union County Jail and posted $1,300 bond each.

(Radio Iowa) – The last travel weekend of the summer season is before us as Iowans venture off for the Labor Day holiday. State Trooper Paul Gardner, based in Fort Dodge, says the Iowa State Patrol has launched a campaign it’s calling, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

He says Labor Day has proven to be a deadly holiday in Iowa in recent years.

State troopers will be monitoring the fans attending the opening weekend college football games in Ames and Iowa City — and they’ll be fanned out along all of the interstates.

Call 5-1-1 before departing on a long trip to get updates on road construction, major accidents and other potential slowdowns, or log on to: 5-1-1-i-a-dot-org.

(Radio Iowa) – Keokuk’s hospital will close October 1st. Quincy, Illinois-based Blessing Health Systems bought the hospital in March of last year from UnityPoint Health. The Keokuk hospital needs millions of dollars in repairs and it averages just two inpatients per day and less than one emergency visit per hour.

The hospital’s 147 employees will continue to be paid until November 4th, some working on site and others on administrative leave. They’ll be offered jobs in other Blessing Health facilities.

The hospital has 49 in-patient beds and has been operating a round the clock emergency room. Blessing Health plans to put the building up for sale.

(Radio Iowa) – The grounds of the Farm Progress Show near Boone are quiet today (Friday) after three days of demonstrations, machinery displays and everything about agriculture. The 2020 show was canceled by the pandemic making it the first time in four years that the exhibitors and visitors came to Boone Show spokesperson, Don Tormey, who says attendance numbers appeared to be good.

The show rotates between Boone and Dekalb, Illinois every other year. Tormey says people turn out in both places.

Tormey says they are already planning the next Farm Progress Show in Decatur next year and the show returns to Iowa again in 2024.

(Radio Iowa) – Police are investigating the theft of vehicles and thousands of dollars worth of pork from the J-B-S plant in Ottumwa.  Lieutenant Jason Bell says the Ottumwa Police Department received a call around 7:00 Thursday morning regarding three semi-trailers full of pork products that were stolen from the JBS plant. Bell believes a semi was also taken from the plant and used to carry off the three trailers. Authorities later found the missing trailers but the pork inside was removed.

The estimated value of the pilfered pork is $100,000. Officials are encouraging anyone with information pertaining to the case to contact the police department.

(Radio Iowa) – The first set of residents with profound intellectual disabilities moved out of the state-run Glenwood Resource Center last week. The facility, where over 150 adults were living this spring, is scheduled to close in 2024. Iowa Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia says 27 community providers have stepped forward as options for Glenwood residents.

Providers have been meeting on the Glenwood campus with the legal guardians for residents to discuss their options for care elsewhere. The state will host another “provider fair” at the state-run Woodward Resource Center this fall.

Garcia says decisions need to be made, to ensure residents get the care and services they need when they leave the facility. Glenwood’s closure follows a federal investigation of allegations that residents were being mistreated and were not getting adequate medical care. The Department of Justice concluded that with the right support services, nearly all residents could live in community-based settings. Garcia says very few Glenwood residents will be transferred to nursing homes.

Garcia is now the director of an expanded agency, renamed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Plans are underway to fold the Department on Aging into the agency. And the state is hiring a Califoria company to join two other private firms managing Iowa Medicaid, which Garcia says now provides health care services for one-third of the state’s residents.

Garcia made her comments during an interview with Radio Iowa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Post Office Customer Service Supervisor Mark McNees has issued a warning about a package tracking text scam that has hit multiple text users. It’s called “Smishing.” You are likely to receive an unsolicited text message with an unfamiliar or strange web link that indicates a USPS delivery requires a response from you. If you have never signed-up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, McNees says “Don’t click that link!”

This type of text message is a scam called “Smishing”, which is a form of phishing that is intended to get you to provide your personal or financial information. The scammers often attempt to disguise themselves as a government agency, bank or other company, to lend legitimacy to their claims. The criminals want to receive personally identifiable information (PFI) about the victim (Message recipient), such as: account user names and passwords; Social Security Number; Date of birth; PIN number (personal identification number); or other sensitive information. That information is then used to carry out other crimes, such as financial fraud. 

The Postal Service offers tools to track specific packages, but customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. USPS will NOT send customers at text message or e-mail without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and the message WILL NOT contain a link. If you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS, and it contains a link, don’t click on the link!

For more information about these services and other products, please visit USPS Text Tracking FAQS at https://www.usps.com/text-tracking/welcome.htm.    To protect yourself from consumer frauds, visit https://www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-fraud

And, to report USPS related SMISHING, e-mail spam@usps.gov.  Without clicking on the web link you received, copy the body of the suspicious text message and paste into a new email. Provide your name in the email, and attach a screenshot of the text message showing the phone number of the sender and the date sent. Include any relevant details in your email, such as if you clicked on the link, of you lost money, if you provided any personal information, or if you experienced any impacts to your credit or person. The Postal Service will contact you if more information is needed.

Complains about Non-USPS related smishing can be sent to any of the following law enforcement partners of the U.S Postal Inspection Service:

The Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, at https://www.ic3.gov/complaint