(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate have agreed to reduce the maximum duration of state unemployment benefits by about 39 percent. In January, Governor Kim Reynolds called on lawmakers to make the cut from 26 to 16 weeks — along with a one-week delay in delivering a person’s first unemployment check. Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig says he and other Senate Republicans supported that one-week delay, but House Republicans would only vote to cut the number of weeks a person is eligible for unemployment.

“You take the vast amount of win that you can,” Schultz says. “You don’t always get everything that you want and we just decided that we would let the House have this one.” Businesses pay a per employee tax into a state trust fund that pays out unemployment benefits. Schultz says the reduction in how long someone may receive unemployment benefits should lead to a cut in that tax rate and leave businesses with more money to pay workers and hire new ones.

“Iowans who are unemployed, I believe they’re going to get into a job faster,” Schultz says. “The closer you are to the job market, from just being recently laid off, the more employable you are, with the mindset to get back into the workforce.” Laid off workers in most states are eligible for up to 26 weeks of unemployment compensation. The governor is indicating she’ll sign the bill to have Iowa join nine other states that offer a shorter duration in jobless benefits. The legislation also requires unemployed workers to more quickly accept a job offer that pays less — or lose benefits altogether.

“I just think we need to be doing everything we can to encourage people to stay in the workforce and stay in the game,” Reynolds says, “and so we’re going to look at everything we can to bolster that.” Democrats say Iowa’s Republican-controlled government is stooping to a new low that treats workers like public enemies and takes away earned unemployment benefits from those who lose a job through no fault of their own.

(Radio Iowa) – Meals from the Heartland has sponsored a “Unite for Ukraine” event to produce an estimated 300-thousand packaged meals. Several legislators, the governor and her staff and other members of the general public took shifts at HyVee’s conference center in West Des Moines over the past two days, standing along assembly lines to scoop up ingredients into bags. Meals from the Heartland executive director Greg DeHaai says hundreds of volunteers joined the effort.

“As you may heard, recently it’s been reported as many as five million Ukrainians have fled the country. This is about equivalent to the states of Nebraska and Iowa having their people flee those states,” he says, “not to mention the people in the country of Ukraine impacted by the ability to have their basic needs met.” After the war started, DeHaai says his organization started getting questions about how to help Ukraine, but couldn’t figure out the logistics.

“Fortunately, prayers were answered when Governor Reynolds and her staff were able to arrange for the air cargo freight of 24 pallats through the Ukrainian Consolate in Chicago,” DeHaair says. “I’m also happy to anounce that Fort Dodge based Decker (Truck Line) will be transporting the meals…at their expense to Chicago…They’ll be flown into Poland and into Ukraine on May 7.” HyVee donated 50-thousand dollars to cover the cost of the ingredients for “Taco Mac” and “Hearty Pack” meals.

“Taco Mac is a taco-flavored mac and cheese. It ‘s fortified with vitamins and soy protein,” DeHaair says, “and then our Hearty Pack is a rice-based meal that has vitamins and soy protein and dehydrated vegetables in it.” DeHaai spoke at a news conference yesterday (Tuesday) — you can hear the scooping in the background as volunteers filled the meal bags. Each box of 36 meal bags includes a note of encouragement, from Iowa to Ukraine.

(Radio Iowa) – This is Soil and Water Conservation Week in Iowa, with the theme this year, “Healthy Soil, Healthy Life.” Lynn Knutson is with the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation Service.  “Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation work that has been placed on the Iowa landscape,” Knutson says, “and bring attention to the ongoing work by farmers, landowners and residents to protect the state’s soil and water resources.”

Knutson says there are all sorts of services being offered to Iowans to help them conserve our soil and water. “Farmers can apply to receive some cost-share funding for things like cover crops, strip till, no till, grass waterways, buffer strips,” he says. “The USDA actually approves the work orders that meets the standards and then us as commissioners approve the work that meets the priorities for our county that have been set.”

There are soil and water conservation offices in all 99 Iowa counties. Iowa leads the nation in the continuous conservation reserve program buffer initiative with more than 600,000 acres. Statewide, there are more than 60 active watershed and water quality projects.

Des Moines, Iowa – Seventy Iowa students took top honors at the State Historical Society of Iowa’s state history contest Monday and will represent Iowa at the National History Day national contest in June.

The 70 students emerged from a total of 474 competitors in the National History Day in Iowa state contest at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The state winners now advance to the national contest, where they will compete virtually against nearly 3,000 students from the United States and around the world.

“National History Day is a wonderful program that gives students an opportunity to learn about history and develop skills that will last a lifetime,” said Susan Kloewer, administrator of the State Historical Society of Iowa. “We congratulate our state winners and wish them well as they represent Iowa at the national contest.”

This year’s national qualifiers include students from 24 different schools:

• Abraham Lincoln High School
• Akron-Westfield Middle School
• Akron-Westfield Senior High School
• Bettendorf Middle School
• Carroll Middle School
• Clarinda High School
• Gerald W. Kirn Middle School
• Harding Middle School
• Johnston Middle School
• Johnston Senior High School
• Le Mars High School
• Le Mars Middle School
• Marshalltown High School
• Nashua-Plainfield Junior-Senior High School
• Nevada Middle School
• North Scott Senior High School
• Okoboji High School
• Oskaloosa Christian School
• Prairieview School
• Southeast Valley High School
• St. Benedict School
• Storm Lake High School
• Sudlow Intermediate
• Unity Christian High School

National History Day is a year-long academic program that challenges students to research, develop and present papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites and performances about historical topics related to an annual theme. This year’s theme is “Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences.”

More than half a million middle and high school students around the world participate in the program each year. In Iowa, thousands of students participated in the program, which includes a Junior Division (grades 6-8), Senior Division (grades 9-12), and a non-competitive Youth Division (grades 4-5).

“National History Day in Iowa is one of the strongest programs of its kind in the country,” said the new state coordinator, Hanna Howard, who worked at Living History Farms before joining the State Historical Society of Iowa staff earlier this month. “Over the years, National History Day in Iowa has inspired a generation of young Iowans to pursue further studies and even careers in history, and I look forward to building upon that success.”

As part of the program, students learn important literacy skills and how to conduct research using primary, secondary, community and statewide resources. Working individually or in groups of two to five, they develop the following attributes that are essential for future success:

• critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• research and reading skills
• oral and written communication skills
• presentation skills
• self-esteem and confidence
• a sense of responsibility for and involvement in the democratic process

The National History Day in Iowa program has been coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, since 1994 and is sponsored by the State Historical Society, Inc., A More Perfect Union by the National Endowment for the Humanities and Bravo Greater Des Moines.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Harlan Police Department report two arrests over the weekend. On Sunday, 38-year-old Ronald Anthony Leal, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Leal was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated and interference with official acts.

And, on Saturday (April 23), 28-year-old Gunnar Michael Blum, of Kimballton, was arrested on active Audubon County warrants.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police said Tuesday (Today), the intersection of 6^th Street and Sunnyside Lane has been temporarily made into a four-way stop intersection due to increased traffic in the area from the bridge repair on the Iowa 83 bridge over the East Nishnabotna River.

The Atlantic Police Department has worked in conjunction with the Iowa DOT and Atlantic Street Department in making this decision. These traffic control signs will remain in place throughout the duration of the bridge repair project.

Google maps

The Atlantic Police Department is urging drivers to follow the DOT designated detour route that utilizes Glacier Road, Echo Road, 620^th Street, Olive Street, U.S. 6 and Iowa 83. Permitted oversize loads are prohibited. A 12-foot lane width limit will be in effect. There will be increased traffic enforcement in this area and drivers found driving on roadways that are not rated for their vehicles may be cited/fined.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), said Deputies on Monday arrested 55-year-old Jeffrey Allen Rowland, of Omaha, NE, on a Cass County, IA warrant for various counts of Theft, Forgery, Unauthorized Use of Credit Card and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.  Rowland was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

And, on Sunday, Deputies arrested 37-year-old Robert Lawrence Tisdale, of Atlantic, on Cass County, IA warrants for narcotics related offenses.  Tisdale was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested on drug charges over the past week. At around 1:35-a.m. Sunday, 38-year-old Adrian Lonell Beverly, and 29-year-old La-Quetta Renee Flood-Drummond, both of Omaha, were arrested at Highway 34 and 195th Street, for two counts Possession of a Controlled Substance and two counts of a Drug Tax Stamp Violation ($12,000 bond each). And, at around 5:35-p.m. on April 20th, 33-year-old Charles Alezander Nelson, of Omaha, was arrested at Highway 34/284th Street, for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. ($1,000 bond).

Late Sunday morning, Thomas Oscar Anderson, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Mills County Courthouse, for Disorderly Conduct ($300 bond). On April 21st, 30-year-old Jayce Danielle Hale, of Red Oak, was arrested at 370th St/Highway 34, for Driving Under Suspension ($300 bond). And, 39-year-old Michelle Lee Szymarek, of Omaha, was arrested at the Douglas County, NE Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. ($10,000 bond).

(Radio Iowa) – Former Newton assistant football coach pleads guilty to federal wire fraud for a mortgage scheme. According to the indictment, Ryan Arguello started a business by buying properties at a discount, fixing them and then selling at a profit. The indictment further states that Arguello offered mortgages on property he did not own for collateral on loans and received more than 600-thousand dollars in loans from individuals. Most of the money was wired to him from out of state.

(Radio Iowa) –  The Iowa legislature has approved a bill that is estimated to require that the majority of Iowa gas stations sell gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol blend. Governor Kim Reynolds was speaking with reporters in West Des Moines when she learned the vote tally in the Senate.

The governor initially proposed an Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard last year. An adjusted plan passed passed the House this February. This week, Senators made changes that are expected to let an estimated 30 percent of smaller gas stations opt out of the requirement to sell E-15. Senator Waylon Brown, a Republican from Osage, says it’s a way to push back against the oil industry and federal regulators who’ve resisted using ethanol as a gasoline additive.

“This does tell the state, it tells the nation, it tells our region that E15 is important in Iowa and we are going to be the leader in the E15 market,” Brown says, “in production and in selling it.” Republican Senator Dennis Guth, a farmer from Klemme, says the mandate violates the principles of free enterprise. “I do support E15 in every way that I can,” Guth said, “but I don’t think it’s the government’s job to use their big club to make things happen.” Senator Todd Taylor, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the bill will be an economist boost for rural and urban Iowa.

“It’ll help with clean air and clean energy,” Taylor says, “and renewables for the future are what we need for growing our economy, creating jobs and sustainable jobs.” Republican Senator Adrian Dickey of Packwood, who has owned fuel stores, voted for the bill, but Dickey says retailers who install new systems to pump higher blends of ethanol will make zero profits from that investment.

“I think when we get done with this bill we should pass another bill that’s a ‘Green Tractor Mandate,'” Dickey said. “…We should mandate that every farmer uses a green tractor, a green planter, a green combine to put their crop in and take their crop out and the first response would be: ‘Well, I’m not going to make any more money doing that. I’m not going to have any more yield doing that.’ Well, exactly. It’s the same scenario, but ‘Green Tractors’ are good for Iowa. We make ’em and we sell ’em in Iowa.”

The House approved Senate adjustments in the plan early this (Tuesday) afternoon and sent the bill to the governor on an 81-to-13 vote.