DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds today (Tuesday) awarded 35 projects with $2.26 million in state grants to launch valuable youth internships across Iowa this summer. Future Ready Iowa’s Summer Youth Internship Program grants are being awarded for the fourth consecutive year to help youth gain access to meaningful work experience while exploring and preparing for high-demand careers. The grants will directly support efforts to increase the career opportunities available for Iowa’s youth, including in areas with at-risk or under-represented communities.

Among the grant awardees in our area, is:

Iowa Jag, Inc. – Des Moines, Mason City, Atlantic, Red Oak, Cedar Rapids, Davenport/Quad Cities, Dubuque, and Ottumwa
Award: $50,000 Number of Participants Served: 15
iJAG believes people are more powerful than circumstances and tapping into that power at key crossroads – teaching Iowa youth to find it and use it – can change the trajectory of their lives. iJAG provides mentoring, academic tutoring, job training, and placement for underserved youth; activities which improve graduation rates, help students access living-wage employment, and establish long-term self-sufficiency. Through this project, iJAG will partner with at least five employers to provide a total of 15+ students a summer internship in a high demand field during the summer of 2022. Students will receive paid work experience, on-the-job training, and wraparound support that removes barriers to successful participation.

Avenue Scholars Iowa – Serving Audubon, Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Crescent, Council Bluffs, Farragut, Glenwood, Hancock, Harlan, Henderson, Imogene, Macedonia, Malvern, McClelland, Minden, Mineola, Missouri Valley, Neola, Northboro, Oakland, Pacific Junction, Persia, Portsmouth, Shelby, Shenandoah, Silver City, Tabor, Treynor, Underwood, and Walnut
Award: $50,000 Number of Participants Served: 85;  CEV operates a summer internship program for low-income, first generation, oftentimes at-risk youth students. These students face extenuating circumstances and the internship program provides students access to paid, eight-to-ten-week internships in high demand, high wage careers, affording the students exposure and experience they otherwise would not have. The program also provides economic and workforce development for Southwest Iowa.

Energy Association of Iowa Schools – Clinton, College Springs, Anita, Massena, Carson, Oakland, Eddyville, Blakesburg, Fremont, Greenfield, and Fontanelle.
Award: $70,750 Number of Participants Served: 20; Energy Association of Iowa Schools will partner with seven school districts across Iowa to offer the Summer Building Operator Pathway Bridge Internship program for 20 students. The paid internships will provide hands-on work experience in the high demand career of building and plant operators. This project will provide
continuity for students who have been working in dual credit programs and will invite new students to participate with an opportunity to earn a national Building Operator Pathway Level 1 Training Certificate.

Generativity dba The Lakeside Village – Panora; Award: $136,000 Number of Participants Served: 21.
The Lakeside Legacy Youth Internship program is equipped to host 15 2022 Youth interns and 6 2021 Legacy Interns during the summer of 2022. Interns will be provided eight weeks of on-the-job training as well as complete a certification in their field. High demand careers including managerial/marketing, nursing, dietary manager, activities manager, and maintenance manager in the long-term care profession will be included. Internships would include offering education to the students in CPR, Mandatory Reporter, ServSafe, CNA, OSHA General Industry 10-hr, Jaybird Sales Academy and Dementia Training 8-hr. 2021 Legacy Interns will be directly involved in mentorship, study sessions, and are offered the opportunity to advance training including Advanced CNA, Assisted Living Administrator Certificate, or certificate programs previously not obtained. Working with local guidance counselors at surrounding community high schools, as well as local community referral sources, we will locate 15 qualified candidates ages 14-19 for internship programming. Qualified candidates are youth that are at risk of not graduating, those from low-income households, minorities, children of veterans, and those with barriers to upward mobility in the labor market.

Midwest Partnership Economic Development Corporation – Stuart, Panora, Greenfield, Guthrie Center, and Adair.
Award: $116,255 Number of Participants Served: 17
Midwest Partnership created a plan where 13 employers are collectively offering a total of 17 internships across two rural counties. Working with area schools, the internships will be provided to students who are at risk of not graduating from high school, represent minorities, and/or are from low-income households. Many interns will be placed at micro businesses (under 10 employees) and will be involved in a wide range of business processes. All interns will take a course in savings and investment basics which will complement the financial literacy course requirement for high school graduation. Businesses participating include occupations in health care, engineering, agriculture, welding, carpentry, CNC, and more.

St. Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home – Carroll
Award: $22,550 Number of Participants Served: 6
Interns will participate in weekly workshops, staff mentorship, and a hybrid curriculum involving online, observation, and hands-on training. Each participant will have a weekly one-on-one debriefing with the project coordinator to identify barriers to success and troubleshoot issues. The curriculum will be centered around healthcare employability skills, healthcare career readiness, and career-specific experience and training.

Across the state, a total of $2,255,441 will be distributed to fund internships for an estimated 659 students from 85 Iowa communities. This year’s awardees included employers, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations whose programs are set to provide opportunities in a wide number of fields. Among the awardees are organizations targeting high school youth who otherwise would face barriers to entering the labor market.

A portion of the funding is being made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s concerned that the military would consider decommissioning the U-S-S Sioux City, which joined the Navy fleet just three years ago. “It’s not just because it’s (the USS) Sioux City that I’m concerned about it, although that gives me a parochial reason for being concerned about it,” Grassley says, “but this is a ship that was just built.”

The Navy is asking congress to approve decommissioning 24 ships over the next five years, to save three-point-six BILLION dollars. The list includes the U-S-S Sioux City and seven other combat ships in the Navy’s Freedom Class. “What’s the Navy doing mothballing ships that are only four or five years old? Doesn’t it say something about their looking to the future, the needs of the Navy, and now all of a sudden a whole group of cruisers are not needed anymore? That’s what bothers me,” Grassley says. “It’s not just because of Sioux City.”

USS Sioux City (Navy photo_

Pentagon officials say the U-S-S Sioux City is among ships that need a costly repair to its propulsion system and six new ships will be delivered with a revamped design to address the flaw. Grassley, a Republican, says this case makes him question the Navy’s budget decisions. “The irresponsible handling of money for cruisers like the Sioux City would say to me the Navy’s not up to handling the taxpayers’ dollars efficiently and effectively and responsibly,” Grassley says.

Iowa’s other U.S. Senator, Republican Joni Ernst, spoke at the christening ceremony for the U-S-S Sioux City in 2018. Ernst says now is not the time to flatten the size of the defense budget, as America’s enemies are on the march and the world has become a much more dangerous place. Ernst says the Biden Administration’s budget puts the sizes of our Navy and Air Force far short of where they need to be and reflects what Ernst calls “appeasement” to an emboldened Putin in Russia.

[*UPDATED] (Greenfield, Iowa) – A woman charged in a March 6, 2018 fatal crash in Adair County was sentenced Monday in Adair County District Court, to serve an indeterminate term not to exceed five-years, on a Class-D Felony charge of Involuntary Manslaughter. The charge against 38-year-old Serena Marie Sims, of Williamsburg, VA, was reduced from a Class B Felony Homicide by Vehicle charge. Sims was also charged with Serious Injury by vehicle, which is also a Class-D Felony. The terms will run consecutive to one another. Sims will serve her time, less time served, at the Iowa Women’s Correctional Center, at Mitchelleville. Bond on the first charge was set at $10,000 cash or surety. There is no appeal bond on the second charge.

The crash near Menlo claimed the life 60-year-old Julie Compton, of Bridgewater, who died at the scene of the crash. Compton was a passenger in the Ford Explorer Sims was driving. The Patrol reported following the crash, that Sims (Who was 34-years-old) was traveling south near mile marker 65 on Highway 25 when she lost control of the SUV and crossed the center-line. Her vehicle struck a car driven by 32-year-old David Nail, of Corning, who was injured, and along with Sims and another passenger in her SUV, 34-year-old Julie Holmes of Bridgewater, were transported to the Adair County Memorial Hospital, in Greenfield.

*Adair County Attorney Melissa Larson tells KJAN, that the accident was caused by more than Serena Sims losing control of the SUV. Larson says Sims provided a urine sample to law enforcement that tested positive for methamphetamine, THC metabolites, and opiates. The passenger who died, Julie Compton, was Sims’ mother. The other driver, David Nail, Larson says, suffered very serious injuries, which will impact him for the rest of his life.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports also, 28-year-old Brandon Joseph Stone, of Gravity, was arrested April 2nd, on Adair County warrants for a controlled substance violation and used or expired drug tax stamp. He was released that same day on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. And, 41-year-old Andres Sanchez, of Des Moines, was arrested March 27th in Adair County, by the Iowa State Patrol. Sanchez was wanted on a Polk County warrant for OWI/1st offense. He posted a $2,000 cash-only bond and was released before he was able to be picked-up by Polk County deputies.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a single arrest took place Monday morning. During a traffic stop at around 8:20-a.m. officers arrested 26-year-old Jeremiah David Richard Crago, of Creston. He was charged with Driving while Suspended, cited and released from the scene.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council has a lot of ground to cover during their meeting Wednesday evening, at City Hall. According to their 16 page agenda, the Council will act on recognizing the Atlantic High School and Middle School Archery Teams for the performance at the National Archery in Schools (NASP) Iowa State Archery Tournament, and wish them the best of luck for the April 28th-30th Western Nationals in Sandy, Utah. The Council will also recognize Clint Roland for achieving his Grade 3 Wastewater Operator’s Certification, and Travis Hansen, for passing the testing needed to achieve his Grade 2 Certification.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order to approve an agreement with the City of Fontanelle, for Wastewater Management Services. It’s the same type of agreement Atlantic has with the City of Marne, and is in effect until their staff is Grade 2 Certified. A similar agreement may be needed with the City of Anita, depending upon whether or not their person passes the Grade 2 Certification test.

The Mayor will administer the Oath Of Office to Devin Hogue, Atlantic’s new Chief of Police, and Paul Wood, Assistant Police Chief. Both men were appointed during the Council’s meeting on March 16th. Wood is the first Assistant Police Chief the City has had. The Council will then act on approving an Order to accept the assignment of an Option Agreement – with proposed purchase agreement – from Bob Camblin, and to reimburse him for the $10,000 option fee. The agreement is with regard to the development of new, single-family housing in Atlantic, which has been discussed for more than a decade, but for which only 26 building permits have been issued since 2012, along with one new housing addition. Camblin secured an option from Jim Comes to sell the City 41.54-acres of land located northeast of 22nd and Olive Streets, for $20-thousand dollars per acre ($830,000 total). Camblin used $10,000 of his own money to lock-in the option, which must be exercised by May 16, 2022 or it will expire. Purchase by the City will be financed through General Obligation Debt.

The Council will follow-up action on approving the Order, by moving forward with approving an Order to authorize the City Attorney to deliver a written notice to Mr. Comes, of the City’s decision to purchase the land under the option agreement. The Atlantic City Council will also hear a presentation from Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson, on proposed changes to the Nuisance Abatement Process. Action will follow on an Order to close-off E. 4th Street and parking in the vicinity, for food truck parking on Saturday, April 23rd, from 9-a.m. until 2-p.m., for SHIFT ATL’s Pop-Up (fundraising) event. A similar closure was approved last year for the same event.

The Council will act on:

• an Order to approve the first amendment to an Ambulance Services Agreement with Midwest Medical Transport Company, LLC.
• holding a Public Hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement associated with a 28-E agreement for the Cass County Landfill.
• a Resolution adjusting Season 2022 compensation and benefits for Sunnyside Pool Lifeguards.
• They will hold a Public Hearing on an Ordinance Amending the City Code, by dividing the City into five wards and five precincts, as required by the recent census.
• and finally, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order authorizing the Mayor and/or City Administrator to sign agreements necessary to execute a joint County-City 6th Street bridge repair project, with regard to the bridge on the airport road.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., Wednesday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

(Radio Iowa) – Morningside university’s agricultural program continues to grow, with a new greenhouse on the Sioux City campus to give students some hands-on growing experience. Department head Tom Paulsen says the greenhouse has space for many different projects and modern technology to water the plants. “The flood benches — we’re hooked into a system where we can set how ofter they are watered based on the transpiration of the plant — it’s called vapor pressure deficit. All of our benches now are automatically watered. And they are watered from the bottom up,” he says.

Senior Gage Dewsbury says another project involves using fish to help grow a crop. He says they use the fish waste to get nitrates to fertilize the plants and then the water is recycled back to the beginning. Dewsbury says that system is used to grow lettuce and other leafy greens that are used on campus. “We will send a lot of the lettuce and stuff to the school cafeteria. And then the amaranth and the other stuff actually goes to an ethnic food market in town,” Dewsbury says.

The Rosen Ag Center and Lags Greenhouse are located on the former site of the old Longfellow elementary school building.

(Radio Iowa) – April is national “Donate Life” month — which is meant to inspire people to become organ donors. Unity Point St. Luke’s Hospital of Sioux City recently joined the Iowa Donor Network in a “Donate Life” flag raising ceremony to celebrate donor families and transplant recipients. John Jorgensen is the donation services coordinator of the Iowa Donor Network. “We often think about organ donation as being something for the recipient only. But it is also for the family to help families in their grief,” Jorgensen says, “help families to know that their legacy will live on in the lives of others through organ, tissue, and eye donation.” he says.

Jorgensen says organ donors helped save many lives in Iowa this past year, despite the pandemic. “There were 128 organ donors who generously gave 365 organs for transplant. Thousands more were healed by the gifts of 984 tissue donors in Iowa But yet still there are more than 107-thousand people on a transplant list in the United States. And in Iowa, that number is over 600,” according to Jorgensen.

Jorgenson says every donor makes an impact on many lives. “Through organ donation, up to eight lives might be saved through an organ donor’s gift of life. One tissue donor has the ability to enhance the lives of up to 300. It is a selfless act for this gift of life,” he says. You can sign up to be an organ donor when you renew or obtain your driver’s license. More than 70 percent of adults in Iowa are registered organ donors. You may also register online at iowadonornetwork.org.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s popular Bottle Bill appears to be headed for major changes — or it may wind up on the trash heap. Key negotiators for House and Senate Republicans say the bottle and can redemption system has nearly collapsed and without adjustments this year, reform will likely shift to repeal in 2023. Under a plan that could be debated in the House this week, grocery stores would be able to opt out of the redemption process and Susan Collin, president of the national Container Recycling Institute, says that would make it harder for consumers to find places to take their empty containers to get their nickel deposits back.

“In short, this bill would turn what was a deposit into a fee for consumers who would be increasingly inconvenienced and de-incentivized from returning their containers and receive their rightful deposit back,” Collins says. “Meanwhile, distributors would get to keep additional unclaimed deposits as a windfall.” The wholesale distributors that deliver cases of beer, pop and alcohol to Iowa stores will keep an estimated 44 million dollars in deposits that aren’t claimed this year. Collins says the state should make it as easy as possible for consumers to get back the deposit they pay on each container.

“Consumers are just the ones left in the lurch here,” Collins says. All but one Republican in the Iowa Senate passed a bill to increase the fees paid to redemption centers and let retailers out of participating in the bottle and can redemption system. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says it’s the first time in more than four decades a bill to make changes in the Bottle Bill has made it this far.

“We understand that there are some people that don’t like the Bottle Bill, but there are a lot of Iowans that do,” Whitver says, “and if it’s going to survive long term, we have to make some tweaks to it.” House Speaker Pat Grassley says there are ways to make the program work long term that are included in the plans being discussed by lawmakers.

“I think we’ve made as much progress in the legislature this year than we have in my time that I can remember in my time in the legislature and probably before that, so we want to make sure we do this right,” Grassley says. “We want to be able to negotiate with the Senate, find some common ground.” Democrats say the G-O-P plans under consideration this year will kill the Bottle Bill and reward grocery and convenience stores that have failed to follow current law and pay deposits on empty containers.

(Radio Iowa) – State tax collections are soaring — up nearly eight-and-a-half percent in the past nine months compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. Jeff Robinson of the Legislative Services Agency says there have been increases in each of the main sources of revenue for the state.

“Individual income tax up 6.3%, sales and use tax up 9.7%,” he says, “and corporate income tax up 7.7%.” The state paid out 30 million dollars MORE in income tax refunds so far THIS year compared to the first three months of 2021.

“But it still very early in the tax filing season for any trend to be evident,” Robinson says. Iowa income taxes are due by April 30th. The tax cuts Governor Reynolds signed into law March 1st will start going into effect for the NEXT tax year. The immediate repeal of state taxes on retirement income and the first stage of reducing the income tax for individuals are projected to contribute to a nearly 15 million dollar in reduction in total tax payments to the state.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Republicans hosted a “Know Your Candidates” forum Monday evening, at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. The candidates answered questions with regard to Laws and Regulations, Energy and Labor, and of course, agriculture. Those candidates who spoke included; Senator Jim Carlin – Candidate for U-S Senate; State Senator Zach Nunn, Gary Leffler, and Nicole Hasso, Candidates for U-S House in the 3^rd District.

Nicole Hasso

Senator Jim Carlin

Gary Leffler

Senator Zach Nunn

There were also representatives from Senator Grassley’s office and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.Each candidate gave an opening statement before they fielded questions, including one from Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kauffman, who asked, regardless of who wins the June Primary Election, will each of the candidates support the nominee in the House 3rd District race. The answer was yes. Jim Carlin and Troy Bishop also answered “yes,” if they would support the respective Senate Primary winner.

The next question dealt with packer concentration, anti-trust laws and what can be done to protect animal agriculture. Nicole Hasso said there must be options for meat processing. She mentioned the Cattleman’s Heritage Beef Company, which is constructing a $325 million, 1500-head-per-day, state-of-the-art beef-processing facility in Mills County,

Senator Carlin said the farmer’s voice in agriculture can only be heard when there is an aggressive pursuit of anti-trust legislation

Gary Leffler, from West Des Moines, said he’s the only candidate who owns and operates a farm. He warned the new plant being built in Mills County will be “regulated to death,” by the regulators and bureaucrats.

Senator Zach Nunn suggested, with regard to the rising cost of health insurance, farmers and small business owners should consider pooling their insurance to lower costs.

He says “Let’s get government out of the way and lets let Iowans start choosing for themselves” what their best options are to lower the costs. And, with regard to the topics of energy and labor, each of the candidates were in favor of being more energy independent, by pumping more oil, and opening-up the Keystone Pipeline. Gary Leffler said the Left won’t be happy until “You’re eating a veggie burger and driving electric cars.

As far as labor, Senator Nunn said we have to secure the southern boarder and at the same time expedite the process for bringing in those who want to be here legally.

The next Cass County Republican Forum takes place in May, and primarily focuses on social issues.