DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa Association of Chambers of Commerce (IACC) has announced Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, has been elected to serve as a director for the 2023 IACC board of directors. Madison Mills, IACC Executive Director, says “Bailey is a great asset and addition to our 2023 board of directors. We are confident her years of experience in the chamber industry will help strengthen our organization.”

The IACC board of directors is comprised of 11 individuals, representing chambers of commerce across all regions of Iowa, with the purpose of providing guidance in the areas of organizational sustainability, growth, public awareness and member programming. Smith commented “I’ve loved my time serving IACC this past year and getting the opportunity to work with colleagues from across the state. I look forward to continuing my service in 2023 and seeing how we can keep growing our communities together.”

Bailey Smith (Photo via Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives)

To see the full list of the IACC 2023 board of directors, please visit our website: www.iowachamber.net.

DES MOINES – Subcommittees of the Iowa House and Senate both advanced a bill proposed by Attorney General Brenna Bird to increase the penalties on the distribution of drugs that lead to death.  The bill creates a Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison, for drug dealers who unintentionally cause the death of another by manufacturing or providing illegal drugs. Previously, prosecutors could only charge dealers with involuntary manslaughter, a Class D felony, which has a maximum sentence of five years.

“We must stop overdose deaths and hold drug dealers accountable,” said Bird. “There is no safe illegal drug. This bill will toughen sentences, equip prosecutors for the war against dangerous drugs, and reduce drug-related deaths. I’m grateful the Governor and state legislature are committed to addressing this issue.”

470 Iowans died due to overdose in 2021, and the threat of exposure to fatal drugs, such as fentanyl, is ongoing. This bill seeks to address the rise in deaths by drug overdoses and to hold illegal-drug dealers and users accountable. It also incentivizes the reporting of drug-related overdoses. For repeat drug offenders, the 25-year sentence has a 70% minimum requirement.

The bill passed through subcommittees in both the House and the Senate, Wednesday. It now moves to consideration by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.  You can read the bill in full here.

(Radio Iowa)- It’s taking the concept of “Iowa Nice” to the next level, as today (Friday) is the first-ever statewide Day of Kindness. The effort started a few years ago as an offshoot of a project at the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, and this year, Governor Reynolds signed a proclamation to make it an official day in Iowa. Kara Matheson, at the West Des Moines Chamber, says if everyone starts small it could have huge results. “Just be intentional. Everyone’s lives are so busy but kindness can go a long way,” Matheson says. “It doesn’t need to be this big, grand gesture. Just write a kind thought on a sticky note and leave it on someone’s car window, maybe sending a quick text. There are so many different ways that you can think of to be kind.”

Matheson says even small acts of kindness can make the biggest difference in someone’s day.  “Maybe help with the snow in your neighbor’s driveway,” Matheson says. “Everyone’s very familiar with the ‘pay it forward’ in your line for coffee in the morning, but maybe go to a local school and pay off some of the kids’ lunch tabs. You can get creative with what this looks like.” Whether big or small, monetary or action-oriented, anonymous or direct, Iowans are encouraged to be intentional with acts of kindness today to make (hashtag) #IowaKind spread far and wide.

“It can be random with anyone you might come across, or it can be picking up the phone and calling a loved one just to check in on them and make sure they’re doing okay,” Matheson says. “Just think about what would make someone smile and take action on that.” She says studies show kindness benefits not only the receiver, but also the giver.

wdmchamber.org/wdm-kind

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Southwest Iowa Republican Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, reports, week three of the Iowa General Assembly, kept him busy with Committee meetings, sub-committee meetings and floor action on bills, as they begin the process of moving through debate. Moore, who represents House District 21, covering Adams, Union, parts of Cass and Pottawattamie Counties, says during the Health and Human Services Committee meeting Tuesday, his bill, HF13 passed unanimously with an amendment.

Moore said also, House Bill 9, which revises the mental health loan forgiveness program established last year, to add prescribing practitioners, and provides preference to Iowans and those willing to serve in a mental health shortage area, passed in the HHS Committee. It appropriates $1.5-million in the 2024 Fiscal Year.

The Education Committee, Moore said, also met Tuesday afternoon. A bill, HF11 passed with an amendment.

Two other bills in the committee also passed, but Moore says he voted against both. One requires within social studies requirements, United States Government, which includes a comparative discussion of political ideologies, including communism and totalitarianism, that Moore says “conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy that were essential to the founding of the United States.” Moore says he voted no because he is against increased mandates on schools.

(R) Rep. Tom Moore

The other bill he voted against, but still passed, deals with open enrollment transportation. It would allow school buses from the receiving district to enter in the district of residence, without both districts having to agree.

In the Economic Growth and Technology Committee, Representative Tom Moore says they passed bills defining ransomware, and creates penalties for the crime when used against certain entities. Another bill establishes a cybersecurity training center at ISU, that will conduct and sponsor research and activities that enable persons to develop strategies to count cybersecurity threats and mitigate the damage resulting from an attack.

Moore invites constituents with questions or comments, to reach out to him at  tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov

You can also call 712-789-9954. You can subscribe to Moore’s newsletter through those options.

(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowa casinos that float on a boat will soon be sinking. Iowa Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says plans were approved Thursday for the Casino Queen operation in Marquette to move to land. “So they’re proposing to invest 12 million dollars into a land based facility that would connect with their current barge area. They would add a sports book, a new restaurant,” he says.

The first gambling in the state was at horse and dog tracks, and then the Iowa Legislature approved casinos on riverboats in 1989. The regulations changed quit a bit through the years and the trend now has been for casinos to move to land. “With casino Queen moving gaming to their to a land-based area that will lead just Lakeside and Ameristar Casino (Council Bluffs) as the two remaining gaming licenses that still have casino gambling on on a boat,” he says.

Casinos in Davenport and Sioux City are some of the others to move the move to solid ground. Ohorilkoh says they have seen an immediate improvement in gaming revenue and attendance in operations that move from a boat to a land.  “The reasons for that are very simple — in that it typically on a land base facility –, there is more space to offer, not only additional gaming, but most importantly, additional non gaming amenities,” Ohorilko says.

The Racing and Gaming Commission also approved a 31 million-dollar remodeling plan for Harvey’s in Council Bluffs that he says will include several upgrades. “A new Celebrity Chef Restaurant, a Guy Fierie restaurant, renovation of all of their hotel rooms, some additional space for gaming, just to allow for a more comfortable experience for those guests,” he says.

And the Commission approved phase one of a multi-million dollar renovation plan for the Q Casino in Dubuque. Ohorilko says the upgrades are needed in part due to new competition from others states. He says Harvey’s is a good example of that. “Nebraska has gaming, we’re starting to see some construction there, particularly in the Omaha market. And so, it’s really important for those Iowa facilities to put their best foot forward,” Ohorilko says.

He says the non-gaming amenities have become an important part of the casinos widening their draw and competing with other states.