(Radio Iowa) – Individual Iowans, schools, teachers and organizations that go above and beyond in demonstrating good character traits can now be nominated for statewide recognition. Megan Wesselink is communications coordinator for the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University in Des Moines which hosts the Iowa Character Awards.

“Annually, we recognize Iowans who show the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Good Citizenship,” Wesselink says. “So if you know someone in your life that displays those character traits, we welcome you to head on over to our website, raycenter.drake.edu/iowa-character-awards, and go ahead and nominate them.” The awards have been an annual staple since 2005 as a way of promoting good character.

“We have a lot of different categories that we nominate people in, Citizen Youth, Citizen Adult, Educator, Athletic Team or Organization, School, Student Organization, and Company Organization,” she says, “so anybody that fits those categories is more than welcome to be nominated, and that deadline is May 2nd of 2023.” The winners will be recognized at the annual Iowa Character Awards banquet set for late July at the Prairie Meadows conference center in Altoona.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has taken the oath of office for a second full term as Iowa’s governor.

“I am so honored to be here and I want to just start by saying, ‘Thank you,'” Reynolds said at the start of her inaugural address. “‘Thank you, Iowans, for the trust you’ve placed in me and for giving me the indescribable honor of serving as the governor of this great state.” Reynolds has been Iowa’s chief executive for more than five-and-a-half years. She took over in mid-2017 after Governor Terry Branstad resigned and now Reynolds has won two statewide races on her own. Today (Friday), Reynolds talked at length about governing during the pandemic. Then, after Reynolds criticized other states and the federal government for pandemic-related shutdowns, the crowd gave Reynolds a standing ovation.

“It’s because states like Iowa had the courage and the sense to swim against the current, today we rarely see public officials make the case for such policies,” she said. “In fact, we often hear denials they did.” Reynolds spent a long segment of her address talking about the 2024 Iowa Caucuses.

Gov. Kim Reynolds-(IPBS photo)

Reynolds said Iowans will be able to sort through the candidates and choose the one who exhibits good moral character. She also challenged Democrats to reconsider their decision to skip Iowa and have South Carolina host the first voting event on their presidential selection calendar. Earlier this week, Reynolds outlined her 2023 legislative agenda in a speech to the Iowa General Assembly. Today (Friday), Reynolds addressed most of the same legislators, along with a large group of campaign supporters and her family.

“We’ve built such a strong foundation upon which Iowa can continue to rise. A place where children and parents come before special interests, where life is protected, and work is rewarded,” she says. A place where families thrive, businesses grow, and government is responsive to the people. And this is the work we will continue to do.”

(Radio Iowa) – The Mega Millions jackpot has grown again after no one won in Tuesday’s drawing. Iowa Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says this drawing comes on a day that is superstitious for some. “And obviously, we human beings have all sorts of beliefs about Friday the 13th. So, we’ll have to see you know, where things come down on the on the luck spectrum right? With all of that in play,” Neubauer says. the one-point-three-five BILLION dollar jackpot is the second largest in history. Neubauer says one thing they watch are the combinations that are covered in a drawing.

“Right now it’s looking at somewhere between 40 and 45 percent for the next drawing,” Neubauer says. “That’s a pretty good amount, there have been times when it’s been higher. But and the higher the coverage estimate, the more likely it can be that there will be a winner. It’s not a given.” While Friday the 13th is considered superstitious by some, Neubauer says the big jackpot drawings have their own myths. “People believe that the odds change as the jackpot gets higher. That’s not the case. If that were the case, we wouldn’t ever be able to tell you what the odds are,” she says.

She says the odds are the same for every ticket in the game because it’s based upon the numbers available to play and whether or not the numbers on your ticket will match the winning numbers that are selected. Someone came very close to winning the jackpot Tuesday night. “There was one ticket here in Iowa on two for Tuesday night’s drawing that was just one number away. That ticket ended up winning a 30-thousand dollar prize. Somebody in Chariton is very happy with that ticket,” Neubauer says. She says that’s a good example of why you should always check your ticket for other prizes.

“Don’t just check to see if you won the jackpot. There are nine prize levels in the Mega Millions game ranging from two dollars all the way up to the jackpot. So please, please check for anything you may have won,” Neubauer says. You must buy a ticket in Iowa by 8:59 p-m to be eligible for the jackpot. Tickets purchased after that time will be for the next drawing.

(Persia, Iowa) – Law enforcement agencies are responding to a reported robbery at the Community Bank (107 Main. St.), in Persia. The incident occurred sometime between 9:50-and 10:05-a.m.  The suspect was said to have been wearing a black face mask, brown Carhart pants and brown shoes. It’s believed he left the scene in a white Chevy car, unknown direction of travel. Check back for additional information.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports a man from Pacific Junction was arrested this (Friday) morning. Officials say 21-year-old Nathan Richardson was arrested on charges that include Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. His total bond (Cash or surety) was set at $600.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Nebraska was arrested Wednesday night on Bunge Avenue, for Assault with Bodily Injury. 38-year-old Kristopher Ray Night, of Bellevue, NE, was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Atlantic & Audubon, Iowa) – The Cass County Community Foundation reminds Cass County nonprofits that the deadline to apply for grant funds is Wednesday, February 1. The same message is going out of nonprofits in Audubon County, from the (separate) Audubon County Community Foundation. Applications are currently being accepted online for the spring grant cycle with approximately $130,000 available in each county, to support Cass and Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects.

Full application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting Cass County or Audubon County (depending on which county your nonprofit operates in) under County Listing at www.swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

This cycle of grants is made possible through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license. Only organizations providing services in Cass County or Audubon County, respectively, are eligible to apply in their separate counties. Organizations may not request funds for counties other than their own, and they must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

For Spring 2023, the Cass County and Audubon County Community Foundations will entertain requests for capital and program support. General operating support will only be considered for one-time, non-recurring circumstances that improve the capacity of the organization to fulfill its mission.

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the March board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of March.