(Radio Iowa) – Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg has resigned today (Tuesday) after serving in the role for seven years. According to a news release from the governor’s office, Gregg is stepping down to pursue a career opportunity that allows him to focus more on his family. In a written statement, Gregg said his kids are growing up too fast and statewide office forces him to miss more of their lives than he can accept — so his time in public service must come to a close.

Gregg, a lawyer who grew up in Hawarden, was the Republican Party’s nominee for attorney general in 2014. He served as the state’s public defender for the next three years — until Kim Reynolds chose him to be lieutenant governor. That was in the spring of 2017, when Governor Terry Branstad resigned and Reynolds was sworn in as lieutenant governor.

Reynolds says Gregg has been a tremendous partner and it comes as no surprise that he prioritizing his personal life.

(Radio Iowa) – The Mid-America Business Index for August shows Iowa’s manufacturing sector is being hit by a sales slowdown. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss checks in each month with manufacturing supply managers in nine states, including Iowa.

“What we’re seeing in our survey for Iowa, for the region and for the nation is the manufacturing sector is bumping along,” Goss told Radio Iowa. “I won’t call it in a recession…(but) it’s certainly a slowdown and we’re seeing the pinch in the streets as we’re seeing pull backs in employment.”

The state’s overall Business Conditions rating for August marks a fourth month of decline from what Goss calls “growth neutral.” New orders and production were down among Iowa manufacturers in the August report, with an overall decline in hiring. “The national number came out this morning and also showing that employment in the manufactuing sector remains weak and declining and job losses there,” Goss said. “And certainly again, in terms of Iowa, you can trace that back to the agricultural equipment manufacturing, but also to those related industries.”

Ernie Goss

Goss cited a pull-back in facilities that produce fabricated metal. According to the latest data from the U.S. International Trade Administration, exports from Iowa’s manufacturing sector through August are down nearly 6% when compared to the first eight months of last year. “At least going forward, that’s going to unfortunately continue,” Goss said. “…And of course it’s slowing down the Iowa economy and the regional economy.”

Goss has a separate survey that focuses exclusively on what’s happening the agricultural sector. “Those who sell directly to the farmers are having a real downturns in overall sales as the farmers cut back on their purchases,” Goss said, “and we’re seeing some of those impacts.”

In a news release issued this morning by Creighton, Goss said the supply managers he surveys for the monthly Mid-America Business Index are “pessimistic” and 35% of them say a recession is “a real threat.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Police in Atlantic investigated, but found no credible evidence of a shooting, Sunday night. According to a press release, the Cass County Communications Center received a 911 call Sunday from a person who said an individual had been shot behind the apartments in the 1300 block of E. 10th Street, in Atlantic. When officers arrived on the scene, they found no one in the area had any injuries, and that there had NOT been any altercations that occurred.

An investigation into the situation resulted in the arrest of 33-year-old Samantha Wehrli, of Atlantic, for False Reports of an Indictable Offense to a Public Entity, and Public Intoxication. Wehrli was booked into the Cass County Jail.

No other details are being released at this time. If you have any information with regard to the incident, please call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

“A criminal charges is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Department of Corrections officials confirm M-pox or monkey pox has been detected in the state prison in Fort Dodge, but they’re not saying how many inmates are infected with the highly contagious virus. M-pox causes severe rashes and blister-like sores. It was originally found in Africa, but in 2022, m-pox spread around the world in cases linked to travel.

According to a statement from the Iowa Department of Corrections, affected individuals in the Fort Dodge prison are receiving care, with “enhanced sanitation and isolation protocols in place to prevent further spread.” Health officials say m-pox is spread through close contact with someone who has the virus or by touching surfaces or items an infected person has touched.

The Fort Dodge Correctional Facility (I-DOC photo)

State health officials confirmed the first case of monkey pox in Iowa back in 2022. The patients was an adult in north central Iowa who was likely infected during international travel.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Atlantic, today (Tuesday), tabled a request from the Atlantic Public Library for the use of ARPA funds to repair the roof of the Library. Board Chair Steve Baier said the repairs are estimated to cost approximately $100,000. No action was taken because the Board wanted more details on the scope of the project and other sources of funding. It’s estimated the ARPA account has about $11,000 available, after bills for other projects are factored-in.

Cass County Supervisor’s mtg. 9-3-24

The Board approved the abatement of taxes on a property in Griswold, as recommended by County Assessor Shana Platt. She said a “clerical error” necessitated the abatement of taxes on 309 4^th Street, in Griswold.

And, they approved an auditing firm contract with Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn & Company CPA’s, for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2024. The Board received a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved the appointment of two Deputy Medical Examiners – Jeals Brines, D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and Jill Pollpeter, M.D.(Medical Doctor) as requested by the County’s Medical Examiner, Dr. Elaine Berry.