(Radio Iowa) – U-S Senator Joni Ernst says time is running out for the U-S Department of Education to fix the application college students and their parents fill out to find out how much federal aid they may qualify for. “All of the money that was supposed to go to updating and simplifying the form — instead they redirected that to student debt bailout,” Ernst says. “It’s just been really, really confusing time, a very frustrating time.”

On Friday, the agency announced another error on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA will delay decisions for up to 200-thousand students. A federal law passed in late 2020 called for simplifying the FAFSA form.  “What we have now is a very, very confusing form,” Ernst says. “It’s worse than it was before and the rollout of the FAFSA has been completely botched.”

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, cites bipartisan calls to address a new calculation of the finances of farm families and small business owners. Ernst says it doesn’t take into account those who are property rich, but don’t have the cash flow to pay for a child’s college education. “The provision would reduce aid eligibility by thousands of dollars for our farm families and our small business families,” Ernst says.

Ernst was in Lamoni yesterday (Monday) to meet with students and administrators from Graceland University as well as the three state universities and Des Moines Area Community College about that issue as well as the delays in federal aid as well as scholarship decisions due to the FAFSA form delays.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill headed to the governor would only let local governments have topsoil and storm water regulations that are tougher than state rules if the city covers the extra costs. Senator Mike Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf who works in the construction industry, says building regulations should be based on life, health and safety issues.

“I don’t build retention ponds. I build houses,” Webster says. “Some of the regulations that come from cities currently…put 24 inches of topsoil on ground that didn’t even have that. (It’s) thousands and thousands of dollars in added expense for somebody just trying to build a house.” Critics say the bill would prevent local officials from responding to flooding issues. Senator Janice Weiner, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the state legislature should stay out of it and let county and city officials make these decisions.

“I’m not worried about parking lots. In the end, I care about people’s homes and town homes. I care about the ability of people, of fellow Iowans to have dry basements.” The bill won Senate passage a year ago. Earlier this month the bill failed in the House, but four days later wound up passing 53 to 46. On Monday, Senate Republicans accepted an adjustment the House made in the bill and gave it final legislative approval.

Voters in the Adair-Casey Community School District have an opportunity to attend a Public Hearing this Wednesday evening, with regard to the Proposed 2024-2025 Property Tax Rate.  The hearing takes place beginning at 7-p.m., at the AC/GC Junior High Media Center.

Hearing Agenda:

I. Call to Order/Roll Call

II. Open Public Hearing

III. Receive Written and/or Oral Comments

IV. Close Public Hearing

The Adair-Casey CSD Board will hold a Work Session immediately following the Public Hearing. During their session, the Board will discuss Open Enrollment.

Agenda:

I. Call to Order/Roll Call (Immediately Following the Public Hearing)

II. Approve Meeting Agenda

III. Discussion Item
A. Open Enrollment

IV. Adjourn Meeting

Patrons of the Guthrie Center part of the AC/GC District will be able to attend a hearing on the proposed property tax rate, April 3rd at 7 p.m.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (IA) voters interested in voting absentee for the June 4 Primary Election may file requests for absentee ballots with the Cass County Auditor’s Office starting March 26. Due to recent legislation, the time period to request absentee ballots has been reduced from 120 days to 70 days. The new legislation also has shortened the number of days that the Auditor’s Office may have ballots available for absentee voting. Voters now have 20 days to vote absentee
either by mail or in-person rather than 29 days.

Voters wishing to receive a ballot by mail for the Primary Election will need to complete an absentee ballot request form and return it to the Cass County Auditor’s Office, 5 W 7th St., Atlantic, IA, before 5 p.m. May 20. Voters are reminded that due to recent legislation the ballot must be returned to the County Auditor’s Office before polls close at 8 p.m. on June 4 to be
counted.

In-person early voting in the Auditor’s Office and mailing of ballots will begin May 15. Absentee ballot request forms can be found on the Cass County Elections website at https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/auditors-office/ . Any voter may also request a form by calling the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570.

Absentee voters are reminded that since this is a Primary Election the voter must choose which party’s ballot they would like to vote. The Primary Election in Iowa is a nominating process for the Libertarian, Democratic and Republican parties to determine who will appear on the General Election ballot in November.

For more information about the 2024 Primary Election contact the Cass County Auditor’s office at 712-243-4570 or visit the website at www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/auditors-office.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to review challenges to the nominating documents submitted by two candidates running in the same northwest Iowa House district. The Republican from Onawa who’s currently serving in Iowa House District 13 is not seeking reelection at the end of his first term. Two Republicans announced they’re running in the district.

Noah Wieseler of Sioux City works in construction and property management. Travis Sitzmann of Le Mars is a risk control consultant for Travelers Insurance. Both are first time candidates. The Secretary of State’s office has announced there are challenges to the nominating petitions the two men submitted, but included no other details. Would-be candidates for governor were disqualified from primaries in 2014 and 2014 for failing to meet petition guidelines.

Candidates for Iowa House seat must submit petitions with the signatures of at least 50 eligible voters in the district. Recently, the three-member State Objection Panel has reviewed challenges related to the names and addresses of people who’ve signed petitions as well as whether a potential candidate’s name and the office they were seeking was listed on each page of petition signatures.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, Attorney General Brenna Bird — both Republicans — and Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, are the three members of the State Objection Panel. They’re scheduled to meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. to review the challenges to G-O-P candidates in House District 13. No Democrat filed to run in district.

(Radio Iowa) – As University of Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark preps for her final home game tonight (Monday), the economic and sociological impact of her career on and off the court is still being assessed — into tens of millions of dollars. U-I Business Analytics Professor Jeff Ohlmann (OLE-mun) says his research into the so-called Caitlin Clark Effect doesn’t attempt to put a dollar figure on her impact on the university, the state, or the sport, but instead zeroes in on things that -can- be measured.

Plus, there’s all of the merchandising, including sales of black-and-gold t-shirts and jerseys emblazoned with the number 22. Even country music superstar Tim McGraw wore a Caitlin Clark jersey on-stage during his concert in Des Moines last week.

Caitlin Clark (photo by Tim Schoon, University of Iowa)

Ohlmann compares the “economic fervor” surrounding Clark’s rise to fame alongside other female celebrities like Beyonce or Taylor Swift, noting, it’s not been a male-dominated economy for some time.

A report released by Common Sense Institute Iowa, what’s billed as a “non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Iowa’s economy,” says “Clarkonomics” has generated more than 82-million dollars in increased community and state consumer spending. Again, Ohlmann doesn’t try to attach a figure to Clark’s appeal, and he doubts her meteoric rise in popularity will fizzle once the N-C-double-A tournament ends — along with her college career — as she joins the W-N-B-A. The question remains, will Hawkeye women’s basketball games sell out -next- season and will interest in the sport thrive -after- Clark leaves Iowa City?

He calls Clark a “generational talent” but remains confident a strong following has been cemented in Iowa women’s basketball, and that the dedication to Hawkeye hoops will continue long after she’s headed to the pros.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says the County will be participating in the statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning (March 27th), as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa.

For this drill, the National Weather Service in Des Moines will issue a mock tornado warning issued at approximately 10:00-a.m., to coincide with weekly weather radio testing. Kennon says outdoor warning sirens will be sounded at or soon after 10:00-a.m. in towns throughout Cass County.

Also, those who subscribe to the Cass County Emergency Notification System will receive an alert concerning the drill. This is an excellent opportunity for residents, businesses, and schools to practice their own procedures in the event of real severe weather.

In the event of actual severe weather occurring during or close to the drill time, the drill will be cancelled.

To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, go to links located on the Cass County homepage or the Cass County EMA Facebook page. If you need assistance, contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-254-1500.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Glenwood was arrested this (Monday) morning on a drug charge. 35-year-old Adam Lee Nemetz was arrested at around 4:30-p.m. on I-29. He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), and held on a $1,000 bond.

And, just before 1-a.m. today (Monday), Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 50-year-old William Joseph Weis, of Council Bluffs, for Driving While Barred. He was arrested near 360th Street and Highway 34. Bond was set at $2,000.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports there were four accidents last week, one of which resulted in injuries. That accident happened at around 10:20-a.m. March 18th, in the 3100 block of Highway 25. Authorities say a 2014 Chevy Cruze driven by 18-year-old Conner Douglas Mumford, of Adair, was traveling northbound when the vehicle veered off the road to the right. Mumford over-corrected, causing the car to nose-dive into the ditch/embankment.

Mumford showed no signs of impairment or intoxication, according to the report. He was transported by EMS to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. The car sustained $15,000 damage, and was a total loss. Mumford was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

About two-hours later, a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 51-year-old Tammy Rae Wise, of Guthrie Center, was struck by a 2010 Ford Edge SUV, driven by 69-year-old Patricia Lynn McFarland, of Guthrie Center. The accident happened at the intersection of State and 5th Streets, in Guthrie Center. Authorities say When McFarland failed to yield from the stop sign, her SUV struck the Jeep on the passenger side, causing a total of $3,500 damage. No injuries were reported. No citations were issued.

On March 17th, a 2019 Volvo semi tractor-trailer driven by 44-year-old Nicholas Doe, of Des Moines, was traveling westbound on Highway 141 just east of Bagley, when Doe fell asleep at the wheel. The semi  began travel onto the left shoulder. Doe over-corrected, causing the rig to come to rest in the south ditch, where it flipped onto its passenger side. Doe refused medical treatment, but decided to get checked out once his family arrived to pick him up. The semi sustained $20,000 damage. No citations were issued.

And, on March 21st at around 9-p.m., 31-year-old Levertis Norwood, Jr., of Fort Dodge, was driving a 2017 BMW SUV northbound on Justice Road at 215th Street, when he fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle entered the west ditch and struck an embankment, causing the SUV to roll over. Norwood wasn’t hurt. The vehicle sustained $20,000 damage and was declared a total loss. Norwood was cited for Failure to Maintain Control

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Auditor’s Office has released the list of names of those candidates who have filed their nomination papers to run for the various Adair County offices in the June Primary Election. (I=Incumbent)

Supervisor

District 1 –
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Matt Wedemeyer (I)

District 3 –
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Jerry Walker (I)

District 5 –

Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Michael Christofferson

Sheriff –

Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Jeffrey L. Vandewater (I)

Auditor
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Mandy Berg (I)

Recorder (To Fill Vacancy) –
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Kelly Mitchell

The Primary Election will be Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2024.
Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and
casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and
voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the Auditor’s Office by 12:00 p.m. (noon), June 10, 2024.

Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about
providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone (641) 743-2546. Voters may
request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office.

Voters may vote in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning May 15, 2024 and Saturday, June 1, 2024 or they may request a ballot be mailed to them. The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2024. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, June 3, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Polls will open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day June 4, 2024.