(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she will not be proposing any new abortion restrictions until after the U.S. Supreme Court issues its ruling on abortion. “No, we’re going to wait until we get the final ruling,” Reynolds says. “You know I am pro-life. I’ve made that very clear. I’m proud of the legislation I signed in 2018 and I am going to do everything I can to protect the unborn.”

That 2018 law calling for a ban on abortions was ruled unconstitutional. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Iowa women have a fundamental right to an abortion under the State of Iowa’s Constitution. Since then, a majority of the justices on the Iowa Supreme Court have been appointed by Reynolds and she has asked the court to overturn that ruling. Reynolds says she doesn’t plan to ask legislators to pass any abortion-related measures in the not-yet-concluded 2022 session.

“We’ve got an issue before our Supreme Court, so we’ve got a lot of things that, you know, are in the works,” Reynolds says, “so let’s see where those things end up and then we’ll do what we need to do.” The Republican-led legislature has also drafted a constitutional amendment that says the document is silent on abortion, but 2024 is the earliest Iowans could vote on the proposal.

Reynolds spoke with reporters today (Thursday) after speaking at a National Day of Prayer service in the Iowa Capitol. She told the crowd of worshipers the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are under tremendous pressure after the leak of draft opinion that indicates at least five justices have voted to overturn Roe v Wade.”This week, a glimmer of light broke through the darkness in the form of an early indication that the court is prepared to undue this fatal mistake,” Reynolds says. Reynolds asked the crowd to pray for the Supreme Court justices.

“And let’s not rest until our laws and our society recognize all human beings are precious, not matter how small,” Reynolds said, to applause. She read a National Prayer Day proclamation, then said a prayer. Other legislators and elected officials also prayed at the event. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, prayed for all officials at the state and federal level, including Reynolds as well as President Biden and the U.S. Supreme Court. Miller also mentioned the government and the people of Ukraine in his prayer.

May 5, 2022 (DES MOINES) – Governor Reynolds today announced a total of nearly $20 million in investments to support downtown housing projects in 61 communities, which will create 466 new homes for Iowans. Awards were made through the Downtown Housing Grant program, which provides support for downtown revitalization through new housing opportunities in communities with populations of 30,000 or below.

In southwest Iowa, the projects include:

• Atlantic: $300,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 300 Chestnut Street (4 units)
• Clarinda – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 115 E Main Street (2 units),
• Coon Rapids – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 511 Main Street (2 units),
• Corning – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 721 Davis Avenue (2 units),
• Creston – $600,000 for Upper story Conversion at 110 N Maple Street (12 units),
• Glenwood – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 2 N Walnut (2 units),
• Griswold – $300,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 421 Main Street (5 units),
• Logan – $178,984 for Upper Story Conversion at 307 E 7^th Street (2 units),
• Neola – $162,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 101 4^th Street (3 units),
• Stanton – $100,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 312 Broadway Avenue (1 unit),
• Stuart – $180,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 203 E Front Street (4 units).

“An adequate housing supply is the lynchpin to attracting and retaining a healthy and flourishing workforce,” said Gov. Reynolds.  “The investments announced today will not only provide 466 Iowans the opportunity to live near where they work but they will breathe new life into dozens of underutilized facilities in our communities.”

Examples of projects awarded funds through the program include the former Iowa Mutual Insurance building in DeWitt which will create 53 rental homes; A former middle school in Jefferson will be converted into 25 rental homes; And an historic brewery in Cascade that has sat vacant for the past 25 years will create 10 new rental homes.

The program will spur the conversion of a total of two former schools, seven underutilized facilities and 52 upper story buildings into housing. “This program provides a unique and transformative opportunity to both revitalize our communities and increase our housing stock across the state,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Communities have answered the call for unique and inspiring housing projects, and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”

The program had $20 million available for awards and received 94 applications requesting $31 million in funding. Projects were scored on a competitive basis on criteria including project appropriateness, funding and partnerships, impact on housing in the community and population size.

The Downtown Housing Grant Program is a part of Gov. Reynolds’ $100 million investment to increase the supply of housing options and protect and expand housing opportunities for Iowans to live in or near the communities where they work. The funds are made available through Federal American Rescue Act State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A man suspected of stabbing another man Thursday afternoon in Atlantic, was taken into custody after he barricaded himself in the area of 13th and Birch, and then fought with law enforcement. According to dispatch information, a male subject at 109 Cedar Street** suffered apparent non-life threatening injuries during the incident that happened at around 2:30-p.m.

While Police were on the scene investigating, they learned a man was barricaded in a residence about 10 blocks south of there. The suspect was taken into custody at around 2:45-p.m. Additional information is currently unavailable.

**Police said later, the address was 106 Cedar. Not 109 as in the initial dispatch**