(Radio Iowa) – A report from the National Council on Aging and the Urban Institute finds few Iowans 65 and older are enrolled in public benefit programs for which they’re eligible. It found 34 percent of eligible Iowa seniors are enrolled in the Medicare Savings Program, 27 percent in Supplemental Security Income, and just 17 percent in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Jen Teague, at the National Council on Aging, says more eligible seniors should sign up. “If we think about SNAP, it really puts money back in somebody’s pocket so that they can go and purchase healthy and nutritious foods,” Teague says. “Things like SSI, Supplemental Security Income, can really help move someone’s income level from a base level to a higher level so that they have more money each month.”

Teague says there are many reasons so few Iowa seniors are taking part, as they may not know about the programs or may not know how to sign up. “We often find people saying, ‘I don’t want to take a benefit from somebody else,'” Teague says, “and what we really want to encourage, what we want people to hear is that these benefits are available for anyone who’s eligible and it’s not taking it away from someone else.”

The data show Iowa fares worse than the national average for eligible senior enrollment in all three programs.

(Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

DES MOINES, Iowa — Traffic violations will now be more expensive in Des Moines. KCCI says the city rewrote its ordinance to comply with a change in Iowa law. Red light violations increased from $65 to $100. Speeding more than 11 mph over the limit is now a $75 fee. That fine doubles if in a roadwork zone. If you’re caught going more than 26 mph, it is now a $250 fine.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports two men were arrested on separate charges early this (Thursday) morning. At around 2:30-a.m., 38-year-old Thomas James Blobaum, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/ 1^st Offense. Blobaum was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $1,000.

And, at around 5:15-a.m., Creston Police arrested 33-year-old Anthony Roger Cross, of Creston. Cross was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Burglary in the 3^{rd Degree.}  Cross was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $5,000 Bond.

(Warren County, Iowa) – The teenage driver of a small SUV was injured Wednesday afternoon, when her vehicle collided with a larger SUV. The accident happened north of Indianola, at around 1:40-p.m. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2012 KIA Sportage driven by 16-year-old Evelyn Flores, and a 2019 Ford Edge driven by 64-year-old James Brian Simpson, both of Indianola, were traveling north on Highway 65/69 just north of Elk Horn Street, when the two drivers were slowing for a vehicle in front of their vehicles, that had slowed suddenly before making a left turn into a crossover between the north- and southbound lanes.

The Patrol says Flores failed to slow in-time, resulting in her SUV hitting the rear-end of the Ford. Flores was transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa) – A South Dakota couple who lost their home in this year’s flooding are getting a replacement built by Sioux City High School students. Dave and Judy Oberg put in the winning bid on the house and finally got it Wednesday after a two-month wait. “Well, we lost everything in the flood, lost our home that we’ve had for 50 years, and we got a phone call saying this house was available. We put a bid in on it. Won the bid, and here we are today,” Judy says. “Yeah, we drove down the day that we got the phone call, or the next day, I guess, they said they could open up the building, and we came down take a look at it, and we walked into the house and just loved to lay out and loved everything about it,” Dave says.

Dave and Judy Oberg. (KSCJ photo)

They got to meet the Career Academy students who built the 1,600 foot home. “It’s kind of fun to meet the guys, some of the young people that did the work on the house, and they must have learned a lot, because the quality of the house shows that they cared what they did,” Dave Oberg says. “They had some great instructors that coached them along the way. And I guess the city Builders Association helped with that.”

This house built by Sioux City students is going to a South Dakota couple. (KSCJ photo)

The Obergs live on a 120-acre farm and have made plans to make sure the new house isn’t flooded. “The foundation is eight feet above the grade, the original grade, and the old house was about two foot, so this house is six foot higher, and then it’s got two foot trusses in it, so it puts a main floor about 10 feet off the grade,” he says. The home was pulled out of the Career Academy building on a semi and will make its way to their home in Jefferson, South Dakota today. It’s expected to take around four hours to drive the house there.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa parents are encouraged to make a few proactive moves this week that may help their kids make a smoother transition back to school. Autumn Hartman is a counselor who works with youth at Rosecrance Behavioral Health in Sioux City. She suggests starting the school-year routines right away, including a nightly bedtime and an earlier wake-up time. “When we have a set routine, our body adjusts to that, and then it just becomes like a normal pattern. If we’re not in that pattern by the time that school returns, sometimes our sleep might be affected by that,” Hartman says. “Maybe our moods are going to be affected by that. And ultimately, we know that when we don’t have a good night’s sleep, it affects our productivity.” If the family has moved over the summer or if it’s a new school for the child, Hartman says it may help to arrange a tour of the school in advance.

“A lot of schools have been doing this. They do an open house, and that gives them the opportunity to tour their classrooms, get their schedule, find their locker — if they use lockers, get to meet some of their teachers,” Hartman says. “It really helps not only ease the child’s anxiety, but also parents’ anxiety about, ‘This is a brand new school district. What is this going to look like for my child?'” If you haven’t bought school supplies yet, Hartman says to bring the child along for the shopping spree and get them involved.

“You’ll learn a little bit more about them, but then it also gets them really excited, ‘I’m getting this type of thing, I’m going to be excited to use this. I’m going to have that memory of when I went shopping with my mom or my dad,'” she says. “It really just gets their creativity flowing. It gets them in that mindset of going back to school, and can even be very exciting.” Parents should also talk to their kids about school before — and after — it starts, giving them a chance to express their concerns and goals.

Hartman says, “Just ask them, ‘Hey, I know school is coming back up. What are some things you’re looking forward to? What are some classes you’re taking? What are some of the things that maybe are making you a little anxious about going back to school?’ or if it’s a new school, ‘What can I do as a parent to help?’ and make sure that you’re listening to them all the time.” Focusing on mental preparedness and emotional support can pave the way for a smoother and more positive start to the school year, she says.

Rosecrance facilities in Iowa serve more than 7,000 teens and adults every year at outpatient treatment clinics in Sioux City, Cherokee, Davenport, Estherville, Le Mars, Spencer and Sheldon.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — In late August, the Council Bluffs Fire Department will be recognized in Washington at the Pentagon for their support of National Guard and Army Reserve members. KETV in Omaha reports the award is the highest U.S. government honor for employers supporting current and former service members. The Council Bluffs Fire Department is one of 15 recipients of the 2024 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, being selected from over 17,000 nominations from employers across all 50 states.

Firefighter Anthony Wojtalewicz, who also serves as a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, led the effort by nominating the Council Bluffs Fire Department for the 2024 Freedom Award. Fire Chief Justin James says over 20 employees in his department are current or former service members.

Photo from the CBFD Facebook page

Chief James says that there is really no downside to hiring service members. Whether that be active military members or veterans, saying they bring a unique set of skills to the team, and it only benefits the Council Bluffs Fire Department.

CBFD has a rich history of excellence and hard work dating back to the 1800s. Wojtalewicz and two others will head to Washington, D.C., in late August to accept the award.