(Radio Iowa) – Gambling market studies conducted for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission show the potential impact on the market for a new casino in Cedar Rapids and casino gambling in Nebraska. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the Cedar Rapids information will help them determine if there should be a casino thereafter a license was denied in their last attempt. “What has changed since 2017? In other words, is there a projected impact of other casino licenses in the state? If there is, at what rates? Are those rates higher or lower than projected in 2017? And also, what is the projected new revenue,” Ohorilko says.

One of the two studies shows not much has changed and a Cedar Rapids casino would take revenue from Waterloo, Dubuque, and Riverside. The other study projects that loss to existing casinos of 61 million dollars. The commission will get a full review of the studies at their meeting next week. The studies also look at the impact of casinos opening in Nebraska. “And that was a very important piece of this study. Is looking at the impact of Nebraska and really trying to help everyone prepare for the years to come,” he says. Ohorilkoh says the studies give a little more detail on the Nebraska situation.

“It is not a surprise that the addition of gambling in Nebraska was going to impact the Iowa market — specifically the Council Bluffs market and the Sioux City market,” according to Ohorilko. The Council Bluffs market is currently Iowa’s largest market as a whole in terms of revenue.”  Projections are that the Council Bluffs casinos could lose 45 percent of their market to new Nebraska competition. The report estimates Sioux City’s Hard Rock casino could see a loss of 50 million dollars in adjusted gross revenue. Ohorilko says Iowa casinos need to prepare for that eventuality.

“We’ll get a chance to take a close look at these studies and see what is projected, and that may help some of the Iowa operators decide how they might respond,” Ohorilko says. “And they could respond by infusing additional capital into their facilities. There may be marketing strategies that are employed.” The study also details the impact of a Wisconsin casino on the Iowa markers and the impact of Video Lottery Terminals in Illinois. “Those are devices that are throughout Illinois and the addition of some casinos in Illinois as well. So, their studies not only are helpful for the things that maybe we have a general understanding of how they may impact Iowa — but it also helps understand other factors that are lesser-known,” Ohorilko says.

There are also two socio-economic studies that the I-R-G-C will review at their meeting next week in Altoona.

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Cindy Axne says the attack on the U.S. Capitol a year ago highlights the need to ensure free and fair elections. “Our democracy is fragile,” Axne says. “…We need Americans to understand that to protect it is really important for all us.” Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says U.S. Senate passage of a voting rights bill “is the key priority right now.” In August, Axne voted for the HOUSE bill that would restore federal oversight of states with a history of voting discrimination and make it more difficult for states to close polling places.

“We have a big election coming up, midterm elections,” Axne says, “and unfortunately across this country, we have seen too many states put in voter suppression laws.” Axne says she’s very concerned by a recent Washington Post survey indicating a third of Americans believe violence against the government is sometimes justified. She also cites a National Public Radio poll that found nearly two-thirds of Americans believe our republic is at risk of failing.

“We are the beacon for light and hope for democracy in the world,” Axne says, “and when a large portion of our population says: ‘I don’t think we’re going to see a safe election the next time,’ we’ve some things to work on.” Axne was in Washington, D.C. a year ago, but was not in the Capitol when rioters breached the barriers. Axne says more must be done to secure the building. She also says the work of the House committee examining last year’s riot is critical.

“Understanding how people were so enticed to literally attack our Capitol is important for us to know,” Axne says. “It means there is something in the American culture that said: ‘This is o.k.'” Republican Senator Joni Ernst says her view on the attack hasn’t changed. “January 6th was a very dark day in American history, and of course those who broke the law on that day should be held accountable,” Ernst says. Ernst says they have to forget about politics and do their job.

“Here in Congress, what we need to do is to continue our work on behalf of the American people, and that is what I am going to be focused on,” Ernst says. “So we really do need to work to get over some of the partisan divides that are out there — but also to focus on solutions for America.” Ernst says it’s time to move forward. “We don’t need the far left driving our agenda, we don’t need the far right driving it. We need to build confidence with the American people,” she says.

Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion issued a written statement on the one-year anniversary, calling the violence that day horrific and thanking Capitol Police for their bravery. Hinson says those who broke the law on January 6th should be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

(Radio Iowa) – A western Iowa man has pleaded guilty to illegally selling thousands of doses of prescription drugs for greyhound racing dogs. Federal prosecutors say 57-year-old Jon Stidham, of McClelland, has pleaded guilty to selling a drug over the internet that enhanced the performance of racing dogs. A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office says he illegally sold 50 other types of drugs. The plea agreement says Stidham is to forfeit than half a million dollars in illegal profits to the government.

Stidham is a former member of the Iowa Greyhound Association. He admitted in court documents that his business, called Kennel Supply, illegally sold the drugs over the internet for nearly four years. Stidham’s attorney told The Des Moines Register his client has agreed to serve 15 months in prison as part of his plea. The greyhound race track in Council Bluffs closed in 2015. Dog racing in Dubuque is scheduled to end this spring.