(Radio Iowa) – The first 17 of around 200 expected refugees from Afghanistan have arrived in Sioux City. The director of the Mary Treglia (Trial-ya) House of Sioux City, Becky Carlson, says there are some unique challenges for this group of immigrants. “The folks that we’ve resettled in the past have had someone here in the community that kind of help set house up and has that already established,” Carlson explains. “Where these folks have no one to do that with — working to make sure that their house is set up — and then making sure that we get them to their appointments that they need to be at and that sort of stuff.”

Carlson says many of the first arrivals do speak some English, which helps in communicating their needs. “I’ve spent probably a whole afternoon with the family and there was one who could help with the conversations. And can definitely read and write in English. We did have one who has been a student up in Orange City — and she has agreed to help interpret,” Carlson says.

Local churches have helped the agency set up housing. She says they have set up apartments and Sunnybrook Church, and the Church of the Latter Day Saints have help furnish the apartments.

Lutheran Social Services will be assisting with another 150 or so refugees locating in the Sioux City area as well as 300 in Des Moines and 75 in rural Iowa locations.

(Radio Iowa) (UPDATED) – A panel of financial experts has raised its prediction of state tax revenues for the current state budgeting year and is predicting tax collections will grow one-point-seven percent in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. David Underwood, a CPA from Clear Lake, said the pandemic is the biggest uncertainty in the economy. “We’re, unfortunately, still worried about variants on the Covid,” Underwood said. “A year ago, we thought: ‘Oh, boy. We’re going to get the vaccine and that’s going to take care of our problems.’”

Underwood is one of three members of the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. Kraig Paulsen, director of the Iowa Department of Revenue and acting director of the Iowa Department of Management, is another member of the group. “Current revenues continue to be strong. Sales and use tax receipts continue to show strength,” Paulsen said. “…Demand continues to be strong in both consumer and business spending. I see no indication of this slowing anytime soon.”

Paulsen, though, said the number of Iowans working continues to lag and there are far more job openings than people actively looking for work. Holly Lyons of the Legislative Services Agency is also a member of the state Revenue Estimating Conference. Lyons cited “headwinds” facing the economy as the group reviewed tax receipts through November 30. “These include uncertainty about inflation, the persistent Iowa labor shortage and slow employment growth we mention each time we meet,” Lyon said, “and the unknown impact of the omicron variant and future variants of Covid-19.”

The group predicts tax receipts in the current fiscal year will rise three percent and the so-called Taxpayer Relief Fund will grow to more than $2 billion.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Urs” has received his bullet and stab preventative vest, thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  Urs’ vest is embroidered with the sentiment “Honoring those who served and sacrificed.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the country. Since 2009, the organization has  donated more than 4,481 K9 vests with a value of $6.9-million, in all 50 states. The vests are made possible by both private and corporate donations. The organization will accept tax-deductible contributions in any amount, with a single donation of $960 sponsoring one vest. Each vest is valued at between $1,744-to $2,283. They weigh an average of 4-to 5 pounds, and comes with a five-year warranty.

Guthrie Co. Sheriff’s K9 Urs w/his new vest. (Photo courtesy Guthrie Co. S/O)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report a total of nine arrests dating back to Dec. 4th. Most recently, this past Sunday (Dec. 12), 28-year-old Kaitlyn Deyoung, of Atlantic, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear. Deyoung was transported to the Cass County Jail and later released on bond. On Saturday, 32-year-old Brandon Paul, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released with a court date. And, 35-year-old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for Possession of a weapon by a Domestic Abuser, Interference with Official Acts, and Public Intoxication.

On Dec. 9th, 39-year-old Edward Metcalf, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was cited and released with a date to appear in court. Atlantic Police arrested 18-year-old Brianna Long, of Anita, on Dec. 8th. She was cited for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and also released with a court date. Last Tuesday, Dec. 7th, A-PD arrested 40-year-old Jasper Daniel, of Atlantic, for Driving While License is Barred. And, 29-year-old Nathan Frazier, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th, Simple Assault, and interference with official acts.

As previously reported, on Dec. 5th, 34-year-old Richard Doss, of Atlantic, was arrested for Attempted Murder. And, on the 4th of December, Atlantic Police arrested 22-year-old Justin Rollins, of Atlantic, for Simple Assault.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports two arrests over the past week. Both occurred last Tuesday, Dec. 7th. Officials say 32-year-old Stephen Joshua Wilson, of Des Moines, was arrested in West Des Moines, by the Iowa State Patrol. He was taken into custody on an Adair County felony warrant for Disarming a Peace Officer. Wilson was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 32-year-old Natasha Lee Cain, of Marshalltown, was arrested in Marshalltown, on an Adair County felony warrant for Child Endangerment. She was released that same day on her Own Recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials say over two-hundred Iowans have claimed unemployment benefits after being fired for not complying with workplace Covid-19 vaccine mandates. A state law passed in late October allows people to get unemployment benefits if their request to be exempt from a vaccination requirement due to religious or medical reasons is denied.

Drake University professor Denise Hill wrote a book about workplace vaccine mandates. She says the number could have been higher if judges hadn’t issued temporary orders blocking the federal vaccination deadline many U.S. workers faced on January 4th.

“Certainly some of the employers, regardless if they are health care or otherwise, have stayed termination,” Hill says. According to Iowa Workforce Development, 211 people fired from an Iowa business for refusing to get vaccinated filed for unemployment. More than a third of them worked in health care and social assistance. About a fifth worked in manufacturing.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

(Adel, Iowa) – The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported, Friday (Dec. 10), after a deer ran into an Iowa DOT truck driven by a man from Cass County. Authorities say Charles Elmquist, of Atlantic, was traveling in the 35000 block of Ute Avenue when the incident occurred. Damage to the DOT vehicle was estimated at $500.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14th , in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. First-off, the Board will hear a regular weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

New Business on their agenda includes:

• The Disposition of cremains on private property.
• The establishment of an abatement plan for property improvements to certain classes of property in the non-incorporated portion of Cass County, followed by a Resolution approving a Post-Issuance Compliance Policy (Written procedures adopted, which shall apply with respect to all tax-exempt obligations incurred by the County).
• The Board will also act on Resolutions for One-million dollar ($1,000,000) General Obligation Capital Loan Notes, Series 2022A and Series 2022B, along with authorizing a form of Loan Agreement, providing for the issuance and levying of tax to pay for the Notes; and approval of the Tax Exemption Certificate.

Their final order of business is to determine the date for a hearing on amendment of the FY 2021-22 County Budget.