(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports an open burning ban is now in place for Cass County (Effective 2-p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024). The ban prohibits open and controlled burning in Cass County, Iowa; including all incorporated city limits within the county. (See the proclamation here )

The current drought conditions present an increased risk for the potential of rapid fire spread. Controlled fires can quickly become uncontrollable. It has been determined that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property.

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during the ban. Small recreational patio or camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. The ban will remain in place until environmental conditions improve.

Any questions regarding this burn ban should be directed to your local Fire Chief.

(Radio Iowa) – A native of Akron in western Iowa is seeing the turmoil in the Middle East first hand through his work with the United Nations in Gaza. Scott Anderson graduated from Akron-Westfield High School in 1985, then spent 21 years in the Army and has been with the U-N in the Middle East and Afghanistan for ten years. He is helping provide emergency response and humanitarian services to those hit by the Israel-Hamas war.

“There’s a long history here dating back to Biblical times of the claims to this land. That does play a role in all the politics that surround us conflict. And partially why I think personally there hasn’t really been a solution found politically that’s acceptable to both sides,” Anderson says. “But in our job, I’m not a politician and I’m quite thankful for most days, is not to worry about that part of it. I just worry about trying to find people food and water and shelter and that’s, ‘s more than enough to keep us busy every day.” Anderson sees a lot of people who also don’t want to be involved in the politics.

“There are many innocent civilians here, many people who just want peace, who just want as I did as a parent, an opportunity for their children to have a better life than they did,” Anderson says. He’s talked with many people following the October 7th massacre. “And I was very much struck by how much it felt like it was in New York on 9-11,” he says. “The mood and what was an act of terror both on 9-11 and October 7th, there’s so many similarities.”

Anderson was stationed in Syracuse New York at the time of the 9-11 attacks in the U-S. Anderson credits growing up in the western Iowa area as preparation for him in his role of helping people in need in the Gaza crisis.

(Radio Iowa) – A House subcommittee has blocked a Senate-passed bill that would have changed the rules for people banking blood for themselves or donating for someone else, usually for a relative. Senator Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center, says a constituent who worked in the blood industry for 26 years asked him to sponsor the bill.

“I’m very simply stating that in Iowa we would like to ensure that the patient should be able to continue with the basic right to know who their donor is,” Edler says. Under current practice, doctors write an order when individuals give their own blood for an upcoming surgery or donate for someone else’s care. The bill would have forced Iowa blood banks to take and store blood from Iowans, for any reason.

Republican Representative Tom Moore of Griswold, a retired teacher and coach, opposes the bill. He says there’s nothing keeping a doctor and patient from deciding together that the patient’s blood should be stored — but the bill could create a dangerous dilemma in an operating room. “What if this bill passes and I am in need of my own blood because I have stored up three pints of it and we get in and a transfusion of more than three pints is warranted and I’ve said: ‘All I want is my blood,’ what happens to me on the table?” Moore asked. “I see that as problematic.”

A doctor and a dentist who serve in the legislature also opposed the bill in subcommittee, so the bill is not advancing in the Iowa House. Several officials from blood banks spoke during the subcommittee hearing and urged lawmakers to take that action. Dr. Emily Coberly is the divisional chief medical director for the American Red Cross. “Essentially everyone — all patients involved in this entire process that may need blood — could be harmed by this bill,” Coberly said.

No one but Edler spoke in favor of the legislation during the subcommittee hearing.

MASON CITY, Iowa – Feb. 27, 2024 – On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Iowa Department of Transportation was alerted to unexpected movement on the existing Mississippi River Bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing, Iowa to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, Wisconsin. The bridge was closed as a result of this discovery. After thoroughly inspecting the bridge, engineers have determined there has been movement in two existing bridge piers near the work zone.

Work is already in progress to stabilize the two impacted piers so we can reopen the bridge as quickly as possible. However, work is expected to take up to two months. The bridge will not be reopened until it is deemed safe. The nearest bridges for vehicle traffic to cross the Mississippi River are at La Crescent, Minnesota/Lacrosse, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Iowa/Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The Iowa DOT is currently working on alternative transportation options for those who rely on the bridge.

Mississippi River bridge at Lansing. (DOT website photo)

For updates on the bridge construction and optional transportation services, please go to https://iowadot.gov/lansingbridge. Brief updates will be posted to the website and you can sign up to receive more detailed updates, as well.  You can also find more information on the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.

(Radio Iowa) – House Democrats are proposing a state directed investment option for Iowans who don’t have access to a retirement plan through their employer. Iowa businesses with five or more employees that don’t offer pensions or 401k’s would have to notify the state– and I-R-As would be set up for those employees. Workers could opt out and choose not to participate. Representative Austin Baethof Des Moines says 19 other states have launched similar program. “A very large percentage of our citizens are not financially prepared for retirement,” Baeth says. A recent survey found 19 percent of retired Iowans are relying solely on Social Security benefits.

“A mission of Iowa House Democrats is to see that every Iowan has the opportunity to realize their life’s full potential at every stage of their life,” Baeth says. “and it’s not right that so many of Iowa’s seniors who should be enjoying the fruits of their labor are instead just struggling to get by.” Baeth says he’s pushing for state action because research shows only half of Iowa workers have a retirement savings plan.

House Democrats at a news conference in the state capitol on Feb. 27, 2024. (RI photo)

“One third of Iowa’s private sector workers lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan,” Baeth says. “That’s an estimated 424,000 Iowans.” Republicans control the agenda in the Iowa House, but Democrats could offer this proposal as an amendment to bills Republicans bring up for debate. Baeth and other House Democrats say they’re looking for those opportunities.

(Radio Iowa) – The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after more than half-a-million dollars in federal funding intended for the city of Dyersville went missing in what appears to be an e-mail hack. The Dubuque county auditor’s office says e-mails were sent to Dubuque County officials from an official city of Dyersville email address, requesting payments of American Rescue Plan Act money.

An invoice payment of more than 524-thousand dollars was made by A-C-H transfer to the city of Dyersville, which they believe was orchestrated by third party, with the City of Dyersville’s e-mail system apparently compromised.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she shares Iowans’ frustration as congress approaches another deadline and the potential for a federal government shutdown. “I always say it’s not the 11th hour until it’s the 11th hour and I think congress runs on an 11:59 deadline. I’m hopeful, again, and my goal has always been to get the most conservative bill we can get done in divided government,” Hinson says. “That’ll continue to be my focus until that deadline hits on Friday.” Hinson, a Republican from Marion, suggests another temporary spending bill is likely.

“I’ve made myself really clear that I’m willing to vote to move the process forward,” Hinson says. “I think the most conservative option is to actually keep the Border Patrol agents paid to make sure that they’re keeping our country safe, making sure our military is being paid overseas as they’re being fired upon no less than 150 times,” Hinson says. “I think it’s very critical that we continue to fund the government in the most conservative way we can.” Hinson does not want or expect the package that may clear congress this week to include U-S military aid for allies like Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

“I’ve told my colleagues my priority is getting through Friday, getting these appropriations bills done first,” Hinson says. “I know there are conversations about the supplemental packages. I haven’t seen what the final language is going to be coming out of the House yet, but I know our leadership is currently working on that.” Hinson is the member of the Appropriations Committee in the U-S House.

Atlantic, IA – Cass Health officials have announced the hospital/facilities were recognized as a 2024 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Chartis’ annual Top 100 award program recognizes outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®.

Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health, says “During an era of profound uncertainty for rural healthcare, the Top 100 rural hospitals continue to provide a unique lens through which we can identify innovation and inspiration for how to deliver high quality care to increasingly vulnerable populations. We’re delighted to be able to recognize all this year’s Top 100 but especially the more than 40 first-time recipients. It’s wonderful to see so many new facilities join the ranks of our Top 100 alumni.”

Now in its 14th year, the INDEX is the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Featuring a methodology utilizing publicly available data, the INDEX is leveraged nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

(West Des Moines, Iowa) – The new year brought renewed activity to the Iowa housing market. Despite cold temperatures and feet of snow, metrics tracked by the Iowa Association of REALTORS® saw slight increases. Shaner Magalhães, IAR president, says in their report, “January brought wild shifts in weather but more subtle changes in the real estate market for Iowa. We believe these small increases will add up over time creating a more stable and prosperous market as we move further into 2024.”

Home sales in Iowa increased 1% in January, with 1,685 homes sold compared to the 1,669 sold in January 2023. Pending sales, however, saw that opposite movement, thanks in part to an increase in volatile weather. Pending sales fell 14.7% with 2,004 pending sales recorded in January, compared to the 2,349 pending sales of one year ago. Inventory saw a minuscule increase with 2,360 new listings added in January, a 0.1% increase from the 2,357 that were added. Days on the market also saw an increase of 8.3% from 48 days in January 2023 to 52 last month. The median sales price jumped 8.5% in January to 215,500 from the $191,993 median price of last year.

The townhouse and condo market saw fewer strides than the single-family housing market, but made improvements none-the-less. Closed sales increased 6.7% in January with 224 properties sold compared to the 210 properties sold at the same time last year. Pending sales saw a downward swing, with a decrease of 15.5% with 289 properties pending versus the 342 pending in January 2023. New listings also declined in January. The 428 new listings represented a 8.2% decline from the 466 new listings recorded last year. Days on the market increased to 78 days in January from 63 days. Median sales price declined 0.8% to $243,000 from $245,000.

Statewide Housing Analyst Les Sulgrove says “As we enter a new year, we’ve seen shifts in the right direction. We’re optimistic that buyers and sellers utilizing REALTORS® will find a more palatable market as they explore their options this year.”

View Reports on Single-Family homes

View Reports on Townhouse-Condo homes

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The information used to create the IAR December and Year-End Housing Trends Report was current as of February 20.