(Radio Iowa) – The former Iowan who pushed the Attorney General to investigate cases of priest abuse says the report just released by the A-G is another positive step forward. Tim Lennon was living in Sioux City when he got involved in the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests or SNAP. “I think it’s the voice of survivors have risen up. I was one of many who called for reform and change and investigation — because too many people had been harmed,” Lennon says. Lennon says things are much different now than they used to be. “Twenty years ago every victim of sexual abuse, especially child sexual abuse, would come forward as an individual. Now we come forward as organizations, as a movement,” Lennon says. “And I think politicians, society and culture have come to realize how much sexual abuse there is in society and has taken action.”

He says this report and Iowa’s recent change in the law that lifts the statute of limitations on child sex abuse charges are examples of the progress made. “These are all wonderful, wonderful steps — not only to give justice to people who have been harmed — but also serves to prevent future harm by taking strong action,” he says. Lennon says changing the inaction on abuse to action is key.”By taking aggressive action, you remove predators, you provide more prevention so that not another child is harmed, and that is incredibly important,” he says. “There’s justice for the past — but also prevention for the future.”

The four Catholic bishops in Iowa released a statement saying the Attorney General’s report will be studied for suggestions on how the Catholic Church’s efforts might be improved. Lennon says the church has not stepped up like others have. “I think the only reason that any reform is made within the church is that they’ve been compelled to by outside forces,” Lennon says. He cites the Boston newspaper series that exposed abuse as an example. He says the abuse was acknowledged because the church was compelled to from the outside, and says the same thing happened when a Pennsylvania grand jury found 300 cases and he says that has now compelled most of the diocese to release the names of predators.

Lennon says he was abused when he was 12, but it took until he was 63 to take action. He tells those who may not have come forward that they are not alone and can call SNAP to get help. “And also there’s help available through your local rape crisis center or any kind of coalition against sexual abuse will provide help. To know that they are not alone, that there is help and you can get better,” Lennon says.

SNAP responded to the A-G’s report calling for the Iowa Catholic Conference to take immediate action on predatory priests, first by sharing a complete look at clergy abuse in Iowa with parents and parish communities.

(Radio Iowa) – With the long pandemic coming to a gradual end, many Iowans are considering job changes — and even career changes — as we begin to emerge from the months of isolation. Stephen Courtright, a professor of management and entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa, says COVID-19 has forced many professionals to sit tight and ride it out but now, they’re getting the itch to make a move. “They’ve stayed put to reduce uncertainty but now that options are on the table, some of the uncertainty of the pandemic is reduced, people are looking for other options,” Courtright says.

Some economists are referring to this phenomenon as “The Great Resignation” as people decide to quit their jobs after assessing their situations and deciding they need something more out of life. “People do search for meaning and for purpose in their jobs and the pandemic has allowed us to some extent, or forced us perhaps, to really rethink what are our priorities? How do we find meaning? What is it that we really want to do?” Courtright says. “So as we get out of the post-pandemic, people may be seeking opportunities that align a little bit more with how they find meaning and purpose.”

It’s said that it’s always better to look for a job when you -have- a job, but Courtright says some workers are throwing caution to the wind and they’re giving their two-week notices with nothing else lined up. “The pandemic has also enabled people to save up a little bit more,” Courtright says. “We haven’t been traveling as much. We haven’t been eating out as much. We haven’t been doing a lot of the discretionary spending that certain people do and it may have enabled them to save up, have a little bit more in store and venture out and take a little bit of a risk.”

The pandemic has made remote working the norm and this summer, some employees are becoming anxious to return to a crowded workplace, while others have embraced working from home and want to stay.  “Some people are simply leaving the workforce, too,” Courtright says. “They’ve said, ‘I’m in a position to retire and I’m not going to go back,’ so we are seeing a little bit more of that but I also think that we’re in a position where a lot of people who are in their current jobs are definitely looking elsewhere.”

One report predicts companies in certain industries may see 25- to 40-percent of their employees quit in the coming months.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department, Thursday, arrested 31-year-old Cody Thomas Thramer, of Red Oak. He was taken into custody on a valid Pottawattamie County warrant for Contempt of Court/ Failure to Pay Child Support.

Thramer was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail where he was being held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s current governor and South Carolina’s former governor railed at Biden Administration policies as they rallied with Iowa Republicans at a party fundraiser in West Des Moines last (Thursday) night.  Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said at the event, “There are a lot of reasons why I love Iowa, but maybe the biggest reason is Iowa loves to elect bad ass Republican women.”

Haley, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, resigned as South Carolina’s governor to serve as President Trump’s first United Nations Ambassador. Haley’s criticism of President Biden’s foreign policy and domestic agenda drew cheers and she mentioned Trump’s plan to visit the U-S/Mexican border next week.  “Thank goodness for Donald Trump or we would never have gotten Kamala to the border,” Haley said. “…If this is how she handles a crisis, God helps us if she ever becomes president.”

On Thursday afternoon, Governor Kim Reynolds announced she was sending up to 30 state troopers to Texas and Arizona to help with border security for two weeks. “Biden has failed America with the open border policy,” Reynolds said. “…He owns this. He can stop it tomorrow. Because he’s not, states are stepping up across this country to say: ‘Enough is enough. They’re not doing what they should be doing…and we’re all paying a price because of it.'”

Earlier this year, Haley said she was disgusted by the January 6th attack on the U-S Capitol and said Trump had gone down the wrong path in questioning the outcome of the 2020 election. Last (Thursday) night, Haley made no mention of those reservations and she praised Reynolds for signing election law changes.  “Real reforms that make Iowa’s elections safer and more secure. Every state should follow Iowa’s lead and they should do it before 2022,” Haley said, to applause.

Later, Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann asked Haley whether the 2024 presidential nominating process should start in Iowa.  “I’m fine with Iowa being First in the Nation as long as you keep South Carolina First in the South Primary,” Haley said, adding: “You mess with us, we’ll mess with you.” Kaufmann replied: “Message received.” The annual spring fundraiser for the party was held as congress was in session, so the five Iowa Republicans serving in the U.S. House and Senate recorded video messages that were played for the crowd.

Senator Chuck Grassley, who has not yet announced whether he’ll seek reelection in 2022, said he’s visited 77 of Iowa’s 99 counties so far this year. “I’m working as hard as ever for the people of Iowa,” Grassley said. His grandson Pat Grassley, the speaker of the Iowa House, spoke in person to the crowd a few minutes later. “How many of you want to see Chuck Grassley reelected to the United States Senate?” Pat Grassley asked and the crowd reacted. “…I told him I’m going to be his number one cheerleader between now until his reelection.”

At the end of the evening, former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad scoffed at the idea Iowans would choose someone new rather than Grassley in 2022. “The people of Iowa know that Chuck Grassley is the hardest working, most conscientious senator,” Branstad said, to loud cheers from the crowd. About 500 people attended last night’s Iowa G-O-P fundraiser.

The Iowa Democratic Party held a virtual fundraiser earlier this month. .

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 24, 2021 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Acting State Director in Iowa Darin Leach today (Thursday) announced that USDA is investing $413,200 to equip, rebuild, and modernize essential services in rural areas throughout Iowa. The investments will benefit nearly 30,000 rural residents.

USDA is investing in eight projects in Iowa through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program to ensure residents in rural areas enjoy the same quality of life and services as those in urban areas. Among them:

• Southwest Iowa Families, Inc. is receiving a $50,000 grant to purchase furnishings and equipment for a public use facility that provides essential medical services for nearly 4,500 rural residents.
• The Corning Opera House Cultural Center is receiving a $24,900 grant to build gutters on the exterior of the building to ensure that the restored historical facility remains structurally sound for public use.
• The Shenandoah Medical Center is receiving a $50,000 grant to purchase a new four-wheel-drive ambulance to replace a vehicle in the existing fleet with high mileage.
• The City of Atlantic is receiving a $26,300 grant to purchase new flooring, computer tables, a standing computer table and new computers and printers for the public library.

Today’s investments are in coordination with USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson’s recent announcement that USDA is investing $185 million to equip, rebuild, and modernize essential services in rural areas of 32 states, benefiting 3 million rural residents.  More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in rural areas with a population of 20,000 or less.

For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia or call (515) 284-4663. Follow us on Twitter @RD_Iowa.