(Radio Iowa) – Iowans may need another cup of coffee before heading home this evening, after Daylight Saving Time ended over the weekend. While we set the clocks back an hour, our bodies need a week or so to properly adjust to the shift.

AAA-Iowa spokeswoman Brynna Knapp says sunset is at five minutes after five o’clock tonight, so many Iowans will be driving home in the dark. “You can’t always tell that you’re too tired to drive, right?” Knapp says. “Really, the only safe bet is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, and if you don’t, you’re likely to engage in drowsy driving.”

Before you get behind the wheel at any time of the day, it’s important to get a good night’s sleep, and Knapp suggests we could all benefit from a review of our driving habits. “We’ll all be adjusting and likely driving in the dark daily for the foreseeable future here in the winter,” she says, “and it really can have a negative impact on energy levels.”

Knapp says this is a good time of year to get an eye exam for the six-out-of-ten drivers who wear glasses or contacts.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University is “restructuring” a campus L-G-B-T-Q center to comply with a state law that will go into effect next summer that prohibits state universities from funding Diversity Equity and Inclusion offices and programs. A report released last week detailing D-E-I university changes says the center will be open to all students as a general reservation space and study center. Erin O’Brien is a part of I-S-U Students Against S-F-24-35 and says the change is redundant.

“It’s always been available to all students,” O’Brien says. “In Senate File 2435, it specifically defines a diversity equity and inclusion effort as something that shows preferential treatment to certain groups, but it’s really not preferential. Anybody can show up at any time.” Other changes include changing the job description of two staff members. The center also cannot host its own events anymore and student groups can reserve the space for events. O’Brien, a junior at I-S-U, says the changes show that the L-G-B-T-Q community in Ames is “expendable.”

“It is an area I can go to and be absolutely certain that I will be fine, which helped a lot, especially in my freshman year, when I was way less confident in myself,” O’Brien says. “It’s led to me meeting some of my best friends, and now that chance is sort of being taken away.”

The facility’s full name is the Center for LGBTQIA+ for Student Success at Iowa State University. It’s not clear when the changes will go into effect, but the report says all D-E-I changes should be done by the end of the year. Republicans in the legislature say the offices pursued what they consider a woke agenda and were designed to indoctrinate students into a partisan ideology.

(Radio Iowa) – Voters in a dozen Iowa counties are deciding whether to raise local taxes to support emergency medical services. Page County’s referendum would raise property taxes to support the six ambulance services in the county. One of them is in Shenandoah, where Ty Davison is Emergency Medical Services director.

“A long time ago legislation came down and deemed law enforcement and fire protection an essential service,” he says. “…EMS has been excluded from that and therefore we receive zero tax funding or assistance in order to operate and respond to calls and emergencies every day.” That state law was adjusted three years ago, so county-wide referendums may be held to establish a property tax levy that supports emergency medical services. Davison says Shenandoah’s ambulance service assists small volunteer departments in the county.

“EMS is not a profitable money maker service,” he says. “…We do bill insurance agencies, however on average we are only reimbursed at a 35% rate.” Since 2022, state records indicate voters in 11 counties and parts of Worth County have passed E-M-S referendums. State law requires 60 percent approval to raise local property taxes and E-M-S referendums have failed in a few counties.

In November of 2022 voters Jones, Kossuth, Osceola, Pocahontas, and Winnebago Counties passed EMS referendums. In November of 2023, voters in Cedar, Benton, Ida, and Shelby Counties approved EMS property taxes. In March of THIS year, Louisa County voters approved an EMS measure and in September, voters in Henry and parts of Worth County did so as well. The following counties have referendums on this year’s General Election ballot: Appanoose, Buchanan, Butler, Cass, Floyd, Guthrie, Hamilton, Jefferson, Page, Sac, Tama, Taylor.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – To celebrate being Iowa’s number one Christmas destination, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a ‘Christmas in Atlantic Holiday Shop’ with custom gifts and more surprises for the holiday season.

Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith says “We knew we couldn’t be the number one Christmas destination in Iowa without some ‘swag’ for residents and guests to purchase when visiting us this time of year. We’re kicking things off with three ornaments that are designed to represent the whimsical nature of our celebration, like Santa’s Cabin, and celebrate the nostalgia of what makes us unique, which is our downtown lights display. More items will be added to the shop as the holiday season continues.”

The ornaments are available for purchase at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and are $15 each or all three for $40. To sweeten the deal, ornaments will be available at a discount this Saturday, November 9th during the annual Discount AtlantiCash event, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust. Saturday only, ornaments will be available for $12 each or all three for $35 when you purchase AtlantiCash.

“We wanted to offer a deal to sweeten the excitement of Discount AtlantiCash and give shoppers the opportunity to start the Christmas magic early,” Smith said.

From 9 AM – 12 PM Saturday, November 9th only, AtlantiCash will be available in packs of $100 for $80, a 20% discount. Shoppers can purchase up to three packs. Payment must be made at time of purchase in the form of cash or check only. There is a first-come, first-purchased basis with only a limited amount of AtlantiCash available.

Since AtlantiCash is money that has to be spent at local businesses, it boosts the Local Option Sales Tax, and supports businesses and what they offer this holiday season. Last year, Smith said, the Chamber sold $40,000 in about 45 minutes. The goal this year is to sell another $40,000.  Smith said “We wouldn’t be able to pull off this promotion without the help of our amazing sponsors and First Whitney Bank & Trust. Their partnership helps us support local merchants and put money back into Atlantic.”

The Holiday Open House will also be taking place on Saturday, beginning when retailers open. Businesses will be offering a holiday sneak peek as well as treats, giveaways and special promotions. For a list of participating retailers, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, ‘like’ the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.