(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s challenge of votes by potential non-citizens could factor in the state Senate District 14 race. The Dallas County Auditor cannot count ballots from people on that list unless the individuals prove they voted legally. There were 19 ballots on hold as of this morning (Friday) — which is equal to Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott’s lead over Republican Mark Hanson.

Trone Garriott says every legal ballot should be counted. “There are people who are citizens who have a right to vote and who don’t know that their right has been challenged.”

Notices were mailed about one week ago to the people on the Secretary of State’s list. Dallas County Auditor Julia Holm says her office has also called people they had numbers for. Any new citizens in Iowa who voted early or by mail should contact their county auditor to make sure their ballot is counted by the deadline at noon on Tuesday.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority announced today that the deadline for eligible homeowners to apply for up to $50,000 for the repair or rehabilitation of their disaster-impacted home through the Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program (DRHAP) is Nov. 20, 2024.

Governor Reynolds allocated $15 million to the program, which has already issued nearly 300 conditional approvals, enabling homeowners to start rebuilding or receive reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred. As the program approaches the total allocated funds, homeowners are encouraged to apply by the deadline to be considered for assistance. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first submitted, first ready to proceed basis. Application submission is not a guarantee that assistance will be awarded.

The program addresses unmet housing recovery needs outside the scope of insurance coverage or FEMA Individual Assistance.  Applications are being reviewed as they are received and if deemed preliminarily eligible, are referred to a local administrative partner who will be the homeowner’s point of contact for inspections, feasibility for repair determination, scope of work and payment of eligible expenses.

Eligible homes must be located in a county approved for FEMA Individual Assistance following the three presidentially declared natural disasters this spring and summer. These counties currently include Adair, Adams, Buena Vista, Cedar, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Humboldt, Jasper, Lyon, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Union and Woodbury.

Before applying for the state Disaster Recovery Housing Assistance Program, homeowners must have first registered for FEMA Individual Assistance and have been awarded some form of FEMA Housing Assistance, which may include home repairs or temporary housing. Homeowners must also have filed a claim with their insurance company, if they have coverage for disaster-related damages, and have received final approval or denial of their claim. Repair work must be completed by contractors who are registered to work in the state of Iowa to be eligible for payment under the program. Homes located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (100-year floodplain) and rental properties are ineligible.

More information about the DRHAP program, including an eligibility precheck is available at iowafinance.com/DRHAP. The full DRHAP application is available in IowaGrants.gov. For information on other disaster-related programs and resources, visit DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – Folks are positively buzzing at the Food Bank of Siouxland in Sioux City after getting a sweet donation. Food Bank executive director Jacob Wanderscheid says they received more than 6,000 bottles of honey from the Sioux Honey Association, the makers of Sue Bee Honey.

“This is the second donation that we’ve received in as many years, and the biggest thing for us and our partners is to get that product that is shelf-stable and it’s very nutritious,” Wanderscheid says. “This product will last a very long time for the people that receive it.”

Aimee Sandman, of the Sioux Honey Association, says it’s important for them to give back to the communities in and around where their employees, beekeepers, and families live. “It feels so great to be able to impact the people in need in the communities that we live in here, and lucky for us, it’s a shelf stable thing, so it’s not something that someone will just eat once. It’s something that they can continue to get that nourishment from,” Sandman says. “I think honey is a great thing to be donated, and it has a great taste. It’s very healthy for you, and it can last a long time.”

Three pallets holding a total of 6,480 12-ounces bottles of Sue Bee Honey were brought to the Food Bank on Thursday for distribution to partner agencies in the 11-county service area.

Page County Attorney, Carl M. Sonksen, reports the following activities in the Iowa District Court for Page County for the week of October 28, 2024. The Honorable Eric J. Nelson, District Court Judge of the Fourth Judicial District presided. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

• Heather Trena James, age 50, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance. The Defendant was sentenced to 5 days in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $840, court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Christian Lyle Lauritsen, age 28, New Market, Iowa, appeared by counsel and entered a plea of guilty to Operating While Intoxicated-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 2 days in jail. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, court costs and surcharges.
• Dustin Perry, age 26, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Counts I- Child Endangerment, Count II- Child Endangerment, Count III- Child Endangerment and Count IV- Child Endangerment. The Defendant was sentenced to 180 days in jail on each count, suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 2 years. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.
• David Lowell Steeve, age 71, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and entered a plea of guilty to Operating While Intoxicated-1st Offense. Defendant was granted a deferred judgment for 9 months and was placed on probation for 9 months. The Defendant was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,250, court costs and surcharges.
• Edward Paul Swanson, age 63, Braddyville, Iowa appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance-2nd Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 2 years in prison, suspended. The Defendant was placed on probation for 2 years. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $855, surcharges and attorney fees.
• Kegan Lee Morris, age 35, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared with counsel for sentencing after previously being found guilty by a jury of Count I- Assault Causing Bodily Injury on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations and Count II- Assault Causing Bodily Injury on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations. On Count I- the Defendant was sentenced to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $855, suspended. On Count II- the Defendant was sentenced to 1 year in prison, to run consecutive to Count I and ordered to pay a fine of $430. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
• Terry Jay Warner, age 59, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and entered a plea of guilty to Reckless Use of Fire/Explosives/Destructive Devices. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, suspended. Defendant was placed on probation for 9 months and was ordered to pay a fine of $430. The Defendant was ordered to pay victim restitution, court costs and surcharges.
• Kelli Jo Wiederholt, age 35, Braddyville, Iowa, appeared by counsel and entered a plea of guilty to Criminal Mischief – Fourth Degree. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, suspended and was placed on probation for 9 months. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs.