(Radio Iowa) – A key lawmaker says Senate Republicans will propose that most Iowans receiving government-paid Medicaid insurance coverage work, be looking for a job or be training for one. Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny says the incoming Trump Administration is likely to be more willing to grant Iowa a waiver for this work requirement. “Health care in Iowa — it’s important that people have it, but it shouldn’t be something that keeps people in poverty,” Bousselot says. “Getting people job training and having them seek a job while they’re receiving free health care from taxpayers I think is a common sense proposal that incentivizes getting back to work, incentivizes job training and also makes sure the safety net exists, that they have health care while they’re down on their luck.”

Senator Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny, will be chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee in the 91st Iowa General Assembly, which convenes January 13, 2025. (RI file photo)

Senate Republicans have made similar proposals in the past, but the work requirements for Medicaid coverage were not proposed for Iowans with disabilities or a parent with young children. The first Trump Administration granted waivers to several states that sought to require able-bodied citizens to work or be enrolled in school, but federal courts and then the Biden Administration blocked the policy from taking effect. Bousselot says there’s an opportunity to revisit the issue once Trump returns. “A common sense administration in Washington that’s going to work with us instead of attack us,” Bousselot said.

Bousselot made his comments after speaking at a forum organized by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The group represents chambers of commerce in 11 counties, including (in this area) Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, and Madison.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Des Moines police identified a 70-year-old suspect armed with a pellet gun and the officers involved in a deadly shooting last week. It happened at an apartment complex on Nov. 26th. Police say Charles Leonard repeatedly threatened a woman with the gun before raising it towards officers who responded to the scene.

Police say the pellet gun did not have its orange-colored safety cone attached. Two officers fired at Leonard, killing him.

The officers involved are Senior Police Officers Christian Bishop and Lanny Herzog. Both have served with the Des Moines Police Department since 2022. Both officers are on paid administrative assignment, which is department policy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Following a public hearing (during which there were no comments), the Cass County Board of Supervisors Tuesday (Today), approved an application for a Zoning Change by LANDUS Cooperative, from General Agricultural District to Heavy Industrial, for their property in the Pymosa Township, as previously approved by the Cass County Zoning Commission.

LANDUS purchased the former Wickman Chemical site northeast of Atlantic just west of Highway 71, last August. The sale was final in October. LANDUS plans to move their facility the Wickman site, which will include a 72,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tank.

Erich Wickman, who formerly owned Wickman Chemical along with his wife Tammy, spoke at the meeting about the change, and benefits of having LANDUS’ operations on the site.

Cass County BOS mtg, 12-3-24

He said it’ll be good for Cass County by keeping those employees who are already here, and adding those employees coming in from other LANDUS locations. “Mainly, from a safety standpoint, it’s really good,” Wickman said. Cass County Zoning Commissioner Mike Kennon explained what the next steps are in the process.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors passed a resolution amending the Secondary Roads Five-Year Program by moving a bridge project from 2027 to 2025, as the result of a funding change from Highway Bridge Program (HBP) to Farm-to-Market (FM). The new bridge – southwest of Massena – will be 30-feet wide instead of the current 16-feet wide.

They also approved the hiring of an Equipment Operator 1 position for the Anita District (Secondary Roads Dept.). Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said there were seven applicants for the position and five interviews. The person selected has previous experience in a similar position with the Iowa DOT. Wolken said they are expected to start in about two-weeks.

The Cass County Supervisors passed the Second Reading of an ordinance “Imposing a Local Option Surtax for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at a rate of One-percent on the State Individual Income Tax for 15-years” (in accordance with the Iowa Code), following the measure’s approval by voters in the General Election on November 5th, 2024.

They acknowledged the receipt of the EMS Advisory Council Annual Recommendation of an EMS Levy, as required by Iowa law. Public input on the matter will be allowed during the Supervisor’s meeting on Dec. 17th. And, the Board approved the hiring of a Treasurer’s Office Assistant, effective Dec. 2^nd, 2024.

DES MOINES—Secretary of State Paul Pate and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today announced a lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), demanding that the Biden-Harris Administration hand over information about known noncitizens on Iowa’s voter rolls.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s USCIS has refused the State’s repeated requests for information on the hundreds of noncitizens confirmed on Iowa’s voter rolls. USCIS’s failure meant that the State had to rely on the best—imperfect—data it had available to ensure that no Iowan’s vote was canceled by an illegal, noncitizen vote. The State was then sued, due to the Biden-Harris Administration’s failure, right before election day. Senators Grassley and Ernst also called for the election integrity data that the federal government continues to withhold from Iowans.

“I am suing for the Biden-Harris Administration to finally release the election integrity data that it has been hiding from Iowa,” said Attorney General Bird. “The Biden-Harris Administration knows who the hundreds of noncitizens are on our voter rolls and has repeatedly refused to tell us who they are. But the law is clear: voters must be American citizens. Together, with the Secretary of State, we will fight to maintain safe and secure elections that Iowans can count on.”

The lawsuit demands that the Biden-Harris Administration follow the law and give Iowa access to data on identified non-citizens on the State’s voter rolls.

“The role of Iowa Secretary of State requires balance between participation and integrity. We have identified solutions that will allow us to verify voter eligibility at registration – not at the time of voting,” said Secretary Pate. “The combination of access to the SAVE list, citizenship verification already completed by USCIS, and the ability to verify using social security numbers will not only make processes more efficient but will also provide another important tool in our toolbox to safeguard our elections process.”

Read the full lawsuit here.

(Radio Iowa) – People with hidden disabilities like autism, Crohn’s disease, diabetes or Alzheimer’s can now receive extra support at the Des Moines International Airport by wearing a sunflower lanyard or pin. The sunflower symbol is intended to subtly let staff know that an adult or child requires extra time due to a hidden disability. Airport executive director Kevin Foley says staff who interact with passengers at check-in counters, T-S-A and in restaurants have been trained on the program. “Even an individual with no disability that doesn’t travel frequently, oftentimes can need additional understanding,” Foley says, “so this just identifies those who we should be giving additional patience to.”

People can pick up lanyards or pins for free at places like Broadlawns Medical Center, ChildServe and the Alzheimer’s Association. People do not need to show proof of a diagnosis in order to receive a lanyard or pin. Foley says no changes were made to services the airport offers but the sunflower is meant to subtly notify staff. He says, “It just identifies them, not secretly but kind of covertly that, ‘Hey, I need some additional patience, some additional understanding,’ to help them get through this process.”

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower image

The airport is just the second place in Iowa to join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program and is one of more than 280 airports across the world taking part.

(Creston, Iowa) –  The Creston Police Department reports the arrest last Friday, of 28-year-old Joshua Daniel Mahoney, from Creston. Mahoney was arrested at the Greater Regional Hospital in Creston, under the authority of Des Moines Police Department warrant charging him with Domestic Abuse Assault causing bodily injury/mental illness (A Serious Misdemeanor) and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Mahoney was taken to the Union County Jail and later transported to the Polk County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Joshua Daniel Mahoney (Polk County Jail photo)

The Creston Police Department says also, a woman reported Monday an incident of burglary. A person or persons unknown damaged a door and door jamb at her residence in the 900 block of N. Sumner Street. The damage was estimated at $200.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the CDS Global, Incorporated – a subscription fulfillment company based in Des Moines –  have announced 94 employees at their location in Harlan will be losing their jobs in early 2025. The Iowa WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) website shows the job losses will take effect February 3rd, 2025. The company’s decision to close their Harlan facility was announced Nov. 26th, according to WARN.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education have announced an investment of over $3.5 million to provide first graders with books at home. According to a press release, every first-grade student will be provided with decodable book packs to take home and keep, reinforcing classroom instructions to support reading development at home. The decodable books are written for beginning readers and use simple words to help students connect letters and sounds. The books are sequential in nature and will progressively introduce more complex skills.

Kindergarten through second-grade students in need of support who attended a department-funded high-quality summer reading program or a Learning Beyond the Bell out-of-school program this year will also receive decodable book packs to further advance their reading gains. The book packs are customizable and available at multiple reading levels so students can practice reading outside the classroom, according to the release. Each decodable book includes a QR code with access to video lessons for active family engagement.

In total, more than 100,000 book packs will be sent to all public and accredited nonpublic schools across the state this winter. Schools and families do not need to apply as books will be sent directly to them.

For more information on literacy instruction in Iowa visit the Department’s Literacy Instruction webpage and for more information on the Just Right Reader, click here.