(Radio Iowa) – Programs to support housing for homeless youth in Iowa are being awarded nearly seven-million dollars in a grant from the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development. Courtney Guntly is director of the Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care, a co-applicant on the grant. Guntly says the money can expand more tailored services for young people across the state, with a focus on those between the ages of 18 and 24.

“Young people may have never had an apartment in their name, and so you just need to walk through what does all of that look like,” Guntly says, “and so the needs of this population are different than the needs of our general homeless population.” The Iowa Institute for Community Alliances received the HUD grant. That agency will distribute the money to organizations across the state, though Guntly says local providers don’t have to be youth-specific to apply for part of the money.

“There’s no way we’re going to be able to do it if we only have our providers that serve youth,” Guntly says. “We need everyone to be up at the table and to talk through how we can really make an impact.” The money is being issued through HUD’s Youth Homeless Demonstration Program. It can be used for solutions like rapid rehousing, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. Guntly says after the two-year grant is over, HUD will continue to provide long-term funding to support the projects.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Session 1-p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7th, to consider a request for an Administrative Recount of Precinct 5GF, following Tuesday’s General Election. The request will be presented by Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg.

In a social media post, the Auditor’s Office explained, “We had a successful election with one minor hiccup….We had one issue at our Greenfield precinct, 5GF, with a ballot jam in the tabulator. Our precinct election official and the voter noticed immediately that the ballot was not successfully cast and that our tabulator count did not increase, due to the jam. The precinct followed their backup procedures and our office was notified immediately.

“Auditor Berg was able to verify that the count on the precinct tabulator did not include the one voter’s ballot. This was re-verified at the end of the night because of the checks and balances we have in place, showing that 414 ballots were counted and 415 ballots cast. As a result, we will be requesting an administrative recount for that precinct ensuring that the final results include all voted ballots.”

Following the request, Thursday, the Board will act on approving or denying the recount, as explained.

DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors today (Wednesday) awarded a total of $554,596 to a total of ten Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) providers in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa City and Waterloo.  The Operating Deficit Relief Grant to Council Bluffs amounts to $50,000 for New Visions Homeless Services.

PSH is an evidence-based, minimal-barrier housing intervention for persons experiencing homelessness designed to support individuals with complex, multi-occurring conditions. Qualifying households are provided permanent affordable housing with access to case management and support services. It not only improves the housing stability and overall quality of life of Iowans but also generates significant savings for public systems, reducing costs associated with emergency room visits, incarcerations and health care services.

The IFA Board of Directors created the Iowa PSH Fund for the purpose of supporting the operational stability of Iowa’s nonprofit PSH providers, helping to ensure the housing stability of the individuals and families served in those rental units and reducing their risk of returning to homelessness.

“Permanent Supportive Housing has demonstrated long-term benefits in housing stability, employment, mental and physical health and school attendance,” said IFA Director Debi Durham. “By investing in the operational needs of our PSH providers, we are not only investing in the well-being of Iowans, but also strengthening our communities.” 

The Iowa PSH Fund offers two categories of assistance for eligible providers:

PSH Operating Deficit Relief Grant
Eligible applicants can request up to $50,000 to cover operational deficits incurred during the prior fiscal year. The maximum award will be the lesser of $50,000 or the actual operating deficit.

PSH Operating Expense Grant 
A one-time grant of up to $25,000 may be awarded for each completed Federal Housing Tax Credit PSH project, while National Housing Trust Fund PSH projects may receive up to $50,000.

This funding aims to reinforce the essential work of PSH providers, ensuring they can continue to offer vital support to those in need throughout Iowa.

The list of awards is available here.

EARLVILLE, Iowa – On October 13, 2024, a fatality motor vehicle collision occurred on U.S. Highway 20 near the 287 mile marker (Earlville) in Delaware County.  A preliminary investigation by the Iowa State Patrol revealed a 2014 Chevrolet Impala occupied by three adult males was eastbound on Highway 20, east of the Earlville Interchange, when for an indeterminate reason, the vehicle crossed the median and continued eastbound in the westbound lanes for over one mile.

The Chevrolet ultimately collided head-on with a 2018 Freightliner Straight-Truck, resulting in both vehicles becoming fully engulfed in flame. The occupants of the Chevrolet were pronounced deceased on the scene, while the operator of the Freightliner sustained minor injuries.  The occupants of the vehicles involved in the fatality motor vehicle collision have now been positively identified.

The driver of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala was identified as Tijuan Devell White, 50, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. The front seat passenger was identified as Tyrese Devell Johnson, 21, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The rear seat passenger was identified as Augustine T. Monboe, 38, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

The driver of the 2018 Freightliner Straight-Truck was identified as Ricky Charles Bergfeld, 62, of Peosta, Iowa.

The investigation determined that Tijuan White sustained a gunshot wound prior to colliding with Bergfeld’s truck. No evidence was located that indicated the gunshot came from outside White’s vehicle. Due to extensive fire damage to White’s vehicle, the manner of death remains undetermined.

The investigation remains ongoing by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety today (Wednesday) said “Following a joint investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Webster City Police Department, Gunner Jones, 26, of Webster City, Iowa, has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the April 16, 2023, death of a 10-month-old infant.”

According to the report, on April 16, 2023, at approximately 1:45 a.m., Webster City officers and emergency personnel responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive infant at a residence in Webster City. The infant was transported to Van Diest Medical Center and later transferred to Blank Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased later that morning.

Gunnar Jones

The investigation and medical examinations revealed injuries consistent with child abuse, leading authorities to rule the death a homicide. Evidence gathered during the investigation led authorities to believe that Gunner Jones had access to the infant and caused the fatal injuries.

This is an ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.

JONES – Complaint_Redacted

November 6, 2024 (DES MOINES) — The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today (Wednesday) awarded $930,808 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state. The grants help redevelop or rehabilitate underused buildings as a way to stimulate economic growth and further investment in Iowa’s historic main streets.

Projects include:

• Transforming two vacant historic buildings in downtown Keokuk into first-floor commercial space and upper-story housing.
• Rehabilitating a historic gas station along Lincoln Highway in Woodbine to accommodate a one-stop hub for real estate services.
• Enhancing the facades of five historic storefronts, including the thriving Lansing Hardware Hank retail business in Lansing, to create a cohesive look and elevate the visual appeal of the entire block.

Debi Durham Director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority says “Challenge Grants help us preserve rich historic character while breathing new life into our traditional downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. New businesses and residents are drawn to energized main streets, which radiates outward to grow local economies across the state.” The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total cost of these 10 projects is more than $3.3 million.

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, more than $15.5 million in funds have leveraged more than $70.5 million in further investment. See the full list of grantees and their projects, below: