(Radio Iowa) — A study from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition finds Iowa does well compared to the rest of the country when it comes to housing affordability. The coalition’s “Out of Reach Report” details how much it costs to rent a two-bedroom apartment in each state at a fair market rate. Abbie Gaffey, a program specialist with the I-S-U Extension, says the study shows Iowa has some of the most affordable rental rates in the United States.

“Iowa ranked number 45 out of the 50 states,” said Gaffey. “That means our housing is more affordable. The results for Iowa also show an Iowan has to earn $15.44 an hour at a 40-hour per week job working 52 weeks per year to afford the fair market rent of $803 for a two-bedroom apartment.” Hawaii has the highest rental rates in the country, with a two-bedroom apartment averaging over $1,900 per month, while Arkansas checks in at the lowest rate at $742 per month.

With Iowa’s minimum wage at $7.25 per hour, Gaffey says a person would need to work mulitple jobs to afford an average apartment. “The study shows that a person earning that minimum wage would need 2.1 full-time jobs to pay for a two-bedroom apartment and 1.7 full-time jobs to pay for a one-bedroom apartment,” said Gaffey.

She says the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area has overtaken other areas of the state as the priciest place to live. “The Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area is now the most expensive, followed closely by what’s traditionally been our most expensive markets in Iowa: Ames, Des Moines/West Des Moines and Iowa City,” said Gaffey. ”

Ames and Iowa City are university towns, so they are going to be more expensive, so the surprise to me was Omaha-Council Bluffs being less affordable than it had been in the past.” The study also finds about 29-percent of people in the state rent a place to live, rather than own. The full study is available at http://nlihc.org.

MANNING, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has released a broad plan to revitalize rural America through investments in agriculture, rural economies and infrastructure.

Biden said Tuesday in Manning, Iowa, a town of about 1,500 residents, that “we have to ensure we bring along everyone.” He says it “doesn’t matter if you live in a skyscraper in Manhattan, or here in Manning — your child is entitled” to all the benefits of being an American.

The plan builds on policies the former vice president has already released on health care and climate change. It sets the ambitious goal of making America’s agriculture industry the first in the world to achieve net-zero emissions.

It also includes a raft of policies aimed at bolstering rural health care access.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A new report released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says an April flood barrier breach in downtown Davenport was caused by pressure from the swollen Mississippi River shifting a barrier with slick plastic sheeting under it.

The report, released Tuesday to Davenport city officials, says the sheeting became slick in the wet conditions, and a segment of the barrier overturned.

City officials say the public works department will make changes to its flood plan based on the report, including making changes to plastic sheeting installation and double-stacking flood barriers when the river height is forecast to reach 20 feet or higher.

Officials in the eastern Iowa city had already announced plans to build a bigger flood barrier in the wake of the April breach that sent floodwaters rushing into downtown streets.

Several arrests have taken place in Mills County over a little more than the past week. Sheriff’s officials said today (Tuesday), four people were arrested on Theft and or Burglary charges. 32-year old Shaw Aaron Peterson and 36-year old Misty Bea Petterson, both of Glenwood, were arrested July 9th at the Mills County Jail, for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Their bonds were set at $2,000 each.

Daniel Lee Walling II, was arrested at the Mills County Jail the following day, for Theft in the 2nd and 4th degrees, and Burglary in the 3rd. His bond was set at $11,000. And, on July 12th, 33-year old Eugene Edgar Stillmock, of LaVista, NE., was arrested in Mills County for Burglary in the 3rd, Theft in the 2nd & Felon in Possession of a Firearm. His bond was set at $15,000.

Four people were also arrested on warrants: On July 8th, 24-year old Kenneth Wayne Gerner, of Bellevue, NE, and 39-year old Matthew Jospeh Tyson, of Pacific Junction, were arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. Gerner was wanted for OWI/1st offense. Tyson was wanted for Violation of Parole; On July 9th, 51-year old John Merrill Meyers, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Probation Violation warrant; On July 11th, 28-year old Cody Keen Blystone, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on Mills County warrants for two counts of Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $20,000.

The sheriff’s office reports also, 58-year old Steven Craig Needham, and 40-year old Christina Mae Robbins, both of Glenwood, were arrested July 12th on charges of Interference with Official Acts. That same day, 28-year old Chelsey Kay Bridges, of Elmwood, NE., was arrested for Aiding and Abetting, and for being a Fugitive from Justice.

There were also several OWI-related arrests in Mills County: 21-year old Michaela Cheyenne Goodman, of Malvern, was arrested July 8th for OWI/1st offense; On July 9th, 22-year old Mason Lewis Boucher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st and Operating a non-registered vehicle; On July 12th, 19-year old Kaylee Marie Ruiz, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st…25-year old Lindsey Sue Rhodes, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office for OWI/1st offense; On the 13th, 29-year old Vincente Velasquez-Hernandez, of Fremont, NE, was arrested for OWI/1st, no valid driver’s license & Failure to maintain control;.

And, on July 14th, 41-year old Jeremy Lynn Martin, of Omaha, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, Speeding and Failure to provide (proof of insurance).

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Emily Darrow, of Omaha, was arrested at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday (today), on a Montgomery County warrant. Darrow was arrested for Probation Violation, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on July 16, 2019, Swann Michelle Thomas, age 37, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Thomas was sentenced to 100 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of four years.

On September 5, 2018, a Council Bluffs police officer on patrol saw Thomas in a vehicle and knew she had an active warrant for a parole violation. The officer approached the car and observed a Crown Royal bag on the driver’s side of the vehicle that contained a pipe and approximately 21.5 grams of methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on July 16, 2019, Devin Lee Graham, age 25, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Graham was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years.

On September 13, 2018, Devin Graham was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for traffic violations. The officer smelled marijuana and performed a search of the vehicle. Officers located a backpack containing a small amount of controlled substances, drug paraphernalia and a loaded firearm. Graham admitted the backpack belonged to him. Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms as he has two prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver marijuana in Pottawattamie County, Iowa District Court.

The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Atlantic, IA – The July session of Healthy U will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Cass County Health System. The program, Fad Diet Dilemma will be presented by Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD, Director of Public Health. Olsen will cover popular fad diets and tips to develop a healthy lifestyle.

Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD, Director of Public Health

Healthy U will be offered at noon on Tuesday, July 23. Healthy U is a free educational series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as a meal is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.