(Atlantic & Audubon, Iowa) –  Officials with the Omaha Community Foundation report their affiliate foundations in Cass and Audubon Counties are now accepting Spring Grant applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in Audubon and (separately) Cass Counties. As part of this spring grant cycle, approximately $135,000 is available to support Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects, and approximately $135,000 is available to support Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects, in each county, respectively. The deadline to apply for funds in either county, through the online application process, is February 1, 2024.

Beginning December 15, application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting either Audubon County or Cass County under the County Listing at www.swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system. Both the Audubon and Cass County Community Foundations aim to improve the quality of life in their respective counties, by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in Audubon and Cass Counties. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County or Cass County are eligible to apply in their respective county, only. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

This cycle of grants is made possible through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program (CEFP). The Audubon County Community Foundation received $158,914 in 2023 from its participation in this program. The Cass County Community Foundation received $158,914. Most of the funds are available as part of the Spring 2024 Grant Cycle, with the rest held in an endowment for future years.

Created in 2004 by the Iowa Legislature, the County Endowment Fund Program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which currently does not include online sports betting revenue. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations located in the 84 counties without a state-issued gaming license. The 15 counties with a state-issued gaming license benefit from their local casino’s Qualified Sponsoring Organization, which distributes a portion of gaming revenues in their area. CEFP was designed by the Legislature to ensure the benefits of gaming tax revenues were felt statewide.

In the 84 CEFP counties, 75 percent of each county’s annual allocation is directed to foundation grantmaking activities for that year, and 25 percent is added to their permanent endowment fund, which provides support for nonprofits now and in perpetuity.  This two-pronged approach has provided thousands of dollars for local projects each year, plus ensured a savings account for future needs.

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the March board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of March.

*Advisory board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair Pat Kaiser of Audubon; Vice Chair Gina Benton of Exira; Secretary/Treasurer Megan Wagner of Audubon; Bob Blomme of Audubon; Travis Nelson of Exira; Donna Olson of Kimballton, and Doug Carter of Audubon.

**Advisory board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair Kristi Burg, in Massena; Vice Chair Gaylord Schelling, in Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer Sue Hunt, in Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum, in Griswold; Justin D. Hockenberry, in Anita; and Mike Tibken, in Anita.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision at around 1-p.m. Thursday, at Highway 34 and Wyoming Avenue. Police along with the Creston Fire Department were dispatched with Medic 1 to the scene. According to the Police report, a 2015 GMC SUV driven by 32-year-old Emilie Anne Blankenship, of Creston, was leaving the stop sign on Wyoming Avenue, heading southbound across Highway 34. Blankenship told police she thought a 2019 GMC SUV (driven by 16-year-old Aydin M. Gaiser, of Massena), was turning, but it was heading westbound on Highway 34.

Hwy 34 & Wyoming Ave. accident photo via the Creston F.D Facebook page.

Emilie Blankenship’s SUV struck Gaiser’s SUV, causing a total of $9,000 damage. No citations were issued, but the police report noted Blankenship failed to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market 2023 takes place December 23rd at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, in Atlantic. The event will be held from Noon until 3-p.m. Organizers say this holiday market offers local and handmade foods and crafts, with local favorite Pim’s Thai being on site for lunch needs.

Produce in the Park is accepting vendor applications for Christmas Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter and spring 2024. Vendor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Christmas Market 2023 is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Meyer & Gross Real Estate, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

For the latest information on Christmas Market and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Follow-up to a previous story; Radio Iowa) – A top Republican in the Iowa Senate says a Government Oversight Committee investigation of Iowa’s nursing home industry would be a distraction for state officials who inspect the facilities. Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says in the past 12 months the state issued over 28-hundred citations for abuse and neglect that state inspectors found in nursing homes and an investigation would distract from that important work. Senate Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, say an investigation by the legislators would shed light on troubling reports of inhumane situations in some Iowa nursing homes.

“As legislators, we have also received numerous emails and phone calls from our constituents who have expressed to us concerns about the care of their loved ones in nursing facilities in their communities,” Jochum says. “This is a very serious issue and we must act now to address it.”

Senate Democrats say they will push to increase state funding for home based care and for hiring more nursing home inspectors. A spokesman for Governor Kim Reynolds says while Reynolds has been governor, she’s approved boosting Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing home care by a total of 165 MILLION dollars and initiated other state programs to train health care workers.

Kollin Cromptom, the governor’s deputy communications director, says the governor believes that is the path to resolving the workforce shortage in nursing homes.

DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s hard to have a happy holiday if you’re arrested for drunk driving. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across Iowa to urge drivers to think twice before drinking and driving. From now (December 15) through January 1, 2024, drivers will see officers working on a special high-visibility enforcement campaign to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving.

As of the latest data released Thursday (Dec. 14, 2023), the Iowa Department of Transportation said 358 people had died on Iowa roadways this year, that’s the highest amount of deaths recorded in the past five-years, and 31 more than last year at this same time. So far this month, 15 people have died as the result of an automobile accident. The GTSB says more parties and festivities celebrating the season bring out more drunk drivers. In 2022, preliminary data shows 35% of Iowa’s fatal crashes involved an impaired driver. Last December, almost 1,100 drivers were charged with OWI on Iowa roads. About 25% of those were 2nd and 3rd offenses. Impaired drivers endanger both themselves and others. GTSB and law enforcement urge drivers to always plan before heading out to celebrate.

“Drunk driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal,” says Impaired Driving Program Administrator Todd Olmstead. “Drivers have a choice: follow the law and respect their fellow drivers by refraining from drunk driving, or make the choice to drive drunk, put others at risk, and risk their own mortality. We need a commitment from every driver to keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday.”

There are many options available to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. If available, use your community’s sober ride program. Remember: a few dollars spent on a ride is a lot cheaper than an OWI conviction, which can cost up to $10,000. Plan before you head out for the evening. If you see an impaired driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact law enforcement.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Thursday evening on McKinley Street. Authorities report a 2012 Hyundai Sante Fe SUV driven by 19-year-old Bryan Andrew Jones, of Creston, was traveling south on McKinley Street at around 5:17-p.m., when the vehicle left the road on the right and drove with its passenger side tires in the grass. The SUV then struck City of Creston steel posts located near a driveway. The vehicle re-entered the road and eventually stopped.

When Jones contacted police, authorities say he initially told them the incident was a hit-and-run event, with a black SUV hitting his vehicle. During an investigation, however, Creston Police determined there was no other vehicle, and that Jones’ SUV had left the roadway under his control. There were visible tire tracks in the grass before the accident scene, and freshly moved dirt around the posts that were hit. Both posts had scratched and paint transfer on them that was consistent with the damage on the blue SUV Jones was driving.

The vehicle sustained $2,000 damage. No citations were issued. The Police report stated Jones “Failed to keep in [the] proper lane” (Failure to Maintain Control), and “Operator inexperience” was a factor in the accident.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Revenue has issued updated income tax withholding formulas and tables for 2024. The Department updates withholding formulas and tables when necessary to account for inflation and for changes in individual income tax liability resulting from changes in Iowa law.

New for 2024 – The Iowa withholding formula and the IA W-4 have been revised to accommodate certain changes enacted by the Iowa legislature in 2023 under Senate File 565. Regarding withholding, SF 565 replaced “number of allowances” with “amount of allowances” to be in line with federal withholding.

Because of changes under SF 565 reflected on the 2024 IA W-4 form, employees should be encouraged to file an updated Iowa W-4 using the 2024 IA W-4 form. For employees who do not file an updated W-4 using the 2024 IA W-4 form, employers should use $40 as the total allowance amount and $0 as the additional withholding amount when calculating these employees’ Iowa withholding amounts.

Employers can view the Iowa 2024 withholding formulas and tables online.

The Department has updated the online Withholding Estimator to help individuals calculate their 2024 withholding amounts. As a reminder, employers must update withholding amounts starting January 1, 2024 but employees can also make changes to their Iowa W-4 (withholding) form by contacting their employer.

Employers with questions can contact the Department at 515-281-3114 or 800-367-3388.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative’s Double Up Food Bucks program has launched new digital technology to simplify participation for users. The program has transitioned from single-use redeemable paper currency to an online system centered on the new reloadable Double Up Food Bucks Card. The new cards will be usable at all participating Double Up Food Bucks locations.

Double Up Food Bucks is a supplemental SNAP benefit program run by the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative that helps low-income Iowans bring home more fruits and vegetables, while also supporting local farmers. Program participants can double the value of federal SNAP benefits at participating farmers markets, co-ops, and grocery stores including Hy-Vee and Fareway locations around the state when purchasing fresh produce. “As we continue to combat food insecurity in Iowa, it’s important to make sure families have nutritious meals that include fresh produce,” said Elisa Sloss, Senior Vice President, Hy-Vee. “By modernizing the redemption process, the program is easier to use and ensures that those enrolled receive all the benefits they are eligible for.”

“Fareway is proud to partner with the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables and enhance the functionality of the DUFB program,” said Jake Moran, Chief Financial Officer of Fareway Stores Inc.

Prior to the release of the new technology, the Double Up Food Bucks program was available through paper currency. The new technology replaces the paper currency with a reusable plastic card. The Double Up Food Bucks card allows SNAP users to spend and save their bucks and removes the risk of losing or destroying paper currency. Users can sign up for a Double Up Food Bucks card at participating sites by shopping for fruits and vegetables with their SNAP/EBT card and asking their cashier about Double Up Food Bucks.

The Double Up Food Bucks Iowa program is made possible by donations from sponsors including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Alliant Energy, Bank of America, Farmers Mutual Hail, Iowa Total Care, Max & Helen Guernsey Foundation, United Way of Central Iowa, and the Nelson Family Foundation.

To learn more about Double Up Food Bucks and to find participating locations, visit www.DoubleUpIowa.com

(Ames, Iowa/KCAU) — The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a funding opportunity intended to strengthen infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, including charging stations. According to a release, Iowa’s share of federal funding under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program would, through this process, be used to “roll-out electric vehicle charging infrastructure within Iowa.” This would involve installing stations along Iowa’s interstates.

“Releasing this funding opportunity is a key milestone for Iowa DOT,” said Garrett Pedersen, Iowa DOT Systems Planning Bureau Director. “This is a critical step towards awarding money and getting additional electric vehicle chargers in the ground.” Applications for this opportunity are due on March 13, 2024, with the notice of awards scheduled to release about 120 days later.

Electric charging station for electric vehicles in a mall parking lot.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s website states that their NEVI Program provides “dedicated funding to States to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.” As of June 2023, Iowa had over 12,800 registered electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, according to the release. Every county in the state has at least one registered.

More information can be found at iowadot.gov/iowaevplan.

(Iowa City/KCRG) — University of Iowa Health Care officials have announced plans to update its branding next year, including a new name for Mercy Iowa City. KCRG reports Mercy Hospital is expected to be renamed “University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown.” The change comes after a bankruptcy court approved UI Health Care’s purchase of Mercy Iowa City in November, ending a back-and-forth ownership dispute between UI Health Care and Mercy’s creditor, Preston Hollow Community Capital.

In a post on its website, UI Health Care said in addition to the new name for Mercy Iowa City, new logos are coming in 2024 to UI Health Care, the UI Carver College of Medicine, UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and UI Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The updated branding and logos come as UI Health Care continues to expand with a North Liberty campus, a family medicine practice and residency program in Sioux City and two urgent care clinic locations in the Quad Cities.