(Radio Iowa) – Updated population estimates from the U-S Census Bureau show growth in four of Iowa’s metropolitan areas. The Census Bureau estimates there was a three-point-one percent increase in the number of residents in the six counties that are part of the Des Moines metro over the past three years. Iowa City’s metro grew two-point-seven percent and Sioux City saw a very small uptick in its metro population of four-one-hundredths of a percent. Council Bluffs is part of the Omaha metro, where the population expanded by one-point-seven percent over the past three years.

The Census Bureau estimates indicate Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls metros all had very small population losses. The population in the Quad Cities dipped one-point-three percent over the past three years. Among all Midwest metros, Des Moines ranked as the fastest growing, ahead of Indianapolis and Madison, Wisconsin.

(The actual losses for Cedar Rapids was 0.3%, the Dubuque metro was down 0.4% and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area was down 0.2%.)

(Radio Iowa) – It was five years ago this week that a flood devastated the northwestern Iowa town of Hornick and the final repairs still aren’t complete. The West Branch of the Little Sioux River couldn’t be held back by a levee after a late winter rainstorm, and the high water forced the evacuation of all 250 residents in the Woodbury County community. “It’s been a long road to recovery,” according to Hornick Mayor Scott Mitchell, who says a new berm now protects the town. Mitchell says it’s difficult to finalize funding from FEMA to fix roads that were damaged by the flood. The cost has increased in the past two years from two-million dollars to as much as four-million, with FEMA covering 75% of the price. The mayor says the paperwork was a real chore.

“Their process is very difficult for a small town to do,” he says. “We don’t have anybody to do that on a full-time basis, where your larger cities do.” Mitchell says it’s been a difficult journey to put everything back in place. “Lots of ups and downs, maybe more downs than ups,” he says. “And it’s still pretty amazing how a community and the surrounding areas can come together to help out a small community that they don’t even have any ties to.”

Mitchell says he is still thankful for the support his town received in cleaning up after the natural disaster. He hopes to have the final repair work done by the end of this year.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI]— A Des Moines man who was convicted of abusing his infant son more than a decade ago was taken into custody Thursday for allegedly violating his parole. Jonas Neiderbach, 34, was found guilty in 2011 of abusing his six-week-old son in 2009. The infant suffered brain trauma, a broken arm and broken ribs.

Neiderbach was convicted of six counts of child endangerment, but in 2013, the Iowa Supreme Court threw out two of the convictions. He was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison, with no mandatory minimum. According to the Iowa Department of Corrections, Neiderbach was released on parole in 2022. New court documents say he violated his parole at least seven times in the last six weeks. His next court date has not been set.

DES MOINES, Iowa — U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, announced new legislation in Washington, D.C., that would help replace lead water pipes in Des Moines, across the state and across the country. It’s called the Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities Act. Nunn announced it during a press conference Thursday morning in Des Moines.

The bill would put $15 billion of federal money toward forgivable loans — local water utilities would then be able to apply for loans to replace lead water service lines. In Des Moines, Water Works says the city still has 20,000 lead lines in commission, and they need to be replaced. Water Works officials say without the federal loan, replacing the lead pipes would force them to impose a 30% increase on customer’s water bills for the next 20 years, in order to pay for the project.

Water Works is already replacing some of the lead lines as part of a pilot program.

Iowa (KCRG) – The American Library Association announced a new report on Thursday showing a 92% increase in books targeted for censorship. The group says it’s the highest levels they’ve ever documented in its 140 years of existence. The report shows Iowa is one of 17 states that saw attempts to censor more than 100 titles in 2023. In total, the new numbers released show efforts to censor 4,240 unique book titles in schools and libraries throughout 2023, easily overcoming the previous high from 2022, when 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship.

Specifically in Iowa, the American Library Association documented 16 attempts to restrict access to books. Those efforts challenged 259 different titles. Former Iowa Library Association President Sam Helmick says book bans and challenges may teach people what to think, instead of how to think.  Currently the Community & Access Services Coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library, Helmick says they welcome conversations about concerns over library materials, because those conversations are important to maintaining trust within the community.

An Iowa law banning some books from school is on pause after a district court issued an injunction last December. The Iowa State Education Association and book publisher Penguin Random House joined together to challenge SF 496 and file that litigation last fall. That law makes it illegal for school libraries to offer books that contain “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act.” It also restricts teaching about sexual orientation.

The state has appealed – leaving schools in limbo as they wait for a decision, and continuing worries for teachers. As librarians and teachers navigate the increase in challenges to books in Iowa and across the country, Helmick says the best way to advocate for local libraries is to use them. The Library Association say it’s also important to be aware of any legislation targeting tax levies and funding for libraries, saying “Funding is an access issue. We can’t even debate the books if we can no longer afford to purchase them because of the pricing of digital materials or because we are disadvantaging and disarming public libraries, school libraries and the staffing.”

(Radio Iowa) – A new report finds one in six full-time Iowa workers struggles to pay for basic needs. The non-profit Common Good Iowa, which advocates for families and children, estimates 17-point-5 percent of all Iowa working households earn below what’s needed to cover a basic-needs budget. Sean Finn, a policy analyst for the non-profit, says figures this year show more low-income Iowans are struggling compared to last year, even as the state sees strong wage growth.

Finn says, “Even though these families were making more each month, even though these wages, especially low wages were increasing, inflation just outpaced it during this time.” Finn says one reason is the historical policies that contributed to systemic racism like “red-lining,” where financial services are withheld from neighborhoods that have significant numbers of racial and ethnic minorities. Finn says red-lining has lasting effects.

“Even though it’s technically illegal at this point,” Finn says, “there’s good evidence that red-lining unofficially goes on to this day, including in the state of Iowa.” The ninth annual report estimates one-third of full-time Black and Latino workers make below what is needed to support their families’ basic needs. That’s almost double the statewide average.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a man was arrested early this (Friday) morning, on an assault charge. 55-year-old Terry Lee Kelley, of Creston, was arrested at around 3-a.m., at his home. Kelley was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Degree. He was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond, until seen by a Judge.

Thursday night, 35-year-old Dawn Marie Baddley, of Creston, was arrested on two-counts of Theft in the 5th Degree. Baddley was taken to Union County Jail. She posted bond, and was released. And, Thursday afternoon, 28-year-old Shyanne Renee Bird, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While License Suspended. Bird was cited and released from the scene on a Promise to Appear in court.