(Radio Iowa) – A conservative think tank is recognizing Iowa for offering state-funding directly to parents, to cover private school expenses for their children. The Heritage Foundation’s annual Educational Freedom Report Card ranked Iowa 22nd among the states last year, but Iowa jumped to ninth this year after lawmakers established state-funded Education Savings Accounts.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill creating state-funded ESAs on Jan. 24, 2023.

“The number of ESA applications, they exceeded…not only our expectations, but our projections and I truly believe that school choice…will make the most consequential change to our education system in decades not only in Iowa, but across the country,” Governor Kim Reynolds said at an event in Des Moines hosted by the Heritage Foundation.

Nearly 19,000 state-funded Education Savings Accounts were approved for students this fall, but the state has not announced how many of those students successfully enrolled in private schools.

(Radio Iowa) – A monument honoring the five Sullivan brothers was unveiled in their hometown of Waterloo on Thursday. The five sailors were killed in action during World War Two while serving aboard the same ship. The new monument sits outside the Waterloo Convention Center and their granddaughter Kelly Sullivan, a Navy veteran herself, pulled back the curtain on the four sculptures dedicated to the sailors. Sullivan says it’s a way to keep the memories of Waterloo’s veterans alive for everyone, beyond days of special recognition. “The plaza will always be here. It’s something special where school children can come on field trips to see it. It’s a beautiful way for us to honor, not just the Sullivans, but all veterans,” Sullivan says. “I think it’s really important that people understand that, that the Sullivans sacrificed just as much as any family does.”

The Sullivan Brothers (public domain image)

With Veterans Day on Saturday, Sullivan reflected that the Sullivan brothers’ story is a reminder that families are just as much a part of veterans’ continuing sacrifices. “That’s the one thing I want people to know, that we need to appreciate not just our veterans but also the families,” she says, “because the families play a huge part in supporting their soldier and their sailor.”

The four sculptures of the Sullivan Brothers Monument tell the story of the brothers’ service and are part of a larger plaza also named for the family.

MONTICELLO, Iowa (KCRG) – A man accused in the shooting death of an eastern Iowa grocery store employee earlier this week, was not allowed to buy or possess a gun, under state and federal law. KCRG-TV reports 38-year-old Nathan Russell, of East Dubuque, had been arrested in September 2022, on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of methamphetamine.

Russell took a plea deal with the Jo Daviess County, IL, State Attorney, pleading guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine. A judge sentenced him to 2 years in prison and a year of supervised release. That should have meant he was in prison or on parole at the time of Tuesday’s fatal shooting outside of the Monticello Fareway store, of 48-year-old Aaron McAttee.
However, the Illinois Department of Corrections said Russell was no longer an inmate and not in their parole system. Jo Daviess County State’s Attorney Chris Allendorf could not say how much time Russell actually served or why he was released early because state law at the time of the conviction meant that decision was entirely up to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Police found Russell in Hopkinton after he left the scene of the shooting. A Sheriff’s Deputy shot Russell when he allegedly failed to comply when he was being taken into custody.
While his case proceeds through the court system, funeral services for Aaron McAtee were set. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday November 14, 2023 from 2-until 8-p.m., at the Monticello Berndes Center. A Celebration of Life will be held 11-a.m. Wednesday, November 15th, at the same location.

A fund for the family of Aaron McAtee Family was set up at DuTrac Community Credit Union in Monticello.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — Taxpayers in Polk County are helping pay out a hospital CEO’s $800,000 settlement. KCCI-TV reports documents obtained Thursday, show Dr. Anthony Coleman will still receive a year of pay, plus what he would have earned as a yearly bonus. Coleman had worked for Broadlawns since December 2021. His annual salary was $550,000. The agreement says Coleman cannot sue over discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination.

Coleman’s LinkedIn account says he has been hired as CEO at a hospital in Washington, D.C. Broadlawns said the board was not aware he had accepted this position before they reached the settlement. Broadlawns is funded with Polk County taxpayer dollars. Officials with the hospital say Coleman’s resignation accepted on Nov. 2nd was voluntary. Coleman has not commented on the settlement.

News website Axios says he’ll pay the $800,000 to charity, but Coleman wouldn’t confirm that. Now that Coleman is gone, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Kruse has been named the interim CEO. The Broadlawns Board of Trustees will search nationally for a permanent replacement.

(Ankeny, Iowa) — An Iowa-based convenience store chain known for its pizza is expanding into the Lone Star State. Officials with Casey’s General Stores say the company is acquiring 22 Lone Star Stores in Texas, and incorporating them into its brand. Darren Rebelez, Casey’s president and chief executive officer, said in the news release that all Lone Star employees have been offered jobs.

Casey’s General Stores Inc. opened its first general store in Boone, Iowa in 1968. Casey’s operates more than 2,500 stores in 16 states, primarily in the Midwest, according to its website. It’s the company’s first time expanding into Texas, which becomes its 17th state overall. The transaction is expected to be wrapped up by the end of the month. The retailer finished the first quarter of its fiscal 2024 on July 31st. It plans to add more than 350 stores through construction and acquisitions by fiscal year 2026. Announcing fiscal Q1 results, Casey’s said it was updating its forecast to add at least 150 stores in fiscal year 2024 because of pending transactions.

Casey’s is the third-largest convenience store chain in the country and the fifth-largest pizza chain.