(Radio Iowa) – State officials report around 120-thousand Iowans have been removed from the Medicaid program since April, with about three-quarters of them being dropped from the rolls for procedural reasons, like not returning paperwork.

Enrollment swelled during the pandemic and federal rules said no one was to lose Medicaid coverage, even if their income rose above program limits. That rule was lifted this spring and states began Medicaid eligibility checks. State Medicaid director Elizabeth Matney says she expects the number of Iowans being removed to fall off sharply in the next few months. That’s because she says the state is first targeting people who are likely ineligible for the program. “It’s not incredibly surprising to see a high number in these first handful of months, not returning their redeterminations, especially when we expected them to not be eligible anyway.”

There’s a 90-day grace period for Iowans who have been removed, but still qualify to be reinstated with no gaps in their Medicaid coverage. “When we look at the individuals who are going through these procedural disenrollments as well, about 80% have other health insurance,” she says, “so losing Medicaid under this circumstance does not equal losing health coverage.”

As of this past June, about 860-thousand Iowans were enrolled in Medicaid — nearly 20 percent more than in June of 2020.

(Audubon, Iowa) [UPDATED] – The Rose Theater in Audubon will offer an extended show time for the movie “Sound of Freedom.” Rose Theater Board Member Linda Bloome said the interest shown in the movie was “Very, very overwhelming.”

She said she and her crew worked during the showing on Sunday.

The movie deals with the subject of sex trafficking.

The Sound of Freedom is a 2023 American action film starring Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp. It’s about former government agent Bill Ballard, who embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia. The plot centers around Ballard’s Operation Underground Railroad, a non-profit, anti-sex trafficking organization.The film is rate PG-13. It was released on July 4^th.

An anonymous donor paid for the weekend tickets, and that spirit of local philanthropy was paid forward, allowing another showing of the movie.

The show can be viewed this Wednesday, August 2nd, at 7-p.m. And once again, there is NO charge to see the movie, thanks to donors. While this movie and others over the past years, have led to a resurgence of persons coming to the Rose, there was a time when it wasn’t as popular.

Linda Bloome said the effort was definitely a “Labor of love,” supported by the community. The first movie shown in the renovated theater was in June, 2018. She said the popularity of the theater has been “amazing.” She says since the Atlantic Atlas Theater closed last December, Cass County residents have traveled to Audubon to see movies, which Bloome says has been “heartwarming.”

The Rose is entirely run by volunteers. Normal admission for each movie just four-dollars. Bloome notes admission fees (for all movies except the Wednesday show), are cash-only. The use of volunteers and absence of credit card fees , she says, helps to keep down the cost of admission.

DES MOINES, Iowa, July 31, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Matt Russell, today (Monday) announced that 46 Iowa Counties are now authorized for emergency haying or grazing use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for fiscal year 2023. The 26 counties approved for emergency haying or grazing include: Allamakee, Audubon, Benton, Buena Vista, Carroll, Cedar, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Crawford, Decatur, Des Moines, Fremont, Henry, Humboldt, Ida, Jones, Louisa, Marion, Muscatine, Page, Pocahontas, Sac, Shelby, and Washington.

With 20 Iowa Counties restricted under Emergency Haying Criteria Based on Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) authorization: Appanoose, Cass, Davis, Harrison, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Lyon, Mahaska, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, Woodbury.

Counties are automatically approved for CRP emergency haying and grazing when they reach the D2 (severe drought) level on the U.S. Drought Monitor and are outside of the primary nesting season (May 15th through August 1st). Additionally, the 2018 farm bill also authorized counties with a documented 40-percent loss of forage production to be eligible for emergency haying and grazing. Local FSA County Committees can review forge loss data and make a recommendation to the Iowa FSA State Committee to authorize emergency haying and grazing.

A CRP participant must receive approval for emergency haying from their county FSA Office before any action is taken.  The emergency haying authorizations end on August 31, 2023. The emergency grazing period for these counties will end Sept. 30, 2023.  CRP participants are eligible to seek approval for either emergency haying or emergency grazing but cannot do both on the same acres.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated every Thursday and new counties may become eligible for emergency haying and grazing.  Participants in newly approved counties will need to sign up at their local FSA offices and get approval prior to completing any haying or grazing activity. USDA Director Matt Russell says “Eligible producers who are interested in emergency haying and grazing of CRP must request approval before haying and grazing eligible acreage and must obtain a modified conservation plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that includes haying and grazing provisions.”

There will be no CRP annual rental payment reduction for 2023 emergency haying and grazing authorizations. CRP participants in counties not eligible for Emergency Haying and Grazing are eligible for Non-Emergency Haying and Grazing starting August 2nd.  CRP participants should check with their local FSA office to determine their eligibility and specifics.  They need to sign up and get approval from their local FSA office before any haying or grazing is started.

For more information and to request approval for emergency haying or grazing use of CRP acres, contact your local USDA Service Center.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Secondary Roads Department reports 130th Street southwest of Stuart, from the Schildberg Quarry entrance to Pinewood Avenue (Between Orange and Pinewood Avenues), will be closed to through traffic for road reconstruction. The closure is expect to last a week. (See the map below)

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (via KCRG) – Two men from Iowa have returned to the State following an around the world trip to end polio. KCRG in Cedar Rapids reports Peter Teahen, of Robins, has been a member of Rotary International for years and has always dreamt of flying around the world. In 2019 he announced he and his fellow rotary member, experienced aviator, and cousin, John Ockenfels of Shueyville would be doing just that. The trip was part of Rotary International’s End Polio Now initiative.

The men faced several obstacles such as the COVID-19 Pandemic, and having to change planes to one that could fly their new route after Russia banned aircraft from NATO and EU countries from entering its airspace. They took off on their journey from the Eastern Iowa Airport on May 5th visiting 19 countries on 4 continents, and spent time talking with local leaders about their mission.The team spent time in Pakistan, giving children Polio vaccinations.

In total, they raised over $1,000,000 for the Rotary’s Polio Plus Program which provides vaccines to those in need around the globe. On Sunday, they touched down for the final time. Over one hundred friends, family members, and loved ones were waiting to great them. Ockenfels says the self-funded trip cost around $100,000. They say it’s money well spent, and the project helps people in Iowa realize while the disease may seem distant… its only a flight away.

Donations are still being accepted and will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2:1.

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY, Iowa — Voters in Pottawattamie County will be hitting the polls, Tuesday, August 1^st, to decide on the outcome of a Special Election. The election will serve to determine how residents of the county elect their county supervisors. The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors approved the special election on June 6th, after private groups gathered nearly 4,000 signatures and submitted a petition to allow county residents to choose between three options for county supervisor elections.

Currently, Pottawattamie County is a Plan One county. Each member of the Board of Supervisors is allowed to reside anywhere in Pottawattamie County (At Large) and the voters of the county elect all five members of the Board of Supervisors. Plan Two would divide Pottawattamie County into five districts of roughly equal population. One Supervisor must reside in each of the districts, and voters would still elect all five members of the Board of Supervisors. Plan Three would also divide Pottawattamie County into five districts of roughly equal population, but. voters would elect the one Supervisor who resides in the same district as the voter and would not vote for the other four Supervisors in the other four districts.

If Plan Two or Plan Three passes, Pottawattamie County will be divided into five districts of approximately 18,733 residents. Council Bluffs will be split into four districts, with one of those four also including some portions of the county adjacent to the city. One district will not include any portion of Council Bluffs. Districts cannot be set until after the election. The video below, released by Pottawattamie County explains the lawful factors that determine district size and outlines where district boundaries will likely be drawn.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sample ballots and polling site information can be viewed HERE.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report an Adair County man was arrested Friday at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. 31-year-old Dalton James Cormeny, of Fontanelle, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for Theft 1st Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, and Burglary 3rd Degree. Cormeny was later released on a $20,000 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 2:20-a.m. Saturday, 61-year-old James Leo Pettit, of Afton, was arrested at the intersection of Highway 34 and Iris Street. Pettit was charged with OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Union County Jail, and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol hopes you’ll vote for their picture submitted as part of a contest to be featured on a 2024 calendar. The “2023 Best Looking Cruiser” contest will help to determine which of the 45 pictures from state patrol units from across the country, will be used in the American Association of State Troopers (AAST) calendar. It’s the 10^th year the organization has held the contest.

According to the AAST website, “The contest began as a friendly competition between the state agencies and is proving to be a fun and engaging way to allow our state’s community members to support and interact with law enforcement in a positive manner.”

The Iowa State Patrol has entered this photo in the “Best Looking Cruiser” contest

The winner of the “Best Looking Cruiser Award” will be featured on the cover of the AAST’s “America’s Best Looking Cruisers 2024 Wall Calendar”. Calendars will be available for purchase on the AAST website beginning Oct. 1st. All sales will benefit the American Association of State Troopers Foundation.

Last year, the Kentucky State Police cruiser took home the coveted prize. Voting began July 17 and will continue through today (July 31) at 11 a.m.

You can cast your vote by clicking here.

(Underwood, Iowa) — A collision between a motorcycle and a van Saturday evening near Underwood, resulted in one person being transported to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities said vehicles crashed in the area of Railroad Highway and Road L-34. Additional information was not immediately available.

(Radio Iowa) – An event planned for this coming weekend in central Iowa will feature nationally-known speakers, a film premiere, a live podcast recording, an “ideas contest,” and more, all designed to inspire conversation. Nathan Beacom, executive director of The Lyceum Movement, says “Tallgrass: The Des Moines Festival of Ideas” is planned for Sunday (August 6th), focused on things like history, art, and philosophy.

Beacom calls the fest a revival of something that used to happen in Iowa a century ago, when chautauquas would have interesting speakers, thinkers, culture and food. We’re living in a time where many people are consumed by the anxiousness of online life, and Beacom says this will be a space where neighbors can slow down and meet face to face.