(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is introducing a bill today (Tuesday) which he says will help to rein in billions of dollars in Biden administration spending that’s siphoning money away from vital farm programs. Grassley, a Republican, is calling it the U-S Department of Agriculture Spending Accountability Act. “The bill limits spending from that part of the U.S.D.A. called the Commodity Credit Corporation,” Grassley says, “and it would limit the C.C.C. to spending money only on programs authorized by Congress.”

Grassley says the legislation is designed to stop the U-S-D-A from undermining the role of Congress in writing the upcoming Farm Bill. “Over the past few years, secretaries of agriculture have used excess funds in the CCC for their own agenda,” Grassley says. “It’s become one of the most costly tools in the farm safety net.” He says the Biden administration is using this agricultural loophole as a blank check to pay for a host of unapproved programs, which Grassley says includes the president’s “environmental agenda.”

“Without these new controls, the Biden administration can simply fund its priorities using the C.C.C.,” Grassley says, “even if Congress rejects them in the upcoming Farm Bill.” He says the bill would save eight-billion dollars. Given the debt and deficit, Grassley says they “need to find savings in every nook and cranny of the Farm Bill.”

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School Board met Monday evening for about an hour, in Anita. Superintendent Paul Croghan told KJAN News the Board approved the resignation of Elementary Secretary Brittany Honeck. The Board then approved a contract with Honeck to become Board Secretary Assistant to the School Business Official (SBO) position.

The CAM School Board proceeded to renew Sharing Agreements with the Nodaway Valley Community School District.

They also passed a Resolution to approve a BMO Member Account Agreement, with regard to a credit card switch, and access to online banking. They also approved an assortment of Board Policies.

Croghan said community engagement meetings with SitelogicIQ will likely get underway in September, with regard to District Projects. And, he mentioned the School Board approved a Request For Proposal (RFP). The contract with the Nolte, Cornman & Johnson Auditing firm is for three-years. They also approved Board Legislative Priorities, including Supplemental State Aid, and Bond Approval by simple majority.

The CAM School Board approved also, the replacement of six heaters in the Elementary Building by Smith Plumbing and Heating, and approval of a transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Activity Fund, for reconditioned safety equipment. That includes football helmets and shoulder and knee pads, and new helmets.

Superintendent Croghan noted also, the new school year is fast approaching. He thanked school personnel who are making sure students and staff will have a clean and functional learning environment.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department said today (Tuesday, 7/11), no injuries were reported following a collision that occurred just before 10-a.m. Saturday, at the intersection of Elm and Adams Streets. Authorities report a 2022 Ford Explorer SUV driven by 72-year-old Martha Lou Larson, of Clearfield, and a 2022 Buick Encore SUV driven by 88-year-old Marjorie Anne Scurlock, of Creston, approached and stopped at 4-way stop intersection, with Larson traveling south on Elm Street and Scurlock headed east on Adams Street.

Both vehicles proceeded into the intersection at the same time, and collided. Both drivers said they thought they had the right-of-way, and did not see each other before entering the intersection. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. No citations were issued.

(Cass County, Iowa) – A reminder from the Cass County Local Food Policy Council:  Atlantic and Massena are hosting mobile food pantries this month on Wednesday afternoon, July 12. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. Both Atlantic and Massena will be distributing the same food products. If supplies run low in Massena, families will be directed to Atlantic.

Full details about the July 12 Mobile Pantries, as well as dates for upcoming mobile pantries in 2023 are listed below:

July 12 Mobile Food Pantries:

Atlantic: Atlantic High School front parking lot, from 4-6 p.m. Enter from 14th Street and follow signs. Questions, call 712-243-1132.
Massena: Southwest Iowa Egg, 74877 Clark Avenue, Massena, Iowa – Enter from the west and drive across the scale for pick up.  Time:  4:30-5:00 p.m. 

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in Anita and Atlantic, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For the latest information on Massena pantries, call (712) 779-3447. For information on upcoming events and local food, farmers markets, and food access activities, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a badly decomposed body was found Monday afternoon, near 25th Street and Avenue G. Officers were dispatched to the scene at around 3:30-p.m.  Authorities  said initial evidence seemed to indicate the person found was not the victim of foul play. They did not identify the gender of the remains. An autopsy is expected to reveal more information.

Officials with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, reports Brad and Lorrie Rasmussen at Hygge Cottage and Tivoli Gardens in Atlantic (Iowa), have successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat through its Garden for Wildlife Program.  In addition, the Rasmussen’s habitat has been co-certified with NWF’s state affiliate, the Iowa Wildlife Federation.

The NWF says its celebrates this effort to create a garden which supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs, and other local wildlife.  Every Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden provides natural sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way which incorporates indigenous grasses and forbs, conserves water, and does not rely on pesticides.

NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski says “Anyone, anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities. Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban yard, or a rural plot of land, you will make a difference for local wildlife.  Creating a Certified Wildlife is fun, easy, and makes a real difference for both humans and wildlife.  It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally and help birds, butterflies, bees, and many other types of wildlife.”

For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and how to qualify to have a garden space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit Garden for Wildlife or call 1-800-822-9919.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Fair concludes its week-long run today (Tuesday), in Corning. Here’s today’s slate of events/activities:

7:00-a.m., 4-H Endowment Breakfast

8:00-a.m., Dairy Show

9:00-a.m., Beef Show

1:00-p.m., 4-H/FFA Dog Show

2:00-p.m, Non-Sale Livestock will be released

4:00-p.m., Tall Corn Contest – sponsored by POET – static exhibits released

4:30-p.m., BBQ sponsored by the Adams County Fair Board

5:00-p.m., Bottle Buckaroo Show; 4-H Youth Council Ice Cream Stand

6:00-p.m., Livestock sale, followed by Premiums Sale, Herdsmanship & Shooting Sports Exhibition results announced.

On Wednesday, has the Swine Carcass results at the Adams County Extension, followed by Corning Meat Locker Walk-Through.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s one positive that may come out of Iowa’s stretch of dry weather. Iowa D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says it will likely lead to good pheasant numbers.”Of course we always say we like warm dry springs and so we run the dry side about two inches below normal so that’s good temperature wise we’re about average,” he says. Bogenschutz says the good spring weather follows a winter where most of the state saw average snowfall, making it easier for the birds to survive. The spring weather is probably most important as that’s when the new birds hatch.”Which is about June 10th to the 15th statewide average so you know you know a lot of the hens are on the ground nesting in May you know have that hatch in June and some of the early birds into April,” Bogenschutz says, “So that’s why April and May weather seems to figure in the best.”

Bogenschutz says the more birds that survive after the hatch, the more birds there are out there for the fall season. “This was our fourth dry spring in a row — which is unusual for us — and so you know we’ve kind of had decent counts,” he says. “We’re kind of struggling on the habitat side we’re losing C-R-P and continue to lose hay and small grains. So Mother Nature is cooperating, but we’re losing on the habitat side.” A glitch in collecting the survey numbers has delayed the count for last year’s pheasant hunt. Bogenschutz says it will likely be in the same range as recent years.

“A year ago you know we were over 300-thousand approaching 400-thousand, so one of our better harvest numbers in the last decade. And so they’ve been trending kind of that way and that kind of 300 to 400-thousand range,” he says.

The D-N-R will conduct its annual roadside survey of pheasants in August, and Bogenschutz says the weather charts show they are likely to see good numbers once again.

(Radio Iowa)  – Smaller Iowa communities have the opportunity to host a traveling exhibition from the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution starting next year. Jeff Morgan, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, says the exhibit called “Spark! Places of Innovation” will inspire visitors to consider why the spirit of innovation flourishes in some rural places but not others. “It’s going to be a number of different things on display with this exhibit, including photographs,” Morgan says. “There’s going to be interactive opportunities for people to be involved with the exhibits and videos, and some augmented reality components that will explore the unique combinations of places, people and circumstances.”

The exhibition will deliver new opportunities to Iowans, he says, offering rural communities a chance to access a Smithsonian-quality experience that can connect people to history, humanities, culture, arts, science, and innovation. “Communities will be encouraged to develop cultural programming, different art spaces, social justice initiatives, for example, anything that can spark transformative conversations between people who would most likely not normally engage with each other,” Morgan says, “so it’s about bringing people together.”

Morgan says the exhibit aims to serve as a springboard for local programming in the humanities, sciences and arts that prompt people to learn how innovation has impacted their communities and how they can become innovators themselves. A total of six Iowa communities will be chosen to bring the exhibit to their town. “Iowa communities with populations of 20,000 people or fewer can apply to host the exhibit in 2024 and 2025,” Morgan says, “and they can find all of the information they need at history.iowa.gov.”

The deadline to apply is September 8th. The exhibit will be in Iowa through a partnership between the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street program, the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Humanities Council.

(Radio Iowa) – A special legislative session will get underway this (Tuesday) morning at the state Capitol and Republican lawmakers plan to pass a bill to ban abortions after fetal activity can be detected, usually around the sixth week of a pregnancy. The bill has exceptions for medical emergencies and fetal abnormalities as well as cases of rape or incest. Bob Vander Plaats is president and C-E-O of The Family Leader, a Christian conservative group that has registered in support of the so-called heartbeat law. He says the legislature will be sending a message to the Iowa Supreme Court, which recently deadlocked over the governor’s request to let the 2018 Fetal Heartbeat Act she signed go into effect.

“You have a Supreme Court…that didn’t uphold the law. They even said they thought the legislature was being ‘hypothetical’ when they passed the law,” Vander Plaats says. “…Make sure the Supreme Court understands this was not a hypothetical exercise, repass it and let it run through the system again.” Governor Reynolds said her faith leads her to protect life when she signed the signed the Fetal Heartbeat Act in 2018.

“I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred and as governor I have pledged to do everything in my power to protect it,” Reynolds said on May 4, 2018. “…For me, it’s immoral to stop an innocent, beating heart.” The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa says the bill imposes the views of some Christians on others. The Right Reverend Betsey Monnet, Bishop of the Episocopal Diocese of Iowa, says her denomination has supported abortion rights since 1967. “Women in Iowa who become pregnant should be able to make their own health care decisions in consultant with their doctors and, if they choose, with their own faith leaders or clergy,” Monnett says.

Some Iowa doctors say the bill is a functional ban on abortion. Dr. Emily Boevers is an O-B-G-Y-N at the hospital in Waverly. “I’m very concerned about the dramatic responsibility that it’s going to place on health care providers to decide how urgently somebody might die from their pregnancy,” she says. Boevers says. Dr. Francesca Turner, an O-B G-Y-N in Des Moines, says the bill could delay care. “Putting the government in the middle of the physician-patient relationship is going to impact our care,” she says, “impact our ability to make medical decisions.”

A public hearing on the bill is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 11. Republican legislative leaders plan to set time limits on debate, so the bill is likely to pass before midnight.