(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says state funding for small public schools in rural areas will remain stable or could increase if the legislature approves her plan to set up state-funded accounts for parents who send their kids to private schools. Reynolds discussed details of her school choice bill during an interview with Radio Iowa.

“I would say that we’re putting a significant amount of money into our kids and into education, both public and private as well with the new ESA language that we’re proposing,” Reynolds said. Reynolds estimates about 107 million dollars of state funds would be deposited in Education Savings Accounts for low income parents enrolling children in a private school this fall. She’s also recommending that legislators provide 190 million dollars more to public K-through-12 schools in the next academic year.

Reynolds said she’s under no illusion she’ll change opponents’ minds about her plans. “I want somebody to tell me what is the magic number. What is the magic number that all of a sudden will make all of education wonderful? Is it 75% of the budget? Is it 65% of the budget? You know 57% of the state budget is going to education. Come on,” Reynolds said. “There are examples of states out there that are spending way less on education and getting better results.” Current state law guarantees small public schools with declining enrollment don’t see their state funding decline.

The governor has proposed public schools get 12-hundred dollars for every district resident who’s enrolled in a private K-through-12 school. The governor says that could benefit some small rural schools.  “Their funding will stay the same or increase with the proposal that we put forward,” Reynolds said. This is the third and most expansive “school choice” plan Reynolds has presented to legislators. Last year, Reynolds met with rural school superintendents and principals as she tried to round up support — and votes in the House — for the concept.

“I just said: ‘Hey, I want to look you in the face and I just want you to know that it is critical that we have a strong public school system. It’s the foundation of our educational system. It’s the foundation of our economy and our society. I don’t have any illusion that I’m going to sit across from you and change your mind,'” Reynolds said. “‘But I do believe that parents also, regardless of whether make enough money or not, if their child is not thriving in the system that there is and we can provide some choices, we should do that.”

By 2025, all private school parents in Iowa, regardless of income, could get state money to cover private school expenses under the governor’s plan — an estimated 341 million dollars in total. A private company would oversee those payments.  “It will be a separate platform that we will be able to manage the system through,” she said. Reynolds indicates the chosen company would then ensure the money is spent on private school tuition or other allowed expenses, like private tutoring, textbooks or school-related fees.

The money is not to be spent on food, clothing, transportation or disposable school supplies, like pencils and paper.  “It will be automated. I think that’s the important thing to understand,” Reynolds said. “It’s not going to through the Department of Education. This will be a separate entity that will handle that, much like we do the 529.” The state authorized so-called five-29 College Savings Iowa Plans provide some tax advantages to parents saving for college expenses and the accounts are managed by Vanguard, an investment company.

Earlier today (Thursday), Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the governor’s school choice bill. The legislation is now eligible for debate next week in the House and Senate.

(Radio Iowa) – Whenever a person’s life is lost, there’s an opportunity for lives to be saved — if that person was a registered organ and tissue donor. Heather Butterfield, spokeswoman for the Iowa Donor Network, says their final figures are in for 2022, during which she says many hundreds of lives were transformed by generous gifts from donors. “In 2022, we had 115 deceased organ donors in the state of Iowa that generously gave 347 organs for transplant,” Butterfield says. “Additionally, we have 979 tissue donors and every single tissue donor has the opportunity to heal and enhance the lives of 50 to 300 people.”

Since 2018, she says the state’s donor network has experienced a 62-percent increase in the number of organ donors as well as a 40-percent rise in the number of organs transplanted.  “There are more Iowans registering as organ and tissue donors,” Butterfield says. “We’re also seeing more opportunities with advancements in medicine and healthcare and in the organ donation field. There’s just a greater opportunity for people to donate.” She says the Iowa Donor Network coordinates with hospitals, transplant centers, E-M-S providers, medical examiners, and other healthcare partners to maximize donation opportunities.

“Anyone of any age can register to be a donor here in the state of Iowa,” Butterfield says. “Of course, the most common way is at the DMV, but if you check your license and you don’t have the word DONOR on the front, you can visit our website, IowaDonorNetwork.org. It takes less than three minutes and you can register to save lives.” Still, the transplant wait list is long. She says there are more than 105-thousand people nationwide in need of a life-saving organ transplant, including 625 Iowans.

ATLANTIC, IA (January 19, 2023) – Produce in the Park’s Sweetheart Market has been scheduled for Saturday, February 11 from noon to 3:00 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic. This is a new and highly anticipated location for the winter farmers market because the Nishna Valley Family YMCA will be offering free activities for kids during the market. Additionally, Pim’s Thai food truck will be in the parking lot selling their popular Thai Food. Sweetheart Market is held the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, so shoppers can pick up Valentine’s Day themed sweets, baked goods, and gifts, in addition to farmers market favorites premium local produce, meats, jams, seasonal candles, crafts, art, jewelry, and bath and body products.

Sweetheart Market vendors confirmed as of January 19 include:

• Smudge
• Bridgewater Farm
• Brun Ko Farm
• Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts
• Noble Provisions
• The Kringle Man
• DezaRae Farm Soaps,
• Ter-Bear Honey
• Johnna Joy Designs
• Midwest Candles by Brit,
• Wud Bi Tek
• Creekside Crystals and Crafts
• Frosting Inc.,
• Spirits of the Faire
• Sweet Sisters Vegan
• Donna’s Jewelry
• Unicorn Clouds
• Studio Samantha
• Sugar Mamma Cookie Co., and
• Pim’s Thai Food Truck.

Sweetheart Market 2023 will offer both in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Pre-order will be available through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com from February 1- 9. Preordering is an excellent option for customers who want to plan on a particular food item—such as Valentines cookies—as well as customers who are short on time to shop at the market.
Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered products.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Sweetheart Market and Spring Celebration Market (April 6). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or
contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712- 249-5870.

Sweetheart Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Gregg Young Automotive of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information on Christmas Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports there were three arrests on Tuesday and another arrest this past Monday. Officials say on Monday (1/16/23), 33-year-old Matthew Stevens, of Lewis, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Stevens was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

Those taken into custody on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, include:

55-year-old Bernard Ewertz III, and 47-year-old David Headley, both of Log Lane Village, CO. Each was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Drug Trafficking. Ewertz was additionally charged with being a Felon in Control of a Firearm. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail, and held. Separately, 40-year-old Zachary Frank, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday, on a warrant for Theft 4th Degree.  Frank was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has issued an update on a rollover accident that we previously reported on with limited information. Authorities say that at around 3:10-p.m. Wednesday (January 18th, 2023), deputies and area first responders were called to the intersection of Highland Road and Indian Creek Street, for a single vehicle rollover accident.  Upon investigation it was found that a 2018 GMC Yukon, being operated by Madison Darnell, of Hancock, was traveling East on Highland Road.  Darnell lost control of the vehicle due to slick roadway conditions, and the vehicle entered the south ditch, tipping to it’s side.

The vehicle had five occupants who were all transported via EMS for medical evaluation.  At the time of the accident and during subsequent investigation, it was reported that all injuries were considered to be minor and non-life threatening.  The vehicle sustained significant, totaling damage.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, received an update from a firm contracted to help recruit new businesses and developers to the City. Last Fall, the Council agreed to renew an agreement with the “Retail Coach” which works alongside the Atlantic Area Chamber pf Commerce to conduct market research and development, in an effort to further high-impact retail recruitment and development strategies. The agreement was for $20,000 – $10,000 less than what was charged the first year of the contract, in 2021.

Austin Farmer, “Retail Coach” Project Director, speaking via video conference call with the Council, said part of the process is attending conferences and speaking with retailers and developers on behalf of the City, such as a conference they are attending this week in Dallas, Texas.

He said there are four key areas of focus in networking with the retail trade industry.

Austin Farmer

The third area of focus is with regard to developers.

The last element in the process, he said, is “Franchisee Recruitment.”

Austin Farmer said they have actively recruited more than 60 regional and national retail prospects and are coordinating with persons who are in charge of searching for real estate for a franchise. Similar efforts are being conducted for the downtown area.

Some of the prospects didn’t have the financial resources to locate in Atlantic, while others are still recovering from the affect of COVID on their business functionality. Following his nearly 40-minute presentation, Farmer answered some questions from the Council, who appeared to have been pleased with his report.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports no one was injured following two separate accident so far this week.  Monday evening, a 2011 Jeep driven by 20-year-old Martin Plascencia-Marquez, of Omaha, was traveling east on Highway 34 near mile marker 1, when at around 7:23-p.m., the vehicle began to malfunction. After Plascencia-Marquez pulled-over and popped the hood, he saw flames coming from the engine bay. The compartment became fully engulfed in flames, and was extinguished by first responders.

On Wednesday, Mills County Deputies responded to a rollover accident at 360th/Lambert. A 2022 Nissan was observed in the north ditch. The driver, 23-year-old Ian Rieple, of Omaha, informed the Deputy that he was en route to Malvern, when his vehicle slid-off the road and into the ditch. The Deputy transported the man to a local convenience store to be picked up by his friend and transported back to Nebraska.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announce the launch of a multi-platform, multi-audience messaging campaign aimed at educating parents and young Iowans about the dangers of counterfeit pills and fentanyl.

More and more young Iowans are experimenting with pills believing they will help them feel better, study more effectively or reduce social anxiety. “This is especially dangerous because many of these pills available to young people are counterfeit and contain deadly levels of fentanyl,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, State Medical Director. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s 50 times stronger than heroin.  It only takes 2mg of fentanyl to be deadly.  Drug cartels make counterfeit pills with fentanyl because it’s cheap, highly addictive, and encourages repeat business.

The campaign features Deric and Kathy Kidd of central Iowa, who lost their 17-year-old son, Sebastian on July 30, 2021 due to counterfeit pills. “Everyone needs to know these conversations are essential. We all need to start an ongoing and open dialogue with our kids about the ramifications of taking any illicit substance.  It’s imperative that we address the stigma associated with mental health and drug use. Understanding the correlation between the two is the first step in this fight,” shared Deric and Kathy Kidd.

“Raising awareness among young Iowans and their parents about the threat of fentanyl is one of the most important things we can do to save lives and combat the national opioid crisis,” Gov. Reynolds stated. “This new campaign is part of a comprehensive approach that also includes new legislation to enact stricter penalties and enhanced sentencing to hold drug manufacturers and dealers accountable.”

The campaign will include television spots with high-profile social media placements on Facebook and Instagram to enhance awareness of counterfeit pills among Iowans age 25 and up. Messaging will also be targeted toward teens and young adults through YouTube and mobile app targeted banners. HHS also developed a conversation guide for parents. The tool provides parents age specific information about how to start having this important conversation. The conversation guide can be downloaded from the Your Life Iowa website.

In October 2022, HHS announced a program to provide Naloxone (an opioid reversal medication) in schools across Iowa so they can respond to students, staff, or visitors who may be experiencing an opioid overdose. Schools, businesses and organizations can apply for the program on the HHS website using this form.

(Radio Iowa) – Four police officers are being cleared of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a central Iowa teenager the day after Christmas. Des Moines police were called to a southside apartment early on December 26th where a man said his stepson had pulled a gun on him. The 16-year-old, identified only as T-J, refused to comply with officers’ orders to lower the weapon. After five minutes of negotiation, the boy raised the gun at the four officers. He was shot 14 times.

Following a review of all statements and bodycam video, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office says the shooting was justified and no charges will be filed. The report says the officers were forced to act to protect themselves and others.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Joni Ernst says now is not the time to cut the Pentagon’s budget. “We know that there are areas in our national defense where we are lagging behind,” Ernst says. “If you take a look at what we call our nuclear triad, we know that we need to modernize. We are very, very far behind in some of those efforts and areas.”

House Republicans say they will insist on cuts in federal spending in any deal to raise the government’s ability to borrow more money to pay its bills. Ernst says cuts to military spending would not be helpful. “To scale back tremendously on national defense, I think it’s the wrong thing to do when we live in an ever increasingly dangerous, dangerous world,” Ernst says.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says every single level of government should be looking at ways to spend less money. He says in an 800 BILLION dollar defense budget, there are areas that can be cut, like the money the Air Force is spending to research the use of biofuels in jets.