(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that’s expected to offer child care assistance to more Iowans. It raises the income limit for families to qualify and increases government payments to facilities that care for the kids from those families. Reynolds says it’s been about 15 years since the state raised the income limit for state child care assistance. Parents have had to work at least 28 hours a week to qualify, but the new law raises that to 32 hours a week.

“It’s just minimal and I think we’re just really doing whatever we can to really help families, but to encourage them,” Reynolds says. “We have such a workforce shortage in the state of Iowa.” Tammy McNeil is the owner and director of Childcare Discovery Center in Fort Dodge, where Reynolds signed the bill into law. She says the higher payments to providers will help her center a lot, as the parents of nearly half the kids are getting government-funded child care assistance.

“I have been in child care for almost 40 years and to watch it slowly crumble has been heartbreaking,” she said. “Thank you for recognizing the importance of child care and working directly with us to address our concerns and take action.” Reynolds was surrounded by children enrolled in McNeil’s center as she signed the bill into law.

The Legislative Services Agency estimates nearly 27-hundred more children will be enrolled in the state’s child care assistance program due to the hike in income eligibility for parents.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa city has hired an independent law firm to investigate its fire department. Ottumwa’s City Council unanimously approved the hiring of Des Moines-based Dentons Davis Brown PC in a closed session. The session was held to review possible personnel concerns within the Ottumwa Fire Department.

City officials did not discuss any reasons why the fire department has fallen under scrutiny, however, Ottumwa Mayor Rick Johnson did mention two firefighters are on paid administrative leave and will remain so for the duration of the investigation.

Des Moines, Iowa – An approaching cold front is pulling smoke from Canadian wildfires down to ground level, and areas of unhealthy, very unhealthy, and hazardous air quality are being measured across much of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. This smoke is expected to impact Iowa today and tomorrow.

The air quality in Northwest Iowa was impacted first this morning, with a band of heavy smoke working its way through the state from Northwest to Southeast. The smoke is expected to impact central Iowa this evening. Through the overnight hours, northwest winds will move the smoke out in the same pattern, with clearing beginning in far Northwest Iowa by tomorrow morning. Cleaner air statewide is forecast by Friday afternoon. However, intermittent and patchy smoke episodes are possible even throughout the weekend.

Unhealthy levels are anticipated across Iowa as the smoke passes through. Twenty-four-hour averages may reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, and levels considered unhealthy for everyone may be measured. Sensitive groups include older adults, those with respiratory or heart disease, and children. The health impacts of the smoke can be reduced by limiting prolonged outdoor exertion until air quality conditions improve.

Real-time air quality maps and information about the air quality index can be found on EPA’s airnow.gov site.  A graphic approximation of the extent and trajectory of the smoke plume can be seen on the map at fire.airnow.gov

(Radio Iowa) – A woman pulled from a burning garage in Cedar Rapids early this (Thursday) morning has died. According to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, the garage was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, but due the intensity of the fire and a high level of debris in the garage, it took several minutes for firefighters to get inside and find the trapped woman. She was treated at the scene, then transferred to a hospital, but did not survive. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

A woman died in this Cedar Rapids garage fire. (CRFD photo)

(Radio Iowa) – State officials say more than three-thousand Iowans are on track to lose their Medicaid coverage by June 1st. During the pandemic, the state was forbidden from dis-enrolling anyone from Medicaid except in limited circumstances. That rule ended last month, which is when Iowa Health and Human Services officials started mailing out Medicaid eligibility re-determination forms. State Medicaid Director Elizabeth Matney says the state is trying multiple approaches to reach people.

“We’re following up via phone, phone call, text message,” Matney says, “and in some circumstances, especially for more vulnerable populations we are going out and knocking door to door.” About half of the forms have not yet been returned. Matney says that may be because the state is first targeting members who are most likely to no longer qualify.

“When we did a look at the 150,000-ish that we had flagged for maintaining eligibility due to the public health emergency, over 100,000 of those have other health insurance,” she says. State officials expect this Medicaid unwinding process to take about a year.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped down to two-point-seven percent in April, compared to two-point-eight percent in March. Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson, Jesse Dougherty, says the labor force participation rate moved up slightly. “Our labor force added 43-hundred new workers. So, I think what’s notable about that is that’s not only encouraging news, you know, for the job seekers that are that are finding jobs, but also encouraging for the employers in Iowa to know that pool of available workers is growing,” he says. Dougherty says the participation rate and getting more people back looking for work is important.”It continues to climb up. And, you know, that’s, that’s something that we continue to watch that shows us, you know, the labor pool is active, the workforce is in a healthier spot than it certainly was a couple of years ago. So that’s very encouraging sign for us,” he says.

Manufacturing saw an increase of 14-hundred jobs. “That was really driven by a couple of factors within durable goods, factories, as well as some other production facilities,” Dougherty says. “We also saw growth and healthcare and retail and you know, retail has gone through some ebbs and flows the last two or three years. So that was encouraging sign to see another month, as well as healthcare. So we saw a couple of industries that really have gone through a lot. And you know, in the early days of the pandemic that have appeared to be have a little bit more steady of climb.” He says there was a negative in the overall employment number.

“We did see some slight losses over in overall non-farm employment. That was driven by some areas that, you know are receiving some general, we see that some general tightening in the economy, certainly with interest rates, and some other concerns that are there,” he says. “You know, we see some of that.” That drop was 300 jobs in total non-farm employment from March to April, the first loss since November 2022. Dougherty says it’s not a concern for the overall economy.  “Over the past 12 months we still have a net gain of over 26-thousand jobs. So that’s something we continue to look at when we’re looking at things long term,” he says.

I-W-D says the lowest Iowa unemployment rate was two-point-three percent in April 2022. That number came after the U-S Labor Department made its annual revisions for the year.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Recorder Mary Ward, today (Thursday), wants residents in the area to be aware of a scam “County Deed Records” letter some residents are receiving. Ward says “On Monday, May 1, a County Recorder’s Office assisted a resident with questions about a confusing letter they received, which was quickly identified as a scam and reported to local law enforcement.

The letter claimed to be from”County Deed Records.” It contained false information about the recipients’ home warranty expiration date. Mary Ward says “The letter also contained a ‘renewal fee voucher‘ for $199, which resembles a check, and requests immediate action to call or be left vulnerable to repair costs.” Ward warns “The Iowa County Recorders Association, in partnership with Iowa Land Records, confirm that this information is NOT legitimate. Similar illegitimate letters have been found across the county.”

“Thankfully,” Ward says, “The resident came into their local County Recorder’s Office with questions, before taking any action. If you are someone you know has received a letter claiming to be from County Deed Records, please DO NOT RESPOND to the letter in any way.”

• Do not pay
• Do not call
• Do not go to the website
• and Do not return any mail requests.

For more information, contact the Cass County Recorders Office at 712-243-1692.

Scam Voucher check

(Des Moines, Iowa) — It’s not the “garden spot” of the U-S, but Iowa does have two cities listed on a report from U.S. News and World report, for the country’s best places to live. In its annual list of Best Places to Live in the U.S., released May 15, U.S. News ranked Des Moines 19th and the Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois) 54th.

The publication ranks the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. based on an analysis of quality of life, housing affordability and the job market, among other factors.

It’s a slight drop for Des Moines, which ranked 14th last year and 13th in 2021. At its highest on the list, Iowa’s capital city was fourth in 2018. The Quad Cities dropped one spot from 2022.

Downtown Des Moines, IA

Quad Cities Sky Bridge

U.S. News & World Report’s Top 20 Best Places to Live in the U.S., 2023-24

1. Green Bay, Wisconsin

2. Huntsville, Alabama

3. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina

4. Boulder, Colorado

5. Sarasota, Florida

6. Naples, Florida

7. Portland, Maine

8. Charlotte, North Carolina

9. Colorado Springs, Colorado

10. Fayetteville, Arkansas

11. Madison, Wisconsin

12. Boise, Idaho

13. San Jose, California

14. Ann Arbor, Michigan

15. Melbourne, Florida

16. Jacksonville, Florida

17. Albany, New York

18. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

19. Des Moines, Iowa

20. Grand Rapids, Michigan

(Washington, D-C) – The Humane Society of the United States is reporting on problem puppy mills, including some dealers (re-sellers) and transporters. The “Horrible Hundred” report is a list of known, problematic puppy breeding and/or puppy brokering facilities. According to the report, Iowa has the second-highest number of puppy mills in the country, at 13. Two of the kennels – one each in Sioux Center and Kiron, are in northwest Iowa.

Ohio also has 13 puppy mills on the list. And, for the 11th year in a row, Missouri is number one with 31 confirmed puppy mills.  The report says the Iowa breeders on the list made dogs live in filthy and dangerous conditions.

Dogs in a northern IA puppy mill (2018 ASPCA photo)

The report is not a list of all puppy mills, according the the Humane Society, nor is it a list of the worst puppy mills in the country, but rather a list of dog breeders to avoid.

Des Moines, Iowa – In honor of Memorial Day on May 29th, State Treasurer Roby Smith is highlighting military-related institutions with funds to claim in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Iowa’s unclaimed property program. “This Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” stated Smith. “Supporting our members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans is important for our country and our communities. We have several businesses and organizations on our list with property to claim. We need the public’s help to ensure the return of funds to these organizations as they continue to support Iowa’s service members and Veterans.”

Three western Iowa organizations are included on the list.  If you recognize a business or group below, encourage them to visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to start a claim.

1. Iowa Army National Guard, Johnston: $4,922.90
2. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Waterloo: $3,853.12
3. Veterans Administration, Iowa City: $1,836.86
4. Disabled American Veterans, Tama: $1,000.00
5. Veterans Administration, Des Moines: $898.96
6. American Legion Aux Harrison County, Little Sioux: $560.81
7. Scott County Veteran Assoc, Donahue: $476.23
8. Air Force Aid Act, Iowa City: $425.02
9. Army Reserve Center Sioux Fall, Des Moines: $379.84
10. Navy League Council 255, Sioux City: $376.41
11. Veterans Council, Prairie City: $350.36
12. Disabled American Veterans Store Trustee, Des Moines: $274.08
13. Army Reserves, Des Moines: $253.75
14. American Legion, Centerville: $250.00
15. Iowa Veterans Advocacy Corp, Cedar Rapids: $250.00
16. National Assoc of Concerned Veterans, Des Moines: $204.82
17. Great River CB Club Veterans Memorial, Burlington: $129.77
18. Cambridge American Legion, Cambridge: $120.00
19. American Legion Hanford Post 5, Cedar Rapids: $119.92
20. 1954 Navy Reunion Fund, Ames: $106.00
21. Madrid Veterans Foreign War, Madrid: $83.84
22. Harrison County Veterans Affairs, Logan: $75.00
23. Disabled American Veterans, Des Moines: $75.00
24. Iowa Family Veterans, Waterloo: $65.38
25. Central Iowa Honor Flight, Council Bluffs: $64.19

Millions of dollars are turned over each year after financial institutions and businesses lose contact with the owner. The State Treasurer’s Office safeguards these assets through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt until they are reunited with their rightful owner. Common examples of unclaimed property include dormant checking and savings accounts, uncashed checks, utility refunds, lost stocks, life insurance policies and contents from abandoned safe deposit boxes. The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property, and to date, has returned over $340 million in unclaimed property.

Visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to securely search for your name, the names of family and friends or the names of local businesses and organizations. Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all areas of the office.