(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to release a key decision on abortion today(Friday). The ruling involves the 24-hour abortion waiting period passed in 2020 and struck down by a lower court last year based on a 2018 State Supreme Court opinion that said Iowa’s Constitution guarantees the right to an abortion. That effectively keeps the Legislature from enacting any restrictions on abortion.

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has asked the Iowa Supreme Court to overturn that 2018 ruling. Reynolds has appointed a majority of the justices on the High Court since the 2018 opinion.

(Radio Iowa) – Deidre DeJear, the Democratic candidate for governor, says she’s looking for a running mate with government experience. DeJear plans to reveal her choice for lieutenant governor at the Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention tomorrow (Saturday). “It is a critical decision because I’m of the mindset that we’ve got to operate as a team,” DeJear says, “and that person is going to be my teammate and Iowa’s teammate every step of the way.”

DeJear has had roles in several statewide campaigns — including her own race for secretary of state four years ago. She owns a consulting company in Des Moines and has worked with small businesses, non-profits and charities. DeJear says she’s looking for a running mate who has experience from inside government entities. “I have worked alongside government, from the federal government all the way down to the municipal levels, but I’ve been on the outside working
with government,” DeJear says.

“I’d like an individual to balance me with that experience in working within, so that we can truly work collectively as a team as we seek to resolve the challenges that Iowans are facing.”

DeJear made her comments during an appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S last Friday. Current Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg was re-nominated to be Governor Kim Reynolds 2022 running mate at last weekend’s Iowa G-O-P state convention.

SIDNEY, Iowa – Funeral arrangements have been made for Fremont County Deputy Austin “Melvin” Richardson, 37, who succumbed to injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle collision on June 14. 

Public Visitation

Friday, June 17, 2022

4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Sidney High School

2754 Knox Rd.

Sidney, Iowa 51652

Funeral Service

Saturday, June 18, 2022

11:00 a.m.

Sidney High School

Burial at Hamburg Cemetery

Law enforcement and fire department honors

Following the service, the procession will leave Sidney High School and travel west on Knox Road.  The procession will then turn south on Bluff Road, entering Hamburg on E Street. It will then travel north on Argyle Street to the Hamburg Cemetery. 

The Richardson family has been humbled by the outpouring of love and support from the community.  Many of community members have asked how they can lend further support. Those wishing to do so can stand along the processional route, with flags, signs and other forms of support. The community will also be able to visit the patrol car display that will be located at the high school during the services.   

Monetary donations can be made at the Malvern State Bank in care of the Jennifer Richardson Support Fund at 404 Main Street, Malvern, Iowa.

Donations for Jennifer and her family will also be accepted at Hilltop Animal Hospital. Gift cards to Casey’s (for gas) and Wal-Mart (for groceries and other needed items) will also be accepted at Hilltop Animal Hospital, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office or mailed to the clinic directly at: 

Jennifer Richardson 
c/o Hilltop Animal Hospital 
422 Main Street 
Malvern, Iowa 51551 

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Cerro Gordo, Greene, Hardin, Mills, and Pottawattamie counties in response to recent severe weather. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to, and recover from, the effects of this severe weather.

In addition, the proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for these five counties. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

The Disaster Case Management Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

(Radio Iowa) – The 10-year anniversary of the abduction and murders of two cousins from Evansdale in Black Hawk County is approaching. Eight-year-old Elizabeth Collins and ten-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey were last seen riding their bikes in Evansdale on the afternoon of July 13th, 2012, and their bodies were found in a Bremer County wildlife area five months later. Elizabeth Collins’ dad Drew said Wednesday it feels like it has been ten years.

“You know, I tried to keep it in perspective, they know that there’s a lot of people that have been waiting for their cases to be solved a lot longer, that have never even got to bury their child, or their loved ones. So I try to keep that in mind that these things take time,” Collins said. He said there have been lots of tips and he knows they are being followed up.” The police have a certain parameter that they work with them. So they have to follow the rules, or they could ruin the case. So it’s just the way it is. So I just gotta take it how it comes,” he said. Collins says his belief that the killer will be found has not wavered.

Collins and Cook-Morrissey. (photo from the Collins Foundation website.)

“I’m very optimistic. I think it’s just a matter of time. You know, you look at advances and technology in the last 10 years, and they’ve gotten to solve quite a few older cases,” he said.”So I just think time is on our side. And technology is on our side. And it’s just a matter of time.” He’s had a lot of time to think about the scenarios and what might have happened to the girls. “I’ve got lots of ideas, but I don’t have the information to go with it or the proof to go with it. So you know, they’re just, it’s just speculation,” he said. He said it is important to keep the story and the search for the killer active.

“You know, we just wanted to come out and let the public know that we’re still looking and we’re still working this case, and that nobody’s given up and that we’re full steam ahead on this. And it’s not slowing down anytime soon. We’re going to keep looking until we find out who did this,” Collins said. He said they are still hoping for that one lead to come in or that one person to come in and tell us what they know. Or he said that person could anonymously let somebody know what happened to help bring this case to a close.

A 100-thousand dollar reward in the case is being offered through Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers. You can call 855-300-8477 (TIPS). The Elizabeth Collins Foundation was also recently established.

https://elizabethcollinsfoundation.org/.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped for the fifth consecutive month in May. The rate is now two-point-seven percent compared to three percent in April. Iowa Workforce Development Director, Beth Townsend, says 50-thousand more people have jobs compared to one year ago. “Just in the past month, we’ve had over 10-thousand more I was returning to work, or finding work in May versus the number in April,” Townsend says. “We’re also seeing an increase in our labor force participation number, which is a really good indication, you know that people are coming back into the workforce.”

Townsend says the rate this month is a significant one when it comes to pandemic recovery. “To me, it feels like when we when we finally got below three percent we’ve literally turned the corner and the pandemic is is in the rear-view mirror,” she says. “Which is not to say we may not have see more volatility in the unemployment rates, but it won’t be I don’t believe related to the pandemic.” The unemployment rate peaked at 11 percent at the height of the pandemic in April of 2020– and after months of recover Townsend says it is nice to not have to deal with the pandemic issues.

“That’s a really good feeling for us to feel like we turn that corner and or move moving on,” she says. Towsend says a new influence on the labor situation is higher prices and the increased cost of living. “One of the consequences of the high inflationary rate we’re seeing and the high cost of gas is probably getting some people who are on fixed incomes back into the workforce, because, you know, they may not have counted on the increase in their cost of living in terms of their retirement plans. So we might see some people coming back for that reason,” according to Townsend.

The economy also had an impact on the construction industry — particularly in one area. “Those were in what’s considered a specialty job. So maybe people are holding off refinishing their basement. So or doing smaller projects, that specialty concrete construction workers normally do make cabinetry workers that type of thing. We don’t think that’s indicative of what’s happening overall in the construction industry, which we know this is these are primo months for them to be working,” Townsend says. She says other areas of construction are picking up.

“If you watch the county by county unemployment numbers, you saw Marshall County, I believe their unemployment rate declined by almost half last month because they have so many construction workers in that area,” Townsend says. Townsend says businesses have added almost 35-thousand jobs in the last 12 months. She says leisure and hospitality increased about 100 and is up more than 12-thousand jobs compared to last May. She says that’s a really good indication of the strength of the economy in terms of people are getting out and spending money.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds signed several bills into law today (Thursday). One shortens the amount of time Iowans can receive unemployment from 26 weeks to 16. It also requires the unemployed to take a lower-paying job more quickly. Reynolds argued that the safety net instituted during the pandemic was leading people to not take jobs, thereby worsening the workforce shortage.

“With the bill that I sign today that caps unemployment benefits at four months down from over six months and ensures that those collecting benefits cant turn down suitable jobs. So we are working with them but it is definitely something that will move us in the right direction.” The changes to unemployment rules go into effect July 1st.

The governor also signed a bill aimed at expanding the number and affordability of childcare slots in the state. It allows child care providers to oversee more toddlers without increasing staff. “When I convened the Governor’s child care task force last year, one of the things that it discovered was that Iowa’s childcare staffing ratios were some of the most restrictive in the country and so the task force recommended new minimum child-staff ratios and the third bill I’m going to sign today does just that,” Reynolds says.

In addition to raising the child-to-staff ratio for two and three-year-olds, now 16 and 17-year-olds can work for providers without supervision. At-home childcare programs will be unaffected Another bill signed Thursday would allow Iowans receiving government-funded childcare assistance to enter into agreements with providers to pay extra money for services. Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bills at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry annual convention in Dubuque.

(By Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)

ATLANTIC, IA – All kids age 12 and under interested in participating in the free Bike Rodeo at Produce in the Park are asked to be at the park by 5:00 PM today (June 16, 2022). The Atlantic Elks’ Bike Rodeo will include obstacle  courses and prizes. The rodeo is free to enter. Atlantic Parks and Recreation will be at the park with a  few bikes and helmets for kids to borrow.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – If you have pool set-up on your property in Atlantic, and want the fire department to fill it for you, be prepared to dig deeper into your wallet or purse. During Wednesday evening’s Atlantic City Council Committee reports, Jim Behrens, liaison to the Fire Department, reported on the price hike.

Behrens said also, the Fireman’s Parade will be held Oct. 8th.

In other Council news, Atlantic resident Felicia Frame spoke with regard to allowing backyard laying hens within the City limit. She asked the Council to reconsider updating the Ordinance to allow hens for anyone who wants them, especially in light of the current economy.

Frame said she feels that it’s the right of a person to grow or raise their own food on their own property, not only for their family, but to help others.

Frame acknowledge concerns people may have over the smell and noise, but a more specific ordinance can address those concerns.

Chapter 55.03 in the City of Atlantic’s Code Of Ordinances states “It is unlawful for a person to keep livestock within the City except by written consent of the Council or except in compliance with the City’s zoning regulations.” It should be noted that the Council has granted requests allowing chickens in the past, on a case-by-case basis, most recently, in 2017 and 2021.