(Radio Iowa) – First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan met in an Iowa P-B-S debate last (Monday) night and each accused the other of modifying their views on key issues to win votes. Bohannan, who supports the Roe v Wade decision that legalized abortion, pointed to a bill Miller-Meeks co-sponsored that declares human life should be protected at the moment of conception.

“She has now tried to backtrack from that, saying she supports exceptions and things,” Bohannan says. “It’s election time, so she’s trying to moderate that position.” Miller-Meeks accused Bohannan of distortions. “You want to confuse people, you want to divide people,” Miller-Meeks. “That’s a tactic you’ve used all throughout the campaign when you started attacking me.”

During a discussion of immigration, Miller-Meeks said the situation at the southern border is out of control. “My opponent didn’t mention the border, didn’t say anything about the border, didn’t say the border should be secure until it became a political liability for her and her party.” Bohannan says both political parties in congress have kicked the can down the road rather than address flaws the immigration system. “And I have stood up to the Biden Administration multiple times,” Bohannan says. “I did it in 2022 and I’m doing it now and I’ve said President Biden was too slow to act on the border.”

Both candidates expressed concerns for homeowners who are finding it difficult to afford or even acquire insurance. Miller-Meeks says natural disasters in Iowa are leading to increased insurance rates and some insurance companies are not longer insuring residential property in Iowa. “There is talk about if there should be more federal government involvement in the insurance marketplace and how to do that in the best way that doesn’t create undue pressure and doesn’t create increased costs,” Miller-Meeks said.

Bohannan says Iowa homeowners are struggling with the price of insurance. “We are seeing now the economic effects of climate,” Bohannan says. “We are not going to have an economy if we have to spend half of our GDP cleaning up from natural disasters that we could have prevented in the first place.”

Last (Monday) night’s debate on Iowa P-B-S was the only debate between the two first congressional district candidates.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM Debate team is continuing to have a strong showing this fall with tournaments at Novice Night at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines on October 15th and Tournavelt at Theodore Roosevelt- a NIETOC bid tournament October 18th and 19th.

At Roosevelt’s novice night, Sophie Herzberg participated in the Lincoln Douglas Debate and was 2-0. Creighton Kinzie and Declan Cambage participated in Mixed Exempt. Creighton finished 3rd and Declan finished 4th for the evening.  Macy Burg participated in Informative and finished in 3rd place.

On Friday and Saturday, October 18th and 19th, Sophie Herzberg, Megan Gerlock, Macy Burg, Jakob Petersen, and Creighton Kinzie traveled to Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines to participate in the Tournavelt Tournament- a NIETOC (National Individual Events Tournament of Champions) bid tournament.

Sophie Herzberg

Sophie participated in Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate. Despite going against some tough West Des Moines Valley and Bettendorf students, Sophie went 5-2.  Sophie finished 2nd in Novice Lincoln Douglas and 2nd in Speaker points for the tournament.

Macy Burg participated in Informative Speaking on Saturday.  She broke to finals and placed 3rd overall with her piece on Natural Disaster Preparedness. Creighton Kinzie and Megan Gerlock participated in Varsity Public Forum Debate and finished 2-3. Jakob Petersen was CAM’s lone Congressional Debate student.  He served as Presiding officer in his chamber and ended up breaking through to the final round. He finished the tournament 13th overall in Congressional Debate.

Debate Coach Mr. Kelloway had this to say about the start of the season, “CAM is off to one of its best seasons ever. In the first two big tournaments of the fall: In Lincoln-Douglas debate, Megan Gerlock placed 1st at the IFL season opener and Sophie Herzberg placed 2nd at the Roosevelt Tournament. This is the first time a CAM Debater has even made the semi-finals, let alone make the championship round. Jakob Peterson is the first CAM debater to make finals for Student Congress. Macy Burg in an Individual speech event, is just the second student to place at Roosevelt.  Kudos to all the CAM coaches, Manda Thomas, Kathleen Fleming and Sophie Hackbarth for the work they’ve put into making this a strong year for our students .”

(Story and photos submitted by Manda Thomas: CAM High School Jr/Sr High Science Teacher; CAM Speech & Debate Head Coach; CAM Student Council Advisor & CAM Yearbook Advisor)

Macy Burg

(Southwest Iowa) – The Community Foundation for Western Iowa announced today (Monday) that the Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa’s latest grant cycle has awarded $100,000 in project funding to nine organizations. Grants to the organizations will support programming and projects that are focused on improving the quality of life and well-being of women and children in southwest Iowa.

“The Women’s Fund of Southwest Iowa continues to create impact that will benefit the lives of women in our region for generations to come,” said Donna Dostal, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. “These opportunities for impact are only possible because of the generosity of our community members. Folks know that when we invest in women and their families, our communities thrive. We are so honored to be able to support and execute this important work.”

• East Mills Child Care Solutions received a $10,000 grant to support their Building Fund for the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills. The Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills will be a state-of-the-art facility with optimal teacher-to- child ratios and the highest level of care possible. The current design includes 12 standard classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and a multipurpose play area which will serve up to 150 children.

• Family Crisis Centers received a $10,000 grant to support Family Crisis Centers Homicide and Other Violent Crimes Program. Family Crisis Centers Homicide and Other Violent Crimes (HOVC) advocates offer emotional support and comprehensive wrap-around services. They attend law enforcement interviews, court hearings, trials, and parole hearings with victims and their families, preparing them by explaining what to expect and providing emotional support through their physical presence. Advocates also act as liaisons between victims, law enforcement, and prosecution, easing communication for everyone involved. Believing in the power of a supportive network, HOVC advocates refer victims to additional supportive services such as housing assistance, counseling, and legal services. Without HOVC advocates, the program would not be able to effectively assist families impacted by violence in the community. In fiscal year 2023, the HOVC program served 172 individuals in nine southwest Iowa counties.

• Kids Place Community Childcare received a $20,000 grant to support construction costs of their Kids Place Child Care Champions project. Glenwood Community School District, in partnership with Kids Place Childcare Champions, will utilize the funds raised for the construction of a dedicated childcare space within the District Offices building, with completion scheduled for 2025. The construction of this new facility is a proactive response to the pressing childcare shortage in Mills County. By securing the necessary funding and leveraging community partnerships, Glenwood Community School District and Kids Place Childcare Champions are working to ensure that families have access to reliable, high-quality childcare,  which is essential for the economic stability and well-being of the region.

• MICAH House Corporation received a $10,000 grant to support Childcare for Women in Shelter. The Child Development Center opened on July 8th, 2024. Two-thirds of the 70 spaces are set aside for children of families within our Emergency Shelter. The other one-third will be available for residents as space allows. The need for a local childcare center is intertwined with MICAH House’s mission of providing a safe and nurturing environment for families and individuals experiencing the crisis of homelessness. The opening of the Child Development Center will not only offer quality childcare for kids experiencing homelessness but also essential peace of mind for parents and caregivers as they work to obtain stable
housing.

• New Visions Homeless Services received a $10,000 grant to support their Women First Initiative. The goal of all New Visions Homeless Services programming is to move individuals into stable and sustainable housing while working to reduce or prevent incidents of homelessness in our community. Funds from this grant offer financial assistance to women who are currently homeless or are working toward stable housing. The New Visions Homeless Services Street Outreach Program will provide Housing-Based Case Management and supportive services that help break down barriers for women, providing avenues for safe and positive housing outcomes.

• Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub (SWITCH) received a $10,000 grant for their SWITCH and Soulful Synergy STEM Women’s Project. SWITCH is partnering with Soulful Synergy to design and deliver a unique STEM program created  specifically for Southwest Iowa community members and students. Utilizing Soulful Synergy’s experience recruiting, designing, and delivering clean energy programs, they will create a STEM program focusing on the technology that will be used today and in the future – including solar, wind, energy storage (batteries), HVAC, and electric vehicles. These topics all focus on decarbonization and electrification, preparing individuals for immediate and future opportunities. Training
will involve classroom lessons paired with interactive, hands-on ‘Learning Labs’ that allow participants to demonstrate the material they just learned.

• Stanton Child Resource Center received a $10,000 grant for their Educational/Developmental Play project. To elevate the standard of classrooms and toys, Stanton Child Resource Center aims to offer options that actively foster cognitive development, social-emotional awareness, and motor skill advancement. These educational spects hold immense significance for the center, as they have a lasting impact on the children even after they’ve left their care. Equipping staff with higher-quality toys and supplies will enable teachers to ensure these crucial developmental milestones are being
achieved effectively.

• Vision Atlantic received a $10,000 grant for the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of Atlantic. The goal for the Vision Atlantic childcare initiative is to build a new child development center that will accommodate up to three hundred children and address the shortfall of childcare in the area. The new childcare facility will be co-located with the Jack
and Jill Preschool and situated adjacent to the new Camblin Hills Housing Development currently under development in Atlantic, IA.

• YMCA of Greater Omaha was awarded a $10,000 grant for their Healthy Living Center:

Preventative Health and Social Connections for Women Aging in Place. Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are gaining greater recognition for the serious public health risks they pose, affecting a significant number of people in our community and putting them at risk for serious medical conditions. Due to differences in life expectancy, women are more likely to experience widowhood and the accompanying isolation and financial hardships. The YMCA Healthy Living Center serves primarily seniors over age 55, many of whom are retired, veterans, living with physical limitations or mental acuity challenges that come with age, or are living on a fixed income in Pottawattamie County, IA.

(Atlantic, Iowa – The Atlantic Elks Lodge and Atlantic Police Department are teaming up this year for “Drug Take Back Day.” The effort is part of the DEA’s Red Ribbon Week, recognized October 23 through October 31 every year and honors the life of Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena who was tortured and brutally murdered by drug traffickers in Mexico in 1985.

The BPO Elks have a long history of supporting and being instrumental is assisting the Drug Enforcement Agency efforts to stop drug use and abuse in the U.S. Atlantic Elks member Kent Gade spent decades leading the ELKS national drug prevention programs to national acclaim.

Lodge member Mark McNees said, “we are proud to continue the effort in partnership with the APD to help eliminate misuse and abuse by conducting the Drug Take Back Day. It’s important to properly dispose of these materials and not dump them down the toilet or drain, which then gets into the water system.”

The day is designed to allow residents to drop off their outdated over the counter medicines, old or unused prescription drugs, and unknown drugs. This helps keep them out of the hands of children and adults who could ingest them and overdose and to clear out medicines that are no longer needed.

Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue says the department has a drop off year around in the office, but this gives the community the opportunity to focus on a day to clear out the medicine cupboards and cabinets. Hogue states, “it is fine to bring in all types of medicine in their original containers, or in ziploc plastic bags. There are two items we cannot accept and those are liquids or sharps. Sharps need to be disposed of properly in sharps containers.”

The event will take place Saturday, Oct 26th from 9 am to 11 am at the Atlantic Elks Lodge where members and officers will collect the unwanted materials from residents. McNees says if the weather cooperates, they will do a drive through drop off in front of the Elks lodge at 411 Walnut St next to the police station. If there is inclement weather the items may be dropped off inside the lodge.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – Officials with the Sioux City Police Department, Monday (today) released a report on an Office-Involved shooting incident that occurred Sunday night. Authorities report at around 7:22-p.m., a woman called 911 after a man approached her in the 2600 block of Correctionville Road. The man had a loaded pistol and displayed it in a threatening manner before walking away. The woman was not injured.

Officers located the suspect and when confronted by police, the man began to walk away before pulling a firearm from his pocket. After being ordered to stop and drop the gun, the suspect ran from officers. During the foot pursuit, the suspect shot at officers. One officer returned fire, but the suspect continued to flee. After officers lost sight of the man, additional law enforcement personnel were requested. Officers with the Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area, and a perimeter was established.

SCPD put out messages on social media and worked with local media outlets to request residents in the Greenville area of Sioux City shelter in-place until the event could be resolved. The Sioux City PD SWAT team was mobilized. Based on information obtained during the investigation, officers searched a residence in the 2500 block of East 1st Street. The suspect was found hiding in a crawl space on the second floor of a home.

He refused multiple commands to surrender. SWAT officers fired upon the suspect when he appeared to be reaching for his weapon. Once the man was subdued, officers immediately began life saving measures. The 42-year-old suspect was transported to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. He was last reported to be in critical condition. His name was not immediately released.

No officers were injured during the incident.

(Radio Iowa) = With Halloween just ten days away, a pet expert suggests Iowans start preparing their dogs and cats now for the sights and sounds that will come with trick-or-treating season. Just like how fireworks on the 4th of July can be difficult for some animals, Brittany Baumann says Halloween can be a confusing, frightening time for pets, too, especially if they’re not used to droves of goblins at the door.

“Now might be a good time to try to desensitize your pets to all of that commotion, the doorbell ringing, people shouting ‘Trick or treat,’” Baumann says. “Practice in advance. Have maybe your neighbor come over and knock on the door and give your pet a treat.” When spooked, some pets may dart out the door and run off, so it could be a wise move to just keep them safe in an enclosed space for trick-or-treat night.

“Maybe you don’t have enough time between now and actual Halloween to practice,” she says. “Then maybe you need to come up with an alternative plan, and that would be putting that pet who is shy, fearful or barking a lot into maybe a more confined space in your home, a quiet room.” If you have a costume for your pet and plan to take the animal trick-or-treating, Baumann says it’d be a smart move to not spring it on them.

Keep close tabs on your tabby during trick-or-treat night (Radio Iowa photo)

“So what we don’t recommend is that people buy the costume and the first time that dog sees it or tries it on is on Halloween night,” she says. “You want to get them used to that and practice in advance and creating those positive associations with that costume.”

Baumann, spokeswoman for the Minnesota-based Animal Humane Society, says if you have a jack-o-lantern on the front porch, don’t assume the worst if your pooch takes a big bite out of it. “Pumpkin itself is actually like a low-calorie super food. It has lots of vitamins and nutrients. It has a high fiber content as well, which can be helpful for your pet,” she says, “but I also want to warn people, everything in moderation.”

A pumpkin can make a pet sick, especially if it’s been sitting outside for a few days and got moldy on the inside.

(Radio Iowa) – The Des Moines venue where hundreds of sports and other events are held is getting a new name. The Wells Fargo Arena and Iowa Events Center will be renamed the Casey’s Center as the Ankeny-based convenience store chain signed a 10-year deal for the naming rights.

The 17-thousand seat arena opened in 2005 and took over hosting the boys’ and girls’ state basketball, and boys’ state wrestling tournaments from Veterans Auditorium. It has also hosted the N-C-A-A men’s basketball tournament multiple times.

(Radio Iowa File photo of Wells Fargo Arena)

The name will be changed on July 1st, and it is the first naming rights deal for Casey’s started with stores in Iowa, and now has them in 16 other states.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, is calling on the Republican leader of the Iowa House to apologize for accusing Sand and his staff of withholding information about funding issues in the Iowa court system. State Auditor Rob Sand says House Speaker Pat Grassley attacked his staff for partisan political reasons or, Sand says, “ignorance” about when a state fiscal year begins. Letter to Speaker Grassley 10.21.24

Sand’s office was notified during Fiscal Year 2023 about computer programming errors that were incorrectly distributing millions in court fines and fees. Last week, Grassley blasted Sand for failing to notify legislators or note the errors in audits. Sand says his staff hasn’t finished its audit of the state court system for the fiscal year in question — and state law prohibits his office from releasing allegations of non-compliance like the tip his office got about the court system errors.

A spokesperson for Speaker Grassley was not immediately available for comment. Sand is calling on the legislature to repeal the law that makes it illegal for his office to review computer programming infrastructure — like the coding issue that sent 26-and-a-half MILLION dollars worth of court fines and fees to the wrong accounts.

(Radio Iowa) – The Emerald ash borer is now confirmed in all 99 Iowa counties and the impact can be seen across the state. Entomologist Mike Kintner oversees the state Ag Department’s efforts to battle the invasive beetle and says ash trees make up half the trees in some communities.  “After emerald ash borer moves through a community, you can really see the impact it has, not only aesthetically, but also financially. It can kind of put a burden on municipalities with resources and also homeowners,” he says. Kintner says preventive insecticide treatment is an option for healthy ash trees. But once they show severe symptoms – like dead branches in the top third of the tree – recovery is less likely.

Kintner says the damage is easiest to spot in summer when healthy branches leaf out. “Even during the winter months you can still find E-A-B in trees even though the leaves are off, because what happens is the woodpeckers will come in if a tree’s infested,” Kintner says.

The woodpeckers dig into the tree bark to eat the larvae underneath. Infested ash trees tend to die within two to four years. As landowners and communities consider replacing these trees, Kintner [ recommends planting with diversity in mind.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following an accident this (Monday) morning in the 300 block of E. Reed Street. Authorities say an SUV driven by Gary Walters, of Red Oak, backed out of a parking stall and proceeded west on E. Reed Street. At the same time, a car driven by Ramona Wright, of Villisca, backed out of a parking stall and struck the SUV on the rear, passenger side door.

The damage was estimated at $10,000 altogether. There were no citations issued.