(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents plans to ask the Iowa Legislature for an increase of 32 million dollars for its next budget when they meet this week. The Regents say the additional funding is needed due to inflation and increased costs for everything from software, food, utilities, fuel, and wages. Information provided for the meeting in Cedar Falls Thursday says there is great concern about employee costs in a market heavily influenced by inflation, competition for talent, and labor shortages.

The Iowa Legislature increased university funding by five million dollars in the last budget — which was 15 million dollars short of what the Board of Regents requested. The Board then voted to raise tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa.

(Avoca, Iowa) – UPDATE 9/16/22: TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT! Thank you!

Seats are filling-up, but (as of today, Sept. 12) there is still space for you to sit at the table this weekend, in Avoca. This isn’t just any table, it’s Avoca Main Street’s “Longest Table.” Amber Mohr is the Executive Director of Avoca Main Street.

(As said: It takes place Saturday, Sept. 17th. Happy Hour begins 4-p.m. at the Avoca Legion Hall at 112 N Elm Street, and weather permitting, outside dining will take place from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are available at https://amslongesttable.brownpapertickets.com/ )

The meal consists of five courses designed and executed by Chef James Edward Calkins, from Milk & Honey Restaurant, in Harlan. Everything he uses is locally procured.

Paul Hart, versatile acoustic musician, will provide entertainment. The “Longest Table” was first held in 2016. Covid affected many restaurants as well as Avoca Main Street’s Longest Table, but Mohr says they were able to come up with a solution to still bring a taste of unique food to residents in the area. 

There were safety concerns last year, but once again organizers were able to work around them.

Masks are optional. Anyone who feels sick is encouraged to check your symptoms and not attend, especially if you have COVID, or have tested positive for Covid, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Servers, Mohr said, WILL be masked.

The Avoca Main Street Longest Table event is designed to celebrate the rural city’s agricultural heritage, enhance community fellowship, and recognize the farmers who provide local produce for the seasonal Avoca Main Street Farmers Market. The event was recognized in 2020 by the Iowa Tourism Awards for “Best Rural Event,” and in 2018 by the Main Street Iowa Awards as “Exceptional Special Event.”

(Radio Iowa) – Surveyors who were hired by a company that wants to build a carbon capture pipeline across Iowa are running into opposition when they try to gain access to some properties in northeast Iowa. Delaware County Supervisor Shirley Helmrichs says at least 18 property owners or residents called the sheriff’s office last week with complaints about survey crews trespassing on their land — but their claims had to be rejected.  “If the surveyors come out and go on their property, by Iowa code, it is not deemed trespassing,” Helmrichs says, “but the landowners can say, ‘We’re not going to allow you on,’ and that sends them back to get a court-ordered injunction, then they can go on.”

Helmrichs says most residents she’s heard from are barring the pipeline surveyors from entering their property. “So far, I’ve just heard of one landowner that did give them permission to come on,” she says. “The rest are saying, ‘Go get your injunction.'”  Landowners are voicing concerns over eminent domain, loss of quality farmland, the mission of this project, and safety. They plan to address the Manchester City Council at their regular council meeting tonight (Monday). Some residents may claim that they haven’t been properly notified about the pipeline project, but Helmrichs says they may’ve gotten something in the mail.

“If they get a certified letter, they have to sign a form that’s attached to the front that shows they accepted that letter, but a lot of them did not sign for the letters, they went back to the post office, but the company had proof that they had mailed them,” Helmrichs says. “So that that’s considered their 10 day notice, which, it still rather shocks me and I know it shocked a lot of people that there were people roaming around the roads and the fields.”

Navigator C-O-2 proposes building a pipeline under miles of farmland from the Dyersville ethanol plant west through the county, just north of Earlville and Manchester and into Buchanan County, along with several other counties in the state. Navigator says the purpose of the pipeline is to capture carbon dioxide emissions produced at the ethanol plant and other facilities that are currently being emitted into the atmosphere. During the capture process, the C-O-2 is dehydrated and compressed into a liquid form that can be safely made available for value-added commercial industrial uses or transported to a storage site, where it’s injected about a mile underground beneath thick layers of rock.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report nine arrests occurred over the past few days. At around 9:41-p.m. Saturday, 43-year-old Kimberly Morgan, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in Creston, and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Morgan was cited and released at the scene, on a promise to appear in court. At around 3:15-p.m., Saturday, Douglas Edward Woodward, III, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in Creston. He was charged with Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order, and held without bond until seen by a Magistrate. Also arrested on Saturday, in Creston, was 36-year-old Erminio Velasquez Alvarado, of Texas, who was take into custody at the Highway 24 and S. Walnut Street. Alvarado was charged with OWI/1st offense, and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond (c/s).

At around 2:30-a.m. Friday, Creston Police arrested 38-year-old Lee Ryan Fowler, of Creston, for Interference with Official Acts, and Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. He was arrested at his residence and transported to the Union County Jail. Fowler was later released on a $600 (c/s) bond. Friday evening, Creston Police arrested 37-year-old Dusty Levi Champlin, of Creston, for Driving While Barred. He was later released on a $2,000 (c/s) bond.

Thursday night, 22-year-old Hugo Eduardo Hernandez, of Dallas, TX, was arrested at the Casey’s Store in Creston, located on Highway 34. Hernandez was charged with Disorderly Conduct – loud and raucous noise. He was released from the Union County Jail after Time-Served. Thursday evening, 37-year-old Jackie Lee Marler, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. He was wanted on a Union County warrant for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order, and later released on a $500 (c/s) bond.

Thursday morning, Creston Police arrested 34-year-old Casey David Mitchell, of Thayer, on a Union County warrant for Child Endangerment. Mitchell was later released on a $2,000 (c/s) bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The Department of Natural resources has been holding meetings on discuss possible changes or improvements to the process of disposing of used wind turbine blades. The D-N-R’s Aime Davidson says there are regulations in place already for disposing of the blades — but she says there are still challenges. “They’re really large and really strong, so they’re hard to manage at the landfills in those large pieces. And I think there is also desire to recycle them, obviously as they’re a green energy,” she says. “And so kind of similar situation figuring out exactly how you do that has been difficult.” She says there have been some solutions worked out.

“Landfilling — I think they’ve gotten to a point where if they’re cut down into small enough pieces, they’re able to manage them just like any other waste. So that’s good,” Davidson says. “As far as recycling, I do know that there are a few places where they grind them up and are potentially using them as a substitute for aggregate and concrete mixes.” She says those concrete mixes are used for parking areas and planters. Davidson there’s continued work on figuring out new formulations for blades going out to make them easier to recycle. Another aspect of the blades is making sure they don’t get backed up into big piles. Davidson says there are regulations that require recyclers to show they are indeed recycling the blades.

“Whatever amount of material coming in a certain percentage has to go off site. So…it doesn’t focus so much on how much you can have on site, it’s more focused on is the material moving through. So, that shows that you have a legitimate end use,” she says. Davidson says they don’t want to necessarily stifle the recycling industry to keep it from having the quantity it needs. She says there has been one case of a pile of blades that has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office, but the other piles have all been taken care of. The D-N-R’s ongoing meetings include the utility companies, industry representatives, and solid waste agencies, to develop recommendations.

“These strategies would be looking at is there something different or more that we would want to do an Iowa to manage these materials,” she says. Davidson says they are starting to put together some recommendations from those discussions. I’m not 100 percent sure, at this point, if it would be to the extent of any law changes, or if it would be more along the lines of incentives or some assistance to have more recycling — kind of what direction should this go,” according to Davidson. Davidson says disposing of wind blades has become a topic of discussion in a lot of places. “It’s been a struggle across the whole country, even in Europe. This is not unique to Iowa by any means,” she says.

Davidson says the use of solar panels is not as far along as wind turbines, but finding ways to dispose of the solar panels is something that looms as well.

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa researcher has created a free online training program that companies can use to help employees identify warning signs of intimate partner violence, or what’s also been called domestic abuse. Beth Livingston, a U-I professor management and entrepreneurship, says the Abuse is Not Love program provides strategies employers can use to help at-risk employees before the situation becomes explosive. “We have built an evidence-based training to help make people aware of what intimate partner violence actually is,” Livingston says, “because this sort of awareness of the warning signs of violence — before it gets to a point where we’re worried about people’s physical well being — can allow us to intervene in ways that keeps people safe.”

Livingston says the COVID era has demonstrated that companies have an interest in the overall wellbeing of their employees and the ways in which the things that happen at home affect work. “This is an acknowledgment that our employees do not cease being our employees when they go home and the things that happen at home can absolutely affect them at work,” Livingston says. “I think companies have, if not an interest, a responsibility to think about how to keep their employees safe.” Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence against women. It includes physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse, as well as controlling behaviors by an intimate partner.

Statistics show a woman is killed every three days as a result of intimate partner violence. “Warning signs like jealousy that’s meant to control, controlling the sorts of things that people wear and the places they go,” Livingston says. “Getting passwords for your computer, for your email, to intrude upon your personal life, and isolating you from friends and family, all the way down to humiliating you in public, trying to make you feel small.” The workplace is especially critical for intimate partner violence as Livingston’s research shows work is one of few places where victims can find respite from abuse, and the income they earn can bring independence from their abuser.

“When employees are dealing with stress and pain and consternation at home, it absolutely spills over into their satisfaction at work and their productivity and their distraction at work,” Livingston says. “We know with so many employees working at home, that they might be working in the same space that their abuser is holding court over them.” A CDC report finds intimate partner violence costs about one-billion dollars in lost time and productivity every year in the U-S, and a recent European study found more than 20-percent of intimate partner violence victims report increased absenteeism from work, and 50-percent say it affects the quality of their work.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. At around 12:16-a.m. today (Sept. 12th), Ashley Perez, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office in Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for unauthorized use of a credit card. Perez was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.  And, at around 6:30-p.m. Sunday, Deputies arrested 23-year-old Athea Hamilton, of Red Oak, for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was taken into custody in the 300 block of E. Elm Street, following a brief investigation into an incident that had occurred on August 26th, in the 2400 block of North Broadway Street, in Red Oak. Hamilton was being held on a $300 bond.

And Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 6:30-p.m., Sunday, of 65-year-old Michael Loren Kelly, from Red Oak, on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Kelly was issued a summons to appear in court at the later date, and released back to the Red Oak Health Care Community.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the November election won’t turn on any single issue, but voters will be motivated by values like free enterprise and individual liberty. “When you have over 60% of people who feel the country is on the wrong track, they don’t have faith and they don’t have confidence and they don’t have hope,” Miller-Meeks says, “we need to turn this country around.”

Miller-Meeks held a campaign fundraiser in Coralville Saturday. Two other Iowa Republicans running for re-election spoke to the crowd. Governor Kim Reynolds says Democrats over-complicate things, while Republicans offer common sense.  “The Iowa team is pushing back, we are in a good place,” Reynolds says. “We are showing not only Iowans, but the country what conservative leadership looks like.”

Senator Chuck Grassley says Iowa voters are concerned about inflation and President Biden’s energy policies, particularly when it comes to gasoline production. “The fact it’s $3.69 in Cedar Falls doesn’t make any difference. He can’t take credit for that,” Grassley said. “It’s because people are driving 10% less ’cause they can’t afford the price he got it up to in the first place.”

Florida Senator Rick Scott was the keynote speaker at the Miller-Meeks event. Scott is in charge of fundraising for Republican candidates for the U.S. SENATE, but Scott says he was in Iowa to help a HOUSE candidate because increasing turn-out for Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s first district will benefit Grassley. “I mean, this state will matter, will decide whether we…get a majority in the senate or not. Senator Grassley has to win,” Scott said. “By the way the senate works, if you’re not in the majority, your vote doesn’t matter.”

Christina Bohannan, the Democrat running against Miller-Meeks, says by having Scott speak at the event, Miller-Meeks has aligned herself with Scott’s extreme views. Bohannan points to Scott’s plan to terminate Social Security and Medicare every five years and require congress to vote to reauthorize the programs.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday morning, issued several reports, two of which pertained to the shooting of a trail camera(s) on a landowner’s property. Authorities say On Sept. 4th, they were notified a trail camera was hit by a shotgun blast or blasts. Upon further investigation, Kai Turner, of Corning, and Ashton Turner, of Greenfield, were arrested. Ashton Turner was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Trespassing. Kai Turner was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, along with Aiding and Abetting. Both were booked into the Adams County Jail, and later released on a $300 bond, each.

A juvenile was arrested Sept. 4th, after authorities were notified of a burglary that had occurred at The Pub. Upon further investigation, a 12-year-old was taken into custody for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft in the 4th Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. The youth was released to their parents, and the case was turned over to the Juvenile Court System.  On Sept. 3rd, Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle, at Highway 34 and Poplar Avenue. Authorities say following an investigation, Mateo Mancha, of Omaha, NE., was taken into custody on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Macha was also cited for speeding. A passenger in the vehicle, Emme Eblen, of Omaha, was arrested and charged with PCS/Marijuana – 2nd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Sept. 2nd, Adams County Deputies conducted a routine traffic stop for speeding, at Sycamore Avenue and Highway 34. Upon investigation, a Probable Cause search was conducted on the vehicle for the odor of marijuana. Joshua Villanueva, of Lenox, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also cited for speeding Villanueva later posted a $1,300 bond and was released. And, on Sept. 1st, 23-year-old Moesha Garcia, of Lenox, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, following  a traffic stop for speeding, at the intersection of Highways 34 and 25. Her bond was set at $1,300.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Traffic on Interstate 80 west of Adair was rerouted for hours, Saturday, following a semi tractor-trailer accident that caused both east- and westbound-lanes to be closed. Authorities say the semi struck the cable barriers and stretched those barriers across the interstate, along with the truck. All interstate traffic was diverted down Highway 148 for several hours.

Traffic in the crash zone was stalled from about mile marker 73.6 to near the Wiota Exit 67 (Wiota), while authorities worked to detour motorists who were not caught on either side of the blockage. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Agencies assisting with traffic control at the scene includes: the Cass and Audubon County Sheriff’s Offices; Iowa State Patrol (ISP); Iowa DOT motor vehicle enforcement (MVE), Anita and Atlantic Fire Departments; Cass EMS; the Iowa DOT, and Richter and Son Towing.