(Radio Iowa) [updated 11/30] – President Biden is calling on Congress to intervene to avoid a nationwide railroad strike that’s looming in early December and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he anticipates there will be quick action by federal lawmakers. Grassley, a Republican, says a rail strike would be “devastating” to the country’s economy, costing perhaps two-billion dollars per week, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for Iowa’s farmers. Grassley says, “You’ve heard ag producers in Iowa and all across the country stating their dependence on rail to move inputs, grains and other ag products.” Resolving the labor dispute and preventing the rail strike, in Grassley’s words, is “something that must be done.”

“The administration’s presidential emergency board has worked to resolve this dispute, but thus far, the president, by his own actions, has only managed to delay a strike from early October until now, I think December 9th, so the situation is not resolved.” Grassley says this could’ve and should’ve been done well before now, but he blames Democrats for being “too focused on a partisan spending agenda.” A Senate vote on the Respect for Marriage Act took place, Tuesday. The final vote was 61-36. Backers have said the bill would protect same-sex marriage rights while also providing a layer of religious freedoms. Grassley opposed the measure. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst voted in favor.

“The bill has no practical impact on the status quo of these marriages, but it would expose religious organizations and individuals to new legal jeopardy,” Grassley says. He said he might change his mind and consider supporting the broader piece of legislation.

(Radio Iowa) – The CEO of Iowa’s largest homeless shelter says a key indicator suggests more Iowans may become homeless in the months ahead. Melissa O’Neal, the CEO of Central Iowa Shelter and Services, says just before people can no longer afford to pay rent or a mortgage, the last thing they stop buying is food. “Once that starts to trigger, once that starts to happen, that’s an indicator of what we are about to see in our emergency shelters, so we watch that trend closely,” O’Neal says. Officials who manage Iowa food banks and food pantries say demand is rising.

Early this (Tuesday) morning, Central Iowa Shelter and Services provided breakfast to 169 people who are living temporarily in the agency’s apartments in downtown Des Moines. At 9 a.m., the breakfast room opened up to others who are homeless. “With our community kitchen program, our numbers have remained steady,” O’Neal says. “We haven’t seen a huge influx of additional need or services or support at this time.” But O’Neal says they’re bracing for an increase, due to the data about rising food insecurity.

On this so-called “Giving Tuesday,” Iowa’s Republican governor and the Democratic leader of the Iowa House were among the volunteers who served breakfast at the Central Iowa Shelter. O’Neal says January, February and July are the months when demand for her agency’s services are highest. “This is a need that doesn’t go away just because Christmas and the holidays are over,” O’Neal says. “It’s really a year-round, 365 days out of the year.”

The latest federal data for the entire state indicates over 2000 Iowans were staying in a homeless shelter in January of 2021. Officials estimate up to 500 other Iowans were living in vehicles, homeless camps or some other unsheltered environment. An organization that tracks homelessness in Polk County estimates the number of people in Iowa’s capital city who do not have a permanent shelter has doubled this year.

(Radio Iowa) – The Spirit Lake Community School Board has unanimously voted to let up to 10 staff members who aren’t teachers carry a concealed gun on school grounds. District officials say if there’s an active shooter in Spirit Lake schools, this plan will provide an immediate response until local law enforcement officials arrive. Superintendent David Smith says those chosen to carry a gun will have to undergo extensive marksmanship and tactical training. Spirit Lake Police Chief Shane Brevik recently released a letter, stating he was opposed to the policy. The superintendent said that was a surprise to him.

“At no time did he say, ‘Hey, I don’t like this,’” Smith said at the start of last night’s meeting. “At not time did he say, ‘Hey, we need to slow down.’” The school board received more than 200 public comments about the policy. The police chief is among those who submitted a letter, saying there’s merit to a safety plan, but arming civilians to deal with intruders provides a false sense of security and might interfere with law enforcement response. Superintendent Smith, in remarks to the school board, called the letter “a sabotage job.”

Spirit Lake CSD

“Within a few hours of sending this to me and to you, it was sent out to the media,” Smith said. “Nobody operates that way. Not in something with high stakes like that.” More than a dozen Spirit Lake staff members have already begun training with local firearm instructors. In the school district’s survey, 47 district employees publicly said they supported the new safety plan, while one said they opposed it.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held a short meeting this (Tuesday) morning, during which they voted to set the date for a public hearing on a Special Use Permit. The permit was requested from Michele Roth, on behalf of Cloud One, LLC, to construct a communications tower on a parcel of land in Montgomery County (located in the SE NE Section 34, T72N, R38W of the 5^th PM). They chose Dec. 13^th at 8:45-a.m., as the date and time for the hearing.

In other business, the Board discussed with Auditor Jill Ozuna, updates to the County Employee Handbook. Ozuna said this will be a long-term process, not something that can be done in a couple of meetings. It will be conducted in a conference call, with two Board members taking part.

The date and time for the conference call has not yet been established. Board Chair Donna Robinson requested ttems in the handbook that need the most attention be addressed first in the handbook overhaul. Discussion on a Budget Planning session was brief, because there isn’t a lot of information available from the Assessor’s Office, the Compensation Board and others that will play a role in formulating a budget. Board Vice Chair Mark Peterson said the Compensation Board meeting next Wednesaday, is a big part of the puzzle.

Donna Robinson agreed.

It’s expected the Board will tentatively take-up the matter for discussion again at 9-a.m., on Dec. 12^th, or 13^th. They will set the date for Budget Planning during their meeting on Dec. 6^th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The annual Lighted Parade, sponsored by McDermott & Son Roofing, will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 3rd, starting at 6 PM. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “The Fireworks and Lighted Parade is a holiday tradition that Atlantic families look forward to every year. It’s always fun to see how creative people get with their lighted displays.”

Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. Winners will be notified before the parade. Fireworks, sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM.

Before the parade, Santa will be in his Cabin, presented by Atlantic Rotary Club and Rolling Hills Bank & Trust, at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. Free Carriage Rides, presented by Lloyd & Meredith, will also be at City Park from 3 – 5 PM. Zipp’s Pizza will be parked on 6th & Chestnut Street for the duration of Santa’s Cabin and the parade. If you would like to participate in the Lighted Parade, visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form.

Line-up begins at 5 PM at 6th & Walnut Street with judging beginning at 5:30 PM. Registration is not required but encouraged. Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – An investigation into a reported shooting Monday afternoon in Shelby County has concluded. According to Chief Deputy Sheriff Cody Eckles, law enforcement and rescue crews were dispatched to a home south of Elk Horn at around 4:28-p.m., after a woman came home and found a man who had been shot, but was breathing. Eckles withheld the name of the victim, and said their investigation is complete. No further information will be released.

Foul play is not suspected, and there is no danger to the community.

Officials with the Creston (IA) Police Department report three men were arrested Monday evening on drug charges. Authorities say 31-year-old Christopher Cerda-Romo, of Lenox, 41-year-old Scott William Lemon, of Creston, and 30-year-old Casey Ray Welcher, of Afton, were arrested between 5:15- and 6:41-p.m., at 1102 Maple Street in Creston.

Cerda-Romo was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 1^st Offense, 5 counts Fail to Affix Drug Tax Stamp-1 or more Unprocessed Plants, 5 counts Conspire with Intent to Deliver Marijuana under 50kg. Cerda-Romo was transported to the Union County Jail where he is being held on $51,000 cash or surety bond.

Lemon faces charges that include 2 counts Violation of No Contact/Protection Order and 7 counts of Possession of Firearm or Offensive Weapon by DA Offender. Lemon was also charged with 5 counts Conspire with Intent to Deliver Synthetic Marijuana, Fail to Affix Drug Tax Stamp-1 or more Unprocessed Plants. Lemon was transported to the Union County Jail where he is being held on NO bond.

And, Welcher was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 3^rd offense, Intent Manufacture Meth Over 5g, Possession of Marijuana 3^rd or Sub offense. Welcher was transported to the Union County Jail where he is being held on NO bond.

Creston Police report also, 43-year-old Jason Alan Ford, of Creston, was arrested at 1102 N Maple, for a Sex Offender Registration Requirement Violation 1^st Offense. Ford was transported to the Union County Jail where he was later released on Promise to Appear. And, at around 9:37-p.m., Monday, 32-year-old Cody John Courtney, of Thayer, was charged on a Department of Corrections Warrant for Violation of Parole. Courtney was served while already being an inmate in the Union County Jail. Courtney is being held on NO bond.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s the season of giving, but it’s also the season of scams. On this Giving Tuesday, Iowans who plan to make a donation to their favorite charity need to make doubly sure where they’re sending their cash, check or credit card information. Ashlee Kieler, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, says one excellent place to confirm that a charity is legitimate is the Better Business Bureau’s “wise giving” website, give-dot-org.  “Give.org is great and there’s also the Charity Navigator, that’s another website that you can search for legit charities as well,” Kieler says. “You can do your own research, too. Google the name of the charity and then put words behind it like ‘review’ or ‘scam’ and see what other people are talking about.”

Making charitable contributions is a tradition for many Iowans during the holiday season, and she says there are scammers waiting to take advantage of that generosity.  “It would be someone who maybe calls a consumer or an Iowan and says, ‘You’ve donated to us before and we’re looking for your support this year,’ but it doesn’t really click with you,” Kieler says. “So make sure you go back to your records and check and make sure that they’re not trying to pressure you into something. That’s another big sign that there’s a scam.” Don’t let yourself be forced into making a quick decision, as a crook may claim a matching donation won’t apply if your donation isn’t made right away. Kieler encourages Iowans to continue giving, but also, to do their research first.

“If there’s a charity that you’ve worked with in the past and have supported, go back and find that contact information and reach out to them,” Kieler says. “Over the phone is wonderful but also online, check their website and make sure that you’re not finding anything different.” If you get an unsolicited call, don’t trust the Caller I-D. “They’ll call you and maybe the Caller ID says the name of a charity that you’re familiar with, but we know that there’s technologies out there that criminals use to spoof phone numbers,” Kieler says. “If they call you, maybe talk to them and if you feel like that’s the charity you want to support, hang up and then find the number and call them yourself.”

If you believe you’ve been scammed or you suspect a charity is acting fraudulently, contact local law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. The Giving Tuesday organization reports 35-million adults contributed $2.7 billion during the movement last year.

(Radio Iowa) – The Logan-Magnolia school district is among 12 statewide to receive federal funding to purchase electric school buses. Superintendent Tom Ridder says they will buy five E-V buses to replace half of the district’s entire fleet to save on fuel. The longest bus route in the western Iowa district is 100 miles – which he says E-V buses will easily cover with charges in between runs.  “We run the morning route, plug it in, and then when that route’s done plug them in at 5:00, 5:30, whenever they get back. And then it will be fully charged for the next day,” Ridder says. He says the buses will sound different –but will look familiar to students and drivers.

“They are regular buses. The only thing different is they don’t have diesel engines. They have battery engines,” he says. Ridder says the buses shouldn’t take any adjustment for drivers.  “All the buses are brand new — all will have seat belts in them. So, the bus drivers I don’t think are going to have a problem with them because it’s like driving a regular school bus,” Ridder says. Ridder says federal rebates will likely cover the full cost of purchasing the buses, but the district must pay to install chargers.

The program was funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed last year. More than 11 million dollars was awarded to Iowa schools to purchase a total of 30 E-V buses. Logan-Magnolia can receive up to two million dollars for the new electric-powered buses.

(reporting by Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

(Area News) – Two stories we’re working on getting information about today include a reported shooting incident in Shelby County. Dispatch reports late Monday afternoon said a woman came home to a residence south of Elk Horn and found a man who was shot, but was breathing. Deputies from Shelby and Audubon County, along with rescue crews responded to the scene. Rescue was told to stage their vehicles and crew away from the scene until it could be secured. The Sheriff’s Office says it has concluded its investigation, but is not releasing additional information at this time.

And, Monday night, a domestic situation in Griswold involving a woman, a man and a juvenile, ended with a woman taking a vehicle and leading authorities on a chase that ended with a crash west of town in a field, just east of the Nishnabotna River. The woman was found unconscious in the vehicle. She was transported by Griswold Rescue to a hospital in Omaha. Additional information is currently not available.