(Radio Iowa) – This fall’s presidential election was the focus of Republican gatherings in Iowa this weekend. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who hosted a campaign fundraiser in Cedar Rapids, is running for a third term in the U-S House, but she did not focus on her Democratic opponent Sarah Corkery. Instead, Hinson told the crowd they cannot sit this presidential election out.

“I think President Trump has a really great vision for the future of our country,” Hinson says. “It’s a vision that a minivan-driving mom like me — we should all be supporting this.” Hinson said Vice President Harris “may be a new face” at the top of the ticket, but her policies will be the same as President Biden’s. “Kamala Harris has been in lockstep with him for the last three and a half years. They’re been trying to turn our country into a liberal wasteland with their policies,” Hinson says. “…They’re not fooling any of us. We all know what’s at stake here.”

Both of Iowa’s U-S Senators spoke at Hinson’s event. Senator Joni Ernst told the crowd Harris was an ineffective member of the U-S Senate. “Don’t let her remake herself,” Ernst said. “She is what she is and she will be a detriment to our great United States of America.” Senator Chuck Grassley told the crowd Obama campaign veterans are working for Harris.  “We can’t afford two more terms of a Harris Administration to be the 4th and 5th terms of the Obama Administration,” Grassley said.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird hosted an event in Adel Saturday night to raise money for her 2026 reelection campaign. During her speech at the end of the evening, Bird emphasized Trump’s need to appear in so-called battleground states where the race is close. “Here in Iowa, we will take care of turning out Iowa for President Trump and putting that in the win column, won’t we?” Bird asked and the crowd cheered. Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan was the keynote speaker at campaign fundraisers for Hinson and Congressmen Randy Feenstra and Zach Nunn this weekend.

Jordan, a former wrestling coach who’s co-founder the U-S House Freedom Caucus, cautioned against overconfidence. “One of the first things they teach you when you’re a kid starting to learn to wrestle is they say: ‘Wrestle to the whistle. Don’t stop early. You keep going until you hear the whistle,'” Jordan said in Cedar Rapids Saturday afternoon. ” That’s the attitude we have to have.”

Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer — the third-ranking Republican in the U-S House — joined Jordan at Hinson’s fundraiser in Cedar Rapids. He told the crowd to ignore this month’s polls.  “You hang in there and when we get to September, after Labor Day when people start paying attention again, that’s when the game begins,” Emmer said.

Labor Day is 28 days away. Election Day is in 92 days.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa [WHO-TV] – History was made in Marshalltown after a Latina was elected to city council for the first time ever. WHO-TV reports Political newcomer, Melisa Fonseca, is now the Fourth Ward Councilperson after being voted-in during a special election in late July.

Fonseca was born and raised in Marshalltown, but this election isn’t her first time breaking barriers. In 2019, she became the city’s first Latina real estate broker. She runs her business in both English and Spanish to better communicate with the community. She decided to also run a bilingual campaign.

Fonseca said she never planned to take part in city government, but that changed when the opportunity became available. Longtime Fourth Ward City Counselor Al Hoop passed away in March, after he was elected to his fifth term in late December. She declared her campaign early and immediately started connecting with constituents through campaign events and volunteer initiatives. She defeated her opponent, Mark Eaton, with after obtaining around 56% of the votes.

She said her involvement in the Marshalltown City Council showcases the city’s diversity. Marshalltown’s population is around 30% diverse, or non-White, and close to 50% female. Fonseca says her goal is to encourage more people to get involved with local politics.

(Osceola, Iowa) – A collision in south central Iowa late Sunday morning resulted in three people in a van being sent to area hospitals. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened on Interstate 35 southbound near mile-marker 28, at around 11-a.m., Sunday.

The Patrol says a 2005 Buick Terraza van driven by 61-year-old David Ratliff, of Des Moines, sideswiped a southbound 2020 Peterbilt semi,  before the van swerved into the median and rolled several times. The semi, driven by 33-year-old Matthew Cronk, of Burlington Junction, MO, pulled-off onto the shoulder of the road.

David Ratliff, and his passengers, 36-year-old Nicole Tenborg and 39-year-old Jonathan Tenborg, both of Des Moines, were injured in the crash. Ratliff and Jonathan Tenborg were transported to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines by Clarke County EMS. Nicole Tenborg was transported to the Clarke County Hospital, also by Clarke County EMS.

The driver of the semi was not injured.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, has announced that SBA will relocate its Greenfield Business Recovery Center at the Greenfield City Hall in Adair County to the Hyatt Place West Des Moines/Jordan Creek in Polk County beginning Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. “SBA opened the centers to provide personalized assistance to businesses that were affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred May 20 – 31,” said Sánchez.

There are currently two active SBA disaster declarations for residents and businesses in the Polk County area. The newly relocated Business Recovery Center will be able to help survivors of both declarations.

Until the Greenfield Business Recovery Center closes, SBA customer service representatives will continue to meet with business owners to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, help each individual complete their electronic loan application and close their approved loans. No appointment is necessary.

ADAIR COUNTY
Business Recovery Center
Business Office Building
132 SE Court Dr.
Greenfield, IA  50849
Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Closes 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5    

POLK COUNTY
Business Recovery Center
Hyatt Place West Des Moines/Jordan Creek
Hotel Boardroom
295 S 64th St.
West Des Moines, IA  50266
Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Opens 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6

SBA representatives are still available at the federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the affected areas to explain SBA’s disaster loan program and help business owners and residents close their approved disaster loans.

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

For SBA declaration 20318 for severe storms, and tornadoes that occurred April 26-27, 2024, the deadline to apply for property damage is Aug. 23, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Feb. 14, 2025.

For SBA declaration 20360 for severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred May 20-31, 2024, the deadline to apply for property damage is Aug. 23, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Feb. 24, 2025.

(Cedar Rapids, IA) – Cedar Rapids Police responded Saturday night, to the 1800 block of A Ave NE at approximately 8:53-p.m., following reports of shots fired in the area. Officers located a 13-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was treated on-scene and transported to a local hospital for treatment. His injury is considered non-life-threatening.

Officers located a suspect near the scene and were able to take a 17-year-old male to detention on charges of:
*Going Armed with Intent,
*Intimidation with a Weapon,
*Unauthorized Person Carrying a Weapon,
*Attempted Murder

Names are being withheld at this time in accordance with State law regarding privacy of minors. There is an on-going investigation and no further information is available at this time.

DES MOINES, IA – Officials with AFSCME Council 61 members in Iowa, announced their endorsement on Saturday, of  Lanon Baccam for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. The announcement came at Principal Park, during an Iowa Cubs baseball game.

Todd Copley, President of AFSCME Council 61, stated, “Lanon Baccam embodies the values that AFSCME Council 61 stands for. His commitment to lowering everyday costs for families, protecting Social Security and Medicare, standing up for reproductive rights, and revitalizing our small towns makes him the ideal candidate for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.”

Melissa Speed, Political Director of AFSCME Council 61, added, “Lanon Baccam not only understands the challenges facing Iowans, especially in rural communities, but he’s also a candidate who actually has solutions—unlike Zach Nunn, who seems more interested in playing political games than in tackling the real issues. Lanon’s dedication to creating good-paying jobs, ensuring healthcare access, and fighting for public employees’ rights makes him the leader we are proud to support.”

Lanon Baccam addressed the attendees, emphasizing his commitment to labor rights, public service, and the well-being of Iowa’s working families. He spoke of his work under former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack at the USDA and his recent efforts to expand high-speed internet access in rural areas—key to creating good-paying jobs and lowering costs for families.

Image from AFSCME Council 61 press release

Baccam outlined key points of his campaign:

• Supporting Public Employees: Baccam advocates for public employees’ rights and fair treatment, supporting broader protections under National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) standards over the restrictive Iowa Code Chapter 20.
• An Economy that Works for Iowans: Baccam stressed the need to lower the cost of living while creating good-paying jobs, particularly in small towns and rural communities.
• Fighting for Small Towns and Rural Communities: He is dedicated to revitalizing these areas, supporting family farms, and ensuring access to healthcare and jobs without extensive travel.
• Standing up for Reproductive Rights: Baccam is a strong advocate for women’s reproductive rights and has pledged to fight against a national abortion ban.
• Protecting Social Security and Medicare: Baccam emphasized the importance of protecting these programs to help seniors manage rising costs.
• Bringing Iowans Together: He called for unity in a time of deep polarization, stressing the need for leaders who will serve their communities and work across divides.

In closing, Todd Copley remarked, “Our union stands united behind Lanon Baccam because he stands for us. We need leaders who will fight for working families and strengthen our communities. Lanon Baccam is that leader, and together, we will build a brighter future for Iowa.”

DES MOINES — U.S. Representative Zach Nunn, a Republican from Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, Thursday, introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce excessive paperwork for small businesses. The Protect Small Business from Excessive Paperwork Act, which is co-led by U.S. Representatives Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), French Hill (AR-02), and Sharice Davids (KS-03), will make it easier for Main Street businesses to comply with federal law and reporting requirements.

“Iowa’s economy is driven by small businesses – more than half of Iowans are employed by Main Street,” said Rep. Nunn. “Bureaucrats in D.C. sit in their ivory towers, demanding businesses comply with onerous red tape, without considering the burden it puts on businesses. We must do everything we can to roll back unnecessary regulations and simplify requirements for job creators while still following the law.”

In 2020, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act to establish new beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements for businesses to root out nefarious shell companies operated by foreign adversaries. However, during implementation, the U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) failed to notify small businesses of the new reporting requirements. According to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), 80% of NFIB members had never heard of the new reporting requirements.Rep. Nunn hosted FinCEN Director Gacki in Des Moines on May 31, 2024 to host a small business roundtable to discuss the new BOI requirements. During the event, Director Gacki reported that only 2 million out of approximately 32.6 million small businesses had filed their reports.

Despite the lack of filings under the new requirements, FinCEN has refused to extend the deadline, leaving millions of small business owners at risk of a $591 daily fine and up to two years in jail. According to the National Small Business Association, the average small business owner will spend nearly $8,000 to comply with these new reporting requirements.

The bipartisan Protect Small Business from Excessive Paperwork Act extends the filing deadline until December 31, 2025 for small businesses while the Treasury Department educates businesses on the new reporting requirements and ensures small businesses are not overburdened with unclear and unnecessarily complicated new regulations.

Text of the bill can be found here. 

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) — The University of Northern Iowa will welcome its first group of nursing students in fall 2024. KCRG reports the college renovated its Innovative Teaching and Technology Center into nursing classrooms and labs. UNI said its new program comes as a response to the state of Iowa’s lack of nurses. All across the country, hospitals floors are closing, surgeries are delayed and people are waiting longer for care, due to a nursing shortage. UNI’s Executive Director of Nursing, Nancy Kertz, said there are about 8,000 positions for Registered Nurses [In Iowa] that are shown online.  UNI said it hopes to fill some of those positions when its students graduate the program.

The new space will provide students with hands-on experience. The new simulation labs feature simulator mannequins that are similar to real human patients. Their chests move when they breathe, blink, cough or even groan in pain. A camera in the labs will record a student’s performance as well, so they can review and improve their skills. The university hopes to not only teach the actual skills required for nursing but also help them develop their clinical judgement.

The construction of the nursing space has three phases. The first phase is complete, and the planning for the next phrase has started. UNI will rollout its nursing program gradually, bringing in about 25 students in fall 2024 and adding more each semester.

CRESTON, Iowa – Aug. 1, 2024 – If you travel on westbound Interstate 80 near the Jordan Creek Parkway interchange (exit 121) you need to be aware of upcoming overnight construction work that may slow down your trip. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports the DOT needs to close the roadway overnight from the Jordan Creek Parkway interchange (exit 121) to the Grand Prairie Parkway interchange (exit 118) to allow the contractor to work on bridge deck repair and concrete patching. Due to weather delays, this has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, weather permitting.

While the roadway is closed, you will follow a marked detour route that will use Jordan Creek Parkway, University Avenue, and Grand Prairie Parkway (see map).

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — Some Iowans will not see their local temperature and dew point weather reports because several weather tracking sensors across Iowa are disabled. In western Iowa, that includes the Denison and Carroll Airports.  The Federal Aviation Administration released new guidelines on July 2 that require malfunctioning Automated Weather Observing Systems, or AWOS, located at airports to be disabled.

There are 61 AWOSs at airports in Iowa. Seventeen are managed by the FAA, while 44 are operated by the Iowa Department of Transportation. These sites’ primary function is to track meteorological data such as wind speed, air pressure, temperature, and dew points to guide pilots; however, weather data is shared with the public and often used for local weather reports.

Currently, 12 weather tracking sites are not reporting temperature or dew point for the area. A full map of the weather tracking sites can be found here. Iowa DOT Aviation Director Tim McClung told KCCI, that prior to July 2, the DOT was only required to report if a site was producing inaccurate data. Now, if they must disable the sensor entirely along with issuing a report to pilots.

There is no danger to aircraft from the disabled sensors.  McClung said for aviation, they can map out general weather conditions, despite some sensors being down, that are sufficient for guiding aircraft. However, he said it is inconvenient for people who are looking at the sensors for weather reports. McClung said the technicians at the DOT are working hard to get the site back up as soon as possible but expects it will be a rolling cycle of sensors coming on and off over the next several months.

They are currently directing their focus on the offline sensors in Boone, Webster City, and Carroll because those locations are close together and all malfunctioning. The disabled sensors are expected to continue for several months as the DOT adapts to the policy change. McClung said the sensors they need to replace are currently backlogged, which has led to more delays.

He said the cooler weather in the fall and winter, combined with more time to get new sensors, should bring most of the sites back online. Below is a list of the sensors not currently reporting temperature or dew point:

• Denison
• Carroll
• Perry
• Webster City
• Fort Dodge
• Clarion
• Boone
• Fort Madison
• Keokuk
• Muscatine
• Vinton
• Grinnell