(Radio Iowa) – The top Republican in the U-S House says he’ll push for approval of wartime funding for Ukraine when the House reconvenes in April. Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she hasn’t seen details of the package yet. “My stance remains the same, that I do not think we can let President Putin win the war. He is a thug and a dictator and I am very, very concerned about the long term impacts of potential conflict with NATO,” Hinson said, “so I will review any package that’s presented to us.”

Hinson says aid to Ukraine should be limited to military assistance. “I actually just met with the ambassadors from Ukraine and Poland last week, so I’m looking forward to continuing work on these packages so we get the resources they need,” Hinson says, “but I think that’s military resources and I’ll work my colleagues to make sure we get a package we can come to consensus on.”

Hinson is NOT part of the small group of Republicans who joined with Democrats to try to force a House vote on the foreign aid package approved by the Senate in February. Both of Iowa’s U-S Senators voted for the bill, which includes military support for Ukraine and Israel, as well as humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.

March 29, 2024 (DES MOINES) — Officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today (Friday) awarded approximately $125,000 in Certified Local Government Grants to nine communities around the state, including Creston, Manning and Sioux City. The Certified Local Government program encourages governmental partnerships, provides training and technical assistance, and supports preservation of historic resources at the local level. Iowa’s program is one of the largest in the nation and is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service. Funding for the Certified Local Government grants comes from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service.

The grant awards will support projects including:

• The development of Uptown Creston District’s National Register of Historic Places nomination.
• The creation of a Historic Structure Report for Sacred Heart Catholic Church that will establish a roadmap for rehabilitation and reuse for this vacant property in Fort Dodge.
• The completion of a survey of the Overman Park Neighborhood, one of the early residential neighborhoods adjacent to Historic Downtown Cedar Falls.

The City of Creston received a grant of $10,655 after they completed an intensive survey and identified a potential historic district. Creston will hire a consultant to complete a National Register nomination of the downtown district, known locally as Uptown Creston including the heart of our Uptown, Maple Street. The City will provide a local match of $7,104 toward the total project cost of $17,759.

The City of Manning received a $12,900 grant from IEDA for a redevelopment and reuse plan will be created for the building at the prominent corner of Main Street & 3rd Street in Manning. Originally a bank and the Manning Telephone company, these two distinct buildings were later joined on the inside. The property has been vacant for years and have seen significant deterioration. The city acquired them so they can again contribute to the vibrant downtown. The City’s local share of the estimated $21,500 is $8,600.

And, Sioux City received a $15,973 grant from IEDA to undertake Phase IA Archaeological Reconnaissance Surveys at two sites: War Eagle Monument and Park and an agricultural land parcel north of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. This project will provide a report and archaeological record containing data and information that can be used to determine each site’s historical significance and integrity for a potential nomination form to list each site in the National Register of Historic Places. The City’s share of the estimated $26,622 project cost is $10,649.

You can download a spreadsheet featuring all of Friday’s awards, here.

IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham says “Each of these projects represent the growing momentum for community revitalization through historic preservation. This investment in projects across Iowa will have a significant economic impact and demonstrates our commitment to local preservation in partnership with our state’s 90 Certified Local Governments.”

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa State Historic Preservation Office. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Certified Local Government projects.

PELLA, Iowa – One of the best storytellers in broadcasting will return to Iowa to share his knowledge at his Alma Mater. Central College in Pella announced on “X” (formerly known as Twitter), that they “Are absolutely ecstatic to announce Harry Smith (Class of ’73) will be returning to Central College as an executive in residence Fall 2024.”

College officials say “We can’t wait for our students to learn and benefit from his heart for others and extensive experience at NBC News.”

Smith announced his retirement from broadcast journalism, and filed his final story for NBC Nightly News Thursday night. On Friday morning’s NBC Today Show, Smith said he will teach a course on curiosity at Central College. He also plans to write a few books.

Harry Smith (Central College photo from “X”)

At Central, Smith studied communications and theater. He also played on the Central Dutch football team and was a letter-winner all four years. He graduated in 1973. Before working at NBC News, Smith hosted “The Early Show” and did other reporting for CBS for many years.

(Radio Iowa) – One northeast Iowa farmer has a head start on coloring his Easter eggs. Mark Westbrock keeps between 180 to 200 chickens on his Solstice Farm in Waverly. They provide eggs that range in color from the standard shades of brown and white to spots, and even more unexpected hues. “Blue eggs, green eggs, 364 days out of the year, they’re the most beautiful eggs out there, but they don’t dye very well,” he says, “You can’t really dye them, because they’re already colored.”

Westbrock says the color comes from having unique birds.”It’s just different breeds of chicken that people have developed over the years. There are some breeds of green egg layers that have been around for a while, and then kind of more recently people have developed breeds that can lay these bright brilliant blue eggs,” he explains.

Westbrock adds that organic and sustainable farming practices also help in bringing out an egg’s richer colors. His farm has been around for a little more than five years.

(Radio Iowa) – A small team is reporting huge success with a program that helps University of Iowa Health Care patients save money on their prescriptions. Last year, the U-I-H-C Medication Assistance Center saved thousands of uninsured or underinsured patients more than 69-million dollars. Wendy Ostrem is one of the center’s pharmacist financial counselors. “I work with a team of other pharmacists and social workers,” Ostrem says, “and as patients are identified here at University Hospitals as having financial concerns with their medications, we work to utilize the resources that we have to help them try to lower their costs.”

Some patients may not be able to afford co-payments of 50-dollars a month, and Ostrem says the center may find a grant to cover all or most of that cost. “We might be saving that patient over the course of a year $1,000 to $2,000,” she says, “but then there are these patients who need the expensive chemotherapy infusions that run $30,000 a month. We might be saving those patients over a quarter of a million dollars a year by getting that medication for them at no cost.” It’s an exceptionally rewarding job, Ostrem says, knowing you’re helping people financially while the medications help them physically.

“We’re not saving the hospital any money. We’re not receiving any money from any of these programs. It’s all completely patient savings,” Ostrem says. “At the end of the day, it’s a feel-good job. Patients are very appreciative of what we can do for them. You know that people are cutting down on doses or not taking their doses or trying to decide if they’re going to pay for food or they’re going to pay for medicine.”

The center is able to save money through free drug programs offered by pharmaceutical companies, as well as copay assistance programs and grants. Ostrem says there’s also SafeNet R-X, based in Grimes, a non-profit that’s main goal is to help Iowans to afford their medications. “The main way that they do that is by accepting donated medications,” she says. “They do have to be in date. They have to be sealed. They don’t do anything refrigerated and no controlled substances. And then they work with a network of partner pharmacies in the state of Iowa to dispense those medications to patients at no charge.”

Ostrem, who graduated from the U-I College of Pharmacy in 1986, says she’s seen remarkable changes in health care since she was a student on the Iowa City campus. While the program saved patients almost 70-million dollars last year, the savings was just under eight-million dollars a decade ago. She says much of that is due to the rising cost of pharmaceuticals.

PERRY, Iowa [KCCI] — Tyson has officially announced how many people will be laid off when its pork processing plant closes in Perry. They say 1,276 workers are being let go, and PSSI, the sanitation service that cleans the Tyson Plant, says they’re laying off 76 workers.

The state is sending resources to help folks who will lose their jobs. Iowa Workforce Development plans to launch a temporary IowaWorks location, hold meetings and host job fairs. The plant is scheduled to close in late June.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports an Adams County woman was arrested on Forgery or Theft charges Thursday night. 20-year-old Molly Nichole Bagby, of Corning, was taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m.  Her arrest at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, was on charges that include Ongoing Criminal Conduct, and 16 counts of Lottery Forgery or Theft of Ticket.

Bagby posted an $85,000 cash or approved surety bond, and was released.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – State, city and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations in recent weeks, including cockroaches, food that had expired last year, and unsanitary kitchens. At one upscale eatery, steaks were being thawed in the sink designated for rinsing floor mops. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, cafeterias and stores over the past four weeks.

The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing website.

Among the findings:

During a March 12 visit to Hy-Vee Foods, 4500 Sergeant Road, Sioux City,  an inspector observed that the “gourmet mushroom Swiss burgers” were underweight, and so the situation was corrected by “adding a little more burger to the units to meet the labeling requirements.” Also, the kitchen staff was cutting peppers and the produce section was cutting melons while using their bare hands to handle the food. In addition, the sushi rice and Chinese foods that were placed into a container were not first cooled to 41 degrees as required. The inspector also reported that the loaf pans and muffin pans used in the bakery were visibly soiled and there was a dead mouse in trap by the loading dock.

During a March 12 visit to Valentina’s Meat Market in Storm Lake, an inspector noted that the owner of the establishment and the employees did not know proper internal cooking temperatures, labeling requirements for packaged foods, or proper hot-holding temperatures for food. In addition, there was no certified food protection manager on staff. Also, hot chicharron, a form of deep-fried pork, was holding at 88 degrees, which was far too cool to ensure safety, and so the owner agreed to not serve or sell the product. The inspector also reported that multiple temperature-controlled foods were stored in coolers throughout the establishment with no date markings on them.

In addition, packaged cake, seasonings, raw meats, and spices were not properly labeled and were missing their common names, ingredients, name of the manufacturer and any allergy information. Due to the number of repeat violations dating back to 2019, the business and the Buena Vista County Health Department created a formal risk-control plan to help address the violations.

And, during a March 4th visit to Texas Roadhouse in Ames, an inspector observed an employee handling raw food of an unspecified nature without washing their hands before transitioning to the preparation of salads. Also, the handwashing sink wasn’t reaching a minimum of 100 degrees; raw chicken was stored above raw catfish; several knives on the food-preparation line were visibly soiled; fried chicken was cooked to a temperature of 151 degrees rather than 165 degrees; a container of potatoes was stored on top of a trash can; and a drain line was leaking water onto the floor.

The visit was prompted by an illness complaint of some kind, with the restaurant manager indicating they were aware of a similar complaint. The inspection report gives no indication as to whether the complaint was deemed verified, but the manager agreed to perform a thorough cleaning of the establishment before the restaurant opened for business the following day.

OMAHA (Via the Iowa Capital Dispatch) — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $124 million in grants and loans to projects in 44 states, including Iowa, that are aimed at saving energy and creating more income streams for smaller farmers and rural businesses. The heftiest award — nearly $4 million — went to Nebraska-based Bluestem Systems to help boost a creative process that removes water and pathogens from manure. In doing so, the company produces dry fertilizer and recycles the water for on-site use. Russ Vering, owner of Bluestem Systems, based in Howells, Nebraska, was on the panel. He said the nearly $4 million FPEP award headed to his business will help construction and equipment purchases at two Nebraska locations and another in Iowa.

In all, Vilsack said, the 542 projects — most of the awards range from about $7,000 to $1 million — are expected to advance President Joe Biden’s pledge to expand clean energy and allow small- to mid-sized farm and rural operations a better chance at competing with larger counterparts. Thirty Iowa projects received a total of just over $2.76 million.

Speaking to a group of about 75 people at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Vilsack described key challenges faced by most farmers. Since 1981, he said, the nation has lost some 545,000 farms and 155 million acres of former farmland. While the nation has enjoyed record farm income in the last few years, he said, the income has been concentrated among about 7% of s farms that cumulatively collect up to 89% of the bounty. Part of the answer to shrinking rural communities, Vilsack said, is to provide access to funding via programs such as REAP and FPEP. Such monies, he said, open the door to creating other “value-added” opportunities and sources of income for farmers. Instead of “get big or get out,” Vilsack said: “The word is entrepreneurial.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, in Omaha on March 28, 2024, announced about $124 million in grant and loans to smaller farms and rural businesses across the country, including 30 in Iowa. (Photo by Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) via Iowa Capital Dispatch

Of the newly announced grants and loans, Vilsack said the investments he announced “Will expand access to renewable energy systems and domestic fertilizer, all while creating good-paying jobs and saving people money that they can then invest back into their businesses and communities.

Among the larger REAP awards for Iowa projects were:

Among the larger Iowa recipients were:

• DeWitt Travel Mart – $395,527 to help install a 423.5 kilowatt solar array at its convenience store in DeWitt.
• Deck Supply Services – $283,977  to help install a 281.8 kilowatt solar array at its sheet metal work manufacturing operation near Walcott.
• L & S Ag Center Inc. – $203,477 to help install a 199 kilowatt solar array at its farm supply business in Worthington.
• D Daufeldt Farms Inc. – $160,728 to help install a 114 kilowatt solar project at its turkey production operation near West Liberty.
• Home 40 LTD – $160,259 to help install an energy-efficient grain dryer at its oilseed and grain production farm operation near Britt.

(Radio Iowa) – The second weekend of the college basketball tournaments is underway and for Iowans with a gambling addiction, it can be a true challenge to avoid the urge to place a bet. Andrew Gerodias, an official with Iowa’s largest addiction treatment provider, says there are warning signs to watch for in yourself and in your loved ones that may indicate a problem is looming.

“Often what ends up happening is individuals start to isolate more,” Gerodias says. “They may start putting aside some of their responsibilities or their hobbies, things that they enjoy, and more of their time becomes focused on getting money for gambling or going and gambling.” Gerodias is outpatient supervisor for the Rosecrance Jackson Center in Sioux City. For Iowans who think they may have a gambling problem, he says there’s plenty of help available.

“That can be done without any sort of cost to them through interacting with local support groups like GA, Gamblers Anonymous,” Gerodias says. “There may be in-person meetings, there may be online meetings, whatever they feel most comfortable with. You can initially get started through making those phone calls to 1-800-BETS OFF.” For someone with a more serious problem, Gerodias says an evaluation at a treatment center may be needed.

“There is also the ability to self-exclude at casinos, where you go in and you say, ‘I can no longer be here. I want to be put onto a list,’ and then you are no longer allowed to come onto that property,” Gerodias says. “It can give some of that extra incentive not to take part in the gambling on those sites.” Gerodias says Rosecrance facilities in Iowa help more than 7,000 teens and adults every year at outpatient treatment clinics in Sioux City, Cherokee, Davenport, Le Mars, Spencer and Sheldon.