(Radio Iowa) – A Sioux Center dentist says the free dental clinic his practice offered to children in need Tuesday was a success. Several days of screenings were held at Sioux Center schools to determine the needs for the children who participated in the first “Give Kids a Smile” dental clinic operated by Doctor Trevor Kuiper and his staff. “We only did about 12 extractions which wasn’t too bad but we had close to 40 fillings, about the same number of sealants, and we did get 30 cleanings, X-rays and a couple other procedures as well,” Kuiper says. He says the total cost for all the services provided to the children was a little more then 23-thousand dollars.

Kuiper and his staff got help from several volunteers who came from Community Health Partners, Mid-Sioux, and Kinsey Elementary School. Kuiper says it was a good day of helping kids in need. “It’s always hard when you’re working on the kids because you know you’re doing things that don’t feel good. They’re not things that are always understood by the kids at the time,” Kuiper says. “But we’re really hopeful that as the days and weeks go on for these kids and everything heals up, that they’re going to be in a much better position. They’re going to be eat, they’re going to be able to sleep. They’re going to be able to go about doing normal kid things without having to worry about their mouth hurting.”

Kuiper says one thing he may consider doing differently for the next “Give Kids a Smile” clinic, is to schedule it later in the week. He says the difficult thing for him is most of the kids treated Tuesday need more dental care, and that there are many more children needing dental services that won’t get it because either their parents can’t get off work to take them to a dentist, or they have financial limitations.

(Radio Iowa) – Senate Republicans are proposing changes in Governor Kim Reynolds’ plan to overhaul Iowa’s nine Area Education Agencies. Reynolds wants to send all government funding for special education services to schools, so districts could continue using A-E-As for those services or choose another provider. A bill approved by the Senate Education Committee would still send 10 percent of that special education funding to A-E-As, but school districts would control the rest. A-E-As also would get 40 percent of the money they receive now for media services as well as other A-E-A services for teachers and all students. Republican Senator Lynn Evans, a retired superintendent from Aurelia, says their plan provides a safety net for the A-E-A system. “So everything being provided by the AEAs will continue to be provided by the AEAs,” Evans says, “and we have reestablished funding that the governor stripped out.”

House Republicans have proposed their own alternative that would guarantee A-E-As keep all government funding to provide special education services in Iowa schools. Governor Reynolds says she appreciates that the conversation about A-E-A changes is continuing. Evans says Senate Republicans will make more adjustments to their plan when the bill is debated in the full Senate. “This amendment is the result of listening to and working with AEAs and superintendents,” Evans said, “while understanding that this is not the final product.”

Democrats on the committee voted against the plan as it was presented last (Wednesday) night. Senator Claire Celsi, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says the A-E-A system is working and the proposed changes in distributing special education funding would make it difficult for A-E-As and schools to provide services to students with disabilities. “To come in here with a bulldozer like this — it’s not fair,” Celsi said. “It’s not necessary and the people in our state do not want this.” Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says if the goal is to improve test scores among students with disabilities, the Senate G-O-P plan won’t get there. “Our rural communities don’t have the same ability to provide these services that our urban do, which is why the AEAs were put in place in the first place,” Donahue says. Senate Republicans say some A-E-As provide more services than others and putting the Iowa Department of Education in charge will fix that.

The House Education Committee will consider A-E-A service changes late this (Thursday) afternoon.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna conducted a successful post-election audit of the February 06, 2024, Special Election to fill vacancies on the City of Coburg City Council. Ozuna says ballots in Precinct 6 were hand- counted by election officials to ensure they matched the totals reported by the ballot tabulator. The precinct was randomly selected by the Secretary of State following Election Day. The Special Election City of Coburg City Council TFV Race was audited. The results matched 100%.  Ozuna says “The hand count audit shows that our machines tabulate accurately and further restores integrity of our election process.”

Every ballot tabulator in Iowa undergoes a public pre-election test to ensure it will count votes accurately on Election Day. Post-election audits are mandatory in all 99 counties following each election. For more information about election security in Iowa, visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.iowa.gov. Information about the voting process is available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov.

Questions about the post-election audit and other election matters may be directed to the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127.

Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna

As previously reported, the Board of Supervisors, on Tues., Feb. 13, 2024, canvassed the election results. Those elected, each of whom received nine votes (33.33% each), are Annajenifer Beaman, Alexandria Schooling and Anthony Schooling. There were 19 registered voters for the election and nine ballots cast, for a voter turnout of 49.95-percent.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School District’s Board of Education met Monday evening at the High School in Anita. During their regular, monthly session, the Board acted on approving a resignation and two contracts. Shared CAM/Nodaway Valley Superintendent Paul Croghan…

The Board also approved a Budget Guarantee for FY 2024/2025.

And, they held discussion with regard to the FY24/25 Budget…

Superintendent Croghan said the continued with discussion on the District’s Facilities Project.

Croghan said spoke also about a group juniors and seniors who are taking a trip out east next month.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – As part of his annual visits to each of Iowa’s 99 counties, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will be in Southwest Iowa on Friday for four different stops.

In Shelby County, Secretary Naig will tour a brand new, Farm Service Cooperative Warehouse. He was unable to attend their open house last summer and so he will tour the warehouse and meet with employees and leadership to hear about current issues and how preparations for the spring planting season are going.

In Harrison County, Secretary Naig will tour and learn about the IGNITE Pathways Land and Cattle Program, in Woodbine. IGNITE was founded by a group of enterprising students in 2022. The program aims to provide practical learning opportunities in agriculture by renting a farm and raising chickens, goats, sheep, and cattle. The students have demonstrated their commitment to the welfare of the animals by taking on the responsibility of sourcing resources, building and maintaining farm infrastructure, and installing fences. Under the guidance of Justin Mills, Agriculture Instructor at IGNITE Pathways, the program has grown in scale and scope. The students gain invaluable hands-on experience in various aspects of agriculture, including caring for animals, crop cultivation, and farm management.

And, the Secretary will speak at a regional Iowa Corn Growers meeting in Missouri Valley, about current topics in agriculture, provide an update on some of his priorities and initiatives, and take questions from the audience.

In Pottawattamie County, Secretary Naig will meet with FFA members and ag students from the Tri-Center FFA in Neola, and learn about their school’s efforts to partner on pollinator habitat and conservation and water quality projects with area partners, including the local Soil and Water Conservation District. Ahead of FFA Week, which is the following week,  Secretary Naig will also tour their livestock facility.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two people were arrested in Creston, late Wednesday morning. Creston Police report 54-year-old Mary Ann Giles, of Creston, and 59-year-old Jimmy Alan Robertson, of Bridgewater, were arrested in the vicinity of W. Union and New York Avenue, at around 11:30-a.m., Wednesday. Both were transported to the Union County Jail for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. They were subsequently released on their Own Recognizance, after being seen by a Judge.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) recently recognized Community Housing Initiatives, Inc., and Arch Icon Development as the inaugural recipients of the Excellence in Development designation. “This recognition celebrates affordable housing developers who garner robust and collaborative partnerships, attention to detail and a standard of excellence in both the development process and their commitment to providing housing for eligible Iowans through the Federal Housing Tax Credit Program,” said IFA Director Debi Durham.

IFA will annually recognize development companies awarded Federal Housing Tax Credits who exemplify excellence and go above and beyond to advance affordable housing opportunities for Iowans. This prestigious designation is granted on a competitive basis to honor the top affordable housing development partners working in Iowa. The designation showcases proven dedication to excellence, participation, and results. This includes meeting deadlines for allocation checkpoints, submitting applications that are thorough and complete for review that require minimal comments, and actively participating in policy planning, training and feedback opportunities.

Community Housing Initiatives, Inc. 

Community Housing Initiatives (CHI) is Iowa’s largest non-profit housing development and consulting group, headquartered in Spencer. Since 1993, CHI has closely collaborated with communities ranging in population from 800 to 200,000, dedicated to creating housing solutions that meet community needs and provide comprehensive services for residents. CHI has generated or preserved over 1,800 affordable housing units offered at rates below the market rate. “CHI is proud to work in partnership with IFA to build quality affordable housing for Iowans,” said Sam Erickson, CEO of Community Housing Initiatives. “CHI has invested $280 million in Iowa communities in addition to reinvesting all income from development and rental properties directly back into Iowa communities for more than 30 years and we are just getting started.”

Arch Icon Development

Founded in 2010 by Darin Smith and Dustin and Mindy Crook and headquartered in Woodbine, Arch Icon Development strives to develop market-rate and affordable housing, along with commercial space development in the Midwest. “We founded Arch Icon Development with the belief that the creation of housing is key to economic, community, and neighborhood development,” said Darin Smith, Arch Icon Principal. “To date, Arch Icon has leveraged $146.5 million to create 761 apartments in Iowa and Nebraska and we look forward to collaborating with IFA and other partners to create even more homes that Iowans can be proud to call home.”

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A Sioux City man is now facing arson charges after allegedly starting a fire using a bible.  KCAU says according to court documents, the incident occurred at 3 a.m. on Tuesday at a residence on the 1300 block of Jones Street. The documents state that Robelio Cabrera Escobar, 29, of Sioux City, was in his bedroom with the door locked when he set a bible on fire.

Cabrera Escobar resided in the top unit of an “apartment house.” At the time of the fire, three other adults and one child were in the residence. The complaint states that the bottom unit is occupied but did not specify if anyone was home.

While the bible was burning, the carpet began to burn causing the residence to fill with smoke. When the other residents learned of the fire, they tried to enter Cabrera Escobar’s room. Due to the locked door, they had to force their way in and extinguish the fire, according to the documents. During a later interview, Cabrera Escobar admitted to starting the fire because he was angry but would not offer any other reason for it.

Cabrera Escobar was charged with first-degree arson and held on a bond of $25,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO-TV) — Around a month and a half ago, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the state would not opt in to the federal Summer EBT program. The program would give $40 per month to each child in a low-income family during summer months. Organizations have been calling on Reynolds to revert course. Earlier this week Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen changed his decision and opted in to the program. Kollin Crompton, Deputy Communications Director for the Governor’s Office, told WHO-TV, “The Governor’s decision is firm. Pandemic-era programs were not intended to be permanent. The answer isn’t creating a new government program, instead we should be investing in existing programs that work. Iowa already runs summer feeding programs that provide healthy meals for children with fruits, vegetables, milk, grains, and meats/proteins, based on age-appropriate meal patterns. The Governor is investing more into Iowa’s existing programs to focus on expansion and participation across the state.”

Those programs mentioned in the statement can be seen here. The state is seeking sponsors for a federally funded program that provides healthy meals and snacks to kids in low-income areas of the state when school is out. The state is also seeking sponsors for the program to expand availability of the meals and announced a new grant program for it earlier this month. While there will be avenues for children to be fed, democratic senators do not believe that it is enough compared to the $29 million the state could have received from the federal government for Summer EBTs. The state would be required to spend several million dollars to get the $29 million back from the federal government.