(Radio Iowa) – River and stream flows have dropped as the wet spring turned to a dry fall, which raises some concerns for fish. D-N-R fisheries biologist Scott Grummer works in north-central Iowa. “We’re starting to get a few calls from citizen reports of some fish getting stranded in isolated pools, especially at the you know, the upper, upper reaches, or headwaters of some of our rivers,” he says. Grummer says the wet spring had rivers full, but it never fully replenished groundwater.

“Even with the flooding, you know, the sub soil moisture wasn’t fully replenished, and once we got those spring rains through, you know, we slid right back into dry events where we seen very little rainfall really since July on, especially parts of Iowa, and kind of slid us right back to where we were a year ago, at this time in drought,” Grummer says. Rivers with less water depth could freeze over. “The thing that keeps river water from from freezing solid is obviously the current, or flow velocity,” Grummer says. “And when we’re in these dry periods, like we are now, you know, the current is is minimal, and that makes it you know, where a harsh, cold winter could have some some dramatic effects on fish.”

Public Health Watch photo

He says the natural instincts of fish kick in. “Fish will move to the deepest water they can find to winter. They can sense winter coming. But when we’re in this, this type of drought and flow conditions, there’s not a lot of deep water for them to find,” he says. Grummer says there could be some fish kills. “On the positive side, you know, obviously, fish have dealt with droughts through history, and they are very resilient. And typically, it’s not like a complete destruction of the fishery, but it could cause some, some minor setbacks in in some areas, if, if we get a harsh winter, and especially in these northern Iowa rivers,” Grummer says.

Grummer says precipitation generally drops in the winter, so there’s not a lot of chance for the waterways to get replenished.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa’s furbearer season opens Saturday and according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the outlook for trappers is positive – most species populations are steady, and there are some early indications wild fur pelt prices could be trending up this winter. The challenge, however, could be that fewer marshes and streams have good water levels. Vince Evelsizer, state furbearer and wetland biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says “Our water levels are similar to last year in some regions, even with a wet spring. These wet/dry-dry/wet swings within a year can have an impact on aquatic furbearers – otters, mink, beavers and muskrats. But the upland species – bobcats, red fox, coyotes – are much less impacted.”

Evelsizer encouraged trappers to do some preseason scouting as marsh water levels vary by location with many either dry or drying by the day. The furbearer season is Nov. 2 to Feb. 28, 2025. Beaver trapping closes on April 15, 2025.

Mentoring young trappers

A regulation change allows youth age 15 and younger to go trapping with a licensed adult trapper without purchasing a license. This change brings trapping in line with hunting. “This allows the youth to experience trapping to see if it is something they would enjoy without having to purchase a license,” Evelsizer said. Each youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult.

Gray fox study

The Iowa DNR will again be looking for live caught gray foxes as part of a pilot population study to learn more about this small, secretive woodland furbearer. “We’re asking for the public and our trappers to contact us if they’ve recently seen a gray fox or catch a gray fox. Better yet, contact us in advance if you’re trying to catch a gray fox in your area. Private trappers are a valuable partner for this pilot project. We have one fox collared so far, and hope to add to that this year,” Evelsizer said. The collar provides researchers with data on the fox’s movement, habitat preference and survivorship. There is a $400 reward, provided by the Iowa Wildlife Federation, for anyone who catches a gray fox that can be used for this study. He said the fox will be released on the site where it was caught.

The DNR is also working with Iowa State University on a pilot project this winter in northeast Iowa, using cameras to track fishers and gray foxes to determine what areas these species occupy and what areas they don’t occupy in this region. “Other regions may be surveyed in the future, depending on how this study goes,” Evelsizer said.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa snowmobilers are no longer required to purchase and display an annual trail user permit, according to a new law that went into effect July 1, 2024. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (SNR) says the law folded the trail user permit into the annual snowmobile registration fee, which will now be $30 plus administration fees. The previous price for each type was $15.

Registration and permit fees for snowmobiles are placed in a dedicated account for snowmobile programs in Iowa, including the Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program, which is administered through the Iowa State Snowmobile Association. The grant program supports snowmobile trail development and grooming; equipment purchases and maintenance; and trail signage in cooperation with snowmobile clubs all across Iowa.

Iowa Snowmobile Association photo

Snowmobilers who own a new machine or have not yet entered the snowmobile into the state registration system need to go to the County Recorder’s office in their county of residence to start the registration process. To renew an existing registration, visit the County Recorder or go online to www.gooutdoorsiowa.com

Nonresident snowmobilers will still need to purchase and display the trail user permit, which are available at any County Recorder’s Office, through retailers that sell hunting and fishing licenses, or online at www.gooutdoorsiowa.com .

Learn more about Iowa’s snowmobile programs at: https://www.iowadnr.gov/things-to-do/snowmobiles

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says if Donald Trump becomes president again, he will dramatically reduce the size of the federal government. “The waste has to be just — and you all know it — astronomical,” Reynolds says. “…I’m excited they talk about maybe an Elon Musk getting in there and thinking about how we can restructure. I’m excited about those kind of opportunities because that’s invigorating and that creates a really awesome culture that really drives even more innovations.”

Reynolds spoke early this (Wednesday) morning to the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale, touting her own reorganization of Iowa’s government as an example of what could happen in a second Trump term if Republicans are in the majority in the U-S House and Senate. “First of all, you’ve got to go in there and blow it up. We need to start operating more like a business and we need to approach government like that, Reynolds says. “It is ridiculous — no metrics, no KPIs, nothing — nothing is based on outcomes or data.” Reynolds suggests more federal spending should be delivered to states as block grants and governors and state lawmakers should have greater authority and flexibility to decide where that money is spent.

Reynolds spoke for about 45 minutes this (Wednesday) morning, answering questions from the crowd of Republicans. The governor asked a question of her own, too, and nearly everyone in the audience raised their hands when she asked who had already voted. “Six more days until we take this country back. Who’s excited about that? Holy cow. Unbelievable,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds told the crowd Iowa’s early voting numbers show Republicans are competitive with Democrats, who have historically emphasized voting early. The governor says that allows Republicans to focus their resources on reaching Iowans who do not vote in every election.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met this (Wednesday) morning (Oct. 30), in Greenfield. During their regular weekly session, the Board acknowledged a Manure Management Plan (MMP) update from Rose Acre Farms, and approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw-down. The Board accepted the 2024 Annual Weed Commissioner’s report from Nathan Jensen. And, the Adair County Supervisors approved a request from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, to advertise for a opening being created as of January 1st, due to the retirement of a Sheriff’s Department employee.

In other business, the Board approved Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman’s request for a new hire, effective November 4th, along with a $4.00/hour wage increase for Assistant to the Engineer, Sawyer Hansen. Kauffman made the request so that Hansen’s salary can be brought closer in-line to what other counties are paying persons in similar positions.

The Board authorized Chair Jerry Walker to sign two (updated) front pages for the N-7 (Eureka Township) and W-22 (Lee Township) bridge projects. Engineer Nick Kauffman then presented the Supervisors with his weekly report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities. That included storm damage updates.

He said also, they’re working on a right-of-way agreement for a box culvert project, and a bridge project. The N-16 Washington (Township) Bridge is being designed, and drilling for soil samples will be taken care of later this week, so the bridge will be temporarily closed. Work on the bridge itself is expected to begin in Sept, 2025.

Atlantic, IA – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced Whitney Schafer, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C is the newest recipient of the Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Award. After more than a decade of nursing experience, Schafer graduated from Clarkson College and now serves as a primary care provider at Atlantic Medical Center and Massena Medical Center. Since joining the medical staff in January 2023, she has been consistently recognized by her patients as a provider who truly listens and cares.

Cass Health Director of Primary Care Melissa Maas said, “Over the years, we have seen Whitney consistently deliver exceptional patient care both as a nurse and provider. Her nomination is an example of the personalized, compassionate care that she delivers with each patient encounter, and we were not at all surprised to hear about yet another example of her going above and beyond. It is an honor to recognize and celebrate Whitney at the ROSE ceremony, alongside her fellow Cass Health colleagues, family, and friends.”

Whitney Schafer, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C. (Photo submitted)

Schafer’s nomination specifically recognized her for her compassionate listening and assistance. She was surprised with the award during a recent medical staff meeting, where she was celebrated in the presence of her family, friends, and colleagues.

The ROSE Award was created to honor and celebrate non-nursing employees of Cass Health who exemplify dedication, compassion, and a commitment to service excellence in carrying out their duties and advancing the goals and mission of Cass Health. The criteria are being knowledgeable and efficient, being compassionate and respectful, working with the care team, and going above and beyond for others. Nominations can be made by anytime online at casshealth.org/rose.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa’s state universities have reallocated more than $2.1 million originally used for positions and offices relating to diversity, equity and inclusion on campus as a result of Iowa Board of Regent directives and a state law set to go into effect next summer, according to a report released Tuesday. The Iowa Capital Dispatch says nearly a year after the board of regents implemented directives for state universities to restructure or eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion offices, positions and programs, the board and universities are working to come under compliance with a state law barring them from opening, maintaining or funding DEI offices.

Board President Sherry Bates announced at the board’s September meeting that board office staff had begun analyzing university departments, programs and positions relating to DEI in order to bring the universities under compliance with legislation pertaining to DEI activities on college campuses. Bates, along with Regents Greta Rouse, David Barker and JC Risewick, led this process.

(Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Senate File 2435 bars the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University from launching, maintaining or funding DEI offices, which it defines in the law. Public universities cannot hire, either themselves or through a third party, anyone to conduct the duties of a DEI office, or assign these duties to a current employee. They also cannot make or compel anyone to submit a DEI statement.

Units that are exempt from the legislation include student organizations, student recruitment offices and offices tasked with making sure the university is following state and federal laws and court orders, according to the report. Despite the bill not going into effect until July 2025, Bates emphasized at the September meeting that the board and universities’ work will be complete by Dec. 31.

According to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report, board office staff worked with the universities starting in June to study areas of their operations and determine whether they are in line with the legislation “from a structural perspective.” They split the units they reviewed into four categories, the report stated, based on whether they meet the definition of DEI under the law and whether they are exempt from it, either because they meet the criteria in the legislation for exemption or because they are required by law or for accreditation.

In addition to studying university programs and departments, the group also reviewed state and federal laws, as well as accreditors, as some have policies relating to DEI. The review identified commonalities among the three universities, including positions that could have DEI aspects or responsibilities being vacant, broader definitions of DEI than the one written in the legislation and certain programs that were still in transition in response to the board’s directives from last November.

Each of the universities will provide updates to the board at its Nov. 6-7 meeting at the University of Northern Iowa.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa home insurance rates, on average, had a double-digit increase this year due to persisting damages from derechos and inflation. The Iowa Capital Dispatch says a recent Insurify report listed Iowa as one of 15 states with a “mounting insurance crisis,” and ranked the state third on the list of states with the highest year-to-date increases of premiums for homeowners.  According to the report, premiums for Iowa homeowners increased 14% from October 2023 to 2024, with the average homeowner now spending $2,416 annually. The report also noted a handful of insurance companies have stopped writing home insurance policies in Iowa.

Increasingly, insurance companies are hiking up rates in states, primarily on the coasts, that are consistently hit with natural disasters. Sonya Sellmeyer, a consumer advocate with the Iowa Insurance Division, said she consistently hears from Iowans who receive increased premiums. “We’re not California or Florida or Louisiana … but we are in a hard insurance market, and it does follow with all these storms,” Sellmeyer said.

In 2020, Iowa was one of several Midwest states hit by a derecho that the National Weather Service called, “the costliest severe thunderstorm event in United States history.” It is estimated the storms and record high wind speeds caused over $11 billion in damages. “Mother Nature has not been kind to Iowa,” Sellmeyer said. “It just seems like we can’t get away from those bad storms.” Sellmeyer said damages from that major event are “still on the books” for insurance underwriting purposes. And parts of Iowa have had at least one derecho each year since, according to the National Weather Service.

Tornado damage in Minden (April, 2024)

These long clusters of thunderstorms and wind can cause destruction similar to tornadoes, and therefore leave lots of homeowners and insurance companies with big repairs. “When insurance companies start paying out more in claims than what they’re bringing in in premiums, or when that number really shrinks, they’re going to raise their rates,” Sellmeyer said.  Inflation is also a factor in increasing premiums, Sellmeyer said. Although overall inflation percentages decreased from a high of 7% in 2021 to just 2.4%, according to the U.S. inflation calculator, the cost of housing in the Midwest has increased by nearly 5% from last year.

Sellmeyer said an increase in construction material costs and continued supply chain issues are also increasing rates for most Iowans, and making it more difficult to mitigate damage from storms by building more durable, and costly, houses. The same effect is happening with auto insurance, Sellmeyer said. As cars become more complicated with more expensive repairs, insurance companies pay out more on a claim, which is increasing the overall premiums a company charges. Insurify data shows Iowa car insurance rates increased nearly 8% from September 2023.

But, Sellmeyer said the situation is not all bleak. Iowans can control certain elements of their policies to try to reduce premiums. Credit score, the age of a roof, location or the material of a house, are all granular factors at play in insurance premiums, which Sellmeyer encouraged Iowans to be aware of.  “You can’t control Mother Nature, but if you can work on your credit score, it might help lower your insurance rates,” Sellmeyer said.

She said it’s also a good idea to go ahead make any repairs, like improve a roof or installing a railing, that a provider suggests because it is usually more expensive to have to switch providers. “My big push is : Get out that boring insurance policy and look at it and understand what you have,” Sellmeyer said.

Iowans can find other tips on the division’s consumer connection page.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A Des Moines Police Department patrol officer is recovering after being injured Monday evening during the arrest of a person wanted for multiple felony offenses. Authorities say at approximately 5:00 p.m. Monday, the (Unidentified) 24-year-old officer attempted to make contact with 46-year-old Tohamad Fowler near SW 9th Street and Watrous Avenue, who was wanted by detectives in connection with an arson investigation.

Fowler, who also had unrelated active felony drug warrants, ran as the officer approached. The officer was able to catch Fowler, and in the process of taking Fowler into custody the officer sustained a dislocated shoulder and laceration to his head. The officer was treated at a local hospital, and released to recover at home.

The arson investigation began at approximately 9:00 a.m., October 26th, at a residence in the 400 block of E. Marion Street. Des Moines Police Department patrol officers and Des Moines Fire Department firefighters responded to investigate the report of a “Molotov cocktail” being thrown at a house, igniting a fire. The fire was extinguished, however the home did sustain moderate damage.

Arson investigators from the Des Moines Police Department Crimes Against Property Section and the Des Moines Fire Department responded to the scene. Investigators recovered evidence at the scene, including debris from a hand thrown incendiary device. Additionally, “Yahtzee,” the Des Moines Fire Departments arson investigation dog, alerted to the presence of an accelerant at the scene. Investigators also learned that Fowler and the resident of the home, who was within the home when the fire was started, were previously in a domestic relationship that ended approximately 9 years ago.

Yahtzee, the Des Moines Fire Department arson investigation dog, and Capt Huntoon arrive at the scene of an Oct. 26th arson. (Dsm PD Facebook photo)

In addition to the two felony drug warrants, Fowler has been charged with the following offenses:

• Arson – 1st Degree (Class B felony)

• Possession Of An Incendiary Or Explosive Device (Aggravated Misdemeanor)

• Interference With Official Acts Causing Bodily Injury (Serious Misdemeanor)

(Radio Iowa) – The federal Rural Emergency Hospital model was launched nearly two years ago to give hospitals increased federal financial support if they offer just outpatient care with an emergency room. Julia Harris is with the Bipartisan Policy Center says the feds need to get increased funding to the converted hospitals faster because many are on their last leg.  “Payroll hasn’t been met and being able to be paid for a month or so, and they’re waiting for that check. And these are really small operations. You know, a majority of the jobs could be held up in that one facility,” she says.

The Center recently released a report on the model’s progress. Harris says they recommend the feds revise the rules to allow hospitals to retain a small number of inpatient beds and cites an example.  “An elderly patient comes into the E-R and needs just to be kept under observation overnight…maybe just a day, or two, or three,” Harris says.

The report finds 32 hospitals in 14 states have converted to the Rural Emergency Hospital designation since it was implemented. None of the facilities are in Iowa.