The Iowa Business Council’s third-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows continued concern about the national economy among its members. I-B-C president Joe Murphy says they measure member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. He says they saw a decline in each of those categories but the remained about 50 which indicates a positive outlook on the 100 point scale. The latest survey is just under 60. Murphy says concern about a recession remains and whether there will be one and how it will impact things. He says the inflation and higher interest rates are hitting the customers of the member businesses. Murphy says that the Iowa economy remains strong and that is why there is still optimism in the state.

The four Republicans in the U-S House of Representatives voted against the removal of Speak Kevin McCarthy, Tuesday. McCarthy was removed after eight other Republicans voted with Democrats on the move. Republican Matt Gaetz pushed to remove McCarthy for working with Democrats on the deal to avert the government shutdown. Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson criticized the move in a statement after the vote, saying it paralyzed the House and brought their work for the American people to a halt. Hinson says she will continue working to end what she call the embarrassing chaos and dysfunction in Washington.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, Tuesday evening, arrested a 16-year old male on a felony weapons charge. The juvenile was taken into custody for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class-D Felony, and Minor possessing a concealed weapon – a serious misdemeanor. The unidentified teen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) -Red Oak Police dispatched Tuesday for a reported suspicious vehicle in the 1900 block of Ingles Drive, ended-up arresting the driver on numerous charges. 56-year-old Laura Ann Schrader, of Stanton, was taken into custody for: Driving While Suspended; OWI/2nd offense; 7 count of Unlawful possession of prescription pills, and Assault on law enforcement. Her bond was set at $2,000.

(Grinnell, Iowa) – The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office reports one person died, another was arrested, following a shooting on Interstate 80 Tuesday, about five-miles east of the Grinnell Exit. Authorities say  deputies responded to the 187 mile-marker westbound at around 8:25-a.m., following a call for assistance from the Iowa State Patrol.

The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, are investigating the shooting death of an adult male. One suspect is in custody, and it is believed that there is no danger to the public at this time.

No further information was released as of Tuesday evening.

(Radio Iowa) – The Midwestern economy is headed toward recession — soon, according to the latest projection from Creighton University and its monthly survey of business leaders in Iowa and eight other states. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the overall Business Conditions Index rose slightly for the region into the positive growth category, but Iowa’s economy is still showing negative growth.

The hiring trends for the Midwest during September were “not good,” Goss says, though the figures were up slightly from August.

The Midwest’s regional manufacturing economy has weakened from earlier in the year, Goss says, and it’s weakened from the same period last year, while inflation remains troublesome.

According to U.S. International Trade Association data, Iowa’s manufacturing exports expanded from just over nine-billion dollars for the first seven months of 2022 to ten-billion for the same period in 2023.

Ernie Goss

That’s a growth rate of better than nine-percent. For the first seven months of each year, the state’s leading manufacturing export, machinery, soared by almost 24-percent between 2022 to 2023. On the zero-to-100 scale where 50 is growth neutral, Goss says Iowa’s Business Conditions Index for September rose to a weak 48.5, up slightly from 47.9 in August.

(Radio Iowa) – The years of waiting are over and the big race is coming to the Iowa Speedway in Newton. NASCAR senior vice president, Ben Kennedy made the announcement outside the Iowa Capitol.

He says the race will be highly anticipated.

Governor Reynolds was also on hand for the announcement.

The cup series is the highest level of racing for NASCAR and the governor says the race is equivalent to the the Major League baseball game held at the Field of Dreams near Dyersville.

NASCAR Cup announcement-(RI-photo)

The race is expected to have a 100 million dollar impact on the area. NASCAR hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, spearheaded the effort to get the track built in Newton in 2006 and also designed it.

NASCAR racer Brad Keslowski was also on hand for the announcement. He has raced and won at the Iowa Speedway.

Fans can put down a 25 dollar deposit for tickets to next year’s race on the Iowa Speedway website.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Pottawattamie County announced that its Veterans Service Office, and primary signage for the Pottawattamie County Jail and Sheriff’s Office, will soon be illuminated green. The display from November 6th through the 12th is part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort uniting counties to support military veterans. The initiative, led by the National Association of Counties (NACo), raises awareness around the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families. The announcement came during today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting of the Pott. County Board of Supervisors.

“With designation as a Green Light for Veterans County, Pottawattamie County hereby declares from October through Veterans Day, November 11th, 2023, as a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform transitioning from Active Service,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Shea.

County Board of Supervisors, County Veterans Service Office staff, and attendees of the Supervisor’s meeting who have served. (Photo/story submitted)

Now in its second year, Operation Green Light is spearheaded by NACo and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, building upon successful efforts by the New York State Association of Counties and the NYS County Veteran Service Officers’ Association in 2021. In 2022, over 300 counties participated in Operation Green Light.

“For centuries, men and women have stepped forward offering Courage, Bravery, and Sacrifice to protect the freedoms we as a people, we as Americans cherish, no matter the cost, asking nothing in return for their Commitment to protect the innocent and uphold our Nations Values,” said Peggy Becker, Pottawattamie County Veterans Service Office Administrator. “In the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy ’As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.’ It is important for us as a community to recognize, honor, and celebrate those that chose to serve others,” said Becker. “We want to make sure that our veterans know that we are grateful for their service and for their families sacrifices. Operation Greenlight is a way for every business and every individual citizen to say, ‘I see you’ and show their support and simply say Thank You!”

In addition to lighting county buildings, bridges, and other meaningful landmarks, residents, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to participate by simply changing one light bulb in their home to a green bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see, or an interior light that sparks a conversation with friends. By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported.

“Operation Green Light is a gesture of support and appreciation for the public service of our veterans,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “With hundreds of counties coming together to light everything from bridges to courthouses, we know veterans across the country will see and feel the gratitude we all feel for their service and sacrifices.” Counties and residents across the country are sharing their participation on social media using the hashtag #OperationGreenLight.

For more information on Operation Green Light, click here.

(Radio Iowa) – The hearing for the Summit carbon pipeline is underway again today (Tuesday). State regulators has originally expected the hearing to wrap up in September, but testimony and questioning has taken longer than expected. The Iowa Utilities Board has landowners listed to testify through Thursday, and if things stay to that schedule, the Summit hearing could wrap up them.

In another pipeline permit case, Navigator is asking regulators to suspend the process for its carbon pipeline in Iowa until the company can get approval for the project from Illinois regulators. The proposed pipeline route includes around 810 miles in Iowa.

(Carroll, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting at 5 p.m., Oct. 5, in the lower level of the Swan Lake Conservation Education Center, 22676 Swan Lake Trail Drive, to discuss proposed largemouth bass regulation changes at Swan Lake, in Carroll County.

The Iowa DNR is proposing to remove the 16-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass and replace it with the statewide minimum length limit of 15 inches.  No changes to the bag limit are proposed.

Any person with special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments who wishes to participate in the public meeting should promptly contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov to advise of specific needs.