(Radio Iowa) – Creighton University Economist Ernie Goss says stores shouldn’t have the trouble with stocking merchandise this year they’ve had with the supply chain in past years. “We’ve seen that improve significantly and inventory levels are pretty good. And that’s going to provide a lot of a lot of goods out there for individuals to purchase,” Goss says. The supply of retail employees could be a problem. “The problem is the retailers are having issues finding and hiring those qualified workers. So you may find a product that you may have to stand in line a little bit longer to check it out,” Goss says.

Goss says the global economy is slowing down with China in a recession, and that could impact some holiday buying. “And what that mean means is the U-S dollar is up significantly. And that means for the U-S consume, is that dollar is going to go a longer way in purchasing imported goods. So you’ll find more bargains, imported goods this year than you did last year,” he says. Goss says you can help your area merchants by shopping at their stores. “If your local merchant is price competitive, service competitive, it helps us all to buy locally. That has a significant impact on the local economy, whereas buying from merchants such as Amazon has a less of an impact on the local economy,” Goss says.

Goss says holiday sales are likely to be up this year — but he says most of that is in inflation — and retailers are not going to make much once inflation is taken out.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak have arrested a man for Domestic Abuse Assault. 40-year-old Matthew Wayne Echternach, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 100 block of E. Elm Street in Red Oak, at around 1:15-a.m. today (Thursday). He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says there are opportunities for Iowa as the United Kingdom negotiates a free trade agreement with the United States. “Certainly that’s important in the U.K. as they are starting to forge a new trail post-BREXIT and going about creating new trade agreements with countries,” Naig says. “We already have a significant trade relationship between our two countries and it seems like it would be a great opportunity to increase that, to strengthen that.”

The United Kingdom left the European Union in early 2020, three and a half years after voters in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland narrowly approved leaving the trading block. Naig and state ag officials from five other states were in the United Kingdom last week. “I see lots of opportunities to connect further with one of our oldest and most important allies in the world,” Naig says.

The United Kingdom was the 5th largest export market for Iowa in 2019, with about 11 million in grain sales that year, along with 50 million dollars worth of Iowa-made machinery. Naig sees an opportunity to boost pork and beef exports to the U-K, as well as a focus on relationships with British tech companies.”This is not a large market, certainly not something that would overwhelm our existing trade relationships,” Naig says, “meaning there are opportunities here to send some higher value products.” And Naig suggests ag tech companies in the U-K may be an area for growth.

“You’ve some start-ups in the U.K. that have some good ideas, some interesting technology, but they do not have agriculture at the scale we do,” Naig says. Naig says that means there are partnerships or investment opportunities in Iowa. “Precision ag both in the crop standpoint, but also in the livestock side of things, seeing some interesting things happening on the biological side in terms of crop inputs,” Naig says. “If you’re a company sitting the U.K. you’ve got a start-up, you’ve got a good idea, but you don’t have access to agriculture at scale, work with us in Iowa. Get connected with Iowa State University, get connected with one of our Iowa based companies.”

The U-S is already a major ethanol supplier to the United Kingdom.  “I think there’s opportunity for that to even grow as well as they look to lower the carbon intensity of their energy sector,” Naig says. In September of 2021, E-10 became the standard blend of fuel at gas stations in Great Britain. Last month, Naig hosted Mark Spencer, the U-K’s Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries during World Food Prize events in Iowa.

“It was nice to just within a matter of a few weeks host him on farms in Iowa and then to turn around and be in his office, in parliament…talking about what are the opportunities for us to work directly with the U.K.,” Naig says, “but certainly pushing for that U.S.-U.K. free trade agreement.”

Naig was the only Midwestern official in the trade delegation. The other state ag officials were from Arizona, Tennessee, Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

(Radio Iowa) – The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is being sued under the premise social media platforms are addictive and harmful to kids’ mental health, and a childhood family therapist at Gundersen Health System says Iowa parents should watch for warning signs. Jeff Reiland says there’s no proven link between screentime and a child’s depression and anxiety, but he sees an alarming trend with social media that’s on a par with video games.

“In the case of children and teenagers, is it getting in the way of them going to school, getting their homework done, participating in sports, doing the things at home they do as part of the family?” Reiland asks. “Are they becoming more isolated? Do they tend to obsess about the game or activity? Do they become irritated when they don’t have exposure to those things?” While addiction to social media isn’t formally recognized as a diagnosis, Reiland believes social media does have an addictive component to it and that it can be harmful.

Reiland says, “Those same things that we see in adults or teenagers who have substance problems are the same kinds of behaviors or responses we see in children and teenagers when they are more involved with social media than they should be.” If a parent suspects their child is spending an unhealthy amount of time at their screen, he suggests having a talk with them and not simply banning them from their phones, tablets and computers.

“Try to survey and find out if the teenager thinks that maybe that’s something they could work on cutting back,” Reiland says. “I think it helps for parents and teens to have a conversation about that, rather than parents just — in an authoritarian way — just going out and taking it out. Ultimately, parents have that responsibility to make those hard decisions.” Reiland recommends that parents with young children hold off on giving them access to social media until they are much older and more mature.

“One of the codes that I hear kids say is, ‘I’m bored. The only thing that’s not boring is my screen, when I’m plugged into my social media, when I’m plugged into my video gaming, I’m not bored.’ That’s a red flag,” Reiland says, “because life is way more exciting in real time than virtually. It’s just not as predictable and that’s the problem.”

The Gundersen Health System includes a hospital in West Union, and clinics in Fayette, Decorah, Waukon, Lansing, Postville and Calmar.

(Sac City, Iowa) – Officials with the Sac County Sheriff’s Office (in northwest Iowa), issued a statement late Wednesday night, asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man. Authorities say that on the afternoon of Nov. 21st, the Sheriff’s Office and Lake View Police Department began an investigation into the whereabouts of 53-year-old David Schultz, from Wall Lake. A further search was conducted Nov. 22nd by several law enforcement agencies, local fire departments and volunteers.

David Schultz

David Schultz

“At this time,” officials say, they are “Asking Sac County property owners in the northeastern portion of Sac County to check their own properties and outbuildings for anything out of the ordinary. If anything out of the ordinary is observed, please do not disturb the immediate vicinity and let items remain in place before contacting the Sac County Communications Center at 712-662-7127.” They ask that those property owners search their own property, and not those of other owners.

Law Enforcement will continue to expand the search area in the days to come.

(Radio Iowa) – The 21st annual memorial march to honor lost children wound through Sioux City Wednesday. The march remembers Native American children all the way back to the 1880s, who have been removed from their homes and placed into foster care. Manape Lamere led the march that he says is focused on healing and wellness among the Native American community.

Lost Child March (KSCJ photo via Radio Iowa)

“We’re trying the best we can to provide not just services to Indian people, but be more proactive. And maybe Sioux City could be a hub for the rest of the state of Iowa all the foster parents and all the Indian foster parents and then all the Indians too,” he says. He says progress is being made.

“So we got a lot of bases to cover and bit by bit we’re feeling more confident in that, Lamere says. The theme for this year’s walk was “Healing our spirits, creating culturally competent systems of care.”

(Radio Iowa) – A planetary geologist at the University of Iowa is closely following one of the latest NASA missions, the recent launch of a spacecraft called Psyche. Valerie Payré, a UI professor of earth and environmental science, says the orbiter is headed for a distant asteroid, also called Psyche, which is floating between Mars and Jupiter.

“The Psyche mission is actually not landing on the asteroid,” Payré says. “It’s a spacecraft that will be orbiting around it and it will analyze the chemical composition of the surface, looking at rocks, minerals, what the surface is made of.” Research indicates the far-away rock is composed mostly of metals. Copper, cobalt and platinum are in high demand to build everything from cars and computers to cellphones and TVs.

Sending robotic mining machines to an asteroid is likely decades away, she says, but that’s the eventual goal. “There are a few companies working on this,” Payré says. “The first step is exploring, looking at the surface of these asteroids, finding the perfect metal deposit where they could extract those metals, so the first step is quite long and really important.” It’s very long, in fact, as the spacecraft Psyche won’t even reach its namesake asteroid until 2029.

Launch of SpaceX rocket carrying Psyche on October 13th. (NASA image)

Scientists are theorizing whether it’s possible to attach a rocket to an asteroid and propel it back to Earth, as that would make for a much shorter commute. “There are some companies thinking about that, to kind of like attract the asteroids into the Earth orbit,” Payré says, “because that would be easier maybe to extract the metals from a terrestrial orbit and not several hundred millions of miles away from Earth.”

Many asteroids are billions of years old, she says, and can vary in size from as big as a grocery store to the size of the state of Iowa. While it might be more convenient to mine an asteroid from Earth orbit, or at least nearby, Payré suggests that could open up another whole can of killer worms. Ever see the movie, “Armageddon”?

“I’m not sure we want to have a Moon-size asteroid orbiting around us right now,” Payré says. “That could be very dangerous for the Earth, but if it’s a small asteroid, that could be the option.” It’s thought the asteroid Psyche may be part of a former planet’s core, similar to Earth’s core, and she says this mission promises to begin unlocking some of the mysteries about valuable core minerals and metals.

(Radio Iowa) – Matthew Ung, the chairman of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, is calling on fellow board member Jeremy Taylor to resign. Taylor’s wife, Kim, was convicted yesterday (Tuesday) on 52 counts of voter fraud connected to elections in 2020 when her husband’s name was on the ballot.  “I hate the situation. I hate the situation that I’m put in, that the board is put in, but this is what putting principles over politics looks like,” Ung says. “It’s asking someone that you’ve served with and done good things with for nine years to resign when things just get truly out of hand.” Jeremy Taylor has not been charged, but court documents filed before his wife’s trial referred to him as an unindicted co-conspirator.

“This is a political Hindenberg of a case hurdling towards the state of Iowa and has a lot of repercussions, especially for Republicans,” Ung says, “and it is not something that I think the board is going to provide political cover for.” Ung is a Republican, as is Taylor.  “The thing that has everyone in the community confused and upset is who is taking the fall here. My heart goes out to Kim, my heart goes out to their kids,” Ung says. “…There was never a time in my campaigns where I did not know what my wife was going to help my campaign. It’s just something you don’t lose track of…what your wife is going to help your campaign. I think everyone knows that.”

Woodbury County Board of Supervisors chairman Matthew Ung (KSCJ photo)

Iowa does not have a recall process for removing elected officials. It would take action from the Woodbury County Attorney to remove Taylor from office, but Ung says that’s not something he wants to foist upon the county attorney. “This is a political question for now,” Ung says. “Yes, the county attorney can file something to remove a county officer, but there’s thresholds for that and technically (Taylor) hasn’t been charged.” The Taylors have six children. Neither Kim nor Jeremy Taylor took the stand to testify in her federal trial.

In a written statement, Jeremy Taylor said the jury’s guilty verdicts were not the outcome the couple had hoped for, but he and his wife are thankful for friends, family and community members who have stood by them.

(Omaha, NE) – Black Friday and Cyber Monday, traditionally two of busiest shopping days of the year, arrive a little earlier this year, with many stores already advertising sales. Instead of setting an alarm to brave crowds for deeply discounted items, dedicated shoppers are expected to look for deals online, similar to last year, if they haven’t already finished their holiday shopping. Changes, such as shipping delays, hiring challenges, and microchip shortages, are impacting how people will shop. Retail experts predict higher-than-normal store crowds and increased spending percentages on gifts, decorations, and other holiday-related items.

But shopping in person and online has risks. Be wary of misleading advertisements, lookalike websites, and untrustworthy sellers. The following tips will help you shop online this holiday season to achieve maximum savings while keeping your personal information and hard-earned money secure.

• Beware of false advertising and phony websites. If a company sells the hottest item of the year at a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for false advertising and closely monitor the web address in your browser. Scammers love to create lookalike websites that, at first glance, appear to belong to a trusted retailer. Ensure websites use the correct business name spelling and have legitimate contact information and customer service numbers.
• Shop with trustworthy sellers on secure sites only. Be wary of businesses you aren’t familiar with. Check their BBB Business Profile on org, review the rating, and read customer reviews. In addition, be sure any web page you purchase from is secure. Secure web addresses begin with “HTTPS, ” not just “HTTP.” Never put personal or credit card information in forms on non-secure web pages.
• Keep your antivirus software up to date. Ensure you have antivirus software installed on your computer or mobile device and that it is current. This will help you avoid non-secure websites and pop-up phishing scams and help keep your personal information safe.
• Price check before you buy. Dozens of online retailers will claim they have the best price on an item, but their offers can be misleading. Do your homework by comparing prices. Remember that the best deal may not be the real deal.
• Take advantage of rewards and loyalty programs. Check your credit card rewards program for special point offers that could add up on Black Friday and Cyber Monday and throughout the holidays. Make purchases using loyalty programs; many major retailers offer them.
• Use your credit card. It’s always best to make online purchases with your credit card. If any shady charges are later, you can contest them through your credit card company. Debit cards don’t offer this same protection. Never purchase with online sellers by giving them prepaid debit cards or wiring money.
• Understand return policies. Online store policies may change for Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers. Read the fine print before you buy. Understand the return or exchange policy for the item you want to purchase. Be aware that stores may not allow returns for “final sale” or “closeout” items. Ensure to get gift receipts, so the recipient can return or exchange the item if necessary.
• Watch out for phishing scams. Busy schedules and increased purchases make it easier to miss – and fall victim to – a phishing scam. Look out for unsolicited emails, texts, calls, or letters. These messages may claim you have a gift waiting for you or that there is a problem with delivery – all you need to do is click on a link or give up your personal information. Avoid phishing scams by ignoring suspicious correspondence and calls from unfamiliar phone numbers.
• Look for the BBB Seal. It’s the Sign of a Better Business. Shop with confidence on Black Friday and Cyber Monday by choosing businesses that prioritize trust and ethics in the marketplace. Shop with confidence and peace of mind this holiday season, avoid scams, and make smart purchase decisions.

For more information

Check out BBB’s tips on online shopping. If you’ve spotted an online scam, report it to BBB ScamTracker.