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Gov. Reynolds Announces SBA Disaster Assistance for Davenport Apartments Collapse  

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has granted her request to provide assistance in the form of low-interest disaster loans for residents and businesses impacted by the partial building collapse of The Hotel Davenport Apartments.

Homeowners, renters, businesses, and most nonprofit organizations in Scott County whose property was damaged or destroyed by the incident will be able to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. Residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in the surrounding counties of Cedar, Clinton, and Muscatine, whose property was damaged or destroyed as a result of this incident, also may be eligible for SBA assistance. In addition, impacted small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and nonprofit organizations in the above counties will be eligible to apply for Economic Injury Disaster loans.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information ,and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Tax Changes are Coming for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Revenue is reminding owners of non-residential electric vehicle chargers that new tax changes take effect July 1, 2023.

Owners of non-residential electric vehicle charging stations will be responsible for reporting and paying to the Iowa Department of Revenue two and six-tenths cents for each kilowatt hour ($0.026 per kWh) of electric fuel dispensed into an electric vehicle battery or energy storage device. Any business or organization, including local governments and nonprofits, that has a charging station for its employees or customers will need a license. Licensing and taxation does not apply to electric fuel dispensed at residences.

Visit the Department’s Electric Fuel Excise Tax guidance for more information about how to obtain a license and file and pay the tax. 

To receive notifications of resources and guidance issued by the Department, subscribe to updates by selecting the tax topics of interest.

Regional Water “Level Yellow” conservation update, 6/9/23)

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Avoca, Iowa) – Officials with Regional Water Rural/Water Association, issued a statement with regard to the use of water as it pertains to spraying operations. Regional Water says they have modified their guidance concerning the “Level Yellow” Alert, which went into effect on May 26th. The organization today (Friday) announced the addition of the following mandatory water usage restriction measure:
  • Effective immediately, the use of water from the Avoca Treatment Plant for spraying operations is prohibited.
Those conducting spraying operations will need to use other sources. This additional restriction is in response to the continued high demand for water and the reduced availability of water in our wellfields due to the drought conditions. Contact the water utility for more information on other potential sources. As a reminder, municipal, residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial users will be required to observe the following mandatory reduction measures:
A. No outdoors watering or irrigation of any kind between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. No watering or irrigation of lawns whatsoever. Watering of flowers, vegetable gardens, trees or shrubs less than four years old, and new seedlings and sod is permitted once per week, with an application not to exceed one inch and only between the hours of 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
B. No car washing is allowed, except at commercial establishments that provide that service as their only means of income. In these cases, hours of use will be restricted to 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
C. No water shall be used to fill private swimming pools, children’s wading pools, or similar articles.
D. No water shall be used to clean streets, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
E. Large volume water users, including industries, motels, hotels, eating establishments, and livestock confinements may be requested to scale back services and/or production. This includes spraying operations.
F. Schools are strongly urged to cancel their physical education activities and inter-scholastic competitions that require showers or attract crowds and take other actions to reduce water consumption.
Officials want to thank their customers who have taken steps to conserve water during this emergency. They said also, the system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation. For more information, please contact the Regional Water Office at 712-343-2413.

Supreme Court rules former DCI agent can’t seek additional damages in state lawsuit

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court says a law allowing for additional damages for whistleblowers cannot retroactively apply to a fired D-C-I agent.Larry Hedlund reported in 2013 an S-U-V he said was going 90 miles an hour on Highway 20. The S-U-V turned out to be carrying former Governor Terry Branstad and then Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. Hedlund was fired several days later.

His lawsuit against the state has continued, and he wanted to seek additional damages under the whistleblower law enacted six years after the incident. The Iowa Supreme Court says the law contains no statement that it should be used retrospectively and reversed the district court ruling that sided with Hedlund.

Redfield man arrested after a motorcycle chase Thursday afternoon (6/8/23)

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Adel, Iowa) – An attempt to stop a speeding motorcycle Thursday afternoon in Dallas County, ended in a pursuit, a crash, and the arrest of the motorcycle operator. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reports a Deputy attempted to stop a motorcycle traveling east out of Adel at around 3:40-p.m. The cycle was traveling at a high rate of speed. Authorities say the ensuing chase continued through the Raccoon Valley Bike trail at Prospect Ave., where they motorcycle went out of control and crashed onto it’s side. The driver – identified as 26-year-old Joshua Stanley, from Redfield – was arrested.
Stanley was charged with Driving Under Suspension, No Insurance, Eluding (2nd Offense), Improper Registration, Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle, Failure to Maintain Control, and Reckless Driving. He was also found to have had warrants out of Polk County for Prohibited Acts-Possession with Intent to Deliver over 5 grams of Methamphetamine, Failure to Affix an Iowa Drug Tax Stamp, and Probation Violation. There is no bond on those warrants.

Joshua Stanley (Dallas Co. S/O photo)

Authorities say the investigation is open, and more charges are possible.

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Celebrate 125 Years of Atlantic Elks

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Atlantic Elks members in celebration of 125 years of their organization on Thursday, June 8th, 2023, at the Atlantic Elks Lodge #445. According to a press release, the Ambassadors learned more about what an Elk is and what they do for the community.

Gail Butler shared about the history of the group’s charity work with donations towards different areas such as local food pantries, fire prevention and drug awareness, scholarships, and helping veterans. One way that the Elks help veterans is by collecting deer hides to be tanned and eventually turned into useful items at no cost to the veteran. Hide drop-off sites are located in Atlantic, Wiota, and Griswold. The Elks have also been honoring Atlantic graduating seniors by giving out scholarships for several years to offset the expenses of tuition and the total is over $60,000 and growing. They also hold many different fundraisers throughout the year such as weekly bingo, a craft fair, and a Mother’s Day brunch. The Lodge space is also available to be rented for different events for $150.

The Atlantic Elks are just one of many groups which are a national organization known as Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Members enjoy getting together on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays to focus on ways to give back to the community and get connected with each other. The Atlantic Elks invites the public to their 125th Anniversary celebration on June 24th at the Elks Lodge, located at 411 Walnut Street. It will start at 4:30 p.m. with a social hour and open house and the barbecue meal will follow at 6:00 p.m. There will be a freewill donation, which will go towards their different philanthropies.

Ambassadors Left to Right: Kelsey Beschorner, Chris Cullen, Anne Quist, Brian Ruge, Mark Schwartz, Dr. Keith Leonard, Kathie Hockenberry, Jim Nordskog, Dolly Bergmann, Rick Mericle, Lana Westphalen, Vicki Brown, Gail Butler, Delbert Thurman, Renae Steffens, Amanda Hansen, Tori Gibson, Gary Schwartz, Megan Sramek, Jeremy Butler, Krysta Hanson, BJ Hart, Sue Liston, Beth Spieker, Elaine Otte, John Bricker, Paige Jensen, Graydon Schmidt (Photo provided by the Chamber) [Click to enlarge the image]

To learn more about the Atlantic Elks or to become a member, call (712) 243-2317 or visit their Facebook page, Elks Lodge.

Hinson calls indictment of former President Trump shameful

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says the federal indictment of former President Trump is shameful. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says House Republicans will hold the Department of Justice accountable. “I don’t think this should be happening in our country,” she says. “We need to make sure the law is applied fairly and equally, not abused to target political opponents or score political points, so this must be stopped.”

Hinson says the Justice Department has failed to comply with House Republicans demands to see a document that accuses Biden of wrongdoing while he was vice president. The House Oversight Committee was allowed to see the document, with some of it redacted or crossed out, yesterday (Thursday). “Look at the hoops we’re having to jump through to get the FBI to comply with our due diligence as members of congress, so we need to ensure that the rule of law is applied equally and if these agencies that have been weaponized against not only former presidents but parents don’t comply then we will be taking the appropriate measures through congress.”

The three other Iowa Republicans who serve in the U.S. House have not commented on the grand jury’s indictment against Trump. Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement on Twitter this (Friday) morning. Reynolds says the indictment is a sham and the Biden Administration is weaponizing the justice system.

Nearly 500 sites offer Iowa kids meals during summer break

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Most of Iowa’s K-through-12 schools have wrapped up classes for summer break, but several hundred schools statewide are keeping their doors open to make sure students have something to eat. Des Moines Public Schools executive chef Chad Taylor hands out milk cartons to a group of kids at Cattell Elementary eating turkey sandwiches, craisins and snack mix.

Cattell is one of 29 sites in Des Moines that’s serving lunch, in-person, five days a week with support from the U-S Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Nearly 500 sites will be operating in Iowa’s schools, community centers, churches and parks this summer. Taylor says some students count on school for a meal, even when classes are out for the summer. “There are people in need and there are areas in our city that still need to realize that food insecurity is a big deal still,” He says.

Taylor says teachers and administrators are helping to serve some meals so that there are enough people to staff the lunch sites. “People are coming together and seeing this need out in our community,” he says, “and what can we do as a team to make sure kids are fed.”

Taylor expects to serve up to four-thousand meals per day citywide, and some summer school locations are also serving breakfast in addition to lunch.

State departments scramble to complete agency mergers by July 1

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State officials are scrambling to merge some operations by July 1st. That’s when the governor’s plan to shrink the number of state agencies from 37 to 16 takes effect. The Iowa Department of Education is absorbing the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs as well as the College Student Aid Commission, the Board of Educational Examiners, the STEM Advisory Council and Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Mark Ford is deputy director and chief operating officer of the Iowa Department of Education. “It’s going to be fast and furious. It’s a lot to get done,” he says.

Ford says some logistics won’t be resolved when the merger takes effect in three weeks, but he says no one is being laid off and no one’s pay is being cut. “There have been some concessions and understandings made,” he says, “just so you know, that not everything is going to change July 1.”

Ford made his comments during Thursday’s state Board of Education meeting. Governor Reynolds says the mergers to shrink the number of executive branch agencies will make state government more efficient and more closely match the number of state agencies in states with similar populations.

Ernst Works to Address Childcare Access in Rural Iowa

News

June 9th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) says she’s supporting the bipartisan, bicameral Expanding Childcare in Rural America (ECRA) Act of 2023 to expand childcare access in agricultural and rural communities. “When I’m traveling from River to River across Iowa, Ernst says, “I hear from employees and small business owners who want more childcare options in rural Iowa. Our efforts will empower childcare centers in our agriculture communities to invest in facility development and staff training opportunities to ensure quality childcare options are available to every family. Keeping my promises to take on this issue, I will continue to work with my colleagues to remove burdens on parents by expanding opportunities for providers in every corner of the state.”

The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare through the following programs:

  • The Community Facilities Program offers direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America; Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant offers grants to eligible public bodies and private, nonprofit organizations (such as states, counties, cities, townships, incorporated towns, villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Tribes located on Federal or state reservations) to provide technical assistance and/or training in support of the essential community facilities program;
  • The Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program provides loan guarantees to commercial lenders for loans to eligible rural businesses; The Rural Business Development Grant Program is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues;
  • The Rural Innovation Strong Economy Grant Program offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas;
  • The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to provide microloans for microenterprise startups and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund; and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

Last March, Ernst, who is a Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, led the Child Care Small Business Investment Act, an effort to make non-profit child care providers eligible for 7(a) and 504 loan programs under the SBA, so long as they are licensed by the state and their employees have had criminal background checks. The legislation would also ensure that religiously-affiliated non-profits qualify for these loan programs.