(Radio Iowa UPDATED) – Former President Donald Trump is meeting with smaller groups of Iowans (today) rather than hosting a big outdoor rally. Trump told a crowd in a suburban Des Moines restaurant there’s no way he’ll lose Iowa in 2024. “We’d have to do some really bad things to lose at this point…It’s the best polls we’ve ever had,” Trump says. “Overall, nationwide, in Iowa — no matter where I go it’s the best polls because they love the four years that we had.”

Trump’s visit comes a day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Iowa crowds he’d be a disciplined, energetic president for the next eight years. “I’ve been watching (DeSantis) go out and say: ‘I’ve got eight years. It’s going to be 8 years!’ Let me tell you something, right there you should vote against him,” Trump said. “It’ll be take me six months to have it totally the way it was. We’ll have it fast.”

Allan Richards of Des Moines was among the first to arrive for Trump’s first stop. Richards says this is the type of campaigning Trump should have done heading into the 2016 Caucuses. “I wrote an editorial that was published where I told Trump he was fired because I did not appreciate the way that he campaigned in the Iowa Caucus and I think it was a mistake on his part, you know, as far as it comes to Iowa,” he says. “I think he made up for it later on in his campaign and in his presidency.” Richards says it appears Trump has evolved and Richards plans to Caucus for Trump in 2024.

“I would always support a former leader before anybody else,” Richards says. “I think the power of the presidency and the importance of it — once we put a person in there, I think that we have to stand behind them because of their experience, knowledge and things they know that the average person wouldn’t know, even a congressman wouldn’t know.”

David Oman was in the room as Trump addressed the Westside Conservative Club and other Trump supporters who crowded into a meeting room at the Machine Shed restaurant.  “There was a lot of energy in the room,” Oman says. “He entered with support and I think he left with the same if not more support, people excited about the encore campaign that he has begun and their ability to be a part of it again.” Jon McAvoy, a former Adel City Councilman, says the place was packed and it was a Trump crowd.

“I thought his presentation was maybe a little different than I expected…spent a lot of time talking about his accomplishments as president and how he wanted to do it again,” McAvoy says. “…I went in there just wanting to just listen and I was pretty much impressed, to be honest with you. He kept a low, even keel. Didn’t fly off at anything and that made me more comfortable with him.”

Trump met next with a group of pastors at a Des Moines church. Late this (Thursday) afternoon he’s taping an interview with Sean Hannity that will air tonight (Thursday) on the Fox News Channel.

(Radio Iowa) – The cost to rent an acre of Iowa farmland increased nine percent last year to a record 279 dollars. Iowa State University’s Alejandro Plastina, says the strong farm economy drove the increase. “We saw a great farm year last year with good profitability land values are also at very high levels and still increasing according to recent surveys,” he says.

He says there’s demand when land becomes available to rent and that is also pushing up rents. “Farmers are trying to expand to extract better economies of scale and be more profitable with larger farms so it makes sense,” Plaustina says. He says some input costs came down, and the increase in interest rates has not been a factor after several years of good farm income. “Farmers have built up some cash reserves and are not using credit loans, operating loans as much as in other years in in the past. That higher interest rate is not affecting all farmers as it would have a decade ago,” Plaustina says.

There was considerable variability across counties depending on the quality of the land — but 91 out of the 99 Iowa counties experienced increases. Only Des Moines, Jefferson, Lucas, Muscatine, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Woodbury counties saw declines in their overall average cash rents. Plaustina says farm income projections are expected to decline over the next couple of years, putting downward pressure on cash rents. “Now the concern is with 2024, on the whether we will continue to see to see inflation in inputs and declining corn and soybean prices, and you know that will be concerning in 2024 if that happens,” he says.

Plaustina says 51 percent of the farmland in Iowa is rented, with the majority of rent in the form of cash deals.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Officials in Audubon County, today (Thursday), said “Due to current water and drought conditions in our county, the four Fire Chiefs have made a decision to place Audubon County in a burn ban until further notice.” Authorities said also, “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.” Details of the Burn Ban can be viewed in the documents below:

(Radio Iowa) – Inflation is keeping prices high on all sorts of goods, and a survey of business leaders in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states finds prices rose nearly six-percent in the past year, but may only rise three-percent in the year ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the leading economic indicator for the region grew a modest amount during May compared to April on the zero-to-one-hundred scale, where 50 is growth neutral. “The overall rating remained above growth neutral for the fourth straight month, that’s the good news,” Goss says. “The bad news is, it’s still only slightly above growth neutral, down from 54.8 in April to 51.3 in May, so that’s still moving along, I’d call it very slow growth we’re looking at ahead.”

The overall index specifically for Iowa fell in May to 51.9, a drop from April’s 55.8. The survey found many employers in Iowa and the other states continue having trouble finding qualified workers to fill open positions, so they’re retaining workers, which Goss says is creating another sort of problem. “Lots of labor hoarding out there, and that’s causing productivity numbers to go down. In other words, we’re recording very low productivity readings for the region, and for the nation,” Goss says. “That’s because you’ve got these workers, the companies just fear letting those employees go. Thus, they retain them, even when there’s not sufficient work for them to do.”

Goss says the survey found only about one in six employers reported job gains during the past month, almost the same as during April. He says a couple of industries, in particular, are struggling.  “The outlook is still of slow growth, but there’s some sectors it’s going to be negative growth and that’s commercial real estate, that’s office space, and particularly in downtown areas of the region,” Goss says. “You’re going to see open spaces there, and un-rented office space.”

The banking and finance industry is also “having a tough go of it,” Goss says, with short-term interest rates very high compared to long-term rates. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employment in Iowa expanded by 1.9% over the past 12 months, while manufacturing hourly wages climbed by 6.9% over the same period.

(Des Moines, IA) – Governor Kim Reynolds has proclaimed June 2023 as Iowa Craft Beer Month. The proclamation celebrates the impact and importance the craft brewing community is having in Iowa. The celebratory month kicks off June 3rd with the Iowa Craft Brew Festival. In the proclamation Gov. Reynolds states, “Iowa Craft Beer month is an opportunity to celebrate the State’s growing brewery businesses and craftsmanship and raise the profile of this outstanding Iowa product.”

The gubernatorial proclamation notes the industry’s impact on the state including manufacturing growth, tourism, and community revitalization. Iowa has over 115 breweries in 76 different communities who generate over $1.0 billion of economic impact annually.  Iowa breweries have received national recognition including medals at the Great American Beer Festival® and the World Beer Cup®.

“The Iowa craft brewing industry touches every corner of the state,” said Noreen Otto, executive director of the Iowa Brewers Guild. “Iowans should be proud to raise a glass of Iowa beer and celebrate all month long.”

For details on the June 3rd Iowa Craft Brew Festival, visit iowacraftbrewfestival.com. The Iowa Brewers Guild exists to unify craft brewing professionals, promote Iowa beer, and advocate for the industry’s growth.  For additional information on the Iowa Brewers Guild, visit iowabeer.org.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and officials with the Iowa Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter in Council Bluffs, say it’s a good time to honor and spread awareness for the more than 6.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, including 300,000 in Iowa and Illinois. As the size of the U.S. population age 65 and older continues to grow, so too will the number and proportion of Americans with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. By 2050, the number of seniors aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is projected to double to nearly 13 million. The City of Council Bluffs is showing their support by lighting the Bob Kerrey pedestrian bridge on June 23 and Pearl Street Park all of June.

Although there are no current medications to cure Alzheimer’s, there are two recently approved treatments by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can slow down the progression of the disease when taken in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. There are also several more promising treatments on the horizon, and after many decades without any treatment options, there is hope on the horizon in the era of new treatments.

During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in June, the Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging individuals who are experiencing cognitive issues to schedule an appointment with their doctor. An early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s provides a range of benefits for the individuals, including access to new treatments. While new treatments are a critical benefit to an early diagnosis, there are other important benefits for individuals and their families including:

●      Medical benefits:

○      An opportunity to participate in clinical trials.

○      A chance to prioritize your health with lifestyle changes, like controlling blood pressure, stopping smoking, exercising, and staying mentally and socially active, may help preserve cognitive function longer and can improve your overall quality of life.

●      Emotional and social benefits:

○      Receiving an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis may help lessen anxieties about why you are experiencing symptoms.

○      You and your family also have the opportunity to maximize your time together and access resources and support programs.

●      More time to plan for the future:

○      Planning ahead allows you to express your wishes about legal, financial and end-of-life decisions. You and your family will be able to review and update legal documents, discuss finances and property, and identify your care preferences.

○      You can also address potential safety issues, such as driving or wandering, ahead of time.

●      Cost savings:

○      Early diagnosis saves costs of medical and long-term care for both families and the U.S. government.

The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter has local care and support resources to help Council Bluffs and Omaha area families facing the disease. Find out about local education programs, support groups, events and volunteer opportunities at alz.org/Iowa or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department today (Thursday, 6/1/23) released a report on arrests conducted during the month of May. From the most to the earliest:

• 31-year-old Rudolph Itatiipei was arrested May 22nd, on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear.
• 30-year-old Jason Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested May 21st for Public Intoxication.
• Atlantic Police arrested four people on May 19th:
  • 23-year-old Justin Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disarming a Peace Officer, and Interference with Official Acts.
  • 42-year-old Jason Lengyel, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct.
  • 31-year-old Cody Pleis, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault (impeding air/blood flow), Child Endangerment, and Violation of Probation.
  • 29-year-old Kalee Nolte, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree.
• On the 17th of May, Atlantic Police arrested:
  • 22-year-old Ansan Ichita, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault (impeding air/blood flow).
  • 18-year-old Efrain Sandiego, of Atlantic, was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Public Intox. and Possession/Purchase of Alcohol by a person over 18 and under 21 years of age.
  • 32-year-old Devin Register, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order.
• There were two arrests May 15th, in Atlantic:
  • • 27-year-old KR Takauo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox.
    • 26-year-old Zen Gross, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI.
• There were also two arrests May 13th, in Atlantic:
  • • KR Takauo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox.
    • Dakota Allmer,of Lewis, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Trespassing.
• 48-year-old Jeptha Vestal, of Atlantic, was arrested May 11th, for Disorderly Conduct.
• 29-year-old Fitson Hans, of Atlantic, was arrested May 7th on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree (shoplifting).
• 25-year-old Nate Tanner, of Atlantic, was arrested May 6th, for OWI.
• And, on May 3rd, Atlantic Police arrested 57-year-old Larry Garner, of Atlantic, for Disorderly Conduct.

All subjects were booked into the Cass County. As of May 31st, Dakota Allmer, and Efrain Sandiego, remained held in the Cass County Jail.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department reports 47-year-old Mandi Lea Stowers, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday evening for Violation of Probation, and Failure to Appear. Stowers was being held without bond for Union County, in the Adams County Jail until she makes an initial court appearance.

And, at around 10:10-p.m., Wednesday, 38-year-old Nicole Dawn Smart, of Creston, was arrested for allowing an animal to run At Large. Smart was cited at the scene, and released on a Promise to Appear in court.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session next week, to review and discuss continued research on a possible four-day school week, and to consider various staff contract requests. Superintendent Dave Henrichs says the work session takes place Tuesday, June 6th at 8-a.m., in the Conference Room at the High School. No action is expected.

In April, District officials held an all-staff meeting, presented the facts, and polled the staff on the proposal to reduce the school week to four days. The Board informally set December as the deadline for whether the district will move forward with the proposed four-day school week.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna wants to let residents of the County know, that the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors may be attending the annual inspections of the Red Oak/Stennett Creek structures, along with the Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Commissioners. The inspections will take place at 10-a.m. June 6th, following a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

Ozuna says “There is a possibility that there will be a quorum. No official county business will be acted upon during that time.”