DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Tuesday, highlighted $2 million in funding available over the next year from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that will support eight Iowa Water Quality Initiative (WQI) projects. The funding is through the USDA’s Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI) and will support practices that help improve water quality.

Among the Watershed projects selected for the funding is the Walnut Creek WQI (Pottawattamie, Montgomery, Page, Fremont Counties). In addition, Slocum Creek Watershed in Pottawattamie County is an existing MRBI project that will be funded again this year.

The funding will support conservation practices that reduce nutrient loss and improve wildlife habitat while maintaining agricultural productivity. Eligible practices include cover crops, bioreactors, grassed waterways, terraces and prescribed grazing. Each watershed project will have specific practices that are eligible.

Farmers interested in participating should contact their local USDA office by March 15, 2019.

Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall reminds residents that the Treasurer’s Office will be closed Wednesday, Oct. 17th, for Driver License Training. All other courthouse offices in Atlantic will be open during regular business hours.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office acknowledges Iowa’s voter registration lists are being sold on the internet, but says there’s no call for public alarm.

The office said Tuesday that the FBI is investigating reports of voter registration rolls from 19 states — including Iowa — being sold online. Spokesman Kevin Hall says the rolls are public records that anyone can buy from the Secretary of State’s Office for about $1,000.

Hall says the rolls don’t include voters’ personal information, such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers, and the attempts to sell the lists online has no impact on the security of Iowa’s elections.

Hall says the online sales aren’t the result of any hacking, saying whoever is selling the lists got them the way anyone else would. They “bought these lists and are using them improperly … to try to make a profit.”

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports Stuart Road between 130th and 160th, will be closed temporarily on October 17th between 9-p.m. and 5-a.m. the following morning. A large crane will be traversing the road and crews have to haul in dirt to cover the road so it does not sustain damage.

(Radio Iowa) — The governor has declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness month. Kevin Hall of the Iowa Secretary of State’s office says five-hundred victims of domestic abuse, stalking and human trafficking are utilizing the state-run address confidentiality program. “It’s a way to allow survivors of domestic violence and other violent crimes to get a portion of their lives back without the fear of their address becoming public,” Hall says. “They’re able to do things like register to vote and things that normally where their address would be put on public records, now they have a substitute address for that and their actual physical address is no longer on the public records.”

An estimated 29-thousand Iowans will seek help this year to escape a violent domestic or dating relationship. A coalition of groups including the Secretary of State’s office and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence have partnered on a website called share-their-story-dot-net (www.sharetheirstory.net). It invites survivors and their families and friends to explain how domestic violence has directly impacted individual Iowans.

“It is a problem, unfortunately,” Hall says. “There are about 3000 convictions per year for domestic violence-related instances and we want to raise awareness to it and, ultimately, put a stop to it.” The share-their-story website also features links to groups offering services to those seeking help.

(Radio Iowa) — A three-member panel of financial experts has increased its estimate of state tax receipts in the current budgeting year by nearly 360-million dollars. The Revenue Estimating Conference predicts tax growth this year will be nearly five percent, but in the following year it will be far smaller, just one-point-seven percent — when the G-O-P crafted tax cuts fully kick in. Governor Kim Reynolds says the report shows the Iowa economy is growing.

“That’s on top of the $127 million surplus that we have and I think that’s reflective of an economy that’s growth because of the tax cuts we’ve seen at the federal level and when ours (at the state level) are implemented, I think we’re going to continue to see growth,” Reynolds says. “…I think it’s positive momentum. I think it’s really good news.”

Key Democrats in the legislature say the state’s finances are headed for a “slow motion train wreck.” They point to the projection of narrow, one-point-seven percent growth in state tax collections and warn state budget cuts are coming, especially if the Republicans’ state tax cuts take effect, the trade war with China continues and the financial fortunes of Iowa farmers worsen.

A key Republican in the legislature says the State of Iowa is in a “strong financial position” and Democrats are putting a “negative spin” on today’s (Tuesday’s) state tax revenue forecast.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys for an Iowa farmer who appeared on ABC’s “The Bachelor” say they are close to reaching a deal with prosecutors that would resolve a criminal charge against him related to a fatal crash.

The Des Moines Register reports an attorney for Chris Soules said during a Tuesday hearing that attorneys should know by Monday whether a deal had been reached.

Soules, who appeared on “The Bachelor” and “Dancing With The Stars” in 2015, rear-ended a tractor in April 2017, killing 66-year-old Kenny Mosher. Soules called 911 and waited for first responders, but he left before police arrived. He’s now charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Tuesday’s hearing was to address Soules’ motion to move his trial out of Independence because of the publicity it has received.

Cass County Health System is hosting a free community workshop titled “Tools for Troubled Youth” on Wednesday, November 14^th from 1 to 3:30 pm at the Cass County Community Center. The workshop will be presented by H. John Lehnhoff, PhD.

Dr. Lehnhoff

The workshop focuses specifically on youth and includes material for families and professionals. Suicide risk and self-harm will be covered during the workshop. Dr. Lehnhoff says “Childhood years can be stormy at times under best of conditions, and not every problem is a mental disorder or a family dysfunction. This program helps untangle which is which, and offers tips and topics which can assist navigation of the pathways toward success and safety for youth.” .

Dr. Lehnhoff has practiced Clinical Psychology since receiving his doctorate from the University of Nebraska’s Clinical Psychology program in Lincoln. He has served as the Director of a community mental health center office, engaged in private practice, and was Clinical Director and Clinical Consultant at Omaha’s Richard Young Center (now Lasting Hope Hospital) for 16 years. Since 2003, he has served as a Clinical Psychologist Consultant for CHI Health Behavioral Services in Nebraska and Iowa.

Cass County Health System is inviting parents, families, teachers, school staff, law enforcement, community members, and more to attend this workshop. It is a free event, but reservations are requested. To reserve your spot, or if you have any questions, please call 712-250-8020.

Police in Harlan have arrested two people on drug charges. 45-year old Michael Dean Bierman, and 48-year old Terri Lynn McCord, both Harlan, were arrested today (Tuesday), following a search warrant that was executed in the 900 block of Farnam Street.

McCord was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Bierman was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance, prohibited acts penalties, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 On Monday, Harlan Police cited 18-year old Kyle David Confere, of Harlan, for in the theft 5^th degree, following a call for service in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Mega Millions prize was already giant, but now it’s absolutely massive. Lottery officials have raised the estimated jackpot for Tuesday night’s drawing to $667 million, making it the third-largest grand prize in U.S. history. The increase from $654 million reflects a surge in ticket sales. The record lottery jackpot remains a $1.6 billion Powerball prize won in January 2016.
Although the Mega Millions prize has grown larger, the odds of winning remain the same at one in 302.5 million.

The $667 million jackpot refers to the annuity option, paid out over 29 years. The cash option, which is favored by nearly all winners, is $380 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.