(Radio Iowa)- This month’s updated voter registration data shows in two of Iowa’s new congressional districts, independent voters outnumber those who register as Democrats or Republicans. The new first congressional district which covers counties in southeast through central Iowa has more than 200,000 independent voters, about 195,000 Democrats and Republicans are the third voting block, with about 172,000 registered voters. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa plans to run for reelection in the district.

Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion plans to seek reelection in the new second congressional district which sits in the northeast quadrant of the state. It has 197,000 registered independent voters as of December 1, 2021. The tally of Democrats is about 10,000 behind that and Republicans account for a little under a third of all voters in the district.

The new third district starts in central Iowa and flows down to the Missouri border. Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 17,000 in the new third district and it is the only district where independent voters are the third largest voting block. This is the district where Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, plans to seek reelection.

The new fourth district in western and northern Iowa has a large voter registration edge for Republicans and it’s where Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull is running for reelection. There are 87,000 more Republicans than Democrats and independent voters are the second largest group in the new fourth district.

National studies show up to three-quarters of voters who register as independents rarely split their ballots and routinely vote for candidates of one of the country’s two major political parties.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 2, 2021) — Officials with The Wellmark Foundation say they have provided 29 Iowa organizations with their Small Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant awards. Those organizations were notified in August of their pending awards, and had 12 weeks to secure the required matching funds. Small MATCH grant recipients were able to use a combination of in-kind donations, services, and cash in order to receive their award from The Wellmark Foundation. All the funded projects will help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity or access to and consumption of nutritious foods. Mary Lawyer, The Wellmark Foundation executive director says “The projects these organizations are implementing will enhance the quality of life and the overall well-being of citizens in their communities for several generations.”

Among the organizations receiving a Small MATCH grant award, is:

• (In Ringgold County) – Diagonal Community Development Corporation, $25,000 for the Diagonal Walkable Community Initiative.
• (In Mills County) – The Glenwood Rams Parent Teacher Association, $25,000, for the NE Elementary Inclusive Playground Project.

To learn more about these and the other projects, visit Wellmark.com/Foundation. Since its inception in 1991, The Wellmark Foundation has provided more than $39 million in grant funding to communities across Iowa and South Dakota.

(West Des Moines, Iowa -December 2, 2021) – Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation have announced the locations of Operation Christmas Meal, a free pork loin giveaway for families who aren’t planning a Christmas meal due to insufficient funds. This year, Operation Christmas Meal will give away 17,000 boneless pork loins roasts at 13 different events across Iowa, plus an additional 1,500 through the Ignite the Spirit Program aimed at increasing awareness of hunger locally and helping even more families during the holiday season.

Operation Christmas Meal will kick off Friday, December 3rd at 5:00 a.m., at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, and end on Thursday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m. in Algona, at the Bomgaars parking lot. Over the course of five days, Operation Christmas Meal will also travel to Creston, Osceola, Humeston, Ellsworth, Hampton, Osage, Aplington, Hubbard, Iowa Falls, Sac City, and Storm Lake.  (See details for area sites/times, below)

“During an especially difficult time for families in need, Operation Christmas Meal helps create a happy holiday for all Iowans, no matter their circumstances or level of income,” said Jen Sorenson, Communications Director of Iowa Select Farms. “The event is free and open to anyone in need.” Now in its 11th year, Operation Christmas Meal has provided more than one million Christmas meals to Iowa families. The event has become a holiday tradition for the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation with hundreds of Iowa Select Farms employees volunteering to brave the cold to hand out the pork loins year-after-year.

An additional component of Operation Christmas Meal is aimed at increasing awareness of hunger locally and helping even more families during the holiday season. The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation and Iowa Select Farms is awarding cases of pork loins and $250 cash to over 50 local FFA, 4-H, and school-based organizations throughout the counties where Iowa Select Farms has employees and farms. The donations will help student organizations host a community meal, organize and distribute holiday food baskets, or come up with their own idea for providing a meal to families in need. “This is a great opportunity for students to better understand hunger, plan their own unique project or event while also partnering with organizations that provide different areas of support to local families,” said Sorenson. FFA and 4-H clubs will also be provided event kits with insulated totes, aprons, t-shirts, and meat thermometers.

Operation Christmas Meal information for two area communities:

• Creston, Iowa – Old Walmart Parking Lot (next to Tractor Supply), 614 New York Ave.; Tuesday, December 7, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Sac City, Iowa – Sac County Fairgrounds, 416 Park Ave.; Thursday, December 16, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Additional information can be found HERE.

Police in Red Oak say the driver of a 2016 Chevy Equinox suffered suspected minor injuries, during a collision Wednesday, with a 2017 Chevy pickup. Authorities say the accident happened at around 4-p.m. at the intersection of U-S Highway 34 and N. 8th Street. According to the report, 74-year-old Dennis Dean Hartstack, of Clarinda, failed to yield the right-of-way from the stop sign, as he was southbound on N. 8th Street, crossing Highway 34 in his Chevy Silverado pickup. The vehicle was struck broadside by the Equinox, which was driven by 66-year-old Paul Henry Dumler, of Red Oak.

Dumler was injured, but was not transported to the hospital. His vehicle sustained $25,000 damage. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $50,000. Red Oak Police cited Hartstack for Failure to Yield. Both men were wearing their seat belts. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Fire & Rescue, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The broadcast News at 8:06-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities are searching for a missing autistic teenager in northeast Iowa’s Fayette County. Sheriff’s officials are asking for the public’s help in locating 14-year-old Walker Richardson, of Arlington. They say he was last seen Wednesday around 2:30 p.m. wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans. According to authorities, Richardson is a highly-functioning autistic who they are actively trying to find. Sheriff’s officials began their search Wednesday afternoon. but suspended operations overnight over safety concerns. Authorities are organizing a search party and plan to resume search operations at 9:30 this morning.

Walker Richardson

Anyone wanting to assist in the search should report to the Arlington Fire Station.

The broadcast News at 7:07-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – Hundreds of pedestrians celebrated completion of the new Interstate-74 bridge over the Mississippi River by walking across the span yesterday (Wednesday). Every mayor in the region was there for the event, including Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher.

Construction on the six-lane bridge began in 2017. West bound lanes opened a year ago. The east bound lanes are scheduled to open next week. The bridge project includes a highway between Bettendorf and Moline and cost more than one-point-two billion dollars. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman says the old, green I-74 bridge was built in 1935 for horses, carts and pedestrians.

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker says the I-74 bridge is one of the country’s primary Mississippi River crossings.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds wasn’t able to attend the ceremony and sent a written statement to mark the occasion.

(Harlan, Iowa) The Shelby County Board of Supervisors, this week, set December 21^st as the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Emergency Communications Equipment Loan Agreement, and to borrow money thereunder in a principal amount not to exceed $1,880,000. The Supervisors propose to enter into the loan agreement for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring and installing emergency communications equipment and systems.

The public hearing will be held at 9-a.m. On the 21^st, in the Supervisors Room at the Shelby County Courthouse in Harlan.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who made a donation to charity on Giving Tuesday in order to get a tax deduction are fortunate this year as far as their federal returns. I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says changes to tax laws mean you can still file a simple return and deduct at least some of those donations.  Miller says, “It certainly opens up avenues for taxpayers who still want to make a donation and take a deduction for those donations but find it more advantageous to take the standard deduction.” That means you can deduct 300 dollars in donations on the standard 10-40 or 10-40 E-Z form without filing more paperwork.

“You’re still able to take that standard deduction,” Miller says, “and give to a qualified charitable organization and take a deduction on your tax return this year.” If you’re still looking to make a donation before year’s end, make sure you’re giving to a legitimate group. Miller says it’s vital to use a credit card or a check when donating and to get a receipt.  “Don’t fall for or be pressured into donating by a gift card, like an iTunes gift card or a wire transfer,” Miller says. “That should be a big red flag to people that the charity is not for real.”

Also, he says to make sure the charity you’re singling out qualifies for donations under federal tax laws. Find a list of qualifying charities at irs.gov.