(Radio Iowa) – The top Democrat in the Iowa House says the State of Iowa wouldn’t have had a more than $1 billion surplus at the end of the last fiscal year in June, if it weren’t for federal pandemic relief. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst is among the Democrats citing Biden’s signature on bills that did things like increase the federal child tax credit and extend Medicaid coverage to at least 75,000 more low-income Iowans. “Iowa’s economy is strong, in many ways, because of the work that President Biden has done to help Americans get out of the pandemic and help Iowa’s economy recover,” Konfrst says.

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has said with a budget surplus of more than $1.24 billion, lawmakers should cut income taxes — with the long-term goal of completely eliminating the state income tax. Konfrst says Democrats will lobby for targeted tax relief.

“Certainly if there are tax cuts, they need to be going to working families,” she says. “We need to make sure that tax cuts aren’t, again, going to wealthy families or to corporations or special interests and I also need to acknowledge the fact that our schools have been underfunded for a long time. Iowa’s mental health system needs more funding and health care and prescription drug costs still hurt Iowa family budgets, so whatever we can do to alleviate that I think is a really good use of that money.”

Jennifer Konfrst

And Konfrst says some state agency budgets have been trimmed too far. “It takes a long time to get services from state agencies because they’ve been cut so much,” she says. As an example, Konfrst cites the Department of Human Services which does things like manage food stamps and Medicaid and investigate allegations of child abuse.

“This is not a criticism of the department. This is just that they’re understaffed and underworked,” Konfrst says. “We’ve seen this with Iowa Workforce Development. We’ve had people with unemployment challenges that they’ve not been able to get a call back. I had a constituent who didn’t receive his unemployment check during the pandemic for three months and that was not because somebody wasn’t doing their job, it’s just because there aren’t enough people to do the job.”

Konfrst made her comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program which aired Friday night on Iowa PBS.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal judge is ordering a southern Iowa dog breeder to immediately have a veterinarian conduct a “head to tail” evaluation of every dog on the property after federal inspectors say they found dogs in danger of starvation and death.

Daniel Gingerich, who operates the Maple Hill kennel near Seymour, has been a USDA licensed dog breeder since 2019. Federal inspectors report dogs were being fed moldy, contaminated food and did not have access to water.

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, requiring Gingerich to immediately stop breeding, euthanizing or disposing of any dogs. Gingerich is being accused of evading federal oversight by hiding dogs from USDA inspectors. He’s also accused of committing at least 100 violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

The judge who issued the temporary order said the dogs were being subjected to “shockingly inadequate” care. No criminal charges have been filed against Gingerich. Radio Iowa has been unable to reach Gingerich for comment.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture also has a state inspection record on file.

(Radio Iowa) – September ended with scattered showers across the state — but State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the preliminary numbers show those showers were scarce much of the month. “What we’re looking at is about one-point-six-five inches right now — and that’s a little over one-point-eight inches below average. So, a pretty dry month,” Glisan says. He says it won’t be in the top ten for dryness — but will make that next tier.

“This will be one of the top 20 driest Septembers on record. If we look at central and north-central Iowa, we has some coop stations that have had really dry September — top ten,” he says. The drought monitor for this week shows only about 24 percent of the state is without some sort of dry conditions.

Glisan says the dryness came with some heat as well. “Statewide average temperature was about 67 degrees, and that’s about three degrees above average,” according to Glisan. “So, if we look at the historical rankings going back 149 years — it looks like a top 30th warmest September on the record books.”

Glisan says the indicators are pointing toward the warmth continuing in October — with the possibility of a break in the dry weather. “We are seeing a slight trend in the short-term outlooks to near normal or a slightly elevated shot at wetter conditions in northern Iowa getting out into the first half of October,” he says. “But we are definitely if you are looking at the six to ten, eight to 14 in the final October outlook — a very strong signal for warmer than average temperatures.”

The precipitation potential will be good news for those areas that saw a deficit in September.

(Wiota, Iowa) – Firefighters from Wiota and Anita were dispatched to a garage/shed fire at around 11:04-p.m., Saturday. The incident involved a structure in the 200 block of Pioneer, which is on the city’s northeast side. Atlantic Fire was requested for an extra tanker truck and manpower.

Additional details are currently not available.

w/ Chris Parks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (15.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports one arrest after responding to a call at Cubby’s gas station for a report of a possible intoxicated driver on Friday. After investigation Deputies arrested 51-year-old Christopher Russell Shepherd of Douds, IA for Driving While Suspended. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $491.25 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department on Friday released information on 4 recent arrests.

On September 15th Officers arrested 45-year-old Amanda Bashor of Atlantic on a Shelby County Warrant for Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon. She was taken into custody and transferred to the Shelby County Jail.

On September 19th Atlantic Police arrested Jillian Gauthier of Denver, CO for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) 1st Offense. She was booked in to the Cass County Jail.

On September 27th Officers arrested 20-year-old Mikayla Waldron of Atlantic for Theft 4th Degree. She was cited into court and released.

On September 30th 23-year-old Sean Smith of Atlantic was arrested for Interference With Official Acts and a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear. He was transported to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

DES MOINES, IA (Oct. 1, 2021) – Gov. Kim Reynolds declared October as Healthiest State Month in a proclamation signing earlier this week. Iowans from all sectors will celebrate 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! – a nationally recognized and evidence-based prevention framework to promote healthy habits.

“The Healthiest State Initiative partners with early care, out-of-school programs, schools, health care and workplaces to catalyze change to support the healthy choice as the easy choice for Iowans in the places they live, learn, work and play,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The goal of 5-2-1-0 is to increase physical activity and healthy eating through policy and environmental change. Each week in October will focus on healthy habits promoted by 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count!:

• October 4-8: 1 or more hour of physical activity
  • October 6 – Healthiest State 11^th Annual Walk
• October 11-15: 5 or more fruits or vegetables
  • October 13 – Iowa Local Food Day
• October 18-22: 2 hours or less of recreational screen time
• October 25-29: 0 sugary drinks – drink more water!
  • October 28 – 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Virtual Summit

Celebrating Healthiest State Month is fun and easy! Free celebration toolkits and resources are available at www.IowaHealthiestState.com/HSImonth for education sites, communities, workplaces, health care clinics and households.

The celebration toolkits contain weekly activity ideas, communication templates and sample social media posts. Additional free resources are available including social media graphics, posters, activity sheets and weekly newsletters for your site.

“All Iowans could benefit by incorporating more healthy habits into their day,” said Jami Haberl, executive director for the Healthiest State Initiative. “Healthiest State Month is an opportunity to celebrate healthy habits and have fun while doing it.”

The Healthiest State Initiative will also be celebrating Healthiest State Month with weekly 5-2-1-0 themed giveaways and videos on their Facebook page. Iowans are encouraged to share their Healthiest State Month celebrations on social media using #HealthyChoicesCount.

5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Summit

The annual 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Summit will be held on October 28. The multi-sector, virtual event is an opportunity for Iowans to learn more about 5-2-1-0 and strategies to support healthy eating and active living through keynote speakers and interactive panel discussions.  The 5-2-1-0 Summit is sponsored by Grinnell Mutual and Above & Beyond Cancer. To learn more and register, visit: www.IowaHealthiestState.com/Summit.

Healthy Cass County, Atlantic Parks & Rec, and Royal Neighbors are organizing a public walk at the Schildberg Recreation Area on October 6 at 10:00 AM. Everyone in Cass County is welcome to join!

Early October is a beautiful time of year to spend time outdoors in Iowa, but if that’s not reason enough to join the walk, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Royal Neighbors, and Cass County Iowa State University Extension will be providing free water bottles and other
giveaways to participants.

The walk at Schildberg is just one of many walks taking place in Iowa on October 6. October 6 is Iowa’s 11th Annual Healthiest State Walk. All Iowans are encouraged to get outside and walk for half an hour on October 6, whether or not they are joining in a public walk.

The Healthiest State Walk is spearheaded by Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with the goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. On their blog, Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative shares many benefits to walking including increased energy levels and better sleep, as well as increased blood flow that leads to better cognitive functioning, improved memory, and reduced anxiety and depression. Lastly, Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative points out that walking is a great way to connect with others.

Healthy Cass County encourages people who cannot attend the Schildberg walk to consider registering their own public or private walk and inviting a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor to join them in walking. Individuals and organizations may register their October 6 walks at www.iowahealthieststate.com/events/annual-walk/.

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 1, 2021 – A public auction of state-owned vehicles, equipment, and other surplus items will be held by the Iowa Department of Transportation on its grounds in Ames, Saturday, Oct. 16. Registration begins at 7 a.m. The sale starts promptly at 9 a.m. and will be held in the Iowa DOT auction building near 931 South Fourth Street in Ames.

Passenger vehicles to be sold include Ford and Chevy sedans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles and Dodge minivans. These will be driven through the auction building during the sale. Large equipment and trucks will be sold on the southside of the auction building.

Other items will include but not limited to: trailers, plows, tires, mowers, brine tanks, spray equipment, tampers, concrete buggy, and lawn equipment.

Items for sale may be inspected at the sale site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, and from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Pre-registration open during inspection time as well.

Please bring a driver’s license or state-issued identification card with you to the sale. The information from your driver’s license will be scanned into the system and a bid number will be printed for you to use at the auction. For those without a driver’s license, information will be entered manually. Please bring a tax-exempt number if buying under tax-exempt status. This will be entered during registration.

Full payment for all items other than vehicles and trailers is due the day of the sale. Payment for the items must be made in cash, cashier’s check, or certified check. Personal or company checks will be accepted, if accompanied by satisfactory identification. Sales tax will be collected. Dealers must provide tax-exemption numbers to be exempted from the tax. All items must be removed from Iowa DOT property within five business days of the sale.

Hallberg Auction and Real Estate of Buffalo Center will conduct this auction.

A listing of auction items will be available prior to the live auction on the Iowa DOT’s website at https://iowadot.gov/auction.