(Radio Iowa) – U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is unveiling hundreds of millions of dollars in new U-S-D-A grant and loans to do things like establish grocery stores in underserved areas, build more cold storage facilities for fruits and vegetables and support training for employees in the meat and poultry industry. “With these investments, the transformed food system will mean more, new and better markets, generating better income for producers,” Vilsack says, “and better choices and prices for consumers.”

Vilsack says 155 million dollars in federal grants will be available to set up grocery stores in rural and urban communities that are considered “food deserts.” Six-hundred million will be awarded to expand or build new facilities that process and store fruits and vegetables. Three-hundred million is set aside to bolster organic food production. “The process for becoming an organic producer is complicated and financially difficult, especially during the early days of transition when expenses can be high and income limited,” Vilsack says. “I believe a transformed food system needs to make that process less complicated and the financial costs of that transition easier to bear.” Vilsack says other U-S-D-A initiatives will be expanded to support urban gardening as well as public schools that buy locally produced food.

Vilsack is using 400 million dollars to set up a new network of U-S-D-A centers that will help food producers and buyers connect on a regional basis and navigate their financial options. “Our transformed food system will expand capacity and competition and increase that competition in all sectors,” Vilsack says, “and, when it does, both producers and consumers will benefit.”

A new 100 million dollar fund will be for companies that come up with healthy, but less expensive menu items for school lunch programs. Vilsack says the goal is to spur innovation — but to also make school lunch options more attractive to the kids who eat the food. All of this new U-S-D-A spending was approved by congress in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill passed late in the legislative session that places a two-year hold on new gambling licenses will impact the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission’s meeting Thursday in Emmetsburg. Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko says he anticipates the Commission will pause the licensing process. “At least at this point, it’ll be difficult to do much in terms of moving forward with an application process and until that moratorium is out — if indeed that bill goes into law,” Ohorilko.

Governor Kim Reynolds has not yet indicated if she will sign the casino moratorium bill into law. Organizers in Cedar Rapids wanted to Commission to consider an application for a casino there after the Linn County gambling referendum passed. “The Commission at the March meeting had indicated that they were prepared to accept applications and that occurred after the commission had been approached by stakeholders in that community that they were ready to file an application. Obviously, that was after the referenda had passed in November 2021,” he says. Ohorilko says the process was just getting started. “There really hasn’t been any due diligence or any considerable amount of time put in by the commission members with regard to the process,” Ohorilkoh says.

Many things could change in the Iowa casino landscape in two years if the bill goes into law. One of those is the start up of gambling in Nebraska. “Rules have been filed in that state, ground is broken in a number of locations, the different locations have different timelines. I think it’s possible that we’ll see some temporary facilities this fall or winter,” Ohorilko says. He says all of the Nebraska facilities will likely be up and running next year — which will have an impact on Iowa casinos. Ohorilko says it’s hard to know what other changes might happen if the moratorium happens. “Two years can go fast, but it’s also a lot of time in terms of economic conditions with respect to casinos,” he says. “If you were to look two years back from today’s date, no one would have expected the ups and downs that that industry would have gone through and so, so I can’t say for sure.”

Two other attempts to get a gambling license in Cedar Rapids were denied.

The Cass County Conservation Board will hold a National Trails Day T-Bone Trail Ride, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Program participants will meet at the I-80/T-Bone Trail Trailhead, North of Atlantic, beginning at 1-p.m.  There is no charges. Bike, walk, strollers…everyone is welcome! Come out and celebrate National Trails Day!  All ages/abilities welcome and Free!

The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Changes with regard to recycling are coming to the Adair County. During a meeting this (Wednesday) morning in Greenfield of the Adair County Board of Supervisors, Board Chair Matt Wedemeyer explained the recycling bins will no longer be accepting plastic products, beginning in August.

He said it is costing the County money to take-in the plastic.

The Adair County Supervisors, Wednesday, met the Summer Seasonal Environmental Education Naturalist. Sabrina Ann Becker, from Stuart, said her position is made possible through ISU Extension and AmeriCorps. She spoke about her plans and activities for the Summer, including grade appropriate camps.

Becker recently completed her Freshman year at ISU, and began her duties in Adair County on May 16th. Becker is expected to work through the end of August, and not just for Adair County.

In his report to the Board, Adair County Conservation Director Dominic Johnson said the camping season got off to a slow start due to the cold and wet conditions, but this past week was very busy.

As of today (Wednesday), Johnson said the campgrounds have brought-in over $4,000 in revenue, for a total of $44,268.

He said also, tent camping is just not as popular as it used to be, but those who do still camp that way, like to use the pads with electrical sites. Johnson said the camping pads at Lake Orient have been re-rocked with four loads of crushed rock. More is expected to be delivered Thursday. And, during the Summer, his Department will be working on assembling park kiosks and parking barricades.

Police in Glenwood report a man from Council Bluffs was arrested Tuesday. 24-year-old Dominic Durrett was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

ATLANTIC, IA – If a free concert by Jason Reed, a free bounce house for kids, and a free drawing for over 20 weeks’ worth of produce isn’t enough to convince folks to visit Produce in the Park in Atlantic on Thursday, June 2nd, a lineup of over 20 vendors might be. Market Manager Brigham Hoegh said products expected at the June 2nd farmers market include fresh produce, meats, honey, eggs, popcorn, lemonade, pastries, desserts, pizza, jewelry, soaps, candles, plants for home gardens, and more. Hoegh says while vendor numbers are expected to remain higher than recent years throughout the season, almost all vendors are expected to visit the park on opening night.

Dale Raasch (right) of Bridgewater Farm with his son, Tyler (left). Bridgewater Farm is one of over 20 vendors participating in Produce in the Park this summer

Expected June 2 Vendors and Products
Atlantic Atlas Cinema – Popcorn, lemonade, and more
Brun Ko Farm – Spinach, microgreens, kale, granola, beef, pork, and lamb
Bridgewater Farm – Certified organic produce including asparagus, lettuces, green onions, potatoes,
swiss chard and more, eggs, beef, pork, and chicken
DezaRae Farm Soaps – Goat milk soaps, lotions, and creams
Donna’s Jewelry – Jewelry, magnets, and more
Dragonfly Creations – Coasters, magnets, candles and tarts, soaps, beard oil, car freshies
Duane’s Creations – Jams and clocks
Frosting, Inc. – Cupcakes and cookies
Harrisdale Farmstead – Asparagus and rhubarb
Johnna Joy Designs – Jewelry and art
Hungry Spartan Pizza Food Truck
Kringleman Pastries – Danish Kringle, pastries, cinnamon rolls, and desserts
Midwest Candles by Brit – Candles and wax melts
Matilda Dawn Creations – Greeting cards and wall-sized Scrabble tiles
Molly’s Crafts – Squirrel feeders
Noble Provisions – Beef and pork
Piper’s Brae Farm – Aronia berries and products, eggs, honey
Rolling Acres Farm – Plants for your home garden
Smudge – Soaps, candles, bath bombs, and more
Sue’s Country Garden – Plants for your home garden, jams, and more
Ter-Bear Honey – Honey
Tracie Lobstein – Sewn and embroidered aprons, totes, clothing, and more
Produce in the Park June 2:

Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
Free Live Music: Jason Reed
Food Truck: Hungry Spartan Pizza
Can’t Miss: Free drawing for 20 weeks of produce boxes from Bridgewater Farm (a $350 value!). All visitors to the park on June 2 age 18 and older are eligible to enter. (Sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council.)
Fun for Kids: Bounce house and more activities by Nishna Valley Family YMCA.
Self-Care Summer visiting organization: Atlantic Public Library
Visiting organizations: Master Gardeners and Cass County Grow Another Row
Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit card and Venmo. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).

Produce in the Park June 2022 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, First Whitney Bank and Trust, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Deter Motor Co. For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R says treated wastewater is being dumped into the Iowa River due to a pipeline leak at the Eldora wastewater treatment plant. Recreational enthusiasts are being advised to avoid contact with the river below the 14th Avenue bridge on the east side of town due to suspected high e-coli bacteria levels. The wastewater was rerouted on Tuesday with the process expected to be ongoing for the next several days.

The DNR is monitoring the situation and will determine any future action along the way, as needed.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says gun violence will be addressed in the Senate, following last week’s shootings at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two adults dead. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, calls the slayings in Uvalde “a horrible, evil act.” Ernst says, “We do have a number of members in the Senate that have been assigned by leadership to really take a hard look at this particular incident, what happened, background behind the shooter, and how this could have happened in such a lovely community.”

A bipartisan group of senators is working on a compromise plan that would bridge the gap between making schools safer while not infringing on people’s constitutional rights. “Just trying to get to the root cause of some of these mass shootings and how we can prevent in the future while maintaining people’s Second Amendment rights, which is extremely important, but understanding evil individuals,” Ernst says. “How do we prevent them from doing this type of activity?”

Ernst’s counterpart, Senator Chuck Grassley told Radio Iowa on Tuesday he’s hopeful common ground can be reached on bipartisan gun control legislation.

(Radio Iowa) – A new program at the University of Northern Iowa could help ease the state’s teacher shortage by allowing paraeducators to become certified teachers without leaving their current jobs. All classes for the two-year program, called the Purple Pathway for Paraeducators, will be offered online outside of normal work hours. Colleen Mulholland, dean of the U-N-I College of Education, says more schools are looking within their own classrooms to develop new teachers. “Paraeducators come to the profession in many, many different ways and many of them are very interested in continuing their career growth in education,” Mulholland says, “so the Purple Pathway is our attempt to fill that need.”

Mulholland says paras have experience in the classroom that makes them good candidates to become new teachers. “Paraeducators are committed to the community. They’re committed to the school,” she says. “They’re, in some cases, the constant or the continuity for students in their school.” Applications for the program will be accepted starting this week. Earlier this year, the state Department of Education announced a grant program to support schools that create apprenticeships for paraeducators to finish their teaching degrees.

(reporting by Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)