(Radio Iowa) – A study conducted for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission finds the state’s horse racing industry needs to make some changes to stay viable. The I-R-G-C requested the study in November of 2023 to get an outside look at the industry as a way to chart its future. Racing and Gaming Administrator Tina Eick says the conclusion of the study doesn’t leave any doubt. “The study did make clear that, frankly, the status quo for quarter horse and thoroughbred horse racing in Iowa is not a good option. The report concluded that the current product in Iowa is not competitive and not of high interest to the public,” she says. Eick says horse racing is like other forms of entertainment as it faces a lot of competition.

“Forty years ago, horse racing and greyhound racing was all there was when it came to gambling in the state. Now there’s numerous ways for the public to gamble in Iowa and around the country,” Eick says. The horse racing study presents several options to improve the Iowa system. “That would include a change to the current system, where purses are subsidized by the gaming revenue at the casino, and instead tie it to handle and simulcast earnings at the track. That change would give everyone, I guess, more skin in the game,” she says. Eick says the report recommends expanding the reach of the industry.

“Another suggestion would be to look at a creating a racing circuit with neighboring states or straight or states in the area, like Oklahoma or Minnesota. And again, that would be to create more interest and give Iowa horses more places to run,” Eick says. There are also suggestions for expanding the options for bettors. “Increasing field size for each race to again, increase interest from the betting public, and then finally, also looking at some alternatives for dates times and the number of days for when to schedule races,”Eick says. Eick says the report lays out some of the options and it now requires action from the horse racing organizations. “The study, again, was to try to come up with some solutions, but all of that would need to be collaborative, and it’s not something that the Commission could do itself,” Eick says.

Racing and Gaming Commission Chair Daryl Olsen of Audubon says he likes the proposal put forth in the study, but also says everyone has to embrace them to make them work. “We can’t dictate any of the things that the study suggests. All we can say is, here’s a study, we encourage all parties to work together to try find the best answer,” Olsen says. Olsen says the future of the horse industry in Iowa depends on making changes.  “Because I think the study was very clear, saying, if we do nothing, you know, that’s a bad option,” he says. Olsen says the study took a thorough look at the industry and gives them a way to move forward.

“You know, if there was a really, really easy fix, I think we’d all have already jumped on it and say, ‘Hey, let’s do that.’ I mean, I think there isn’t an easy fix,” Olsen says. The horse racing organizations have had some disagreements in the past, but Olsen says he is confident they will work together to make changes. “I really expect that they’re going to sit down and they’re going to say, there’s no sense squabbling over this, there’s no sense arguing over it, we need to look at it and see how we can implement some of these suggestions so we can make it better for everybody involved. So I am very, very optimistic,” he says.

Horse racing began at Prairie Meadows in Altoona in March of 1989. The track was granted a casino license in April of 1995.

(Radio Iowa) – Federal officials are offering a cash award for tips that lead to the arrest of a fugitive who may still be in Iowa. According to a news release from the U-S Marshals Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, 39-year-old Nathan Nickless was last known to be living in or around Humbolt and Webster Counties. Nickless failed to show up for his federal trial on drug and gun related charges two months ago. In July, a Pocahontas County deputy saw Nickless at a convenience story in Pocahontas. Authorities pursued Nickless into Rolfe. Local, state and federal authorities were unable to find Nickless after he ran into a corn field.

Anyone with information about Nickless’ location is asked to call the US Marshall Service at 712-252-3077 or to call 911 to connect with local police.

Nathan E. Nickless

SAC CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Officials have determined the cause of death of a woman who was found in the North Raccoon River at Hagge Park. According to a press release, the body of 30-year-old Samantha Trimpe was found in a 2003 Red Jeep Cherokee submerged in the river on Friday, July 19th.

The Sac County Sheriff’s Office received the final autopsy report on September 3, which states that Trimpe’s official cause of death was drowning. The report also noted that Trimpe was experiencing acute intoxication from alcohol, lorazepam, amphetamine, and fluoxetine.

Trimpe’s manner of death remained undetermined because it could not be determined whether she lost consciousness and drove into the river or if it was intentional, according to the release.

(Denison, Iowa; Updated by Radio Iowa) – The world’s largest steam locomotive puffed its way into Denison, Wednesday, with celebrity motoring buff Jay Leno in the cab of the engine. The former “Tonight Show” talk show host and star of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” stopped long enough to visit with some Denison locals and take some snap shots during Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014’s Stop in Denison.  Chad Stephens says it was surreal to see a celebrity in town.

“He was checking everything out and taking pictures and I wasn’t going to pass up that opportunity. I got my picture taken with someone with a net worth of 450 million dollars, so that’s pretty cool,” Stephens says. Stephens is a volunteer firefighter and a Leno fan. “It was kind of neat after watching him on T-V for a lot of years and seeing some of his shows and the automobile collection he has, it was kind of cool to see him in Denison, Iowa,” Stephens says.

Big Boy Number No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in 1941. It was retired in 1961 and returned to service in 2019. It made a trip through Iowa that year, and now it’s rolling through once again. The railroad has special agents and security detail that follow the train.”

Big Boy travels from Boone to Cedar Rapids today (Sept. 5). In the middle of that trip, the train will stop in Belle Plaine around 12:15 p.m. Big Boy will leave Cedar Rapids at 9:00 a.m. Friday. (Two of the photos below are from our sister-station KDSN in Denison)

KDSN photo

KDSN photo

Rob Neligh photo

(Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the Iowa G-O-P says the party will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a voter turn-out effort this year. Jeff Kaufmann says getting Republicans to vote BEFORE Election Day is the priority. “I understand tradition. I get grandmas and grandpas wanting to take their grand kids into the voting booth. I get that and respect it,” Kaufmann says, “but here’s the deal: every single dime has got to be maximized.”

Kaufmann says once an Iowa Republican votes early, the party will no longer call or send them reminders in the mail — or pay people to knock on their door to ask about their voting plan.While former President Trump has said his goal is to have all votes cast on Election Day, Trump has called early voting and absentee voting an acceptable option in 2024. “I think he’s starting to realize, I know the campaign is starting to realize that they have got to move into that,” Kaufmann says, “so our Republican Party, we’re going to put a lot of resources into absentee voting and chasing them.”

Democrats have embraced early voting for years. In 2022, for example, Democrats held a significant edge in early voting a week ahead of Election Day. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says heading into this year’s election, she has a simple message to her fellow Republicans. “We need to ‘bank the vote, bank the vote, bank the vote.’ We need to learn to play their game,” Reynolds says. “We have very safe elections in the state of Iowa.”

Reynolds and Kaufmann made their comments last (Wednesday) night at a fundraiser for House Speaker Pat Grassley. Grassley’s grandfather — U-S Senate Chuck Grassley — closed his remarks at the event by announcing he intends to vote early. “You don’t know what the future holds for you. Vote just as soon as you can under the laws of Iowa,” Grassley said. “…This country is in a perilous time and we can’t fiddle around wondering what will happen on November the 5th. We’ve got to get this thing locked up before November the 5th.”

Iowans can submit absentee ballot request forms to their county auditor now. County auditors may start sending ballots to voters on October 16th. The early voting period in Iowa used to be 40 days before Election Day, but Republican lawmakers have taken steps to reduce the early voting window to 20 days. And absentee ballots must be in the county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Growing older is the greatest risk factor for acquiring Parkinson’s disease and many people live with symptoms for several years before being diagnosed. Often people in early stages of Parkinson’s disease assume their symptoms are part of normal aging or are due to other health problems they may have, such as arthritis. However, early Parkinson’s disease symptoms may not be that apparent and may even come and go. Frequently it is the spouse or other relatives who first notice slight problems with a loved one’s movements.

You can learn about Parkinson’s disease, its effects, and possible treatments, by participating in “A Journey Through Parkinson’s Disease” an educational series from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Cass County Extension, along with Iowa State’s Department of Kinesiology, Human Sciences Extension and Outreach and Heritage House are sponsoring the series in Atlantic beginning Monday, September 9, 2024.

The educational series consists of three, 1-hour sessions held weekly. Leah Brooke, a Human Sciences Specialist in Food and Health, will teach the classes, which include interactive lessons, discussions, and activities. Sessions are scheduled for September 9, September 16, and September 30 from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM at Heritage House, 1200 Brookridge Circle, in Atlantic. There is no fee for the program. For more information or to register on-line, go to https://go.iastate.edu/WHFLJL or contact Kate Olson, Cass County Director, at 712-243-1132 or by e-mail at keolson@iastate.edu.

According to Brooke, “Participants will learn about the signs of Parkinson’s disease and how to seek medical care, as well as the cause of the disease and how specific treatments work. You will also learn about alternative therapies and in-home activities that can delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease, which is very important for continuing to live a full and happy life.”

More information and a registration link are also available on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Anyone affected by or interested in learning more about Parkinson’s disease is invited to participate. Register today to reserve your space for this free program!

DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) today recognized outstanding housing initiatives and leaders through the annual HousingIowa Awards at the 2024 HousingIowa Conference in Des Moines. The HousingIowa Awards recognize outstanding programs, projects and professionals for leadership and innovation in advancing housing opportunities for Iowans.

The award categories include: Single-Family Development, Multifamily Development, Innovation, Special Needs Development, Kay Anderson Friend of Iowa and the Mark Sertterh Friend of Housing Award. HousingIowa Award nominations are accepted each year and an independent panel of judges determines the statewide award winners.

2024 HousingIowa Award Winner:

Single-Family Development
Project: Hillside Estates, Council Bluffs
Development Partners: Turn the Paige Construction, Iowa West Foundation, the City of Council Bluffs, NeighborWorks Home Solutions and Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs.

Hillside Estates project