(Johnston, Iowa) – The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum will host a presentation on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 1:00 PM of Governor Reynolds Proclamation designating December 16, 2024 as a day of remembrance for the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Presentation of the Proclamation is held at the Museum’s COL Al Rolfes Education Center followed by a short program regarding the importance of the Battle of the Bulge, the contributions and sacrifices by those who served, and the Battle’s impact on the ultimate victory by the Allied forces in World War II.

In addition to the Proclamation, the museum will host a Living History WWII Exhibit and a holiday open house with refreshments from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. The Museum’s Gallery will also
remain open until 3:00 PM.

Iowa Gold Star Musuem

Visitors can enter Camp Dodge through the main gate at 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston, Iowa (scan the QR code or follow the website address below). Photo identification is required for
admittance to Camp Dodge for individuals 16 years and older.

More info. at https://goldstarmuseum.iowa.gov/

(Radio Iowa) – The Siouxland Salvation Army is offering an incentive to volunteers who will ring the bells at their red kettles during their ongoing fundraiser. Captain Teri Ellison says they’ve teamed up with a jewelry store. program. “I think this is unique to Sioux City. It’s called ‘Ring for the Bling’, and for every two-hour shift that you ring, you get your name put into a kettle, and that drawing will be on Christmas Eve. Riddles, Jewelry has been setting aside jewelry all year long. I think they have 12 pieces,” she says. Ellison says they have many open spots for bell ringers.

“We are really struggling to get volunteer bell ringers, so we’re hoping to entice people today to come out and even think about it if they haven’t for the first time,” Ellison says. Ellison says they do have some indoor locations if people are worried about being out in the cold. She says they are also seeking out groups of people who want to help with the fundraiser. “Church groups, youth groups, maybe school organizations, banks, you name it. Can just get a group together and go out and take a day and ring a kettle,” she says.

Anyone interested in helping out can go to registertoring.com (register to ring dot com) to sign up. You must complete your shift to be eligible to win some jewelry. The Siouxland Salvation Army has a fundraising goal of 107-thousand dollars and says all funds go to local program. The Red Kettle campaign runs through Christmas Eve.

(Radio Iowa) – A key lawmaker says Senate Republicans will propose that most Iowans receiving government-paid Medicaid insurance coverage work, be looking for a job or be training for one. Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny says the incoming Trump Administration is likely to be more willing to grant Iowa a waiver for this work requirement. “Health care in Iowa — it’s important that people have it, but it shouldn’t be something that keeps people in poverty,” Bousselot says. “Getting people job training and having them seek a job while they’re receiving free health care from taxpayers I think is a common sense proposal that incentivizes getting back to work, incentivizes job training and also makes sure the safety net exists, that they have health care while they’re down on their luck.”

Senator Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny, will be chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee in the 91st Iowa General Assembly, which convenes January 13, 2025. (RI file photo)

Senate Republicans have made similar proposals in the past, but the work requirements for Medicaid coverage were not proposed for Iowans with disabilities or a parent with young children. The first Trump Administration granted waivers to several states that sought to require able-bodied citizens to work or be enrolled in school, but federal courts and then the Biden Administration blocked the policy from taking effect. Bousselot says there’s an opportunity to revisit the issue once Trump returns. “A common sense administration in Washington that’s going to work with us instead of attack us,” Bousselot said.

Bousselot made his comments after speaking at a forum organized by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The group represents chambers of commerce in 11 counties, including (in this area) Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, and Madison.

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Des Moines police identified a 70-year-old suspect armed with a pellet gun and the officers involved in a deadly shooting last week. It happened at an apartment complex on Nov. 26th. Police say Charles Leonard repeatedly threatened a woman with the gun before raising it towards officers who responded to the scene.

Police say the pellet gun did not have its orange-colored safety cone attached. Two officers fired at Leonard, killing him.

The officers involved are Senior Police Officers Christian Bishop and Lanny Herzog. Both have served with the Des Moines Police Department since 2022. Both officers are on paid administrative assignment, which is department policy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Following a public hearing (during which there were no comments), the Cass County Board of Supervisors Tuesday (Today), approved an application for a Zoning Change by LANDUS Cooperative, from General Agricultural District to Heavy Industrial, for their property in the Pymosa Township, as previously approved by the Cass County Zoning Commission.

LANDUS purchased the former Wickman Chemical site northeast of Atlantic just west of Highway 71, last August. The sale was final in October. LANDUS plans to move their facility the Wickman site, which will include a 72,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tank.

Erich Wickman, who formerly owned Wickman Chemical along with his wife Tammy, spoke at the meeting about the change, and benefits of having LANDUS’ operations on the site.

Cass County BOS mtg, 12-3-24

He said it’ll be good for Cass County by keeping those employees who are already here, and adding those employees coming in from other LANDUS locations. “Mainly, from a safety standpoint, it’s really good,” Wickman said. Cass County Zoning Commissioner Mike Kennon explained what the next steps are in the process.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors passed a resolution amending the Secondary Roads Five-Year Program by moving a bridge project from 2027 to 2025, as the result of a funding change from Highway Bridge Program (HBP) to Farm-to-Market (FM). The new bridge – southwest of Massena – will be 30-feet wide instead of the current 16-feet wide.

They also approved the hiring of an Equipment Operator 1 position for the Anita District (Secondary Roads Dept.). Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said there were seven applicants for the position and five interviews. The person selected has previous experience in a similar position with the Iowa DOT. Wolken said they are expected to start in about two-weeks.

The Cass County Supervisors passed the Second Reading of an ordinance “Imposing a Local Option Surtax for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at a rate of One-percent on the State Individual Income Tax for 15-years” (in accordance with the Iowa Code), following the measure’s approval by voters in the General Election on November 5th, 2024.

They acknowledged the receipt of the EMS Advisory Council Annual Recommendation of an EMS Levy, as required by Iowa law. Public input on the matter will be allowed during the Supervisor’s meeting on Dec. 17th. And, the Board approved the hiring of a Treasurer’s Office Assistant, effective Dec. 2^nd, 2024.

DES MOINES—Secretary of State Paul Pate and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today announced a lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), demanding that the Biden-Harris Administration hand over information about known noncitizens on Iowa’s voter rolls.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s USCIS has refused the State’s repeated requests for information on the hundreds of noncitizens confirmed on Iowa’s voter rolls. USCIS’s failure meant that the State had to rely on the best—imperfect—data it had available to ensure that no Iowan’s vote was canceled by an illegal, noncitizen vote. The State was then sued, due to the Biden-Harris Administration’s failure, right before election day. Senators Grassley and Ernst also called for the election integrity data that the federal government continues to withhold from Iowans.

“I am suing for the Biden-Harris Administration to finally release the election integrity data that it has been hiding from Iowa,” said Attorney General Bird. “The Biden-Harris Administration knows who the hundreds of noncitizens are on our voter rolls and has repeatedly refused to tell us who they are. But the law is clear: voters must be American citizens. Together, with the Secretary of State, we will fight to maintain safe and secure elections that Iowans can count on.”

The lawsuit demands that the Biden-Harris Administration follow the law and give Iowa access to data on identified non-citizens on the State’s voter rolls.

“The role of Iowa Secretary of State requires balance between participation and integrity. We have identified solutions that will allow us to verify voter eligibility at registration – not at the time of voting,” said Secretary Pate. “The combination of access to the SAVE list, citizenship verification already completed by USCIS, and the ability to verify using social security numbers will not only make processes more efficient but will also provide another important tool in our toolbox to safeguard our elections process.”

Read the full lawsuit here.

(Radio Iowa) – People with hidden disabilities like autism, Crohn’s disease, diabetes or Alzheimer’s can now receive extra support at the Des Moines International Airport by wearing a sunflower lanyard or pin. The sunflower symbol is intended to subtly let staff know that an adult or child requires extra time due to a hidden disability. Airport executive director Kevin Foley says staff who interact with passengers at check-in counters, T-S-A and in restaurants have been trained on the program. “Even an individual with no disability that doesn’t travel frequently, oftentimes can need additional understanding,” Foley says, “so this just identifies those who we should be giving additional patience to.”

People can pick up lanyards or pins for free at places like Broadlawns Medical Center, ChildServe and the Alzheimer’s Association. People do not need to show proof of a diagnosis in order to receive a lanyard or pin. Foley says no changes were made to services the airport offers but the sunflower is meant to subtly notify staff. He says, “It just identifies them, not secretly but kind of covertly that, ‘Hey, I need some additional patience, some additional understanding,’ to help them get through this process.”

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower image

The airport is just the second place in Iowa to join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program and is one of more than 280 airports across the world taking part.