(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.

(Creston, Iowa) –  The Creston Police Department reports the arrest last Friday, of 28-year-old Joshua Daniel Mahoney, from Creston. Mahoney was arrested at the Greater Regional Hospital in Creston, under the authority of Des Moines Police Department warrant charging him with Domestic Abuse Assault causing bodily injury/mental illness (A Serious Misdemeanor) and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Mahoney was taken to the Union County Jail and later transported to the Polk County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

Joshua Daniel Mahoney (Polk County Jail photo)

The Creston Police Department says also, a woman reported Monday an incident of burglary. A person or persons unknown damaged a door and door jamb at her residence in the 900 block of N. Sumner Street. The damage was estimated at $200.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the CDS Global, Incorporated – a subscription fulfillment company based in Des Moines –  have announced 94 employees at their location in Harlan will be losing their jobs in early 2025. The Iowa WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) website shows the job losses will take effect February 3rd, 2025. The company’s decision to close their Harlan facility was announced Nov. 26th, according to WARN.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education have announced an investment of over $3.5 million to provide first graders with books at home. According to a press release, every first-grade student will be provided with decodable book packs to take home and keep, reinforcing classroom instructions to support reading development at home. The decodable books are written for beginning readers and use simple words to help students connect letters and sounds. The books are sequential in nature and will progressively introduce more complex skills.

Kindergarten through second-grade students in need of support who attended a department-funded high-quality summer reading program or a Learning Beyond the Bell out-of-school program this year will also receive decodable book packs to further advance their reading gains. The book packs are customizable and available at multiple reading levels so students can practice reading outside the classroom, according to the release. Each decodable book includes a QR code with access to video lessons for active family engagement.

In total, more than 100,000 book packs will be sent to all public and accredited nonpublic schools across the state this winter. Schools and families do not need to apply as books will be sent directly to them.

For more information on literacy instruction in Iowa visit the Department’s Literacy Instruction webpage and for more information on the Just Right Reader, click here.

(Radio Iowa) – A survey finds Iowa’s economy further slumped during November following a “weak” showing in October, with little optimism for improvement. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the monthly survey of business leaders and supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states found the state and regional economies sputtering. Goss says they were asked about the biggest challenges to business and manufacturing in the months ahead.

“Supply chain disruptions, by far, was the largest challenge that the manufacturers see going forward with 38.7% indicating that that was likely to be the greatest threat to their business,” Goss says. “Higher inflation was number two at 27.8%.” Other predicted challenges on the list include labor shortages and cyber threats. Goss says the leaders of many Midwestern manufacturing businesses are concerned about next month’s potential longshoremen’s strike for the 17 ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

Ernie Goss (Creighton University photo)

“And of course, with President Trump’s call for tariffs, that scares manufacturers and scares agricultural interests, and that’s a big concern,” Goss says. “That’s what this part of the country depends upon, and that’s a big issue going forward.” The report grades the economy on a zero-to-100 scale with a score of 50 being “growth neutral.” For the sixth time this year, the overall score fell below growth neutral during November, and for a second straight month, the wholesale price inflation gauge rose. Goss says hiring was also stagnant during the month.

“When you look at the overall reading for manufacturing this year alone, down about 90,000 jobs,” Goss says. “That’s about seven-tenths of 1%. The U.S. economy has lost jobs, manufacturing jobs, six of the last 10 months. The region’s only down slightly, 2,000 jobs or about two-tenths of 1% but the region’s lost jobs in four of the last five months.” The survey finds the Midwest’s employment index slumped below growth neutral for an 11th straight month during November. According to the latest U.S. International Trade Administration data, Goss says Iowa’s manufacturing sector experienced a $1.1 billion drop in 2024 year-to-date exports, compared to the same period in 2023, for an 8.5% decline.