(Radio Iowa) – Environmental groups and experts say a new study shows serious health issues surrounding two coal-fired plants operated by MidAmerican Energy in northwest Iowa just south of Sioux City. Josh Mandelbaum of the Environmental Law and Policy Center says “We know that these plants are massive carbon polluters. They’re impacting the climate, but on a local level, they are having an immediate and significant impact on the health of the communities surrounding these plants,” Mandelbaum says.

The study released by the Iowa Environmental Council says from 1999 to 2020, pollution from the plants caused 165 premature deaths in the region and 14-hundred overall. And it shows higher rates of asthma, C-O-P-D, and heart disease. Environmental Council Senior Policy Advocate Cody Smith. “We hope that our report is a wake-up call for the leadership of Mid-American Energy and that they act swiftly to become the responsible corporate neighbor they claim to be,” Smith says.

Smith and others who took part in a virtual news conference (Tuesday morning) say the public deserves better. They say lower-income and people of color are at the highest risk of health issues. A spokesperson for MidAmerican Energy says the company plans to phase out coal-fired plants by the year 2050.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is joining 20 other states in a lawsuit over the Biden Administration’s move to expand Title Nine protections for women to ban discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says the new rule violates the U-S Constitution as well as a federal law that requires agencies to fully consider the costs of complying with new regulations. “And that’s something I get to do as attorney general is to enforce our laws and constitution on the federal government when it gets out of control,” Bird says.

The new restriction would apply to all schools — from preschool through college — and schools that fail to comply could lose federal funding. Bird says the mandate tears down more than 50 years of landmark protections for girls and women who will now be forced to share private facilities with males. Governor Kim Reynolds says there are important biological differences between males and females and she asked the attorney general to join the lawsuit. The governor made an indirect reference to the rule during a speech at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention.

“And by God, we will protect girl’s sports. Bring it on, bring it on,” Reynolds said, to cheers. “Bring it on!” Title Nine is the landmark civil rights law passed in 1972 that prohibits discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal funding and it led to an expansion of girls’ and women’s sports across the country. The attorneys general from Missouri and Arkansas are leading the lawsuit to try to stop the Biden Administration’s changes in Title Nine from going into effect August 1st.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, received a request for County participation in helping the Anita Locker receive an economic development grant. Supervisors Board Chair Steve Baier said he wrote “a general letter of support” for the grant, because other projects that have flourished under similar grants.

Scot and Cheryl Bailey, along with their son Jackson, own the Anita Locker. Scot and Cheryl appeared before the Board to explain the need for funds to update their facility, especially in light of business coming from the Minden Locker, which had to close due to damage from the April 26^th tornado.

Cheryl Bailey said they applied for a matching grant from the IEDA (Iowa Economic Development Authority) in the amount of $41,500.

She said they have applied for a CIS (Cooperative Interstate Shipping) license, which allows participating state-inspected meat and poultry establishments to ship products across state lines. To qualify for the CIS program, a meat processor must have fewer than 25 full-time employees and comply with all federal food safety, sanitation and facility regulations. Anita Locker has six employees, including two full-time and two part-time, and if the locker can update it’s compressor, that would bring in more business and allow them to hire three-to-four more people.

The Board took no action on the request at this time. In the interim, Supervisor Steve Green suggested the Bailey’s check with SWIPCO and/or CADCO to obtain other, possible sources of funds, including a loan. Supervisor Mark O’Brien said providing funds might “Open-up a can of worms” to the private sector. Supervisor Wendy Richter….

The Cass County Supervisors also heard a request for the use of ARPA funds for a proposed Griswold Splash Pad. Griswold City Administrator Sheryl Owen said they have $112,000 from their CD account to use for the project, but would like extra funds to really get the ball rolling. The project would be located where the current wooden playground is, in Griswold.

There will also be a green space for a play area. Owen said with the opening of the new daycare center, and housing development, the addition of a splash pad would be a welcome site for families moving into the area.

Supervisor Steve Green said he would be in favor of granting the funds, if the project was further along. The Board also considered a request by the City of Griswold/Noble Initiative Community Foundation, for $227,400 for a lift station at the Land of Oz Housing Development project.

Sheryl Owen said the City has already, technically, invested $1.1-million dollars in the project, including $500,000 directly from the City. The Board discussed the matter for a considerable amount of time and considered the request, but took no action at this time. Owen said they would like the board to act on the request by no later than the end of June, as the completion date is expected sometime in July or August, depending on the weather.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – On May 7, 2024, The Cass County Board of Supervisors signed the proclamation stating that May is Mental Health Awareness Month in Cass County. As the number one area of concern in the 2022 Health Improvement Plan, Cass County has continuously worked to spread awareness of Mental Health. Members of the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness attended to show their support those members included representatives from Cass County Extension, Public Health, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health, Healthy Cass, Senior Life Solutions, Southwest Iowa Region Mental Health & Disability Services, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa, and Family Crisis & Intervention.

To help promote Mental Health, the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness will host a Mental Wellness Panel on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Griswold Community Building (601 2nd Street, Griswold, Iowa 51535). A free meal will be provided at 5:30 pm. The presentation will begin at 6:00 pm. Community members of all ages are welcome to join as we discuss resiliency strategies, emotional support for our youth, and local resources for therapy and crisis situations. No pre-registration is required. This event is sponsored generously by the Healthy Cass County Coalition with funding from the Healthiest State Initiative Grant and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. If you have any further questions, please contact Grace McAfee at (712) 250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org.

To find out more about Mental Wellness Events happening across Cass County in May be sure to follow the Healthy Cass Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, Tuesday morning, passed a Resolution to “Dissolve payroll deductions for non-county approved benefits program.” Their action followed an update from Marcus Taylor with Milestone Financial Group, who recommended terminating the deductions with the end goal to stop “policy deferral.” Supervisor Donna Robinson read the Resolution, which said in-part:

Auditor Jill Ozuna….

The Board then held a public hearing on the proposed vacating of an alley in the unincorporated Town of Stennett. Having hear received no comments, written or spoken objecting to the move, the Board closed the hearing and voted to approve an amended resolution vacating the alley, located between East Depot and Wayne Streets, in Stennett. Auditor Jill Ozuna explained the reason for the “Amended” resolution.

Marcus Taylor speaks w/the Montgomery County Supervisors, 5-7-24

And, the Board heard a weekly updated on Montgomery County Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities, from Engineer Karen Albert.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisor’s next meeting is on May 14^th at 8:30-a.m.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Officials in Pottawattamie County, today (Tuesday) confirmed “Ten days after tornado activity devastated several areas of Pottawattamie County, another tornado touched down east of Minden in the late-night hours of May 6th.” Early assessments indicate seven properties, and a hog confinement were impacted by the latest storm. No injuries were reported.

Officials say there was no major damage to homes in the area, but several outbuildings and trees were destroyed. Power poles were snapped in the storm as well. The area experienced temporary power disruptions. Power was restored in Neola before midnight and restored in Minden as of 3:00AM on May 7th. The National Weather Service has deployed a field assessment team to survey the damage and to estimate the tornado’s rating, peak winds, length, width, and track.

May 6, 2024 tornado path

Federal Disaster Declaration Request
Teams comprised of local and state emergency management personnel, FEMA, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will fan out and conduct a Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (JPDA). The assessment, according to officials, is the formal validation assessment of data submitted by local officials and impacted residents and business owners to support the governor’s request for federal assistance. After the JPDA is completed across the several impacted areas of the state, FEMA will make its recommendation to the President. Local officials are hopeful to be informed of a positive determination in the coming days.

How to Help
Currently, all communities in the county have received sufficient donations of household items. If you would like to volunteer, Emergency Management has partnered with Samaritans Purse, who is continuing to organize volunteers to assist in impacted areas throughout the county. To sign up to volunteer call 531-242-2206. On-site safety meetings are required before volunteering.

How to Request Help
If you are still in need of assistance around your house and property you can call 833-747-1234 to speak to a Samaritans Purse representative. Disaster survivors can also access food items, hygiene products, and household resources from multiple locations.
• Crescent City Hall, 102 W Florence Street, Crescent, Iowa
• Neola Area Community Center, 110 4th Street, Neola, Iowa
• Charles E. Lakin Foundation, 705 N 16th Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa
• Treynor City Hall, 11 West Main Street, Treynor Iowa

Additional Multi-agency Resource Centers (MARCs) are being planned. Locations, dates, and times will be announced in the coming days.

(Radio Iowa) – Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg is urging Iowans to vote for a proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution. “You might remember, back when Governor Reynolds ascended, there was a dispute about whether she could appoint a new lieutenant governor,” Gregg said. “There’s a constitutional amendment that’s going to be on the ballot in November that’s going to clarify that.” Reynolds was sworn in as governor in mid-2017 after long-time Governor Terry Branstad resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to China.

Tom Miller, who was Iowa’s attorney general at the time, issued an opinion saying Reynolds — who was lieutenant governor — did not have the authority under the state’s constitution to pick a successor in mid-2017. Reynolds said she disagreed with the attorney general’s assessment and picked Gregg to take the role of lieutenant governor. The proposed amendment makes it clear governors have that authority.

“I think it’s important for good government that we have absolute clarity on the line of succession here in Iowa,” Gregg said.  Gregg is Iowa’s 47th lieutenant governor. The state’s lieutenant governors used to be elected independently, but after the passage of a constitutional amendment in 1988, candidates for governor AND lieutenant governor have been running together as a team, just like presidents and vice presidents.