(Radio Iowa) – Staffing shortages in Iowa nursing homes remain “alarmingly high” and are almost twice the national average, according to the state director of A-A-R-P Iowa. Brad Anderson says staffing shortages can lead to poor resident care and, in some unfortunate cases, serious neglect. “Forty-two percent of (Iowa) nursing homes are experiencing a staffing shortage, compared to the national average of 22%,” Anderson says, “which obviously has an enormous impact on resident care.”

One reason for the high rate of staffing shortages in Iowa is too many nursing home beds for staff to cover, he says, especially in rural areas. Anderson says he’d like to see more money devoted to home-based care instead of institutional care, as surveys show an overwhelming majority of people would rather stay in their own homes. Another problem, he says, is pay.

“The wages for direct care workers still remains about $16 an hour, which is too low, frankly,” Anderson says. “We need to do a better job of boosting wages for direct care workers and improving their working conditions, without a doubt.” The state legislature recently devoted an additional 15-million dollars in Medicaid funding to Iowa nursing homes, money Anderson says needs to be directed toward solving what he calls a “staffing crisis.” He says Iowans who are looking for a nursing home for themselves or a loved one can find plenty of data online, including where staffing is an issue.

“Medicare.gov has great resources when it comes to looking at nursing homes,” Anderson says. “They rank them and you can basically get a score on whatever nursing home is in your community and see if they have staffing shortages or not online.” Iowa now has 430 nursing homes. Since January of 2022, at least 21 have closed.
www.aarp.org

(Radio Iowa) – Davenport’s police chief says three people are still missing after an apartment building partially collapsed Sunday and Davenport Mayor Mike Matson says officials are planning for a dignified demolition of the structure. “This needs to be done in a way that it respects that this is a resting place…when we do that,” Matson says, “and we’re not anywhere near doing that right now.” Two people who were unaccounted for after Sunday’s collapse have been found, but Davenport’s police chief says three people are still missing. Emergency crews are at the site today (Thursday). The mayor says experts are being consulted as the search continues for victims.

“Is there something we’re missing? Is there some technique we haven’t used? Is there some piece of equipment we need to get? I mean infrared has been all over that place, dogs, experts at different levels and fields that do this you know in serious earthquake situations,” Matson credits the crews working inside the unstable building and he says any criticism of the emergency response or how the city handled concerns about the building’s condition should be directed at him.

“Do I have regrets about this tragedy and about people potentially losing their lives? Hell yeah. Do I think about this every moment? Hell yeah. I apologize for me getting a little wordy here,” Matson said. “…This is on me and there are people that are talking about other people…You talk to me.”

Davenport’s top building official has resigned. The mayor says there are a lot of old buildings in the city and, because of this week’s tragedy, inspectors are being sent to some residential buildings, regardless of when the latest inspection was done.

(Radio Iowa) – Volunteers have been digging at the Sioux City Railroad Museum. Museum spokesman Larry Obermeyer says it’s because long ago, workers lived on the grounds as they built a roundhouse to store and service locomotives. “They camped out here, lived here, worked 24/7,” he says. “That was between 1916 and 1918.”

Items like medicine bottles and tent pieces have been found during previous archaeological digs at the site. Heather Gibb is the deputy State Historical Preservation Officer in the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. “Hopefully we’re able to find some evidence that suggests where some of the different buildings may have been and what some of the different railworkers were doing when they were living in those camps and building the facility that we’re in.”

Wednesday’s dig was a pre-conference session for the Preserve Iowa Summit that runs today through Saturday at the Warrior Hotel in Sioux City.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on documented arrests from May 9th through the 31st.

5-31-23: David Allen Coenen, age 37, of Harlan, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Coenen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Violation of Probation.

5-29-23: Lane Joseph Bregar, age 20, of Shelby, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on East St in Shelby, IA. Bregar was transported to the Shelby County Jail and Charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Operate a Non-Registered Vehicle, and Minor Use of Tobacco/Vape Product; Ashley Marie Belle Adams. Age 19, of Shelby, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on East St in Shelby, IA. Adams was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Operate a Non-Registered Vehicle, and Minor Use of Tobacco/Vape Product.

5-28-23: Crystal Renee Eckmann, age 43, of Avoca, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 59. Eckmann was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st and Fail to change lane upon approach to emergency stationary vehicle; Joshua Michael Haggerty, age 28, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service at the Nishna Bend Recreation Area. Haggerty was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Disorderly Conduct; Cody James Haggerty, age 24, of Omaha, NE was arrested after a call for service at the Nishna Bend Recreation Area. Haggerty was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Disorderly Conduct.

5-26-23: Cainan Anthony Edwards, age 24, of Brayton, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 173 in Elk Horn. Edwards was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance; Erin Leigh Mack, age 21, Brayton, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 173 in Elk Horn. Mack was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Valid Drivers License.

5-24-23: Samantha Jo Bomstad, age 35, of Irwin, IA was arrested after a call for service in Irwin. Bomstad was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Theft 3rd, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Glenn Edward Summers Jr, age 40, of Irwin, IA was arrested after a call for service in Irwin. Summers was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Theft 3rd, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving while Suspended.

5-22-23: Gerard August Rueschenberg, age 68, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in Harlan. Rueschenberg was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 4th; Thomas Donnakey Gordon Jr, age 30, of Cedar Falls, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on Highway 59. Gordon was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st, Driving while License is Suspended, and Failure to Maintain Control.

5-17-23: Alexander James Maxeiner, age 25, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a traffic stop at 5th and Victoria St in Harlan. Maxeiner was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Barred, Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance, and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle; Michael Allen Pitt, age 58, of Logan, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on 9th St in Harlan. Pitt was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Fail to Use Seatbelt, and Improper Rear Lamp; Jennifer Rose Miller, age 41, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on 9th St in Harlan. Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Omar Barquero Flores, age 34, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service at Casey’s General Store in Harlan. Flores was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication and Trespass.

5-16-23: Vicki Marie Kuhn, age 60, of Manilla, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Kuhn was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 3rd; William James Ballard, age 56, of Irwin, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on Rd M16 in Tennant, IA. Ballard was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Operating without Interlock Device, Driving while Barred, Failure to Use Seatbelt, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

5-15-23: Abigail Rae Lennon, age 42, of Davenport, IA was arrested after a call for service in the 4100 Block of Madison St in Elk Horn. Lennon was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Burglary 2nd and Kidnapping 3rd.

5-14-23: Charles Howard Hayes, age 36, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a call for service in the 1700 block of 6th St. Harlan.  Hayes was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

5-12-23: Jeffrey Richard Pape, age 61, of Emerson, IA was arrested after a traffic stop on Chatburn Ave. Pape was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance 2 counts, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving while License is Suspended.

5-11-23: David Allen Coenen, age 37, of Harlan, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Trespass 1st. Coenen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and was also charged with Possession of Controlled Substance; Kirby David Stoneking, age 39, of Harlan, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Public Intoxication.

5-9-23: Alexis Lynn Harriman, age 18, of Harlan, IA was arrested after a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Highway 59. Harriman was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Radio Iowa UPDATED) – Former President Donald Trump is meeting with smaller groups of Iowans (today) rather than hosting a big outdoor rally. Trump told a crowd in a suburban Des Moines restaurant there’s no way he’ll lose Iowa in 2024. “We’d have to do some really bad things to lose at this point…It’s the best polls we’ve ever had,” Trump says. “Overall, nationwide, in Iowa — no matter where I go it’s the best polls because they love the four years that we had.”

Trump’s visit comes a day after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Iowa crowds he’d be a disciplined, energetic president for the next eight years. “I’ve been watching (DeSantis) go out and say: ‘I’ve got eight years. It’s going to be 8 years!’ Let me tell you something, right there you should vote against him,” Trump said. “It’ll be take me six months to have it totally the way it was. We’ll have it fast.”

Allan Richards of Des Moines was among the first to arrive for Trump’s first stop. Richards says this is the type of campaigning Trump should have done heading into the 2016 Caucuses. “I wrote an editorial that was published where I told Trump he was fired because I did not appreciate the way that he campaigned in the Iowa Caucus and I think it was a mistake on his part, you know, as far as it comes to Iowa,” he says. “I think he made up for it later on in his campaign and in his presidency.” Richards says it appears Trump has evolved and Richards plans to Caucus for Trump in 2024.

“I would always support a former leader before anybody else,” Richards says. “I think the power of the presidency and the importance of it — once we put a person in there, I think that we have to stand behind them because of their experience, knowledge and things they know that the average person wouldn’t know, even a congressman wouldn’t know.”

David Oman was in the room as Trump addressed the Westside Conservative Club and other Trump supporters who crowded into a meeting room at the Machine Shed restaurant.  “There was a lot of energy in the room,” Oman says. “He entered with support and I think he left with the same if not more support, people excited about the encore campaign that he has begun and their ability to be a part of it again.” Jon McAvoy, a former Adel City Councilman, says the place was packed and it was a Trump crowd.

“I thought his presentation was maybe a little different than I expected…spent a lot of time talking about his accomplishments as president and how he wanted to do it again,” McAvoy says. “…I went in there just wanting to just listen and I was pretty much impressed, to be honest with you. He kept a low, even keel. Didn’t fly off at anything and that made me more comfortable with him.”

Trump met next with a group of pastors at a Des Moines church. Late this (Thursday) afternoon he’s taping an interview with Sean Hannity that will air tonight (Thursday) on the Fox News Channel.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Officials in Audubon County, today (Thursday), said “Due to current water and drought conditions in our county, the four Fire Chiefs have made a decision to place Audubon County in a burn ban until further notice.” Authorities said also, “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.” Details of the Burn Ban can be viewed in the documents below:

(Radio Iowa) – Inflation is keeping prices high on all sorts of goods, and a survey of business leaders in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states finds prices rose nearly six-percent in the past year, but may only rise three-percent in the year ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the leading economic indicator for the region grew a modest amount during May compared to April on the zero-to-one-hundred scale, where 50 is growth neutral. “The overall rating remained above growth neutral for the fourth straight month, that’s the good news,” Goss says. “The bad news is, it’s still only slightly above growth neutral, down from 54.8 in April to 51.3 in May, so that’s still moving along, I’d call it very slow growth we’re looking at ahead.”

The overall index specifically for Iowa fell in May to 51.9, a drop from April’s 55.8. The survey found many employers in Iowa and the other states continue having trouble finding qualified workers to fill open positions, so they’re retaining workers, which Goss says is creating another sort of problem. “Lots of labor hoarding out there, and that’s causing productivity numbers to go down. In other words, we’re recording very low productivity readings for the region, and for the nation,” Goss says. “That’s because you’ve got these workers, the companies just fear letting those employees go. Thus, they retain them, even when there’s not sufficient work for them to do.”

Goss says the survey found only about one in six employers reported job gains during the past month, almost the same as during April. He says a couple of industries, in particular, are struggling.  “The outlook is still of slow growth, but there’s some sectors it’s going to be negative growth and that’s commercial real estate, that’s office space, and particularly in downtown areas of the region,” Goss says. “You’re going to see open spaces there, and un-rented office space.”

The banking and finance industry is also “having a tough go of it,” Goss says, with short-term interest rates very high compared to long-term rates. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employment in Iowa expanded by 1.9% over the past 12 months, while manufacturing hourly wages climbed by 6.9% over the same period.