(Omaha, Nebraska) – June is National Safety Month, which is an important time for people to assess how they stay safe online when using cellphones. With nearly 7 billion smartphone users across the world and mobile devices accounting for almost 60% of online traffic, fraudsters can take advantage of our reliance on constant connectivity. More than 60% of fraud originated from cellphones, according to RSA Security. Nira.com reports that 70% of internet fraud is committed via mobile devices.

Here are six tips (courtesy U.S. Cellular) to help reduce exposure to mobile security threats.

• Be smart on open Wi-Fi networks: When consumers use a Wi-Fi network that is open to the public, their phone can be an easy target for cybercriminals. Try to limit the use of public hotspots in favor of a secure network from a trusted network operator or mobile wireless connection to minimize the risk of exposure, especially when personal or sensitive information is accessed.
• Don’t forget the family’s safety: With more children online than ever before, it’s important for parents to know their child is protected. Establish boundaries for families as they better understand how to be safe when using technology in their everyday life.
• Install apps from trusted sources: Before an app is downloaded, be sure to conduct research to ensure it is legitimate and trustworthy. An app’s legitimacy could be checked by reading reviews and confirming the app store’s origin. Many apps from untrusted sources can contain viruses that can steal information, install malware and cause harm to a phone’s contents.
• Lock it up: The most secure way to lock a smartphone is to use a password and biometric authentication process. Android and iOS users can set or change their screen lock preferences on their phone to secure their devices.
• Online privacy apps: DuckDuckGo, ExpressVPN, LastPass, ProtonMail and Signal are Android and iOS apps that can help consumers protect their online privacy.
• Regularly accept updates and patches to your smartphone’s software: A device’s operating system should be updated regularly by enabling automatic updates or accepting them when prompted from a service provider. Up-to-date operating systems can help reduce the risk of cyber threats.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (June 2, 2023) — Officials with the USS IOWA Commissioning Committee have announced a charitable contribution of $50,000 from Iowa-based grocer Hy-Vee, Inc. The donation will help support the submarine christening and commissioning of the USS IOWA SSN 797, submarine amenities to improve crew member’s morale and wellness, and the Family Readiness Support Group for families while crew members are working on submarine construction or at sea. The USS IOWA, also known as the SSN 797, is the fourth U.S. Navy vessel named after the State of Iowa. When commissioned, the USS IOWA will join the nation’s fleet of nearly 50 submarines to ensure the country’s safety through strategic deterrence and undersea warfare programs.

Fred Dorr, a representative of the USS Iowa Commissioning Committee, said “Hy-Vee is the first major company in Iowa to step up and support the efforts of the crew on the USS IOWA submarine. With a goal of raising $300,000, we hope other companies will follow their example of supporting those who are protecting our freedom and keeping our country safe with all the turmoil we are seeing across the world right now. The company has had an amazing track record for making sure our country’s heroes are taken care of and we are encouraged that others will do the same with a donation of their own.”

The USS Iowa (SSN 797) is a Virginia Class nuclear submarine.

Click on these images to enlarge

Hy-Vee has long supported active-duty military members and veterans through monetary support and employment opportunities through its Hy-Vee Homefront program. Every November, Hy-Vee holds it’s annual Hy-Vee Homefront Register Round Up and hosts a free breakfast for more than 90,000 veterans and active military members. Hy-Vee has also received numerous awards and recognition for supporting veteran and active-duty military member employees. In addition, Hy-Vee has received the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Patriot Award for recruiting, retainment and career-building efforts for disabled veterans, active-duty and veteran employees. The retailer also received the Chairman’s Award of Corporate Excellence from the national nonprofit Hope for the Warriors. In 2022, Hy-Vee was named to Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Veterans.

To learn more about the USS Iowa or ways your business or organization can donate to the USS Iowa Commissioning Committee, visit https://www.ssn797.com/about/commissioning-committee.

The USS Iowa (SSN 797) commissioning committee is a national network of strong supporters aligned with a common vision and goal: To raise broad awareness and generate deep support for the commissioning of the nuclear submarine bearing the proud name IOWA. The mission of the commissioning committee is to generate the funds necessary to provide amenities, equipment and celebration not funded by Congress. Learn more at www.SSN797.com

(Radio Iowa) – The more than eight-and-a-half BILLION dollar state budget Governor Reynolds has approved represents a three-point-seven percent increase in spending.  Here are some of the areas where state spending is increasing: lawmakers expect to spend nearly 107-and-a-half MILLION dollars on the new state-funded accounts for low income parents who enroll their kids in private school. Public K-through-12 schools will get a three percent increase in state funding.

Attorneys who represent indigent clients will get 35 dollars an hour for travel for the first time along with a five dollar per hour increase in attorneys’ fees — an effort to get more attorneys to represent low income clients declared indigent by the courts. Lawmakers have the authority to spend up a 99 percent of expected state tax revenue. The budget Reynolds gave final approval to this week spends 88 percent. All taxes above that paid during the next state fiscal year will be deposited in reserves and the Taxpayer Relief Fund. By this time next year, the state is projected to have three-and-a-half BILLION dollars in the Taxpayer Relief Fund along with a two BILLION dollar surplus.

Democrats say Republicans are hoarding money that would could be spent on priorities like public education. Republicans say it’s a responsible budget plan, with extra cash to cushion the state if there’s a recession or if tax cuts depress state revenue below expectations.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that limits the Iowa state auditor’s ability to access some data, like tax returns or medical records, for audits and investigations. State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat in statewide elected office, says it’s the worst pro-corruption law in Iowa history. It forbids Sand from going to court to compel reluctant state officials to turn over records. Sand says the mediation process set up in the bill gives the governor the power to block access to information that would expose wrongdoing.

During a recent appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa PBS, Reynolds said executive branch officials should be able to resolve disagreements without going to court. She also said Sand shouldn’t have access to information just because he’s curious about it.

Governor Reynolds signed 67 bills into law yesterday (Thursday), completing action on all the bill that cleared the 2023 Iowa legislature.

(Radio Iowa) [UPDATED 9-a.m. 6/2/23] – The boil order WAS lifted today (Friday) for residents of five counties in southwest Iowa. The order was rescinded after tests came back negative for any issues in the water system. Avoca Regional Water Plant general manager, Tom Kallman, says they had been waiting on the third and final water test. He said previously he was “cautiously optimistic” that they were going to be able to go ahead and lift the boil alert. Kallum said “We’re still going to be in a water shortage — but at least now folks are not going to have to boil their water to be able to consume it.”

The problem started on May 25th when the seven water towers were drained down, leading to a negative pressure in the system. “The towers are now full enough that I don’t have any pressure issues anywhere in terms of getting the water out to folks when they turn on their tap. They should have no problem with the water they’ve got,” Kallman says. “But we will end up having to go back into a boil advisory if I lose pressure again from more demand than I can push water into my system.”

The drought brought down the levels of water they use to fill the tanks at a time when they set records for demand. Kallman says residents will have to continue conserving water to avoid a repeat. “If it happens a second time, our board of directors will then review whether or not we need to elevate our water posture to a water rationing state. And then that’s all based on your previous years usage,” Kallman says. He says they have sent out suggestions for reducing water use and he is optimistic those will pay off.

“What we find a lot of times in these kind of circumstances, we have these helpful hints on folks to tell them conserved things that they can be looking at. And I don’t think there’s been a situation go by where some of it and say you know, I never thought about it and whipped the water deal I went and did that little test is that you recommend for the toilet and lo and behold, my toilet was leaking and I didn’t realize that it was. It ends up being a substantial amount of water.”

Kallman says they did get some rain Thursday, but they will need much more. “We’re about three feet lower in our wells now the first of June of this year than we were at the same time last year. “Kallman says. “That’s three foot less water in the wells to pump out of the wells and turn it into fresh drinking water.”

The Rural Water System supplies residents in Shelby, Audubon, Cass, Harrison, and northern Pottawattamie County. Kallman says they will notify residents once the boil order is lifted.

(Radio Iowa) – Former President Donald Trump says there’s no way he could lose Iowa in 2024. “We’re going to win,” Trump said. “We’re going to win big. We’re going to win bigger than ever before.” Trump made a campaign swing through the state Thursday. It included a stop in Grimes at a training session for campaign volunteers. Trump suggested there’s a correlation between his popularity and his legal woes.

“Every time I go high I get further attacked by the DOJ, the FBI. I’ve got to keep my poll numbers down, they’ll leave us alone,” Trump said. “If we were ever losing, they’d leave us alone. It’s called election interference. They do it at a level that we’ve never seen anything like it in this country. It’s a disgrace.” Trump took questions from the crowds at events on Thursday morning and Thursday afternoon, a contrast with the events challenger Ron DeSantis had in Iowa this week.

“It is nice to come here and speak without notes, without anything, just come up and speak from the heart and from the brain,” Trump said, to cheers, “and from the brain.” Trump’s appearance comes as the G-O-P presidential field is expanding. North Dakota’s governor, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Trump’s own vice president Mike Pence are set to enter the race next week.

“People coming into the race. You know they’re polling at 1%, 2%. I don’t know what they’re doing. They must know something…but I know actually some of them are pretty stupid,” Trump said. “…They’re running for VP and cabinet. Maybe they are, but some of them won’t happen, I can tell you.” A woman in the crowd asked Trump what he’d do differently if another virus emerges — and she told Trump people had died because he supported “the jab.” That’s a reference the COVID vaccine, which Trump says everybody wanted back at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

“A big portion of the country thinks that was a great thing, you understand that,” Trump said, “(but) not a lot of the people in this room.” Trump, seeking a rematch against President Joe Biden in 2024, was told by someone in the crowd that Biden fell on stage at the Air Force Academy yesterday (Thursday). The 76 year old Trump said he hoped the 80 year old president wasn’t hurt, then Trump ridiculed the media for focusing on his own gingerly walk down what he described as a slick ramp at West Point rather than the speech he gave that day.