(Radio Iowa) — Iowa is headed toward the end of 2019 financially flush, with more than a billion dollars on hand. The state ended its fiscal year in June with a surplus of more than 289-million dollars and an additional 760-million in the cash reserves. Governor Kim Reynolds says that gives the state some budget flexibility. “We’re going to look at maybe expediting some of the triggers we put in place with the tax reform that I signed a year ago,” Reynolds says, “but I want to make sure we can still maintain our priorities, like education and public safety and putting in place an integrated and coordinated health care system.”

Despite the sizeable surplus, Reynolds says she doesn’t want to encourage more spending by state lawmakers. “We are working different models and we’ll be working with the legislature to see what those opportunities are while we still have a growing economy,” she says. “There are significant challenges that we’re facing, some significant headwinds, so we just want to be conscientious of that as well, as we move through this next legislative session.”

Reynolds says the surplus could lead to more tax reform. “We are always looking for opportunities to allow Iowans to keep more of their hard-working dollars,” the governor says. “Any time that we can reduce taxes on businesses and families, we’re going to look for opportunities to do that while being fiscally responsible in the process.” Reynolds says she’ll be talking to legislators about the surplus in the weeks leading up to the 2020 session, which opens January 13th. This year’s 289-point-three million dollar surplus is more than twice as large as last year’s surplus.

A traffic stop at around 10:30-p.m. Wednesday in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of a passenger in the vehicle. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year old Donavan Edward Belt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on two counts of Failure to Appear on a citation. At around 7:25-p.m. Wednesday, 53-year old Clifford Bigelow, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at a residence there, for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. And, a woman being held in the Pott. County Jail on two counts of Child Endangerment/Abandonment – resulting in injury, was served with a warrant this (Thursday) morning, for Abandonment of a Dependent Person. 23-year old Breanna Nicole Evans, of Omaha, was presented with the warrant and then returned to the custody of Corrections Staff.

The Atlantic Area Chamber’s Annual Scrooge Contest, sponsored by Hockenberry Family Care and Atlantic News Telegraph, takes place Nov. 1st through the 29th. Eleanor Hoover organized the contest beginning in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade. After her passing, her daughters stepped in to keep it a family tradition. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says “Eleanor had such a passion for helping others and the food pantry so I was thrilled when her daughters reached out to ask if they could take the reins this year.”

Scrooge contestants raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food Pantry. The 2019 candidates include: Lt. Devin Hogue, Atlantic Police Department; April Zarbano, Fireside Lounge; Michael Magers, White Knuckle Driving School/Iowa DOT, and Team Hoover: Lori Christianson, Jackie Sampson and Billie Hoover. Smith says “Candidates can choose any method they want in collecting their points. In the past, candidates have hosted soup suppers and put pictures and boxes in local businesses to collect food donations.”

Contestants are responsible for collecting and submitting their points to the Chamber by November 29th, at noon. Cash donations are worth one point on the dollar and two non-perishable items earn the contestants one point. Donations to a contestant can be made by delivering food or funds to their drop off locations. For more information please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The contestant with the most points will be named “Scrooge,” and all proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. The winner of the Scrooge Contest serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade 6-p.m. December 7th, in Downtown Atlantic.

Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder 2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011, Melanie Petty 2012, David Miller 2013, Mark McNees 2014, Ted Robinson 2015, Jon Johnson 2016, Rob Stamp 2017 and Rob & Sonya Clausen 2018.

Don’t forget to pick up your Christmas Brochure from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com. You can also capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page, or on Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017.

Des Moines – Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment begins tomorrow, November 1, 2019, for Iowans purchasing or changing their ACA individual health coverage to become effective January 1, 2020. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen says “As the open enrollment season begins, Iowans considering individual plans should talk with a licensed insurance agent to thoroughly research all coverage options to determine the best plan for themselves and their families.  The ACA-compliant insurance market is available to Iowans, however, many Iowans have been priced out of that market. Changes made at the Iowa state legislature and by the federal government have provided a few more options in addition to ACA-compliant coverage for Iowans to review as they plan out their health needs for 2020.”

Iowans who wish to purchase ACA-compliant coverage need to complete enrollment between November 1, 2019, and December 15, 2019, to have coverage effective by January 1, 2020.  During open enrollment, Iowans may call 1-800-318-2596 or visit healthcare.gov for information regarding enrollment and to calculate applicable tax credits. Local insurance agents, assisters and Iowa’s navigator are available to help Iowans review which insurance plan may best fit their needs.  Iowans can find local help by visiting https://localhelp.HealthCare.gov/.

Important information about individual coverage for 2020

• Medica, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa and Wellmark Value Health Plan will be offering ACA-compliant individual health insurance plans to Iowans for plan year 2020.  Iowans in every county will have a choice of at least two carriers.
• If you currently have coverage through the exchange and do not choose a plan for 2020 by the end of open enrollment, you will be re-enrolled into the same or similar plan.
• If you are considering changing insurance carriers, double-check to ensure your preferred healthcare provider(s) are in-network and your prescription drugs will continue to be covered.
• ​Changes in federal and state regulation are opening other options for Iowans to find health coverage through a health benefit plan sponsored by a non-profit agricultural organization or through short-term limited-duration plans.

For further background information and charts on the ACA in Iowa, visit https://iid.iowa.gov/aca-background.

(Radio Iowa) — An event designed to “perk” up the spirits of coffee lovers in northwest Iowa is planned for this weekend. The Siouxland Coffee Festival allows coffee drinkers to sample a host of hot and iced varieties of the beverage from all over the country. Ryan Martinez is organizing the second annual event in Sioux City. “We partnered with over 30 organizations from over 10 different states to bring you the second iteration of this event,” Martinez says. “There’s going to be everything from coffee samples to live music. You can roast with a coffee roaster and do other things like learning about coffee origins, different home brew methods.”

Martinez says the event is a fundraiser with proceeds supporting dozens of local programs. “Tickets are $12.50 but all of that money goes back to Volunteer Siouxland, which is Siouxland’s online volunteer center,” he says. “We started it about two years ago and we currently serve 150 different nonprofit organizations in our community.”

Some vendors are Iowa-based while others are coming from as far away as both coasts, including Florida, California and Washington. The event will be held Saturday at the Sioux City Convention Center.

Atlantic Trick-or-Treating will be held today from 5:30-7:30 pm. Costume Contest registration begins at 3:45 pm at the Atlantic City Park, judging begins at 4:10 pm, winner announced at 4:30 pm. Downtown Trick-or-Treating is from 3:30-5:00 pm. Allen Place Trick-or-Treating 3:30-5:00 pm. Heritage House Trick-or-Treating 3:30-5:00 pm. Atlantic city wide Trick-or-Treating 5:30-7:30 pm.

Exira Trick-or-Treating will be held from 5-7 pm.

Anita Town & Country is sponsoring a pumpkin carving contest and costume contest today. Bring your decorate pumpkin to the fire station from 4-5 pm to be judged. There will be 4 age categories: 0-4, 5-7, 8-10 and 11 and above and a family category. Winners will be announced at the beginning of the costume contest.

Trick-or-Treating at Caring Acres in Anita is from 4-5 pm.

Griswold Optimist Beggar’s Night will be held from 5-7 pm at the Griswold City Park. Hot dogs and hot chocolate for all trick-or-treaters. Sponsored by the Griswold Optimist Club.

Central Church of Christ in Griswold Trunk or Treat will be held from 5:30-7:00 pm.

Casey Trick-or-Treating will be held from 5-7 pm.

Adair Trick-or-Treating will be held from 6-8 pm.

Adair Fire & Rescue Halloween Party will be held from 4:30-8:30 pm at the Adair Fire Station. They will be serving pancakes, sausage, cinnamon rolls, games and prizes.

Adair Chamber’s Trunk or Treat will be held from 5:15-6:00 pm. Businesses and citizens are welcome to have a trunk. Adair Chamber will give out goody bags. Methodist Church will serve hot dogs, Adair Fire Station will have pancakes and sausage.

Audubon Beggars Night will be held from 5:30-7:30 pm.

The Audubon Women’s Association Annual Fall Fun Fest will be held at the Memorial Building from 3:45-5:00.  They will walk the trick or treaters from the Memorial building to the Courthouse, down to the Newspaper office and around the south side of the square before hitting the main street starting at approximately 4:00. They will end at the Library and Trunk or Treating area that will be blocked off on the north side of the square. They will have games for the kids inside and also be serving pizza, chips, bars, and a drink for $5 to help get those little tummies full before they get into all that candy! This is sponsored by the Audubon Women’s Association.

Greenfield Spook the Loop & Trunk or Treat will be held from 4:30-6:00 pm on Main Street in Greenfield. Enjoy hot dogs, cookies and treats at the Greenfield Fire Station from 5-7 pm.