(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Small Business Administration approved loans to more than 400 Iowa businesses during the just-ended fiscal year, helping them to start or expand operations. Jayne Armstrong, director of the S-B-A’s Iowa District Office, says the loans totaled nearly 170-million dollars statewide for the fiscal year, that’s up from about 155-million the previous year.  “Sometimes, there are bigger deals out there that they’re looking for expansions or buying commercial real estate,” Armstrong says, “and also times when they just need small amounts of working capital.”

Loans were approved to 405 Iowa businesses during the year, down from 455 the previous year. When the economy isn’t doing so well, that’s when people more often look to start their own businesses, so the decline in loan numbers is being interpreted as a positive. “We don’t really get too hung up on the dollar volume as much,” Armstrong says. “We’d like to put more money on the street and to help more small businesses but it’s going to fluctuate every year. As long as we’re meeting the needs of the small business community, that’s the most important thing to us.”

Figures from Iowa Workforce Development released today (Friday) put Iowa’s unemployment rate for September at two-and-a-half percent. That’s unchanged from August and is the second-lowest in the nation. While that’s great in one respect, it’s also making progress a challenge for small merchants and large employers alike.  “A lot of small businesses are having a difficult time,” Armstrong says. “One of the biggest issues is the workforce issue and being able to identify workers and to attract workers.”

The S-B-A report says the 400-plus loans created 12-hundred-58 jobs in Iowa and retained an additional 26-hundred-45 jobs. She says the S-B-A remains a critical resource for small start-ups and expansions.

A man convicted earlier this month on murder, attempted murder and arson charges associated with a fatal fire in Guthrie Center, was sentenced Friday to serve two-life sentences. According to reports, a District Judge handed down the sentence for 27-year old Patrick Thompson for murdering his step-sister, 12 year-old Paige Exline and her cousin, 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham. The Judge also ordered Thompson to pay $150,000 to each family.

On Oct. 8^th, Thompson was found guilty by a Monroe County jury, of two counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and arson. The May 2017 fire in Guthrie Center resulted in the deaths of the girls, and injuries to their grandmother Shirley Exline and their uncle William Long III.

Thompson’s step-father James Exline was sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter Paige in Greene County before her death. Thompson’s step-brother Noah is facing seven felony charges for allegedly sexually abusing Paige. And, while his trial is currently set for October 30^th, court documents indicate plea negotiations are underway.

(Radio Iowa) — Vice President Mike Pence rallied with about 200 of Republican Congressman David Young’s supporters Friday afternoon, in Des Moines. Pence told the crowd the race in Iowa’s third congressional district may determine whether Republicans retain majority control of the U.S. House or Democrats take over. “This race is going to be critical to whether we’re going to be able to continue with the momentum that we have,” Pence said.

Pence returned to that theme several times during his 24 minute speech. “The fate of the Republican majority in the House might just go through Iowa 3…It’s a choice between two different futures, one future under a Republican majority in the United States House of Representatives and another future where Nancy Pelosi is speaker of the House again,” Pence said and the crowd booed.

Pelosi’s name was mentioned often during the event. Young spoke less than seven minutes and mentioned Pelosi’s name seven times. “Now again Nancy Pelosi and her hand-picked candidates want to take us back,” Young said, eliciting boos from the audience. “We can’t have that.”

Pence cited Young’s work on veterans issues, then mentioned Cindy Axne, the Democrat who’s challenging Young’s bid for a third term. “The choice between his opponent is so clear. You know, his opponent Cindy Axne — I know the president called her ‘Cindy Tax-Me’ and there’s a good reason why. Cindy Axne said the first thing that Democrats need to do if they retake the majority in the congress is to repeal those tax cuts. You know, there’s a term for repealing a tax cut. It’s called a tax increase and we’re not going to let it happen.”

Pence praised Young for supporting President Trump’s agenda in congress. “He’s been there, standing with this president every step of the way,” Pence said. The vice president drew the largest burst of applause when he promised that Trump would withhold aide from Central American countries if a caravan of four-thousand asylum seekers winds up at the southern border.

An accident west of Massena yesterday (Friday) claimed the life of a Cass County man. The Iowa State Patrol has not officially released the names of those involved in a head-on collision on Highway 92, but Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic reports 22-year old Patrick L. Schultz, of Wiota, died Friday “near Massena.” 38-year old Jeremiah Juhl, of Fontalle, posted on the KJAN Facebook page that he was the other driver involved in the crash.

Initial reports from law enforcement indicated one person had died and another was injured in the crash that happened at around 6:45-a.m., about two-miles west of Massena. In his post, Juhl said he’s “Going to be okay, for anybody wondering.”

Highway 92 was blocked for more than three-hours after crash, while the accident was being investigated and the vehicles removed from the scene. The State Patrol had not yet released their report on the crash, as of this (Saturday) morning.

Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports his office was contacted by a parent this past week (Oct. 15th-19th), who said that while waiting for their child to get off a school bus, the parent was approached by a person who said they were gathering information for a “kid’s safety network,” or had child safety kit information. The parent was asked to give the child’s information and finger prints. The parent requested the person who contacted them return, when both parents were home, however there was no return visit.

Chief Rhamy said the Red Oak Police Dept. has been unable to verify with any groups in town that would be conducting this type of event or solicitation. There is not enough information, he said, to determine conclusively that the company is bogus or legitimate, but the Chief requests your help in the matter. If you are, or have been approached in a similar incident or questioning, please contact Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center at 712-623-6500, so an officer may respond and verify the validity of the company or individual.

Rhamy reminds parents that they should never give out any information on a child or adult to a source that you do not know, or have properly researched ahead of time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No one won the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to a staggering $1.6 billion. Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $1 billion grand prize in Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 15, 23, 53, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 7. The next drawing will be Tuesday. The estimated jackpot for that drawing would tie the largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
The jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office workers won $543 million. It costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of winning the jackpot aren’t good. The chance of matching all six numbers and taking home the grand prize is one in 302.5 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A Nebraska man died during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday night, south of Glenwood, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 38-year old Alberto Iban Herrerra, of Bellevue, NE., died when the 2007 Chevy Silverado pickup he was driving, left the road and entered the median before rolling over nearly twice. The accident happened at around 9:42-p.m. on Highway 34, just west of Levi Road.

Herrerra, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene of the crash.