The Iowa Department of Human Rights reports the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) eviction moratorium is set to expire on June 30, 2021. However, the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program is still available to assist eligible households.  For details and eligibility, visit https://www.iowafinance.com/iowa-rent-and-utility-assistance-program/ or call the Housing Recovery Help Line 855-300-5885 or 515-348-8813.  There is information for both tenants and landlords.

Note: Polk County and the City of Des Moines will be administering the program locally. Therefore, Iowans residing in either Polk County or the City of Des Moines will be ineligible to apply for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program. More information on the program that may assist Polk County and City of Des Moines residents is available at IMPACT Community Action Partnership or call 515-518-4770 for rental assistance, housing, and other help.

Another resource is the Iowa Emergency Solutions Grant program that helps to prevent households from becoming homeless due to eviction, and assists Iowans experiencing homelessness to quickly regain rental housing.  For more information, call the Housing Recovery Help Line 855-300-5885 or 515-348-8813.

(Radio Iowa) – Dry weather is prompting advisories about water use in some Iowa communities. Sheldon Public Works Director Todd Uhl has been monitoring water levels in his city’s wells and just issued a “water watch” in Sheldon on Thursday. “Our usage has been creeping up lately and then this week it has absolutely skyrocketed to a point where we feel it’s time to start the ‘water watch’ and hopefully we can get some compliance and people will do some conservation,” he says, “and that will prevent us, hopefully, from having to go to mandatory restrictions.” At this point in May, residents in Sheldon used about 900-thousand gallons of water per day.

On Wednesday of this week, Uhl says more than one-and-a-half MILLION gallons of water were used. “The previous peak day that I had ever seen in Sheldon was just over 1.3 million so our usage has really jumped drastically in a very short amount of time,” Uhl says. Water use typically declines in the evening, but Uhl says this week it’s increased. “You ride around town and there’s a lot of lawn watering going on,” Uhl says. “I understand people would like to keep a green lawn and I know there was a lot of lawn loss last year with the drought and some winter kill, so people and keep them looking good.” Uhl says lawn and garden watering is still allowed in Sheldon, but with the recommendation that it happen after 8:30 p.m. Uhl says he’s hoping Sheldon residents take steps to limit or curtail all non-essential water usage, so restrictions won’t be necessary. Restaurants in Shelton are being encouraged to serve customers water only when requested and water should not be used to fill swimming pools or wash parking lots or driveways.

On Friday (June 11), the City of Harlan – which was on a Water Watch since April 26th – switched to a “Tier 1 – Water Warning,” where restrictions on how the water is used, is now mandatory until further notice.

(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa woman is accused of threatening to place an explosive device in an attorney’s office. According to court records, 30-year-old Siearre Smith of Ottumwa entered the Wapello County Attorney’s Office on the afternoon of May 25th and yelled at employees in the lobby. While shouting, Smith said, quote “This place needs blown up and that’s exactly what I am going to do.”

A warrant was issued for Smith’s arrest on May 28th and she was taken into custody this past Wednesday. Smith has been charged with threat – explosive or incendiary device, a Class D felony and is currently free after posting bond. A preliminary court appearance has not been scheduled.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa woman will always remember her getaway to the family’s cabin along the Mississippi River last weekend. The woman was one-million dollars richer when she returned to her Urbana home.  During her trip to the far corner of northeast Iowa, Karen Kramer stopped at a Harpers Ferry convenience store and bought a Mega Millions ticket for Tuesday night’s drawing. She spent ten dollars for five plays, one of which matched five of the six numbers drawn. Her winning numbers were: 9-22-39-41 and 54. She missed the Mega Ball, which was 19 with a Megaplier of 3.

The 60-year-old Kramer, who works as a para-educator for the Center Point-Urbana School District, claimed her winnings Thursday at the Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. Kramer’s ticket, along with another sold in West Virginia, were the only two in the country that won a one-million prize Tuesday night. According to lottery officials, one ticket for the BIG prize – an estimated 56-million-dollar jackpot – was sold in Illinois.

Kramer told Iowa Lottery officials that her and husband, Dave, plan invest the bulk of the winnings for retirement and pay some bills. She also wants to get a dog.