(Radio Iowa) -Iowa is the only state without a compassionate release program for prison inmates, ranking Iowa at the very bottom of a new report comparing state programs. They allow inmates, generally near the end of their lives, to apply for release due to factors like debilitating illnesses, injuries or age-related chronic conditions. Mary Price is general counsel for FAMM, a criminal justice reform advocacy group that issued the report. Price says keeping someone who is sick and near death in prison is not only costly for the state, but also can cause excessive suffering. Price says, “It means that people in Iowa will die in prison after incarceration has lost any meaning for them or for the people of Iowa.” Price says programs vary widely between states, but if it’s wanted, Iowa is well-positioned to build a program from the ground up and include a range of stakeholders.

Alison Guernsey directs the University of Iowa’s Federal Criminal Defense Clinic. Guernsey says one of the reasons it’s disappointing there’s no compassionate release program here is that it’s a poor reflection of Iowa’s justice system. “I think that mercy and second chances are really important philosophical things for us to embed in our judicial and legal systems,” Guernsey says, “and so it seems quite behind the times not to have a mechanism for just the mercy purposes.”

Two neighboring states received high marks in the report. Illinois earned an A, and Minnesota received a B-minus. Iowa’s other neighbors also failed, but scored more points than Iowa’s zero.

(reporting by Catherine Wheeler, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Just before today’s strike deadline, members of the Teamsters Union have approved a new, three-year contract for about 200 workers at the Archer Daniels Midland plant in Cedar Rapids.

According to Jesse Case, the Secretary-Treasurer of Teamster Local 238, the deal includes a $5000 ratification bonus and an immediate 6% across the board raise in the first year. In a statement posted on Facebook, Case said ADM’s “multi-billion dollar profit margin exists” because of “the labor and sweat of its workers: and the union would like to see higher wages for everyone in the industry.

In a written statement, an ADM spokesperson described the contract as “extremely competitive.” ADM’s plant in Cedar Rapids breaks corn kernels down into corn oil, corn starch and other byproducts.

(Radio Iowa) – Powerball tickets are a hot ticket in Iowa lately. There are about three-point-two million people living in Iowa, and the Iowa Lottery says the latest Powerball drawing saw two-point-six million dollars in sales, just within the state. That includes more than two-point-one million dollars in Iowa sales just on Monday.

The average spent per person was around six dollars, or three plays, which lottery officials say demonstrates people didn’t go overboard. 

There was no jackpot winner Monday night, so (as of Noon Tuesday) the big prize for Wednesday’s drawing is forecast to grow to one-point-two billion dollars, the game’s second-highest jackpot.

(Radio Iowa) – Ankeny-based Casey’s General Stores has more than doubled the number of electric vehicle charging stations at its retail locations this year and the company plans to add more in 2023. According to a company news release, Casey’s has 134 electric vehicle charging stations at 28 different locations in the Midwest and South. The C-E-O of Casey’s says the company is exploring a number of ways to provide guests with more lower carbon options, including biofuels and E-V charging stations.

Casey’s currently has charging stations at eight of its Iowa stores — in the cites of Altoona, Ankeny, Avoca, Carroll, Clarinda, Early, Emmetsburg and Sioux City.

According to the D-O-T, there are 270 public E-V charging spots in the state of Iowa and Casey’s accounts for eight percent of them.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rising, in partnership with Hy-Vee, will continue to lead the Christmas Box Program this holiday season. The program was originally started by West Central Community Action over 20 years ago. The Jaycees took the program over soon after it started and then passed the program to Atlantic Rising in 2018. Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “This program helps families and individuals in need of a Christmas dinner. Atlantic Rising members, along with community volunteers, delivered boxes to 165 individuals and families last year. With today’s continued challenges, we expect to see a continued increase in nominations this year.”

Atlantic Rising is preparing for the 5th Annual Trivia Night that will take place this Saturday, November 5th at the Venue. The event will include eight rounds of ten questions each. Categories range from math to music to Saturday Night Live and everything in between. There is a prize awarded to the winning team. Teams are also encouraged to create team themes to add to the fun of the evening.

Beschorner says “Trivia Night is the organization’s main fundraising event for Christmas Boxes, and year after year participants enjoy a fun night while raising money for an impactful project. With the projected numbers of families served, we will also be reaching out to businesses and community members asking for donations and volunteers to help serve as many families as possible. Any time our community needs us, we are there to put in the work.”

On December 15th, members of Atlantic Rising and local volunteers will fill and deliver boxes of food items to families and individuals who can then use them to cook Christmas dinner. “Atlantic Rising is proud to carry on this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are thankful that we are able to partner with HyVee and give back to the community in such a great way,” Beschorner said.

To nominate a family or individual, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Atlantic Rising at 712.243.3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting this (Tuesday) morning. The Board heard a brief report from Engineer Karen Albert.

The Commercial rezoning she spoke of pertains to U Avenue in Villisca. A report was also received from County Veteran’s Affairs Executive Director Curtis White, who spoke on all the activities his department has been involved in helping.

White said also, he’s spent several hours both on-and-offline, in various training courses over the past six months. Director White said one of the things that has been drawing increased traffic into his office, is questions and claims pertaining to the PACT ACT, which was signed into law in August 2022.

This issue is separate from the lawsuit over contaminated ground/drinking water in Camp Lejeune that you may heard so much about. White said in the third-quarter, Montgomery County received more than $8-million in total compensation for Veteran’s Compensation and Pension, Medical, Education and Insurance. He mentioned also, a spaghetti feed will be held from 5-until 7-p.m.on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), at the Eagles Club in Red Oak. There is no charge for Veterans to partake in the dinner.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors discussed, but took no action on the proposed Summit Pipeline Ordinance, because it’s under review by the County Attorney.