(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion is proposing an increase in the federal child tax credit as part of a package she says will support women during and after their pregnancies.

The 2021 American Rescue Plan that Hinson opposed raised the tax credit for low and middle-income parents of kids under the age of 17. Hinson’s bill would raise the credit even higher than last year’s levels — a 20 percent increase for parents with kids under five and 15 percent more for parents with kids between the ages of six and 16.

The legislation would let parents withdraw their future Social Security benefits for three months, to support parental leave after the birth of a baby. The bill would make is easier for faith-based organizations to secure federal grants for social service programs, including those that advise and support pregnant woman. Abortion rights advocates say some of the centers seek to delay and confuse women considering an abortion. Hinson says all institutions helping pregnant women should live up to what they’re promising.

Hinson’s bill also would make the federal adoption tax credit refundable.

Hinson’s bill in the U.S. House is identical to one Florida Republican Marco Rubio introduced in the U.S. Senate. Hinson did not indicate the bill is an alternative to another senator’s proposed national ban on most abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. Hinson described her bill as a value statement and said now is an important time to present it to the public. Liz Mathis of Hiawatha, is the Democrat who is running against Hinson in Iowa’s second congressional district. Mathis says Hinson’s plan rings hollow and is an attempt to hide her record of supporting a nationwide ban on abortion.

(Radio Iowa) – A Dubuque County driver has died after hitting a house south of Sageville on Thursday afternoon.The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says they responded to Highway 3 where a vehicle has struck a house before colliding with a retaining wall.

The driver and sole occupant in the vehicle, died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and the name of the driver will be released at a later date.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Andy Sondag and his team on Thursday, September 15th, 2022, to welcome the new owner of Midwest Monument Co. in Atlantic.

Andy Sondag spent 15 years as a Funeral Director when he entered the granite headstone business and has been expanding ever since. Andy owns a total of 8 locations in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota with over 30 full time employees. Andy re-opened the Atlantic location in March of 2022 after taking ownership and doing some remodeling to the building.

Midwest Monument Co specializes in headstones that feature customized, free-hand etched designs such as scenic views, portraits, cars, tractors, etc. The company manufactures the headstones in Harlan and ships them to all their locations. When modifications to the headstone needs to be made, the team comes to the site to finish the project. Midwest Monument Co. takes pride in having a large stock of granite on hand to ensure the family has as the headstone in place in a months’ time verses a year.

Midwest Monument Co.’s Atlantic location is managed by Megan Petersen. Megan helps families choose the material, design, and layout of the project that best fits their needs. Midwest Monument Co. has regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM.

Midwest Monument Co. is located at 1912 E. 7th Street in Atlantic. To learn more about Midwest Monument Co., call 712-250-8565.

(Radio Iowa) – The two candidates running to be Iowa’s top election official for the next four years are quarreling over a variety of issues — including recent changes in absentee ballot rules and how to combat election misinformation. Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, the Democratic candidate, says Republican incumbent Paul Pate should have pushed back on the legislature’s move to shorten the early voting period from 40 to 20 days.

Pate, who is seeking a fourth term as Iowa Secretary of State, says Miller misrepresents the role.

Pate says Miller failed to follow state law in 2020 when he sent out absentee ballot request forms with Linn County voters’ personal information filled in.

Miller says more than 100 Linn County voters mailed their absentee ballots for the Primary this past June, but the ballots weren’t delivered by the new deadline.

Miller accuses Pate of failing to push back against people who dispute the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Pate says he is speaking out on a regular basis.

Pate and Miller made their comments during a joint appearance on “Iowa Press” that will be broadcast tonight (Friday) at 7:30 on Iowa P-B-S.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday), announced $12.9 million in grant funding for three projects through Destination Iowa. The $100 million program, announced in April, invests in transformational attractions that will bolster the quality of life in Iowa communities and attract visitors and new residents. The City of Council Bluffs and the Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collaborative Impact have been awarded $4,900,000 toward phase four of the Iowa Riverfront Development project. This phase includes a treetop walk, a pier and a 138-foot-tall observation tower with an adventure course. The award represents 15% of the total project investment of $32,827,000.

The Great Outdoors Foundation has been awarded $7,000,000 for the Scott Avenue site portion of the Iowa Confluence Water Trails project. The project is creating a regional water trails network in central Iowa with more than 80 planned improvements across 150 miles of waterways. The award represents 13% of the Scott Avenue site investment of $53,500,000.

The Val Air Ballroom has been awarded $1,000,000 toward the overhaul of the historic ballroom into a music venue that can host up to 2,400 patrons. The project proposes to rehabilitate elements of the facility that are historically significant, such as signage, dance floor, and exterior features, while bringing more modern amenities to the facility. The award represents 8% of the total project investment of $12,718,138.

IEDA began accepting applications on May 9 and will continue to review applications as they arrive through December 31 or until funding runs out.  Applications are scored based on eligibility, completeness, and the project’s ability to meet the program goal of creating transformational tourism attractions. Cities, counties, nonprofits and other organizations can apply for Destination Iowa grants through four separate funds: Economically Significant Development, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism Attraction, and Creative Placemaking. To date, a total of $50 million has been awarded to 13 projects throughout the state through Destination Iowa grants.

Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. For more information on the Destination Iowa program, visit iowaeda.com/destination-iowa/. Funding for this program is being made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Municipal Airport is the site this weekend, for fast and loud vehicles of all sizes and engine displacements. The 6th Annual Heads-up Drag Race is being held from 10-a.m. Until 3-p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18th. Jamie Joyce is one of the event organizers. He says funds donated from the charity race are donated by local businesses and individuals.

Joyce says it costs a lot of money to put on the event, which is where the sponsorship money comes in. It’s also why there is a small admission fee for visitors.

Click to enlarge the poster

The entry fee for drivers is $20. The Heads-up Drag Race isn’t just for professional racers. You can bring your grocery getter or your hopped-up motorcycle or pickup truck…everything from street legal vehicles to on-the-track only.

Race participant vehicles will have to go through a Tech Inspection that begins at 8-a.m., Sunday and until the end of the event. Drivers are encouraged to show-up between 7-and 7:30-a.m., in order to get in line for the safety inspection. In the past, racers and visitors have come from as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, and all over the Midwest to take in the event.

Off-sight parking for spectators will be in the Mahle Engine Components parking lot not far from the airport (at 60428 Marne Road). Southwest Iowa Transit buses will provide transportation from the parking lot to the front gate at the airport. A shuttle service is also available from the front gate at the airport, to the bleachers. Three food trucks and an ice cream vendor will be on the airport grounds, along with the Boy Scouts, who will have ice cold (non-alcoholic) drinks from Atlantic Bottling.

Jamie Joyce says there’s a extra special attraction this year.

For more information, see Heads Up Drag Racing on Facebook, or call 712-249-4731.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The American Legion Memorial Building (201 Poplar St.) in Atlantic, is the setting this weekend for a program about women in the railroad industry. “She’s been working on the railroad” begins at 2-p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18th. The program is presented by Dr. Rudolph Daniels, who really knows the history of trains and who worked on, or with them.

Daniels has written numerous articles and five books. He has presented documentaries in several countries. Recently he was a consultant for the TV production, “Orphan Trains”. He created the “Education Section” website portion for the Federal Railroad Administration for the nation’s schools, and has spoken internationally on a variety of topics that specialize in railroad history. The program includes more than just an oral narrative.

Daniels will appear in an antique conductor’s uniform when he talks about women who worked on trains. Here’s a little known fact: Many of women on trains in the late 1920’s and 1930’s, were registered nurses.

That concept inspired having nurses as flight attendants in the 1930’s as well. Daniels will start the program with a “train call” for Atlantic as it was during “the age of the great passenger trains.” The program “She’s been working on the Railroad,” is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE), and is supported by Atlantic Community Promotion Commission.

There is no fee to attend. Everyone is welcome. The meeting space is handicapped accessible. The Military Museum, Military Library and Atlantic History Center will be open for viewing.

(Radio Iowa) – A national study finds millions of pets that were adopted during the pandemic weren’t spayed or neutered, which is causing severe overcrowding at animal shelters and a sharp rise in euthanasia. Josh Fiala, who oversees the spay/neuter program at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says those important surgeries -did- continue throughout the COVID years at the state’s largest non-profit shelter, though veterinarians are becoming scarce.

Many animal clinics had to suspend doing spaying and neutering during the pandemic to focus on more urgent procedures. Fiala says it’s fortunate the A-R-L was able to maintain its schedule during the past two years as he says spaying and neutering of pets is vital.

There are many expenses when adopting a pet, and having an animal spayed or neutered isn’t cheap. Plus, costs vary depending on the size and type of animal.

The A-R-L of Iowa enables people to apply for financial help with those costs. Just this year, he says more than 15-hundred pet owners have applied for that assistance.

On the web at https://www.arl-iowa.org/

Atlantic, IA—On Thursday, September 15th, officials with Cass Health in Atlantic, welcomed Governor Kim Reynolds for a tour of the newly renovated facility and an opportunity to discuss rural health legislative priorities. Cass Health CEO Brett Altman said “We were honored to host Governor Reynolds, and we were thankful to have some of her time to be able to share the good news at Cass Health.”

During her tour of the facility, the governor was able to see the Tyler Family Cancer Center where she was greeted by Jim Tyler and daughter Jayne. Additionally, the governor toured the new Atlantic Medical Center and talked with several staff members.

Seated: Jim Tyler and Gov. Reynolds
Standing, left to right: COO Amanda Bireline; Emmy Benton, RN; Tonya Lillienthal, RN; Kristen Hayes, RN; Traci Brockman, RN; CEO Brett Altman.
Click to enlarge the image (Photo courtesy Ann McCurdy)

Altman said “The governor made time for us to share our story – all the things going right both within our walls and at a legislative level – that have put us in a position to be one of the best rural hospitals in the country. It was a very productive, positive conversation, and I know that we clearly made an impression that Cass Health is both a center of excellence and a vital part of west central and southwest Iowa’s healthcare infrastructure.”

Of note, the Cass Health administrative team talked with Governor Reynolds about workforce development needs, labor expenses, tort reform, EMS, and access to childcare.

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today (Friday) recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, including five schools in Iowa. Two of the five schools are located in Glenwood and Mount Ayr. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour.

The Iowa schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

Iowa – Ankeny – Prairie Trail Elementary School, Ankeny Community School District.
Iowa – Glenwood – West Elementary School, Glenwood Community School District.
Iowa – Mount Ayr – Mount Ayr Elementary School, Mount Ayr Community School District.
Iowa – Van Meter – Van Meter High School, Van Meter Community School District.
Iowa – Vinton – Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School, Vinton-Shellsburg School District.

Secretary Cardona said “I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams. As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”

With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement. National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.