(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), which oper­ates Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), have announced the launch of a new website focused on its public transit services. SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy says “Southwest Iowans are very used to seeing SWITA buses. The question is, do they know that SWITA’s public transit service is for everyone? With SWITA. com’s launch, we will be able to reach many more people who can utilize public trans­portation.”

McCurdy added that many in the region assume SWITA’s transit service is only available to the elderly or disabled, but he notes that is only part of the serivce. “All can ride, and we have many who ride SWITA to work and to school—you have somewhere to be, and SWITA takes you there.”

SWITA website homepage image

The new website includes information about each of the types of transit services SWITA operates, including student and medical transportation, taxi, and work routes. Riders can pay their bill and will even be able to request a ride through the website in the near future. Not to worry—the old-fashioned way of calling into the office still works, too.

McCurdy strongly encourages everyone to take a few minutes to check out the www.swita.com website, not only to see about the services that are available, but also to let us know of any issues that they may see. To quote McCurdy, “We’ve been looking at this thing for months, but the volume of information on the website is huge, so we are more than happy to get any feedback to improve the site.”

(Radio Iowa) – A play focused on racial injustice that’s based on a best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning book from 1960 is onstage in central Iowa this week. The Des Moines Civic Center is the first theater west of the Mississippi River to host the touring Broadway production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Actor Yaegel Welch says Harper Lee’s novel was required reading for generations of students and it’s still extremely relevant, even 60-plus years after it was first published.

“This book, at one point in time, seemed to be the symbol of awareness but now we can look back at it and see where the story might have had some flaws,” Welch says, “but it remains a historical lesson because at one point, it was the standard, and I think we need to see what the standard once was so we can now see how far we’ve come from that.”

Welch plays the role of Tom Robinson, a black man who is falsely accused of raping a white woman in Depression-era Alabama, and he says Lee was unafraid to tackle the strong themes of discrimination, prejudice and classism. “This book, what it touts most importantly is the lesson of empathy and I think it’s important to look back on that strength that was there even then,” Welch says.

Yaegel Welch as Tom Robinson. (Photo by Julieta Cervates)

“I think that’s what makes it necessary. If we can continue that sort of type of empathetic thinking, I think we can continue to grow as a society and as individual people just to be better and more concerned about each other.”

This stage version of Mockingbird was written by Aaron Sorkin, perhaps best known for creating TV’s “The West Wing.” Welch also played Robinson on Broadway and says the role has made him reflect upon the spectres of racism in the Deep South when the book was written versus the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

“It sheds light on the injustice in our legal system today and the unjust killing of citizens, and in this case, black citizens,” Welch says. “I think Aaron Sorkin honing in on that event makes it so current and things keep happening that just sort of highlight it and go, ‘Oh, wow, it’s still happening,’ so it’s not an encapsulated story. It’s current.” Welch says he recently visited the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, which made him consider why people would have risked their lives to stage sit-ins at lunch counters — or for the fictional Robinson to risk going on trial, knowing he’d likely be lynched even if he were found innocent.

“People do things out of boldness for the greater good of society,” Welch says. “They understand fully the consequences of what they’re embarking upon, but sometimes people can be in such a state of oppression, that they are willing to sacrifice their health and safety for the greater good and for the transformation of society.”

The 1962 movie version of the book featured actress Mary Badham as Scout, which won her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress when she was just 10 years old. Badham, now 69, is appearing in the Des Moines production as Scout’s hateful neighbor, Mrs. DuBose. The play runs at the Civic Center through Sunday.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrat Deidre DeJear says if she’s elected governor, in Iowa, she’ll push for an immediate 300 million dollar cash infusion for Iowa’s public K-through-12 schools. DeJear says schools are grossly underfunded and earlier this year her fellow Democrats in the legislature proposed that amount be withdrawn from the state surplus.

“It was based on the response that they were getting from school districts all over the state,” DeJear says, “…to really kind of mitigate the damage that’s been caused, as much as possible, related to the consistent underfunding by this current administration.” DeJear says for the next school year, public schools should get at least a four percent annual increase in general state support. She says that will help schools deal with rising expenses, address unpredictable enrollment numbers and address gaps in student achievement.

“I think that is a good baseline and our students are worth that,” DeJear says, “and if we’re going to think seriously about how we’re going to restore the vitality of our system, then we have to use our resources.” DeJear describes the state’s public education system as the bedrock of our communities and she says it needs real investment.

“Our students are in really good hands,” DeJear says. “Their administrators and their teachers know what’s good for their students and what’s good for their districts, they just need leadership who’s willing to identify that part, that they do know best and that they’re making do with what they have and they need a partner, too, that’s willing to fund this stuff that’s going o be good for everybody in the long run.”

DeJear is also proposing that public sector workers in Iowa regain the right to bargain over things like benefits and working conditions. A state law enacted in 2017 limits contract negotiations for educators and other public employees to a discussion of wages. DeJear says contract talks should give everyone supporting the education ecosystem a chance to suggest improvements.  “We have to hear the voice of the worker who’s embedded in this work,” DeJear says.

Governor Reynolds was lieutenant governor when public sector bargaining rights were limited. Reynolds called the changes long overdue and said they gave taxpayers a seat at the bargaining table. Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann issued a written statement accusing DeJear of offering false promises and he said Kim Reynolds had put more money toward public education every year she’s been governor.

DES MOINES, Iowa, August 24, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today (Wednesday) announced USDA is investing $805,213 in critical infrastructure to combat climate change across rural Iowa. The investments include $697,800 for eight projects funded by Community Facilities Disaster Grants (CFD) and $107,143 for eight projects funded by Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants.

The City of Anita in Cass County is receiving $500,000 from the CFD grants to help resurface streets which are essential to supporting commerce and transportation needs. The Rural Development investment will be used to help the city of Anita resurface streets which are essential to supporting commerce and transportation needs. This project will include pavement milling, when needed, full depth patching, minor curb replacement, accessible pedestrian crossings, and installation of a 3″ asphalt overlay. The project will significantly extend the life of street pavement sections and promote the safe transit of city residents and residents of the surrounding rural area.

And, the City of Randolph in Fremont County is receiving a $13,500 CFD to assist with purchasing a generator for the community center and fire station. The generator will provide electricity during emergencies and severe weather events.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing in rural Iowa,” said Director Greenfield. “With continued investments in essential services and expanding access to renewable energy infrastructure, these grants will strengthen first responder services and lower energy costs for agricultural producers.”

These investments reflect the goals of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which addresses immediate economic needs and includes the largest ever federal investment in clean energy for the future.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports two additional filings of nomination papers were filed Wednesday for non-partisan seats. Officials say David York‘s name will appear on the ballot in November for the Cass County Ag Extension Council, and Julie Pollock has filed for Hospital Trustee.

The deadline for candidates to file nomination papers in order to have their names on the ballot, is 5-p.m., August 31st.

Here is the current list of candidates for 2022 General Election:

District 2 Supervisor– Mark O’Brien

District 3 Supervisor– Wendy Richter

Treasurer-Tracey J Marshall

Recorder-Mary Ward

Attorney-Vanessa Strazdas

Auditor- Kathy Somers

Ag Extension- Chad Becker

Ag Extension- David York

Ag Extension

Ag Extension

Ag Extension

Soil & Water-Gregory D Zellmer

Soil & Water- John J Hansen

Edna Twp Trustee- Kevin A Stender

Edna Twp Trustee- Pat Erickson

Edna Twp Clerk-Travis Erickson

Union Twp Trustee-Richard Hoffman

Union Twp Trustee-Clarke Gerlock

Union Twp Clerk- Cheryl Christensen

Hospital Trustee-Joanne Lorence

Hospital Trustee-Mike Klocke

Hospital Trustee- Roger Herring

Hospital Trustee- Julie Pollock

(Creston, Iowa) – Citing an inability to fully staff the facility, officials with the EveryStep Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston, on Tuesday, announced they will be closing on Oct. 1st. In a press release, officials said “EveryStep’s Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston will close October 1, 2022. Members of the EveryStep leadership team met with staff today, as well as patients and families. EveryStep is taking steps to ensure the transition will be as seamless and easy as possible.

“The primary reason for closure of the Greater Regional Hospice Home is understaffing. In today’s environment of difficulty hiring nurses and aides, EveryStep cannot find the staff needed to operate the 24/7 hospice house in Creston. There are currently 10 open, unfilled shifts out of 62 total (16%). Current staffing needs include registered nurses, hospice aides and social worker. Despite actively recruiting, it has been difficult to fill them – a dilemma faced by health care organizations nationwide. EveryStep will continue to provide hospice care to patients in southern and south-central Iowa, but instead deliver that care in a home or long-term care facility setting.”

The press released said also, “EveryStep is currently working with patients and families at Greater Regional Hospice Home to develop individual plans that best meet their needs while ensuring the highest quality care. Depending on their individual care needs, some patients at the hospice house may live out their final days at the facility, while others may be transferred to long-term care facilities or EveryStep’s Kavanagh House hospice home in Des Moines, or they may choose to receive home-based hospice care from our EveryStep Hospice team.

“The 11 employees who work primarily at Greater Regional Hospice Home have been offered other positions within EveryStep. For those who wish to move on to new opportunities, EveryStep has prepared customized severance packages.”

They concluded their message by saying “EveryStep remains committed to providing compassionate and professional hospice care in southern and south-central Iowa. All other EveryStep services will continue to be offered, including home-based care, through our EveryStep Hospice teams and our Creston-based EveryStep Home Care team.”

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Workforce Development announced today (Wednesday), the schedule of unemployment insurance rates used to tax Iowa employers will drop to its lowest level in 24 years – the lowest rates currently allowed by Iowa law.  “Today’s announcement is great news for our employers who are already dealing with significantly increased costs due to historic inflation,” Gov. Reynolds said.  “Iowa faced the pandemic and its economic impacts head on, and due to our conservative fiscal practices and prudent investment in Iowa’s Unemployment Trust Fund, unemployment insurance taxes in our state will soon reach their lowest rates since 1999.”

Iowa law requires Iowa Workforce Development to establish a table each year to determine the unemployment tax rates that will impact eligible employers. The trigger for deciding which unemployment insurance rate table to implement is derived from a formula based primarily on the balance in Iowa’s unemployment insurance trust fund, unemployment benefit history, and covered wage growth. Based on this formula, contribution rates will be drawn from Table 8 in calendar 2023 after five consecutive years of being drawn from Table 7. The switch means that a business paying the median tax rate (on employee wages totaling $36,100 or more annually) and remaining in the same tax rank as 2022 would pay $72.20 less per employee in unemployment taxes in 2023.

The announcement follows a decision by Gov. Reynolds last year to invest $237 million in ARP funds to stabilize the unemployment trust fund following record payouts due to COVID-19. In 2020, at the heart of record unemployment, Gov. Reynolds also directed that $490 million of CARES Act coronavirus relief funds be used to support the UI trust fund.  “Governor Reynolds’ commitment to maintaining and preserving the Unemployment Trust Fund throughout the pandemic will result in real savings for Iowa employers in 2023,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “Employers will see, on average, a 25 percent reduction in their unemployment taxes next year, and those savings will provide more resources for Iowa employers to invest in growing their businesses.”