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Sports book and casino fined for violations

News

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The State Racing and Gaming Commission fined the Tippico sports book five-thousand dollars for allowing a bet on how many interceptions the quarterback would have in the Super Bowl. They issued a second fine of 15-thousand dollars for allowing a bet on how many points Caitlin Clark would have in an N-C-A-A tournament game. Both type of bets are not allowed by Iowa law. Tippico spokesman Brian Schroeder says they made adjustments to put a warning in the system, but they were ignored.

“The trader disregarded the pop up and the lead did not see the alert,” he says. Schroeder says the company has since been acquired by M-G-M and ended its business in Iowa. The Prairie Meadows Casino was fined 45-thousand dollars for two violations. One violation involved an 18-year-old male who got onto the gambling floor. Prairie Meadows security director Jake Hedgecock says the teen had been turned away twice.

He says the male was denied entrance to the casino and went out and changed his clothes and came back to another door where he was stopped denied entrance again. Hedgecock says they then review video surveillance to see if the individual had been at the casino before. “We used our license plate reader to do due diligence to see if this person did come back on the property. Surveillance conducted an audit, the audit confirmed he did come back on the property. We shared those results with the commission,” he says.

The casino agreed to a 20-thousand dollar fine for that violation. Hedgecock says they did more training with security on identifying underage gamblers. There was a second violation when an 18-year-old female was allowed onto the gaming floor with an adult and played a slot machine. Hedgecock says the security guard was disciplined for not stopping the teen.

The casino played a 20-thousand dollar fine for that violation, and was fined another five-thousand dollars for being one day late in updating the list of self-banned gamblers.

IBC sees some drop in business confidence

News

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Business Council’s (IBC) second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows some declines in what members are expecting in the next six months. I-B-C president Joe Murphy says there are some concerns. “Expectations across sales, capitol spending and employment expectations all declined from the previous quarter’s report,” he says. Murphy says much of the concern in those three measures stems from what’s going on at the national economy, including inflation and other issues.

“While we do have these perpetual concerns around the economy, the Iowa Business Council is one again projecting a positive six-month outlook for Iowa’s economy,” Murphy says.

Concerns about workforce attraction and retention remain the number one concern, with 63 percent of the surveyed executives listing it as a primary business challenge. An unfavorable business climate (national supply chain, infrastructure, and federal regulations) was cited by 47 percent of I-B-C executives while challenges surrounding inflation and growing concerns about the domestic economy tied with 32 percent to round out the top three primary business concerns. Murphy says the overall positive outlook is based on Iowa’s economy that has been stronger than other states.

“Revenue receipts continue to perform well from a tax standpoint. Companies are expanding, and that fact that we have a well diversified economy enables us to weather some of these economic conditions much better than our neighbors in the Midwest, and certainly around the rest of the country,” Murphy says.

The Iowa Business Council has 22 members who are the chief decision makers of major Iowa employers which have more than 160-thousand workers.

Projects in 10 areas of state boost pay for child care workers

News

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Ten Iowa regions have launched a “wage enhancement program” for childcare workers. It was financed with three MILLION dollars in federal pandemic relief money and Sheri Penney of the Iowa Women’s Foundation says Iowa businesses in those areas committed one-and-a-half MILLION dollars in matching funds.  “We’ve had so much success in this,” Penney says. “We’ve had over 110 children in these 10 piloted communities in just six months time be able to be taken off of wait lists.” Penney says the program has helped existing child care centers hire and retain employees, plus it’s helping other centers get started.

“In Cerro Gordo County for example, we had a provider opening and they received over 18 quality applications because of this wage and incentive program that we have,” she says. Officials in Cerro Gordo County, along with Allamakee, Hamilton, Howard, Johnson, Mitchell and Story Counties have each established the incentives for child care workers in their areas. The program’s operating in the cities of Dubuque and Knoxville as well as the two Linn County cities of Mount Vernon and Lisbon.

The federal money for the programs must be spent by the end of September. Penney is encouraging the cities and counties involved to set up “child care solutions” funds with public-private funds to continue the effort. “Once we have providers in the doors, earning liveable wages, maybe the next need is going to be for capital to expand because now we have fully staffed centers, we still have long wait lists….we need to add an addition…into our child care centers,” Penney says. “The next step after that maybe it’s helping provide insurance premiums…because we know that’s hard for some of our child care providers.”

Penney’s job at the Iowa Women’s Foundation is to expand child care availability throughout the state and her work is being financed by grants from two state agencies. “I am now working with over 180 communities, 170 business leaders and over 40 economic development chambers in just two years,” Penney says. “That tells you the need is there.”

Penney made her comments at the recent National Childcare Innovation Summit hosted by the U-S Chamber of Commerce.

Gov. Reynolds appoints Ashley West-Joons as District Associate Judge 

News

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Tuesday) announced her appointment of Ashley West-Joons as a district associate judge in Judicial District 4.  Judicial District 4 includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties.

West-Joons, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, is an attorney at West Law Office and also serves as the Harrison County Attorney. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her law degree from Creighton University.

West-Joons fills a vacancy created following the resignation of the Hon. Justin Wyatt.

JANICE OSBORNE, 84, of Greenfield (No Svcs.)

Obituaries

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JANICE OSBORNE, 84, of Greenfield, died Monday, July 8, 2024, at her home.  No Services will be held for JANICE OSBORNE. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Wastewater discharge in Mills County reaches Keg Creek

News

July 9th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a wastewater discharge at the City of Glenwood in Mills County.

On July 9, the Iowa DNR Field Office in Atlantic received a call from Glenwood Municipal Utilities (GMU) regarding a wastewater bypass due to a main which had become plugged.

The discharge was discovered around 7:45 a.m. near 901 North Vine St in Glenwood. It is estimated that up to 500 gallons of sewage flowed onto the ground and a portion of it flowed into a storm drain which outlets in a small creek that connects to Rogers Branch and then into Keg Creek. GMU staff were able to remove the blockage and officials say the discharge has stopped.

Cleanup efforts have begun. Residents are advised to avoid the area. No dead fish have been observed at this time. The Iowa DNR will follow up with the city for further assessment.

To report a release after hours, please call the DNR’s emergency spill line at (515) 725-8694. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of an incident. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark at Media Days

Sports

July 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

A new look Big 12 Conference gets ready for a new football season. Texas and Oklahoma are gone and the league is adding Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizone State. It is the second straight year there are four new members. Big 12 Football Media Days are underway in Las Vegas.

With the changes the Big 12 enters the new season as a 16-team conference.

Big 12 Conference and Microsoft Announce First-Ever Partnership to Bring Microsoft Tablets to College Football Sidelines and Coaching Booths

Sports

July 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

LAS VEGAS – The Big 12 Conference and Microsoft have announced a partnership that will see Microsoft Surface devices provided to each Big 12 football program for use throughout the 2024 season. This is Microsoft’s first partnership in college athletics and across A4 conferences.

These tablets will be available for usage on the sideline and in the coaching booth, allowing players and coaches access to video review in-game. Microsoft has served as the Official Technology Partner for the National Football League since 2013, where all 32 NFL clubs utilize Microsoft Surface devices.

“The Big 12 is excited to announce our partnership with Microsoft that will see their Surface devices across our sidelines and in our coaching booths this fall. We look forward to continuing to be innovative and grow Big 12 Football, and we are thrilled to do so alongside a pioneering company such as Microsoft.” – Scott Draper, Chief Football & Competition Officer, Big 12 Conference. 

“We are thrilled to partner with the Big 12 Conference for the 2024 NCAAF season as they continue to innovate in football and technology. We look forward to bringing our joint expertise together to evolve the game and further empower student-athletes and coaches.” – Gabe Rudolph, Sr. Manager, Sports Partnerships, Microsoft.

Earlier this year, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the use of tablets to view in-game videos. Teams can have up to 18 active tablets for use in the coaching booth, sideline, and locker room. Tablets cannot be connected to other devices to project larger additional images and cannot include analytics, data or data access capability or other communication access. All team personnel will be allowed to view the tablets during the game.

Carr Selected as 2024 Bob Bowlsby Award Winner

Sports

July 9th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – David Carr has been named the recipient of the Big 12’s 2024 Bob Bowlsby Award, league Commissioner Brett Yormark announced Tuesday during his State of the Conference address to kick off football media days in Las Vegas.

Named in recognition of the conference’s former commissioner, the award is the Big 12’s most prestigious individual accolade. It is presented to a male and female student-athlete who represent the absolute best in the conference for their leadership and excellence, on and off the field of competition. The winners were determined in a vote by Big 12 athletics directors.

Carr led Iowa State wrestling to its best season in more than a decade, helping the Cyclones to their first Big 12 title since 2009 and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, ISU’s best finish since 2010.

Adding to a season in which Carr won his second national title to cap a storied career, he has been named the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year, Amateur Wrestling News’ Hammer Award winner, a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American and a First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection.

Carr compiled a 27-2 season record with a 40:3 takedown ratio (80 for, 6 against) en route to winning his national title. He received the Hammer Award, given to the athlete who wins the most competitive weight class at the NCAA Championships, by defeating the No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds in the national tournament. Four of his five opponents in the tournament either finished on the podium or had earned All-American honors at some point in their career.

Carr is active in growing the sport of wrestling in central Iowa, providing free clinics, camps and practices at area schools. He was also an active member of the ISU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In May, the Canton, Ohio native completed his master’s degree in education with a 3.74 GPA. He was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American in his career.

Carr is the second Iowa State student-athlete to receive the honor in the Bob Bowlsby Award’s two-year history, joining Ashley Joens, who was the first female recipient in 2023.

DEAN EILTS, 84, of Wiota (Memorial Svcs. 7/15/24)

Obituaries

July 9th, 2024 by Lori Murphy

Well-known Cass County auctioneer and farmer, DEAN EILTS, 84, of Wiota, died Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at his home near Wiota. A Memorial service for DEAN EILTS will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, July 15, 2024, at the First Lutheran Church, south of Wiota. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Sunday, July 14, from 3-until 5-p.m.

The service will be livestreamed and a link will be available on the funeral home website the day of the service.

Burial will take place in First Lutheran Cemetery, immediately following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

DEAN EILTS is survived by:

Virginia, his wife of over 50-years

His sons – Tom (Linda) Eilts, and Tim (Karla) Eilts, all of Wiota.

His daughter – Jennifer (Sean) McKenney, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.