(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Democrats are hosting their County Convention at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce meeting room on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10-a.m. until Noon. Registered Democrats residing in Cass County are invited to attend. Individuals eligible to vote may register as Democrats at the event. Youth age 13+ who will not be 18 by Election Day 2024 may participate as Youth Delegates and also have the opportunity to participate in the Youth District and State Conventions. Press and observers are welcome, as long as they do not
interrupt or interfere with the Convention.

At the county convention, Cass County Democrats will finalize their county platform, and elect delegates to represent the county at the Democrats’ district and state conventions, on
May 4 and June 15, respectively. Cass County’s delegates to the state and district conventions will represent Cass County in two areas: developing Iowa’s state democratic platform, and representing the county’s presidential candidate preferences.

A political platform is a set of goals, strategies, and principles designed to address current political issues. The Cass County Democrats began developing this year’s county platform during the caucuses held on January 15. Platform resolutions developed at the caucus covered topics including affordable childcare, food access, senior housing, gun control, reproductive freedom, environmental sustainability, and more. Delegates elected at the county convention will represent Cass County’s values and platform while assisting with the development of the Iowa Democrats’ state platform.

In addition to platform development, delegates to the state and district conventions also represent Cass County’s presidential candidate preferences. Starting this year, instead of selecting presidential candidates at the caucus, Iowa Democrats indicated their preferred presidential candidate via presidential preference cards sent through the mail. Presidential preference cards were mailed to those who requested them (via mail or internet form) by February 19, 2024. The cards were required to be returned by March 5, 2024. All 50 votes cast in Cass County were for President Biden.

For more information about the county convention or the Cass County Democrats, contact County Chair Denise O’Brien at 712-249-3197 or casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow
the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems.

(Radio Iowa) – A week-long, statewide traffic enforcement program will be launched this Wednesday as Iowans plan to celebrate the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. Brett Tjepkes, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, is reminding Iowans to take it easy on the green beer, lest they make a potentially-deadly mistake by getting behind the wheel. “St. Patrick’s Day is one of our nation’s most popular holidays. There’s a lot of festivals, parades, parties, and drinking alcohol comes with that,” Tjepkes says. “The amount of alcohol that’s consumed is higher than average around Patrick’s Day, so we’re just encouraging people to make good decisions and that includes to refrain from driving while intoxicated.”

Tjepkes says law enforcement officers across the state will be on the lookout for lawbreakers. “The Iowa State Patrol, sheriff’s departments, and police departments across Iowa are going to be looking for intoxicated drivers,” Tjepkes says. “We want people to make good decisions and we want them to have fun, but we don’t want that day of fun to turn into a tragic or devastating time by driving while intoxicated and injuring themselves or others.” If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, Tjepkes says to give the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. And if you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, he says to take away their keys and help them get home safely.

“Last March, there were 26 traffic fatalities on Iowa’s roads and almost 40% of those happened the week of St. Patrick’s Day. We know that there’s an increased amount of drinking, and drinking and driving,” Tjepkes says, “and so planning ahead, designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or an Uber or Lyft service would really be a good decision if somebody’s had too much to drink.”

Tjepkes says to be on watch for pedestrians, as an increase in alcohol consumption and pedestrian traffic can be a dangerous combination. If you’re on foot, he says, cross streets in well-lit areas and use the crosswalks.

(Radio Iowa) – The A-A-R-P Foundation is again providing free tax help. Foundation vice president, Mioshi Moses says it’s the largest volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program in the country. “We focus on helping older adults with low to moderate income, complete their tax returns and also secure tax refunds,” Moses says. She says they have several locations in Iowa.  “We provide service both in person and virtually so you can go to our website at AARP foundation.org/tax aid and find our site locator tool on our website where you can enter your zip code and you’ll be directed to the site nearest you,” she says.

Moses says they know that tax time can be stressful for many people. “Last year in Iowa, we serve more than nine-thousand people and we’re able to help secure more than eight million dollars in refunds for them,” Moses says. She says older Americans may see some changes when they file their returns. “For some taxpayers when they turn 65 they are eligible for an additional standard deduction,” she says. “They may find that they face a reduction in income or no longer qualify for other deductions.”

The A-A-R-P Foundation tax help will be available through April 15th.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously passed a bill that would require radon mitigation systems in newly constructed homes in Iowa. Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says radon is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the move could help reduce Iowa’s rising cancer rate. “Iowa’s cancer rate now ranks number two in the nation. It is the only state where the cancer rate is actually rising,” Wilz said.

“An estimated 1440 additional Iowans are diagnosed with cancer each year, not to mention radon is responsible for nearly 21,000 deaths in these United States and approximately 400 of those deaths happen in the state of Iowa.” Wilz says it’s far less expensive to install what are called passive radon control systems in a home as it’s built rather than putting one in an existing home.

“Iowa and North Dakota are the only states in the country in which every county is rated radon zone one — the highest risk,” Wilz says. “The EPA recommends that all homes built in zone one should be built with radon resistant features.” According to Wilz, good home builders are already meeting this requirement. “Basically this is a preventative method to help save lives,” Wilz says.

Representative Austin Baeth of Des Moines is a doctor of internal medicine. “Radon is responsible for about 400 cancer deaths in Iowa per year, more than car accidents,” Baeth says. “In fact, 70% of our homes have a radon level above EPA recommended levels, yet only have been checked for radon in the last decade.”

In 2022, lawmakers passed a requirement that schools do frequent and thorough testing of radon gas levels in all Iowa school buildings and develop radon reduction plans.