712 Digital Group - top

Notice of election equipment public testing in Montgomery County

News

May 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna, Thursday, issued a statement saying, ” Pursuant IA Code 52.35 Public Notice is hereby given that Election Equipment Public Testing for the Montgomery County Primary Election will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 8:30 A.M., at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Red Oak.

The Montgomery County Primary Election will be held on June 4, 2024.”

Iowa Congressman Feenstra treated for blood clot in his leg

News

May 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Earlier today Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra had surgery to treat a blood clot in his leg.

According to a statement posted on social media, Feenstra had “a scheduled, outpatient surgery that successfully treated a blood clot in his leg.” The statement indicates Feenstra’s doctor has recommended that Feenstra stay in Washington and limit his travel until he’s fully recovered.

Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) (official photo)

Feenstra, who is 55, was a state senator for 12 years before winning a seat in the U.S. House in 2020.

Iowa hosts Northwestern in B1G baseball series beginning Friday night

Sports

May 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Iowa Hawkeyes host their final Big Ten series of the season beginning Friday night against Northwestern. Iowa is 10-8 and currently saixth in the league race and the top eight teams qualify for the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats are at the bottom of the conference standings with a 2-13 record under first year coach Ben Greenspan.

That’s Iowa coach Rick Heller who says the Hawkeyes won’t take Northwestern lightly.

Heller says recent history shows this will be a competitive series.

UNI softball opens MVC series at Valparaiso on Friday

Sports

May 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The UNI softball team closes out the regular season with a three game Missouriu Valley Conference series against Valparaiso beginning Friday afternoon. At 16-5 the Panthers are second in the Valley race and will need help to pass conference leader Southern Illinois.

That’s UNI coach Ryan Jacobs. A factor in the league race may be the games that were not played. The Panthers were scheduled to host Indiana State back in March, but the entire series was cancelled due to weather.

Former Iowa State star Bridget Carleton previews the upcoming WNBA season with Minnesota

Sports

May 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Former Iowa State star Bridget Carleton is getting ready for her sixth season in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx. Carleton appeared in 38 games a year ago and averaged just over four points per game. She is coming of a successful season overseas in Hungary.

Carleton played for the Canadian National Team that took part in an Olympic qualifying tournament in February and is expected to be part of the team that will compete in the Paris Olympics.

The WNBA will take a month-long break for the Olympics.

An influx of talented rookies is bringing added interest into the upcoming season.

The Lynx open their preseason schedule on Friday night by hosting the Chicago Sky.

2024 Iowa Girls High School Soccer Rankings: Thursday, May 2nd

Sports

May 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A
School
Record
LW
1
Davenport Assumption
11-0
1
2
Gilbert
9-1
2
3
Des Moines Christian
9-2
3
4
Bishop Heelan
8-4
4
5
Nevada
9-4
5
6
Underwood
10-1
6
7
Denver
11-1
8
8
Hudson
11-1
7
9
Center Point-Urbana
8-0
9
10
Panorama
11-0
10
11
Treynor
10-2
11
12
Beckman Catholic
8-1
13
13
Council Bluffs St. Albert
11-2
14
14
Vinton-Shellsburg
8-2
12
15
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura
9-1
NR
 
Dropped Out: Van Meter (15)
 
Class 2A
School
Record
LW
 
1
Waverly-Shell Rock
8-0
2
2
North Polk
11-0
4
3
Norwalk
9-4
5
4
Dallas Center-Grimes
6-3
1
5
Pella
8-3
3
6
Independence
9-2
6
7
Iowa City Liberty
7-3
8
8
Lewis Central
9-4
7
9
Cedar Rapids Xavier
4-3
10
10
ADM
5-6
11
11
Spencer
9-4
9
12
Iowa Falls-Alden
8-1
12
13
Clear Creek-Amana
10-2
14
14
North Scott
7-7
13
15
Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson
9-2
15
 
Dropped Out:  None
 
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Waukee Northwest
10-2
1
2
West Des Moines Valley
11-1
2
3
Ankeny
8-3
3
4
Waukee
8-3
4
5
Pleasant Valley
12-2
5
6
Ankeny Centennial
8-3
6
7
Linn-Mar
11-3
7
8
Bettendorf
7-3
8
9
Iowa City High
8-1
9
10
Southeast Polk
8-4
10
11
Iowa City West
6-3
11
12
Urbandale
5-5
12
13
Johnston
4-6
14
14
Mason City
8-1
15
15
Dubuque Hempstead
7-3
13
 
Dropped Out: None

IEDA Awards Tax Credits to Iowa Historic Preservation Projects in Carroll & Council Bluffs

News

May 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

May 2, 2024 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced over $19 million in awards to help transform 12 historic buildings. The awards were made through the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program.

“By supporting the restoration and revitalization of historic buildings, we not only preserve the architectural heritage of our communities but also breathe new life into them, creating vibrant spaces for generations to come.” said Debi Durham, director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program provides a state income tax credit to projects that rehabilitate underused or vacant historic buildings while maintaining the historic character-defining features that enhance neighborhoods and communities. Work completed on buildings must meet the federal Secretary of Interior Standards.

The most recent application round opened in January with approximately $19 million available for awards. IEDA received 13 applications requesting over $37 million in tax credits. Projects are scored based on readiness, financing and local support and participation. This round of awards will help to enhance historic buildings across the state including:

  • Ames: Rehabilitation of the Cranford Apartments. One of the few remaining historic structures in Campustown, this is a 1922 brick structure comprised of commercial space on the first floor and 30 apartments on the second through fourth floors. The project will upgrade mechanicals, re-establish original window openings, modify the apartments to provide new kitchens and bathroom and laundry in each unit, a workout room in the attic and renovate the first floor space for Jeff’s Pizza.
  • Carroll: Restoration of the Anne-Mar Building – Carroll Medical Center. This 1929 southwest Mediterranean architecture designed building located in the downtown area formerly housed a doctors’ clinic that served citizens outside of the hospital setting. The project involves converting the building into 12 new apartments.
  • Council Bluffs: Transformation of the Council Bluffs Federal Building and Post Office. Located at the west end of the downtown commercial corridor, this three-story building was completed in 1959. The project will convert the property into 53 apartments and helps with the city’s housing needs.
  • Dubuque: Revitalization of the Farley & Loetscher building. This project involves two buildings that formerly served as a window wood mill and furniture manufacturing facility. The buildings will be transformed into 127 apartments and mixed-use commercial/office spaces.

Download a spreadsheet with today’s awards here.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by IEDA. The next application round for large projects opens June 2024, with applications due September 16.  For more information on the program, visit www.iowaeda.com/historic-preservation-tax-credit/.

Construction on major thoroughfare through Iowa Great Lakes to be done by Labor Day

News

May 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa)  – A major road upgrade in the Iowa Great Lakes region is ahead of schedule. Iowa D-O-T engineer Darwin Bishop says the goal is for out-of-town motorists on Highway 71 to think everything looks normal during tourism season. “We’re on schedule to be completed with our roadway paving May 24. We might be out there for a couple of weeks after that working on driveways and sprinkler systems and sod,” Bishop says. “We’re going to go through and repaint everything through town so it looks nice for vacation season and hopefully there’s very little interruption for anybody.”

The project began LAST spring, replacing Highway 71 pavement and some sidewalks in Okoboji and Arnolds Park. “The rain has slowed us down a little bit, but we had a great start and the contractor has been doing a real good job of moving his crew around to the work that the weather conditions allow,” Bishop says, “so if it’s a little muddy and dirty, they’ll work in an area where they’re not in the dirt and then when the weather’s good, they can pave away.”

Iowa DOT map of Highway 71 in Iowa Great Lakes region

All of the road construction in the area should be done by Labor Day. Bishop says they’ll replace the adjacent sod in the spring of 2025. Highway 71 is the main thoroughfare through the Great Lakes. According to Vacation Okoboji, cell phone data indicates over 180-thousand tourists visited the area last July – about a quarter of them stayed more than six days.

Gov. Reynolds requests expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for severe weather

News, Weather

May 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for nine Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe weather that occurred on April 26, 2024. The governor requested funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program and the activation of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program for Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union Counties.

Funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses access to programs and services to maximize recovery, including assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses, and legal services.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program provides homeowners, renters, businesses, and most nonprofit organizations in the affected counties whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, the ability to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.  In addition, the governor requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.

‘The letter can be read in its entirety here.

Iowa joins lawsuit over private firearm sales regulations

News

May 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa is joining a lawsuit challenging a new rule that would stop some private firearm sales. A new rule from the Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms, known as ATF, would require a federal firearms dealer license for every person who sells a gun for a profit.

The change would force some private sellers to conduct background checks on potential gun buyers. The rule is set to go into effect on May 20. The filed lawsuit says the rule is unconstitutional because it is vague and circumvents Congress.

Attorneys General in 21 states are part of the lawsuit against the new ATF rule.