(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she will not be proposing any new abortion restrictions until after the U.S. Supreme Court issues its ruling on abortion. “No, we’re going to wait until we get the final ruling,” Reynolds says. “You know I am pro-life. I’ve made that very clear. I’m proud of the legislation I signed in 2018 and I am going to do everything I can to protect the unborn.”

That 2018 law calling for a ban on abortions was ruled unconstitutional. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Iowa women have a fundamental right to an abortion under the State of Iowa’s Constitution. Since then, a majority of the justices on the Iowa Supreme Court have been appointed by Reynolds and she has asked the court to overturn that ruling. Reynolds says she doesn’t plan to ask legislators to pass any abortion-related measures in the not-yet-concluded 2022 session.

“We’ve got an issue before our Supreme Court, so we’ve got a lot of things that, you know, are in the works,” Reynolds says, “so let’s see where those things end up and then we’ll do what we need to do.” The Republican-led legislature has also drafted a constitutional amendment that says the document is silent on abortion, but 2024 is the earliest Iowans could vote on the proposal.

Reynolds spoke with reporters today (Thursday) after speaking at a National Day of Prayer service in the Iowa Capitol. She told the crowd of worshipers the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are under tremendous pressure after the leak of draft opinion that indicates at least five justices have voted to overturn Roe v Wade.”This week, a glimmer of light broke through the darkness in the form of an early indication that the court is prepared to undue this fatal mistake,” Reynolds says. Reynolds asked the crowd to pray for the Supreme Court justices.

“And let’s not rest until our laws and our society recognize all human beings are precious, not matter how small,” Reynolds said, to applause. She read a National Prayer Day proclamation, then said a prayer. Other legislators and elected officials also prayed at the event. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, prayed for all officials at the state and federal level, including Reynolds as well as President Biden and the U.S. Supreme Court. Miller also mentioned the government and the people of Ukraine in his prayer.

May 5, 2022 (DES MOINES) – Governor Reynolds today announced a total of nearly $20 million in investments to support downtown housing projects in 61 communities, which will create 466 new homes for Iowans. Awards were made through the Downtown Housing Grant program, which provides support for downtown revitalization through new housing opportunities in communities with populations of 30,000 or below.

In southwest Iowa, the projects include:

• Atlantic: $300,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 300 Chestnut Street (4 units)
• Clarinda – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 115 E Main Street (2 units),
• Coon Rapids – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 511 Main Street (2 units),
• Corning – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 721 Davis Avenue (2 units),
• Creston – $600,000 for Upper story Conversion at 110 N Maple Street (12 units),
• Glenwood – $200,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 2 N Walnut (2 units),
• Griswold – $300,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 421 Main Street (5 units),
• Logan – $178,984 for Upper Story Conversion at 307 E 7^th Street (2 units),
• Neola – $162,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 101 4^th Street (3 units),
• Stanton – $100,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 312 Broadway Avenue (1 unit),
• Stuart – $180,000 for Upper Story Conversion at 203 E Front Street (4 units).

“An adequate housing supply is the lynchpin to attracting and retaining a healthy and flourishing workforce,” said Gov. Reynolds.  “The investments announced today will not only provide 466 Iowans the opportunity to live near where they work but they will breathe new life into dozens of underutilized facilities in our communities.”

Examples of projects awarded funds through the program include the former Iowa Mutual Insurance building in DeWitt which will create 53 rental homes; A former middle school in Jefferson will be converted into 25 rental homes; And an historic brewery in Cascade that has sat vacant for the past 25 years will create 10 new rental homes.

The program will spur the conversion of a total of two former schools, seven underutilized facilities and 52 upper story buildings into housing. “This program provides a unique and transformative opportunity to both revitalize our communities and increase our housing stock across the state,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Communities have answered the call for unique and inspiring housing projects, and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”

The program had $20 million available for awards and received 94 applications requesting $31 million in funding. Projects were scored on a competitive basis on criteria including project appropriateness, funding and partnerships, impact on housing in the community and population size.

The Downtown Housing Grant Program is a part of Gov. Reynolds’ $100 million investment to increase the supply of housing options and protect and expand housing opportunities for Iowans to live in or near the communities where they work. The funds are made available through Federal American Rescue Act State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A man suspected of stabbing another man Thursday afternoon in Atlantic, was taken into custody after he barricaded himself in the area of 13th and Birch, and then fought with law enforcement. According to dispatch information, a male subject at 109 Cedar Street** suffered apparent non-life threatening injuries during the incident that happened at around 2:30-p.m.

While Police were on the scene investigating, they learned a man was barricaded in a residence about 10 blocks south of there. The suspect was taken into custody at around 2:45-p.m. Additional information is currently unavailable.

**Police said later, the address was 106 Cedar. Not 109 as in the initial dispatch**

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 5, 2022) — The Wellmark Foundation has notified 22 Iowa organizations they will receive Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant funds, contingent upon securing the required dollar-for-dollar match. To ensure community support for these projects, organizations have until Aug. 17 to secure their matching funds. Each of these grantees are planning projects that can help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity or providing access to healthy foods.

“Each project included here has the potential to make a positive, long-term impact on the overall health and well-being of their community which will enhance the quality of life for generations to come,” said Mary Lawyer, executive director for The Wellmark Foundation. “We’re excited to see the planning, focus and community engagement within each of the selected applications.”

Among the (area) organizations and projects selected to receive a 2022 MATCH Grant is:

Carroll County Conservation Board, $100,000: Sauk Rail Trail Resurfacing – Swan Lake to Maple River (Carroll); A beautiful 33-mile trail system connecting Swan Lake State Park and Black Hawk State Park, the Sauk Rail Trail provides an excellent place for biking, walking, jogging and in-line skating and is open for snowmobiling and cross-county skiing during the winter, and portions of the trail are open for hunting during the appropriate seasons. The Sauk Rail Trail resurfacing project will update 6.2 miles of existing aging asphalt trail to concrete, providing a safer experience for trail users.
Casey Service Club, Inc., $100,000: Abram Rutt Park Trail (Casey) ; The Abram Rutt Park Trail will be a paved walking and biking path that follows the perimeter of Abram Rutt Park. The trail will be graded to protect the path from any potential flooding, and benches will be added along the trail for people to stop, relax and enjoy the scenery.
City of Afton, $65,000: Trail Extension to Rec Complex (Afton) – This trail extension project will create a multi-purpose trail along the county road connecting the city to the school, trails and sidewalks in existing residential areas where safe off-street walkways currently do not exist. The project will also connect existing trails and sidewalk systems at Scott and Temple streets to East Union Schools and the community sports complex.
City of Lenox, $100,000: Recreational Trail Extension — Phase I & II (Lenox); As part of a two-phased project, phase I of the recreational trail extension project will extend existing trails and add connectors between the Lenox School District and newly developed athletic courts, encouraging safe walking and biking for students and families. Phase II will further extend the trail, add safe crossings and signage.
City of Winterset, $100,000: Winterset All-Inclusive Playground (Winterset); The Winterset all-inclusive playground project will create a play space that encourages play and activities for all abilities.The creation of an all-inclusive playground within the 76-acre Winterset City Park will include ramps, a merry-go-round, zipline, safety surfacing, adaptive switch technology, swings, proper draining, safe curbing and sidewalks all around.

“The Wellmark Foundation recognizes sustainable changes take time and we are pleased to continue to offer these grant opportunities to support the overall health and well-being of local communities,” said Lawyer. “Recently, we have better aligned the grant focus and awards to encourage even more communities to get involved and take advantage of support from The Wellmark Foundation and upcoming improvements will allow for a more defined focus on physical activity and healthy foods.”

Since its inception in 1991, The Wellmark Foundation has awarded nearly $58 million in grant and project funding to initiatives that positively impact the well-being of Iowans and South Dakotans.

(Radio Iowa) – A central Iowa man has been arrested and charged with allegedly participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th of last year. The Des Moines Register is reporting 41-year-old Chad Heathcote of Adel has been charged with disorderly or disruptive conduct and entering and remaining in a restricted building with intent to impede or disrupt an official proceeding.

Heathcote is one of eight Iowans who’ve been charged for alleged actions in the Capitol as congress was affirming Joe Biden’s win in the Electoral College. Court records indicate there’s video footage of Heathcote inside the Capitol and he allegedly posted on Facebook about being in the Capitol during the riot, then deleted his account.

(Radio Iowa) – Demonstrators marched through downtown Des Moines last night (Wednesday) to protest the potential end of nationwide abortion rights. It follows a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that showed a majority of justices appear ready to overturn Roe versus Wade, allowing states to regulate abortion. “They can make up whatever they want to do, but we’re going to show them, every step of the way, they will be resisted.” Protesters chanted, “Abortion bans have got to go.”

One speaker said lawmakers are trying to restrict the right to protest and the right to get an abortion. “We have the right to choose, don’t forget that. And we have the right to protest. And I will protest until my last breath.”

A state court decision protects abortion rights in Iowa, even if Roe is overturned, but the Iowa Supreme Court could change that this year, which would open the door to more abortion restrictions in the state.

(reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says the Linn-Mar School District should end its policy that lets transgender junior high and senior high students use rest rooms and lockers rooms that do not align with the gender listed on their birth certificate. Hinson and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds held a private meeting yesterday (Wednesday) in Marion with parents and educators upset by the Linn-Mar School Board’s vote this week on a gender support policy.

“Parents basically are not going to be informed when their children approach counselors at the school to change their pronouns or their gender identity,” Hinson says. “This is a place where parents need to have this information when it comes to their kids’ well-being, mental health and physical health.” Linn-Mar officials say they’ve been following the policy for several years, because it conforms to federal rules. Hinson says she heard from the parent of children with autism who is worried about explaining the rest room policy to her kids.

“I’m a Linn-Mar parent myself, right? I have an 11 and 9 year old in fifth and third grade,” Hinson said, “so I want to make sure that parents in this district and in my congressional district that I will stand up for their involvement in their kids’ education and to be heard.” Hinson made her comments during a conference call with Iowa reporters. Hinson was asked about the other focus of the meeting, which was a review of the govenror’s plan to provide state scholarships to parents who enroll their children in private or religious schools, but did not address the issue.

State Senator Liz Mathis of Hiawatha is the Democrat who is on track to run against Hinson in the General Election. Mathis says the Governor and Hinson should be spending time visiting classrooms and improving our public schools for the vast majority of Iowa students rather than trying to sell a plan that will strip money away.