DES MOINES, Iowa – Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) have announced $14.1 million in grant funding for the following four projects through Destination Iowa. The $100 million program, announced in April, invests in transformational projects that will bolster the quality of life in Iowa communities and attract visitors and new residents.

The Hoover Presidential Foundation has been awarded $5,000,000 toward an overhaul of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch and the addition of 2,250 square feet of updated and interactive displays. The redesign and renovation will modernize the visitor experience, taking guests on a journey of learning about Iowa’s only U.S. president and his wife, First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. The award represents 25% of the total project investment of $20,309,426.

The Webster County Conservation Board and the City of Fort Dodge have been awarded $4,000,000 toward the Central River District Park and Discovery Center. The center will offer meeting spaces, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a large interpretive area, and a scenic overlook with views of the Des Moines River. The award represents 17% of the total project investment of $19,906,495, which also includes a 1.3-acre stormwater treatment wetland and in-stream recreational features such as a whitewater drop, fishing pools and access points.

The City of Mason City and Cerro Gordo County have been awarded $4,500,000 toward several projects that will enhance the area as a biking/mountain biking destination. These components include new single-track trails, a new bike park and pump track, and key connectors in the North Iowa trails system. The award represents 40% of the total project investment of $11,873,265 and will also play a key role in providing direct access to all trails, adding trailside amenities, and adding improvements to the Ingebretson Campground.

Cinema Paradiso, LLC has been awarded $600,000 toward transforming an unoccupied Davenport structure into a two-screen movie theater called The Last Picture House. With connections to Hollywood, the movie theater will be the home of exclusive events featuring actors alongside local filmmakers and film screenings. The space will also include a social lounge, cocktail bar, and a rooftop bar. The award represents 16% of the total project investment of $3,719,075.

IEDA began accepting applications on May 9 and will continue to review applications as they arrive through December 31 or until funding runs out.  Applications are scored based on eligibility, completeness, and the project’s ability to meet the program goal of creating transformational tourism attractions. Cities, counties, nonprofits and other organizations can apply for Destination Iowa grants through four separate funds: Economically Significant Development, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism Attraction, and Creative Placemaking.

Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. For more information on the Destination Iowa program, visit iowaeda.com/destination-iowa/. Funding for this program is being made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Des Moines, IA – A man from Victor, Iowa, plead guilty on October 5, 2022, to conspiracy to defraud the United States. According to court documents, Daniel Shawn DeRycke, age 59, admitted he conspired with one or more other persons to impede and obstruct the Internal Revenue Service in the assessment and collection of income taxes. DeRycke admitted that from April 2017 to March 2019, through his business, DeRycke’s Crop Depot, he engaged in conduct to help customers reduce income tax owed by accepting backdated checks, generating false expense invoices, and exchanging checks to give the appearance of an expense that was not in fact incurred by the customers.

DeRycke is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2023 and faces up to 5 years in prison. DeRycke has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $189,919. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller says “This investigation is evidence to criminals that you cannot falsify figures on your own tax returns, let alone aid others with documents to bolster lies to the federal government on their tax returns. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue to be on the front lines to defend the American tax system from fraud and deception.”

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa and the Internal Revenue Service made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service, United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the appointment of Colonel Mark A. Muckey, as Deputy Adjutant General for the Iowa Air National Guard. Muckey, a Sioux City native, was selected by Governor Reynolds for his outstanding military achievements and leadership capabilities demonstrated through nearly four decades of military service.   On Thursday, Reynolds said “Like the Iowa National Guard itself, Colonel Muckey has proven ‘always ready’ to protect and serve. For almost forty years, he has served our nation with distinction all over the world, and his highly decorated military resume speaks to the courage and skill he brings to every deployment. I want to congratulate Colonel Muckey for his coming promotion to Brigadier General and thank him for once again answering the call.”

Col. Mark Muckey

Muckey is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours primarily in the C-130H Hercules and KC-135R Stratotanker. He has numerous deployments including Operation Joint Forge, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He joined the military in 1984 through the Academy of Military Science and most recently has served as the commander of the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City.   Muckey has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma State and is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College. His significant military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Aerial Achievement Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

With this appointment, Col. Muckey will be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Muckey replaces Brigadier General Shawn Ford who retired in early August. Colonel Muckey and his wife Susan live in Ankeny.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs, the Southern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, and officials with the U.S. Marshals Headquarters, on Thursday (Oct. 6), arrested one of Texas most wanted fugitives. The arrest in Council Bluffs of Paul Anthony Basaldua. Although considered to be armed and dangerous, Basaldua was taken into custody without incident.

He was wanted for the alleged aggravated sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault, and indecent contact with a child by sexual contact. Basaldua has a criminal history of assault, robbery, weapon, drug and theft charges, and more.

Authorities didn’t say where in Council Bluffs the man was arrested.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Thursday, of 27-year-old D’Angelo Monson. The Glenwood resident was arrested for Burglary in the 2nd Degree. He later posted a $10,000 cash or surety bond, before being released.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic challenger Mike Franken agree U.S. military support of Ukraine is critical. Some of Grassley’s G-O-P peers have said U.S. assistance should be cut off.  “I hope that the American people will be patient to understand that helping Ukraine now will save us a lot of money later on if Putin is stopped right now,” Grassley says. Franken says if Ukraine falls, Russian president Vladamir Putin will order more invasions. “Yet another chapter of extending the great white Russia into neighboring countries,” Franken says.

The candidates made their comments last (Thursday) night during a debate on Iowa P-B-S. At nearly the same time, President Biden told a crowd in New York that Putin is not joking about using tactical nuclear weapons. Franken, a retired Navy admiral, says if that happens, U.S. aide workers should be sent to assist burn victims — and some will be unarmed but specially trained American soldiers. Grassley says that’s unwise. “I think it’d be very dangerous to send people, soldiers in without weapons so they could defend themselves,” Grassley said.

Franken replied: “If you’re going to be a broad shouldered nation in the world…then you’ve got to take those risks. That’s why we join the military…We swear the oath: ‘I will support and defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.'”   Last (Thursday) night’s hour-long forum was the only debate between the two candidates before the November 8th election.