(Radio Iowa) – The monthly survey of supply managers and business leaders in Iowa and eight other Midwest states finds the economy’s numbers slipped slightly during March, compared to February. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says recession warning signals have been flashing for three straight months, but there are now also signs of slow growth — while inflation also continues climbing.

“What I think we’re in right now nationwide is what we call sometimes called a rolling recession,” Goss says. “In other words, recessions in construction, and in other areas like finance, real estate, and also in certain states that specialize in banking and finance.” On the zero-to-100 scale, a score of 50 is considered growth neutral, and the region’s economy fell from 56-point-one in February to 50-point-eight in March.

Iowa’s Business Conditions Index for March also fell, from February’s 53-point-two to 49-point-four in March, that’s below growth neutral. Supply managers across the nine states were asked about their outlook for the rest of the year, and the biggest challenges they see ahead.  “Four out of ten said supply chain disruptions. No surprise there since these are supply managers so they’re concerned about that,” Goss says. “Three out of ten said labor shortages, which was also not very surprising. Two out of ten said higher interest rates, and only one out of ten said higher inflation.”

Hiring rates for the region were relatively steady, in what Goss describes as a case of “labor hoarding.” “In other words, individual companies are just very reluctant to lay off workers, to fire workers, to get rid of workers,” Goss says. “They’re, in fact, hiring workers even in cases where they don’t really have that significant demand, just to guard themselves against an upturn in the economy and in their businesses.”

The report included a look back at last year for Iowa. The state’s top three exported manufactured goods for 2022 were: 1) Machinery at $4.0 billion, 2) Processed food at $3.9 billion, and 3) Chemicals at $3.0 billion.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to crack down on Iowa businesses that sell products used to smoke meth and marijuana has cleared its first hurdle in the House. The bill was first introduced in the Iowa Senate three years ago. Leslie Carpenter, co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy, says it makes sense to regulate the sale of glass and metal pipes in businesses that are often near schools.

“They create these products to look very enticing and cool,” Carpenter says, “but sadly every so often they lead people, young people down the path of becoming addicted to really harmful substances that in some cases to lead to substance abuse and substance abuse disorders.”

The bill would require retailers to check the IDs of someone buying one of these devices, to make sure they’re 21 or older. And businesses would be barred from displaying the goods in an area where customers under the age of 21 could see or access them. “We’ve heard from drug task force members that this would be a helpful tool in preventing youth substance abuse,” says Dale Woolery, director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.

The bill does not apply to vaping products. It covers glass or metal devices that are used to inhale illegal drugs, including marijuana and crack cocaine. Permit fees to sell the devices and sales taxes charged on purchases would be deposited in a state fund to support specialty courts if the bill becomes law. The bill passed the Iowa Senate a month ago on a 47 to two vote. A Republican in the House who’s working on the bill is planning to propose changes in it, but can’t say whether there’s broad support for those changes or the bill itself.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on March 16, 2023, to 295 months in prison following his plea of guilty to sexual exploitation of a child. The investigation into Brandon Scott Holmes, 43, started in 2021 after law enforcement found evidence that an IP address linked to Holmes was receiving child pornography from a peer-to-peer program.

In October 2021, FBI executed a search warrant at Holmes’ residence. Forensic analysis of several seized devices identified thousands of images and videos of child pornography. Holmes also produced images and videos of child pornography. Holmes must serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two recent arrests: At around 1:23-a.m. today (April 3). 45-year-old Andy Charles Andrews, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension ($300 bond). And, 53-year-old Troy Richard Rehfeldt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/3rd offense, following an investigation into a property damage accident and fire.

Authorities say Rehfeldt was driving a 2004 Dodge westbound on Brothers Avenue at around 5:35-a.m., Sunday, when his vehicle entered the north ditch, what initially was described as “Reasons unknown.” The vehicle struck a guy wire connected to a power pole, causing the power line to come loose and fall to the ground. That caused a large field fire. Rehfeldt fled the scene but was later found “Crashed out,” in a ditch not far from the scene of the accident. He was subsequently arrested for OWI.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports Stuart Police arrested 36-year-old David Spencer Reeves, of Stuart, on March 26th. He was taken into custody in Stuart at around 9:15-p.m. on charges from incidents that occurred on Feb. 26th, March 24th and 26th. The charges include four-counts of Harassment in the 1st Degree, and two-counts of Domestic Abuse Assault-3rd or subsequent offense. Reeves was being held at the Adair County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

On March 29th, 21-year-old Logan Wynn Gist, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (THC Vape pipe). He was cited and released at the scene.  On March 31st, Adair Police arrested 47-year-old Erin Nicole Shaw, of Creston, at the I-80 eastbound rest area. Shaw was charged with Public Intoxication. She was released from the Adair County Jail the following day on her Own Recognizance.

Separately, Adair County Deputies arrested 35-year-old Lee Delmar Goll, of Stuart, March 31st, after he allegedly shot at a vehicle and threatened a female over the phone. A Deputy saw Goll leave the scene in a Chevy S-10 pickup, and conducted a traffic stop.  at 1380 Stuart Road. A .22-caliber rifle and open container of alcohol were observed in Goll’s vehicle on the passenger seat. An investigation showed bullet holes were found in a GMC Yukon, owned by Goll’s girlfriend, at the scene of the incident in the 1300 block of Stuart Road. Bullet casings from the .22 were found as well. Goll allegedly sent text messages threatening her life and those of two other adults and three children at the residence. He was charged with: six-counts of Harassment in the 1st Degree; Going Armed with Intent; Reckless Use of a Firearm – Damaging property; Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree; Driving Under Suspension, and Open Container – Driver, 21 & older.

Lee Goll was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. On April 1st at around 2:50-a.m., Police in Greenfield arrested 26-year-old Carolina Ibarra-Aguirre, of Creston, for Disorderly Conduct – Loud/Raucous Noise. She was released several hours later on her Own Recognizance. And, 40-year-old Dustin Brian Benge, of Greenfield, was arrested at around 9:47-p.m. Saturday by the Iowa State Patrol. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop on Highway 92, and charged with Driving while Denied or Revoked. He had been denied for OWI Test Refusal. He was also given warnings for headlight and window violations, and expired registration. Benge was released a short time later on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.