(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously voted to increase the annual budget for grants from the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund by more than a third. The grants are to help low income veterans cover unexpected expenses like car repairs. The 500-thousand dollar allotment for the current budgeting year ran out last fall. Representative Martin Graber of Fort Madison says there would be 800-thousand dollars in grants available each year if the bill becomes law.

“Anytime there’s an issue that deals with veterans I’m for it as long as it’s fiscally responsible and does the right thing,” Graber says. “I believe this bill does those things.”

Earlier this week Governor Reynolds used her authority to transfer 440-thousand dollars in federal pandemic relief funds to finance Veterans Fund grants that had been approved, but not awarded.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill introduced in the Iowa House would require that school library catalogs be posted online and teachers would have to list all the instructional materials they plan to use. The concept was considered in the House and Senate last year, but did not become law. Melissa Peterson of the Iowa State Education Association says parents should have access to school curriculum, but the bill would prevent teachers from adding new material that would benefit students.

“The number of things that can occur on a daily basis, if not an hourly basis, that could have relevance in the classroom,” she says, “that really would help connect whatever is happening from an instructional material standpoint to what is happening in the world around us.” Supporters of the legislation say parents have a right to know what materials will be used in their child’s classroom and opt out of anything they object to. Another House bill calls for a fine of up to five-thousand dollars against a school district that violates the ban on teaching certain ideas about racism and sexism.

Under a 2021 state law, schools are not allowed to teach that Iowa or the United States are fundamentally racist. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says setting up fines would send the message that the law must be followed. “It would appear to us that this hasn’t been complied with in some school districts, that it has been blatantly ignored in some school districts or that they are just simply trying to play word games and keep doing the same thing.”

If the bill becomes law, the Iowa Department of Education would field any complaints that a school is teaching those concepts and determine if the district should be fined.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest economic survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states shows the business barometer falling to its worst January level in 15 years.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the monthly report ranks the region’s economy on a zero-to-100 scale and he says fears about recession are growing. “The overall rating was down from 47.1 last month, December, to 47 this month,” Goss says. “Obviously, neither of those readings are good. They’re both below growth neutral and it’s the lowest January recording that we’ve had since 2008, so it was not a good month.”

The survey’s individual Business Conditions Index for Iowa dropped to 47.0 in January, down from December’s 47.8. Respondents in the nine states were asked to name and rank what they see as the top threats to their business and to the economy in the coming months. “Supply chain disruptions were number one, higher input prices number two, and recession number three,” Goss says. “What was surprising is finding and hiring qualified workers — labor shortages — was not in the top six, so that was a surprise to me.”

Ernie Goss

The survey points to slow, no, or negative growth in the months ahead, Goss says, likely through the second quarter. Looking ahead six months, the survey’s Confidence Index, which gauges economic optimism on a zero-to-100 scale, rose from 23 in December to 25 in January, which is still very weak. “Almost 26% reported workforce reductions, so instead of gaining, we’re reducing the size of the workforce,” Goss says. “The overall region when we look at compared to pre-COVID levels, we’re almost even. We’re down about 6,800 workers in the entire nine-state region from February of 2020.”

Only four of the nine states have rebounded to higher employment levels since the start of the pandemic: Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iowa’s average inflation-adjusted hourly wage rate fell by 3.7% during 2022.

ATLANTIC, IA (February 1, 2023) – Sweetheart Market 2023 is now accepting preorders. For information and to preorder for Sweetheart Market, visit www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com. Sweetheart Market 2023 will offer in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Pre-order is available through Thursday, February 9. Shoppers can pick up preorders and shop in person at Sweetheart Market on Saturday, February 11 from noon to 3:00 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, IA 50022).

Pre-ordering is an excellent option for customers who want to plan on a particular food item—such as Valentines cookies—as well as customers who are short on time to shop at the market. Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered products.

Sweetheart Market is held the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, so shoppers can pick up Valentine’s Day themed sweets, baked goods, and gifts, in addition to farmers market favorites premium local produce, meats, jams, seasonal candles, crafts, art, jewelry, and bath and body products. Furthermore, the Nishna Valley Family YMCA will be offering free activities for kids during the market (no entry fee). Additionally, Pim’s Thai food truck will be in the parking lot selling Thai Food—a customer favorite.

Frosting Inc.’s Heart Cookie Cakes are now available to pre-order for Sweetheart Market

Sweetheart Market vendors confirmed as of February 1 include Smudge, Bridgewater Farm, Brun Ko Farm, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, Noble Provisions, The Kringle Man, DezaRae Farm Soaps, Ter-Bear Honey, Johnna Joy Designs, Midwest Candles by Brit, Wud Bi Tek, Creekside Crystals and Crafts, Frosting Inc., Spirits of the Faire, Sweet Sisters Vegan, Donna’s Jewelry, Unicorn Clouds, Studio Samantha, Sugar Mamma Cookie Co., Imagine at Zellmer Century Farm, Silver Valley Craft Corner, and Pim’s Thai Food Truck.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Sweetheart Market and Spring Celebration Market (April 6). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

Sweetheart Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Gregg Young Automotive of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information on Christmas Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is strongly advising residents of the County – especially those in the rural areas – to keep their homes, cars and outbuildings locked. Authorities say Deputies responded Tuesday to the active burglary of an outbuilding in the area of the 1400 block of 900th St.

The subject was observed by the homeowner and was believed to be armed. Shelby County Deputies and other agencies assisted with trying to locate the subject with no success. Due to this being an ongoing investigation no further information is being released at this time.

In addition to locking your property, residents are advised to utilize security lights and cameras, if available. If you see anything suspicious, please call the Sheriff’s Office right away.

The Harlan Police Department is reporting five arrests took place from January 8th through the 17th. Two arrests occurred on January 8, 2023:

• 34-year-old Omar Barquero Flores, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service. Flores was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication. And,
• 33-year-old Andrew Michael Bierl, of Omaha, NE, was arrested following a call for service. Bierl was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with trespassing.

On the 10th of January, 40-year-old Kera Dlynn Bomer, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant. Bomer was transported to the Shelby County Jail. The following day (Jan. 11), 30-year-old Jeremiah Joseph Rosemeier, of Hopkins, MO, was arrested following a traffic stop. Rosemeier was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On January 17, 2023, 53-year-old Mark Allen Boardman, of Portsmouth, was arrested following a call for service. Boardman was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

The H-PD said also, there were five accidents reported from January 4th through the 30th, but none resulted in any injuries.