DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds released the following statement today (Thursday), in response to the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate rule:  “President Biden is taking dangerous and unprecedented steps to insert the federal government even further into our lives while dismissing the ability of Iowans and Americans to make health care decisions for themselves. Biden’s plan pits Americans against Americans, while forcing them to choose between making a living or standing up for their personal beliefs. Biden’s actions will only worsen the existing workforce shortages and supply chain issues that hinder our economic recovery.   

Reynolds adds, “I believe the vaccine is the best defense against COVID-19, but I also firmly believe in Iowans’ right to make healthcare decisions based on what’s best for themselves and their families, and I remain committed to protecting those freedoms. President Biden should do the same. We will take immediate legal action to challenge the Biden Administration’s rule on vaccine mandates for employees of companies employing 100 or more.”  

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Cindy Axne remains noncommittal on her political future, despite the legislature’s recent approval of new legislative and congressional boundaries based on 2020 Census figures. Under the maps approved in last week’s special session, parts of Iowa’s new 3rd Congressional District cover counties located in the existing 2nd District, which is served by Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Axne expresses confidence in the redistricting process. “I’m certainly glad that we completed the redistricting in a fashion that is in accordance with how Iowa operates,” Axne says. “It’s why I fought last year, when we moved to get H.R. 1 through the big voting rights bill, to make sure Iowa could retain its redistricting status — becaue it’s one of the gold standards. So, I was happy to see us maintain that.”

Axne was asked whether she intends to run for reelection in the new 3rd district and face a potential showdown with Miller-Meeks. “Here’s the deal: I went to sleep in the 3rd district, and woke up the next day in the 3rd district,” Axne says. “So, we’re going to have to ask Mariannette Miller-Meeks what her plans are.” There is speculation Miller-Meeks may move into the new 1st congressional district as there is no incumbent there. Meanwhile, Axne may also be considering challenging Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, or Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, lamented the loss of counties along Iowa’s western border, which were placed in the new 4th Congressional District, currently served by Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra.

Cindy Axne

“Sad to see some of the counties I’ve grown to love so much,” Axne says, “and have been there for them, and they’ve been there for me, like Mills County and Fremont (County), and the issues with Pottawattamie County, of course, with flooding. I’ll be sad to not be able represent those folks down the road. But, I hope to continue to win and stand up for Iowa.” While declining to announce her intentions for 2022, the congresswoman adds, “an answer is coming soon.”

“My important goal is finishing this legislation in Congress,” she says. “We’ve been working nonstop on it. The decision will come very soon, but this week, once again, is dedicated to getting these big bills through.” Feenstra, from Hull, lives in the new fourth district and has announced he -is- seeking reelection. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, announced in August that she intends to seek a second term in the House as well. Last month, Hinson announced she’ll run in the new 2nd district, where she lives.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, Thursday, said his office is offering free software and training sessions to assist local governments with the redistricting process. 81 of Iowa’s 99 counties have signed up to utilize the Esri Redistricting Solution purchased by the Secretary of State’s Office and provided to Iowa cities and counties free of charge. Additionally, four-hour training sessions have been conducted to aid local governments with their redistricting plans.

According to Pate, “Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2020 Census data from the federal government was delayed and that has resulted in drastically shortening Iowa’s reprecincting and redistricting timeline. We need to utilize every tool possible to help local governments complete the process quickly, efficiently, and accurately. A process that usually takes 10 months will need to be done in just over two months. Thanks to the software we’re providing, that can be accomplished.”

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) creates the congressional and legislative maps, and they are strictly forbidden from using political data. Secretary Pate worked with LSA to determine which software application would be the best choice for reprecincting and redistricting for counties and cities. It was mutually agreed upon that Esri Redistricting Solution is a great fit.

Cities have 60 days and counties have 90 days to complete their maps after the Iowa Legislature approves the new congressional and legislative maps. New city and county precinct boundaries become effective January 15, 2022.

(Audubon, Iowa) The Audubon County Auditor’s Office has updated the unofficial election results from Tuesday, Nov. 2nd, to include write-in winners. In Kimballton, write-in Glen Hoegh was the winner for the Mayor’s seat. Hoegh received 57-votes. Millette Shores received 17. And, Public Measure D for the City of Audubon failed to garner voter approval. The measure on the ballot said “Shall the City of Audubon, Iowa, issue its General Obligation Capital Loan Notes in an amount not exceeding the amount of $2,900,000 for the purpose of designing, constructing, equipping, furnishing and acquiring land for a new fire station?” The measure received 413 No votes (69.18%), and 184 Yes votes (30.82%).

Other results from the election:

City of Audubon

City Council (elect 3)

Jason Hocker – 372 votes

Brooke Wegner – 404

Nick Weihs – 387

City of Brayton

Mayor (elect 1)

Cally Christensen – 22*

Neil C. Poldberg – 9

City Council (elect 2)

Greg Gust – 27

David L. Hansen – 26

City of Exira

Mayor (elect 1)

Mike Huegerich – 72

City Council (elect 3)

Dorreen Schrader – 66

Dwight Jessen – 57

April Lynn Baldwin – 36

City Council To Fill Vacancy (elect 1)

Nathan Wahlert – 68

City of Gray

Mayor (1)

Penny Schmidt – 4

City Council (2)

No Candidates

City Council To Fill Vacancy (1)

Alecia Bluml – 4

City of Kimballton

Mayor (1)

Millette Shores – 17

Glen Hoegh (write-in) – 57*

City Council (3)

Vernon Schwarte – 19

Evan Schaben – 26

Michael Shores – 19

Terry Nelson (write-in) – 42*

James Mortensen (write-in) – 47*

Scott LAnge (write-in) – 45*

Audubon School District

School Board Member (2)

Heath Hansen – 444

Sarah Asmus – 506

Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School District

School Board Director (3)

Kevin Petersen – 168

Tamie Fahn – 153

Craig Parmley – 55

(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR) report Byron Menke, of Treynor, was recently installed as the 2022 President of the Iowa Association of REALTORS® along with the rest of the IAR Officers. Per the IAR Bylaws, Byron and the 2022 IAR Leadership members will begin their terms at the conclusion of the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors meeting on November 15.

Menke has been in real estate for over 24 years and an auctioneer for 43 years. He was inspired by his grandfather’s knowledge of construction which led him to earning his construction degree from Northeast Community College of Nebraska. Shortly after high school, he went to auctioneering school and developed his love for the business. He started auctioneering with local auctioneers and in the local sale barns. As he grew his auction business, he decided to obtain his real estate license. He worked for several years in the Council Bluffs area as a Realtor® and achieved his broker’s license in 2005. Since then he has grown his business and now has 10 agents at Menke Auction & Realty in Treynor, Iowa.

Menke has been very busy at both the local and state REALTOR® associations. He was President of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS® (SWIAR) in 2007 after serving on numerous committees and the Board of Directors. He was named SWIAR’s REALTOR of the Year in 2009. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by SWIAR. Menke was a Regional Vice President for the Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR) for 5 years. He also served on the IAR Executive Committee and continued to serve on every major IAR Committee during his career. Byron received IAR’s highest honor in 2017 as a recipient of the O.G. Powell/Joan Ballantyne Distinguished Service Award, to recognize his many years of outstanding service to the real estate industry. For the past 3 years, Byron has served on committees with the National Association of REALTORS®.

Byron and his significant other, Julie Eden, live on a timbered acreage in the Loess Hills. He has two adult children and four grandchildren. Another western Iowa man, Mike Franey, of Carroll, was installed at IAR Region 2 Vice President.

DOWS, Iowa – Authorities in northern Iowa are investigating a homicide in Dows. According to a report from the Department of Public Safety, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, Wright County Communications received a call requesting assistance at 305 Park Avenue in Dows for an unattended death. General Hospital EMS arrived and discovered an unresponsive male, later identified as Mario Salvador Lopez. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office was notified, which requested the Wright County Medical Examiner. The Sheriff’s Office began conducting an investigation into Lopez’s death and requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Lopez’s body was sent to the State Office of the Iowa Medical Examiner for an autopsy and his death is being listed and investigated as a homicide. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation continue to conduct an on-going investigation.  If you have information related to this incident, know anything about Mario Lopez, or have had contact with him, please contact the Wright County Sheriff’s Office at 515-532-3722.

Mario Salvador Lopez