(Lewis, Iowa) – As a reminder to local beef producers, the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are hosting a “Beef Feedlot Marketing and Economics” meeting this afternoon, Wednesday, March 2. The meeting is free to attend and walk-in registrations are welcome. The meeting will be held at the Wallace Learning Center on the ISU Armstrong Research Farm located at 53020 Hitchcock Ave, Lewis.

Dr. Lee Schulz, ISU Extension livestock economist, will discuss market outlook and risk management, beef pricing from the producer to the consumer, competitive and transparent market proposals, and new USDA price reports.  Tim Christensen, ISU Extension farm management specialist, will address options for managing risk in the cattle industry, and Dr. Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center, will review Iowa feedlot performance and benchmarking data.

The meeting will begin at 1:30 PM and conclude at 4:00 PM and is free to attend.  Walk-In registrations are welcome. With questions, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or the East Pottawattamie County Extension Office at 712-482-6449.  For more information, please visit www.iowabeefcenter.org or email Dan Loy at dloy@iastate.edu.

Information about the program is also available on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or by stopping into the Extension office at 805 West 10th Street in Atlantic.

(Des Moines, IA)  – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Wednesday (today) said Abbott is recalling one lot of Similac PM 60/40 (Lot # 27032K80 (can) / Lot # 27032K800 (case)) manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan. This is in addition to lots of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powder formula that were recalled on February 17. The FDA’s investigation related to powder infant formula produced in Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan facility related to Cronobacter and Salmonella infections in infants is ongoing.

Affected products are in circulation in Iowa retail locations and have been distributed in small numbers through the Iowa Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) WIC program. If Iowans possess any of the affected products, it should not be fed to infants. Similac PM 60/40 is specialized formula for infants with impaired renal function, so the number of Iowans impacted will be relatively low.

Products affected by the formula recall can be exchanged with retailers for an identical authorized supplemental food item. WIC authorized retailers should follow their store policy for exchange and substitutes (which may include, but are not limited to, the same product, a substitute product, store credit, or a cash refund.) IDPH is providing more flexibility to participants, allowing them to purchase an alternative formula for the rest of February and March. If WIC participants have questions, they should contact their local WIC clinic: https://www.signupwic.com/

At this time, this is the only type and lot of this specialty formula being recalled. Abbott is disseminating recall letters directly to customers.

Iowans can check to see if they have recalled infant formula by:

• • Review the codes on the bottom of their formula packages.
  • Visiting the company’s website.
  • Calling the company at 1-800-986-8540.

For additional details and future updates related to the infant formula recall visit the FNS Infant Formula Safety webpage, the FDA’s advisory, or the CDC’s advisory.

(8-a.m. News, 3/2/22) – The Red Oak Police Department reports two separate arrests took place, Tuesday: 63-year-old Ronald Edward Borden, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:10-a.m., for Simple Assault. He was taken into custody in the 300 block of W. 2nd Street. Borden was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, 44-year-old Brian Keith Shaver, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:28-a.m., Tuesday, for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting). He was taken into custody at the Red Oak Fareway store and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where bond was set at $300.

The Creston Police Department reports 29-year-old Steven Douglas Brinker, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday night. Brinker was taken into custody for Child Endangerment resulting in serious injury. He was transported to the Union County Jail and later released on bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s economy showed clear signs of improvement during February, according to the monthly Creighton University survey, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine pushed the survey’s business confidence index to its lowest level since the survey began in 1994. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the Midwest economy is “up briskly” but business leaders are still dealing with familiar challenges. “More than four out of ten of the supply managers ranked supply disruptions,” Goss says. “Of course, with what’s going on in Ukraine now, you’d have to double that, I think, with big concerns. More than one-third indicated that finding and hiring qualified workers was their biggest challenge.”

Also, nearly one in five respondents listed “rising input prices” as their top challenge. While employment figures were up for February for the region, Goss says they’re still down about two-percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, dating back to February of 2020. “We asked the supply managers about what they expect in terms of a raise for this year — how much of a change in pay do you expect this year? On average, about 3%,” Goss says. “That’s very, very, I would call it modest or even weak, given what’s going on in terms of the overall demand for labor.”

A big issue for the region and nation remains the droves of people leaving the workforce, according to Goss, and he adds, inflation remains very high. “I don’t expect it to cool anytime soon. The earliest would be Quarter 3 of 2022,” Goss says. “It would depend a lot on what happens in Ukraine. You’ve got the Russian invasion of Ukraine pushing up commodity prices overall and that’s really going to push up inflationary pressures.”

On a zero-to-100 scale with 50 being growth neutral, Goss says Iowa’s Business Conditions Index for February climbed to 60.6 from 56.7 in January. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Goss says Iowa’s nondurable goods manufacturers, including food processors, have expanded at a solid pace, while durable goods producers, including metal manufacturers, have experienced pullbacks in economic activity.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds delivered the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union address last (Tuesday) night, saying Biden had failed the country on both the domestic and foreign fronts.

Reynolds called the withdrawal from Afghanistan disastrous and she suggested the Biden Administration had shown weakness, leading to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Reynolds said America is weak at home as well and she spent the bulk of her 14 minute speech focused on domestic issues. The governor accused Biden and Democrats in congress of not only ignoring, but fueling soaring inflation, Reynolds mentioned working at a Mount Pleasant grocery store four decades ago.

Reynolds suggested Americans have a dim view of Democratic leaders and — in her words — Americans are waiting for the insanity to stop.

Reynolds delivered her speech in downtown Des Moines, with the illuminated Iowa Capitol over her left shoulder. She touted her decision to require that Iowa schools have classes in-person at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Reynolds, near the end of her speech, mentioned the tax cuts she had signed into law earlier in the day.

The governor’s criticism of tax cuts for millionaires in California, New York and New Jersey drew an “are you kidding me” from Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville on Twitter. Wahls says that’s what the governor’s tax plan does.

Wahls says the Republican governor should have thanked President Biden for the federal pandemic relief being used for a variety of projects, like expanding broadband service.

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights says during a moment of global crisis, Reynolds should have talked about unity rather than criticize Biden’s foreign policy.

Deidre DeJear is the leading Democratic candidate for governor. DeJear says the speech Reynolds gave shows she’s pursuing extreme policies.

DeJear says the tax plan Reynolds signed puts the interest of the governor’s donors ahead of ordinary Iowans.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the bill that flattens Iowa’s personal income tax rate to 3.9% by 2026. “Today is a great day for the State of Iowa as we dramatically reform our tax system for the better,” she said, “and make our state one of the most competitive in the nation.” Reynolds signed the bill early this afternoon. The new law exempts all retirement income from state taxes. It also provides new tax breaks for retired farmers and for people who retire from employee-owned companies. “There’s never been a better time in Iowa for bold, sustainable tax reform and that’s exactly what today’s bill represents,” she said.

If certain revenue targets are met, the plan could lower the corporate income tax rate by more than 40%. Reynolds has been governor since May of 2017. This is the third time she’s signed a bill designed to cut taxes, including last year’s bill that eliminated the state inheritance tax and sped up a series of tax cuts Reynolds approved in 2018.

“We’ve accomplished what we have on tax reform in recent years by approaching the issue with purpose and patience, taking ever opportunity to make transformative change, while also understanding a strong tax code takes sustained, persistent work over years,” Reynolds said, “and that approach isn’t changing anytime soon.” House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, spoke after Reynolds and picked up on that theme. “We look forward to, after we’re all reelected, to doing this again moving forward,” Grassley said.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, said Republicans promised they’d pursue this path if voters gave the GOP majority control of the Senate, alongside the Republican governor and Republican-led House. “Six years ago we laid out a vision for Iowa and — more specifically — a vision for tax reform in Iowa, a vision where Iowa is a state that encourages work and encourages investment, a vision where retirees stay in Iowa to be close to their kids and grandkids, a vision of a tax code that is simple, flat and fair to taxpayers,” Whitver said. “House File 2317 brings that vision to life.”

Dozens of Republican legislators joined Reynolds for the bill signing ceremony. Reynolds thanked Whitver and Grassley “for your partnership” as she handed them pens she’d used to sign her name on the official copy of the legislation. Tonight, Governor Reynolds will deliver the GOP response to President Biden’s State of the Union address.

Democrats in the legislature say the tax plan gets rid of Iowa’s progressive tax system and provides a tax break to the wealthiest Iowans that will be 100 times greater than what middle income Iowans will get. “This is a tax bill that’s going to overwhelmingly benefit the ultrarich and big corporations,” Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville said during a news conference this afternoon. “…It’s wrong and it’s our view that it shouldn’t have happened.” House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights, said Reynolds is governing to raise her national profile, not to do what’s best for Iowans.

“Part of my problem with this tax bill is the fact that it was rushed through the process specifically so she could talk about the tax bill tonight. That’s now how we make policy,” Konfrst said. “We make policy through deliberation, through negotiation and through honest debate.” Konfrst told reporters Reynolds will “probably forget to thank President Biden” for the federal pandemic relief money the state is using to support child care centers, build out the state’s broadband network and improve water quality.

The leading Democratic candidate for governor said Reynolds should be paying attention to challenges the state is facing, like a lack of child care, affordable housing and a workforce shortage. “Our current governor is focused on a national, political agenda that we all know by now does no good for Iowa and does no good for the rest of this country,” DeJear said during a news conference today.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who are watching the events unfold in Ukraine and who want to help those in harm’s way need look no further than the Salvation Army. That international aid organization is in Ukraine serving people in need. Spokesman Dan Furry says the agency has operation centers throughout Ukraine including one in the capital city of Kyiv. “They’re busy handing out food. They’re busy handing out toiletries and clothing,” Furry says, “and they’re providing spiritual and emotional care for those that need it.”

Furry says the best way for Iowans to get help to Ukraine is through a monetary donation. “People ask, ‘Can I donate food? Can I donate clothing?’ and sadly that’s not realistic,” he says, “because the cost, the time, and the likelihood it may never reach the intended group is very, very possible.” Furry says the organization has set up an online link for those wanting to make a donation — and it’s salvation-army-u-s-a-dot-org.

“That is a specific donation page for funds to go directly to our operations in Ukraine,” Furry says, “to help people who are affected by the military operations there.” According to the website, “The Salvation Army has a long-standing presence in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Because we are already part of the communities in which we serve, we are on the ground and ready to respond and serve immediately in times of need such as this.”

(Radio Iowa) – For Iowans who love building snowmen, going snow skiing or sledding, it’s been a lackluster winter as we’ve been lacking in snowfall. State climatologist Justin Glisan says had snow during February, just not very much of it.  “Generally, if we look at western Iowa, that was the driest part of the state and anywhere from eight to ten inches below average,” Glisan says. “As we move further east into central and north-central Iowa, anywhere from four to eight inches below average.”

Only the far southeastern tip of the state was above average for snowfall during February. As for temperatures, Glisan says Iowa had a statewide average of 21-degrees in February, which is three degrees colder than normal. While we’ve been enjoying unseasonably warm weather in recent days, Glisan says not to be fooled as there’s still much colder weather ahead in March.

“We do see a signal for below-average temperatures but also an elevated probability of wetter conditions across the state,” Glisan says. “That would be great as we start ramp up the amount of rainfall that we get into the growing season given the drought conditions that we do see across the state.” (You can read February’s weather data for Atlantic on the Weather page at kjan.com)

The climatological winter ended Monday, while astronomical spring arrives on March 20th.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place over the past couple of days. Two people were taken into custody at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on Monday: 37-year-old Brandon Heath Smith, and 37-year-old Jessica Dawn Whetsel, both of Glenwood, were arrested on warrants for Possession of a controlled substance, and Accessory after the fact. Smith’s bond was set at $7,000. Bond for  Whetsel was set at $4,000.

Three people were arrested on separate charges this (Tuesday) morning:

• 45-year-old Michael Lee LaFollette, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:05-a.m., for Poss. of a Controlled Substance.
• 36-year-old Kristin Ann Miller, of Council Bluffs, was arrested a little after 12-a.m., for OWI/1st offense.
• and 60-year-old Luis Joel Mendez, of Missouri Valley, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, following an non-injury accident on I-29 at around 3:34-a.m.