(Radio Iowa) – Officials in several Iowa school districts have announced temporary mask requirements for students have ended after a panel of federal judges issued a ruling on Iowa’s statewide ban on school mask mandates.

Last fall, after a group of parents sued, a federal judge based in Iowa put a hold on the state law banning mask mandates in schools. Yesterday, a panel of federal judges based in Missouri ruled the Iowa judge’s action was too broad and the State of Iowa may enforce its ban on masking in most schools. Disability rights advocates who’ve analyzed the ruling say it appears masking could be required around students with disabilities.

A spokesman for Iowa’s attorney general released a statement to The Des Moines Register late yesterday. It indicates the state will not be enforcing the ban on school mask mandates as it files an appeal that seeks a ruling from all 11 judges on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

(Radio Iowa) – The unemployment in Iowa rate fell to three-point-five percent in December. The rate is down from three-point-seven percent in November, as Iowa Workforce Development reports the number of unemployed dropped by 38-hundred compared to November, and the number of working Iowans was up 52-hundred.

It is the fifth straight drop in unemployment since July. I-W-D says the state added jobs in each of the last four months of 2021 — ending the year with a total non-farm employment increase of more than 41-thousand jobs. (41,200 jobs).

(Radio Iowa) – A federal appeals court has thrown out a temporary order that has allowed Iowa schools to have mask mandates. A federal judge’s order this fall had blocked enforcement of the state law that forbids mask mandates in schools. Disability rights advocates and a group of parents filed a lawsuit in September challenging the law.

The federal appeals court has ruled mask mandates in the schools their children attend may continue, but the ruling said this group of children with disabilities are not harmed when students in other school districts who do not encounter disabled students attend class without masks on.

(Radio Iowa) – A semi driver died in an accident early this morning that also left 600 people without power. The accident happened at about 5:00 a-m when the semi-truck and trailer were heading southbound on Highway 75 approaching the Plymouth County town of Merrill. The semi initially collided with a power line utility pole, which resulted in a loss of power for Merrill residents. Then it careened into a used auto sales lot, striking several vehicles.

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the driver has died. The identity of the driver is being withheld at this time pending notification of family members.

(Radio Iowa) – Investigators are trying to determine how a school bus and train collided in northeast Iowa.The crash occurred around 9:15 this (Tuesday) morning near Castalia in Winneshiek County. Authorities later confirmed that two students and the driver were on board the Postville Community School District bus when it collided with the Canadian Pacific train.

Officials say the driver was taken by a private vehicle to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries after being evaluated at the scene. The two students were also looked at by emergency crews, before an ambulance transported them to the hospital for further evaluation.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies executed a search warrant at around 8-p.m. Monday, at 1105 2nd Avenue, in Malvern, and arrested 34-year-old Christopher Nicholas Smith, of Malvern, on multiple felony charges, after they recovered more $50,000 in stolen property. The property includes several mowers, ATV’s, dirt bikes, lumber, construction tools and several other items. Smith was transported to the Mills County Jail and held on a $74,000 cash-only bond, with additional charges pending.

Authorities say with the execution of the search warrant and recovery of items, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office was able to solve and close over a dozen burglaries/thefts that have occurred in the county, dating back to July, 2021. There are also several items that have yet to be identified, leaving many cases still open at this time.

Christopher N. Smith

The Sheriff’s Office says, “If you have been a victim of a burglary or theft in Mills County or surrounding areas, and had items stolen, please contact Mills County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pittman or Sgt. Mather, at 712-527-4337.

Atlantic, Iowa — Cass Health has announced it has earned the 2022 Top Workplaces USA award, issued by Energage, a purpose-driven organization that develops solutions to build and brand Top Workplaces. This is the inaugural year for Top Workplaces USA, built on the program’s 14-year history surveying more than 20 million employees across 54 markets for the regional Top Workplaces awards. “We are thrilled to be recognized at a national level,” said Kolton Hewlett, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Our employees are the heart of this organization, and we are delighted to celebrate this achievement because of them.”

Top Workplaces USA offers national recognition for large organizations, those with more than 150 employees, and those that may have operations in multiple markets. Several thousand organizations from across the country were invited, and more than 1,100 participated in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey, issued by Energage. Results are calculated by comparing the survey’s research-based statements, including 15 Culture Drivers that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks.

“During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business.”

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with Google said Tuesday (Today), that the recent construction phase completed by Google at its Council Bluffs data center site brings the data company’s total investment in Council Bluffs to $5 billion. The Google data center in Council Bluffs is one of the company’s largest facilities. Officials say it has created jobs for over 900 people in a variety of full-time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers, and various food services, maintenance, and security roles.

Google says it has established a long-term commitment to the state and has continued to live the mission of organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible by all, through support of projects and initiatives that help bridge the digital divide. Internet accessibility is a priority for Google in home communities like Council Bluffs, and Google was a key partner in the effort to bring the BLink community wi-fi network online for Council Bluffs. (All photos submitted by Google)

Google Council Bluffs exterior w/deer.

Google Council Bluffs Network Room

Google Council Bluffs exterior

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh says “Google’s $5 billion of capital investment represents an unprecedented financial commitment within the entire metropolitan area that is by itself staggering. However, financial expenditure doesn’t truly quantify what having a partner like Google has meant to Council Bluffs over these past 15 years. During that time frame, Google has regularly contributed to the education of our students, helped our local businesses bring their goods and services to market by teaching them ways to establish their own Google Business Profile, and they regularly serve as a contributing partner toward BLink, the City’s free Wi-Fi network. Through these and many other ways, Google has helped to turn Council Bluffs into a hub for technology, innovation, and opportunity.”

Since 2009, Google has awarded more than $3 million to local schools and nonprofit organizations including efforts to expand computer science education and upskilling Iowans to help grow their careers and expand their businesses.

Throughout Iowa, 163,000 Iowa businesses have connected with their customers through Google, and Grow with Google has partnered with more than 160 organizations in the state to train tens of thousands of Iowans on digital skills, including public libraries, chambers of commerce, and more. Google has also supported STEM learning for 1K+ Iowa students through hands-on learning opportunities like the Anti-Gravity Games and CS First coding events. Last year alone, 11,000 businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators, and developers helped generate $1.5 billion of economic activity for Iowa using Google’s products and services.

Ryan Ackels, Site Lead at Google’s data center in Council Bluffs said “Google is proud to call Iowa home, and this continued level of investment in our data center facilities underscores our long-term commitment to the state and strong desire to be an active member of this community.”

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa Senate are considering changes in the process for nominating district court judges after Governor Kim Reynolds accused a judge from Humboldt of unprofessional behavior as he led a local nominating commission. Reynolds rejected a slate of candidates for a district court judgeship in November after fielding complaints that the judge leading the nominating commission coached one candidate and made negative comments about another. A Senate bill would remove the chief district court judge from local nominating commissions and let the governor appoint a majority of the commissioners. Republican Senator Julian Garrett of Indianola says while the incident this fall was extreme, he’s heard similar concerns in other Iowa districts. “Along the lines of attorneys really reluctant to say anything contradictory to the judge,” Garrett says.

The Iowa Judicial Branch and the Iowa Supreme Court are opposed to the bill. Caitlin Jarzen is the state court administrator. Jarzen says “We understand that there has been an issue with this process at the district level. However, that issue was addressed and resolved and we don’t believe that the entire system needs to be changed because of it.” Other opponents say the proposed change would inject more politics in the judicial selection process. The proposed change for the commissions that nominate DISTRICT court judges mirrors a mirrors a law passed a few years ago for the nominating commission that picks finalists for the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. The governor then appoints a justice from the list of nominees.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

(Radio Iowa) – A Humboldt teenager has been arrested after making a threat to bring a gun to school. The Humboldt Police Department reports that on Monday evening, a 14-year-old student at Humboldt Middle School made a social media post that told students not to come to school on Tuesday because he was going to bring a gun to school. Police identified the student and after searching his residence, arrested the student on a charge of threat of terrorism.

Police did not find any guns at the student’s home, and he remains in juvenile court custody pending court proceedings.