(Radio Iowa) – Iowans heard dire warnings last month about the possibility of rainbow fentanyl showing up in kids’ trick-or-treat bags, but Emily Murray, spokeswoman for the regional U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency office in Omaha, says they had no reports of the drug appearing anywhere in the five-state area. “DEA agents have yet to see or seize rainbow fentanyl, I think that’s important to know,” Murray says. “We’re not naive enough to think that it’s not out there but DEA agents have not seized it. State and locals were reaching out, working with them to kind of see what they’re seeing, but Halloween has come and gone and we have not seen the rainbow fentanyl.”

Murray says the rainbow fentanyl comes in a wide array of colors and is the same, dangerous drug as regular fentanyl. “The fake pills that you’re seeing that are blue and made to look like oxycodone or Xanax or Adderall, any of those prescription medications, now it’s just that they’re coming across in rainbow colors,” Murray says. “They might be targeting a younger audience with that, but it’s also a marketing ploy, too, when you’ve got something that looks a little bit different. It’s new. It’s exciting because it’s a bright color.” Iowans need to know, Murray says, that while fentanyl can be a killer, so can many other pharmaceuticals.

“The only prescription medication that they should be taking is the one that’s prescribed specifically for them,” she says. “We don’t want anyone to take a legitimate prescription medication that’s not coming from their doctor and filled at a pharmacy. Always be cautious. It’s the same messaging that we tell students or tell kids you know, don’t take something when you don’t know where it’s coming from.” A state report says 258 Iowans died of opioid overdoses last year. Murray says meth is still the number-one illegal drug being seized in the region.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City officials are breaking ground on what will be a new flight school serving as Morningside University’s training center for pilots and other aviation professionals. Assistant City Manager Mike Collett sees the program as a major opportunity for economic growth in the community.

“One of the first questions asked of our economic development department when they have a lead is, ‘Do you have an airport?’ and a lot of these businesses have to be supported with air facilities that we offer,” Collett says. “The fact that we’re now able to train pilots and mechanics, both combined, is a big deal.” Morningside is partnering with Omaha-based Oracle Aviation to launch the flight school. The new department will include a professional flight program for aspiring pilots and aviation management for those interested in airline operations.

Morningside University President Albert Mosley says these curriculums will help students find jobs in a growing industry.  “Nationally, the need for pilots and aviation management professionals is at a historic high,” Mosley says. “That is also true here in Siouxland, we all know that firsthand.” The school is projected to begin accepting students as early as next fall. Morningside officials hope it can help curb pilot shortages felt in Sioux City and around the nation.

Earlier this year, Sioux City Gateway Airport’s commercial carrier pared down its flight schedule due to a pilot shortage. City and community partners estimate the new facility’s construction will require a ten-point-seven million dollar investment.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Residents of the small western Iowa town of Ricketts were briefly evacuated early Wednesday afternoon as a large field fire started spreading in the area. According to Crawford County Emergency Management, a field of standing corn ignited and strong winds pushed the fire toward Ricketts, a town of about 100 residents.

Firefighters from departments in Crawford, Ida and Woodbury Counties were able to stop the fire before it reached the community and residents were allowed back into Ricketts at about 3 p.m. Officials say the fire did burn a three-to-four mile area before it was contained, though.

The wind carried smoke from the fire more than 50 miles to the north.

(Radio Iowa) – Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at a rally tonight (Thursday) in Sioux City. Trump’s political action committee says the event is meant to boost two candidates that Trump previously endorsed — Senator Chuck Grassley and Governor Kim Reynolds.

“We’re excited to have him back in the state,” Reynolds said last week during a campaign stop in Sioux City. “We’re excited to continue to energize Republicans to continue to get out and vote.” The rally site is in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, where Republican voters outnumber Democrats by 95-thousand. University of Iowa political science professor Tim Hagle) says during a midterm election — when there’s no presidential race on the ballot — both political parties have to find ways to maximize turnout among their voters.

“One of the other things that we know about Trump voters in Iowa is that a lot of them were independents,” Hagle says. “They often even have a bigger drop in turnout in a midterm election, so it may be a way to energize those folks.” Trump will join a long list of potential 2024 presidential candidates who’ve campaigned here for Iowa Republicans on the 2022 ballot.

“There have been hints — fairly strong ones — that he’s going to run at some point, but other people are thinking that he’s not going to, so who knows,” Hagle says. “At the very least, Trump being Trump, he likes stay in the conversation and so showing up in Iowa….certainly helps him to do so.” Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says Grassley and Reynolds will be standing with a traitor who wanted to overthrow our government and continues to support attacks on our democracy.

Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Iowans are ready for President Trump’s message of pushing back against Democrats’ woke ideology and President Biden’s agenda. Trump’s rally will be held at the Sioux City airport and some people camped out overnight to be ready when the parking lot opens at 8 a.m. Tickets are required for entry into the venue and doors will open at 2 p.m.

November 2, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today awarded $934,430 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state.In our area, the communities include: Coon Rapids; Manning; and Woodbine. The grants will benefit local improvement projects, such as historic building rehabilitation and upper story renovations.

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of these 10 projects is over $2.8 million.

Click on the image to view the Community/Grant Amount/Local Match and Total Project Cost.

“Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match,” said Michael Wagler, state coordinator for the Main Street Iowa program. “In total, these projects will actually leverage significantly more than the state’s investment into bricks and mortar rehabilitation. This investment will have a significant economic impact within each district.”

“The Main Street Iowa Challenge grants have been instrumental in revitalizing Iowa’s historic main streets,” said Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “Reinvesting in our traditional commercial districts is good business. It’s good for our economy and good for our state. These projects will bring new businesses and new residents to our downtown districts.”

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, about $13.7 million in funds have leveraged more than $67 million in private investment. Over the life of the program, 216 projects in 56 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state have received funding.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Mayor of Atlantic and two council members were recognized during the Council’s meeting Wednesday night. City Clerk Barb Barrick prefaced the announcement by reading a statement from the Iowa League of Cities, with regard to the CEMO program.

“To recognize elected officials who are committed to continuing their professional development as elected officials, the Iowa League of Cities established the Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO) program. This voluntary recognition program utilizes existing League training opportunities, such as the Annual Conference & Exhibit and the Municipal Leadership Academy, allowing attendees to build towards the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative and useful information on topics that expand the elected official’s knowledge and capabilities. Fifty credits are needed to obtain the CEMO designation; this includes a mix of required core and elective credits. Credits for training are only available for events attended after January 1, 2012. Credits can be used only once for each training.”

Barrick said “I’m very very proud to say that we [The City of Atlantic] recently had three elected officials receive this [CEMO] designation.” That includes Mayor Grace Garrett, Ward 1 Councilman Jim Behrens and At-Large Councilwoman Elaine Otte.” She said other council members are close to the designation.The designation, she said, “Speak highly of Atlantic,” and she thanked those three for attending the training.

In other business, Councilman Gerald Brink [and Councilwoman Otte] both say they had a person approach them and question if the Council was nothing more than a bunch of “yes men/women]”. Brink said he’s not afraid to vote against an issue on the agenda. The other councilpersons and Mayor agreed. Brink said the perception was troubling for him to hear.

CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer said some in the community may not understand, that the items the council votes on, are thoroughly researched and vetted by committees (each of which have at least one Council liaison), before a recommendation to approve or disapprove a matter comes before the Council for a vote. Mayor Garrett said also, from the beginning, the Council was in agreement on what direction they were focused on, and taking the City in that direction.

The Council receives prepared packets of information for them to review and conduct additional research or ask questions about, before their meeting is held. She said “We don’t always have the same ‘yes’ all the time. We are willing to vote against something if we vote our conscience and convictions, and that’s what I have seen in this Council, and I appreciate that so very much.” She said the Council is not afraid to vote against each other when they have done their homework on the issues, and are certain their decision takes the City in the right direction.

As part of the action items on their agenda, Wednesday, the Atlantic City Council passed:

• The 2nd Reading of an Ordinance “Vacating that Portion of Country Oaks Right-Of-Way (ROW), between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 Country Oaks. The first hearing was held Oct. 16, 2022 and passed without public comment.
• The 1st Reading of an Ordinance that amends the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to Storm Water Utility Billing,” and a change of bi-annual billing to annual billing, beginning in early 2023, with no change to the rates.
• The 1st Reading of an Ordinance amending zoning regulations with regard to removing the front-yard setback in the I-2 (light industrial District) along State Street.
• The Council also passed a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the Payment of Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Financed Obligations Which Shall Come Due in the Next Succeeding Fiscal Year.” Essentially, it means that it will allow the City to utilize TIF money to repay its internal debt, which is an authorized part of the annual appropriation process.
• And, they passed a Resolution allowing the City to capture taxes paid by the Whitney Group, using TIF. The appropriation is an annual feature until the City either pays-off the $750,000 maximum payment or 20-years expire, whichever comes first. An identical Resolution was adopted by the Council in Nov., 2021.

(Radio Iowa) – A second man has been found guilty in the October, 2021 death of David McDowell, whose body was found on a rural road outside of Estherville. A jury found Cejay Van Der Wilt guilty of involuntary manslaughter after hearing testimony from Connor Uhde and Brady Salberg, who were described in the courtroom as accomplices. Prosecutors were seeking a first degree murder conviction.

In a closing statement, prosecutor Maureen Hughes said it was Van Der Wilt that implemented and carried out a plan to kill David McDowell. She said Van Der Wilt, along with Connor Uhte and others, lured McDowell to an apartment in Estherville. McDowell was then driven to a rural area outside of Estherville. He was shot in the neck with a shotgun. Defense attorney Mike Adams said there was conflicting testimony from Uhte and Brady Salberg, who were in the car with Van Der Wilt and McDowell. The defense attorney told the jury the testimony from accomplices cannot be used to corroborate one another. Involuntary manslaughter is a Class D felony that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Connor Uhde, who testified against Van Der Wilt during the trial, had earlier pleaded guilty to attempted murder and third degree kidnapping. He faces up to 25 years in prison. Brady Salberg, the other man who testified against Van Der Wilt this week, has never been charged in connection with McDowell’s death. McDowell was 20 years old when he was killed.