(Radio Iowa) – Organizations that helped rescue hundreds of dogs from a southern Iowa breeding operation cited for animal welfare abuses say it’s time for quicker and more aggressive action against what some call puppy mills. Tom Colvin of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa says animals at facilities connected to dog breeder Daniel Gingerich clearly were in distress for months.  “We will continue to push for Iowa lawmakers and federal lawmakers to do right by these animals,” Colvin says.

The evacuation of 514 dogs and puppies began October 13th. The rescue was completed November 3rd. “All dogs are now safe, are being brought to health and have been given a second chance at life,” Colvin says.

Seventy-five people with 18 transport vehicles rescued dogs and puppies from facilities near Seymour, Lamoni, Davis City, Promise City and Hazelton. U-S-D-A inspectors found 190 animal welfare violations at the facilities. Gingerich is now permanently banned from breeding and selling dogs. Many of the rescued dogs are at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, while others have been placed with agencies as far away as Tennesee and Milwaukee.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke reports a post-election audit of the November 2, 2021 City/School Election. The order comes from Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office. By random selection, Precinct 7 will be the precinct audited. The polling place location for Precinct 7 is the Villisca Community Room.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office will conduct this audit on Monday, November 8, 2021, starting at 8:30 a.m. The audit will take place in the Board of Supervisor’s Meeting Room in the Courthouse, 105 E Coolbaugh Street, Red Oak. The proceedings will be open to the public.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Community Foundation has awarded $33,200 to Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2021 Grant Cycle. Including these most recent grants, the Cass County Community Foundation has distributed over $2.4 million in grants and scholarships over the last 23 years.

The following organizations are Fall 2021 Grant Recipients:

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible to apply. These grant funds were made possible by the generosity of donors to the Cass County Community Foundation and the following charitable funds through the community foundation: Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund and Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County.

The Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Cass County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member listed below. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Cass County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

The Cass County Advisory Board Members are Chair, Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice Chair, Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer, Sue Hunt of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; and Gaylord Schelling of Atlantic. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Community Foundation (ACCF) awarded $50,400 to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2021 Grant Cycle. Including these most recent grants, the Audubon County Community Foundation has distributed over $2.5 million in grants and scholarships over the last 24 years.

The following organizations are Fall 2021 Grant Recipients:

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible to apply. These grant funds were made possible by the generosity of donors to the Audubon County Community Foundation and the following charitable funds allocated through the community foundation: Audubon Masonic Association Endowed Fund; Audubon State Bank/Stephen Garst Endowed Fund; Charles T. and Kathleen K. Manatt Endowed Fund; Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund for Audubon County, Iowa; Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon; and Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund.

The Audubon County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Audubon County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member listed below. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Audubon County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

The Audubon County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton; Vice Chair, Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira, Bob Blomme of Audubon; Pat Kaiser of Audubon; and Donna Olson of Kimballton. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

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

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and six other Midwest Governors, today (Thursday) sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan requesting immediate guidance on how Iowa and other states can continue to sell year-round E-15 without restriction. (The Governors’ letter can be found HERE.)

In a statement, the Governor says “The disappointing DC Circuit Court ruling earlier this year again shows the inconsistency we continue to see from Washington, DC and the EPA on renewable fuels, and it is time for states to stand up and take action. As the Governor of the top renewable fuel-producing state, I am proud to lead a letter with my colleagues to send a clear message that we will pursue every avenue to ensure that consumers can have unrestricted and increased access to less expensive, cleaner-burning E-15.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said “We all hope either Congress or EPA will take action to preserve nationwide access to E15 on a year-round basis. But if no timely national solution is found, governors have the authority to implement a state-by-state solution. We heartily applaud the Midwest governors for putting oil refiners on notice that their market obstructionism will not stand. The oil refiners may have created this problem, but all 50 governors can fix it”