JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS – DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa National Guard, today (Tuesday) announced the remaining three official Welcome Home ceremonies for the group of approximately 575 Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division who are the most recent returning from deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

These Soldiers recently began a phased return to the United States following successful mission completion overseas, where they worked alongside coalition and regional partners to significantly reduce the capabilities of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, helping make the region safer.

These Welcome Home ceremonies will take place on Thursday, March 12th in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City. This allows families, friends, and community members the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the Soldiers’ service.

DETAILS:

Des Moines Welcome Home Ceremony:

• Location: 132d Air Wing, Des Moines International Airport
• Address: 3100 McKinley Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321
• Date/Ceremony Start Time: Thursday, March 12th at 2 PM
• This ceremony is not open to the public

Cedar Rapids Welcome Home Ceremony:
• Location: Cedar Rapids Armory
• Address: 1500 Wright Brothers Blvd W, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
• Date/Ceremony Start Time: Thursday, March 12th at 4:45 PM

Sioux City Welcome Home Ceremony:
• Location: Sioux City Airport
• Address: 2430 Leavenworth Ave, Sioux City, IA 51111 (map attached)
• Date/Ceremony Start Time: Thursday, March 12th at 12:00 PM

These ceremonies mark an important moment for Iowa communities to welcome home Soldiers who have served overseas in support of national security objectives. While some Soldiers have returned earlier as part of a phased redeployment, others
remain deployed to complete essential mission requirements, including partner support and base security. This phased return is based on mission needs, personnel requirements, and transportation availability.

Help us give our hometown heroes the powerful welcome home they have earned.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA — Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) and AgCountry Farm Credit Services (AgCountry) announce the launch of a pilot program to assist producers seeking additional sources of capital for stewardship activities.

The Farm Credit Associations are partnering with Lasso, a grant-writing service, to help participating producers find and apply for publicly funded grants. Producers report strong interest in stewardship activities but face financial barriers. The Associations are piloting grant-writing services for their customers as part of a broader toolbox of products and services for on-farm improvements. The pilot is available for eligible farm projects in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
The program provides support to producers considering equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements, or energy and efficiency projects who may be unsure whether grant funding is available or how to navigate the application process. Selected participants will receive Lasso’s end-to-end support, including identifying relevant grant opportunities, preparing applications, and managing post-award requirements. FCSAmerica and AgCountry will cover the majority of the cost.
“Producers are deeply committed to leaving their operations stronger for the next generation, but navigating evolving funding opportunities can become a significant hurdle,” said Myriah Johnson, Ph.D., vice president of sustainability for  FCSAmerica and AgCountry, which operate as part of a collaboration that includes Frontier Farm Credit.
“Through this pilot, we’re meeting producers where they are by supporting the projects they believe in, respecting their production choices, and removing barriers that slow the adoption of sustainable, economically viable improvements. By connecting producers with resources that make these investments more attainable, we’re strengthening both the resilience of their operations and the long‑term sustainability of agriculture across our region.”
Lasso works directly with producers to understand their needs and match projects with federal, state, regional, and local grant programs, including opportunities such as the Value-Added Producer Grant, the Agriculture Diversification & Development Fund (North Dakota), and Choose Iowa’s Butchery Innovation Grant (Iowa). Lasso reports a 90 percent success rate and has helped secure more than 70 grants, representing millions of dollars in funding for on-farm projects.
“Many farmers have strong project ideas but don’t have the time or resources to navigate the grant process on their own,” said Nicole Rojas, co-founder of Lasso. “Partnering with Farm Credit Services of America and AgCounty Farm Credit Services allows us to remove that barrier by helping producers identify the right funding opportunities and manage the grant process from start to finish, so they can focus on running their farms and investing in their operations with confidence.”
FCSAmerica has had a sustainability program since 2022 to support customer‑owners advance stewardship activities on their operations. We continually deepen our knowledge to provide the resources and insights customers seek as part of their stewardship decision-making.
Producers interested in participating in the pilot should be open to pursuing public grant funding and have an on-farm project plan with potential vendors or service providers identified.Learn more about FCSAmerica. AgCountry, and Lasso.

(Radio Iowa) – A spokesman for the D-O-T says traffic deaths dropped back down after a starting out the New Year up in January. Stuart Anderson told the State Transportation Commission that the lack of winter weather in January led to more cars on the road, and more fatalities. “Of course, last month we talked about January being an unusually high month, particularly coming off our record low year in 2025. February was a significantly low month,” Anderson says.

There were 24 traffic deaths in January, but that dropped to only nine deaths in February. “So I believe that was the first single-digit month we’ve had since we’ve been recording a fatality. So February was remarkably low,” he says. Anderson says this month is not off to a good start. “March has started out a little challenging. Again, we’ve had six fatalities in March so far, and we’re still obviously early in the month,” Anderson says.

The 33 traffic deaths through February of this year is down one from the first two months of last year

(Atlantic, IA) – Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War will present a local history of Civil War volunteers this Sunday, March 15, beginning at 2-p.m., at American Legion Memorial Building (The Armory), in Atlantic. The volunteers included 97 men from Cass County who were in Company “I”  of  the 23rd Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

Roy Linn, Graves Registration officer will tell of his experience to verify Civil War graves to place markers and honor their service. Martin Mundorf, local leader will tell more about Company I. Artifacts from that time will be displayed.

The program is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise. There is no fee. The American Legion Memorial Building is located at 201 Poplar Street in Atlantic. It is handicapped accessible.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors visited with Grace McAfee, Cass County Wellness Coordinator, and Megan Roberts, Director of Public Health, on March 5th, 2026, to learn about a new opportunity designed to strengthen volunteerism and community engagement across Cass County.

During the visit, McAfee shared details about the Cass County Volunteerism Grant, a new program that will provide $4,000 in funding to selected nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and community groups. The program was developed after feedback from recent Community Health Needs Assessment surveys, where many local organizations repeatedly identified a shortage of volunteers as a major hurdle to expanding their impact and services.

In addition to funding, participating organizations will receive support through training sessions, staff assistance, and increased visibility for their volunteer efforts. The program includes 12 hours of required in-person training, with at least two team members from each participating organization attending the sessions. Organizations will also have access to optional one-on-one coaching through Volunteer Iowa and Healthy Cass County to help strengthen their volunteer programs.

Standing (Left to Right): BJ Hart, Bre Preis, Dolly Bergmann, Katie Bateman, Alisha Wagner, Auntoni Love, Krysta Hanson, Dan Haynes, Dr. Keith Leonard, Julie Waters, Rob Claussen, Anne Quist, Lana Westphalen
Seated: Megan Roberts, Grace McAfee, Kate Olson

A key component of the initiative will be a community Day of Service, planned for late summer. Participating organizations will host volunteer opportunities and track community participation, encouraging residents to work together in service to Cass County.

Applications for the Cass County Volunteerism Grant are due by noon on April 1, 2026. Grace emphasized that the goal of the program is to provide organizations with tools and resources that help turn funding into lasting community impact while strengthening the culture of volunteerism across Cass County.

Organizations interested in learning more about the grant opportunity are encouraged to contact Grace McAfee at 712-250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org

(Radio Iowa) – The Cedar Rapids School Board plans to eliminate 20 full-time teaching positions from its middle and high schools next budget year in an effort to cut costs. The board earlier had planned to cut 33 positions, but received strong push-back from families. School board president Cindy Garlock says the district’s decisions around staffing and reorganization are a process.

“It is really critical for the community, the public to understand that we are trying to show you how the sausage is getting made,” Garlock says, “and sometimes it’s a convoluted path.” Alumni, parents and students from Washington High School voiced concerns about the impacts of proposed staff cuts. The board reduced the number of proposed reductions at Washington from roughly seven employees to less than one.

School board member Kaitlin Byers says the purpose of the new staffing model is to create consistency across the district and respond to inconsistencies appropriately.  “Educators, leaders, community members engaging in these conversations in a respectful and productive way that has really kept the bigger picture in focus, which we’ve heard public comment, we’ve heard through emails, we’ve heard in our conversation with our board at these meetings,” Byers says. “It just reminds us that we’re operating as a community.”

The reductions are expected to save the district roughly one-point-five million dollars. The district will finalize its decisions regarding teaching staff later this month.

(Radio Iowa) – A half dozen parents of children with disabilities are urging lawmakers to reject a plan that would prevent future governors from abandoning the system that has private insurance companies managing the state’s Medicaid program. Democrat Rob Sand, who’s running for governor, says the private companies have illegally denied care to thousands of Iowans and as governor he’d take steps to reverse privatization.

Kay Marcell of Urbandale says she and her husband have successfully appealed denials of Medicaid services for her 47-year-old son, Joel, who has developmental disabilities and chronic health issues. “I’m 73 years old and I am still providing regular care for my son and I wonder what will happen to him in the system when I am no longer able to support him as I do now,” Marcell said. “Do not lock this state into a system that frankly in my opinion and from my experience has been pretty much a disaster from the beginning and that disaster is getting worse.”

Stacy Ring of Council Blufs says her 20-year-old son does not speak and depends on Medicaid for a variety of services. “We need an exit strategy for what is rapidly becoming a failed experiment,”Ring said. “My son’s life and the lives of thousands of other constituents are in your hands.”

Governor Branstad issued an executive order in 2016 that set up private management of Iowa’s Medicaid program. The senate has voted to make that action state law and a House committee is reviewing the proposal, which would take effect January 1st — a couple of weeks before the next governor is sworn into office.

(Radio Iowa) – Under current law, Iowa youth must finish an online hunter education course AND complete an in-person “field day” before they can get a state hunting license, but a bill that’s passed the Iowa House would eliminate that required in-person gun training. Representative Jason Gearhart, a Republican from Strawberry Point, says in many parts of the state, there are very few field days where minors can fire weapons — and enrollment is limited. “Because of these barriers, my own children completed their hunters education course through North Carolina, which Iowa honored with no second thoughts,” Gearhart said.

Iowans who pass a hunter education in 34 other states are still eligible for an Iowa hunting license — and North Carolina is among the 17 states that only require minors to pass an online version. Representative J.D. Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City, says the way the bill’s written, it’s possible a 16 or 17 year old who has never held a gun could get a hunting license and go hunting by themselves. “When I was in high school, we had hunter safety,” Scholten said. “This bill seems to take the safety part out.” Gearhart says he understands the concern. “But one field day does not replace months or years of mentorship from a parent, from an uncle, from a grandparent or an experienced hunter. That’s where real hunting safety and ethics are learned,” Gearhart said.

“House File 2335 is simple fix tha t will give parents and kids the flexibility to complete the online or in-person course on their schedule, while still keeping the in-person Field Days available for those that want them.” The bill maintains the requirement that children between the ages of 11 and 15 who are hunting be accompanies by an adult. State law requires completion of a hunter safety course before children AND adults may get a hunting license and the State of Iowa has offered the course online since 2008.

Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties…
1143 AM CDT Tue Mar 10 2026

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM NOON ON THURSDAY THROUGH 9-P.M. THURSDAY, FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR All OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA.

* WINDS…Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 20 percent.

* IMPACTS…Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.