DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds today (Friday) welcomed the announcement that BioMADE, a Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institute, has selected Iowa to establish a bioindustrial manufacturing scale-up facility at Iowa State University’s (ISU) BioCentury Research Farm in Boone, reinforcing Iowa’s leadership in bioscience innovation. A news release from the Iowa Economic Development Agency (IEDA) said the facility will feature 5,000-liter and 10,000-liter fermenters and downstream processing equipment, enabling companies to scale up fermentation-based technologies using Iowa’s abundant agricultural feedstocks. BioMADE will operate the facility in coordination with ISU Research Park. The announcement was made at the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board meeting.

“Iowa is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Defense and BioMADE to build the infrastructure needed to lead in the next generation of biomanufacturing,” said Governor Reynolds. “This facility will unleash new value from our agricultural resources, create high-quality jobs, and ensure Iowa remains at the forefront of bioscience innovation and global competitiveness.”

Established in 2020, BioMADE leads a nationwide program to address a foundational gap in domestic pilot- and demonstration-scale bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure. In 2024, BioMADE announced that Iowa was one of six states named as a finalist for potential project support—recognizing Iowa’s strategic assets in agriculture, renewable energy, and bioscience expertise.

“BioMADE is thrilled to be establishing this facility in Iowa,” said Dr. Douglas Friedman, Chief Executive Officer at BioMADE. “Iowa’s longstanding leadership in bioindustrial manufacturing makes it an ideal site for scale-up capacity. We’re excited to work with our partners at Iowa State University to establish this site, which will secure domestic supply chains for critical consumer and defense products – while also creating new markets for American-grown crops, re-shoring manufacturing jobs, and expanding rural development.”

At a total project value of $40 million, BioMADE has committed at least $20 million, which will be matched by up to $10 million in cost-share contributions from ISU and $10 million in funding from IEDA’s Strategic Infrastructure Program, approved today by the IEDA board  over two fiscal years. The project will support workforce development, startup growth, and technology commercialization, while helping Iowa diversify beyond traditional biofuels and attract early-stage companies to establish permanent operations in the state.

“At ISU Research Park, we believe that the future of agriculture lies in bold partnerships and relentless innovation. Collaborations like the one with BioMADE, IEDA, ISU Research Park and Iowa State exemplify how these entities can come together to accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the next generation of sustainable, resilient ag technologies,” said Rick Sanders, president, ISU Research Park. “We’re proud to be part of a movement that has the potential to secure additional value and products from crops produced right here in Iowa and in turn, strengthen the bioeconomy.”

(Radio Iowa) – A fund drive is underway for a new building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Governor Kim Reynolds says the Agricultural Education Center won’t just be open during the State Fair.  “We’re hoping kids will come there all throughout the year and really talk about ag and what it means to this state and to our economy and to the world,” Reynolds says. “As more and more kids get removed from the farm, we’ve got to do a better job of telling our story and having that interaction.” The center will focus on crop development, Iowa soils, farm equipment and jobs in agriculture.

The state budget plan Reynolds signed this spring includes five MILLION dollars for the building — about a third of estimated construction costs. The Agricultural Education Center will be built next to the “Little Hands on the Farm” exhibit during the State Fair that guides children through a garden, grain bin, tractor shed, apple orchard and livestock barns.

Reynolds says that will create a “kids zone” on the fairgrounds that’s focused on telling the story of Iowa agriculture.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a man from Nebraska was arrested Wednesday in connection with the murder on August 8th, of 19-year-old Dylan Ray Hall, of Council Bluffs. Authorities say Detectives with the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, Tuesday, applied for and a warrant was issued for, the arrest of 18-year-old Gabriel Michael-Keon Irby, of Omaha, Nebraska, for one count of Murder in the 1st Degree. Irby was taken arrested without incident Wednesday, by the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force, at a location in southwest Omaha. He will be held at the Douglas County, NE,  Corrections Center while the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office arranges for his extradition to Iowa.

Gabriel Michael-Keon Irby (CB-PD photo)

Authorities in Council Bluffs say the charges are not evidence against Irby, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reminds the public that they can help police solve crimes by providing tips and information to the Criminal Investigation Division or the Vice / Narcotics Unit. You can call the Crime Stoppers line at (712) 328-STOP, the Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or the Vice / Narcotics Unit at (712) 890-5400, option 6. If no one answers, please leave a message. You don’t have to leave your name and can be anonymous.

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Original Press Release from the Council Bluffs P-D on August 8th:

On today’s date, at approximately 7:31am, Council Bluffs Police and Council Bluffs Fire & Rescue responded to 1629 Ave B for a man down. Officers and medics found the male party to be deceased. Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators were then called to the scene to investigate. Early in the investigation the male party was able to be identified as a Dylan Hall, 19 years old, of Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Management has sent an alert to state employees, warning the state’s Emergency Operations Center has observed an increase in so-called “phishing” attacks targeting state government. The agency is asking state employees to be wary of emails that seem legitimate, but ask them to verify an account, open a file, or click a link to login with their username and password. Phishing scams often target government agencies since they collect and store a lot of personal data and manage critical infrastructure.

Last December, officials in Rhode Island announced a so-called Ransomware attack on that state’s health services system had exposed the personal data of hundreds of thousands of Rhode Island residents. According to the F-B-I, over 90 percent of successful breaches of government and business data systems begin with a phishing scam.

(Radio Iowa) – At least 300-thousand people are expected at the Iowa State Fair over its final three days, as the forecast for Des Moines calls for mostly sunny skies and steamy high temperatures back in the 90s today (Friday) through Sunday. Fairgoers are being warned to take precautions to stay safe in the extreme heat. Lieutenant Mike Miller, of the Des Moines Fire Department, is stationed at the fair and says it’s important to act quickly if you see someone collapse from the heat. “The first step would be to call 911 and get us coming,” Miller says. “If you’re able to, get them out of the direct sunlight, under a shade tree or whatever else. You got a bunch of clothes on, you’re going to remove what you can to keep them decent but also try to cool them that way. Obviously, make sure they’re breathing and it’s not a cardiac arrest or anything like that.”

There are usually three or four ambulances stationed at the fair, in addition to “med carts” that can slice through the heavy crowds more quickly. Miller says to pay attention to your body and watch for warning signs that you may be nearing heat exhaustion, like if your vision starts to dim or blur. “If you notice that you’ve been sweating all day and then all of the sudden you quit sweating, that’s not a good sign. That means you’re dehydrated to the point where you don’t have anything else to give,” Miller says. “If you can feel your heart thumping through your chest and it’s beating at a fast rate, it’s trying to circulate that blood to cool things down. That’s another good indicator.”

One of the biggest keys to staying safe in the heat is to drink plenty of non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages, and keep a close eye on your own health and the people with you. “Know your limitations, right? Some guys work construction, they can be out in the sun all day. Some people are cave dwellers and don’t come out in it very much. They don’t have a lot of sun exposure and endurance to the heat. Definitely stay hydrated. Stay shaded. Wear a hat.”

A C-D-C report says more than 12-hundred people die nationwide every year as a direct result of extreme heat. The study from the American Heart Association predicts cardiovascular disease deaths related to extreme heat may more than double in the next two decades.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports an Adams County man was arrested on sex abuse charges Thursday night, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 34-year-old  Eric Daniel Batson, of Corning, faces charges that include four-counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. Batson is being held in the Union County Jail without bond.

Online court records show that in February, 2025 Batson voluntarily plead guilty to a negotiated charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree – an Aggravated Misdemeanor, associated with an incident that occurred in May, 2024. He was sentenced to one-year of probation.

DES MOINES – State Treasurer Roby Smith celebrated the second annual National ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Savings Day on Thursday, August 14^th, by promoting IAble, Iowa’s ABLE savings plan. The goal of the annual savings day is to raise awareness for programs like IAble and the benefits they have for eligible individuals to save.

“Those living with a disability face many different obstacles but saving shouldn’t be one,” said Treasurer Smith. “IAble has changed the way people with disabilities and their support systems can save, plan for the future and build financial wellness. If you have a friend or family member who might benefit from an IAble account, I encourage you to visit IAble.gov and take the eligibility quiz.”

IAble currently serves more than 3,400 people who mix and match eight different investment options checking account option, to create an account that works best for them. To learn more about all the advantages of IAble, visit IAble.gov.

Connect with the Treasurer on Facebook,  Instagram and X, to stay informed of updates and news.

More about IAble:

IAble, administered by State Treasurer Roby Smith, provides eligible people with disabilities and their support systems a way to save money while maintaining crucial benefits for federally means-tested programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Funds in IAble accounts can be used to cover qualified disability expenses like assistive technology, support services, medical bills and much more. If you or a loved one could benefit from an IAble account visit IAble.gov.

For more details about IAble, review the Plan Disclosure Booklet.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A former educator from the Atlantic Community School District has announced on social media he intends to run for a seat on the Atlantic School Board. According to his biography posted on social media, Justin Williams brings over two decades of experience in education to the table. A licensed school superintendent, teacher, and K-12 administrator, he says he has dedicated his career to fostering student success.

Justin Williams (photo from his Facebook campaign announcement)

He is a former coach and one of the founders of the Atlantic Soccer Association, according to Williams, has lead initiatives that have enriched the lives of countless local students. During his career, his bio says he played a crucial role in helping over 100 At-Risk students graduate from the CCEOC program. His dedication was recognized when he was named Co-Teacher of the Year in Atlantic in 2019.

Williams’s platform is centered on a promise to restore transparency and trust within the district. He aims to be a strong voice for all students and staff, advocating for their needs and ensuring their perspectives are heard. With a focus on restoring fiscal sanity, he believes his extensive knowledge and expertise are exactly what the district needs to move forward. He is campaigning on a platform of change, believing it is time for a new direction for the Atlantic School Board.

The first day to file papers for the November 4^th City and School Elections, is August 25^th. The last day to file candidate nomination papers is September 18th, 2025, at 5-p.m. There are two positions open on the Atlantic School Board.

You may pick up nomination paperwork from the Atlantic School Board Secretary Lisa Jones, or print them from the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. Your nomination form must have at least 50 signatures in order to be filed with the Cass County Auditor’s Office.

AUDUBON, Iowa [KCCI] — U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said farmers are doing their part to help keep nitrates out of Iowans’ drinking water. His statement came during a visit to TNT Industries in Audubon Thursday afternoon. The Republican Senator from Iowa emphasized that farmers are already taking steps to prevent chemical runoff, which has been linked to high nitrate levels in water sources. Grassley told KCCI that he thinks farmers have done well by being more careful in their use of chemicals and fertilizers.

Grassley noted that Iowa was commended for its plan to protect and clean up its waterways in the last decade. He suggested that encouraging the use of grass waterways and establishing more wetlands could be another part of the solution.

Sen. Grassley visits TNT Industries in Audubon, Aug. 14, 2025. (Photo from Grassley’s Facebook page)

The discussion comes after the metro was under a lawn watering ban for nearly two months because of high nitrate levels in the main water sources. A study by Polk County suggests farm pollution poses a risk to the water supply.

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Energy Secretary Chris Wright toured the Ames National Lab at Iowa State University Thursday. One of the Lab’s core research priorities is developing ways to extract and re-use rare earth elements from electronic waste in everything from smart phones to missiles and jet fighters. Wright says the U-S relies too heavily on other countries to supply and process critical materials. “That’s become a national defense problem for us. It’s become a medical problem for us in times of crisis. Ames laboratory here is a leader in bringing these technologies and these capabilities back to our country,” he says. The Department of Energy has proposed cutting hundreds of millions of dollars for renewable energy programs, but Wright says he supports technologies that contribute to U-S energy.

“But wind, solar and batteries provide three percent of the United States energy, yet the majority of the budget at the Department of Energy. That’s just nonsensical,” Wright says. The think tank Ember Energy reports wind and solar last year provided a combined 17 percent of U-S energy, surpassing coal for the first time. Wright says priorities for the agency include nuclear and next generation geothermal. “We have to stabilize our electricity grid, we need to get away from the nonsense that somehow we’re not going to use fossil fuels in the near future.”

The Department of Energy removed the National Climate Assessments from its website earlier this year. Wright says climate change is a “true physical phenomenon” but not the “world’s greatest problem.” Wright was joined by congresswomen Joni Ernst, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, and representatives of the Conservative Climate Caucus. He’s the fourth cabinet member to visit Iowa this week.