(Radio Iowa) – Senator Mike Klimesh — the new Iowa Senate Majority Leader — says the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline was front and center in conversations he had with his fellow Senate Republicans before they elected him as leader two weeks ago.

“We have moved forward on a whole level of other issues — education, taxation — and we’ve done that as a team,” Klimesh said. “This is a disagreement that we had, but I really believe that continuing the conversation is of the utmost importance to finding a solution.” In May, 13 of the 34 Republicans in the Iowa Senate joined with Democrats in voting for new restrictions for carbon pipelines and other utility projects, but Governor Reynolds vetoed the bill in June.

Senator Mike Klemish (R-Spilleville) is the sponsor of Senate Study Bill 1137. (official photo)

“The issue’s not going away, obviously,” Klimesh said. Klimesh says the key is setting the rift aside and finding some sort of common ground. “Remembering how successful we’ve been when we’re together,” Klimesh said, “and to rebuild that internally.” Klimesh says he honed conflict resolution skills while serving as Spillville’s mayor — off and on — for a total of 20 years.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states shows the economy sagging under the weight of retaliatory tariffs, as the region’s manufacturing sector sheds jobs for the sixth straight month. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the September survey indicates many farmers are in for a difficult harvest season as the Trump administration tariffs are backfiring with one of the biggest trading partners.

“China just purchased soybeans from Brazil,” Goss says. “Now, they have not bought U.S. soybeans since May. That’s very unusual. They’re retaliating against our agricultural sector and they’re retaliating against other sectors. And they’re not the only one.” A year ago, China bought about 60-percent of all U-S soybean exports, and is now buying none. As a result, soybean prices are plummeting as Iowa growers are seeing per-bushel prices at one-third of what they were last fall.

Goss says the Creighton survey shows both imports and exports weakened during September, while wholesale prices rose from August and stayed at elevated levels.”Four out of five of our supply managers indicated that tariffs were pushing up prices,” Goss says. “Obviously, that’s not good. Inflation’s above the fed’s target.” Hiring is down significantly and the survey shows the Midwest region lost 38-hundred manufacturing jobs in the past month, while Goss says the U-S lost 78-thousand manufacturing jobs.

“We’re losing jobs, losing manufacturing jobs,” Goss says, “and I know I’ve raised my voice there, but we need to raise our voice about what’s going on in manufacturing because manufacturing and agriculture depend heavily on trade, and trade is not good right now.”

According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, Iowa’s manufacturing sector exported $8.4 billion in goods for the first seven months of this year, compared to $9.3 billion for the same period last year. That’s a drop of more than nine-percent.

DES MOINES [KIMT-TV] — The Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced today (Wednesday, Oct. 1st) that the fatal shooting of Michael Patrick Broyles on August 27 in Council Bluffs, was legally justified. The incident involved officers from the Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department, and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.

The confrontation began when Iowa State Trooper Zach Jensen attempted to stop Broyles on Interstate 29 in Harrison County. Broyles failed to stop immediately and later exited the highway, confronting Jensen with a shotgun. Despite commands to disarm, Broyles fled toward Council Bluffs, and multiple agencies joined the pursuit. The AG’s report states Broyles eventually stopped under an I-29 overpass, where he ignored further commands to surrender. Officers used pepper ball guns unsuccessfully to subdue him. Broyles pointed his shotgun at officers, prompting them to fire.

Broyles returned fire before officers incapacitated him. He was later confirmed dead at a local hospital. Investigators found evidence at the scene, including shotgun shells and a firearm. The AG’s report says Broyles, identified through fingerprints, had a history of confrontations with law enforcement in Alaska and had expressed a refusal to return to jail.

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(Radio Iowa) – Senator Joni Ernst has obtained a Congressional Budget Office report showing about 750-thousand federal employees are likely furloughed today (Wednesday). The agency previously estimated the 2019 government shutdown — which lasted 35 days — cost the overall economy about three BILLION dollars in lost goods and services. Ernst asked the agency to provide an updated cost breakdown for this year.

The Congressional Budget Office says there will be a reduction in consumer spending due to the number of federal workers who aren’t being paid, but the effect on business activity is uncertain and will depend on how long the shutdown lasts.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Republican-led congressional delegation is calling for an end to the federal government shutdown that began at midnight. Senator Joni Ernst says Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is the non-essential government employee of the year for silly government shutdown shenanigans. Senator Chuck Grassley says the shutdown is meant to appease radicals in the Democratic Party. Congressman Randy Feenstra says Democrats are making unreasonable demands. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks calls it political theater.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says it’s creating chaos. And Congressman Zach Nunn uses the phrase D.C. dysfunction to describe the situation. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart says the Iowa Republicans in congress are failing to address a looming health care crisis by refusing to extend tax credits for up to 130-thousand Iowans who buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County, today (Wed., 10/1), approved township clerk wages. Board Chair Nathan Baier…

The Supervisors also approved a longevity raise for Secondary Roads Dept. employee Rick Paxton, who has 25-years of service to the Adair County, and a raise for Lance McFarland, who has obtained his CDL (a condition of his hiring), along with approving a new hire. County Engineer Nick Kauffman…

The Board also gave their blessing on the purchase of a used pickup truck at auction, pending visual inspection, and providing the prices does not exceed $20,000. Engineer Kauffman updated the Supervisors on Adair County Secondary Roads Dept. maintenance and activities….

The Board tabled approval of a Liquor License Application for the Stuart Smoke Shop, LLC, pending a review and confirmation of the application information. They also acknowledged the receipt of Manure Management Plan Updates from Prestage Farms.

(Radio Iowa) – A fundraising effort in eastern Iowa later this month will feature dozens of straw-stuffed scarecrows with the goal of scaring up awareness and donations to help feed the hungry. Cynthia Freese, director of Made in Iowa, says Cedar Rapids will be hosting a Scarecrow Festival on October 18th at Hawkeye Downs. “We do the Made in Iowa markets and this year we decided to incorporate a Scarecrow Festival,” Freese says, “and we’ve had just over 50 people sign up to bring their scarecrows down. So I’m pretty excited that it’s turning out well.”

The Scarecrow Festival is modeled after the Festival of Trees, where each individually crafted holiday tree is put on display — and auction — for charity. Freese says the first step if the new festival is assembling the large collection of scarecrows. “We have age group parameters, and our size parameters are from one inch to six feet,” Freese says. “I know we have somebody who crocheted a teeny, tiny micro one, and I’m super excited to see in person.”

The Made in Iowa Market will feature 150 vendors with a variety of handmade goods, treats, crafts, and one-of-a-kind art, while there will be a series of contests to judge the crop of scarecrows. “The funniest, the scariest, the most creative, the most eco friendly,” Freese says. “We’ve got a young kid that’s submitted one that’s made out of trash that he’s found around the house and on his walks to school, so I’m super excited to see that in person.”

Admission is $5 and Freese says 10-percent of all ticket proceeds go to support Together We Achieve, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger in eastern Iowa. Plus, she says many of the scarecrows will be auctioned or sold to benefit the charity.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say two people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday morning (Sept. 30). 31-year-old Austin Allan Jones, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in the 400 block of W. Townline Street, on charges that include Assault with a dangerous weapon, and Possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana-1st offense. Jones was being held in the Union County Jail on a $3,000 bond.

And, 56-year-old Danny Ray Bird, Jr., of New Market, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, for violating a No Contact/Protective Order. Bird, Jr., was later released after posting a $300 bond.

(Monona County, Iowa) – On Friday, Sept. 26th, representatives with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) and their partners at the Iowa DNR, celebrated with a ribbon cutting at the former Little Sioux Scout Ranch. More than 100 neighbors and supporters of the project joined in to learn more, explore and celebrate the new addition to the Loess Hill State Forest. Permanently protected, residents and visitors of Iowa can continue to forge a connection with nature and enjoy remote camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation across the nearly 1,800-acre former scout camp.

Background:

In late 2022, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in western Iowa from the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. INHF raised nearly $2 million before Dec. 31, when it had to exercise an option to purchase the property. Lead donations of $500,000 from Polina and Bob Schlott of Crescent, $500,000 from the Iowa West Foundation of Council Bluffs, $300,000 from the Gilchrist Foundation of Sioux City and $250,000 from the MidAmerican Energy Foundation — along with hundreds of other private donations — made it possible to purchase the vast wilderness area.

The 1,776-acre property has been used as a scout camp for more than 50 years by troops from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. In 2021, the Gilwell Foundation, which owns all the properties used by the council, came to the difficult decision to sell the camp due to declining attendance. At that time, INHF purchased an option to buy the property that expired at the end of 2022, setting a goal to raise $2 million for the project, which will cost more than $7 million in total.

“The support for this project has been amazing,” said INHF President Joe McGovern. “Donors have told us they want to see this place protected — staying in one piece and not being developed — but they’re also excited to see it opened to the public eventually.” In working on the sale with the council, INHF has agreed to do three things: Open the property to the public; maintain the memorial to four boys that died in a 2008 tornado on the property; and honor and share the history of LSSR as a scout camp.

The site is now part of the Loess Hills State Forest and is owned and managed by the Iowa DNR.

Learn more about the project here.