(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says based on the federal investigation of problems at the state-run facility in Glenwood that provides residential care for Iowans with intellectual and developmental disabilities — closure was really the only choice left to state officials.”This was a really, really tough decision, but after two years of COVID and after the DOJ’s findings and what their recommendations are, after continually trying to look for ways to make that work, we can’t,” Reynolds says.

The Department of Justice released a report in December that concludes the majority of residents at the Glenwood Resource Center could be cared for in private, community-based facilities instead and the state would spend less money on that care compared to the institutional setting at Glenwood. “Honestly, their objective is to go to community based living,” Reynolds says. “That’s where they believe the residents should be and so when you take all of that into account, we didn’t have a choice,”

Last Thursday, Reynolds announced the Glenwood Resource Center would close in two years after some residents are transferred to a similar state facility in Woodward, but the majority go into private care settings. Staff who stay during the transition will be paid retention bonuses and other employees are being offered job search assistance. “That really gives the respect and dignity to the residents and to the people that work there and have served these residents for years,” Reynolds says.

The governor says it was growing more difficult to find staff, plus she says there had been legitimate questions raised in 2019 about the care and safety of residents — leaving closure as the final option. “We have to move forward and so I appreciate all of the efforts that’s been put into doing that in a respectful manner because I’m telling you no one wants to make that decision and it’s hard,” Reynolds says. “Really hard.”

Iowa Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia met with the family members and guardians of Glenwood residents this weekend and other state officials have been in Glenwood to talk about what’s next.

Reynolds made her remarks to reporters after attending an event on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

IOWA — Officials with tech giant Google today (Wednesday), announced plans to invest more than $50 million in Iowa in 2022. Nationally, Google plans to invest approximately $9.5 billion in offices and data centers and create at least 12,000 new full-time Google jobs across the U.S. this year. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet says “Google’s offices and data centers provide vital anchors to our local communities and help us contribute to their economies. As we embrace more flexibility in how we work, we believe it’s more important than ever to invest in our campuses and that doing so will make for better products, a greater quality of life for our employees, and stronger communities. That’s why we’re planning to invest approximately $9.5 billion in U.S. offices and data centers this year, creating more than 12,000 Google jobs in communities across the country.”

Google has called Iowa home for more than a decade with a data center in Council Bluffs that has created jobs for over 900 people in a variety of full-time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers and various food services, maintenance and security roles. Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh says “Google’s new $50 million investment announced today underscores their commitment to our Council Bluffs community. Building upon the $5 billion already invested in the Council Bluffs data center facilities, this new investment will continue to provide a ripple of economic impact throughout the state.” Google’s data center in Council Bluffs came online in 2009.

Google also released their 2021 Economic Impact Report today, sharing how Google helped provide $1.45 billion of economic activity for thousands of Iowa businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators and developers last year. More than 187,000 Iowa businesses received requests for directions, phone calls, bookings, reviews, and other direct connections to their customers from Google in 2021. The company has awarded more than $3 million to local schools and nonprofits in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – The city of Cedar Rapids is holding a vigil tonight after the shooting at the nightclub this past weekend that left two people dead and ten injured. Cedar Rapids Mayor, Tiffany O’Donnell told K-C-R-G- T-V local government officials felt compelled to organize a vigil as it became very clear that people needed to talk about this. “We have a community that is not used to this tragedy,” she says. O’Donnell says this is an opportunity for them to provide a space to heal.

“One of them called me in tears and just said, you know, I’m a really active person in this community, I like to go out and do stuff. I was almost at the club Saturday night. Is this, how it’s gonna be? And it broke my heart to hear him say that because this is an engaged, positive, lifelong member of our community who’s questioning his safety,” O’Donnell says.

Kara Grafft works at Harambee House in the Wellington Heights community. She describes it as a one-stop-shop for people in the area who have experienced trauma. Grafft tells K-C-R-G T-V that this is something that will stay with the 150 people who were in the club. “Other stories will come along so that will take our attention, but for the people that were there and experienced this….when that gets quiet it doesn’t get quiet for them you know that might be when things really settle in for them or they really start to struggle with the after effects of it,” according to Grafft.

Grafft has this advice for those dealing with the aftermath of the shooting. “Surround yourself with a positive network as much as you can kind of stick to a routine get good sleep take care of yourself,” she says. Mayor O’Donnell says supplying the positive network is part of their job. “As a city, we have a role to play in helping to heal and move our city forward, whatever that looks like,” O’Donnell says.

The Cedar Rapids “Vigil for Community Healing” is tonight (Wednesday) at 7:00 inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Mays Island.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials in Mills County report a county-wide Burn Ban will be effect from 8-a.m. Thursday (April 14th) until further notice. Mills County EMA Director Gabe Barney says the ban, which prohibits open burning in Mills County, and includes all the cities within the county, is being implemented due to the abnormally dry air conditions, temperatures and high winds. A majority of the local fire departments were in agreement, and the ban was approved today (Wednesday), by the State Fire Marshal in Des Moines.

An application to your local fire chief can be obtained to allow a permit for an open burn IF your local fire official believes it is safe to do so. After approval of a permit, several county entities are informed, to lessen the danger of false alarms and the unnecessary expenditure of crews and equipment. Barney says “This is a dangerous situation, and we relay on the public to assist us in this ban.” The conditions are such that a fast moving wild land fire and quickly destroy property, and become life threatening if left uncontrolled.

Citizens are reminded to:

• Avoid using fireworks and other items that produce a flame or sparks.
• Do Not throw cigarettes from moving vehicles.
• Discontinue the burning of yard waste, piled tree debris, or other such items, during this ban.

Small recreational camp fires are permitted ONLY if they are conducted in a fireplace made of brick, metal or heavy, one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fireplace is prohibited. Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to a citation or arrest for reckless use of fire, or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 515-725-6125, or go to www.dps.state.ia.us.  You may also call the Mills County EMA Office at 712-527-3643.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Atlantic Trees Forever spokesperson Dolly Bergmann says spring tree vouchers are now available. Bergmann says “Because of the past year there are many people needing trees this spring.  We ask that you limit one voucher per homeowner so more people can get a start replacing trees that were destroyed.” Tree vouchers are a great way to help with the cost of a tree to plant.  The vouchers are worth $30 off the cost of a tree, and can be obtained at Pymosa Farms, north of Atlantic.

Dolly Bergmann said there are a limited number of vouchers available. Those at Pymosa Farms can help you determine what kind of tree would work best in the location you would like to plant a tree.  It is important to water the trees this spring and during the summer.

Pymosa Farms is located at 50979 Buck Creek Road, Atlantic, but Bergmann suggests calling owner Tim Reavis, at 402-659-1213 before driving out to the farm to ensure someone is available to help you.

(Des Moines, IA) Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are increasingly impacting Iowans. Preliminary data from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) for 2021 show significant increases in some STDs.

Most notably, syphilis has reached its highest numbers in the state in a generation. There were 554 diagnoses of infectious syphilis reported to IDPH in 2021. This is a 55% increase from the preceding year. Shifts are also occurring among our populations in Iowa who are most affected. Although the majority of diagnoses continues to be among men, the number of diagnoses among women nearly tripled in a single year. The increased number of women affected has led to historic increases in congenital syphilis (which occurs when the infection is passed from a pregnant person to the fetus or newborn). In 2021, there were 11 cases of congenital syphilis in Iowa – more than the last 20 years combined. Additionally, rates of syphilis among our Black and Indigenous populations, and populations of color overall, are increasingly disproportionate. 

Get Yourself Tested is a campaign encouraging young people to get tested and treated for STDs and HIV to protect their health and that of their partners. STDs affect people of all ages, yet these diseases take a particularly heavy toll on young people.

Disease Intervention Specialists at IDPH and Polk, Linn, Scott, and Black Hawk county health departments work with people affected by HIV and other STDs, like syphilis, every day. Through  these services, Iowans receive medical care and referrals to other supportive services. Iowans looking for STD testing can access two testing locator options here or here.

IDPH continues to work with its partner organizations, the medical community, and the public to raise awareness, make risk reduction easier (including increased testing and early diagnosis and treatment), and reduce stigma.

DES MOINES – Thousands of students across Iowa made their voices heard about the upcoming election when they cast ballots in Secretary of State’s Paul Pate’s Iowa Youth Straw Poll, Tuesday. Students in K-12 schools were invited to vote for their preferred candidates in Iowa’s congressional and gubernatorial races. Candidates submitted video messages tailored toward students. As of the last report, with nearly 9,000 votes cast, Republican Chuck Grassley leads all candidates in the U.S. Senate race with 39 % of the vote. Republican Jim Carlin is second with 23%. Democratic Abby Finkenauer has 20%.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds leads the gubernatorial field, with 65% of the vote. Some Youth Straw Poll participants will be eligible to participate in the June primary and November general election this year.  Secretary Pate says “It’s important to engage our young people in civics at an early age and this is a fun, hands-on way to do that. Voting is not only a civic duty, but also the best way to make your voice heard. My thanks to all the students who participated, and to the teachers that helped organize events at their schools.”

Iowa’s four U.S. Congressional races were also polled, with Republicans leading in three of the four districts. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads Christina Bohannan in the First District, 65-35%.  Ashley Hinson is ahead of Liz Mathis in the Second District, 66-34% Democrat Cindy Axne has the most votes so far in the Third District, with 30%, followed by three Republicans, Nicole Hasso at 28%, Gary Leffler at 22% and Zach Nunn at 20%. Republican Randy Feenstra is leading in the Fourth District with 66%.

The Iowa Youth Straw Poll is open to students of every grade level and youth civic organizations.

Vote totals are available by clicking here.

(Washington, D-C) – President Biden has announced five new federal judicial nominees, all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution, including a District Court Judge in Iowa. His office says “These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country — both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.” The announcement marks the President 16th round of nominees for federal judicial positions and his fourth slate of nominations in 2022, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 90.

District Court

Judge Stephen Henley Locher: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa

Judge Stephen Henley Locher has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Iowa since 2021. He was previously a partner at Belin McCormick, P.C., in Des Moines, Iowa from 2013 to 2021. From 2008 to 2013, Judge Locher was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. From 2004 to 2008, Judge Locher was an associate at Goldberg Kohn in Chicago. Judge Locher served as a law clerk for Judge John R. Gibson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 2003 to 2004.

Judge Locher received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2003, and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, magna cum laude, in 2000.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Department says no injuries to a motorist from Cass County, after a vehicle struck a deer Tuesday night. Authorities say a 2010 Dodge Caliber driven by 66-year-old Anita Ruth Shimer, of Griswold, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 8:40-p.m., when a deer came out of the south ditch and crossed the road. The car struck the deer, causing $1,500 damage to the vehicle.

And, Creston Police say a woman residing in the 100 block of S. Jarvis Street, in Creston, reported on Tuesday, that two tires on her vehicle had been slashed overnight. The loss was estimated at $299.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board will hold their regular monthly meeting this evening in the Schuler Elementary School Media Center. The meeting (which can be viewed on You Tube) begins at 5:30-p.m., with three Public Hearings on:

• The 2021-22 Amended Certified Budget. The change estimates of expenditures will be financed from increased receipts and balances not budgeted or considered in the current budget. There will be NO increase in taxes paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. School officials say the $8-million increase is due to unforeseen events that took place after the budget was approved, including: The Middle School Fire Damage; ESSER Expenditures & the Teacher Retention Payments, as well as the HS Greenhouse Project. The amendment is necessary because a school district cannot overspend amounts found on their annual Certified Budget. The certified budget is due in to the State by April 15th.
• The proposed 2022-23 Certified Budget, for which the tax rate is estimated to be $13.25/$1,000 valuation, as opposed to $13.95 in FY22.
• The creation and expending of Flexibility Accounts. Superintendent Steve Barber recommends the following transfers from “categoricals” to a flexibility account in the general fund: $200,000 from the Teacher Leadership Supplement; $15,439.18 from Model Core Curriculum, and $100,000 from the Home School Assistance Program.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on the following resignations and contract recommendations:

Other action items during the Board’s meeting include:

• Approving the 2021-22 Amended, Certified Budget.
• A Resolution – Levying a tax for Fiscal Year 2022-23 for the future optional redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2019, and to approve related documents.
• A Resolution with regard to the Flexibility Fund Transfers

The Atlantic School Board will also act on approving Winter Season Coaching contracts for

And, the Board is expected to approve a sharing agreement with the Griswold CSD for Transportation Director. Their final order of business before entering into a closed session, is with regard to a Long-Term Suspension Agreement. After the Board comes out of their closed session for discussion with District Legal Counsel, they are likely to act on a Legal Complaint with regard to the Middle School Fire.