(Radio Iowa) – The final weekend of campaigning is ahead, leading up to what may be the chilliest evening ever for the Iowa Caucuses.  The candidates are fully aware of the forecast. Ron DeSantis says Floridians usually don’t go north in the winter. “I haven’t ever experienced negative 15 degrees in my life,” he said at an event Thursday. DeSantis says his winter coat is getting shipped up to Iowa from Tallahassee.

Nikki Haley is from South Carolina. “In October and November and December I’m like: ‘It’s cold!’ And everybody was like: ‘No, it’s really mild,'” Haley said Thursday morning. “I get it now.”

Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson says the temperatures will be a test of voters’ attitudes about the candidates. “You’re going to have to be pretty enthusiastic to go out there Monday night,” Peterson says. Peterson has been directing a monthly “Civiqs” poll for the past five months. In December, he described support for former President Trump as “durable.” Peterson is using the word “immovable” after this month’s poll. “Nothing’s changed,” Peterson said. “It’s an entirely stable race.”

Jean Schlichtemeier of West Des Moines is a Trump voter who went to see him in Newton last weekend. “I think the other candidates are just playing politics and we need someone who’s gutsy — and this man seems to have guts,” she said. In 2016, 37,000 Iowans who were Democrats registered as Republicans on Caucus Night in order to cast a straw poll vote for president. Mary Howard of Cedar Rapids says it’s hard to decide which party’s caucus she’ll attend this year. “I want to vote against Trump which would be the reason to go to the Republican Party thing,” Howard said at the end of December, “but I’m unsure of the candidates.”

There is one sure thing. The Caucuses will start at 7 p.m. Monday, regardless of the weather.

(Radio Iowa) – A judge has ruled the State of Iowa cannot require a panel that nominates people to fill vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have an equal number of men and women. In her ruling, U-S District Court Judge Stephanie Rose said the gender balance requirement for the State Judicial Nominating Commiussion violates the U-S Constitution’s equal protection clause.

A California based group filed the lawsuit challenging the rule on behalf of three Iowans. One of them is chief legal counsel for The Family Leader, a group that pushed for recent changes in Iowa’s judicial selection process. Governor Kim Reynolds is asking lawmakers to repeal Iowa’s gender balance requirement for ALL state boards and commissions.

(Radio Iowa) – The funeral was held this (Thursday) morning for the 11-year-old boy who was shot to death at Perry High School last week. Perry police say sixth grader Ahmir Jolliff was shot three times in the cafeteria by the 17-year-old gunman who wounded four other students and three adults — including the principal — before taking his own life.

According to a post on the Perry Community School District website, elementary school students will head back to class next Thursday, which will be two weeks after the violence, while middle schoolers will return next Friday.

The site says the return for high school students is “still being discussed as there are many factors to consider.”

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa nonprofits are facing a financial crunch as they run out of state and federal pandemic relief funds, which is a concern for Iowa seniors who rely on meal deliveries. The Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging’s nutrition budget has been cut nearly in half since its COVID assistance ran dry. That means a reduction in daily hot meal deliveries for 18 counties. Agency C-E-O Mike Donohue says state legislative funding just isn’t keeping pace with the cost of meals.

“We have seen those costs just go through the roof,” Donohue says. “We had per-meal costs that were in the $6 range prior to the pandemic that today are $10.” Donohue’s agency does get state money to operate but he says that funding isn’t keeping up with the cost of inflation.

“Overall, funding really hasn’t changed much,” he says. “I think if you look over the past five years, funding has grown about six percent total.” The agency plans to continue to make meal deliveries to about 500 area seniors, though as of last week, those deliveries started coming in bulk, every two weeks, instead of every day.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborn — appointed to the post last March — says he’s leading “the greatest transformation” of the Guard in its 186 year history.

“This initiative is a reorganization that optimizes organizational efficiencies, leverages our human capital, and brings the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard into a more cohesive, joint team,” Olson said today, “without growing our force structure.”

Olson delivered the annual “Condition of the Guard” address to Iowa lawmakers this morning. “Ultimately, these long range, holistic efforts lay the groundwork to keep your Iowa National Guard ready to execute any state or federal mission well into the future,” Olson said.

Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Olson (Official photo)

Olson has hired a full-time staff director to oversee Army and Air Guard operations. Also, in response to a congressional mandate, he’s hired 14 new civilian employees to help service members with violence and sexual assault prevention, as well as victim advocacy.

“We owe our service members every opportunity and benefit to take care of them,” Olson said, “and to allow them to do their jobs.”

There are nearly 9000 soldiers, airmen and civilian staff in the Iowa National Guard today. Iowa Army National Guard units have deployed to Poland, Kosovo, the Middle East and the U.S./Mexico border in the past year. Airmen from the Iowa Air Guard were on missions in Korea, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greenland, and Germany during 2023.

Altoona, Iowa, Jan. 11, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is awarding $19 million in grants to U.S. business owners to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in 22 states and give Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options at gas station pumps as part of President Biden’s Bidenomics agenda to lower costs and invest in America.

Blending ethanol into gasoline has helped reduce fuel costs by approximately 25 percent, contributing to falling gas prices across the country. Gas prices are now under $2.99 in more than half of U.S. states and saving the average driver more than $100 per month relative to peak prices. HBIIP increases the number of Americans that benefit from falling prices by expanding the use of ethanol-based fuels at gas stations around the nation.

The Department is making the awards through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), made possible with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

“President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is giving people in rural areas the historic opportunity to expand clean energy and build an economy that benefits working families,” Vilsack said. “By increasing the supply of biofuels made here in the U.S., we are strengthening our energy independence, lowering costs for American families, creating new streams of income for agricultural producers and bringing good-paying jobs to people in rural communities.”

Secretary Vilsack made today’s announcement during his visit to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona. Secretary Vilsack was awarded the Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels Award by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association during the Summit.

Through this most recent tranche of awards, business owners are receiving $19 million to expand access to domestic biofuels in 22 states and strengthen America’s energy independence. For example:

·     Casey’s will use a $5 million grant to install ethanol blend fuel dispensers at 111 fueling stations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. Using these investments, the company aims to increase the amount of biofuels it supplies by 50 million gallons a year.

The full list of states to receive funding is: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowa officials need to close a loophole that could let foreign interests town Iowa farmland.  “We absolutely cannot let foreign governments undermine the agricultural dominance our farmers have worked so hard to build,” Reynolds said. Reynolds is calling on the Iowa Secretary of State’s office to review land purchase documents, to see if foreign governments or individuals are involved in U-S based companies or trusts that have purchased farmland. “Fortunately, I’m proud to say that Iowa already has some of the strongest laws in the country on foreign ownership of land,” Reynolds said. “In fact, we’ve seen other states look to us for a model for their own policies, but as China’s our laws should, too.”

Under current law, foreigners may own now more than 320 acres of Iowa farmland. Reynolds has proposed a bill that calls on the Iowa Secretary of State to compile a public report to show the extent of foreign ownership of farmland in Iowa.  “With this bill, Iowa will continue to lead the nation and keep American soil in American hands,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds made her comments this (Thursday) morning at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. G-O-P presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are speaking to the group, too.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Facilities Director Russell Peck, Wednesday, provided an annual report to the School Board on Operations and Maintenance of those facilities.

The rooms to be carpeted were also painted prior to the installation of carpet, and a preschool room which needed painting. He also spoke about HVAC projects.

He said they had some Capital Project Plans, which included a maintenance truck.

He said they also got another snowblower, sweeper and blower in a good deal.

Peck said they’re going to have to address removing the District’s 15 or so Ash Trees, which are susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer, and a potential liability. A majority of the trees are around the Middle School. They’ll save money, he said, if they purchase a dump trailer (new or used) to load the trees. The only alternative would be to hire someone for the project.

DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its final quarterly Economic Outlook Survey (EOS) for 2023. The report measures IBC member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. If the index measures above 50, sentiment is positive. The fourth-quarter survey’s overall economic outlook index is 59.65, a decrease of 0.27 index points from the 2023 third-quarter report.

The fourth-quarter survey reveals minimal changes in the overall outlook index although several categories experienced larger shifts. IBC members retain a positive sentiment regarding Iowa’s overall economy. Q4 sales expectations among IBC members decreased 4.01 to a value of 57.89. Capital spending expectations increased by 6.40 to 67.11, while employment expectations decreased by 3.19 to a value of 53.95.

Concerns relating to workforce attraction and retention remain the number one concern with 74% of surveyed IBC executives listing it as a primary business challenge. Tied for second at 53% were an unfavorable business climate (national supply chain, infrastructure, and regulations) and the cost of products and service inputs. From a workforce perspective, 85% of IBC executives surveyed report that it is somewhat to very difficult to currently hire employees, down from 90% from the third-quarter survey. “Iowa’s economy is in a strong position as we enter 2024,” stated Phil Jasper, President of Raytheon, and Chair of the Iowa Business Council. “Our members remain optimistic about the future growth prospects here in Iowa that will lead to high-quality jobs and innovations throughout our state.”

“With the start of the legislative session, we look forward to working with members of the Iowa General Assembly and Governor Reynolds as we all work towards creating a more prosperous state for everyone,” said Iowa Business Council President Joe Murphy.

The Economic Outlook Survey has been completed by IBC members on a quarterly basis since 2004. The report provides insight regarding the projected trends for the state of Iowa, which can be used for business and economic planning. The reported trends have a state-wide impact, especially when considering that IBC companies have a presence in all 99 counties. To review previous Economic Outlook Surveys, please visit www.iowabusinesscouncil.org/news/eos.