(Radio Iowa) – An unusual phone message led to a five MILLION dollar grant for the Siouxland Community Health Center of Sioux City. Mari Kaptain-Dahlen, the C-E-O of the non-profit health center, says the initial call came in mid-September from a woman who would only talk to her. “I was pretty skeptical because I get messages like that every week, but the woman had a very intriguing name, which has to remain anonymous, so I decided to give her a call,” Kaptain-Dahlen said. “When I returned her call and introduced myself, she said to me: ‘Thank you for taking a leap of faith to call me back. Many people don’t.'”

The woman Kaptain-Dahlen was speaking with represents the Yield Giving Foundation — established by MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bazos. In the past three years, Scott has given away about half her fortune to non-profits around the world. Kaptain-Dahlen says this is how the foundation representative she spoke with in September announced the grant:

“This woman said to me: ‘Well, Mary, we have fully vetted you and we have fully vetted your organization and we have fully vetted your leadership team,'” Kaptain-Dahlen said yesterday, “and she said: ‘We have found you to be a thriving organization and I am notifying you that Yield Giving has identified you as one of the funding recipients for 2023.'”

Last year, the Siouxland Community Health Center served 35-thousand patients who spoke 52 different languages. The center’s C-E-O credits the more than 350 people on staff and board members for embracing the non-profit’s mission. “Your commitment to make sure that mission is achieved with every person who comes through these doors and the empowerment of that mission that you have cultivated with your team and all of our staff — that is what has brought us to this moment,” she said.

Andrea Buckley, chair of the center’s board of directors, also spoke at yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) news conference. “We’re going to create a task force, hopefully come up with a real catchy name for it,” she said with a laugh, “but it’s really an opportunity for us to listen to our stakeholders, listen to our partners, listen to our community and figure out how we can use this gift.”

Yield Giving’s website indicates the foundation has donated more than 14 BILLION dollars to over 16-hundred non-profits around the world so far and at least seven are located in Iowa.

(Adel, IA) – The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday evening, said earlier in the day, Wednesday (11/1/23), a search warrant was executed at 33034 165th Street in rural Dallas County, Iowa. The search warrant was in reference to an ongoing live stock neglect investigation at that location.

Dallas County Sheriff’s Office Detectives located 46 horses on the property that were in need of Veterinarian care. These horses were seized as a part of this investigation. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending at this time. This release will be updated when more information is available.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is greatly appreciative of the assistance of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture also assisted in this investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Eligible Iowans may now go on the Iowa Democratic Party’s website and start requesting the presidential preference cards that are replacing the complicated in-person calculations that have been a long-running feature of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Caucuses. Both major parties in Iowa will hold Caucuses on January 15th. Republicans will again have a straw poll vote to determine which presidential candidate wins the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses, still the kick-off event in their party’s nominating process.

New NATIONAL party rules forbid Iowa Democrats from any form of voting that would yield results that night. The Iowa Democratic Party will begin distributing presidential preference cards on January 12th — and the results will be announced March 5th. Iowa Democrats have hired a vendor to count the presidential preference cards, which will be mailed in — and you must be a registered Democrat to get one.

Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips announced last week that he’s running against President Biden. The Iowa Democratic Party’s state central committee will meet in December to decide which candidates’ names will appear on their presidential preference cards.

Iowa’s economy saw a slight gain during October, while the Midwestern economy dipped, according to the monthly survey of business leaders and supply managers across the nine-state region. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the Midwest, is measured on a zero-to-100 scale with 50 being growth neutral. The region’s economy slipped a full point, from 52-point-5 in September to 51-point-5 in October.

Iowa’s economy is just below growth neutral, meaning it’s shrinking, but did show a glimmer of growth, rising from 48-point-5 in September to 49-even in October. Goss says the survey quizzed supply managers on what they saw as the largest challenge facing the Midwestern economy in the months ahead.

The regional hiring gauge sank below growth neutral during October, as job losses outpaced new hires.

According to U.S. Bureau of Statistics data, Goss says Iowa’s manufacturing sector boosted employment by 0.9% over the past year, with the average hourly wage rate expanding by 2.3%, well below the 3.7% increase in consumer prices.

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections, today (Wednesday), reports Michael LaMarlo Lott, Jr, convicted of Burglary 2nd Degree and Domestic Abuse Assault 3rd or Subsequent Offense in Dubuque County, failed to report back to the Dubuque Residential Facility as required Monday evening.

Michael Lott, Jr.

Lott is a 40-year-old black male, height 6’0″, and weighs 218 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on August 17, 2023.

Persons with information on Lott’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Des Moines, IA) – Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen issued an order approving a settlement with True Bullion LLC DBA Gold Silver International Exchange DBA GSI Exchange LLC (“GSI Exchange”) on October 23, 2023 that permits 14 Iowans who had bought precious metals from GSI Exchange to elect to receive refunds totaling approximately $788,000.  Clients electing to receive this refund will be required to return precious metals to GSI Exchange, which will essentially unwind their transactions.

“Today’s settlement benefits the 14 Iowa clients as it requires GSI Exchange to return money to those who elect to participate in the deal,” Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said.  “These Iowans were not provided important information when purchasing from GSI Exchange and I’m pleased there was an outcome where that is remedied and the consumers can be made whole.”

The settlement is the result of the coordinated work of state securities regulators from Alabama, Arkansas and Texas, who filed actions that generally alleged that GSI Exchange was acting as an unregistered investment adviser and not disclosing information material to the “spread,” or markup, paid by clients.

Clients residing in Iowa that purchased precious metals from GSI Exchange before July 22, 2021, will be eligible for refunds and will receive instructions and other relevant information from GSI Exchange.  The Iowa Insurance Division’s Securities Bureau is available at 515-654-6600 or securities@iid.iowa.gov to address any questions relevant to the process.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Pottawattamie County officials say the County is continuing its commitment to make communication with its residents a top priority, by hosting an upcoming town hall meeting in Oakland. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 9th, from 6:30-until 8-pm. The informational discussion will occur inside the Oakland Community Center at 614 Dr Van Zee Road, with no formal deliberation or action from the Board of Supervisors. Pottawattamie County held a similar forum in April, providing an opportunity for residents to hear from County leaders about the latest developments in the County.

County Supervisor Susan Miller says “Our weekly meetings are open to the public, but we understand some residents aren’t able to attend meetings on Tuesday mornings. We hope people stay connected with us through our website and social media platforms, but it’s important we have avenues to present information directly to our residents as well. That’s a key piece in our communication strategies.”

PowerPoint slides are expected to accompany brief presentations by leaders of several County departments during the meeting, before concluding with a question-and-answer forum with those in attendance. Miller says “We’re here to serve the more than 93,000 residents of this county. There are great things taking place in our communities and we want to ensure we continue to provide ways for people to stay informed and celebrate Pottawattamie County as a great place to work, live, and play.”

About the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors: Regularly scheduled meetings for the Board of Supervisors are held every Tuesday at 10:00am. To view live and archived meetings, visit YouTube.com/PottawattamieCountyIA. To learn more about the Board of Supervisors, visit PottCounty-ia.gov/departments/board_of_supervisors.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested a little before 10-a.m. today (Wednesday), in the 120th block of C Avenue, near Wales (IA). Authorities say 39-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, was arrested on a Montgomery County Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. Smith’s bond was set at $2,000.