(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents got a detailed look Thursday at the numbers behind what has been a five-year decline in enrollment at the three state universities. Analyst Jason Pontius, says they’ve looked at a lot of numbers. “The big story here honestly is no college. More and more of our high school graduates are choosing not to go to college after graduation,” Pontius says. He says that does raise a concern looking ahead. “And one of the areas that is probably most concerning is that this is all pre-COIVD numbers. We had seen over a six-year period a five percentage point decline in the percentage of the high school classes that are deciding to go to college,” Pontius says.

There’s been a concern that a drop in births will catch up to states for high school and college enrollment –but he says Iowa shouldn’t see as big an impact as other states. He says the numbers are going to go up and then come back down again, but there won’t be a big difference from where they are at now. Pontius says another question is whether more Iowa grads are going to college in other states. “Pretty definitive answer there is no,” according to Pontius. “We’ve consistently kept about 87 percent of our Iowa high school graduates, and signs are that we are actually improving on that a little bit.”

He says there was one exception to the out-of-state loss of students. “You can see at one point there was a big uptick for students going to South Dakota. Most of those students are in the western part of Iowa,” he says. “That happened when South Dakota started offering in-state tuition (to Iowans). And those numbers are coming back down again.” Pontius says the three schools have also lost some foreign students. He says recent small sophomore and junior classes also contributed to the decline in enrollment. But, he says all three schools saw an increase in first-year students this fall and that is a good sign. “It’s going to take a little bit of time, but if we can keep the growth on these first-year classes coming in — we are going to start bringing those numbers back up again,” Pontius says.

Iowa State’s overall enrollment dropped three-point-five percent this fall, the University of Northern Iowa saw a three-point-one percent drop, and the University of Iowa’s fall enrollment fell one-point-three percent.

(Ft. Madison, Iowa) – Officials in southeast Iowa report an arrest has occurred in connection with the fatal shooting Wednesday evening, of a 15-year-old male. Police in Fort Madison say 17-year-old Dimari D.J. Meredith, of Ft. Madison, faces a felony charge of Murder in the 1st Degree in the shooting of the unidentified victim, who died at the hospital, from a single gunshot wound.

Meredith was arrested at the scene of the incident at a residence in the 4200 block of Avenue L. He was questioned and later transferred to the Lee County Juvenile Detention Center, pending arraignment. Pursuant to a search warrant, a weapon was recovered from the victim’s home, along with other items of evidence. The Iowa DCI is now assisting with the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa office of the U-S Small Business Administration is reporting the just-ended fiscal year saw upturns in both the amount of money lent and the number of loans made. District director Jayne Armstrong says the Iowa S-B-A made 263-million dollars in loans, an increase of almost 30-million, while the number of loans rose to 476, a boost of 43 loans over the previous year.

“It’s a nice surprise to see the increase, especially the large number of startups and business acquisitions that we’re seeing,” Armstrong says. “It’s a sign that the economy is really rebounding.” The S-B-A loans created more than two-thousand Iowa jobs, she says, while retaining another 34-hundred. There were no trends as far as rural versus urban, Armstrong says, nor were there any particular business types that sprang up or expanded in the past fiscal year.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work in underserved markets where there were gaps before,” Armstrong says. “Working with immigrant entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses and everything that we traditionally do, too, with veterans and women-owned businesses and across the board with every sector we work with.” Armstrong says she’s thrilled with the work of her staff in providing so many traditional business loans, while at the same time administering all of the federal pandemic programs, like P-P-P and the Economic Injury Disaster loans.

“That really helped a lot of businesses with their cash flow to get through the tough months of the pandemic,” Armstrong says. “It really helped them to keep the lights on and to make it through it. It may’ve been the worst year that they’ve ever had but they’re still standing.” Polk, Linn and Black Hawk counties had the most loans during the year, while Polk County also had the highest amount of loans at more than 53-million dollars, followed by Linn and Scott counties.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s once-a-decade redistricting process has officially concluded. Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the lengthy bill that explains which county borders, highways, streets and roads are the new boundaries for Iowa’s congressional and legislative districts. The legislature overwhelmingly approved the new maps a week ago and Reynolds quickly announced she’d do so, too, whenever the bill reached her desk.

Governor Reynolds signs the redistricting plans into law. (photo from Governor’s Twitter feed.)

“I think it’s an indication that the process worked,” Reynolds says. “Lots of fear-mongering about gerrymandering that certainly didn’t play out and never really could in the State of Iowa.” Reynolds made those general comments about redistricting during a news conference on Wednesday. The new maps for Iowa’s four congressional districts, 50 state senate districts and 100 Iowa House districts will be used for the 2022 election, all the way through the 2030 election.

The redistricting process will start all over again in 2031 after the next U.S. Census.

(Radio Iowa) – Two students have been accused of murdering a 66-year-old Fairfield high school teacher. On Tuesday, Nohema Graber was reported missing by family members. Her remains were discovered Wednesday in a local park. Authorities have charged Willard Miller, age 16, and Jeremy Goodale, age 16, with first degree homicide, a Class A felony. According to a news release from the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the case against Miller and Goodale will be handled in adult court.

Graber was a Spanish teacher at Fairfield high school, where the two teenagers accused of her murder were students.

ATLANTIC- Cass County Public Health is holding a vaccination clinic on Wednesday, November 10th at the Cass County Community Center from 9 am to noon. This walk-in clinic will provide Moderna booster shots only to those who are eligible for a booster dose. Please note that vaccine availability is limited at this time; the boosters will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Patients need to bring their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with them to the event. If you have lost your card, please call 712-243-7443 and Public Health staff will assist you. The required consent forms can also be printed from casshealth.org/covidvaccine, saving patients time on the day of the clinic. Masks will be required during the clinic.

Booster Dose Eligibility:

You may have a preference, but you can receive get any booster shot. If it has been at least 6 months since you received your Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series, then you may be eligible for a booster. Those eligible include individuals:

• 65 years and older
• 18+ and live in a long-term care setting
• 18+ with underlying medical conditions
• 18+ who work or live in a high-risk setting

Patients are always encouraged to talk to their primary care provider about their questions and concerns regarding vaccines. More information about booster shots can be found at cdc.gov, vaccines.gov, or casshealth.org/covidvaccine.

(Glenwood) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County today (Thursday) released information about a collision that had taken place at around 2:30-a.m Oct. 31st. The accident happened on the Wabash Trace Bicycle Trail somewhere south of Malvern, where a vehicle struck a bridge. Deputies located the unoccupied vehicle on the trail between 330th and 350th Streets near the bridge that crosses the Nishnabotna River. The vehicle sustained significant disabling damage. The wooden bridge sustained the same level of damage.

Photo courtesy Mills County Sheriff’s Office

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as 18-year-old Isaac Lopez, from Sidney, Iowa. He suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital. Authorities cited Lopez for reckless driving and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Anyone with additional information about the incident is urged to contact the Mills County Sheriff’s Office.

[11/5 – slight edits throughout] (Atlantic, Iowa) – A jury in western Iowa, Thursday, was unable to come to an agreement in the first degree murder trial of a Cass County woman charged in the Oct. 7, 2019 death of an infant male in her care. Judge Amy Zacharius declared a mistrial and the jurors were released.

The Defense Attorney for Alison Dorsey, of Anita, DeShawne Bird-Sell announced the judge’s decision, and explained what happens next..

Dorsey remains free on bond until the case is tried again. Bird-Sell says it’s too early to say when and where that trial will be. Bird-Sell said she was disappointed by the outcome.

Bird-Sell could not speak to what parts of the evidence presented to the jury that they could not come to an agreement on. Bird-Sell was asked is she’s ready for another fight to prove Dorsey’s innocence.

The announcement, which came in the corridor outside of the courtroom, brought those who had attended the six-day trial, to tears. Alison Dorsey was 36-years-old when 11-week Luka Hodges presented labored breathing and showed signs of unresponsiveness at a home daycare she ran in Massena. The child and his brother had been dropped-off by their father, Nick Hodges, a little before 8-a.m., that day. About three hours later, Luka was gasping for air.

Dorsey called Hodges, who arrived moments later. Just as he walked through the door, Luka, who was being held by Dorsey, went limp and stopped breathing. Nick Hodges immediately began infant CPR. An on-duty Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived soon after and continued CPR. Additional EMS personnel quickly arrived on the scene.

Luka was transported to the Cass County Hospital in Atlantic, and then to Children’s Hospital in Omaha, where he died. His death was initially declared Shaken Baby Syndrome, but the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office report on the cause of death was inconclusive.

In addition to 1^st Degree Murder, Dorsey was charged with Child Endangerment with Bodily Injury resulting in death. Both are felonies. A guilty verdict on the murder charge would likely have resulted in life in prison, had she been convicted. The second charge carried a maximum of 25-years in prison.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Organizers with the “Festival of Trees,” report the longstanding tradition is returning to Cass County this holiday season. The multi-day event, sponsored by the Cass County Unit of the American Cancer Society, is set for December 2nd-5th of this year and will again be held at the Catholic Parish Center,105 West 5th Street in Atlantic. Cancelled last year due to the pandemic, co-chairs Deb Schuler and Vicki Nordskog say they are looking forward to welcoming back decorators and visitors alike when doors open on Thursday December 2nd at 10 AM. The last event, held in 2019, featured 52 trees, decorated in a variety of themes, as well as 10 other holiday themed displays such as a tribute to 100 years of Women’s Voting Rights, a sleigh collection in all sizes and varieties, and an operational Christmas train and village display.

In addition to helping spread holiday cheer, the festival serves as a fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society. Admission to the festival is a free will donation, and raffle tickets are also sold for attendees to win a chance at a variety of seasonal home and gift items. A special feature for this year’s raffle is a quilt hand-made by local youth Paige Baier, in addition to donated items such as wreaths, gift baskets and more!

New this year, a separate raffle is being held for a vintage, life-sized mechanical Santa. This Santa, most recently housed at the now-closed Coca-Cola museum in downtown Atlantic, has graced many downtown windows as early as the 1950s. This raffle kicked off at the 2021 Coca-Cola Days celebration in Atlantic, and Santa has been traveling to store-fronts around the downtown ever since. Tickets for this unique raffle can be purchased at any time prior to the drawing on December 5th- either at Santa’s current downtown location, the Atlantic Chamber, or at Festival of Trees where he will be on display.

Festival organizers are still accepting entries for display at the 2021 Festival of Trees. Any individual, group, business, or organization interested in contributing a tree or display for this year’s Festival of Trees should contact Schuler (debschuler4@gmail.com) or Nordskog (vjnbob@icloud.com) via email for more information. All displays must be pre-registered by November 12th so the committee can assign spaces in the floor plan. No ‘drop ins’ will be able to be accommodated.

The dates to set up a tree or display are Tuesday, November 30th, from 9 AM to 8 PM and Wednesday, December 1st, from 9 AM to 3 PM. Light refreshments will be provided during decorating. Trees and displays will be open to the public for viewing Thursday, December 2nd, through Sunday, December 5th, and tear down of displays will be on Sunday, December 5th, starting at 3 PM. Additional information about setup, teardown, and registering a display can be obtained by contacting organizers using the emails mentioned.

For those interested in attending the Festival of Trees, currently planned hours for visitors are Thursday, December 2nd from 10:00 A.M to 8:00 P.M., Friday, December 3rd from 10:00 A.M. to 6:30 P.M., Saturday, December 4th from 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., and Sunday, December 5th from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

(Radio Iowa) – Organizations that helped rescue hundreds of dogs from a southern Iowa breeding operation cited for animal welfare abuses say it’s time for quicker and more aggressive action against what some call puppy mills. Tom Colvin of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa says animals at facilities connected to dog breeder Daniel Gingerich clearly were in distress for months.  “We will continue to push for Iowa lawmakers and federal lawmakers to do right by these animals,” Colvin says.

The evacuation of 514 dogs and puppies began October 13th. The rescue was completed November 3rd. “All dogs are now safe, are being brought to health and have been given a second chance at life,” Colvin says.

Seventy-five people with 18 transport vehicles rescued dogs and puppies from facilities near Seymour, Lamoni, Davis City, Promise City and Hazelton. U-S-D-A inspectors found 190 animal welfare violations at the facilities. Gingerich is now permanently banned from breeding and selling dogs. Many of the rescued dogs are at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, while others have been placed with agencies as far away as Tennesee and Milwaukee.