(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture says it will continue a special program that directs state funds to six food banks across the state so they can buy fresh food from local producers. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says there is growing demand statewide for local foods.  “Survey after survey tells us that consumers are interested more and more in buying local, and of course, what we love from a business development, or a market development side, is we have tremendous opportunity. Our farmers, our food businesses in the state have a tremendous opportunity to meet that growing demand.” The Choose Iowa Food Bank Program sent funding to food banks in 55 counties in the first year, allowing them to buy nearly half a million dollars’ worth of local food.

The director of the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program food bank, Kim Guardado, says the program has helped stock the food bank’s shelves with good, healthy, colorful foods that will help feed some of the 344-thousand Iowans who don’t have enough to eat. “It’s one in nine Iowans, or up to one in six children that are facing food insecurity on a daily basis,” she says. Her organization purchased more than 300-thousand dollars of local food in the program’s first year.  “We’re so thankful that the legislature, the Department of Ag, has come together to really say, ‘hey, we agree that this is really worthy cause’, and also that food banks – we’re able to support that,” she says.

The Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks program will direct another 200-thousand dollars to six food banks across the state.

(Creston, Iowa) – A southwest Iowa man was injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident early this (Monday) morning, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, 18-year-old Hayden Douglas Thompson, of Riverton, was driving a 2002 Suzuki SUV north on Highway 34 at around 12:25-a.m., when the vehicle entered the east shoulder of the road and turned left, before driving onto the west shoulder. The SUV continued down into the west ditch, where it rolled-over. Authorities say tire marks were observed on the east shoulder, matching skid marks on the road that led to the west ditch.

Thompson told deputies he didn’t remember anything about the accident, only that he woke up in the overturned vehicle. He was wearing a seat belt. Thompson complained of minor pain. He was transported by Medic 1 to the hospital in Creston. The Union County Sheriff’s report said Thompson contributed to the accident by failing to maintain control of the vehicle.

No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – The leaders of two Iowa business groups say compared to national data, it appears Iowa’s job market is stable, but unresolved U-S tariff policies are a concern. Joe Murphy is president of the Iowa Business Council, which represents 21 of the state’s largest employers. “Our members are really focused on the future,” Murphy says ,”trying to create innovations, trying to create business models that will sustain through any sort of unpredictability that we’ll see in Iowa’s labor market and Iowa’s overall economic picture.

Murphy says recent surveys indicate Iowa Business Council members have had a very positive outlook for the next six months. “We’re going to determine whether that continues in our next survey here coming up,” Murphy says, “but with respect to hiring, you know, I think we’re holding steady.” The U-S Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the national unemployment rate in August rose to four-point-three percent in August, the highest in nearly four years. Iowa Association of Business and Industry president Nicole Crain says Iowa manufacturers are seeing a softening in the national economy.

“In Iowa, we’re still at 3.7% unemployment, so if you’re look at what that means for Iowa manufacturers, Iowa business — that’s still essentially full employment,” Crain said. Full employment describes a situation where nearly everyone who wants to work has a job. Crain says uncertainty about federal business taxes ended with passage the “Big Beautiful Bill,” but tariffs remain a concern.”We support wanting to have more products made in America, made in Iowa,” Crain said. “Many of our members — 40% — have experienced unfair trade practices, so they understand needing to get that fair balance, but we need to get these deals done.”

Crain and Murphy made their comments this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(Radio Iowa) – Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat who’s running for Iowa’s third district seat in the U-S House, says if elected she’ll work to turn around some of the federal budget cuts outlined in the “Big Beautiful Bill” Republican Congressman Zach Nunn voted for this summer. Trone Garriott held a forum in Des Moines Sunday afternoon and fielded questions on a variety of topics, including cuts to Medicaid and the end of an enhanced tax credit for some of the Iowans who use the Affordable Care Act Marketplace to buy health insurance.

“The public has an incredibly powerful voice and I know by being present in the process, it does change things,” Trone Garriott said. A woman in the crowd raised concerns about cuts in federal food assistance and, near the end of the hour-long forum, a man was applauded as he called for removing nitrates from the rivers that provide drinking water in central Iowa. Trone Garriott says a new Farm Bill could really address the crisis by supporting proven farming practices that reduce soil loss and farm chemical runoff.

“I think that’s really what farmers need is support to make changes. They have a really difficult market that they’re dealing with right now in large part because of those tariffs,” Trone Garriott says. “…We need to be thinking about how do we support our farmers in doing what they know is important changes to make.” Trone Garriott began Sunday’s event by criticizing Congressman Nunn for saying town hall forums are turning into taxpayer-funded protest events. Trone Garriott says if people are angry, it’s even more important to learn why.

“Our Congressman Zach Nunn has not been showing up for people,” Trone Garriott says. “Since he started four years ago, he has not held a single open town hall.” Nunn’s campaign manager says the congressman is holding real listening sessions with Iowans that deliver real results. Nunn is seeking a third term in the U-S House.

Trone Garriott, a pastor who’s been a member of the Iowa Senate since 2023, and Jennifer Konfrst, the former Democratic Leader in the Iowa House, are the two leading Democrats in the third district race.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has the backing of President Trump as she enters week two of her campaign for the U-S Senate. Trump posted a message on social media Friday night, calling Hinson a wonderful person who has always delivered for Iowa and will continue doing so in the United States Senate. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, has been a member of the U-S House since 2021.

“I’ve worked very hard to stand up for President Trump, working alongside him in my service in congress,” Hinson said, “and I would say that job’s not done.” Hinson kicked off a tour of Iowa’s 99 counties this week. She announced her Senate bid last Tuesday a few hours after Republican Senator Joni Ernst released a video saying she would not seek reelection.

The top Republican in the U-S Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, endorsed Hinson on Friday. Jim Carlin of Sergeant Bluff, a former state legislator, has been campaigning for the G-O-P’s senate nomination for a few months. Carlin says Iowa doesn’t need another candidate picked by the Republican establishment who pretends to support President Trump, but isn’t a true conservative fighter.

After Hinson announced she was running for the U-S Senate, three of the 100 Republicans who are currently members of the state legislature endorsed Carlin.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, in a news release today (Sunday), said the driver of a pickup truck was cited following an investigation into a property-damage accident that occurred September 1st. Authorities say the Sheriff’s Office received a call Thursday (Sept. 4) about damaged roadway signs at the intersection of Union Avenue and 240th Street in Montgomery County. An investigation revealed a 1996 Ford F-150 pickup belonging to 58-year-old Charles Samuel Williams, of Villisca, had struck the signs.

When deputies spoke with Williams, it was determined that at around 9:30-a.m. on Sept. 1st, Williams’ pickup was traveling south on Union Avenue. The man told deputies that he saw a coyote in the ditch, and stopped on the roadway. When he put his pickup in reverse, he lost control of the vehicle, which entered the east ditch and struck two roadway signs, causing an estimated $1,000 damage to the Montgomery County Secondary Roads Dept. signs.  The report did not list any damage to the pickup.

Williams was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

DES MOINES— On Saturday, September 6, 2025, Governor Kim Reynolds and a delegation from Iowa traveled to India for an eight-day trade and investment mission with visits to Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai. The delegates include Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and agricultural and business leaders from the state. The purpose of the Governor’s return to India is to build on relationships established during an initial visit a year ago and to further explore growth opportunities with one of the world’s largest emerging economies.

“Our visit to India last year kicked off a number of relationships between Iowa and Indian businesses and trade associations and furthered conversations on investing in Iowa and market access for certain Iowa agricultural products,” Gov. Reynolds said. “I look forward to further solidifying those relationships and establishing new connections on which to build.”

While in Delhi, Governor Reynolds and Secretary Naig will speak at DialogueNEXT, a symposium presented by the World Food Prize Foundation that organizes food system stakeholders to discuss pathways toward food security. Governor Reynolds and the delegation will also attend a business panel discussion hosted by the Sehgal Foundation, recognized for its work in economic and educational growth in rural India.

The governor will also sign a partner state agreement with the Indian state of Maharashtra, lead roundtable discussions with the U.S.-India Business Council, the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the U.S. Grains Council, and meet with Indian industry leaders. She will also meet with officials from the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate in Mumbai in addition to senior-level Indian government officials.

The trade mission was organized by IEDA with support from the U.S. Embassy in Delhi and U.S. Consulate in Mumbai.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Red Oak was arrested Friday on a warrant. Authorities say 27-year-old Dixon William Harley Briggs was arrested on the warrant for Violation of Probation. Briggs was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – This week’s Produce In the Park Farmer’s Market in downtown Atlantic, marks the anniversary of 9/11, and is appropriately enough themed “Emergency Responders Night, ” and there’s a great lineup of local emergency responders, and much more. Event coordinator Ciara Hoegh says “This is a time to recognize the important role emergency responders play in our community.”

You can expect to find first responders including: Cass County Sheriff’s Department and their K9 dog, Chase, Atlantic Fire Department with a fire truck, Atlantic Police Department, Iowa United 1st Aid. There will also be a free bounce house, live music, lots of visiting organizations. This week’s food truck is Pim’s Thai. Vendors selling lots of fresh produce, local meats, eggs, honey, breads and baked goods, arts and crafts, and more.

Also note that the Suicide Awareness Community Walk is being held in City Park following the farmer’s market, beginning at 7:00 PM.

Produce in the Park takes place Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 4:30-until 6:30 PM, in the Atlantic City Park, at 10 W 7th Street. There is no admission fee!

Thanks to September Sponsors: Rush CPA, Gregg Young Chevrolet of Atlantic, City of Atlantic, 1st Whitney Bank, Cass Health, Cass County Tourism, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Nishna Valley Family YMCA
Event Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/share/17BAYJ3RRY/

(Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a motorcycle Thursday afternoon in southeastern Iowa’s Henry County resulted in injuries to the operator of the motorcycle. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened at around 3-p.m. at the intersection of U-S Highways 218 and 34, when the motorcycle stopped at the Highway 218 northbound off-ramp, but then proceeded into the intersection, while attempting a left turn.

The 2025 Harley Davidson, operated by 67-year-old Jackie Lewis Bilotta, of Bellefontaine, MS, was struck by a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, driven by 30-year-old Tanner Waterhouse, of Brighton.

Bilotta was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Mt. Pleasant. The Patrol noted Waterhouse did not have a valid driver’s license. Mt. Pleasant Police assisted at the scene.