(Radio Iowa) – It’s going to be a throwback Thursday (today) for the Iowa Lottery at the Iowa State Fair. C-E-O Matt Strawn says they will commemorate the sale of first lottery ticket at the Fair 40 years ago.  “So we’re going to attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously scratching a lottery ticket,” he says. Strawn says they will try to go well beyond the record. “The current record was set in Poland in 2023 with 550 participants. Of course, at the Iowa Lottery, you know we don’t do anything small, so we’re going to aim for close to two-thousand participants out here at the fairgrounds,” Strawn says.
Each participant will get a free “Scratch, Match & Win” ticket that has a maximum prize of 50 thousand dollars.

“That’s the one that everyone will scratch simultaneously. We’ve got a commemorative gold coin that is going to be used for scratching,” he says. “And then during the course of the event, we have three separate drawings, two drawings for four-thousand dollar cash prize. And then we thought on the 40th anniversary it would be fun to have a 40-thousand dollar cash prize.” The big prize winner will be drawn after the record attempt. Strawn says the Iowa Lottery has come a long way from that very first scratch ticket that cost one dollar. “And that was a ticket that if you bought it at a grocery store convenience store, you could only redeem it at that grocery store at that convenience store where you purchased it,” Strawn says. “So you think about the tremendous evolution of all the lottery’s products, right? There wasn’t a Powerball back then. There wasn’t a Mega Millions. There wasn’t additional scratch tickets.”

Strawn says you can take part in the record attempt, but you need to get there early. “Any Iowan that wants to be a part of this Guinness World Record attempt, I would encourage them to line up no later than 4 o’clock. So the gates are going to open at 4.30 in the Elwell Family Park, which is in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. And we do have limited capacity,” Strawn says. Scratch tickets have consistently remains the Iowa Lottery’s top selling product throughout the 40 years.

Strawn says the Lottery has raised two-point-five( $2.5) billion dollars for state programs in those four decades.

DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – The federal government’s most recent assessment of health-facility inspections indicates Iowa has failed to meet three key standards.

The new report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services indicates the state-run inspection agencies that oversee nursing homes and hospitals around the nation fielded more than 107,000 complaints about health care facilities last year. That’s a 31% increase from 2019, which officials say may have contributed to 38 states failing to meet all of the federal performance standards.

Each year, CMS assesses the performance of the state agencies tasked with enforcing federal regulations concerning health care facilities. The latest data shows that last year, only 14 of the 52 agencies met all of the acceptable thresholds for the annual recertification of nursing homes, according to the CMS State Performance Standards System Findings published last week.

CMS’ report indicates the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing met most of the federal standards related to the inspection process in 2024, but failed to meet the standards in three areas:

— Off-hour inspections at the worst nursing homes: Under CMS guidelines, state agencies are to inspect the worst care facilities in their jurisdiction — the federally designated “special-focus facilities” that have recurring, serious deficiencies in resident care — during off hours to guard against homes altering their routine in anticipation of what should be a surprise visit by inspectors.

— Immediate jeopardy in acute-care settings: To accurately record the seriousness of deficiencies that can cause actual injury or death to residents in acute and continuing-care settings, inspectors must use a CMS-prescribed “immediate jeopardy template” in at least 80% of all cases where immediate jeopardy is cited. The template is used to document the evidence of each issue that places patients at risk.

— Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act violations in acute-care settings: State inspection agencies must initiate, on a timely basis, the intake and investigation of at least 95% of EMTALA immediate-jeopardy complaints tied to acute and continuing-care providers. EMTALA violations often relate to emergency-room patients being discharged without first being stabilized.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch asked the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing on Tuesday for its perspective on the CMS report. As of Wednesday afternoon, the agency had not commented on the report.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she has not encouraged the government efficiency panel she appointed this spring to make certain recommendations. “This is an independent group. I’m not sitting in on the meetings,” Reynolds said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “I haven’t been talking to them and I want them, honestly, independently looking.”

The governor’s comments come after a member of the “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE said last week, that changing the pension system for public sector employees is an idea worth considering to trim government spending. It would mean flipping to a 401K like system where retirement income comes from investments.

House Speaker Pat Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver say Republicans in the legislature have no interest in making those changes. Governor Reynolds said when she appointed members to her government efficiency panel, she made it clear nothing was off limits and changing the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System has been discussed before.

IA Gov. Kim Reynolds in a May, 2025 appearance on Iowa PBS

“Not to touch anybody that’s in it, but to take a look at new people coming in,” Reynolds said. “…This is a very complex issue. It’s a very sensitive issue. I’m counting on it. My daughter who is a teacher is counting on it.”

Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor who’s running for governor, said changing the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System would break a deal made with public employees of the past and the future. He said they work for less than what they’d earn in the private sector, with the promise of a steady pension when they retire.

The government efficiency task force Governor Reynolds assembled plans to vote on recommendations in the coming weeks and present a final report at the end of September.

(Radio Iowa) – A Brazilian company that’s the world’s largest meat processor is buying a Hy-Vee food preparation facility in central Iowa that closed this spring. Hy-Vee used the facility in Ankeny to make sandwiches, salads, bakery items and take-and-bake pizzas. J-B-S will retool the plant and it will make fully-cooked, ready-to-eat bacon and sausage.

J-B-S is hoping to hire some of the Hy-Vee employees who were laid off when production starts next year. J-B-S operates plants in Council Bluffs, Marshalltown and Ottumwa and is building a plant in Perry to produce fresh sausage.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic High School Media Center saw more than the usual number of people in attendance during a regular meeting this (Wednesday) evening, of the Atlantic School Board. Six persons out of the crowd signed-in to voice their support of Atlantic High School Band/Choir Director Jarrod O’Donnell, who supporters say is doing much more for the program with no additional compensation.

ACSD School Board meeting, 8-13-25 (YouTube image)

Band and Choir teachers in the Atlantic District have two contracts: one for their full-time teaching contract for all of their classes and lessons taught during the school day. The other is an extra duty contract for taking students to after-school activities, such as competition, honor band, choir camps, etc.

According to concerned parents and community members, Mr. O’Donnell was asked to cover the music position for at least the first semester of the 2025-26 school year and for the second semester, if needed. O’Donnell was told he would not be reimbursed for giving up his prep period, because he goes to the middle school band during their band period. What it boils down to, is that the position is two full-time jobs, without additional compensation.

Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen has stated they are still looking for someone to handle the extra-duty contract. High School Principal Heather McKay acknowledged they ARE still searching for someone to fill that position.

Parents, meanwhile, are frustrated by the District’s decision to reduce children’s’ music education to a single 45-minute class period, rather than an enriched program. The speakers at tonight’s (Aug. 13^th) Board meeting, expressed their concern the District is gutting the program for the upcoming school year, which will negatively impact students.

Michelle Schuler

Michelle Schuler was the first to speak during the public forum. She said she is a long-time Atlantic resident, with four children who graduated from the District. She spoke on how the music program will be impacted.

Sophie Johnson, who will be an AHS Senior this coming school year, also addressed the School Board, on behalf of the student body.

She said the music program is just as important as sports.

The Board took no action on request to offer Mr. O’Donnell additional compensation for what supporters said was the equivalent of cramming 11 periods into seven periods of class time. The Board did approve (under their Consent Agenda), Recommendations to hire personnel for other positions, including: HS Building Secretary; HS Varsity Girls Soccer Coach; Girls Swimming Volunteer Coach; and NHS Sponsor, and Nutrition Dept. Cook.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board passed a Resolution setting August 27^th as the date for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Issuance of approximately $18.5-million in School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat who’s running for governor, says a government efficiency panel appointed by Republican Governor Reynolds should drop the idea of changing the pension system for public employees.

“Look, these are teachers, they’re fire fighters, they’re plow drivers, they’re police officers,” Sand said to reporters covering one of his stops at the Iowa State Fair. “We have made this deal with them and, to me, when you make a deal, you made a deal and you stick with it.”

Last week, the group Governor Reynolds asked to review state and local government operations revealed it might recommend doing away with the defined benefit plan for pensions state and local government employees receive from IPERS, the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System.

State Auditor Rob Sand

“A big piece of this, to me, that I think everyone’s missing is they’re saying, ‘Oh, these are generous pensions,’ but they’re paychecks are lower,” Sand said. “I will mean a lot of people get into public service because the know, ‘I’m going to get less money now, but I’m going to get more money later,’ and yet I didn’t hear in the language of the recommendation that they’re going to talk about raising their wages.”

Last week during the task force meeting, former Fort Dodge Mayor Terry Lutz said some compensation packages in state and local governments “far exceed” the private sector and he said it’s time for a comprehensive review of pay and benefits for public employees. Lutz also suggested the state should shift to a pension system for future employees similar to 401Ks that’s based largely on contributions from the worker and how well investments perform.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Atlantic High School Alumni Smackdown Committee and Atlantic Parks & Recreation, is pleased to host “Smackdown After Dark” this Saturday, August 16th, 2025. Kelsey Bescorner, Program Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says “I couldn’t be more excited to bring Smackdown After Dark back with a powerhouse performance from the hometown favorite, Gallivant! It’s the perfect way to wrap up summer. Live music, delicious food trucks, a cold drink in hand, and our community all together under the stars… and the best part is, it’s totally FREE!.”

The event will take place at Sunnyside Park with a beer garden, organized by the Atlantic Fire Department, and food vendors beginning at 5 PM. The Rock band “Gallivant” will play from 7 PM – 10 PM on the Band Shell. Beer tickets will be one for $5 or 5 for $20. Individuals will purchase tickets when entering the event, cash, check, or Venmo. Checking IDs will be required, and a wristband will be worn to identify legal age once at the beer tent. No outside alcohol is permitted.

The event is free admission and is open to everyone of all ages, not just alumni of Atlantic. “It’s important to stress that you don’t have to be a graduate of Atlantic High School to come to the concert. We want this to be a community experience while also giving alumni in town for the weekend a chance to catch up with old friends,” mentioned Beschorner.

The 11th Annual AHS Alumni Smackdown Tournament will be held the morning of August 16th. The event will take place at both Nishna Hills Golf Course and Atlantic Golf & Country Club. More than 60 teams are registered to play.

Stay up to date on the latest information regarding Smackdown After Dark by ‘following’ the event page on Facebook or visiting the Community Calendar on www.atlanticiowa.com. Smackdown After Dark is sponsored by Atlantic Parks & Recreation, Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

(An article by Cami Koons, with the Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its previous decision to add seven segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters due to their high nitrate concentrations. In November the agency decided the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ list of impaired waters only “partially” met the requirements of the Clean Water Act to identify waterways with identified pollutants in excess of water quality standards. The EPA review of the list identified seven additional segments with high levels of nitrate and nitrate plus nitrite. Despite pushback from the DNR, and comments that the EPA had a “patchwork approach” to regulating nitrate across the country, the federal agency finalized the decision in January.  According to reporting from the Des Moines Register on Tuesday, the EPA office informed the DNR in July it had rescinded its decision. A spokesperson for the DNR confirmed the action in an email with the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

The original decision highlighted segments of rivers connected to municipal drinking water sources, including segments in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers which supply water to the Des Moines metro, the Cedar River upstream of Cedar Rapids, the Iowa River near Iowa City and the South Skunk River. EPA said in its November 2024 decision the nitrate concentrations in these segments exceeded safe drinking water standards. The DNR’s director, Kayla Lyon, pushed back against the decision saying the cities that source water from these rivers are all able to supply drinking water within the safe drinking water standards. Lyon also said the agency was “holding Iowa to a very high standard that it does not enforce elsewhere.”

A very full Raccoon River flows under a bridge at Walnut Woods State Park in West Des Moines, June 25, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Nitrate concentrations have been a topic of interest for many in central Iowa this summer. In June, Central Iowa Water Works issued its first ever lawn watering ban to account for high nitrate concentrations in source waters, the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, and to continue to meet demand. The regional water authority kept nitrate concentrations in finished water below the EPA’s drinking water standards thanks to the ban, which was lifted Aug. 7, and to nitrate removal systems at several facilities. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Board president Jenny Turner said the EPA’s decision to rescind the segments from the list was “an affront to the health and well-being of Iowans.”

“Issuing this reversal on the heels of Central Iowa Water Works first ever lawn watering ban and consistently high nitrate levels in these very same water segments is tone deaf, appalling, and dangerous,” Turner said in a statement. The release of Polk County’s two-year water quality study has also brought the issue to the forefront for many Iowans. A widely attended presentation on the report has been viewed more than 2,000 times online, and at the event, researchers called for regulation on the agriculture industry for its links to nitrate pollution, which the study highlighted. Tarah Heinzen, the legal director with the environmental group Food & Water Watch said the “water crisis” in Iowa should be a “call to action.”

“Instead, Trump’s EPA is callously turning its back,” Heinzen said in a statement. “The data is clearer than ever that central Iowa is facing persistent, toxic nitrate contamination endangering thousands — and industrial agriculture is responsible.”

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has designated today, August 13th, as “Solar Day in Iowa.” In honor of the occasion, solar industry leaders and advocates came together at the Iowa State Fair to celebrate all things solar at “Solar Day at the Iowa State Fair.”

“Iowa farmers have a long history of harvesting the sun to feed, fuel and power the world,” said Ray Gaesser, Chair of the Iowa Conservative Energy Forum. “Whether it’s powering farm facilities or leasing land for utility-scale projects, solar energy is a drought-proof resource that helps farmers hedge against fluctuating commodity markets.”

The Governor’s proclamation reads:

• Whereas, Iowa is a world leader for the production, development and technology of renewable energy. These industries create jobs in Iowa and grow the state’s economy.
• Whereas, Iowa ranks 16^th among U.S. states in technical potential for solar energy production, ahead of states such as Florida and Georgia, and has the potential to add enough solar to meet the state’s electric needs more than 150 times over.
• Whereas, Solar energy has become an important option for Iowa farmers, businesses and homeowners to manage their energy future.
• Whereas, Solar energy benefits both rural and urban Iowa, with solar installations in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. 
• Whereas, Iowa’s solar industry employs more than 1000 people and supports nearly 100 businesses involved in the supply chain. 
• Whereas, More than $1.1 billion has been invested in solar in Iowa, growing local economies.

“From rooftops to row crops, solar energy benefits Iowans in both urban and rural parts of the state,” said Todd Miller, Board President of the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association and co-founder of 1 Source Solar. “The Iowa State Fair is the perfect backdrop to celebrate solar’s impact in Iowa, especially our rural and agriculture communities.”