WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor Wednesday (today) announced a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant for up to $3 million, awarded to Iowa Workforce Development, in response to the severe storms of August 2020.  Severe storms brought hurricane-force winds across central Iowa on Aug. 10, 2020. The storm system, identified as a derecho, inflicted significant damage on businesses, homes, crops, and livestock. An initial award of $1 million will create disaster-relief jobs to address debris cleanup and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the storms.

The project will focus efforts in the 16 Iowa counties of Benton, Boone, Cedar, Clinton, Dallas, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, and Tama. Work may expand to seven additional counties included in the associated disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Aug. 17, 2020.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, National Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker training and employment programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses. The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday (today), said two men were arrested on Tuesday. 32-year-old Zachary Clay Younts, of Randolph, was arrested on a warrant for Contempt of Court. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 29-year-old Bernabe Hernandez-Espinoza, of Des Moines, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear on the charge of Operating While Intoxicated. His bond was set at $1,000.

Authorities report also, one person was injured during a collision Tuesday afternoon on 189th Street. A 2010 Chevy driven by 65-year old Dennis Tremel, of Woodbine, was traveling north on 189th at around 12:20-p.m., while a 2019 pickup driven by 29-year-old Larry Seefus, of Omaha, was traveling south. An uninvolved semi was in the driveway of Vander Haags. When Tremel attempted to turn into the driveway, he turned in front of the pickup, causing the collision.

Seefus was transported by Silver City Rescue to Jenny Edmundson Hospital, for treatment of undisclosed/unknown injuries.

(Radio Iowa) – A 22-year-old West Des Moines man has been sentenced to decades in prison on child pornography charges. Michael Jonathan Phelps was arrested in mid-February after detectives say they found hundreds of disturbing photos and videos on his digital devices. Police immediately asked a judge to issue an order to prevent Phelps from having contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Phelps has pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for distributing, transmitting and possessing child pornography. The Des Moines Register reports a judge has sentenced Phelps to 44 years in state prison.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is lambasting newly-proposed environmental legislation by four Democratic senators which he says would “absolutely destroy Iowa’s economy.” Grassley describes the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act as a “far left scheme” which would strip away consumer choice and do irreparable harm to our state’s agriculture-based economy. “This proposal mandates that only electric vehicles can be sold by 2035 and it would also mandate half of all new cars be electric in just five years,” Grassley says. “Can you imagine?”

Grassley says he favors efforts to make America more energy efficient and energy independent, with an emphasis on corn- and soy-based biofuels, but he doubts the wisdom of forcing electric vehicles on the nation’s motorists. “Since the majority of the electricity is still produced by fossil fuels,” Grassley says, “it raises the question about how environmentally good this is.” Grassley says a recently released study by the University of Tennessee details the damage an electric car mandate would do to the nation’s ag economy, including the 48-thousand jobs in Iowa that rely on ethanol and biodiesel. “Corn prices could be slashed by half,” Grassley says. “Soybean prices could drop by 44%, while 244,000 jobs would be lost, and finally, the U.S. farm economy would be decreased by up to $27-billion.”

Grassley says it’s the type of legislation we can expect if Democrat Joe Biden is elected president and the Senate swings away from a Republican majority.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Oct. 28, 2020 – Construction crews will be conducting emergency repairs on eastbound I-80 express lanes in Council Bluffs this week. Motorists should plan accordingly as multiple areas will be temporarily closed during repairs. Tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 28), southbound I-29/eastbound I-80, motorists traveling in the immediate area will be required to exit at the South Expressway beginning at 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29th. Eastbound I-80 express lane drivers will be required to use the local lanes and exit at the South Expressway beginning at 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Please follow detours to U.S. 275/Iowa 92 to get to the interstate.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, I-29 southbound/I-80 eastbound local traffic will continue to exit at South Expressway until 2 p.m., weather permitting. I-29 southbound/I-80 eastbound on ramps at 24th Street and South Expressway will also remain closed. Plan ahead and follow detours to U.S. 275/Iowa 92 to get to the interstate.

On Thursday, October 29, southbound I-29/eastbound I-80 local drivers will be required to exit at South Expressway beginning at 7 p.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, weather permitting. Eastbound I-80 Express will be reduced to one lane beginning at 7 p.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30th. Please follow the detour to U.S. 275/Iowa 92 to get to the interstate.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the State’s 511 system.

Another benefit meal is planned for the McLaren family, whose son Steele was critically injured during an accident Sunday afternoon. Ryan Askeland, with Dusty’s Place in Griswold, has announced Griswold athletes and parents will host a free-will donation meal Thursday, from 5:30-until 7-p.m., in the parking lot of the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. The menu includes pulled pork, chips and coleslaw, and will be set-up in a drive-thru style. All proceeds benefit Steele in his efforts to recover from a traumatic head injury.

The Food is being donated by Dusty’s Place and C & J Ag. On Tuesday, it was announced Udderly Delicious in Atlantic will be grilling hamburgers and serving chips this Saturday, from 11-am to 1-pm, with your free-will donation benefiting the McLaren family. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to another family that has stepped forward to help out.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Republican Senator Joni Ernst from Red Oak will bring her “Continue Fighting for Iowa” RV tour to Atlantic, Red Oak and Council Bluffs, today (Wednesday). The first stop at 11-a.m. takes place at the Firehouse Restaurant, in Red Oak. From there she travels to Council Bluffs, for a 1-p.m. stop at the Council Bluffs GOP Office. Ernst will be in Atlantic at around 3:20-p.m., for a stop at the Cass County GOP Office (506 Chestnut Street).

Ernst served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1993 to 2015, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Officials with the Creston Police Department Wednesday (today), said 68-year-old Mark Bagley, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon. Bagley was taken into custody at the Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Warrant for Failure to Serve a Jail Sentence on the original charge of OWI/2nd offense. He was being held in the Union County Jail until the balance of court ordered time is served.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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