Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall reminds property owners: The Penalty owing on the March 2020 property tax installment is currently waived by the Governor’s Disaster Proclamation through June 25, 2020.

To avoid penalty on this installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer’s Office or postmarked by Thursday June 25, 2020. A drop box is available outside the courthouse door or online payments accepted at www.iowatreasurers.org.

(Radio Iowa) — There’s been a debate about whether to change the names of military bases that were named after former Confederate soldiers because of their link to slavery. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, is an Army veteran who is on the Armed Services Committee, and says she’s happy to have the conversation.

“It is something that has been brought up through our National Defense Authorization Act. And this provision passed almost unanimously in our committee,” Ernst says. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says she supports the action that is being taken.

“What we’re promoting is the establishment of a commission that’s bipartisan that would take a look at these installation names — work on new names replacing these names — working with local authorities,” Ernst says. “Finding a path forward, so at some point, we can really begin to heal some of the racial injustice that we are feeling across the country right now.” President Donald Trump is opposed to the idea of renaming any of the ten bases named after Confederate generals.

“There will be opposition to it — but again– it is a discussion that we absolutely need to have,” she says. Statues of Confederate soldiers have been torn down or vandalized in some cities, and a statue of Columbus was pulled down in Minneapolis because of the perceived link to racial injustice. Ernst says violence and destruction is not the way to handle things.

“I don’t think it is appropriate in any situation. If there are statues that the public feels with the authorities in charge of those monuments,” according to Ernst. Ernst says bringing the nation together should be done through “healthy, constructive discussions” and not through violence.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The number of people filing initial unemployment claims in Iowa jumped last week, even as the state continued reopening after taking steps intended to slow spread of the coronavirus. Iowa Workforce Development reported Thursday that 10,112 people filed initial claims in the week ending June 6. That’s compares with 6,920 people who filed in the previous week.

There were 159,966 continuing weekly unemployment claims last week, a decline of 2,596 from the previous week. The largest number of claims came from people employed in manufacturing, at 2,080. Nationally, nearly 1.5 million people applied for unemployment benefits last week.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meat production has rebounded from its low point during the coronavirus pandemic when dozens of plants were closed, but experts say consumer prices are likely to remain high. They also say it will take months to work through the backlog of millions of pigs and cattle that was created this spring, creating headaches for producers.

Mike Drinnin reaches out to a cow at a feedlot in Columbus, Neb., Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Drinnin, who owns feedlots in Nebraska, said everyone involved in raising and feeding cattle felt the squeeze this spring when beef and pork processing plants were operating at roughly 60 percent of capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic. It’s welcome news that production is now above 95 percent of last year’s level, but a backlog of millions of pigs and cattle remains. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The U.S. Agriculture Department says beef, pork and poultry plants were operating at more than 95% of last year’s levels earlier this week. That was up from about 60% in April at the height of plant closures and slowdowns at the height of the plant closures and slowdowns.

DES MOINES — The Iowa DNR is offering a new grant opportunity to help address food waste, an issue that negatively impacts environmental, economic and social sustainability in Iowa and across the country. The competitive grant opportunity helps efforts to expand storage and cold storage of donated food. Food banks, food pantries and other non-profit organizations receiving donated food for distribution to food insecure Iowans are eligible to apply.

Information and application materials can be downloaded under the “food waste” tab at www.iowadnr.gov/FABA. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until available funds have been awarded.

Montgomery County conducted its third post-election audit on June 10 under the law designed to monitor and protect election processes. The audit was a perfect match to the results recorded on election night. The law requires the Secretary of State to call for a post-election audit in a randomly chosen precinct in each county. County Auditors supervise a hand count of voters in a given race on the ballots from that precinct and compare the results to the voting machine count on election night. By random selection, Precinct 5 was audited. The polling place location for Precinct 5 is the Grant Fire Station. Due to the pandemic and the combining of precincts, voters for that precinct voted at the Stanton Fire Station on
June 2.

“We have high confidence in the security measures we take for elections,” said County Auditor Stephanie Burke, “but the post-election audit is a good way to prove that the confidence is well-founded.” Two precinct election officials, representing the two major political parties, conducted the count under the supervision of Elections Clerk, Beth Peterson, and Auditor Stephanie Burke. As required in the law, the Auditor’s Office notified the county chairs of both of the two major political parties. The process was witnessed by the Montgomery County Democratic Chair, Joey Norris.

Questions about the post-election audit and other election matters may be directed to the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Major League Baseball is building a field a few hundred yards down a corn-lined path from the famous movie site for “Field of Dreams” in eastern Iowa. Unlike the original, it’s unclear whether teams will show up for a game this time as the league struggles during a coronavirus-shortened season. Those who live near the Field of Dreams say the country could use a boost like seeing the scheduled Aug. 13 game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The State of Iowa is moving ahead with a $10.3 million purchase to stockpile ventilators for coronavirus patients, even as demand for the breathing machines has dropped and 767 are currently available at hospitals statewide. The head of a distribution company hired to supply ventilators to the state says the decision to buy now is smart because new waves of the virus could still potentially overwhelm hospitals in the coming months. Records show that on March 30, Iowa’s executive branch signed a contract to purchase 500 ventilators for $10.3 million. About 2 ½ months later, a spokeswoman says Iowa has only received five of them and expects to receive the rest over the next several months as production ramps up.

A collision between a semi tractor-trailer and a car in Creston this (Thursday) morning, caused about $2,500 damage, but no one was hurt. Authorities says the driver of the semi, 63-year old Arthu McNaul, of Des Moines, was traveling eastbound on W. Adams Street at around 9:10-a.m., and swung wide left to turn onto Elm Street. McNaul didn’t see a 2006 Lexus LS-250 legally entering the right turn lane beside him. When he initiated the turn, the trailer struck the left front wheel well of the car, driven by 27-year old Brant Adamson, of Creston.

No citations were issued. The semi is registered to Ruan Logistics Corp., in Des Moines.