MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) – A $1 million pledge from the HNI Charitable Foundation will help the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business create a new state-of-the-art business education facility. HNI Corporation, headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, is a major provider of workplace furnishings and residential building products. University of Iowa will use the money to help fund the renovation of two adjacent buildings to create a single facility with new classrooms and learning spaces with updated technology, according to the university press release.

Jeff Lorenger, chairman, president and CEO of HNI Corporation, said the pledge is an investment in Iowa’s business community and the “next generation of leaders.“ The college’s enrollment is more than double what one of the buildings served when it was built in 1994, and enrollment is expected to continue growing, said Amy Kristof-Brown, Henry B. Tippie dean.

The estimated $60 million, two-year project is funded largely by private giving and is expected to be complete by fall 2028.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – It’s county fair season. That means thousands of Iowa children in 4-H will be showing off their livestock, however disease like Avian Flu could still be a concern. Last summer some cows, specifically dairy cattle, required testing for Avian Flu before being allowed into into the fair. That’s because the disease infected 13 cows in Iowa. But the last cow in the state to have Bird Flu had it in July 2024, almost a whole year ago.

That’s why this year, cows aren’t required to be tested for it before coming to the fair. But a vet checks out each one before being allowed in, even though Bird flu has only impacted dairy cattle, not beef cattle.

(Radio Iowa) – You can now add a virtual copy of your driver’s license to the Google wallet app on your phone. The Iowa D-O-T’s Toni Smith says it’s a simple process. “All you need to do is you go to the Google Wallet icon on your device, you click on add to wallet, you click on I-D, you tap on drivers license or state I-D. You tap on Iowa and then you just follow the on screen instructions,” Smith says. Smith says if you do at the virtual driver’s license you should still keep the regular license with you. “Not all businesses accept mobile I-D just yet. So we always tell folks to keep your physical credential with you as well,” she says.

The D-O-T first offered the mobile I-D in their application on iOS and Android phones, and then launched in Apple Wallet and Samsung Wallet. “Within the state of Iowa, we’ve got probably somewhere around 112, 115-thousand people enrolled,” she says. “We’re we’re definitely seeing uptick in mobile mobile I-D, mobile D-L across the U-S, as there are 18 states that currently have it.” Smith says more than 200 airports across the U-S accept the mobile I-D. Smith says they have a security process when you add the driver’s license to the wallet to be sure you are not trying to use a fake I-D.

“You scan the front and back of your I-D card, and then you also take a selfie or short video to go along with it, and that information is sent to the Iowa D-O-T to bump up against your system of record. So whoever’s enrolling it, we ensure you are who you say you are when you enroll,” Smith explains.

Smith says more and more people are moving toward digital versions of things like credit cards, hotel keys and insurance cards, and this is an option as well if you want it. “it’s it is voluntary to have a mobile I-D and it is voluntary for businesses to accept mobile I-D’s. And we’ve got some great information for businesses on our website too if they want to get information on how to go about accepting a mobile I-D,” Smith says.

Find out more at iowadot.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand — a Democrat who’s running for governor — says Iowa’s Primary Elections should be open to any registered voter, not just to those who are registered as Democrats or Republicans. “The idea that right now in the state of Iowa a third of our state are registered independents whose tax dollars pay for elections that they are not allowed to vote in is unAmerican,” Sand says.

The subject came up in Waukee last (Wednesday) night at the first of 100 town hall forums Sand has scheduled over the next four months. During an interview with Radio Iowa afterwards, Sand said the current law that lets Iowans switch their party registration so they can vote in a primary is inadequate.  “Some people will tell you: ‘I feel like that’s lying. I’m not a member of this party and I shouldn’t sign up as one to participate in the primary,'” Sand said. Sand suggests an open primary is the answer.

State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democratic candidate for governor, spoke tonight to a crowd in Waukee. (RI photo)

“Every Democrat, every Republican, every Green, Libertarian — whatever — every independent is on the ballot if they get enough signatures,” Sand said. “You walk in, you vote for your one favorite. You send the top four or five to the General Election.” Sand suggests the winner of the November election could be determined by what’s called approval voting.  “So if there’s five candidates and there’s two in my party who I really like, but I also really respect this other person who’s in the other party, I can also vote for them,” Sand says.

The winner winds up being the candidate with the highest approval rating. “If we did that our politics would be more civil, our politicians would be more honest,” Sand said, “and most importantly…you could reward people — elected officials — for actually solving problems.”

Voters in Fargo, North Dakota passed a referendum in 2018 that set up approval voting in the past three city elections, but two months ago, North Dakota’s governor signed a law that bans approval voting.

(Radio Iowa) – A state senator from the Sioux City area has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 66. Rocky De Witt, a Republican from Lawton, worked for MidAmerican Energy for 22 years. He was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022 after serving six years on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says De Witt was a passionate defender of constitutional rights who will be deeply missed by his colleagues.

State Senator Rocky De Witt (R-Lawton) (official photo)

De Witt’s last speech in the legislature was on April 15th — about a proposed constitutional amendment to require supermajority votes to pass income tax increases in the Iowa House and Senate.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The 4th of July spirit will be alive and well during the Freedom Festival in Atlantic. One of the events that will make the day special, is a Burger Battle at Sunnyside Park from 5-until 7-p.m. on the 4th of July. As of June 25th, three of the 10 competitor slots for the Burger Battle have been filled. The contestants include:

• Kevin Ferguson – Fergillicious Burgers
• Mike & Chris Smith – Smitty’s Legendary Burgers
• Duane Weirich – Weirch Custom BBQ
  

  Jake Tanner (left) with Cass County Beef producers giving check to Spencer Walton for the Burger Battle for Freedom Festival. Pictured (right) is Tim Olson manager of Atlantic Locker. (Photo courtesy Ali Pieken)

Each contestant will receive three-pounds of fresh, high quality beef for the competition, thanks to the Cass County Beef Producers. The contest will be live, off-the-grill, with participants hoping to make the best hamburger, as determined by a panel of four celebrity judges during a taste test.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three winners. Other prizes will be awarded to the remaining contestants.

To enter, see the attached QR code, or contact Spencer Walton at 712-243-2344.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Healthy Cass County Coalition are making plans for another Family Fun Day at the 2025 Cass County Fair. The event will take place on Saturday, July 26, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Cass County Fairgrounds. It encourages families to visit the fair by offering a variety of fun activity stations for all ages to enjoy.

In past years, booths have featured water fights, yard games, a duck pond, a book walk, and more. Community members are encouraged to mark their calendars for July 26 and plan to attend this free, family-friendly event. If your community organization is interested in hosting a free youth activity booth at Family Fun Day, please email hcc@casshealth.info or call 712-250-8170.

Healthy Cass County logo

The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Healthy Cass County encourage families to spend time together at the fair while discovering simple activity ideas that can be enjoyed at home, in school, and throughout the community. The event also serves as a reminder of the importance of community support—and how everyone plays a role in creating safe, healthy, and nurturing environments for children in our local communities.

(Radio Iowa) – Winnebago Industries reports third quarter profits were down compared to last year as the company leader says they adjust to the uncertain economic environment. The company reported net income for the quarter ending on May 31st at nearly 18 million dollars compared 29 million dollars for the same quarter last year. C-E-O Michael Happe says they are continuing the transformation of the company’s struggling signature motor-home line.

“We have taken decisive steps to lower field inventory, improve working capital in the future, align our production schedule to market demand, reduce discretionary expenses, and accelerate stronger product value for our customers,” Happe says. Winnebago announced the layoffs in May of about 200 hourly employees at their Iowa facilities in Forest City, Lake Mills, Charles City and Waverly as part of the effort to cut inventory. Happe says they decided to make the cuts in favor of price discounts on the motor-homes.

“One of the most important decisions we made during the fiscal third quarter here recently was to significantly reduce production of units that we otherwise would likely have had to push to the field with higher sales allowances or discounts than we were comfortable with<” he says. “That decision allowed us then to make some adjustments from a production discipline standpoint and go after some other short-term cost adjustments in the business.” Happe says things have been tough for the entire industry, and that doesn’t look to change this fiscal year.

“All of us in the R-V industry had been hoping for a stronger 2025 year and that there would be an inflection point from a recovery standpoint at some point during this year,” Happe says. Happe says they are optimistic the changes they have made will show some improvement after this fiscal year ends in October and they introduce some new products. He was asked if they plan to move away from their motor-home line given the issues it has faced.

“I won’t comment on our intentions strategically with this line other than we are incredibly committed to the our flagship brand of Winnebago, both in the motor-home and towable space,” he says. “We intend to compete vigorously and profitably in the future with the Winnebago brand of motor homes. But we are evaluating many strategic options as to what that business plan looks like.”

The company is now headquartered in Minnesota and also makes boats along with the R-V’s and towable campers.

(Radio Iowa) – One of Iowa’s most populous counties is seeing higher cancer rates than both state and national averages. A report says black men in Linn County are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as white men, while rural residents have a higher cancer burden than urbanites.

Linn County Director of Public Health Pramod Dwivedi says there are many unknown risk factors that may impact which populations have higher cancer rates than others. “I’m not in a situation where I could tell you, what are the real risk factors,” Dwivedi says, “or the risk factors that may not be elsewhere which may be causing more cancer or the high rate of cancer incidence in our community.”

He says cancer is a major public health issue in the county, and there is an urgent need for targeted prevention efforts. Dwivedi says a variety of factors — including geography, access to health care, and air quality — may be causing the race and sex disparities being seen in the county. “As a governmental public health agency, we can do certain things with regard to following rules and regulations,” he says, “but preventing any chronic disease, including cancer, is the function of a partnership.”

Dwivedi says much of it is about educating residents on the known causes of cancer, mainly smoking and drinking, but he can’t be 100 percent certain which are the main culprits of the county’s higher cancer rates.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra is pushing back at critics of the “one big beautiful bill” that would enact President Trump’s agenda on taxes and government spending priorities.  “It delivers historic tax cuts,” Feenstra said. “It supports workers, it supports our farming community by getting rid of some of the death tax.” The bill increases the annual child tax credit to 25-hundred dollars and erases the federal income tax on overtime pay and tips. Feenstra spoke to over five-thousand people via telephone last (Tuesday) night).

“We hear that this bill is only for the rich and that’s unequivocally not true,” Feenstra says. “This is helping you as you retire. It’s helping families.” The House bill creates tax-free savings accounts for private school expenses and sets up a tax deduction for the interest paid on loans for new American-made vehicles. Some Senate Republicans — like Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson — have said they won’t vote for the bill because it does not do enough to cut federal spending and increases the government debt.

Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, says he won’t vote for it because rural hospitals and nursing homes would be hurt by Medicaid cuts. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he hopes the Senate can pass the bill by July 4th.