(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has received proposals from four companies to conduct a socio-economic study of the gambling industry. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says it will be a two-part study.  “This is a study that will look at socio-economic behavior — specifically if gambling increases crime, bankruptcies, and a number of socio-economic factors. The study also takes a look at economic factors,” according to Ohorilko.

Part of the study is required by law. “The socio-economic part is required by the statute. It’s required every eight years,” he explains. The economic portion of it was something that the commission had requested simply because of all the changes that have occurred since any type of study like this was conducted.” He says the economic portion will give them an update on the business side of things. “Specifically looking at the overall health of Iowa’s gaming industry. A lot has changed since the last time this was conducted — specifically sports wagering is now new to the state. There is increased competition in the state of Nebraska. So the study will be helpful for the commission and all Iowans in order to understand the market,” Ohorilko says.

He says they hope to choose one of the four companies to conduct the study by their July meeting.

(Radio Iowa) The Board of Regents Facilities Committee has given approval for an interior upgrade to the Hillcrest Residence Hall at the University of Iowa. U-I Vice President Rod Lehnertz, says the request for designs on the project was approved in 2019. He says the project will cost 23 million dollars funded by a combination of dorm revenue bonds and university housing renewal and improvement funds. He says Hillcrest was built in 1939 and is the largest dorm on the west side of the Iowa City campus. “At 267-thousand square feet, 820 students live within that residence hall Additionally, the residence hall serves all of the residents on the west side of the campus with food service for all of those halls, along with a fitness center, laundry, and a convenience store,” he says.

Lehnertz says the interior will get a total upgrade. “Door replacement throughout the building. Upgrades in drywall, veneer, flooring, painting, closet systems, window treatments in all of the rooms and then the service spaces that serve the building — including custodial closets, restrooms, study room furniture,” according to Lehnertz. He says the upgrades have proven to be popular with students. “For instance, Quadrangle Residence Hall on the east side is now 105 years old and still a very popular residence hall with students because of the modernizations,” Lehnertz says.

Lehnertz says the building will stay open and the work will be done over three years, mostly in the summertime.

(Radio Iowa) – Buena Vista University has opened a 25-hundred-square foot building in downtown Storm Lake that’s being described as an “idea incubator.” It’s called “The Foundry” and B-V-U president Brian Lenzmeier says the space is for students as well as businesses and entrepreneurs in the community. “This is a place where visiting businesspersons can idle for a while when they’re in town, bounce ideas off of colleagues, conduct meetings, do research and establish new contacts,” he says, “making connections to build out their businesses.”

The Foundry is already home to a tech start-up called Levity. It was launched by two computer science majors who graduated from B-V-U in 2020. Lenzmeier says there’s plenty of office space for other start-ups as well as open space for meetings and for self-employed people to share equipment and ideas.”It’s a place where budding entrepreneurs will be connected to not only the university, but to our Storm Lake community, to Buena Vista County and to northwest Iowa,” Lenzmeier said. Gary Sterling, The Foundry’s manager, started to get calls when details about the project were released earlier this year.

“I had one call specifically from Sioux City, one from Spencer with people actually asking: ‘Can I use your space? Can I use it to interview people? Can I use it to have a small meeting?’ And I’d say: ‘Well, we’re not quite there yet. We’re close. but give me your name and I’ll make you know when this is ready to go,'” he said, “so with that I knew we were doing the right thing.”

The Foundry is part of the Donald and Charlene Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at Buena Vista University. Lamberti, the founder of Casey’s General Stores, donated two-point-nine million dollars to B-V-U in 2019 to establish the center and The Foundry was part of that original plan. A grand opening and ribbon cutting for The Foundry was held earlier this week.

Officials with the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) say cybersecurity concerns forced them to take some of their computer systems offline, Thursday, following the discovery of security problems. As a result, online classes were canceled Thursday.

KCCI reports cybersecurity teams were in the process of checking DMACC’s system. The college said there is no evidence that any student or faculty information has been compromised, but they said their investigation is still underway.