(Radio Iowa) – The owner of a pair of small food markets in southwest Iowa is opening two sets of refrigerated lockers in nearby communities that no longer have grocery stores. Theo Ramsey, who runs Ramsey’s Market, with grocery stores in Lenox and Manning, is now offering the locker service in Shelby and Walnut. Ramsey says it’s a simple system. “Folks would shop online and if they get in their order by 5 PM, we guarantee it the next day by 5 PM, usually much earlier,” Ramsey says. “Folks would get a notification when we deliver their stuff to the locker, punch in the code, pop open the doors, grab their stuff and go home.”

Each of the outlets has 30 lockers, 15 refrigerated and 15 for frozen foods. For people who plan ahead a little, he says it’s a cost-effective, convenient way to get your groceries. “We have delivery fees as low as free for orders of $100 or more, and then if it’s $90, there’s a $1 fee, if it’s $80, a $2 fee and so on,” Ramsey says. “It’s also a membership service similar to Amazon Prime where you have a membership monthly or an annual membership.” Ramsey is calling the new venture “Fresh Out of the Box,” and he anticipates it will quickly become very popular.

It’s not just about the groceries, he says, but it’s also about keeping people in their rural communities and helping those towns continue to grow. “Rural grocery stores have been closing at an alarming rate and we looked around and thought what could we do to help,” Ramsey says. “We’ve been working on this for about three years. It’s bringing convenience back to communities that have lost their grocery stores. It is a safe, socially-distanced way to shop.”

The lockers are part of a pilot program funded through Iowa Economic Development Authority’s rural initiative program. Ramsey was awarded a Catalyst Grant of $100,000 and an Empower Rural Iowa grant of $20,000 to kick start the estimated $1.9 million project.

Red Oak Police report two arrests late Tuesday. Authorities say a little after 10-p.m., 22-year-old Michael Wade Hamilton, of Red Oak, was arrested on an active Montgomery County warrant for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond. And, at around 7:30-p.m. Tuesday, 64-year-old Marcia Elaine Lehman, of Griswold, was arrested on an active warrant for 3rd Degree Harassment. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Davenport Mayor Mike Matson says the level of gun violence in his city is escalating and he’s asking for state and federal assistance. “But ultimately our community must be willing to take a hard look,” Matson says. “What can you do to prevent this violence?” Davenport Police say at least 80 shots were fired early Sunday morning in a Davenport parking ramp. Windows at the nearby Figge Art Museum were blown out, but none of the witnesses police interviewed would identify those involved. Davenport Pastor Stephen Echols of Davenport’s Peace Group says hush mode needs to end.

“After while, we’re not going to be able to walk down the street because there’s going to be so much craziness going on,” Echols said. “We have to make a stand. We have to get sick and tired of this stuff.” Echols says it’s time for a unified community response. “We march against police brutality. We get so enraged in that, but when are we going to get enraged about our 14-year-old men and women dying?” he asked.

Reverend Melvin Grimes, chair of community relations for the local N-Double-A-C-P chapter, says the level of gun violence in Davenport makes no sense. “I don’t want to have to do any more funerals,” he said. “I’m tired of writing condolences to parents who have lost children and young people who are part of this violence and victims of this violence.” Grimes says standing behind a gun is the coward’s way of resolving disagreements.  “It does not solve anything,” Grimes said, “and it doesn’t make you any more of a man or a woman if you’re going to hide behind a pistol if you have a disagreement.”

Davenport’s mayor has assembled an anti-violence task force that will meet for the first time next week. Davenport’s police department investigated 279 incidents last year in which gun shots were reported — an all-time high — and the pace has continued this year. In one Davenport homicide last year, nearly 100 shots were fired from nine different guns.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has approved a new law that forbids groups like political parties, unions and campaign organizations from having paid staff or volunteers collect and mail absentee ballots for voters. There are also new restrictions as to which Iowans may help another Iowan return their absentee ballot to the county auditor’s office. House Speaker Pat Grassley says voters support the election law changes Republicans have made.

“Here in the House we’ve been in the majority for 10 years and we’ve done things like voter ID — maintained the majority,” Grassley says, “just last summer, before the Election, (we) passed further election integrity measures.” Democrats opposed these new restrictions. Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville says the new law is based on false claims about the 2020 election.

“It continues to be the case of Donald Trump lying to his party,” Wahls says, “and Republican leaders repeating that lie…to try to advance that narrative across the United States.” Governor Reynolds approved seven separate budget bills yesterday (Tuesday) as well.

One bill provides a 21 million dollar spending boost to the state prison system. The move comes after two Anamosa prison employees were beaten to death in the prison infirmary. Two inmates have been charged with their murders. The bill she approved for education-related spending provides a small budget increase for the 15 area community colleges, but no additional money for the three pubic universities.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s governor has signed a law that forbids teaching that the United States is systemically or fundamentally racist or sexist. The ban applies to public schools, colleges and universities as well as government agencies that have diversity training. The bill does not mention a concept called “critical race theory” — but in a written statement Governor Kim Reynolds did — and Reynolds said she was glad to sign the bill and promote learning rather than the discriminatory indoctrination she says is embedded in critical race theory.

Opponents of the new law is very similar to an executive order President Trump issued on the topic and may stifle productive discussions about racism and sexism.