OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers suggests growing improvement in the economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states. But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says bank CEOs’ biggest fears for 2021 are excessive inflation and higher long-term interest rates. The overall index of January’s Rural Mainstreet Survey improved to 52.0 from December’s 51.6 — the highest reading since before the onset last year of the coronavirus pandemic. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa is asking the U.S. House to dismiss an election contest filed by her Democratic challenger that argues the 6-vote race was wrongly decided. The Des Moines Register reports that Miller-Meeks argues in a filing to the House that lawmakers shouldn’t consider Rita Hart’s appeal because Hart did not contest the outcome under Iowa law.

An attorney for Miller-Meeks argues that House precedents going back a century “require contestants to avail themselves of every single remedy before they go to Congress.” Hart claims that at least 22 votes in the race were wrongly excluded, enough to change the outcome in her favor.

SUMNER, Iowa (AP) — Police say the owner of a child care facility in northeastern Iowa has been arrested and charged with child endangerment after being accused of injuring a 1-year-old in her care. Television station KCRG reports that an employee on Tuesday reported 54-year-old Crystal Bahe, of Sumner, to authorities. Bahe owns and operates Crystal’s Christian Child Care in Sumner.

The facility’s operations have been suspended while local police and the Iowa Department of Human Services conduct investigations into the allegation. Officials say families of the children attending the daycare have been notified and children have been moved from the facility.

District 21 Republican Representative Tom Moore, from Griswold, reports the Iowa Restaurant and Bar Relief Grant Program will provide eligible businesses with a one-time grant to assist with short-term cash flow. Gov. Kim Reynolds’s Nov. 16, 2020 proclamation ordered bars, restaurants, and other establishments to limit their hours of operations and continue social distancing measures to assist in preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

Grant Eligible Businesses include:

•  An Iowa-based brick and mortar establishment in which the primary purpose is serving food or drink
• The independent, Iowa-based business must not be part of a national restaurant franchise as defined by the National Restaurant Association. A restaurant franchise has 20 or more locations doing business under the same name, regardless of the type of ownership.
• If restaurant, must provide full-service dining.
• Must have experienced at least a 15% decrease in gross sales, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in combined Q2 and Q3 2020 compared to combined Q2 and Q3 2019 (April 1-Sept. 30).
• Sales verifications will be based off Iowa Sales/Retailer’s Use Tax and Surcharge Return and verified with Iowa Department of Revenue database.Businesses without historical gross sales revenue loss data (ie Q2 and Q3 2019, such as eligible businesses established after June, 30, 2019) will be reviewed for a possible award and as funds are available.The business must have open for business on or before April 1, 2020.
• The business must not have permanently closed. If temporarily closed, business has plan to reopen.
• Must be registered to do business in the State of Iowa and have physical location in the state.

Ineligible Businesses include:

• Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), Fast Food, Snacks
• Fast Casual
• Delivery and Take-Away Only
• Ice Cream Parlor, Frozen Dessert
• Coffee Shop, Tea House
• Smoothie, Juice Bars
• Food Trucks
• Adult Entertainment
• Any organization not in good standing with the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR), Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD), Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA).

(Updated) Firefighters from Anita responded to a semi-trailer fire on Interstate 80. The call about the Old Dominion Freight line semi at the 63.75 mile marker eastbound went out at around 8:57-a.m.   The driver of the truck was out and safe. The semi and trailer are on the shoulder of the road. Both lanes are open.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management.

A traffic stop early Wednesday morning at Highway 59 and Frank Kearney Street, in Oakland, resulted in an arrest. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year-old Tiffani Michelle Jerdon, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:45-a.m., for OWI/1st offense.