(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Jack and Jill Preschool at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic recently graduated 36 four-year-olds from the preschool program. The event took place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and means those kids are ready to begin elementary school this Fall. Jack and Jill has provided preschool for the Atlantic area for more than 70-years.

Nishna Valley Family YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes says with the 2024-25 preschool year having come to a close, Jack and Jill Preschool will hold an Atlantic and area Preschool Roundup for the 2025-26 School Year. The event will take place Monday through Friday this coming week (May 19th through the 23rd), from 9-a.m. until 4-p.m. each day, at the YMCA in Atlantic.

You’re invited to tour the class rooms, meet the State Certified Teachers, and reserve your child’s spot before the preschool slots are filled. Get your free spot for 3-and 4-year old’s reserved for the next academic year. Stop by the Jack and Jill Preschool at the YMCA in Atlantic (1100 Maple Street) or call 712-243-3934 to set-up a private tour and/or ask questions. (Photos of the Jack and Jill Preschool graduation – courtesy Dan Hayes)

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A federal judge has again temporarily blocked portions of an Iowa law aimed at restricting schools’ recognition of LGBTQ+ people and banning books with sexual or LGBTQ+ content. According to a report by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, The law, which was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2023, was immediately challenged by Lambda Legal and ACLU of Iowa on behalf of students, teachers and the organization Iowa Safe Schools.

As originally written, the law prohibits school districts and educators from providing “any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion, or instruction relating to gender identity or sexual orientation to students in kindergarten through grade six.” The court had previously enjoined the law because the terms “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” were defined so broadly as to make it impossible for a reasonable school district, teacher, or student to understand what, exactly, was prohibited.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated the district court’s injunction and remanded the case with instructions to the district court to address the legality of a narrower interpretation of the law. Thursday’s preliminary injunction reflects the district court’s conclusion that there are parts of the law that do pass constitutional muster, but only under such a narrow interpretation.

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher ruled “The restrictions on ‘programs’ and ‘promotion’ relating to gender identity and sexual orientation cannot reasonably be interpreted in a manner consistent with the First Amendment. The words ‘program’ and ‘promotion’ are simply too broad to refer only to mandatory classroom curriculum and instead prohibit school districts and educators from, among other things, making extracurricular activities relating to gender identity and sexual orientation available to students in grade 6 or below. These restrictions therefore violate students’ First Amendment rights and are facially unconstitutional.”

In his ruling, Locher set out what precisely what portions of the law are, and are not, enforceable:

— Detailed instruction is banned: School districts and educators may not provide mandatory lessons or instruction to students in grade 6 or below that include detailed explanations or normative views on “gender identity” or “sexual orientation.”

— Neutral references are allowed: School districts and teachers may provide mandatory lessons or instruction to students in grade 6 or below that contain neutral references to gender identity or sexual orientation. The lessons and instruction simply cannot focus on those topics. Teachers may make other neutral references to any gender identity and any sexual orientation during classroom instruction — for example, by referring to their partner even if the individual is of the same sex.

— Student groups are allowed: Students in grades 6 and below must be allowed to join Gender Sexuality Alliances, or GSAs, and other student groups related to gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

— Promotion of student groups are allowed: School districts and educators must be permitted to advertise GSAs and other student groups that relate to gender identity or sexual orientation to all students, including those in grade six and below, to the same degree as they might promote any other student group.

— Parental notification are allowed in some cases: State officials and school districts may inform parents when a student asks for an accommodation in the form of a pronoun that’s at odds with their gender listed in school records, but they may not do so to any other student requests for an accommodation.

Lamba Legal Senior Attorney Nathan Maxwell said they are pleased that their clients, Iowa families and students, can look forward to the next school year “without facing the harms of this unconstitutional law.” Maxwell said also that the “Ruling acknowledges that Iowa students and teachers have experienced real harm from this law.”  ACLU of Iowa staff attorney Thomas Story said, with regard to the ruling, “This is an important win for our clients and others harmed by this overreaching law.

“The federal district court has blocked the state from enforcing many of the worst aspects of Senate File 496. Under this order, Iowa teachers no longer can be disciplined simply because their classroom contains a Pride flag or their library contains books with LGBTQ+ characters. Students of all ages are once again free to join GSAs and to promote them to their classmates.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man from Nebraska was arrested today (Friday). 32-year-old Cody Dean Johnson, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:20-p.m. in the 100 block of E. Coolbaugh Street, on a charge of Disorderly Conduct.

Johnson was transported to the Montgomery County Jail where he was booked in. Red Oak Police Department was assisted during the arrest, by deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – Groups representing corn growers and the ethanol industry are urging Governor Kim Reynolds to veto a bill that would put new restrictions on carbon pipelines. House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans who’ve passed several pipeline-related bills over the past few years are extremely happy the Senate finally passed one this week.

Grassley, as House speaker, is required to sign each bill that passes the House. In a rare move, Grassley held bill signing ceremony with fellow House Republicans on Wednesday night.

Grassley said “…It’s something that we would really have a high expectation of the governor to sign.” Grassley made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association say the bill will effectively ban carbon pipelines in Iowa. Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a farmer from Primghar who’s a past president of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, was at the Capitol this week to lobby against the bill.

About three miles of Summit’s pipeline route goes through Nieuwenhuis’s property. Nearly three years ago he signed a contract giving the company access to that section of his land.

Governor Reynolds has until mid-June to sign – or veto — all the bills that passed the legislature.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court rules a woman who put money into a bitcoin ATM in what turned out to be a scam can’t get her cash back. Carrie Carlson deposited 14-thousand-100 dollars into a Bitcoin ATM in Cedar Rapids after a call claiming her accounts had been compromised. Carlson ignored a warning from the ATM that the bitcoin had to be deposited into a bitcoin wallet she owned, and put it in another wallet. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office seized the cash from the ATM for its investigation after Carlson notified them of the scam. The Supreme Court ruled that Carlson did not show that Bitcoin Depot had reason to know Carlson was being scammed and the contract between Bitcoin Depot and Carlson is not voidable. It ordered the seized cash be returned to the bitcoin company.

The State Supreme Court also issued a ruling in another case it said is nearly identical to the Carlson case. Shelby Cason deposited 14-thousand-800 dollars into a Bitcoin ATM kiosk, located inside Hawks Smoke Shop in Marion and transferred it to a bitcoin wallet he did not own. The Supreme Court ruled the bitcoin should receive the cash seized from the ATM for the investigation after Cason said he was scammed.

(DES MOINES, IA) – Officials with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved, today (Friday) awards for two companies, which will assist in the creation of 60 jobs and result in $14.6 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Boone County and Fort Madison. The board also approved assistance for startups in Ankeny, Eldora, Indianola and Iowa City. In addition, a project in West Liberty received a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant.

United Equipment Accessories, Inc. to expand to Boone County

United Equipment Accessories, Inc. (UEA) is a family-owned company and one of the largest global manufacturers of slip rings, rotary unions and hose/cable reels. The company is expanding its operations to Boone County to support future growth. UEA plans to purchase a 36,000-square-foot facility and make significant improvements. The project represents a capital investment of just over $4 million and is expected to create 25 jobs, of which 10 are incented at a qualifying wage of $32.47 per hour. The board awarded the company a $95,000 forgivable loan and tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.

Minnesota manufacturer to expand into Iowa

Virnig Manufacturing, Inc., headquartered in Minnesota, produces attachments for skid steers, compact tractors, compact wheel loaders, mini skid steers and mini excavators. The company plans to purchase a vacant facility in Fort Madison, make improvements and install new equipment. The project represents a capital investment of just over $10.6 million and was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to create 35 jobs, of which 32 are incented at a qualifying wage of $21.64 per hour.

Awards made to four startups

Ankeny-based Koos Medical Innovations, LLC patented a disposable isolation gown that ensures a custom fit for every patient to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. The innovative design intends to provide more consistent protection than traditional gowns, limiting the spread of infections and saving hospitals additional treatment costs. The company was awarded a $50,000 Proof of Commercial Relevance (POCR) loan for IP development and evaluation, proof of concept work, product refinement and market planning and entry activities.

Terraform Tillage, LLC in Eldora is an agricultural technology company developing innovative solutions for soil management. Their product, the SmartProbe System, integrates a soil compaction measurement tool into an app that allows farmers and agronomists to access real-time data to make informed decisions about tillage, which can reduce fuel costs and enhance soil health. The company was awarded a $50,000 POCR loan for IP development and evaluation, proof of concept work, product refinement, equipment and market planning and entry activities.

BioAxis, LLC, headquartered in Indianola, focuses on biosecurity for the livestock and meat processing industries. Their technologies work to prevent pathogen threats, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, used in production facilities. The company was awarded a $50,000 POCR loan for proof of concept work, product refinement and market planning and entry activities.

Iowa City’s LSF Medical Solutions, LLC developed a solution that empowers lung disease patients to monitor their lung function at home remotely with their physicians, reducing the risk of hospitalization. Pneumero, a handheld medical device, assesses several metrics of lung function that support more informed and quicker treatment decisions. The company was awarded a $50,000 POCR for IP development and evaluation, product refinement and market planning and entry activities.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the Technology Commercialization Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.

CAT grant awarded in Muscatine County

The Muscatine County Fair and Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine were awarded $422,000 to construct the new Muscatine County Event Center in West Liberty, which will include a great room, board room, offices, kitchen space and more. It is expected to attract between 50,000 and 60,000 attendees over the next three years. The total project cost is over $2.1 million.

The CAT program provides financial assistance to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. Award recommendations for these funds are made by the CAT Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval.

DES MOINES, May 15, 2025 – The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) has revealed the Top 8 finalists in the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest. Over 31,000 votes were cast over the last week, and the top eight products will now compete in another round of head-to-head matchups to determine the top four finalists. One of the products – The Moose Fireplace Grill – is made in Red Oak.

Voting is now open and will conclude at midnight on Wednesday, May 21.

Manufacturers, consumers, and the public are invited to vote daily in each of the matchups at www.coolestthingia.com. The winner will be crowned at ABI’s Taking Care of Business Conference, June 10– 12 in Council Bluffs.

The Moose Fireplace Grill

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – After nine years as president of Iowa State University, Wendy Wintersteen will be retiring in January 2026. Wintersteen, the first woman and second ISU alum to hold the position of university president at the Ames school, made the announcement on Friday. “I am fortunate to have served Iowa State University in many roles over the past 46 years, and it’s been a fascinating journey,” Wintersteen said. “I am truly proud of Iowa State’s extraordinary faculty and staff for their remarkable performance these past years. Perhaps most of all, I will miss the amazing energy, talent and potential of our Iowa State students.”

During Wintersteen’s tenure, ISU established new and newly renovated facilities across the campus, and the university expanded its ISU Research Park. Wintersteen is credited with advancing support for research at Iowa State, which now ranks in the top 3% for research out of nearly 500 universities without a human medical school. Over the past eight years, ISU received more than $4.2 billion in external funding, including three consecutive years of record-setting research funding. According to the university, ISU’s first-year student retention rate has climbed to 87.6%, which is 10.5 points higher than the national average for four-year public institutions, and ISU students are graduating faster than ever before. The average time to degree has decreased from 4.4 years in 2018 to a historic low of 4.12 years in 2024.

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen. (Photo courtesy Iowa State University)

Wintersteen is also credited with fundraising success and for helping to secure more than $275 million for new or revitalized facilities, including the Student Innovation Center and the Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building. The ISU Research Park also experienced significant growth, with a 150-acre expansion and nearly 50 new tenants. Wintersteen began her career at Iowa State as an extension field specialist in integrated pest management. After completing her doctorate in entomology, she became a professor and held several leadership roles before being named president in 2017 — including an 11-year stint as the inaugural endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

(Radio Iowa) – The first Afrikaner refugees from South Africa arrived in Iowa this week. President Trump claims they were victims of racial discrimination and faced “genocide,” but the South African government says that’s not true. Many are white descendants of Dutch colonizers. Renee Hardman, president and C-E-O of Lutheran Services in Iowa, says the organization helped one of two Afrikaner families who now call Iowa home. “While there is lots of dismay about who’s coming over, why they’re coming over, how they came over, we get that,” Hardman says, “but the nonprofits that are resettlement agencies don’t get to pick and choose refugee status. That is a decision that’s made at the federal level.”

Hardman says some people have reached out, concerned L-S-I helped a group of people who didn’t need the help. She says the Afrikaners will require minimal assistance since they will live with other relatives who are already in Iowa. Her focus is on helping other refugees with housing, jobs, and English-language skills.  “Our mission at LSI as a resettlement agency is to be there for refugees that are assigned to our agency,” Hardman says. “We don’t make the call on who’s a refugee. We don’t do that.”

She’s concerned about refugees from other countries who had been screened and vetted but had travel plans canceled when President Trump took office, including those from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.