(Radio Iowa) — Despite international trade tariffs and a series of other challenges, Iowa livestock producers are seeing hog prices rise in recent weeks, which comes as a welcome surprise to many. Lee Schultz, an ag economist with the Iowa State University Extension, explains the rollercoastering of pork prices on the commodities market. “I think what was driving the lower prices in the early part of 2019 was impacts of retaliatory tariffs and impacts on the trade that we expected,” Schultz says. “And then really, through late March and April, we really saw the impact of the ASF situation in China.”

That’s African Swine Fever which has reportedly spread to every region of China and several surrounding countries, dropping the hog population in China by nearly 40-million head compared to last year. Shultz says U-S pork producers are also seeing the potential for significant growth in global protein demand.  “Recently, I think it has been the markets, the supply situation weighing on it a bit as well as the new news of the delay in the trade negotiations talks,” he says, “I think it’s all been working on the market and why we’ve seen such volatility lately.”

Now that we’re well into spring and the warmer weather will soon bring us to summer grilling season, Schultz says we are entering a key period of demand for pork, which should keep prices higher.”We have three big holidays in front of us with Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Father’s Day,” he says. “While a lot of purchases have already been made for Mother’s Day, we’re looking still at several holidays in front of us and demand is very strong.”

Schultz says profitability levels are higher for the pork producer than what has been seen for the last few years and he remains optimistic for the remaining months of 2019 and into 2020.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 9-p.m. Wednesday, of 40-year old Shawn Lyle McKenzie. The Red Oak man was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th degree, a simple misdemeanor. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have announced that a portion of Interstate 29 in southwestern Iowa has reopened after being damaged by flooding in March. The Iowa Department of Transportation says I-29 between U.S. Highway 34 near Pacific Junction and the Missouri border has reopened, but that travelers should expect some lane closures and slower travel times. Nebraska Highway 2 between Nebraska City and the Iowa state line remains closed.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A stretch of interstate highway in northwestern Missouri is open again for the first time since floodwaters shut it down in March. Interstate 29 reopened Wednesday to the Iowa state line. Historic flooding in March forced closure of the busy north-south roadway. I-29 also is open in Iowa, but with some restrictions. Many other roads and highways in northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa remain closed due to flood damage.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a measure into law that gives her greater control over the way judges are selected and weakening the influence of attorneys. Reynolds signed it Wednesday with no fanfare, announcing her approval in an email that also noted four other bills. She says she’s proud to sign it “to give all Iowans a greater voice in the process.” Democrats accused Republicans of trying to stack the courts in their favor after losing abortion and same-sex marriage cases.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University employee will get a settlement of more than $27,000 from the state after claiming discrimination in the way the university managed its health insurance for transgender employees. Elyn Fritz-Waters sued the state in January when her employee health insurance denied care for gender dysphoria, which included her request for hormone therapy and a sex reassignment surgery.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, approved the 2018-19 Amended Certified Budget. Their action followed a public hearing, during which there were no comments. It allows the district to complete building improvements this summer without overspending the certified budget.

Atlantic School Board 5-8-19

Among the expenditures included in the amended budget and not budgeted for during the current school year is: A sewage problem at the Washington School; Replacing two small sections of the Middle School auditorium roof; LED lighting for the High School Commons area; Replacing a bus transmission, and Technology expenses. Officials said there will be no increase in taxes to be paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber said “There is a lot of excitement for next year in the Atlantic Trades Program. Initial enrollment numbers are averaging 13-to 15 students. Given most of these classes are shop classes, these are good manageable numbers in maintaining safety.” Barber said the Steering Committee continues “To be active in helping design workplace skills and expertise necessary in creating a world class program.”

And, he said Atlantic is in the process of identifying equipment needs to get an Aviation curriculum implemented this fall. “Early indication,” he said, is that “A large number of students [who] have expressed interest in the class.” And, the high school will be offering a Coding training curriculum, once a steering committee comprised of community members in the technology world is formed. Coding is used to communicate, create and problem solve in computer and device programming.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the resignation of Taylor Williams, Student Council Advisor, and as previously announced, contract recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment for several individuals, with the addition of Susan Wedemeyer, High School Art Teacher, and Bryce Casey, Summer Grounds keeper. In addition, the Board approved a 2.20 % total package increase for Central Office staff, Technology staff, and all Directors including the Business Manager. The amount recommended was between the settlement of the two Unions of 2.14% and 2.24%.

They also approved several, previously mentioned Winter Sports Coaching Contracts, 2019-20 sharing agreements with CAM & Exira-EHK for Girls Soccer, and Griswold, with regard to Industrial Technology and Transportation Director.

Their final piece of business was to approve a recommendation from Superintendent Steve Barber to change the surface of the Trojan Bowl turf from natural grass to synthetic turf, with the $600,000 cost paid by private fundraising and donations. In previous meetings, it was pointed out that seeding a natural grass surface at the athletic facility would require the loss of one season of activity at the Trojan Bowl, and using sod has a number of negative consequences. Private members of a fund raising committee have said they could secure $300,000 over the duration of the improvements, with the intent to raise all $600,000 to turf the Trojan Bowl and not lose a football season. If the committee is unable to raise the entire $600k, the district would be responsible to cover the remaining costs.

The Nodaway Valley and CAM School District Boards of Education, Tuesday night, agreed to hire Grundmeyer Leader Search, to support the search for a new, shared superintendent. School officials say the search will begin immediately, and conclude with the hire of a new, successful leader.

To that end, the Boards are requesting feedback from the public, with regard to what “desired qualifications” are most important for the position, to ensure the person selected is a good fit for the school districts and their respective communities.

Patrons of both districts are invited to take an online stakeholder survey accessed by a computer or mobile device, at: https://tinyurl.com/NVCAMSuptSurvey. The survey is completely anonymous, unless you provide your name voluntarily.

The Stakeholder survey is available until May 19th. The search team will produce a general report based on the information gathered in the survey. The report will be shared with the board to advise them on what priorities the district and community stakeholders are looking for in a new leader.

The hiring timeline is as follows:

• April 19-May 12 Application period
• May 30 Board reviews candidate pool (closed session)
• May 28 Board screens candidates.
• June 6  Formal interviews with finalists.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa State University employee will get a settlement of more than $27,000 from the state after claiming discrimination in the way the university managed its health insurance for transgender employees.

Elyn Fritz-Waters sued the state in January when her employee health insurance denied care for gender dysphoria, which included her request for hormone therapy and a sex reassignment surgery.

Fritz-Waters was born male but says she has felt most of her life that she is female.
She claimed discrimination and violations of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Before the lawsuit could go to trial the state offered to settle. The State Appeal Board approved the settlement Wednesday.

Fritz-Waters will get about $18,000 and her attorney receives around $9,000.
In June 2018, a state judge ruled the Iowa Department of Human Services violated the state constitution and civil rights laws by denying two transgender women Medicaid coverage for sex reassignment surgery.

The Legislature responded by approving a bill that prohibits Medicaid money for sex reassignment surgery. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill into law, though it’s likely to be challenged in court.

Four people, two adults and two juveniles, were injured during a collision at around 7:45-a.m. Wednesday (today), west of Earlham, in Madison County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2017 Buick Enclave SUV driven by 46-year old Amy Jo Crane, and a 2011 GMC Acadia driven by 56-year old Darrell Wayne VonRentzell, both of Dexter, collided at the intersection of P-53 and 105th Street.

Photo courtesy Wanda VanHorn

The accident happened as Crane was traveling west on 105th Street and approaching the stop sign, and VonRentzell was traveling south on P-53. His vehicle was turning east onto 105th, when it collided with the Buick in the Buick’s lane.

Both drivers, and two passengers in VonRentzell’s car, 15-year old Lily Carpenter and 17-year old McKenzie Carpenter, both of Dexter, were transported to hospitals in Des Moines. Crane was transported to Methodist west by private vehicle. VonRentzell and the teens were transported by Madison County Ambulance to Mercy Hospital.

A single vehicle accident at around 11:40-a.m. today (Wednesday), in Council Bluffs, resulted in a death and one person critically injured. Council Bluffs Police say a vehicle traveling South on Oakland Drive lost control and went through the intersection of Oakland and Kanesville striking the North side of the Omni Center parking garage.

Once officers arrived they located the driver trapped in the vehicle. The Council Bluffs Fire department was able to extricate the driver but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger of the vehicle was transported to University of Nebraska Medical Center in very critical condition.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The names of the parties involved will be released once notification of family has been completed

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds today (Wednesday) announced the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has recently concluded the review of 17 broadband grant applications and awarded $1.3 million in grant funds to 7 projects across the State of Iowa. Locally, grants were approved for the proposed “CR1″ Carroll rural fiber optic project, in the amount of $98,448, and the City of Adair’s fiber project, in the amount of $138,900.

The seven projects across the State in total, represent over $13 million in new investment in broadband infrastructure covering approximately 760 square miles in 12 counties. The Governor said “My budget called for $20 million in broadband infrastructure over the next two years to accelerate expansion and leverage an additional $120 million in private investment for high-speed Internet. This announcement is a step in the right direction for greater broadband connectivity, but there’s much more to do. That’s why I will continue to work with lawmakers next year to secure more funding to empower rural communities for generations to come.”

Jeff Franklin, the State’s Chief Information Officer, said “Over 7,200 homes, schools, businesses, and farms that previously did not have access to high-speed Internet service will soon have broadband access as a result of the awarded projects. ” The 17 applications requested a combined total of $4,818,892 in state broadband grant funding.

AMES, Iowa – May 8, 2019 – The Iowa Department of Transportation says it continues to work diligently to restore mobility as quickly as possible to state-owned roadways impacted by flooding in Southwest Iowa. Interstate 29 between U.S. 34 and the Missouri border will be re-opening to traffic at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday). Travelers should expect intermittent lane closures and one mile of head to head traffic over the southbound bridge at the 8.5 mile marker. No oversized/overweight loads will be allowed at this time and widths are restricted to 12 feet.

Due to ongoing flooding and pavement repairs, exit and entry points will be limited. The Iowa 2 interchange at exit 10 will be open for services and to allow traffic to flow east of the interstate. For those traveling north on I-29 they will be able to exit to use eastbound U.S. 34. All other exits through this section of I-29 remain closed.

Iowa 2 east of I-29 will also re-open to traffic. Sections of Iowa 2 west of I-29 remain underwater. Iowa DOT has been working to put a temporary solution in place to allow traffic to move between Iowa and Nebraska. However, due to weather conditions and water levels we are not able to open Iowa 2 west of I-29 at this time.