(Radio Iowa) – The University of Northern Iowa campus was in danger of losing all its heat this past winter after problems were discovered with a steam boiler. U-N-I senior vice president, Michael Hager, says they discovered an issue with the brackets in the primary steam tunnel during a routine inspection in December. “It could have been very catastrophic,” Hager says, “these are the two ,lines the redundant lines by design from the power plant to the main campus. And when we have temperatures below zero, we could have frozen the campus if we’d lost those. So we did bring in a temporary boiler.” Hager explained the issue during last week’s Board of Regents meeting as they approved the five-point-four million dollar emergency repair contract. He says they have a steam tunnel that’s close to 100 years old, but the one that raised the concern was not nearly as ancient.

“Our engineer tells us this particular steam tunnel is a toddler in terms of age — we wouldn’t have expected to see this kind of thing — but through routine maintenance, we found the brackets that were bad,” he says. Hager says they believe an installation issue led to the problems with the steam tunnel. “It would appear and I’m gonna be careful how I say that it would appear that perhaps they weren’t designed properly, and we won’t know till we get back in the tunnel to see if they were even installed properly”, he says. ” In visiting with legal counsel, including the board’s legal counsel, we think we’re well past the statute of limitations and are unable to go to any other source to try to get it remediated.”

They installed a temporary boiler and steam line after finding the problem and emergency repair work is underway on a permanent fix.

Des Moines, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, issued a disaster proclamation for 10 counties in response to flooding along the Mississippi River. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of flooding in Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, and Scott counties. 

Reynolds also instructed the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) to activate the State Emergency Operations Center in Johnston in order to coordinate the state’s response activities. HSEMD is working with county emergency management, state, and federal partners to monitor conditions and provide resources to those areas impacted by flooding. 

Iowans who live along the Mississippi River are urged to prepare for possible flooding by having a plan to evacuate if necessary, packing an emergency kit with supplies for several days, staying informed about flood forecasts for their communities, and following information and guidance issued by local officials. 

For more information about flood safety and preparedness, visit ready.iowa.gov/floods. 

(Radio Iowa) – A bill has emerged in the state legislature that would regulate traffic enforcement cameras that catch vehicles speeding and running red lights. For the past 12 years, attempts to ban the cameras have failed, but Republican Senator Mike Klimesh, of Spillville, says it appears the House may accept a state permitting process for operating traffic cameras.

“It has a pretty good chance of getting done this year,” Klimesh says, “and, if not this year…it’s going to be a live round next year and we’ll take it back up again and try to finish it off next year.” Cities would have to prove a traffic camera’s location is related to improving safety in the area to get a permit from the Iowa D-O-T. Klimesh says the bill will establish what fines may be charged on traffic cam tickets.

The bill outlines a way for vehicle owners to make someone else pay the fine. “We’ve made a provision in the bill that allows people to acctually go down a path to show: ‘Hey, yes it was my vehicle but no, I was not driving. Here’s an affidavit to prove that. Send the bill on to this gentleman,'” Klimesh says. Senator Adrian Dickey, a Republican from Packwood, is a reluctant supporter of the developing compromise. He’d like to ban traffic cameras in Iowa.”These are revenue generators locally and that’s exactly what these damned things are,” Dickey says.

Senator Cindy Winckler, a Democrat from Davenport, is a reluctant supporter of the bill. She’s concerned about restricting the use of mobile traffic cameras in Iowa’s smaller communities. “One of the things that I think we have to be very careful of is that continual intrusion into local control,” Winckler says.

The bill has cleared a Senate subcommittee, but lawmakers are discussing some changes to the plan before it would be debated by the full Senate. The first attempt to ban traffic cameras stalled in a senate subcommittee in 2011. In 2015, the Iowa D-O-T ordered several Iowa cities to turn off traffic cameras along primary highways and interstates, but in 2018 the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the legislature had not given the agency authority to regulate traffic cameras.

(Radio Iowa) – As the northernmost parts of the Mississippi swell with spring rainfall and snowmelt flooding is coming into view downriver. The flood stage at Burlington is 15 feet and early today (Monday) it was at 16-point-five and is currently forecast to reach 19-point-six by Sunday evening. Burlington Mayor Jon Billups says that’s about the level that flood waters begin to affect the Port of Burlington downtown.

“We’re always concerned. We always keep an eye on the river. With our floodwall, it’s not nearly a panic situation. We’ll start putting the panels in this week,” he says. Billups says the city is pretty good up until 18 feet … with the floodwall, pumps, and HESCO barriers filled with sand. The river will crest higher than it has since 2019, when there was significant flooding in downtown Burlington. That year, it went over 25 feet five times, the city had HESCO barriers up for 120, and one of those barriers failed. But Billups says since then the city has finished the downtown portion of the floodwall and can endure 19 or so feet, even if it’s starting to get uncomfortable.

“With the floodwall, we’ll have some seepage. But we should be able to pump that out. We should be able to keep the water out of our sewer lift station, and as long as we can do that, we can keep it out of businesses’ basements downtown,” Billups says. Current predictions are for the river at Burlington to reach 21 or 22 by May 4th or 5th. That’s when things get hairier. And that doesn’t include any potential local rainfall that could increase or prolong impacts.

“As the river continues to come up, there are concerns about the levees and stuff. Once you are in the 20, 21 plus range, then there’s concerns about the levees on both sides of the river, and boy we sure hope it doesn’t come to that,” Billups says. Billups says he hopes Old Man River will settle down a bit. And that Mother Nature helps out a little bit too.

(Radio Iowa) – A body found in the Iowa River Saturday has been confirmed to be that of a Muscatine man who went missing in Iowa City. Iowa City police say the Johnson County Medical Examiner has identified the body as 20-year-old Cristian Martinez. Martinez was last seen around one a-m April 15th, and his body was found one week later in the Iowa River Saturday around noon.

Family members say Martinez had been visiting friends in Iowa City. Police says they won’t know other details until after an autopsy is completed.

(Radio Iowa) – Teenagers involved in March for Our Lives Iowa are calling on the Iowa Senate to reject a bill that would allow guns in parking lots outside schools.

Hannah Hayes, a junior at Des Moines Roosevelt High School, is one of the students who led a rally at the statehouse. “We have decided enough is enough,” she said. “…We are sick of walking into school fearing for our lives and the lives of those we love.”

The bill was passed earlier this month by the House. It would allow people who may legally carry a gun to leave a gun in a locked vehicle outside a K-12 school, community college or state university.

March for Our Lives teens. (RI photo)

“When did your right to own a gun become more important than children’s rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” Hayes asked.

The crowd marched in the Iowa Capitol’s rotunda for about an hour.

Des Moines, Iowa — Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today announced a new bill to improve K-12 schools’ ability to protect students against cyber attacks. The Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act is a bipartisan bill being co-led by Representative Doris Matsui (CA-07) to expand cyber prevention information sharing, improve tracking of cyber attacks across the nation, and increase resources for K-12 schools to combat these crimes.

“When I was working on the White House’s National Security Council, I witnessed firsthand how important it is to prioritize cybersecurity.  With these crimes on the rise, it’s imperative that we provide our schools with the tools to keep students’ information secure,” said Rep. Nunn. “In the wake of the ransomware incident in January, I’m proud to work across the aisle to ensure our schools have the resources and training they need to protect students.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified the need to address K-12 cybersecurity, noting cybercriminals are “disproportionately targeting the education sector.”  The bill would address this growing problem, including:

• Protecting kids by improving data privacy tools through the creation of a K-12 cybersecurity technology improvement program.
• Keeping schools safe by increasing cybersecurity resources through the establishment of a cybersecurity information exchange.
• Preventing cyber attacks by enhancing coordination, including creating a cybersecurity incident registry.

“Cyber attacks against schools are not a Des Moines issue or an Iowa issue, they are a national challenge that impacts the education of our students and the work of our teachers. This legislation will help schools and technology experts share information, tactics and best practices in order to better respond or avoid this serious problem,” said Matthew Smith, interim superintendent of Des Moines Public schools. “Most of all, it makes sure schools do not feel alone when faced with a threat that can impact every aspect of our important work.

This legislation is endorsed by 6 national education organizations, including the National Associations of Elementary (NAESP) and Secondary School Principals (NASSP).  Senators Marsha Blackburn (TN) and Mark Warner (VA) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

The full text of the bill can be read here.

Planning grants will make the cities eligible to compete for an additional $1.75 million in grant funding in the future….

Atlantic, Iowa – The cities of Sidney, Creston, and Corning were each awarded $25,000 grants under the Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Community Development Block Grant (CNRP-CDBG) Program by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) will administer the grant for these cities.

Each community will use the funds to hire a firm to write an action plan/analysis on what projects could/should be done in the target area in order to help revitalize that area. These cities can then use the action plan/analysis to apply for grant funding of up to $1.75 million to implement the plan. Potential projects fundable under the grant would need to comply with the national objectives of HUD to benefit low and moderate-income persons and to prevent or eliminate slum and blight. Examples of potential projects could include single-family housing rehabilitation, commercial facades, parks and open spaces, sidewalks and trails, street repair, and streetscaping.

SWIPCO assisted the city of Sidney with applying for the Comprehensive Neighborhood Revitalization Planning grant. The application discussed the potential for housing rehabilitation, trail development, a basketball/pickleball court, and sidewalk development to aid in revitalizing the targeted area of the city. While outside of the SWIPCO region, SWIPCO was hired to administer the Creston and Corning grants.

SWIPCO routinely provides grant writing and administration services to its member communities in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties and has brought over $129 million in grants to the region in the last year alone.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Iowa Workforce Development announced that Cass Health received $849,240 in grant funding through Iowa’s Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program. With a goal of serving 70 apprentices, Cass Health has developed strategic workforce planning initiatives focusing on growing nursing careers including Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses.

Over the past several months, Cass Health facilitated conversations with schools in Cass County, including Atlantic Community School District, CAM Community School District, and Griswold Community School District, as well as Iowa Western Community College (IWCC), to discuss the potential of developing a healthcare registered apprenticeship program for Cass County, focusing on the nursing pathway.

“Cass Health is committed to developing programs to grow our local talent pipeline by attracting, hiring, and employing the best and brightest healthcare professionals in our community. It’s very exciting to be at this point where now that we have this grant funding, which will complement our existing career pathways initiatives and allow us to finally begin a robust apprenticeship program to assist individuals towards their goal of a nursing career,” stated Chief Human Resources Officer Kolton Hewlett.

In addition to a high school-based apprenticeship program, the Cass Health apprenticeship program will also include an adult track for existing Cass Health employees and others in the community interested in pursuing a career in nursing. This program will provide an alternative pathway to health education, degrees, and certifications, including a combination of on-the-job learning and related training instruction traditionally taught in a classroom setting.

“We are committed to growing local talent while at the same time retaining as many of our apprenticeship participants as employees and residents of our rural service area after they complete their education,” said Hewlett.

The Iowa’s Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program was established in 2022 to help increase healthcare careers in the state. A total of $13.5 million was awarded to 21 programs to support 1,463 apprentices in nursing, EMT, behavioral health, substance abuse, and other key healthcare career fields.

More information about the application process for the Cass Health apprentice program will be announced this summer.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board will hold a Special Meeting 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the High School Media Center. The meeting will be shown on YouTube (viewing only) through a link found HERE.

On the agenda is discussion with regard to a Technology Update. Roger Warne will talk with the Board about: Cyber Security; the state of current technology; access controls; cameras and the role of technology personnel.

The Atlantic School Board will then act on approving the resignation of HS Night Custodian Mikade Thompson, and Contract Recommendations for:

• Lori Namanny, Melissa Balch and Tina Franken – Summer Food Service
• Deborah Hensel – SPED Bus Monitor
• Kerry Jepsen – Paraeducator/Summer School Voc Rehab, and
• Ashley Gacke – 5th Grade Science Teacher.

Other action items on the agenda include: 2023-24 Non-Union Contracts (Central Office, Technology & Directors). Superintendent Steve Barber is recommending a 5.91% increase for non-union hourly employees (including grounds workers), and a 4% increase for all Directors except for the Food Service Director, who will receive a $10,000 increase. Mr. Barber notes: “The Food Service Director [FSD] was originally hired as an “Interim” (position) in 2019-2020, “which resulted in a lower than average annual salary. In addition, when compared to the salary of other Director Positions in the district, the [FSD] salary is significantly lower than those salaries.” The increase, he said, “will be paid out of the Nutrition Fund, which will have no impact on the General Fund.”

The Atlantic School Board will also act on approving 2023-24 Principal Contracts amounting to $30,322.48 (a 4% increase), and 2023-24 Tentative Agreement/Master Contract with the Atlantic Education Association (representing the teachers). The agreement says “Effective July 1, 2023, each current employee’s base wage will increase by 4% from the employee’s 2022-23 base wage. (See the chart below for details). The Agreement also stipulates the parties agree to increase the generator by $1,000 to $46,650. (See the Supplemental Pay list, below).

And, the Board will act on approving a Pay Application to Trane U.S., Inc., for the HS Air Quality Project, in the amount of $19,437.50.