(Radio Iowa) – There is a Iowa connection to today’s (Wednesday) shooting of the C-E-O of United HealthCare in New York City. Fifty-year-old Brian Thompson was a 1993 graduate of South Hamilton High School in Jewell. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting in 1997. Thompson has been the C-E-O of United HealthCare since 2021. He had been living in Minnesota.

Brian Thompson (UnitedHealth Group photo)

Thompson was in New York attending an investor conference for United Health Care at the time. Police in New York continue with their investigation into the shooting of Thompson. South Hamilton Superintendent Heather Holm said that Thompson was class valedictorian in 1993. He was also a star athlete, Homecoming king, and a respected leader in the community.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Two Council Bluffs individuals were sentenced to federal prison for possessing firearms as felons. According to public court documents, in December 2022, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the joint Council Bluffs residence of Anthony Michael Huff, 37, and Bobbie Jo Adkins, 37. Inside the residence, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was in a bedroom, where a marijuana grow lab was also located, as well as ammunition found in the living room. On Adkins’s cell phone, law enforcement later located photos of the shotgun where Huff told Adkins “we got the gun.”

Huff and Adkins are both felons and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. In 2012, Huff was convicted of two felony counts of terroristic threats in the Nebraska District Court for Dodge County. In 2015, Adkins was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon, in the Iowa District Court for Page County.

Huff received a 37-month sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Adkins received a 48-month sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (SWINE) Task Force.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Sioux Falls, South Dakota man and Guatemalan national was sentenced on November 26, 2024 in Council  Bluffs U-S District Court, to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon and in relation to his drug trafficking.

According to public court documents, 47-year-old Johny Fernando Diaz-Mendez, was arrested in March 2024 and found in possession of a firearm in his waistband and a large quantity of methamphetamine. After completing his term of imprisonment, Diaz-Mendez will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Iowa State Patrol.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

(Radio Iowa) – Wetlands in Iowa help prevent nearly 500-million dollars in flood damage every year, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Report author Stacy Woods says wetlands are natural floodwater barriers that absorb and slow down rushing water like a sponge. Federal data shows a decline in the number of wetlands, especially in the Prairie Pothole region, Great Lakes and southeast. Woods fears the trend could accelerate, as a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year stripped away federal protections in the Clean Water Act for many wetlands.

Woods says, “It’s critically important that we really step up to protect the wetlands that remain, because we’re going to need them as our flooding frequency increases with this warming climate.” The report’s findings build on peer-reviewed research, which estimates one acre of wetlands provides 745-dollars of flood mitigation benefits to residential homes.

“We know that flooding is a significant issue,” she says. “It’s expensive, and it’s getting worse as the climate warms.” Along with flood mitigation, the report says wetlands provide habitat and food for roughly half of the endangered species in the U.S. They also act as natural pollution filters for drinking water. In the last two decades, Iowa has had six flood disasters with losses exceeding one-billion dollars.

“In our report, we were only looking at how wetlands benefit communities by mitigating flood damage,” Woods says, “but of course, wetlands bring so many benefits to communities.” The report recommends boosting conservation programs that help restore and protect these habitats.

(Radio Iowa) – An engineering study indicates between four and five MILLION dollars in repairs are needed for Spencer’s waste water treatment plant, which was damaged by catastrophic flooding in June. Kevin Robinson, Spencer’s Acting City Manager, says city officials are reviewing the study. “We’ll be meeting with Public Works, discussing the pros and cons of moving forward either replacing the stuff that was damaged in our normal project deadline and/or…is there a better path forward,” Robinson says. “The technology that we use is old.” Robinson says some FEMA disaster money could be used to improve the plant.

Spencer officials are also considering a plan that would use city and federal funds on a project to tear down seven apartment buildings in Spencer that were swamped by flooding in June. The city would spend 300-thousand dollars to acquire the property. Spencer’s Acting City Manager says the city would then apply to use federal funds to demolish the apartments. “Those properties sit development ready until our Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief funding comes in, which will be 18-24 months,” he says. Robinson says Spencer officials have discussed the plan with two state agencies that are involved in housing development projects.

“They believe that we could get flood-compliant apartment complexes back in those areas,” Robinson says. Eighty percent of the structures in Spencer were either damaged or destroyed in June by flooding or backed up sewer water. Spencer sits at the convergence of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers.

(Radio Iowa) – With Thanksgiving over, many people are now searching for a live Christmas tree. Northeast Iowa grower Robert Moulds says the wet spring was a relief this year after battling the drought. “This year, our trees around the state got plenty of moisture, and so the growing was much better than it has been the last two years,” he says. Moulds is a member of the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association and says traveling to his farm near Fairbank or others is a tradition for many. “You can go out in the field and select the tree and cut it, so you know exactly what you’re getting.,” Moulds says. “There’s, there’s about 70 Iowa Christmas tree farms in Iowa, Iowa Christmas Tree Association member farms, plus, we think probably about that many more again. So roughly 100 to 140 tree farms in Iowa.” Moulds has been in the business more than 40 years.

“Planted my first trees in 1980 and sold our first trees just a few in 1986,” he says. “and we’ve been selling trees since then. We sell, we sell around 2000 trees a year.” Muolds says the key to keeping a live tree fresh is the care you give it. “Have a good stand that holds plenty of water. Never let it run dry, always use hot water to help dissolve the resins that accumulate on the tree. That is the biggest thing, and a good fresh cut tree will stay well into January,” he says.

You can find out more about a Christmas tree farm in your area, by visiting iowachristmastrees.com.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Employment Appeal Board has ruled a Woodbury County Supervisor violated Iowa labor law by interfering with the constitutional rights of county workers who are members of a union. The board’s ruling refers to a news release Woodbury County Board of Supervisors chair Matthew Ung issued in late August, after local union members rejected a deal for better wages and benefits for lawyers in the county attorney’s office. Ung said the rejection endangered public safety and Ung promised county workers increased pay and benefits if they dissolved their union.

Ung has been ordered to make an official statement, admitting his promise of better pay if the union went away violated state law. Copies of Ung’s statement are to be posted for 30 days in places where Woodbury County employees regularly see notices about their employment. Ung says he’ll comply and won’t appeal the decision.

The head of the union that represent Woodbury County employees says the decision sends a clear message that union-busting has no place in our state.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met this (Wednesday) morning, in Greenfield. During their regular weekly session, Adair County Recorder Kelly Mitchell, presented a request for an increase in fees for documents processed by her office, and a modernization initiative. Mitchell said the State of Iowa has not had an increase in those fees in over 40 years.

Iowa Land Records (ILR), she said, was one of the first statewide land record systems in the country. It continues to offer free access to over 22-million county and statewide land records and related information, with the Iowa County Recorders Association playing a central role in the operation and success of the ILR.

Making changes in the fee structure is something that’s been talked about in the courthouse for quite a while, according to the Supervisors.

Another benefit to increasing the fees, is the related increase in the County’s General Fund, according to Kelly Mitchell. While agreeing that it’s time to make the changes, they took no action on the request, as it was for informational purposes only at this time.

The Board heard also from Adair County Auditor Brenda Wallace, with regard to an abatement of taxes for a parcel in the City of Adair, where the individual has turned a building back in to the City, which in-turn will make it into a police department. The City, she said, has owned the land for decades….

The Supervisors unanimously voted to pass a resolution authorizing the abatement to take place. Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented for the Board’s approval and Chair Jerry Walker to sign, contract and performance bond for the W-22 (Lee Township) bridge project. Kauffman also presented his weekly update on Adair County Secondary Roads Department activities. That included what he called a “Trial run” for the County’s snowplows, following Monday’s snowfall. It helped them to identify any potential problems they need to fix before we get “A real snow.”

Meanwhile, crews will continue to blade the gravel roads where needed, and hauling some rock to fill-in any mud spots that exist.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The annual Lighted Parade will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 7th, starting at 6 PM. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bailey Smith says “The Fireworks and Lighted Parade is a holiday tradition that Atlantic families look forward to every year. It’s always fun to see how creative people get with their light displays each year.” Due to a growing crowd size the last few years, the Chamber is implementing a ‘no’ policy for throwing any items, including candy, from floats this year. If float participants want to hand anything out during the parade, they may do so by walking the sidewalks of Chestnut Street but may not distribute any type of product on the street during the parade.

Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit and Twinkle Twinkle award. Fireworks will kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM. The Lighted Parade & Fireworks are sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, McDermott & Son Roofing and Rush, CPA & Associates. Before the parade, join Santa and Atlantic Hy-Vee at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA beginning at 9 AM for ‘Pancakes with Santa’ and other fun activities. Santa will be in his Cabin in City Park following pancakes from 3 PM – 5:30 PM. Pancakes with Santa is sponsored by Smith Land Service, Atlantic Dental Center, Sonntag Development and Nishna Valley Dental.

Lighted Parade & Fireworks in downtown Atlantic, IA. (Chamber file photo)

If you would like to participate in the Lighted Parade, visit www.atlanticiowa.com for a registration form. Line-up begins at 5 PM at 6th & Walnut Street with judging beginning at 5:30 PM. Registration is not required but encouraged. Pick up a Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, ‘like’ the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan) to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA or #ChristmasinAtlantic and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook or Instagram pages. Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Project Harmony, a recognized leader in child advocacy, have announced the opening of its new satellite location within Cass Health, in Atlantic. Cass County Public Health Director Megan Roberts informed the Cass County Supervisors about the new office, during the Board’s meeting Tuesday morning.

The expansion marks a significant step in increasing access to vital services for children and families in the Atlantic community and surrounding areas.   Project Harmony serves as a critical resource for children and families in crisis, currently supporting Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and 16 counties across Southwest Iowa. The new location in Atlantic represents a deepening partnership with Cass Health, aimed at ensuring comprehensive, community-based care for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Gene Klein, CEO of Project Harmony, says “Our partnership with Cass Health allows us to bring life-changing services closer to families who need them most. By working together, we’re not only expanding access but also strengthening the safety net for children and families throughout the region.”

Cass Health’s Chief Operating Officer Amanda Bireline expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, saying “We are excited to collaborate with Project Harmony to provide essential child advocacy services in our community. Together, we can ensure that children in Southwest Iowa have access to the care and support they deserve.” She says the expansion demonstrates Project Harmony’s commitment to its mission of ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect through effective collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach. The satellite location in Atlantic will provide a welcoming and accessible space where children and families can find hope and healing.

For more information about Project Harmony’s services, please visit www.ProjectHarmony.com