(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s capitol city is among the hosts of the opening rounds of the N-C-double-A men’s basketball tournament this week. Catch Des Moines president and C-E-O Greg Edwards says the games Thursday and Saturday will feature eight of the nation’s top teams in college hoops.

This marks the third time Des Moines has hosted the March Madness games, which is a tremendous boost for the area’s restaurants, hotels and parking decks.

Since the tournament’s opening rounds have already been staged at the Iowa Events Center twice before, Edwards says he’s pretty confident they have all of the bugs worked out of the process.

This is the third time Des Moines has hosted the -opening- rounds of the tournament, and Edwards says it’s possible they’ll bid on hosting -regional- rounds in the future.

Could Des Moines host a Final Four? That would be a long shot, Edwards says, at least not until we have an N-F-L team here with an 80-thousand seat stadium. Iowa is sending six teams to the tournaments this year, both the men’s and women’s teams from Drake, Iowa State and Iowa, which is significant for a state our size.

Play opens at 1 P-M on Thursday with Howard versus Kansas, followed by Arkansas versus Illinois at 3:30 P-M, Colgate versus Texas at 6:25 P-M, and Penn State versus Texas A&M at 8:55 P-M.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Officials with the City of Griswold report a public information hearing will be held at the Griswold Community Building on April 11, 2023, from 10-a.m. until 1-p.m., and from 2-until 8-p.m. that same day, with regard to ADA compliant sidewalk improvements planned for existing sidewalks along Highways 92 and 48, in Griswold.

Construction is proposed for the Summer of 2024, and will require temporary easements. There is no cost to the property owner for the proposed improvements.

Information regard the proposed project, including a map, can be seen by viewing information from the Iowa Department of Transportation (found below). If you have any questions, please come to the meeting.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police say no injuries were reported, following a collision Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 48 and Walnut Street. Authorities say the accident happened at around 1:25-p.m., when a 2004 Buick LeSabre was broadsided by a 2012 Nissan Versa. The collision occurred as the Buick, driven by 48-year-old David Fussell, of Red Oak, was driving east from a private parking lot, across Broadway Street. His car was hit by a Nissan traveling north on Broadway, and driven by 33-year-old Keaton Taylor, of Red Oak.

Fussell was cited for Failure to Yield. Damage from the collision amounted to $16,000 altogether. The Nissan was a total loss and was towed from the scene.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report two people were arrested on separate warrants, Saturday, and one person was arrested today (Monday). Authorities say 39-year-old Michael Ryan Meek, of Creston, was arrested at around 4:13-a.m. today (March 13), on a charge of Driving While Suspended. He was cited and released.

A little after 4-p.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 54-year-old Lisa Ann Hoffman, of Creston, on a Union County Warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA) on original charges of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense, and Violation of Probation. Hoffman was taken to the Union County Jail and later transferred to the Adams County Jail. Hoffman is being held in Adams County Jail on $5000 cash only bond.

At around 4:45-p.m., Saturday, 38-year-old Eddie Wayne McHardie, of Kansas, was arrested in the 800 block of W. Taylor Street, in Creston. McHardie was arrested on two Union County warrants for: 1)Failure to serve jail time ordered on the original charge of OWI 2^nd an Aggravated Misdemeanor, and 2)FTA for hearing in a Juvenile matter. McHardie was taken to the Union County Jail where he is being held on $5000 cash only bond and has to serve remaining jail time.

(Radio Iowa) – The Better Business Bureau is warning of a new set of employment scams. Spokesperson, Lisa Schiller, says these scammers are generally targeting people between the ages of 18 and 34. She says consumers are having their information harvested off of different job search websites, like Indeed-dot-com. Schiller says you may be contacted, offered a job, then told to give out personal bank account information in order to be paid. Scammers may also send a fake check for supplies, but it will bounce. Schiller says if you encounter something shady in your job search, report it to the authorities.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest report on the 19 state-regulated casinos shows their economic impact on the state once again topped one billion dollars in the last fiscal year. Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says that includes all the money spent by the facilities for payroll, goods and services and taxes. He says nearly 92 percent of spending by casinos is with Iowa companies and that increases to 96 percent when you take out things like slot machines and gaming equipment that are not made here. The report shows an economic impact of one-point-zero-77 ($1.077) billion dollars in the last fiscal year.

(Radio Iowa) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made his first campaign-style trip to Iowa, drawing large crowds in Davenport and Des Moines. Governor Kim Reynolds introduced him at both events, as she’s appearing alongside both declared and likely 2024 G-O-P presidential candidates.

DeSantis and Reynolds discussed the agendas they’re at the state level — with similar proposals and laws in both states. Both emphasized their approach to the pandemic and their decisions to re-open schools in Iowa and Florida.

DeSantis touted his approach to quickly rebuilding a key bridge after the devastating hurricane that hit south Florida in September.

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak in Davenport tonight (Monday). It will be Trump’s first event in Iowa since Trump announced he’d run again in 2024.

City of Atlantic – Board of Adjustment Agenda; Monday, March 13, 2023; 5:30 P.M.

Atlantic City Hall, City Council Chambers

1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of Agenda.
3. Approval of the December 15, 2022, Minutes.
4. Public Hearing to Consider a Conditional Use Permit Application by RMP Properties – Roger and Michelle Poulsen, for Property located at 1209 Sunnyside Lane that would allow for the operation of Commercial Self-Storage Units in the C-1 Highway Commercial District as allowed by section 10.30(6) of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa
5. Question & Answer Period Between the Board and RMP Properties.
6. Order Regarding the Conditional Use Permit Application by RMP Properties for the Property located at 1209 Sunnyside Lane that would allow for the operation of Commercial Self-Storage Units in the C-1 Highway Commercial District.
7. Next Regular Meeting: Not Scheduled.
8. Adjournment.

(Anita, Iowa) – Members of the CAM School Board will gather for a regular monthly meeting beginning at 6:30-p.m., Monday, in the High School Superintendent’s Office. Their agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order
2 Welcome Visitors
3 Agenda Changes
4 Approval of Agenda
5 Consent Agenda

5.1 Approval of Minutes, Bills, Financial Statements
5.2 Open Enrollments
5.3 Resignations
5.4 Contracts
5.5 Fundraisers
5.6 Volunteers

6 Communications

6.1 Public input on non-agenda items
6.2 Correspondence

7 Administrative Reports
8 Discussion/Action items:

8.1 Approval of Board Policies
8.2 Approval of AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2023-2024
8.3 Approval of Contracts for the 2023-2024 school year
8.4 Approval of Mowing Bids
8.5 Approval of Technology Purchase
8.6 Discussion/Approval of Architectural Firm
8.7 Discussion of FY24 School Calendar
8.8 Discussion of FY24 Budget
8.9 Discussion of Facilities
8.10 Board Reports

9 Adjournment