(Radio Iowa) – Another colorful mural is being painted in Sioux City over the next week. This one will celebrate the community’s Hispanic cultures by portraying a local traditional Mexican dance troupe. Neighborhood services manager Jill Wanderscheid says the new mural on West Seventh Street is a way to build community pride in the neighborhood’s rich past. “It’s had such a long history of just being welcoming to new business owners and a lot of locally owned businesses on that street,” Wanderscheid says. “It’s been welcoming to different immigrants and those that are new to our country.”

The mural will depict the dancers from Ballet Folklorico Estrellas de Jalisco, a group of local Hispanic folk dancers. The artist, David Manzanares moved to the Midwest from Mexico and says he’s excited for the opportunity for immigrants like him to be celebrated in art. “You see many Hispanic population, we are here but we are maybe not at the front, you know?” Manzanares says, “so that’s a big part of also what the mural is, it’s bringing visibility to us.”

It’s the third mural painted in the corridor in the past year. It’s also the third in a series of public art investments to celebrate the street’s history of being home to diverse communities.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(Adair County, Iowa) – Families of persons living at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle and Postville were notified on Wednesday, that those care facilities will be closing in less than two months. KCCI in Des Moines and KWWL TV in Waterloo, reports the notice said both facilities would be closing on Nov. 19th.

Officials said the closure is due to multiple challenges seen by the facility like hiring more staff, low resident numbers and complications due to COVID-19. Inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates are also playing a role in the closures, along with increased operating costs, which combined, officials say, have led to a situation that is not sustainable.

In Eastern Iowa, the Good Samaritan Society in Postville is also closing on Nov. 19, but their independent living apartments will stay open.

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa native has been nominated to help lead U.S. Department of Agriculture efforts to expand and promote exports of agricultural commodities and products. Alexis Taylor has been nominated to serve as undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Taylor promises to work to remove trade barriers and ensure countries adhere to science-based regulations.

“Expanding and maintaining diversified market opportunities, rebuilding strong and reliable trading relationships, and and holding our trading partners accountable is essential,” Taylor says. Taylor expects part of the job will be dealing with the growing food security crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The United States plays a critical role in combating food insecurity and working to protect the most vulnerable,” Taylor says.

Taylor testified before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday (Thursday). “I would not be here today without the support of my family, including my mother Carol, who’s watching from home in Iowa,” Taylor said. “…I am also thankful for the first and most influential farmer in my life, my father Joe.

Alexis Taylor (USDA photo)

Although he has passed, there’s not a day that goes by that I do not call upon the lessons that I learned on the farm from him.” Taylor grew up near Holy Cross, a small town in Dubuque County, on a farm that’s been in her family for over 160 years.

“I learned many things growing up on my family’s farm, from the hard work and long hours our producers put into raising a crop or keeping livestock healthy to the challenges that unpredticable weather and volatile markets can bring, but one of the most to important things that was instilled in me as a child was a desire to give back to my community,” Taylor said. “…It drew me to a career in public service, working to advance the interests of the community I grew up in — U.S. agriculture.”

Taylor graduated from Iowa State University in 2005 with a degree in political science. She served in the Army Reserves and did a tour of duty in Iraq. Taylor oversaw the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services before being appointed director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture in 2016.

(Radio Iowa) – Third district Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines is one of the Democrats who pressed for votes on a package of public safety initiatives that cleared the U.S. House Thursday. “I think it dispels that lie about ‘defunding’ the police,” Axne says. The package would provide money to recruit and retain officers and would set aside funding specifically for small police departments.

“To ensure that cities like Atlantic, Red Oak, our sheriffs’ departments that are under 125 people or less have their own system to go through,” Axne says. “We’re not going to compete with the Chicago’s and the New York’s anymore to make sure that they get the funding that they need.”

The House passed four different law enforcement measures. One would provide money to hire social workers to respond to 9-1-1 calls involving people in a mental health crisis. “So that our police officers aren’t engaged in those issues, they can focus on the job, and we can have experts who deal with those,” Axne says. The House also voted to increase federal funding for crime victim support services and provide grants to police and prosecutors to investigate sexual assaults, shootings and homicides.

“Just to ensure that, quite honestly, we start solving more of these crimes,” Axne says, “and making sure that we’re addressing victims’ needs at the same time.” There were some tense moments yesterday (Thursday) as a few progressive Democrats refused to support bringing the bills up for votes, but after months of internal negotiations, a majority of House Democrats got the bills passed. Republicans in the House voted for some of the bills and opposed others.

All three Republicans from Iowa voted for the Invest to Protect Act, to provide federal grants to police departments.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  You’re invited to attend a picnic in Atlantic Sunday afternoon. Kimberly Spillers, with Rural Community Solutions, says the “Pick a little, talk a little” event will be held from Noon until 3-p.m., at the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park. After eating, discussion will take place on important pre-midterm election topics of public education, the environment, choice for women, healthcare and mental health, with several experts presenting.

Spillers says this is the first of several events scheduled to gather the community to discuss tough public topics to build unity and understanding that helps Cass County better-function as a democracy to make decisions together.

Other events of the same nature, are scheduled will take place at the Family Table Restaurant in Atlantic, on the following Saturday’s in October: the 1st, 15th, and 29th, from 9-until 10:30-AM. The 15th is dedicated to helping first-time voters know what to expect when they go to the polls Nov. 8 or vote absentee.

All are hosted to promote democracy by the Cass County Democrats.

(Avoca, Iowa) – A collision north of Avoca, in Shelby County, Thursday night, claimed the life of a man from Emerson. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 33-year-old Timothy Steve McFarland, of Emerson, was traveling north on Highway 59 at around 8:19-p.m., when a 2005 International tractor pulled out from a farm drive at 525 Highway 59.

When the tractor, driven by 49-year-old Robert Arkfeld, Jr., of Manilla, entered the highway in an attempt to turn south, McFarland was unable to stop. His cycle hit the front of the tractor, resulting in suffering fatal injuries. McFarland died at the scene. Robert Arkfeld, Jr. was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal fugitive from Omaha was arrested Wednesday in Fort Dodge. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office was notified by authorities that Cameron D. Carodine, a known Bloods criminal street gang member was wanted on outstanding warrants related to a federal investigation based in Omaha. When the police arrived, Carodine leaped from a second-story window and attempted to flee on foot.

Carodine was transported to a Fort Dodge hospital for clearance and ultimately booked into the Webster County Jail. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident and criminal charges may be filed against the individuals who assisted Carodine in evading arrest in Fort Dodge.

AMES, Iowa— The Iowa 4-H Foundation and Cass County 4-H is launching its annual special 24-hour event, Iowa 4-H Giving Day (www.iowa4Hgivingday.org), on October 4th and 5th from Noon to Noon during National 4-H Week. Each year on Iowa 4-H Giving Day, supporters across the country come together to financially support Iowa’s largest youth organization, to ensure these opportunities continue to be available to youth across the state and at the county level.

Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director Emily Saveraid says “On Iowa 4-H Giving Day, we’re celebrating all that 4-H’ers have accomplished, how they’ve grown and how they support their communities. It’s great opportunity for 4-H supporters and alumni to give back and celebrate the program that is making a difference in every zip code in Iowa.”

Cass County 4-H supporters can go directly to the county giving day page to make a gift at https://www.iowa4hgivingday.org/organizations/cass-county-4-h-f319ebef-8748-431a-b9c5-133416766a9d simply scan the QR Code. 

Dollars raised on Iowa 4-H Giving Day go directly to the Cass County 4-H Program delivered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and to provide other opportunities– state recognition, national 4-H trips, college scholarships and special programs, which enhance the Iowa 4-H experience. Iowa 4-H Giving Day is proudly sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services.

The Iowa 4-H Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides private financial resources to develop and deliver quality 4-H youth programs to nearly 100,000 young people throughout the state of Iowa. These programs and opportunities help enhance 4-H’ers’ ability to use critical thinking, leadership, communication, and social skills.

For more information and to make a gift, visit www.iowa4Hgivingday.org. For the latest updates and stories on Iowa 4-H Giving Day, follow the Iowa 4-H Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.

DES MOINES, IA – A woman from Arizona woman was sentenced Thursday (today) in a Des Moines federal court, to six years in prison for Conspiracy to Damage an Energy Facility. According to the U-S Attorney’s Office, 32-year-old Ruby Katherine Montoya was ordered to serve three years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay $3,198,512.70 in restitution.

According to court documents, Montoya, and co-defendant Jessica Reznicek, as early as November 8, 2016, and continuing until May 2, 2017, conspired with other individuals to damage the Dakota Access Pipeline at several locations within the Southern District of Iowa, Northern District of Iowa, and the District of South Dakota. Specifically, Montoya admitted to damaging and attempting to damage the pipeline by: (1) using an oxyacetylene cutting torch to burn holes in the pipeline, and (2) setting fire to pipeline instrumentation and equipment in Mahaska, Boone, and Wapello Counties within the Southern District of Iowa. Reznicek, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment on June 30, 2021.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal said, “The sentence imposed today demonstrates that any crime of domestic terrorism will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted by the federal government. The seriousness of the defendant’s actions – that occurred multiple times, at different locations, resulting in over $3 million dollars in restitution – warranted the significant prison sentence imposed by the Court and should deter others who think of engaging in such criminal acts.”

Following the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The sentence received by Ruby Montoya sends a clear message that those who commit violence through an act of domestic terrorism will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted. The FBI is committed to protecting the American people. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring domestic terrorists to justice.”

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Iowa Department of Public Safety, Fusion Center; Iowa State Fire Marshall; Des Moines Police Department; Sheriff’s Departments in Mahaska, Boone, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Jasper, Polk, Sioux, and Wapello Counties in Iowa; Lincoln County in South Dakota; and Minnehaha County in Minnesota. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – A new exhibit at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art focuses on the fantastical dream world of surrealism with some very rare and familiar works now on display.

Museum curator Kate Kunau says surrealism encompassed writing, poetry, and theatre, not just the visual arts. She says the surrealist movement emerged in the wake of World War One and was a reaction to the monumental loss of life and the futility of war.

“Surreal comes from the French ‘sur’ or above, so they were looking for an ultimate super-reality,” Kunau says, “so they were very into dreams and the unconscious mind and searching for something beyond the reality of this world.” The exhibition is called, “Dreamscape: Surrealism from the Collection,” and it includes works dating back to the 1930s and running up through contemporary, modern artists who are still inspired by the genre.

Convex and Concave. (CR Museum of Art photo)

“Salvador Dali, who is perhaps the best known surrealist artist today, created these really wild dreamscapes, famously with the soft clocks representing memory,” Kunau says. “Rene Magritte really famously did the painting of the man with the apple in front of his face. There’s just a lot of different artists who interpreted it in different ways.”

The exhibit also features several works from M.C. Escher, who created intricately detailed works like “The Staircases to Nowhere” which defy gravity and reality. “They’re very classical Escher with his impossible figures, based off of actual mathematical principles,” Kunau says. “M.C. Escher is one of those really interesting artists that didn’t really fit in a genre and so he gets put in a lot of different ones. He’s in op art or optical art, obviously, because he does a lot with perspective and optical illusion. I find his work very surreal.”

Several lectures on the exhibit and on surrealism are scheduled over the coming weeks. “Dreamscapes” is on display through December 31st.