DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors has awarded more than $11 million in 4% federal housing tax credits to support the construction and rehabilitation of 781 affordable rental homes across five projects in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. In Wednesday’s announcement, IFA Director Debi Durham said “Recent federal changes to the 4% program have strengthened our ability to bring more projects forward, allowing us to award nearly twice as many units as last year and grow our pipeline at a time when Iowa needs more than 18,000 new homes by 2030.”

The 4% Housing Tax Credit program pairs the state’s tax-exempt bonding authority with federal tax credits to help finance affordable housing developments. Similar to the 9% Housing Tax Credit program, it follows income limits and rent restrictions. Demand for the 4% program has grown significantly and federal reforms now allow more developments to qualify while using fewer bonds, substantially increasing the number of affordable housing projects that can proceed in Iowa. As a result, the 2025 round marked the first competitive application cycle for the program. Applications were evaluated under a defined scoring system to ensure resources were awarded to projects best positioned to move forward. IFA received eight applications requesting more than $18 million in tax credits and $125 million in tax-exempt bonds, with $90 million in bonds available for issuance. The tax credits awarded exceed $111 million as they are distributed annually over 10 years. The awarded projects will receive a combined $76.4 million in tax-exempt bond financing.

The federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program includes both 9% and 4% credits, each supporting different types of affordable housing needs. The 9% credit provides a higher level of equity and is awarded through a highly competitive process. The 4% credit, paired with tax-exempt bonds, provides a lower but still substantial level of equity and has seen significant growth in demand in Iowa. Together, the two programs expand the state’s affordable housing pipeline by supporting the construction and preservation of rental homes.

Awarded projects include:

• The Atheneum, Cedar Rapids: New construction for families – 192 units
• Southridge Flats, Des Moines: New Construction for families – 160 units
• Central at Orchard Court, Iowa City: New Construction for families – 183 units
• Martin Tower Apartments, Sioux City: Acquisition/Rehab for seniors – 86 units
• Sioux City 3, Sioux City: Acquisition/Rehab for families – 160 units

The detailed list of awarded projects is available here.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors, Wednesday, announced $12.2 million in grants to 26 Local Housing Trust Funds to strengthen local housing initiatives. The awards were made through the Local Housing Trust Fund Program and are expected to benefit 2,473 families. IFA Director Debi Durham says “These grants are an essential and highly effective resource, empowering regions to direct funds where they are needed most to meet local housing needs. The success of this program is reflected in the thousands of Iowans who now have safe, affordable homes, made possible through strong partnerships with Local Housing Trust Funds across the state.”

In the KJAN listening area:

• The Dallas County Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) – serving Dallas County, was awarded $398,340 from the IFA.
• The Pottawattamie County Housing Trust Fund – serving Pott. County, was awarded $377,017 from the IFA, and,
• The Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund – serving Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby Counties, was awarded $441,474.

The grant funds will support a range of initiatives aimed at developing or preserving housing for low-income households across the spectrum of housing needs. This includes the development and preservation of housing, assistance for persons experiencing homelessness, rental assistance, homeownership support, bolstering the capacity of local housing organizations and other efforts that directly address local housing needs.  The State Housing Trust Fund helps ensure decent, safe and affordable housing for Iowans through two programs. The Local Housing Trust Fund Program receives at least 60 percent of the SHTF allocation to provide grants for organizations certified by IFA as Local Housing Trust Funds. The remaining funding supports the Project-Based Housing Program, which aids in the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing. IFA administers both programs and provides technical assistance to housing-related organizations.

Established by the Iowa Legislature in 2003, the State Housing Trust Fund continues to play a vital role in advancing Iowa’s housing priorities. The awards announced today are expected to leverage an additional $3.6 million in other financing or approximately 30 cents for every dollar of Local Housing Trust Fund Program funding. Since its inception, the State Housing Trust Fund has supported more than 41,400 Iowa households through the LHTF Program, investing more than $140 million and leveraging an additional $130 million in other funding to advance local housing initiatives.

(Radio Iowa) – Automatic teller machines that are only for cryptocurrency transactions, also known as crypto or bitcoin A-T-Ms, are popping up all over Iowa, and if you’re not careful using them, it could be a very expensive lesson. James Johnson, superintendent of banking with the Iowa Department of Insurance, says investing in crypto is becoming very popular and there are nearly 400 bitcoin A-T-Ms in the state now, including 25 just in Des Moines. “Obviously, with the trend of cryptocurrency, you’re seeing a surge in the availability of the ATMs,” Johnson says. “On the surface, if you’re using them, that’s great, if that’s what you’re wanting to do, as long as you’re putting it in your wallet or your account. The problem we see is that, just like with any financial instrument, scammers find ways to get people to use them for their own gain.”

The Federal Trade Commission says consumers reported losing more than 100-million dollars in crypto scams last year. Johnson says crooks are capitalizing on the accessibility of the A-T-Ms, enticing Iowans into using the machines to transfer cash to digital wallets which the scammers control. “Whether it’s the social media scams, or romance scams, you have a toll scam, whatever it is, they’ll engage someone and try to pressure them through a sense of urgency,” Johnson says. “I think some of the uncertainty that people have with these crypto ATMs, they use them not understanding the full reality of what’s going on, and the fact that they are sending that money to a scammer and they will not get it back.”

Johnson says it’s vital that Iowa consumers understand what cryptocurrency A-T-Ms are, how the scams work, and what they can do to protect themselves.  “Talk to people. That’s the biggest thing. If you have questions, talk to people that you know, start there. Find trusted advisors. Talk to them. Talk to your banker, talk to your financial planner,” Johnson says. “Just reach out to someone that’s an expert that you know and have them help you go through this.” The scams often start through chats, social media, emails, texts, computer pop-ups and phone calls from strangers. Johnson says scammers often pose as a government official who claims to be trying to help the victim transfer funds to keep them safe. “With anything, if you question whether it’s real or not, take a step back, seek guidance, reach out to an expert,” Johnson says. “We have a website, iowafraudfighters.gov, which has a lot of information for Iowans that may be questioning something, and it has a lot of scams that are out there, examples, some cases where people have been taken advantage of.”

Johnson warns to never withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message, as only scammers will tell you to do that, and don’t believe anyone who says you need to use a crypto A-T-M to protect your money, fix a problem, or to get a great return on investment.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on November 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a three-count indictment with offenses relating to false statements on two loan applications and during bankruptcy proceedings. As alleged in the Indictment, 57-year-old Henry J. Schappert applied for and obtained over $415,000 of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020 and 2021 ostensibly on behalf of his company, Allied Exteriors. The Indictment alleges that Schappert made several false statements on applications or amended applications for the loans which included inflated number of employees, revenue, cost of goods sold, and employee wages.

The Indictment further alleges that Schappert, in 2021, after receiving the EIDL and PPP loan proceeds, formed Pots and Shots, LLC, a bar and plant store in West Des Moines, Iowa. Schappert subsequently transferred over $129,000 from Allied Exteriors’ accounts to this new venture. The Indictment also alleges that Schappert filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Iowa in 2024, in which he made several false declarations on his bankruptcy petition and schedules.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

(Creston, IA) – The Creston Police Department reports a woman from Adair County was arrested Wednesday evening at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. Authorities say 40-year-old Valerie Ann Cross, of Greenfield, was arrested on a charge of Probation Violation. Cross was taken to Adams County Jail, where she was being held without bond pending her initial court appearance.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University has received approval to move ahead with leases in the new commercial development known as CyTown north of Jack Trice Stadium. Board of Regents attorney Amy Claeys (Clayz) says it includes leases for six components. “This includes the food and beverage anchor, two office and retail buildings, two side CyTown suite buildings, the amphitheater, and the common amenity area. The hotel is still undergoing the design phase and will be brought to the board at a future meeting,” Claeys says. She says each of the buildings are financed with a combination of university land, financial contributions and debt financing secured by the developer Goldenrod.

“The CyTown development is projected to generate 184-million dollars in net revenue to the university over the next 30 years,” she says. Regent Robert Cramer is on the committee that reviewed the proposals. “We’re pleased with the results of what they’re projecting. And again the projections, we feel that they’re conservative projections, we feel good about it,” Cramer says. Regent Nancy Dunkel is also on the review committee. “We have had a chance to thoroughly vet these numbers. I feel they’re as good as a budget projection as you can get,” Dunkel says. “I did have a lot of questions in the beginning of this and that’s probably how how I got on this committee to begin with. But I’d have to say it’s a very open process and I feel really good about what’s going to happen in Iowa State with this CyTown project.”

Cramer says Goldenrod really has a lot of risk as they are going to go out and find tenants to fill the spaces.

(Radio Iowa) – Temperatures are expected in the teens below zero this (Thursday) morning with even-colder wind chills, so Iowa’s a pretty inhospitable place right now — for people and for our pets. K-C Routos, development director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says some dog and cat owners will take their furry friends with them on errands to the grocery store and elsewhere, and they’ll leave the animals in running vehicles. Routos says that’s a dangerous, potentially deadly move, for your pet. “If you leave your car running and something happens where it happens to turn off, or they step on the window and it rolls down, or any variety of things could happen, just on accident,” Routos says, “so it’s always best just to leave your pet at home when it’s extreme temperatures like this.”

While exercise is important for all of us, she says it’s likely best -not- to take your pets on their typical strolls around the neighborhood — or anywhere else — until it warms up.  “We’d recommend probably not taking dogs out for walks during these extreme temperatures,” Routos says. “Their paws can be a little bit more sensitive to it and frostbite can probably happen pretty quickly in these extreme temperatures, just like they can for humans.” Some animals are built for colder weather and enjoy playing in the cold. Routos says the owner should increase the amount of food that animal is given, especially extra protein, to keep them and their fur healthy and in good shape. It’s vital that outside animals have the proper protection from the bitter temperatures.

“If your pet absolutely has to be kept outside, make sure that they have housing where they can be free of any of the elements, including the wind, and making sure that any water that they have is unfrozen,” Routos says. “Even huskies, in this temperature, it can be a little bit cold because they’re not necessarily used to it like they are maybe in some other areas.” Puppies, small dogs and older dogs have a lower tolerance for cold temperatures, she says, so only let them outside to relieve themselves, or train them to use paper pads indoors. Also, when your pet comes back inside, towel dry their paws, legs and stomach, as chemicals used to melt ice can be dangerous for your dog to ingest while licking his paws. Snow and encrusted ice may also cause your dog’s paw pads to bleed.

Find more tips at: ARL-Iowa.org

(Atlantic, IA) – A Shelby County man facing multiple charges for alleged sex- and drug-related offenses, is being held in the Cass County Jail. According to online court records, 45-year-old Michael Christopher Butler, of Harlan, is scheduled to be arraigned in Shelby County District Court on December 22nd. His pre-trial conference was set for January 12th, 2026, with trial was set for February 3rd, 2026.

Butler was arrested November 20th on charges that include:

• 2 counts of Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree – Child Victim/person 4-years of age or older/2nd offense.
• Lascivious Acts by touching his genitals to any part of a child’s body
• 3-counts of Drug distribution violation to a person under the age of 18
• Keeping a premises or vehicle for controlled substance violation, and
• Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana/1st offense.

Access to records regarding the specific details of the criminal complaints have been restricted by the Court.

Michael Christopher Butler (Shelby County Sheriff’s Office booking photo)

According to the online court records, the charges of Sex Abuse in the 3rd are with regard to offenses Butler allegedly committed in May, 2024. The Lascivious Acts charge was for an incident that allegedly took place in July of 2019. The drug distribution offenses allegedly occurred in May and October of 2024, while the latter drug charges are related to events that allegedly occurred November 20, 2025, in Shelby County.

ELY, Iowa (KCRG) – Christmas tree shoppers may see higher prices for artificial trees due to tariffs, while prices for real trees remain largely steady as local growers absorb extra costs. According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 83 percent of artificial trees are made outside the U.S. and face tariffs, leading to price increases of 10 percent or more this year. Artificial trees remain the most popular choice among households, the association reports.

At Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market in Ely, owner Mark Banowitz said his farm has seen slight increases in shipping costs for pre-cut trees, but he chose not to pass those costs on to customers. The American Christmas Tree Association found that 42 percent of tree growers surveyed have higher costs but aren’t charging more, following Banowitz’s approach. Banowitz said the farm focuses on creating experiences for families rather than maximizing profits.

While pre-cut tree prices remained stable, Banowitz noted some increases in prices for gift shop items at the farm.

(Radio Iowa) – Four Iowans are being honored for their heroic efforts to save others from burning homes and icy waters. The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards were established in 1977 and this year’s ceremony was hosted by Governor Kim Reynolds. “Each of you demonstrated a level of bravery that most of only hope we’re capable of,” Reynolds said. “…Courage is what transforms ordinary people into heroes and that’s what makes today so special because the people we’re honoring would never think of themselves that way. They will tell you they just did what anyone would have done, but we know that not everyone runs toward danger.”

Kyle Peterson of Spirit Lake received the Lifesaving with Valor Award for his actions early this year, on January 5th. He saw an accident on East Okoboji Lake, left his seat in a restaurant along the shore and ran half a mile across ice on the lake to rescue a couple who’d been tossed from their U-T-V into open water. Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Bayens says Peterson could hear the woman’s screams as he ran.

“Once at the water’s edge, Kyle found the couple grasping for purchase along the ice shelf,” Bayens said. “…With nowhere else to turn, Kyle shrugged out of his jacket and threw it to the woman, using it as a rope. Kyle then began the arduous task for pulling the woman to safety as he struggled to find traction on the glassy ice. Once he was able to pull the women onto stable ice, Kyle then turned his attention to the husband and did the same.” Kyle Peterson then led the couple back across that half mile of frozen lake to safety and a couple of minutes later first responders arrived.

A man from Clinton was honored for saving a friend during an ice fishing trip last February. Michael Edwards‘ friend was cutting a new fishing hole in a Jackson County lake when the ice buckled and the man slid in the water. The state’s public safety commissioner says Michael sprawled on the ice and grabbed the end of the ice auger his friend had been using.  “Soon, the life-threatening game of tug and war ensued,” Bayens said. “Each time one or the other pulled on the auger, Michael slid closer to the edge. When that would happen, Michael’s friend would quit pulling so as not to endanger Michael, but in that same vein Michael refused to let the icy waters claim his friend.” A second man arrived with a fishing sled and helped pull the man out of the water.

John Wonio is another Lifesaving with Valor Award recipient. John noticed his neighbor’s home was on fire on December 7th of last year, called 9-1-1 and helped a Des Moines policeman break down the home’s front door. Bayens says one of the occupants heard John’s voice and followed it out of the house, but John and the policeman saw a woman sitting in a chair. “The two yelled at the top of their lungs, pleading for the woman to flee the home, but to their dismay they received no answer…John rushed through the front door and thrust himself into the burning home,” Bayens said. “Once inside, he found the unconscious woman…and dragged her to safety.” The woman was hospitalized for over two weeks for treatment of a collapsed lung, carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation and she was discharged just before last Christmas.

Meagan Murray, a letter carrier from New Hampton, received the Governor’s Lifesaving Award. Bayens says she rescued an 85-year-old woman from a burning home in New Hampton on September 30th of last year. “Realizing someone was trapped inside, Meagan forced open an exterior door, helped the woman escape to safety and remained with her until help arrived,” Bayens said. “On that day, an elderly mom was in need of a guardian angel and Meagan fit the bill.”

Bayens says the four Iowans honored are remarkable people who provided aid when it was needed most: bravery.