(Radio Iowa) – A pitch competition — like what you see on the “Shark Tank” T-V show — is scheduled in Des Moines next Wednesday — and it will feature start-up companies from Argentina, India and Nigeria. World Food Prize Foundation C-E-O Tom Vilsack says the foundation is putting up 65-thousand dollars in prize money. “We’re really excited about the inaugural Innovate for Impact challenge,” Vilsack said. “We were sort of taken aback by the response. We had 387 applications from 62 countries.”

Executives from each of the three companies will make their pitches to a panel of judges, who will award 50-thousand dollars for first prize, 10-thousand dollars for second and five thousand dollars for third prize. The event will be held in downtown Des Moines as part of the annual World Food Prize Dialogue that starts Monday. “There’s an opportunity, I think, for us to learn a little bit more about innovation that’s taking place and the entrepreneurship that is alive and well in this field of agriculture,” Vilsack said. Vilsack says the three companies have the potential for worldwide impact. APOLO Biotech in Argentina uses R-N-A technology to produce an alternative to traditional pesticides.

(Pictured: WFP CEO Tom Vilsack – Radio Iowa/IA PBS credit)

Capsber Agriscience in India is already working with over 150-thousand small-scale farming operations to use microbes that are native to the soil rather than fertilizers to boost crop yields. The third business — Vet Konect in Nigeria — has created a digital platform that has connected tens of thousands of farmers in eight countries to information about raising livestock. Tickets are required to attend the pitch competition and can be purchased on the World Food Prize website.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the number of businesses listed on the state’s “Choose Iowa” website has doubled since January. The online marketplace was created during the pandemic when demand for locally raised food rose. “I want to encourage Iowans — shop local. Go to www.chooseiowa.com. You can find all manner of products — everything from cut flowers to honey to beverages to certainly protein, fruits and vegetables,” Naig said. “You name it, you can find all of the above in the Choose Iowa directory.”

This past spring the website opened up to horticulture businesses that sell trees, shrubs and other garden plants. It costs a business 100 dollars a year to be listed on Choose Iowa dot com. “Buy local and surprise some folks for Christmas this year,” Naig said.

The Choose Iowa website lets people search by location, by the name of the business or the type of product someone hopes to buy. It also includes information about whether the products can be purchased online or in person.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Zach Nunn, of Ankeny, says President Trump’s move to pay U-S soldiers who are on active duty this week was just a temporary fix. Nunn says if the government shutdown doesn’t end soon, soldiers and airmen won’t get a paycheck at the end of the month. “We have a reality before us where 1.5 million troops are on pins and needles of whether they are going to be able to feed their family marching forward,” Nunn said. Trump directed the Pentagon to use about eight BILLION dollars of unused federal research funds for military pay this week, including members of the Guard and Reserve who are on active duty.

Nunn, who joined House Republicans at a news conference in Washington, D.C., notes reservists and Guard members who are NOT on active duty didn’t get paid. “15,000 National Guardsmen from Iowa were in danger of not being able to decide whether to put a down-payment on a new car or being able to put food in the refrigerator,” Nunn said. “…These aren’t theoretical. These are real people, real impact, real costs.”

(Photo: screenshot of Rep. Zach Nunn from his press conference Oct. 15th)

Nunn says Senate Democrats need back down and approve the plan House Republicans passed in January to keep the government open through November 21st. Democrats are demanding that the package include an extension of tax credits for health insurance purchased on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. The top Democrat in the House says Democrats are willing to negotiate with House Republicans, but haven’t been able to do so because the House hasn’t convened this month.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Creston was arrested early Wednesday morning. According to the Creston Police Department, 31-year-old Tyler Wayne Kimball was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Disorderly Conduct.

Kimball was transported to and held at the Union County Jail.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that were made between Oct. 9th and the 16th. There were two people arrested on October 10th in Cass County:

• Deputies arrested 32-year-old Reybert Tagata Aguilar, of Atlantic, for Possession of Controlled Substances, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Aguilar was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.
• 41-year-old Andrew Lee Butler, of Atlantic, was arrested Oct. 10th for OWI/1st Offense. Butler was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

And, on October 9th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 62-year-old Sally Newman Jones, of Anita, on a Warrant for Violation of a Domestic No Contact Order. Jones was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and later released on bond.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports a woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Des Moines. 46-year-old Crystalynn Kay Sterling, of Glenwood, was arrested on a out-of-county/out-of state warrant. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer, Wednesday, spoke with the Atlantic City Council about a Business Plan Competition proposal. The City Administrator John Lund noted the City budgeted $10,000 in the FY 2026 Budget to CADCO from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress Fund under “Commercial Development Services,” for CADCO, which is looking at a grant from Wells Fargo and City participation that would benefit the competition application.

McEntaffer said “As of this year, there are almost 300-thousand small businesses in the State of Iowa, and most of those business are under 50-thousand employees.” There are regional competitions that don’t include Cass County, and most competitions are run through universities. She said the proposed Business Plan Competition is an event designed to inspire entrepreneurs to compete for seed funding or business expansion funds.

The competition is designed to encourage viable business ideas.

Wells Fargo, McEntaffer said, awarded $250,000 to the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC), to continue its support for businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The Rural Business Initiative (RBI) will provide grants of at least $30,000 to community organizations that work with small businesses, dollars that can be directed to the businesses themselves for capital costs, soft costs, training or strategic planning. The application window opened September 29, 2025, for non-metro communities under 20,000 who are at least within 50 miles of a Wells Fargo Bank branch.

McEntaffer said officials with Wells Fargo in Atlantic have expressed an interest in participating in the program.

The Businesses Plan Competition incorporates several facets.

After receiving her presentation, the Atlantic City Council passed an Order to provide the requested $10,000 from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress Fund to begin the application process.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution “Designating Mental Wellness Checks as a Health & Wellness Benefit for Atlantic Police Department Employees,” and the 3rd and Final Reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, by adding a new chapter regulating the use of electric scooters, motorized scooters, and low-speed vehicles.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Newly appointed Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelsey Beschorner, Wednesday, updated the Atlantic City Council on Chamber promotion development and economic activities that have taken place. Beschorner was appointed by the Chamber Board on Oct. 10th. She’s been part of the Chamber team since 2020 as Program Director, where her energy, creativity, and leadership have shaped many of Atlantic’s most beloved traditions — from AtlanticFest and Christmas in Atlantic to the work of the Ambassadors and Atlantic Rising.

She started-off by saying she was grateful for the amount of support and encouragement she has received in assuming the Chamber Executive role.

Kelsey Beschorner addresses the Atlantic City Council, 10-15-25

She said the Chamber has incorporated about 1,360 media buys into the promotion of Atlantic and the area, including through local radio and print. The new Community Guide, she said, is another great promotion tool.

There’s also on online interactive guide that provides detailed information to prospective visitors and those looking to have a business here.

The Chamber’s social media platforms, she said, are also growing in reach.

She said, “…behind every click, every view, is a real person discovering Atlantic.”

DES MOINES, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports David C. Waterman was sworn-in Wednesday as the United States Attorney for the District of Iowa. Waterman was nominated by President Trump on March 31, 2025, and confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 2025. Chief United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose administered the oath of office to United States Attorney Waterman.

“I am honored to be confirmed as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. I am grateful to President Trump for the nomination and to Senators Grassley and Ernst for their steadfast support. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering encouragement,” U.S. Attorney Waterman said. “Having been born and raised in the district, I am committed to upholding justice and safeguarding the community I proudly call home. I look forward to joining the many dedicated members of the United States Attorney’s Office and working with federal, state, and local partners to strengthen public safety and serve all Iowans.”

US ATTY Southern District of IA

The United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Iowa prosecutes federal crimes in 47 counties in Iowa. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Waterman was most recently employed at a private law firm in Davenport. Waterman spent four years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael J. Melloy, with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Honorable John A. Jarvey, with the Southern District of Iowa, and the Honorable Mark W. Bennett, with the Northern District of Iowa.

(Adair County, Iowa) – A motorcycle crash early this (Thursday) morning near Adair, claimed the life of a man from Adair. The Iowa State Patrol reports 20-year-old Devon Michael Ernst was riding a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R600 RS motorcycle westbound on Interstate 80 at around 12:45-a.m., and navigating the Exit 75 off-ramp, when the accident occurred. The Patrol says Ernst was traveling too fast to negotiate the curve of the ramp. His cycle left the roadway to the left and struck a culvert, causing Ernst to be thrown from the motorcycle.

The Patrol says Ernst was not wearing a helmet or protective clothing. He died at the scene. The Patrol was assisted by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and Adair Fire & Rescue.