Focus On School Board Candidate Mary Milder
(Le Mars) — Continuing with our profiles of school board candidates, today we speak with Mary Milder, who is one of four candidates seeking the position on the board of education to represent District 4. Mary admits to being somewhat new to the town of Le Mars, having moved here just five years ago, but she says she wants to contribute to the community, which is a reason why she is seeking a position on the local school board.
Milder is employed with Plains Area Mental Health clinic as a licensed social worker. She wants people to realize she is a determined individual.
Milder says her background serves as good qualifications to be a school board member.
Milder says a major of goal of hers as a director with the Le Mars Community Board of Education is to see that students are engaged with their studies and opportunities.
Milder says she hopes everyone participates by voting for school board directors.
Second Set Of Redistricting Maps To Be Released Today
(Des Moines, IA) — The second set of redistricting maps for Iowa’s congressional districts and legislative districts will be released after 10:00 this (Thursday) morning. The Legislative Services Agency will deliver the redistricting plan to legislators first. The Iowa Senate rejected the first set of map on October 5th and directed the Legislative Services Agency to develop new maps with legislative districts that were closer in total population. Governor Reynolds has set October 28th as the date for a special session so lawmakers can vote on this second set of maps.
Governor Is Confident John Deere Will Resolve Contract Issues With Union
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s confident the union and Johns Deere will come to some resolution in their contract negotiations. Reynolds says “John Deere is a great company with a phenomenal workforce.” Reynolds, who grew up in the St. Charles area, says her father worked for John Deere for 40 years and her grandpa worked for John Deere for many years. U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the picket line outside the John Deere plant in Ankeny Wednesday. Vilsack told the U-A-W members he’s there for them because they were there for him 23 years ago. The union endorsed Vilsack’s successful 1998 campaign for governor when he was trailing in the polls and Vilsack says that’s something he won’t forget.
Former Iowa Teacher Sentenced To 24 Years For Having Sex With Student
(Des Moines, IA) — A former Southeast Polk High School teacher will spend 24 years in prison for having sex with a student. Thirty-nine-year-old Christopher Smith, formerly of Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor. Court documents show Smith used his cellphone and the internet in 2020 to contact a minor student while he worked full-time for Southeast Polk. The information says he enticed the minor to engage in sex and also recorded sexual activity with the student on his cellphone. Smith will have to register as a sex offender once he is released from prison.
Nebraska Woman Dies Of Her Injuries 9 Days After She Was Shot In The Neck
(Des Moines, IA) — A Nebraska woman has died of her injuries nine days after she was shot in the neck at a Des Moines bar. The 26-year-old victim was wounded October 10th at the High Dive bar just south of the downtown area. A second person shot that night – a 27-year-old man – was treated at a nearby hospital and released. The troubled bar has been closed permanently. Des Moines police say they had responded to the location more than 80 times this year. A developer says he plans to replace the bar with luxury condominiums offering a skyline view.
Governor Reynolds Proposes Changes in Iowa Unemployment Benefits
(Adel, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds plans to ask the Iowa legislature to approve new job-search requirements for Iowans who qualify for unemployment benefits. Reynolds is proposing that Iowans receiving unemployment checks be required to check in weekly with a state worker about job openings in their area and — with the exception of union members — unemployed Iowans will have to prove they’ve applied for at least four jobs. The governor says the agency’s primary focus will be on rapid re-employment. Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend says her agency needs “a re-set” since Iowa is in the midst of a workforce shortage. Townsend plans to hire 18 people to counsel unemployed Iowans and she will seek to redefine what qualifies as work search activities that are required of Iowans receiving jobless benefits.
State Trooper Critically Injured in Northeast Iowa Crash Dies
(Postville, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Safety and Iowa State Patrol are mourning the loss of State Trooper Ted Benda. Trooper Benda was critically injured in a crash last Thursday night on Highway 51 near Postville. State officials say 37-year-old Benda died of his injuries today (Wednesday). He had been hospitalized in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Trooper Benda joined the D-C-I in 2005 and transferred to the State Patrol in 2016. Officials say Benda is not only a valuable part of the Department of Public Safety, but was more importantly a loving husband, father, son, and brother. Trooper Benda leaves behind his wife, Holly, and their four young children.
State Auditor’s Report Finds Big Increase in Denied Medicaid Claims
(Des Moines, IA) — A state audit finds that after private “managed care organizations” took over the state’s Medicaid system, the number of Iowans improperly denied medical care and services dramatically increased. State Auditor Rob Sand says this is the fourth Medicaid-related audit his office has released. The state turned over management of Medicaid patients’ care to private companies in 2016. Auditors reviewed Medicaid files from 2013 through 2019. Sand says “comparing privatized Medicaid to non-privatized Medicaid, we have seen an 891-percent increase in judges overturning care denials.” State officials in charge of the Medicaid program say Sand’s report is flawed because it fails to account for changes made in the appeals process once private companies were in charge of approving or denying care. Governor Kim Reynolds says administrators of the program tell her the auditor has “a fundamental misunderstanding” of how the appeals process works.
Supply Chain Issues Could Affect Thanksgiving Turkey Availability
(Ames, IA) — The head of the Iowa Turkey Federation says reports of a Thanksgiving turkey shortage are not accurate. Executive director Gretta Irwin says there is an “ample supply” of turkeys, but there are other issues which could leave your feathers ruffled if you’re hoping to have a roast turkey as your centerpiece on November 25th. She says there are challenges in finding enough employees right now through the entire food chain and the turkey industry is definitely a part of that discussion. Irwin says Iowa turkey producers will be raising around 12-million birds this year, but due to continued troubles with transportation and supply management, your nearest supermarket may soon be running lower than usual. She recommends talking to a grocer now if you want a fresh turkey.
Congressman Feenstra Announces Re-Election Campaign
(Hull, IA) — Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra is running for re-election in 2022. The freshman Republican from Hull was just elected to the former seat of Representative Steve King 11 months ago. Feenstra officially announced today (Wednesday) that he will seek a second term in the G-O-P-leaning district in northwest Iowa. Feenstra served three terms in the Iowa Senate before leaving for the U-S House. He topped Democrat J-D Scholten in last November’s election.
