(Radio Iowa) - The remains of an Iowa soldier who died in a Japanese prison camp during World War Two have been identified. 

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains as 22-year-old U-S Army Air Force Tech-4 Lloyd Bruntmyer of Des Moines. Bruntmyer was serving in the Phillippine Islands when the Japanese invaded in December of 1941. Bruntmyer was among those reported captured when U-S forces surrendered, and the Japanese forced them on the 65-mile Bataan Death March to a prison camp. 

Records show Bruntmyer died November 1st, 1942, and was buried in the prison camp cemetery. His remains were later moved to Manilla and advanced techniques allowed for their identification. Brentmyer's remains will be buried in San Diego, California, in November of 2025.

(Radio Iowa) - The remains of an Iowa soldier who died in a Japanese prison camp during World War Two have been identified. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains as 22-year-old U-S Army Air Force Tech-4 Lloyd Bruntmyer of Des Moines. Bruntmyer was serving in the Phillippine Islands when the Japanese invaded in December of 1941. Bruntmyer was among those reported captured when U-S forces surrendered, and the Japanese forced them on the 65-mile Bataan Death March to a prison camp. Records show Bruntmyer died November 1st, 1942, and was buried in the prison camp cemetery. His remains were later moved to Manilla and advanced techniques allowed for their identification. Brentmyer's remains will be buried in San Diego, California, in November of 2025.

Iowa Soldier's Remains Identified

WASHINGTON —On Friday, the Biden Administration announced student debt cancellation for another 55,000 public service workers, bringing the total number of individuals who have been approved for student debt relief under the Biden Administration to nearly 5 million people through various actions, according to a statement from the White House.

"The public servants approved for debt cancellation today include teachers, nurses, service members, law enforcement officials, and other public service workers who have dedicated their lives to giving back to their communities and who are finally earning the relief they are entitled to under the law."

"Over the last four years, we have made significant progress for students and borrowers – including securing the largest increase to the maximum Pell Grant award in over a decade; holding institutions accountable for taking advantage of students; and fixing broken student loan programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment."

"From Day One of my Administration, I promised to make sure that higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. Because of our actions, millions of people across the country now have the breathing room to start businesses, save for retirement, and pursue life plans they had to put on hold because of the burden of student loan debt."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721180391047.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Friday, the Biden Administration announced student debt cancellation for another 55,000 public service workers, bringing the total number of individuals who have been approved for student debt relief under the Biden Administration to nearly 5 million people through various actions, according to a statement from the White House."The public servants approved for debt cancellation today include teachers, nurses, service members, law enforcement officials, and other public service workers who have dedicated their lives to giving back to their communities and who are finally earning the relief they are entitled to under the law.""Over the last four years, we have made significant progress for students and borrowers – including securing the largest increase to the maximum Pell Grant award in over a decade; holding institutions accountable for taking advantage of students; and fixing broken student loan programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment.""From Day One of my Administration, I promised to make sure that higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. Because of our actions, millions of people across the country now have the breathing room to start businesses, save for retirement, and pursue life plans they had to put on hold because of the burden of student loan debt."

Biden cancels student loan debt for more public service workers

(Radio Iowa) - The head of Iowa Workforce Development says the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November rose one-tenth of a point from October to three-point-one percent.

 Workforce director Beth Townsend says the increase was expected, even with the anticipated hiring of seasonal workers for the holidays. Townsend says they've seen a regular for quite some time due to "anxiety and uncertainty, given the national election." The national unemployment rate also rose for the month to four-point-two percent, more than a full point above Iowa's rate. 

Another bright spot in the report, according to Townsend, was that 16-hundred Iowans came back to the labor force in search of a job. Townsend says it's possible we'll see better numbers for December, though she admits there may not be a significant shift upwards until spring.

(Radio Iowa) - The head of Iowa Workforce Development says the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November rose one-tenth of a point from October to three-point-one percent. Workforce director Beth Townsend says the increase was expected, even with the anticipated hiring of seasonal workers for the holidays. Townsend says they've seen a regular for quite some time due to "anxiety and uncertainty, given the national election." The national unemployment rate also rose for the month to four-point-two percent, more than a full point above Iowa's rate. Another bright spot in the report, according to Townsend, was that 16-hundred Iowans came back to the labor force in search of a job. Townsend says it's possible we'll see better numbers for December, though she admits there may not be a significant shift upwards until spring.

Iowa's jobless rate rises slightly due to 'anxiety' about election

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House failed to pass a Republican stopgap spending package Thursday, sharply increasing the odds a partial government shutdown will begin after the current funding bill expires Friday at midnight.&nbsp;

<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024516" target="_blank">The 174-235 House vote</a>&nbsp;came less than three hours after GOP leaders released a second stopgap spending bill this week. The first version, released just two days ago, was widely rejected by President-elect Donald Trump as well as his allies on and off Capitol Hill.

A total of 38 GOP lawmakers and 197 Democrats voted against passage. Only two Democrats voted in support of the measure. One Democrat voted “present.”

House Republicans tried to approve the new measure under a process called suspension of the rules, which required at least two-thirds of lawmakers to support the legislation for passage, including Democrats. Trump endorsed this new version, which included a two-year suspension of the debt limit.

GOP leaders could next try to put the failed bill up for a vote under a rule, which requires a simple majority vote to approve, but that path takes a few more steps and isn’t a guarantee this legislation could pass.

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said during floor debate the bill was necessary to avoid a shutdown and provide disaster aid to states throughout the country.

“We need to provide the necessary disaster recovery aid for states and communities as our fellow citizens rebuild and restore. The relief efforts are ongoing — it will be months, if not years, before life returns to normal,” Cole said.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, rebuked GOP lawmakers for walking away from the deal both parties reached on the first stopgap package.

“There were things in it that Democrats liked and Republicans did not, and there were things in it that Republicans liked and Democrats would have preferred to leave out. But that is the nature of government funding bills,” DeLauro said. “They require compromise and the support of Democrats and Republicans.”

The legislation House lawmakers were about to vote on had no input from Democrats, she said.

While Republicans have a narrow majority in the House, Democrats control the Senate and the White House, making bipartisan agreement on legislation essential to it becoming law.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote in a statement released Thursday just before the vote that the GOP was “doing the bidding of their billionaire benefactors at the expense of hardworking Americans.”

“Republicans are breaking their word to support a bipartisan agreement that would lower prescription drug costs and make it harder to offshore jobs to China — and instead putting forward a bill that paves the way for tax breaks for billionaires while cutting critical programs working families count on, from Social Security to Head Start,” she wrote. “President Biden supports the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, help communities recovering from disasters, and lower costs — not this giveaway for billionaires that Republicans are proposing at the 11th hour.”

Trump calls new bill ‘a very good deal’

The stopgap spending package that failed Thursday night would have kept the government funded through mid-March while boosting disaster aid by about $100 billion.

The legislation would have suspended the nation’s debt limit for an additional two years through January 2027 and given Congress until September to finish the much overdue farm bill.

Trump cheered the new version of the stopgap spending bill before the vote after rejecting the first version released just two days ago.

“Speaker Mike Johnson and the House have come to a very good Deal for the American People,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113681499338715649" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on social media. “The newly agreed to American Relief Act of 2024 will keep the Government open, fund our Great Farmers and others, and provide relief for those severely impacted by the devastating hurricanes.”

“A VERY important piece, VITAL to the America First Agenda, was added as well – The date of the very unnecessary Debt Ceiling will be pushed out two years, to January 30, 2027,” Trump added. “Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish.”

The second stopgap bill came after a dramatic 48 hours that began with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/huge-spending-bill-unveiled-congress-provides-more-100-billion-disaster-aid" target="_blank">the Tuesday night release of a different stopgap spending package&nbsp;</a>before Trump’s ally Elon Musk called on GOP lawmakers to reject the bill their leadership team on Capitol Hill had negotiated over weeks.

Trump then told Republicans to address the debt limit in the package or get rid of it entirely, throwing another complex issue into the mix at the last minute.

The core elements of the stopgap spending package House Republicans released Thursday afternoon were similar to the Tuesday night package, though it dropped dozens of measures, including a provision allowing the nationwide sale of 15% ethanol blended gasoline year round.

The new package, same as the old package, doesn’t include a long-standing provision that prevents members of Congress from receiving a cost of living adjustment. Unless that’s changed, lawmakers would receive a 3.8% raise next year increasing their annual salary from $174,000 to $180,600.

“It removed key provisions to limit the power of pharmaceutical companies, and abandons our bipartisan efforts to ensure American dollars and intellectual property are reinvested in American businesses and workers; instead of fueling the Chinese Communist Party’s technology and capabilities,” DeLauro said during debate.

The new&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/American%20Relief%20Act%202025.pdf" target="_blank">116-page stopgap spending bill</a>&nbsp;was considerably shorter than the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/CR.pdf" target="_blank">1,547-page version</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday.

The spending package would have given Congress until March 14 to complete work on the dozen annual government funding bills that were supposed to become law by the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

It would have given the House and Senate until Sept. 30, 2025, to reach agreement on the five-year farm bill, which lawmakers were supposed to negotiate a new version of more than a year ago.

The legislation would suspend the debt limit through Jan. 30, 2027.

The bill includes tens of billions in emergency spending to help communities throughout the country recover from various natural disasters, including wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/CR2%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary of the bill</a>, released by House Democrats on Tuesday, showed the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Agriculture would receive the bulk of the natural disaster recovery funding. House Republicans didn’t appear to have altered any of the original funding levels for disaster aid in the updated Thursday version.

The USDA would get $33.5 billion in funding, with $21 billion of that designated for disaster assistance and another $10 billion for economic assistance to farmers and producers.

Other agriculture assistance funding would go toward the Agriculture Research Service, Emergency Watershed Protection Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program and Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund, among several others.

The Department of Homeland Security would receive $30.8 billion in funding, with $29 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund.

An additional $1.5 billion would go to the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fire fund “to continue efforts to support families who suffered damages due to the April 2022 wildfire,” according to the summary.&nbsp;

The wildfire was the largest in New Mexico’s history and caused about $5.14 billion in damages,&nbsp;<a href="https://sourcenm.com/2024/12/17/new-report-totals-hermits-peak-calf-canyon-fire-losses-at-5-14b-as-extra-funds-hang-in-balance/" target="_blank">according to a report released</a>&nbsp;this week.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program for disaster recovery would receive $12 billion in additional funding.

Another $8 billion would go to the Transportation Department to “reimburse states and territories for damage from natural disasters to roads and bridges in the National Highway System, including 100 percent of costs associated with rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,” according to Democrats’ summary.

The Forest Service would get $6.4 billion for ongoing recovery efforts from natural disasters that took place in 2022, 2023 and this year. The National Park Service would receive $2.3 billion as part of the Department of the Interior’s $3 billion total.

The Defense Department would get $3.4 billion to repair damages related to natural disasters. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $1.5 billion for repairs and to increase resiliency.

The Small Business Administration would receive $2.25 billion for disaster loans.

Shortly before House GOP leaders announced their second stopgap package, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham committed to holding a talking filibuster to delay passage of any stopgap funding measures if that bill doesn’t include substantial disaster aid.

The two, along with North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd, all of whom are Republicans, held a press conference Thursday afternoon to urge GOP leaders in the House to keep the roughly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid in any short-term spending package.

They also rejected calls from some members of their own party to find ways to pay for the new emergency spending, saying that’s not how disaster aid packages have traditionally been handled.

“When you’re in the middle of a crisis, I don’t think anybody’s going to want to hear somebody come to the floor and talk about the fiscal responsibility of giving these people a home again, or giving them an opportunity to open up a business again and employ people,” Tillis said. “So, no I don’t think $10 billion or $20 billion, and ‘I promise we’ll do something more in March’ is an acceptable solution. We know what the need is today. It was negotiated in a package and it needs to be in a package to get my support to get out of here.”&nbsp;

Graham sought to explain the realities of divided government and pointed out that even when Republicans control the House and Senate next year, they’ll still need Democratic support on spending bills.

“We need 60 votes to get it done in the Senate,” Graham said, referring to the chamber’s legislative filibuster, which requires at least 60 lawmakers vote to advance bills toward final passage.

“Mike Johnson is going to have to pick up a handful, at least, of Democrats, because there’s some Republicans who will never vote for anything,” Graham added.

Tillis was unable to answer a question about whether a partial government shutdown beginning Saturday at 12:01 a.m. would affect the federal government’s ongoing natural disaster response in his home state.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation and numerous federal departments would be required to follow their shutdown guidance if Congress doesn’t fund the government on time.

Those departments and agencies divide up their staffs into excepted employees, whose jobs address the protection of life or property, and non-excepted employees, who don’t.

Neither category of federal employee gets paid until after the shutdown ends.

American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley released a written statement Thursday that a shutdown would harm federal workers who “inspect our food, protect our borders, ensure safe travel during the holidays, and provide relief to disaster victims.”

“Over 642,000 of them are veterans of our armed services,” Kelley wrote. “Allowing them to go without a paycheck over the holidays is unacceptable.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648697605.png" alt="The new bill is just 116 pages, compared to the previous 1,547 pages." />
 <figcaption>The new bill is just 116 pages, compared to the previous 1,547 pages.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. House failed to pass a Republican stopgap spending package Thursday, sharply increasing the odds a partial government shutdown will begin after the current funding bill expires Friday at midnight.&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024516" target="_blank">The 174-235 House vote</a>&nbsp;came less than three hours after GOP leaders released a second stopgap spending bill this week. The first version, released just two days ago, was widely rejected by President-elect Donald Trump as well as his allies on and off Capitol Hill.A total of 38 GOP lawmakers and 197 Democrats voted against passage. Only two Democrats voted in support of the measure. One Democrat voted “present.”House Republicans tried to approve the new measure under a process called suspension of the rules, which required at least two-thirds of lawmakers to support the legislation for passage, including Democrats. Trump endorsed this new version, which included a two-year suspension of the debt limit.GOP leaders could next try to put the failed bill up for a vote under a rule, which requires a simple majority vote to approve, but that path takes a few more steps and isn’t a guarantee this legislation could pass.House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said during floor debate the bill was necessary to avoid a shutdown and provide disaster aid to states throughout the country.“We need to provide the necessary disaster recovery aid for states and communities as our fellow citizens rebuild and restore. The relief efforts are ongoing — it will be months, if not years, before life returns to normal,” Cole said.<h2>No input from Democrats</h2>Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, rebuked GOP lawmakers for walking away from the deal both parties reached on the first stopgap package.“There were things in it that Democrats liked and Republicans did not, and there were things in it that Republicans liked and Democrats would have preferred to leave out. But that is the nature of government funding bills,” DeLauro said. “They require compromise and the support of Democrats and Republicans.”The legislation House lawmakers were about to vote on had no input from Democrats, she said.While Republicans have a narrow majority in the House, Democrats control the Senate and the White House, making bipartisan agreement on legislation essential to it becoming law.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote in a statement released Thursday just before the vote that the GOP was “doing the bidding of their billionaire benefactors at the expense of hardworking Americans.”“Republicans are breaking their word to support a bipartisan agreement that would lower prescription drug costs and make it harder to offshore jobs to China — and instead putting forward a bill that paves the way for tax breaks for billionaires while cutting critical programs working families count on, from Social Security to Head Start,” she wrote. “President Biden supports the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, help communities recovering from disasters, and lower costs — not this giveaway for billionaires that Republicans are proposing at the 11th hour.”<h2>Trump calls new bill ‘a very good deal’</h2>The stopgap spending package that failed Thursday night would have kept the government funded through mid-March while boosting disaster aid by about $100 billion.The legislation would have suspended the nation’s debt limit for an additional two years through January 2027 and given Congress until September to finish the much overdue farm bill.Trump cheered the new version of the stopgap spending bill before the vote after rejecting the first version released just two days ago.“Speaker Mike Johnson and the House have come to a very good Deal for the American People,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113681499338715649" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on social media. “The newly agreed to American Relief Act of 2024 will keep the Government open, fund our Great Farmers and others, and provide relief for those severely impacted by the devastating hurricanes.”“A VERY important piece, VITAL to the America First Agenda, was added as well – The date of the very unnecessary Debt Ceiling will be pushed out two years, to January 30, 2027,” Trump added. “Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish.”<h2>Two days of tension</h2>The second stopgap bill came after a dramatic 48 hours that began with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/huge-spending-bill-unveiled-congress-provides-more-100-billion-disaster-aid" target="_blank">the Tuesday night release of a different stopgap spending package&nbsp;</a>before Trump’s ally Elon Musk called on GOP lawmakers to reject the bill their leadership team on Capitol Hill had negotiated over weeks.Trump then told Republicans to address the debt limit in the package or get rid of it entirely, throwing another complex issue into the mix at the last minute.The core elements of the stopgap spending package House Republicans released Thursday afternoon were similar to the Tuesday night package, though it dropped dozens of measures, including a provision allowing the nationwide sale of 15% ethanol blended gasoline year round.The new package, same as the old package, doesn’t include a long-standing provision that prevents members of Congress from receiving a cost of living adjustment. Unless that’s changed, lawmakers would receive a 3.8% raise next year increasing their annual salary from $174,000 to $180,600.“It removed key provisions to limit the power of pharmaceutical companies, and abandons our bipartisan efforts to ensure American dollars and intellectual property are reinvested in American businesses and workers; instead of fueling the Chinese Communist Party’s technology and capabilities,” DeLauro said during debate.The new&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/American%20Relief%20Act%202025.pdf" target="_blank">116-page stopgap spending bill</a>&nbsp;was considerably shorter than the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/CR.pdf" target="_blank">1,547-page version</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday.<h2>Several new deadlines</h2>The spending package would have given Congress until March 14 to complete work on the dozen annual government funding bills that were supposed to become law by the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.It would have given the House and Senate until Sept. 30, 2025, to reach agreement on the five-year farm bill, which lawmakers were supposed to negotiate a new version of more than a year ago.The legislation would suspend the debt limit through Jan. 30, 2027.The bill includes tens of billions in emergency spending to help communities throughout the country recover from various natural disasters, including wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes.A&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/CR2%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">summary of the bill</a>, released by House Democrats on Tuesday, showed the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Agriculture would receive the bulk of the natural disaster recovery funding. House Republicans didn’t appear to have altered any of the original funding levels for disaster aid in the updated Thursday version.The USDA would get $33.5 billion in funding, with $21 billion of that designated for disaster assistance and another $10 billion for economic assistance to farmers and producers.Other agriculture assistance funding would go toward the Agriculture Research Service, Emergency Watershed Protection Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program and Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund, among several others.The Department of Homeland Security would receive $30.8 billion in funding, with $29 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund.An additional $1.5 billion would go to the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fire fund “to continue efforts to support families who suffered damages due to the April 2022 wildfire,” according to the summary.&nbsp;The wildfire was the largest in New Mexico’s history and caused about $5.14 billion in damages,&nbsp;<a href="https://sourcenm.com/2024/12/17/new-report-totals-hermits-peak-calf-canyon-fire-losses-at-5-14b-as-extra-funds-hang-in-balance/" target="_blank">according to a report released</a>&nbsp;this week.The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program for disaster recovery would receive $12 billion in additional funding.Another $8 billion would go to the Transportation Department to “reimburse states and territories for damage from natural disasters to roads and bridges in the National Highway System, including 100 percent of costs associated with rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,” according to Democrats’ summary.The Forest Service would get $6.4 billion for ongoing recovery efforts from natural disasters that took place in 2022, 2023 and this year. The National Park Service would receive $2.3 billion as part of the Department of the Interior’s $3 billion total.The Defense Department would get $3.4 billion to repair damages related to natural disasters. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $1.5 billion for repairs and to increase resiliency.The Small Business Administration would receive $2.25 billion for disaster loans.<h2>Filibuster threat</h2>Shortly before House GOP leaders announced their second stopgap package, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham committed to holding a talking filibuster to delay passage of any stopgap funding measures if that bill doesn’t include substantial disaster aid.The two, along with North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd, all of whom are Republicans, held a press conference Thursday afternoon to urge GOP leaders in the House to keep the roughly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid in any short-term spending package.They also rejected calls from some members of their own party to find ways to pay for the new emergency spending, saying that’s not how disaster aid packages have traditionally been handled.“When you’re in the middle of a crisis, I don’t think anybody’s going to want to hear somebody come to the floor and talk about the fiscal responsibility of giving these people a home again, or giving them an opportunity to open up a business again and employ people,” Tillis said. “So, no I don’t think $10 billion or $20 billion, and ‘I promise we’ll do something more in March’ is an acceptable solution. We know what the need is today. It was negotiated in a package and it needs to be in a package to get my support to get out of here.”&nbsp;Graham sought to explain the realities of divided government and pointed out that even when Republicans control the House and Senate next year, they’ll still need Democratic support on spending bills.“We need 60 votes to get it done in the Senate,” Graham said, referring to the chamber’s legislative filibuster, which requires at least 60 lawmakers vote to advance bills toward final passage.“Mike Johnson is going to have to pick up a handful, at least, of Democrats, because there’s some Republicans who will never vote for anything,” Graham added.Tillis was unable to answer a question about whether a partial government shutdown beginning Saturday at 12:01 a.m. would affect the federal government’s ongoing natural disaster response in his home state.The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation and numerous federal departments would be required to follow their shutdown guidance if Congress doesn’t fund the government on time.Those departments and agencies divide up their staffs into excepted employees, whose jobs address the protection of life or property, and non-excepted employees, who don’t.Neither category of federal employee gets paid until after the shutdown ends.American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley released a written statement Thursday that a shutdown would harm federal workers who “inspect our food, protect our borders, ensure safe travel during the holidays, and provide relief to disaster victims.”“Over 642,000 of them are veterans of our armed services,” Kelley wrote. “Allowing them to go without a paycheck over the holidays is unacceptable.”

Trump endorses new spending plan in Congress that suspends debt limit for two years

(Radio Iowa) - Lower commodity prices and a drop in farm income are some of the issues farmers have faced this year. 

Iowa State Extension field agronomist Aaron Saeugling says the farmers he's talked to in southwest Iowa are adjusting and more cautious than they were a year ago. Saeugling says big equipment purchases may be delayed, as a lot depends on which areas had the best crop development. He notes, those who had dry conditions will not have the advantage of volume as when you get into extremely short crops or dry crops, you simply don't have the bushels to market. 

Saeugling says planting got started late in southern Iowa and that led to a late harvest, but he some report very good yields.

(Radio Iowa) - Lower commodity prices and a drop in farm income are some of the issues farmers have faced this year. Iowa State Extension field agronomist Aaron Saeugling says the farmers he's talked to in southwest Iowa are adjusting and more cautious than they were a year ago. Saeugling says big equipment purchases may be delayed, as a lot depends on which areas had the best crop development. He notes, those who had dry conditions will not have the advantage of volume as when you get into extremely short crops or dry crops, you simply don't have the bushels to market. Saeugling says planting got started late in southern Iowa and that led to a late harvest, but he some report very good yields.

Ag economy has farmers delaying decisions

(Radio Iowa) - Webster City Police Chief Shiloh Mork resigned on Wednesday in the wake of an investigation by city officials into allegations about his service. 

A few of the allegation include falsifying a summons in a criminal case document, fabricated an FBI investigation and criminal charges involving city administration and engaged in intimidation and isolation of a co-worker through falsified information. Mork was placed on administrative leave on November 18th. He began working with the Webster City Police Department in 2000 as a patrolman, was promoted to sergeant in 2002 and has been police chief since 2014. 

Sergeant Eric McKinley has served as acting chief since Mork was put on leave.

(Radio Iowa) - Webster City Police Chief Shiloh Mork resigned on Wednesday in the wake of an investigation by city officials into allegations about his service. A few of the allegation include falsifying a summons in a criminal case document, fabricated an FBI investigation and criminal charges involving city administration and engaged in intimidation and isolation of a co-worker through falsified information. Mork was placed on administrative leave on November 18th. He began working with the Webster City Police Department in 2000 as a patrolman, was promoted to sergeant in 2002 and has been police chief since 2014. Sergeant Eric McKinley has served as acting chief since Mork was put on leave.

Top cop in north-central Iowa town quits amidst probe

TOPEKA— The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help to locate two wanted fugitives known for alleged sleight-of-hand thefts at jewelry stores, according to a statement from the ageney.

Authorities are searching for 53-year-old&nbsp;Vasile Sava&nbsp;and 54-year-old&nbsp;Onita Rostas.&nbsp;Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married, and may be using a variety of aliases.

In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants, issued by United States District Court, District of Kansas, after being charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, targeted multiple jewelry businesses, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees while another would remove, conceal, and ultimately make off with items of jewelry that had been on display. The FBI calls this practice a sleight-of-hand distraction theft.

The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to be sold, prosecutors said.

The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun's in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.

The pair may be living in or operating across multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.

It is unknown if the pair has ties to the Kansas City area.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact any law enforcement agency, or reach out to the FBI directly through&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this tip website</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734634248605.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help to locate two wanted fugitives known for alleged sleight-of-hand thefts at jewelry stores, according to a statement from the ageney.Authorities are searching for 53-year-old&nbsp;Vasile Sava&nbsp;and 54-year-old&nbsp;Onita Rostas.&nbsp;Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married, and may be using a variety of aliases.In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants, issued by United States District Court, District of Kansas, after being charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734634218307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, targeted multiple jewelry businesses, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees while another would remove, conceal, and ultimately make off with items of jewelry that had been on display. The FBI calls this practice a sleight-of-hand distraction theft.The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to be sold, prosecutors said.The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun's in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.The pair may be living in or operating across multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.It is unknown if the pair has ties to the Kansas City area.Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact any law enforcement agency, or reach out to the FBI directly through&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this tip website</a>

FBI: Couple wanted for jewelry store thefts in Kansas

WASHINGTON — A Louisiana resident has contracted the country’s first severe case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a human, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.

The unidentified person is believed to have been infected with the virus through sick or dead birds on their property that were not part of a commercial poultry flock, though federal public health officials declined to provide more details on a call with reporters, citing patient confidentiality. The virus is also called bird flu, or H5N1.

“Previously, the majority of cases of H5N1 in the United States presented with mild illness, such as conjunctivitis and mild respiratory symptoms, and fully recovered,” Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said during the call.

“Over the 20-plus years of global experience with this virus, H5 infection has previously been associated with severe illness in other countries, including illnesses that resulted in death in up to 50% of cases,” Daskalakis said. “The demonstrated potential for this virus to cause severe illness in people continues to highlight the importance of the joint, coordinated U.S. federal response, the One Health response, to address the current animal outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry and limit the potential of transmission of this virus to humans through animal contact.”

Despite the Louisiana case, Daskalakis said on the call, the CDC believes the threat to the general public remains low.

The Louisiana Department of Health wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://ldh.la.gov/news/H5N1-2024" target="_blank">press release&nbsp;</a>posted Friday that the person lives in the southwestern region of the state and was hospitalized, but didn’t provide additional information.

Emma Herrock, communications director for the Louisiana Department of Health, told States Newsroom in an email Wednesday the “patient is experiencing severe respiratory illness related to H5N1 infection and is currently hospitalized in critical condition.”

The patient, she said, “is reported to have underlying medical conditions and is over the age of 65.”

The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html" target="_blank">has confirmed</a>&nbsp;61 human cases of H5N1 throughout nine states this year, but the Louisiana patient is the first severe case of bird flu in someone within the United States.&nbsp;

Daskalakis declined to say during the call why the Louisiana case is considered severe when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-officials-say-no-sign-bird-flu-spreading-among-humans-despite-missouri-case" target="_blank">a Missouri resident who was hospitalized due to bird flu&nbsp;</a>was not classified the same way.

The Missouri patient, who was admitted to a hospital in August, had significant underlying medical conditions, according to public health officials. That person experienced “acute symptoms of chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness,” according to the CDC.

The CDC declined to say Wednesday what symptoms the Louisiana patient was experiencing, citing privacy concerns.

Bird flu has affected wild birds and poultry flocks throughout the United States for years, but it wasn’t until March that dairy cattle began becoming infected with the virus.

The dairy outbreak has affected 865 herds through 16 states this year, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There have been 315 new cases in dairy cattle during the last month, with the vast majority of those diagnoses in California, while one herd each tested positive in Nevada and Texas.

Bird flu has affected nearly 124 million poultry throughout 49 states,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;USDA.

Eric Deeble, deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA, said on the call the nationwide milk testing strategy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-launches-national-testing-milk-dairy-farms-track-bird-flu-outbreak" target="_blank">launched earlier this month</a>&nbsp;has expanded to several states.

The program requires anyone responsible for a dairy farm — such as a bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or dairy processing facility — to share unpasteurized or raw milk samples when requested.

California, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington are the 13 states currently enrolled in the program, he said.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed a state of emergency “to further enhance the state’s preparedness &amp; accelerate the ongoing cross-agency response efforts,” the governor’s press office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/12/18/governor-newsom-takes-proactive-action-to-strengthen-robust-state-response-to-bird-flu/" target="_blank">said.&nbsp;</a>

“These states represent a geographically conversant list of states, some of which have been affected by H5N1 in dairy cows, and some of which have never detected the disease,” Deeble said. “Additionally, these first two groups of states represent eight of the top 15 dairy-producing states in the country, accounting for nearly 50% of U.S. dairy production. We anticipate continuing to enroll additional states in the coming weeks.”

The USDA also continues to have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/four-states-begin-voluntary-testing-bird-flu-dairy-farm-milk-tanks" target="_blank">a voluntary bulk milk testing program</a>&nbsp;for any farms planning to ship dairy cattle across state lines to provide an easier pathway to establishing the herd is negative for H5N1, instead of having to test each cow individually.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725718440042.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — A Louisiana resident has contracted the country’s first severe case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a human, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.The unidentified person is believed to have been infected with the virus through sick or dead birds on their property that were not part of a commercial poultry flock, though federal public health officials declined to provide more details on a call with reporters, citing patient confidentiality. The virus is also called bird flu, or H5N1.“Previously, the majority of cases of H5N1 in the United States presented with mild illness, such as conjunctivitis and mild respiratory symptoms, and fully recovered,” Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said during the call.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Over the 20-plus years of global experience with this virus, H5 infection has previously been associated with severe illness in other countries, including illnesses that resulted in death in up to 50% of cases,” Daskalakis said. “The demonstrated potential for this virus to cause severe illness in people continues to highlight the importance of the joint, coordinated U.S. federal response, the One Health response, to address the current animal outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry and limit the potential of transmission of this virus to humans through animal contact.”Despite the Louisiana case, Daskalakis said on the call, the CDC believes the threat to the general public remains low.The Louisiana Department of Health wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://ldh.la.gov/news/H5N1-2024" target="_blank">press release&nbsp;</a>posted Friday that the person lives in the southwestern region of the state and was hospitalized, but didn’t provide additional information.Emma Herrock, communications director for the Louisiana Department of Health, told States Newsroom in an email Wednesday the “patient is experiencing severe respiratory illness related to H5N1 infection and is currently hospitalized in critical condition.”The patient, she said, “is reported to have underlying medical conditions and is over the age of 65.”<h2>61 confirmed cases in humans</h2>The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html" target="_blank">has confirmed</a>&nbsp;61 human cases of H5N1 throughout nine states this year, but the Louisiana patient is the first severe case of bird flu in someone within the United States.&nbsp;Daskalakis declined to say during the call why the Louisiana case is considered severe when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-officials-say-no-sign-bird-flu-spreading-among-humans-despite-missouri-case" target="_blank">a Missouri resident who was hospitalized due to bird flu&nbsp;</a>was not classified the same way.The Missouri patient, who was admitted to a hospital in August, had significant underlying medical conditions, according to public health officials. That person experienced “acute symptoms of chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness,” according to the CDC.The CDC declined to say Wednesday what symptoms the Louisiana patient was experiencing, citing privacy concerns.Bird flu has affected wild birds and poultry flocks throughout the United States for years, but it wasn’t until March that dairy cattle began becoming infected with the virus.The dairy outbreak has affected 865 herds through 16 states this year, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There have been 315 new cases in dairy cattle during the last month, with the vast majority of those diagnoses in California, while one herd each tested positive in Nevada and Texas.Bird flu has affected nearly 124 million poultry throughout 49 states,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;USDA.<h2>Milk testing</h2>Eric Deeble, deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA, said on the call the nationwide milk testing strategy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-launches-national-testing-milk-dairy-farms-track-bird-flu-outbreak" target="_blank">launched earlier this month</a>&nbsp;has expanded to several states.The program requires anyone responsible for a dairy farm — such as a bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or dairy processing facility — to share unpasteurized or raw milk samples when requested.California, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington are the 13 states currently enrolled in the program, he said.In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed a state of emergency “to further enhance the state’s preparedness &amp; accelerate the ongoing cross-agency response efforts,” the governor’s press office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/12/18/governor-newsom-takes-proactive-action-to-strengthen-robust-state-response-to-bird-flu/" target="_blank">said.&nbsp;</a>“These states represent a geographically conversant list of states, some of which have been affected by H5N1 in dairy cows, and some of which have never detected the disease,” Deeble said. “Additionally, these first two groups of states represent eight of the top 15 dairy-producing states in the country, accounting for nearly 50% of U.S. dairy production. We anticipate continuing to enroll additional states in the coming weeks.”The USDA also continues to have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/four-states-begin-voluntary-testing-bird-flu-dairy-farm-milk-tanks" target="_blank">a voluntary bulk milk testing program</a>&nbsp;for any farms planning to ship dairy cattle across state lines to provide an easier pathway to establishing the herd is negative for H5N1, instead of having to test each cow individually.&nbsp;&nbsp;

First severe case of bird flu in a human in the U.S. reported 

After two years of hard work, the grand opening for InspireU, the downtown Children’s Discovery Center is next week.   

The old Plymouth Building is almost unrecognizable nowadays, filled with colorful walls and fun children's activities in a new children’s museum in St. Joseph.  

Construction on InspireU began in November of 2022, and now over two years later, it will open its doors to several hundreds, if not thousands of children, one day after Christmas.

InspireU Director Katherine Patterson-Paronto, who came on in March, says she's been waiting a long time to see kids play in the space, and says it was wonderful to see during soft openings this past weekend 

"We had families playing together, everybody was playing, parents, kids, grandparents, all of them together, and I really loved being able to give this experience to them and be a part of it," Patterson-Paronto tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Soft openings have welcomed Mosaic employees as well as employees of Lehr Construction, who did work on the center, to explore and experience the museum.

Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says it's been wonderful watching children running into InspireU 

"And their young parents looking around in awe thinking I can't believe we're in St. Joseph," Gaddie explains.  "And those kids just can't get here fast enough and it's so fulfilling to watch them play." 

Another series of soft openings will be held this weekend, December 20th through the 22nd. If you're interested in attending, you can register at <a href="https://mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events">mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events</a>. Admission is $12 a person for the soft openings and can only be purchased online.

Patterson-Paronto says while this children's museum fits the mold of others across the country, what sets it apart is it can't really exist anywhere else 

"We are very much St. Joe," Patterson-Paronto says.  "So you'll look through the place and there will be big things you notice like the Missouri Theatre, but there will be tiny things too, like some of the posters are of stuff here, our murals have iconic buildings, we have career panels throughout the space and a lot of them are local folks who work that job, so that's really the thing that sets us apart." 

The Grand Opening is now set for December 26th.  Tickets can be purchased at the museum, there are also several membership options already available online.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626748603.jpeg" alt="InspireU, the brand new Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph, will have its grand opening on December 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>InspireU, the brand new Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph, will have its grand opening on December 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After two years of hard work, the grand opening for InspireU, the downtown Children’s Discovery Center is next week. The old Plymouth Building is almost unrecognizable nowadays, filled with colorful walls and fun children's activities in a new children’s museum in St. Joseph. Construction on InspireU began in November of 2022, and now over two years later, it will open its doors to several hundreds, if not thousands of children, one day after Christmas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626808407.jpeg" alt="An area for toddlers is on the mezzanine of the discovery center/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>An area for toddlers is on the mezzanine of the discovery center/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>InspireU Director Katherine Patterson-Paronto, who came on in March, says she's been waiting a long time to see kids play in the space, and says it was wonderful to see during soft openings this past weekend "We had families playing together, everybody was playing, parents, kids, grandparents, all of them together, and I really loved being able to give this experience to them and be a part of it," Patterson-Paronto tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Soft openings have welcomed Mosaic employees as well as employees of Lehr Construction, who did work on the center, to explore and experience the museum.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626859594.jpeg" alt="A climber on the first floor of InspireU that goes between the first floor and the mezzanine/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>A climber on the first floor of InspireU that goes between the first floor and the mezzanine/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says it's been wonderful watching children running into InspireU "And their young parents looking around in awe thinking I can't believe we're in St. Joseph," Gaddie explains. "And those kids just can't get here fast enough and it's so fulfilling to watch them play." Another series of soft openings will be held this weekend, December 20th through the 22nd. If you're interested in attending, you can register at <a href="https://mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events">mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events</a>. Admission is $12 a person for the soft openings and can only be purchased online.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626959581.jpeg" alt="The water table gives kids an opportunity to play in water on the second floor of InspireU/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The water table gives kids an opportunity to play in water on the second floor of InspireU/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Patterson-Paronto says while this children's museum fits the mold of others across the country, what sets it apart is it can't really exist anywhere else "We are very much St. Joe," Patterson-Paronto says. "So you'll look through the place and there will be big things you notice like the Missouri Theatre, but there will be tiny things too, like some of the posters are of stuff here, our murals have iconic buildings, we have career panels throughout the space and a lot of them are local folks who work that job, so that's really the thing that sets us apart." The Grand Opening is now set for December 26th. Tickets can be purchased at the museum, there are also several membership options already available online.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734627023960.jpeg" alt="The rooftop of InspireU gives kids an overview of downtown St. Joseph as well as the Missouri River/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The rooftop of InspireU gives kids an overview of downtown St. Joseph as well as the Missouri River/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02eWj5rLLpKeKFod7pLv9finZhQ8VozbRs48Ug52YAg6feRhJPk35vWirr5uZCK4TVl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="786" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Transformed Plymouth Building set to open as InspireU day after Christmas

After narrowing the field to four earlier this week, the St. Joseph Board of Education has named its next superintendent.  

Ashly McGinnis, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, has been approved by the St. Joseph School Board unanimously to become the superintendent.  

“As someone who knows our district inside and out, Dr. McGinnis is uniquely positioned to build on our successes and lead us forward with continuity and purpose,” stated School Board President LaTonya Williams in a news release.  “The Board is confident that Dr. McGinnis will continue to strengthen partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community while maintaining our district’s commitment to excellence.” 

McGinnis will work with current superintendent Gabe Edgar over the coming months to help with a seamless transition.  She will officially take the position July 1st, 2025 

"I am honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of our St. Joseph School District.” said McGinnis. “Both our district and city hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to fostering a forward-thinking approach to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Together, with our incredible staff, families, and community, we will work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential." 

Edgar will officially retire on June 30th.  Edgar announced his intent to retire and work in the public sector to the board last fall. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734560279432.jpeg" alt="Current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis has been named the next Superintendent of the St. Joseph School District/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District" />
 <figcaption>Current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis has been named the next Superintendent of the St. Joseph School District/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostAfter narrowing the field to four earlier this week, the St. Joseph Board of Education has named its next superintendent. Ashly McGinnis, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, has been approved by the St. Joseph School Board unanimously to become the superintendent. “As someone who knows our district inside and out, Dr. McGinnis is uniquely positioned to build on our successes and lead us forward with continuity and purpose,” stated School Board President LaTonya Williams in a news release. “The Board is confident that Dr. McGinnis will continue to strengthen partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community while maintaining our district’s commitment to excellence.” McGinnis will work with current superintendent Gabe Edgar over the coming months to help with a seamless transition. She will officially take the position July 1st, 2025 "I am honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of our St. Joseph School District.” said McGinnis. “Both our district and city hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to fostering a forward-thinking approach to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Together, with our incredible staff, families, and community, we will work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential." Edgar will officially retire on June 30th. Edgar announced his intent to retire and work in the public sector to the board last fall.

St. Joseph School Board names Ashly McGinnis as next superintendent 

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City area man was sentenced in federal court last week for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and for illegally possessing firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.

Tony Diaz, 41, Raymore, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years in federal prison without parole.

His brother and co-defendant, Serjio Diaz, 40, of Belton, Mo., was sentenced on Oct. 9, 2024, to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

On April 9, 2024, Serjio and Tony Diaz each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Tony Diaz also pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Serjio Diaz also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.

Serjio Diaz admitted that he was the primary organizer of the drug-trafficking organization during the conspiracy that lasted from Jan. 1, 2019, to June 22, 2021.

The investigation began on March 18, 2019, when federal agents interdicted and seized a package from California that contained more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, which was addressed to Serjio Diaz’s residence. On the same day, federal agents also interdicted and seized a package from California that contained more than three kilograms of methamphetamine, which was addressed to the residence of Tony Diaz.

During the course of the investigation, investigators conducted 23 controlled transactions from Serjio and Tony Diaz, utilizing an FBI confidential source. Over the course of these controlled purchases, law enforcement purchased more than seven kilograms of methamphetamine, more than six kilograms of heroin, and 468.6 grams of cocaine from Serjio and Tony Diaz for a total of $243,900.

In one transaction, for example, the confidential source purchased a kilogram of methamphetamine for $9,000 from Tony Diaz. In another instance, the confidential source purchased 222.4 grams (7.5 ounces) of cocaine from Serjio Diaz for $7,000.

On June 22, 2021, law enforcement officers arrested Serjio and Tony Diaz and searched Serjio Diaz’s residences and vehicles. Officers found almost nine kilograms of heroin, 166 grams of cocaine, six bags of pills that contained fentanyl and weighed a total of 78 grams, a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and $82,250 in cash.

Officers searched Tony Diaz’s residence and found 1,128 grams of suspected heroin, 28 grams of suspected cocaine, a Zastava Arms 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle, a Romarm Cugir 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle, and $5,461 in cash in Tony Diaz’s bedroom. Officers also found a Remington Arms .22-caliber rifle in a shed, one pound of suspected marijuana in his Lincoln Navigator SUV, and a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 3.4 grams of suspected marijuana in his BMW X5.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Tony Diaz has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

From May 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2020, Serjio Diaz deposited 93 money orders, totaling $82,145, into either his personal bank account or the bank account of his business, Imperial Window &amp; Gutter Cleaning, LLC. Serjio Diaz went to multiple post offices on the same date to purchase money orders; 21 of those purchases occurred soon after a controlled drug purchase was made by law enforcement in this investigation. Serjio Diaz limited his purchase to a maximum of $2,000 at each post office in order to avoid federal reporting requirements.

Co-defendant Maria Jasmin Lopez, 24, of Phoenix, Arizona, also pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2023, to 11 years and two months in federal prison without parole.

Co-defendant Vicente Aguilera pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to facilitate a drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on Nov. 1, 2024, to 16 months in federal prison without parole.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and the Jackson County Drug Task Force.

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City area man was sentenced in federal court last week for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and for illegally possessing firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.Tony Diaz, 41, Raymore, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years in federal prison without parole.His brother and co-defendant, Serjio Diaz, 40, of Belton, Mo., was sentenced on Oct. 9, 2024, to 15 years in federal prison without parole.On April 9, 2024, Serjio and Tony Diaz each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Tony Diaz also pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Serjio Diaz also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.Serjio Diaz admitted that he was the primary organizer of the drug-trafficking organization during the conspiracy that lasted from Jan. 1, 2019, to June 22, 2021.The investigation began on March 18, 2019, when federal agents interdicted and seized a package from California that contained more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, which was addressed to Serjio Diaz’s residence. On the same day, federal agents also interdicted and seized a package from California that contained more than three kilograms of methamphetamine, which was addressed to the residence of Tony Diaz.During the course of the investigation, investigators conducted 23 controlled transactions from Serjio and Tony Diaz, utilizing an FBI confidential source. Over the course of these controlled purchases, law enforcement purchased more than seven kilograms of methamphetamine, more than six kilograms of heroin, and 468.6 grams of cocaine from Serjio and Tony Diaz for a total of $243,900.In one transaction, for example, the confidential source purchased a kilogram of methamphetamine for $9,000 from Tony Diaz. In another instance, the confidential source purchased 222.4 grams (7.5 ounces) of cocaine from Serjio Diaz for $7,000.On June 22, 2021, law enforcement officers arrested Serjio and Tony Diaz and searched Serjio Diaz’s residences and vehicles. Officers found almost nine kilograms of heroin, 166 grams of cocaine, six bags of pills that contained fentanyl and weighed a total of 78 grams, a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and $82,250 in cash.Officers searched Tony Diaz’s residence and found 1,128 grams of suspected heroin, 28 grams of suspected cocaine, a Zastava Arms 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle, a Romarm Cugir 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle, and $5,461 in cash in Tony Diaz’s bedroom. Officers also found a Remington Arms .22-caliber rifle in a shed, one pound of suspected marijuana in his Lincoln Navigator SUV, and a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 3.4 grams of suspected marijuana in his BMW X5.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Tony Diaz has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.From May 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2020, Serjio Diaz deposited 93 money orders, totaling $82,145, into either his personal bank account or the bank account of his business, Imperial Window &amp; Gutter Cleaning, LLC. Serjio Diaz went to multiple post offices on the same date to purchase money orders; 21 of those purchases occurred soon after a controlled drug purchase was made by law enforcement in this investigation. Serjio Diaz limited his purchase to a maximum of $2,000 at each post office in order to avoid federal reporting requirements.Co-defendant Maria Jasmin Lopez, 24, of Phoenix, Arizona, also pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2023, to 11 years and two months in federal prison without parole.Co-defendant Vicente Aguilera pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to facilitate a drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on Nov. 1, 2024, to 16 months in federal prison without parole.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and the Jackson County Drug Task Force.

KC brothers sold heroin, cocaine to confidential FBI source

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Supreme Court has heard arguments in a case that will determine if Iowans may get voting materials in languages other than English. 

Last year, a Polk County District Court judge ruled counties may offer voter registration forms in different languages. The state appealed, citing the 22 year old Iowa law that requires all government documents in the state to be in English. An attorney for the state says citizens who do not speak English can exercise their right to vote by calling the state court system's translation line or asking someone in the county auditor's office to talk them through the forms. 

An attorney for the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa says federal election law requires states to offer language assistance to citizens who have limited English proficiency -- and translated voting materials are essential for non-English speakers.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Supreme Court has heard arguments in a case that will determine if Iowans may get voting materials in languages other than English. Last year, a Polk County District Court judge ruled counties may offer voter registration forms in different languages. The state appealed, citing the 22 year old Iowa law that requires all government documents in the state to be in English. An attorney for the state says citizens who do not speak English can exercise their right to vote by calling the state court system's translation line or asking someone in the county auditor's office to talk them through the forms. An attorney for the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa says federal election law requires states to offer language assistance to citizens who have limited English proficiency -- and translated voting materials are essential for non-English speakers.

Iowa Supreme Court hears arguments in case about translated voting materials

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two game bird operations — one in&nbsp; Doniphan County and one in Rooks County, according to a media release from the agency.

 These mark the first commercial operations with HPAI in Kansas since early spring of 2024, although the virus has been confirmed this fall in wild birds across the state and some backyard flocks.

KDA is working with the operations with assistance from local officials to respond at the affected premises. Those premises have been placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease.

In addition, KDA will be establishing a surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds. If you own poultry and live in Doniphan or Rooks counties, please contact KDA at 833-765-2006 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDA.HPAI@ks.gov">KDA.HPAI@ks.gov</a>. You can also self-report your birds at&nbsp;<a href="https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html">https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html</a>.

KDA has been reminding poultry owners of the increased risk of HPAI as a result of the fall migration season. Testing continues to reinforce that migratory wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are the primary source of the spread of HPAI, so a critical part of protecting your flock is to establish separation between your domestic birds and wild birds as they migrate through your region. Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard chicken owner to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. Find guidance on biosecurity on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. Poultry owners should attentively monitor your birds for symptoms of HPAI which include: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.

If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.&nbsp;

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/?splash=https%3a%2f%2fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2f%3furl%3dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdc.gov%252Fflu%252Favianflu%252Fspotlights%252F2021-2022%252Fbird-flu-poses-low-risk-public.htm%26data%3d04%257C01%257CHeather.Lansdowne%2540ks.gov%257Cdcfca033eb9449ca399708da038ec6b5%257Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%257C0%257C0%257C637826209006215717%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C3000%26sdata%3dc7SUuX%252BX44iSBrUj1crcW5Ao0hsggmJrjVpe1bf1Lk0%253D%26reserved%3d0&amp;____isexternal=true">do not present an immediate public health concern</a>&nbsp;or a food safety concern.&nbsp; As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

For more information about HPAI, including more information about biosecurity for your flock, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>&nbsp;or call KDA at 833-765-2006.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two game bird operations — one in&nbsp; Doniphan County and one in Rooks County, according to a media release from the agency. These mark the first commercial operations with HPAI in Kansas since early spring of 2024, although the virus has been confirmed this fall in wild birds across the state and some backyard flocks.KDA is working with the operations with assistance from local officials to respond at the affected premises. Those premises have been placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease.In addition, KDA will be establishing a surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds. If you own poultry and live in Doniphan or Rooks counties, please contact KDA at 833-765-2006 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDA.HPAI@ks.gov">KDA.HPAI@ks.gov</a>. You can also self-report your birds at&nbsp;<a href="https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html">https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html</a>.KDA has been reminding poultry owners of the increased risk of HPAI as a result of the fall migration season. Testing continues to reinforce that migratory wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are the primary source of the spread of HPAI, so a critical part of protecting your flock is to establish separation between your domestic birds and wild birds as they migrate through your region. Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard chicken owner to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. Find guidance on biosecurity on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>.Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. Poultry owners should attentively monitor your birds for symptoms of HPAI which include: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.&nbsp;According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/?splash=https%3a%2f%2fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2f%3furl%3dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdc.gov%252Fflu%252Favianflu%252Fspotlights%252F2021-2022%252Fbird-flu-poses-low-risk-public.htm%26data%3d04%257C01%257CHeather.Lansdowne%2540ks.gov%257Cdcfca033eb9449ca399708da038ec6b5%257Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%257C0%257C0%257C637826209006215717%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C3000%26sdata%3dc7SUuX%252BX44iSBrUj1crcW5Ao0hsggmJrjVpe1bf1Lk0%253D%26reserved%3d0&amp;____isexternal=true">do not present an immediate public health concern</a>&nbsp;or a food safety concern.&nbsp; As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.For more information about HPAI, including more information about biosecurity for your flock, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>&nbsp;or call KDA at 833-765-2006.

Bird flu found in Doniphan county

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/robinopsahl/">ROBIN OPSAHL</a>

President-elect Donald Trump is suing The Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer for publishing a poll that showed Vice President Kamala Harris leading in Iowa in the days before the 2024 election, claiming the poll amounted to “fraud and election interference.”

The lawsuit, filed in the Polk County District Court Monday, seeks unspecified damages and “accountability for brazen election interference” under the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. The defendants are the Register and its owner, Gannett; Selzer and Selzer &amp; Co.

The lawsuit alleges that the poll, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/11/02/iowa-poll-kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-2024-presidential-race/75354033007/" target="_blank">showed Harris leading Trump</a>&nbsp;among likely Iowa voters&nbsp; 47% to 44%, was published three days before the election as an attempt to “create a false narrative of inevitability for Harris in the final week of the 2024 Presidential&nbsp;Election.”

Trump won Iowa with 56% of the vote to Harris’ 43%. The lawsuit alleges that the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll was not merely an inaccurate poll, but was an intentional move with “corrupt intent” to aid Democrats.

“Selzer — who had prided herself on a mainstream reputation for accuracy&nbsp;despite several far less publicized egregious polling misses in favor of Democrats — …&nbsp;would have the public believe it was merely a coincidence that one of the worst polling&nbsp;misses of her career came just days before the most consequential election in memory, was leaked,&nbsp;and&nbsp;happened to go against the Republican candidate,” the lawsuit states. “The Harris Poll was no ‘miss’ but rather an&nbsp;attempt to influence the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election.”

Trump said<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/12/16/dc/trump-at-press-conference-backs-polio-vaccine-but-wont-commit-to-others-attacks-media/" target="_blank">&nbsp;during a Monday news conference</a>&nbsp;that he was filing a lawsuit because he felt he had “an obligation to.”

“I’m going to be bringing one against the people in Iowa, their newspaper, which had a very, very good pollster who got me right all the time, and then just before the election, she said I was going to lose by 3 or 4 points,” Trump said.

The president-elect also said he would likely file lawsuits against the news show “60 Minutes” as well as the Pulitzer Prize organization for giving awards to the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Selzer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/2024/11/17/ann-selzer-conducts-iowa-poll-ending-election-polling-moving-to-other-opportunities/76334909007/" target="_blank">announced shortly after the election</a>&nbsp;that she would be retiring from election polling. In an<a href="https://www.iowapbs.org/shows/iowapress/iowa-press/episode/11885/j-ann-selzer" target="_blank">“Iowa Press”</a>&nbsp;interview in aired Dec. 13, Selzer denied allegations of election interference or of intentionally releasing inaccurate results.

“They’re saying that this was election interference, which is a crime,” Selzer said. “So, the idea that I intentionally set up to deliver this response, when I’ve never done that before, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do it, it’s not my ethic. But to suggest without a single shred of evidence that I was in cahoots with somebody, I was being paid by somebody, it’s all just kind of, it’s hard to pay too much attention to it except that they are accusing me of a crime.”

Lark-Marie Anton, a spokesperson for The Des Moines Register, also said in a statement that the organization believes the lawsuit is without merit.

“We have acknowledged that the Selzer/Des Moines Register pre-election poll did not reflect the ultimate margin of President Trump’s Election Day victory in Iowa by releasing the poll’s full demographics, crosstabs, weighted and unweighted data, as well as a technical explanation from pollster Ann Selzer,” Anton said. “We stand by our reporting on the matter and believe this lawsuit is without merit.”

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/12/17/trump-sues-des-moines-register-pollster-over-preelection-iowa-poll/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730464867837.png" alt="File photo from CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>File photo from CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/robinopsahl/">ROBIN OPSAHL</a>President-elect Donald Trump is suing The Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer for publishing a poll that showed Vice President Kamala Harris leading in Iowa in the days before the 2024 election, claiming the poll amounted to “fraud and election interference.”The lawsuit, filed in the Polk County District Court Monday, seeks unspecified damages and “accountability for brazen election interference” under the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. The defendants are the Register and its owner, Gannett; Selzer and Selzer &amp; Co.The lawsuit alleges that the poll, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/11/02/iowa-poll-kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-2024-presidential-race/75354033007/" target="_blank">showed Harris leading Trump</a>&nbsp;among likely Iowa voters&nbsp; 47% to 44%, was published three days before the election as an attempt to “create a false narrative of inevitability for Harris in the final week of the 2024 Presidential&nbsp;Election.”Trump won Iowa with 56% of the vote to Harris’ 43%. The lawsuit alleges that the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll was not merely an inaccurate poll, but was an intentional move with “corrupt intent” to aid Democrats.“Selzer — who had prided herself on a mainstream reputation for accuracy&nbsp;despite several far less publicized egregious polling misses in favor of Democrats — …&nbsp;would have the public believe it was merely a coincidence that one of the worst polling&nbsp;misses of her career came just days before the most consequential election in memory, was leaked,&nbsp;and&nbsp;happened to go against the Republican candidate,” the lawsuit states. “The Harris Poll was no ‘miss’ but rather an&nbsp;attempt to influence the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election.”Trump said<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/12/16/dc/trump-at-press-conference-backs-polio-vaccine-but-wont-commit-to-others-attacks-media/" target="_blank">&nbsp;during a Monday news conference</a>&nbsp;that he was filing a lawsuit because he felt he had “an obligation to.”“I’m going to be bringing one against the people in Iowa, their newspaper, which had a very, very good pollster who got me right all the time, and then just before the election, she said I was going to lose by 3 or 4 points,” Trump said.The president-elect also said he would likely file lawsuits against the news show “60 Minutes” as well as the Pulitzer Prize organization for giving awards to the New York Times and the Washington Post.Selzer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/2024/11/17/ann-selzer-conducts-iowa-poll-ending-election-polling-moving-to-other-opportunities/76334909007/" target="_blank">announced shortly after the election</a>&nbsp;that she would be retiring from election polling. In an<a href="https://www.iowapbs.org/shows/iowapress/iowa-press/episode/11885/j-ann-selzer" target="_blank">“Iowa Press”</a>&nbsp;interview in aired Dec. 13, Selzer denied allegations of election interference or of intentionally releasing inaccurate results.“They’re saying that this was election interference, which is a crime,” Selzer said. “So, the idea that I intentionally set up to deliver this response, when I’ve never done that before, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do it, it’s not my ethic. But to suggest without a single shred of evidence that I was in cahoots with somebody, I was being paid by somebody, it’s all just kind of, it’s hard to pay too much attention to it except that they are accusing me of a crime.”Lark-Marie Anton, a spokesperson for The Des Moines Register, also said in a statement that the organization believes the lawsuit is without merit.“We have acknowledged that the Selzer/Des Moines Register pre-election poll did not reflect the ultimate margin of President Trump’s Election Day victory in Iowa by releasing the poll’s full demographics, crosstabs, weighted and unweighted data, as well as a technical explanation from pollster Ann Selzer,” Anton said. “We stand by our reporting on the matter and believe this lawsuit is without merit.”This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/12/17/trump-sues-des-moines-register-pollster-over-preelection-iowa-poll/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

Trump sues Des Moines Register, pollster over pre-election Iowa poll

(Radio Iowa) - Iowans who are dreaming of a white Christmas, may have to head further north. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says the long-range forecast now reaches December 25th, and it does -not- appear there will be any measurable snowfall on the ground during the middle of next week. Hagenhoff says their forecast models are calling for above-normal temperatures, though they can't rule out an "outlier" event with snow. 

While school kids and anyone with nostalgic memories of snowy holidays may be disappointed, the news is likely welcome for anyone who will have make a long drive. Hagenhoff says there's still a chance of snow, though it's slim.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowans who are dreaming of a white Christmas, may have to head further north. National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says the long-range forecast now reaches December 25th, and it does -not- appear there will be any measurable snowfall on the ground during the middle of next week. Hagenhoff says their forecast models are calling for above-normal temperatures, though they can't rule out an "outlier" event with snow. While school kids and anyone with nostalgic memories of snowy holidays may be disappointed, the news is likely welcome for anyone who will have make a long drive. Hagenhoff says there's still a chance of snow, though it's slim.

Forecast calls for more of a brownish-green Christmas for Iowa, not white

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe announced Wednesday that he is appointing Jessica Bax as the next director of the Missouri Department of Social Services.

Bax, who is currently the director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the Department of Mental Health, will become acting director of DSS effective Jan. 13. She will then need to be confirmed by the state Senate.&nbsp;

“Jess brings valuable experience working with state and local agencies and successfully building partnerships with stakeholders to this role,” said Kehoe in a press release Wednesday.

“With her extensive knowledge of social service programs, the budget and legislative process, and her passion for providing quality service to the people of Missouri, I am confident she will bring excellent leadership to the Department of Social Services,” Kehoe added.

Prior to her time with the Department of Mental Health, Bax worked at the Department of Health and Senior Services as director of the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services.

She will replace&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/17/leader-of-missouri-social-services-agency-stepping-down-for-new-job-in-poplar-bluff/">Robert Knodell,&nbsp;</a>who served in the role for three years and recently accepted a job to be the city manager of Poplar Bluff, his hometown.

The Department of Social Services&nbsp;oversees foster care, Medicaid, other public assistance programs and services for delinquent youth.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734542114236.png" alt="Jessica Bax, director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, speaks during a March 8 House Budget Committee hearing with Department of Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn, center, and Molly Boeckman, director of administrative services (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Jessica Bax, director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, speaks during a March 8 House Budget Committee hearing with Department of Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn, center, and Molly Boeckman, director of administrative services (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe announced Wednesday that he is appointing Jessica Bax as the next director of the Missouri Department of Social Services.Bax, who is currently the director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the Department of Mental Health, will become acting director of DSS effective Jan. 13. She will then need to be confirmed by the state Senate.&nbsp;“Jess brings valuable experience working with state and local agencies and successfully building partnerships with stakeholders to this role,” said Kehoe in a press release Wednesday.“With her extensive knowledge of social service programs, the budget and legislative process, and her passion for providing quality service to the people of Missouri, I am confident she will bring excellent leadership to the Department of Social Services,” Kehoe added.Prior to her time with the Department of Mental Health, Bax worked at the Department of Health and Senior Services as director of the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services.She will replace&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/17/leader-of-missouri-social-services-agency-stepping-down-for-new-job-in-poplar-bluff/">Robert Knodell,&nbsp;</a>who served in the role for three years and recently accepted a job to be the city manager of Poplar Bluff, his hometown.The Department of Social Services&nbsp;oversees foster care, Medicaid, other public assistance programs and services for delinquent youth.&nbsp;“I am humbled at the opportunity to serve in the Kehoe Administration and the people of Missouri in this capacity,” Bax said in a press release. “I look forward to working on streamlining operations, program integrity, and incorporating national best practices to help all Missourians have access to the tools they need to be safe and healthy.”&nbsp;Over the last few years, the agency has faced criticism for its administration of public benefits.&nbsp;A federal judge earlier this year&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/09/federal-court-rules-missourians-were-illegally-denied-food-aid-by-the-state/">ruled</a>&nbsp;Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state due to hourslong call center wait times for participants to receive a required interview.&nbsp;The state has also struggled to meet federal guidelines for its processing of Medicaid applications. The department in its budget request to the state legislature is asking for $11 million to hire 220 new staff in the Family Support Division to help ensure the agency complies with federal and state rules on timely processing, and “maintains a reasonable wait time in the call centers,” the budget&nbsp;<a href="https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/FY26_DSS_Appropriation_Book.pdf" target="_blank">request</a>&nbsp;states.&nbsp;And the department faced scrutiny for its handling of missing foster kids.&nbsp;A federal&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/23/%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Bfederal-watchdogs-report-sheds-new-light-on-scope-of-missouris-missing-foster-kids/">report</a>&nbsp;in 2022 found that there were 1,780 instances of foster kids going missing in Missouri over a two-and-a-half year period that spanned July 2018 to December 2020. The agency last year said it has<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-child-welfare-agency-reports-increased-efforts-to-find-missing-foster-kids/">&nbsp;increased efforts&nbsp;</a>to find missing foster kids.&nbsp;Knodell said in an interview last week that one of the challenges as director has been balancing the desires of those who want as robust a safety net as possible with those who want to control costs.&nbsp;“We try to build as strong a safety net as we can, being as responsible a steward of the resources that we have as possible,” he said. “But there is a push and a pull, and there are limits to what the government can do, but certainly we want to do the things that we’ve been tasked as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

Kbct