WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserve as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by OPEC+ nations. That’s according to senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to outline Biden’s plans. The Democratic president on Wednesday will say more oil sales are possible this winter, as his administration rushes to be seen as pulling out all the stops ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Biden in March authorized the release of 180 million barrels that was supposed to occur over six months. The strategic reserve now contains roughly 400 million barrels of oil, its lowest level since 1984.
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Iowa’s Absentee Voting Period Begins Today
Posted on by Sam Parsons
DES MOINES – Iowans can begin casting ballots for the 2022 general election today, which is the start of the absentee voting period. It marks the first day Iowans can vote in person at their county election office and the first day auditors can mail absentee ballots to voters who requested them.
More than 144,000 Iowans have requested an absentee ballot so far. The deadline to request one to be mailed is Monday, October 24.
Absentee ballot request forms are available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov. You can also track the status of your request and ballot at that site. County auditors must receive your absentee ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 8.
Ottumwa City Council Approves Gas & Electric Franchise Fees
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By Sam Parsons
The Ottumwa City Council met last night and after a process lasting several months, the council approved the third and final consideration of an ordinance instituting a franchise fee city-wide on gas and electric utilities. The fee, which will initially equate to 3% of gas and electric bills, will supplement the city’s general fund and the council says revenue will go toward making city staff wages competitive as well as additions in public safety positions such as police and fire department employees.
The council also weighed the rezoning of a property up for voluntary annexation on Hutchinson Avenue which was recently purchased by Dollar General. Citizens spoke out against the possible development of a Dollar General, citing the two already existing Dollar General locations in the city, but councilmember Mark Roe clarified that the city doesn’t have a hand in the purchase of the property.
Ultimately, the second consideration of the rezoning ordinance passed unanimously and development is scheduled to begin within two years if the third consideration is passed in November.
Central College Hosts World Food Prize Lecture Convocation, Oct. 20
Posted on by Sam Parsons
PELLA, IA — Madhura Swaminathan, daughter of the first World Food Prize Laureate M. S. Swaminathan, will present Central College’s annual World Food Prize Lecture at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in Douwstra Auditorium on Central’s campus.
The World Food Prize Laureate Lecture Series brings the innovative discussions of the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue to Iowa’s educational communities and the broader public to engage citizens, students, teachers and community leaders in a vibrant exchange of ideas and information. The World Food Prize collaboration with Iowa’s educational institutions and businesses builds public awareness of those issues related to agriculture, agribusiness, food, nutrition and health, and further helps to support cultural and educational opportunities within the state.
“We are excited to have Professor Swaminathan on campus to address our first-year students on issues pertaining to food security, agriculture and rural development,” says Jay Wackerly, associate professor of chemistry. “World Food Prize Lecture speakers have been frequently welcomed to our campus because they live out the Central mission and values of engaged citizenship.”
Swaminathan currently serves as a professor and head of the economic analysis unit at the Indian Statistical Institute in Bangalore, India. She serves as chair of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and is an advisor on the World Food Prize Council of Advisors. Swaminathan received her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oxford and has worked on issues of food security, agriculture and rural development for over 25 years.
She was a member of the Government of India’s High-Level Panel on Long-Term Food Security and served on the committee of development policy of the economic and social council of the United Nations from 2013 to 2015. She has authored numerous books and publications and most recently she was a contributing author of the report on “Multi-stakeholder Partnerships to Finance and Improve Food Security and Nutrition in the Framework of the 2030 Agenda” by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security in Rome.
The World Food Prize is an international award recognizing individuals who have increased the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Central has proudly hosted the lecture for years in conjunction with the World Food Prize Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. The World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in Des Moines.
Student loan forgiveness application website goes live
Posted on by Sam Parsons
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has officially kicked off the application process for his student debt cancellation program. He announced Monday that 8 million borrowers had already applied for loan relief during the federal government’s soft launch period over the weekend. Biden is encouraging the tens of millions eligible for potential relief to visit studentaid.gov and touting the application form, which he says will take less than five minutes to complete. He says an early, “beta launch” version of the online form released late Friday handled the early stream of applications “without a glitch or any difficulty.”
Report suggests $900 million in annual wage theft impacts 250,000 Iowa workers
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
A new study suggests Iowa workers are underpaid by at least $900 million a year.
Common Good Iowa, the group issuing the report, calls that wage theft. Sean Finn, the report’s author, says an estimated 250,000 Iowans are impacted.
“That means that on average one in seven workers in Iowa are shorted $300 a week,” Finn says.
Finn says some workers are not paid the overtime they’re owed or their employers fails to follow minimum wage laws. Other full-time workers are misclassified as a independent contractor, which Finn says lets the employer avoid paying taxes and benefits.
“Theft in Iowa whether it’s larceny, robbery, burglary — all of those crimes, costs around $90 million a year according to the FBI,” Finn says. “We estimate wage theft being at least $900 million a year, so this problem is ten times greater than other theft and, at the same time, very little is being done to stop it.”
Finn’s report is titled “A Heist in Plain Sight” and he argues businesses that are violating wage laws are hurting responsible employers who are following the rules.
“Businesses are using wage theft to cut costs and illegally cut corners,” Finn says. “They can artificially lower their costs and offer lower bids on projects or just run with lower operating costs, maybe keep their prices lower.”
The Iowa Workforce Development agency is using part of a federal grant to investigate businesses that may be misclassifying employees as independent contractors. Last year the agency collected a quarter of a million dollars to settle 341 claims over unpaid or underpaid wages.
Oskaloosa Council Receives Fire Code Enforcement Update
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By Sam Parsons
The Oskaloosa City Council met last night and heard a quarterly report from the fire department related to code enforcement. The report found that 56 cases of code violations were opened during the third quarter, with 50 of them being closed as of now. The most common case category of those opened was that of grass and snow, which saw 23 cases open and close. The fire department reported that their top priorities for the remainder of the year included dilapidated structures and working with owners to solve those issues, as well as staying on top of grass and weeds and preparing for snow removal requests as the weather continues to cool down.
The next regular meeting of the Oskaloosa City Council is scheduled for November 7.
Mahaska County Board of Supervisors Weighs Soil Compaction Study Contribution
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By Sam Parsons
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors met yesterday and discussed a potential contribution to a study from Iowa State University on soil compaction as it relates to proposed carbon capture pipelines that may be built in the state. Supervisor Chuck Webb described what the contribution would entail.
The contribution agreement includes the provision that, if ISAC does not receive adequate funding from all 99 counties for the study, they will return the original contributions to the counties. Ultimately, however, the board decided to table the decision until their next meeting in November, pending more information from ISAC.
Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks Stoops in Oskaloosa
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By Sam Parsons
Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks kicked off her 20-county tour of Iowa’s first congressional district in Oskaloosa this morning and answered questions from citizens on topics ranging from abortion to gun control to the environment to voting laws. On the latter topic, Miller-Meeks discussed the voter reform that had already been passed in Iowa and cited continuous strong turnout.
For questions about voter registration, citizens are encouraged to visit voterready.iowa.gov.
Mahaska Chamber Seeking Award Nominations
Posted on by Sam Parsons
OSKALOOSA — Would you like to nominate a business or individual who has made a big difference in Mahaska County in the past year? Mahaska Chamber & Development Group will again be presenting several civic awards. You are urged to submit nominations for these awards. The categories are as follows:
Retail Business and Service Business of the Year (2 awards) – The most outstanding retail or service business in the Mahaska community during this past fiscal year must be in business for minimum of two years, demonstrate success, with evidence of commitment and contribution to the community.
Industry of the Year – The most outstanding industry in the Mahaska community during the year will have a stable employment history, will have been in business for minimum of two years, showing evidence of commitment and contribution to the community and a commitment to sound management practices.
Business Person of the Year – This individual will have demonstrated those qualities which have distinguished him/her in business: proven commitment and contribution to the community, a commitment to ethical business practices, recognized within their profession, a Mahaska County resident, a history of success in their business.
Citizen of the Year – This individual will have demonstrated outstanding involvement in and support of his/her community over an extended period of time.
Community Improvement Award – This commercial or industrial property will have made improvements which enhance the appearance and /or economic vitality of the Mahaska community through new development or through the redevelopment of an existing property.
Educator of the Year – This individual from a Mahaska County school will display a true passion and devotion to the betterment of students.
Student of the Year -This individual will be a graduating senior or college student from a school in Mahaska County who is well-rounded and displays exemplary leadership and service for the betterment of Mahaska County.
Up & Comer – This young individual or new business owner will be recognized for their dedicated commitment, passion and high standard of excellence while leading the charge in Mahaska County.
Chuck Russell Award – This person or project will be recognized for their dedicated commitment in preserving the rich heritage and history of Oskaloosa and Mahaska County.
To make any nominations or if you have an innovative idea for a “special award” for exceptional achievement in a category not mentioned, you are encouraged to phone 641-672-2591 or email ddegroot@mahaskachamber.org with “Mahaska Chamber Award” in the subject line to present the suggestion to the Chamber. Nominations must be received by Friday, November 4.
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