Week in Iowa, Dec. 24, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Iowa turns down federal food aid: Iowa has turned down millions in federal aid for low-income children, instead opting to expand state-funded programs and avoid spending $2.2 million a year on administration. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said last week the federal summer EBT program is not sustainable and does not "provide long-term solutions for the issues impacting children and families."

The program would have provided children who receive free and reduced school lunch with $40 a month during the summer to supplement food costs. Reynolds further said the state would invest in programs that do a better job of promoting nutrition. Democrats and family advocates decried the decision and said Iowa children would lose out as a result.

ISU addiction recovery program grows: Iowa State University's Collegiate Recovery Program recently underwent accreditation, making it one of just 10 college addiction recovery programs nationwide to be considered a "fully reviewed program." Officials said it would make the program better equipped to reach out to students and prospective students.

Andrew Wold sells Bettendorf home: The owner of the building that partially collapsed in Davenport in May sold his Bettendorf home this month, records show. Andrew Wold, who has sold several of his rental properties since the collapse, sold the home for $2.35 million at a 2.75 percent interest rate.

DeSantis super PAC cancels Iowa advertising: Never Back Down, the super PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, pulled $2.5 million in advertising in Iowa ahead of the caucuses. The group, which has undergone internal turmoil including the resignation of chief strategist Jeff Roe, said it was redirecting efforts to ground organizing.

Two other PACs have appeared supporting DeSantis, both running their own campaign ads in Iowa. Fight Right, which formed last month, has run ads criticizing Nikki Haley over links to China and comparing her to Hillary Clinton. Another, Good Fight, is planning to run an ad that features DeSantis' wife, Casey, discussing her experience with breast cancer, according to the New York Times.

Traffic deaths at seven-year high: More people have died on Iowa's roadways this year than in each of the last six years, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. There have been 372 road fatalities as of late December, a 10 percent increase from last year. Authorities pin the increase on distracted and impaired driving, as well as excessive speeding.

Judge to decide on Iowa book ban law: A federal judge will decide by Jan. 1 whether to temporarily block enforcement of a new state law that bans books with sexual content from school libraries and prohibits teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity before seventh grade. Two groups are suing state officials over the law, arguing it violates First Amendment rights. They argued in a recent hearing that the law should be blocked while litigation continues.

They said ...

“If we’re talking 20-some million (dollars) coming from the federal government, I don’t think the state is going to be matching that. They are just going to be leaving it to the charities to make up the difference.” -- Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, on Iowa refusing federal food aid

“Federal COVID-era cash benefit programs are not sustainable and don’t provide long-term solutions for the issues impacting children and families. An EBT card does nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.” -- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on decision to refuse federal food aid

Odds and ends

Iowa hoops: The Iowa women's basketball team maintained its No. 4 spot in Associated Press rankings this past week as star Caitlin Clark continues to lead the team to a dominant season. Clark, who ranks seventh in career points in NCAA Division I history, has a chance to break the all-time scoring record by the end of the current season.

Reward for missing man: Officials in Sac County are offering a $2,000 reward for information about missing Wall Lake trucker David Schultz. The man disappeared last month under mysterious circumstances, when his truck was found unattended on a rural county road.

Water cooler

Dordt Trump rally: A Donald Trump rally scheduled for Jan. 5 at Dordt University in Sioux Center was relocated because of a disagreement between the university and Trump's campaign. In a statement, Dordt said the Trump campaign "started the process of lining up a campaign stop but desired a rally format" and said Trump's campaign publicized earlier than expected. The rally now will be held at an event center in Sioux Center.

Isle Casino crash: A Nebraska man has been arrested after leading police on a brief chase at the Isle Casino in Waterloo last week. Police say Brian Joseph Melber struck a police car after officers approached his car in the casino parking lot. He then struck a utility pole on a nearby road, attempted to run but fell and injured his hip, police say.