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Iowa West Foundation gives more than $3.5 million to area nonprofits

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Iowa West Foundation gives more than .5 million to area nonprofits


Greater than 20 nonprofit organizations in southwest Iowa are receiving greater than $3.5 million in grant funding from the Iowa West Basis, the Council Bluffs-based philanthropic group introduced Thursday.

The funding goes to organizations that work in Pottawattamie and surrounding counties in quite a lot of providers, together with early childhood providers, trauma-informed care coaching, Wi-Fi entry, music schooling, and radios and different gear for first responders.

“Our objective is to assist communities obtain their desires,” IWF President and CEO Brenda Mainwaring stated within the press launch. “By supporting each essential providers, like entry to early childhood growth, whereas additionally funding initiatives that enhance high quality of life comparable to park area and free, family-friendly occasions, it permits for the subsequent technology to thrive inside their neighborhood.”

Persons are additionally studying…

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Throughout a collection of Think about Hour listening periods with residents, many individuals indicated that the shortage of reasonably priced housing needs to be seen as a precedence situation. IWF agrees, and is offering funding to each Anawim Housing — a Des Moines-based nonprofit that works to develop steady housing in communities across the state — and Metro Space Continuum of Look after the Homeless — an umbrella group for greater than 20 nonprofits and governmental companies that work to finish homelessness in Pottawattamie, Douglas and Sarpy counties — to extend the quantity of housing in Council Bluffs.

“Anawim Housing is wanting ahead to the chance to assist current suppliers in the neighborhood by means of an enhanced service supply mannequin that builds upon the important work already going down,” Anawim President Russ Frazier stated within the press launch. “By way of the beneficiant reward from the Iowa West Basis we anticipate to supply housing options and case administration assist for a lot of of Council Bluffs’ most susceptible residents. Using a housing first strategy with a basis in evidence-based practices, we imagine this new collaboration can have a major influence on the unsheltered inhabitants in the neighborhood.”

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Research present house possession will increase monetary stability in addition to a way of belonging in communities, in accordance with the press launch.

The agricultural communities of Carson, Carter Lake, Dunlap, Little Sioux, Treynor, Underwood and Walnut all acquired funding for placemaking initiatives or important fireplace security gear. This features a $500,000 grant to the Iowa Pure Heritage Basis to protect the Little Sioux Scout Ranch as Loess Hills State Forest.

“Iowa Pure Heritage Basis enormously appreciates the early assist and imaginative and prescient from Iowa West Basis to assist shield Iowa’s Loess Hills and make this challenge occur,” stated Heritage Basis President Joe McGovern. “It’s a large challenge, however the consequence can be an expansive complicated of almost 6,000 wilderness acres protected for public enjoyment and pure useful resource conservation that additionally maintains the memorial to the 4 younger scouts who misplaced their lives there within the 2008 twister. The challenge will create a long-lasting influence on the Loess Hills and surrounding communities.”

Partnerships with native casinos Ameristar, Harrah’s and Horseshoe make it attainable for IWF to proceed significant grantmaking and initiative work in the neighborhood. Charges from gaming, along with IWF’s investments, allow the group to award working, capital and programming grants all through 14 counties in southwest Iowa.

IWF is likely one of the largest personal foundations within the Midwest, and it has distributed greater than $500 million to nonprofits and governmental companies by means of southwest Iowa and jap Nebraska because the inception of its grant program in 1996. Funding for the grants comes from funding earnings and the Iowa West Racing Affiliation, which receives contractual charges from on line casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s. IWRA is the license sponsor for Ameristar and Harrah’s and the license holder for Horseshoe-Bluffs Run. IWF targets sources into applications and initiatives that target financial growth, schooling, placemaking and wholesome households.

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Iowa

Iowa takes care of Toledo, improves to 3-0

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Iowa takes care of Toledo, improves to 3-0


IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa women’s basketball team took care of Toledo Wednesday night winning 94-57. The Hawkeyes improve to 3-0 on the season.

Sydney Affolter returned to the starting lineup. Iowa’s defense dominated the Rockets only allowing 21 points in the first half.

Hannah Stuelke led the Hawkeyes with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Taylor McCabe and Lucy Olsen followed scoring 14 points. McCabe had 4 three-pointers against the Rockets which was a team-high.

The Hawkeyes will hit the road on Sunday to face in-state rival Drake at 2 P.M.

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Iowa State Fair boots Steer N’ Stein operators after failure to pay fair, workers, vendors

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Iowa State Fair boots Steer N’ Stein operators after failure to pay fair, workers, vendors


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One of the most profitable beer and food concessions at the Iowa State Fair is up for grabs in 2025 after the fair board decided Wednesday to discontinue a contract with its operators, a prominent Des Moines couple who failed to pay employees, vendors and a portion of concession fees after this year’s fair.

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Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons said fair staff will be preparing a request for proposals for those interested in operating Steer N’ Stein, which occupies a large stand across from the administration building on the fairgrounds. It recorded more than $1.28 million in sales at this year’s fair, which ran from Aug. 3-13.

Parsons said the decision to end the annual contract with former Adventureland Resort CEO Michael Krantz and his wife Kimberly came after fair staff decided the pair failed to meet contractual obligations and operations standards as concessionaires, including maintaining good business practices.

The fair sent a letter Nov. 7 to Michael Krantz, forbidding the removal of any personal items from the fair-owned Steer N’ Stein building until the fair receives $102,000 in concession fees still due from the 2024 fair.

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Parsons said in an interview after Wednesday’s fair board meeting that fair staff also would be re-examining bylaws and policies in the coming year to try to avoid similar problems with future concessionaires. Changes, he said, are likely “as the fair grows in popularity, and as food and beverage sales become more important, and money is involved.”

Steer N’ Stein operators face accusations of nonpayment

To date, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals has received at least 14 wage claims from Steer N’ Stein employees who said they didn’t get paid, didn’t receive correct tips, or had paychecks bounce.

Steer N’ Stein reported to fair officials that it experienced an almost 5% decrease in sales this year, though the fair had record attendance. The 2024 fair drew almost 1.183 million people, 4% more than the 1.134 million it drew in 2023.

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The Krantzes also are accused in a Polk County civil lawsuit of owing another $218,582 to a local business that provided them services leading up to the fair. Parsons said at least one other Steer N’ Stein contractor also has complained of not getting paid.

Michael Krantz did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. He has given several reasons for the couple’s failure to pay debts since Watchdog in an Oct. 23 column reported the wage theft allegations.

He initially said in a statement the payment failures were “beyond our control,” caused by technical flaws in his company’s payment processing system. Later, he said it had temporary cash flow problems resulting from a change in how the fair collects funds from vendors.

Spokeswoman Mindy Williamson said the fair this year gave vendors the option of paying their concession fees online using automated clearing house money transfers. The limit for automated transfers was $100,000 per day, but other forms of payment were acceptable.

In a statement last week through a law firm representing him, Krantz said he was “working diligently and quickly to assure that anyone owed money from this year’s State Fair is paid,” adding that “all outstanding obligations will be resolved very soon.”

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Krantzes are former owners of Adventureland; face lawsuit in child’s death there

The Krantz family is the former owner of Adventureland, the Altoona amusement park started 50 years ago by Michael Krantz’s father, Jack. It was sold in December 2021 following fatal injury the previous July of an 11-year-old boy in an accident on the park’s Raging River Ride. The Krantzes have faced large legal bills — and potential liability — tied to a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit stemming Michael Jaramillo’s death and severe injuries to his older brother, David.

The Krantzes had been big donors to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, contributing more than $182,700 as patrons or bidders in silent auctions since June 2022. But according to the fair, they also have not paid an invoice for a $5,000 sponsorship table at this year’s Corndog Kickoff, a fundraiser for fairgrounds renovations.

Steer N’ Stein, which serves beer, breakfast and burgers, has been a mainstay at the fair for 53 years. It was rebuilt after burning down in 1999, when it was under the management of longtime operator George Kranovich.

Lee Rood’s Reader’s Watchdog column helps Iowans get answers and accountability from public officials, the justice system, businesses and nonprofits. Reach her at lrood@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8549, on Twitter at @leerood or on Facebook at Facebook.com/readerswatchdog.

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Stanford’s upset over Iowa State triggers movement in Top 10 of NWCA Div. I Coaches Poll

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Stanford’s upset over Iowa State triggers movement in Top 10 of NWCA Div. I Coaches Poll


Manheim, Pennsylvania – A weekend excursion by Stanford into Iowa provided mixed results in terms of wins and losses, but it proved to create the first big shift in the NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuedsay. Stanford’s 23-21 …



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