Latest news with #IowaStateFairGrandstand
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Polk County approves $750,000 to fund school with housing for at-risk youth
DES MOINES, Iowa — A school for at-risk youth in Des Moines is undergoing a major expansion, and the Polk County Board of Supervisors approved additional funding to help the project. Starts Right Here opened in 2020 to provide educational support for kids who are at risk of dropping out of school. Founder Will Keeps has helped dozens of kids graduate from high school. Now, Keeps is expanding the school to the former Elim Church in the East Village. Aside from providing additional classroom space, they are also developing 18 new rental units for at-risk populations. Keeps said community members age 18 to 24 will be able to apply for these apartments. On Tuesday, the Polk County Board of Supervisors met and unanimously approved $750,000 of ERA2 funding for Keep's project. According to the Department of Treasury, the ERA2 program was authorized in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act and was designed to help provide housing assistance, among other things. After the meeting, Keeps told WHO 13 News he was happy about the board's decision. 'For a long time, I've been wondering, 'Am I ever going to get the funds to get the things I want to do for the community?' And right now everybody's stepping up to be able to help the community in a big way and I'm so excited, it's unbelievable,' he said. Chair of the Polk County Board of Supervisors Matt McCoy said the project will target a critical age group that may need the additional help. 'It's their first house, many of them haven't established credit. So, what this does is it helps them get started in their first apartment and provides the supportive housing that they'll need to help them be successful; the job skills, the educational training, and the opportunities for educational training,' McCoy told WHO 13 News after the meeting. Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. returning to Iowa State Fair Grandstand McCoy also said another reason why the board approved this funding is because of the demographic of the population this will help. He said, 'These are kids, in many cases, who have aged out of the foster system, so they would be without the supportive services without a program like this.' In total, Starts Right Here has now raised $5,425,000 in funding for this project. This money was provided by the City of Des Moines, Polk County, and the State of Iowa. In early January, the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors kicked off funding for the project by awarding a total of $3,625,000 to Hatch Development Corporation for the development of this project. The total grant award includes $2.5 million for development costs, $750,000 in Supportive Services Funds, $187,500 for Non-Profit Operations and $187,500 for Non-Profit Capacity Building. In late January, the Polk County Board of Supervisors approved $50,000 from the Community Development Grant to Starts Right Here. Then, $1,000,000 was awarded by the City of Des Moines during a City Council Meeting earlier in February. Now, this additional funding approved by Polk County on Tuesday brings the total to just under $5.5 million. 'To see how the state, the city, Polk County, everybody coming together to help this project, I always talk about we need to all come together and work together and they literally came together, and it's a beautiful thing to see,' said Keeps. The new space will allow Starts Right Here to help hundreds of more students. This comes two years after a student opened fire, killing two students and injuring Keeps, at Starts Right Here. 'We've shown that resilience, even during terrible times. I'm so happy that people in power are seeing it,' said Keeps. He said construction will likely start in July. Metro News: Polk County approves $750,000 to fund school with housing for at-risk youth Beaverdale business shutting down after 50 years Urbandale School District will remain in the CIML Fire breaks out at Des Moines duplex early Tuesday morning 'Picture of perseverance': Marshalltown man's legacy lives on 100+ years later in historically African-American school Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill allowing Iowa schools to hire unlicensed chaplains advances in House
DES MOINES, Iowa — A new bill allowing schools in Iowa to hire unlicensed chaplains was advanced in the House on Tuesday. HF 334 would allow public, private, charter, and innovation zone schools in the state to either employ or have volunteer chaplains. The bill also states that the chaplains wouldn't be required to have a license or certification from the board of educational examiners in order to work inside schools. A background check would have to be performed an any chaplain working in a school under the bill. In 2024 the same bill was introduced and passed through Senate and House subcommittees, but was later tabled. At a subcommittee meeting Tuesday afternoon many individuals, including religious leaders, spoke out against the bill and urged the committee members not to pass the bill. Many expressed issues with the lack of specifications on what the chaplains could do, as well as the lack of qualifications and training required. Polk County approves $750,000 to fund school with housing for at-risk youth Reverend Brigit Stevens stated during the meeting that with her background as a chaplain she strongly opposed the bill. She said this bill is dangerous as it doesn't require qualifications for the chaplains wanting to enter schools and would put already vulnerable children at risk. Greg Baker, executive director of the Church Ambassador Network at the Family Leader, argued for the bills advancement, saying chaplains have benefitted agencies like fire departments and police departments. Baker argued that schools are becoming more like first responding locations as teachers are on the front lines of the community, and it could be beneficial for teachers, staff, and students to have a chaplain in their school. According to the bill, schools would be prohibited from requiring students to utilize the services provided by the chaplains. The bill passed out of the house subcommittee and was sent to the House Education Committee for consideration. Iowa News: Bill allowing Iowa schools to hire unlicensed chaplains advances in House Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. returning to Iowa State Fair Grandstand Iowa Air National Guard base closing after 76 years 2 hospitalized in Nevada single-vehicle crash Iowa Attorney General addresses concerns and 'misinformation' around paused Section 504 lawsuit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Bill prompted by Urbandale student's alleged abuse makes progress in House
DES MOINES, Iowa – The alleged abuse of an Urbandale student could lead to a new state law. Paige Petek says school staff stood by and watched when her special-needs son Keaton began banging his head on the floor in May of 2023 and that his special ed teacher used her foot to push him down the hall. Petek spoke at a House subcommittee hearing Monday, telling members she attempted to file a report with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Construction worker hospitalized after 10-foot-plus fall into basement of new home 'After reviewing video footage of the incident, we reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services only to be told the case fell outside their jurisdiction,' Petek said. That could change under House File 186. The bill expands the definition of caregiver to include teachers and school employees. If approved, HHS would be allowed to place school staff on leave while investigating claims of abuse. 'When we are not present to fulfill these responsibilities school staff takes on the primary role as his caretaker. We expect them to handle responsibility with the same dedication we provide at home,' said Petek. Members of the House subcommittee agreed, advancing the bill to the full committee. Bill prompted by Urbandale student's alleged abuse makes progress in House Cooper DeJean's hometown school celebrates Super Bowl play 3-year-old injured in Marshalltown house fire Monday Kidz Bop returning to Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 2025 Construction worker hospitalized after 10-foot-plus fall into basement of new home Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cooper DeJean's hometown school celebrates Super Bowl play
IDA GROVE, Iowa — Students at Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School were going about their normal Monday classes, but there was a buzz in the air over the school's now famous alum, Cooper DeJean. DeJean was a starter in the Super Bowl. He intercepted a pass from the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, and ran it back for a touchdown. DeJean first made a name for himself as a quarterback leading OABCIG to back-to-back Iowa state football championships, before starting as a defensive back at Iowa. His high school coach thought DeJean might come up with an interception. 'I had mentioned that, that this might be the time that he gets an interception you know just with as much as Kansas City throws the ball that I thought his opportunity was there,' said Larry Allen, football coach at the school. 'He just did a great job of dropping back into coverage and it was kind of anticipating he's going to throw it and then for him to run it all the way back across the field, it was a little bit like the state championship game when he went from one side to the other.' Students at the school recounted how they were watching the game when the big play happened. Kidz Bop returning to Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 2025 'I looked at my TV and saw Cooper at a pic and I didn't, honestly didn't think he's gonna make it.' said Brysen Kolar, a member of the OABCIG football team. 'As soon as I saw that missed first tackle I was like he's got that in the bag.' 'I knew he was going to do something, it was his birthday,' said Andrew Parks, an OABCIG football player. 'Everyone was talking about that, he always performs when he needs to most, when he got that my first instinct was, he's going to take it for six isn't he?' 'Northwest Iowa loves him,' said Allen. 'You know he's a blue collar kind of kid that shows everybody that if you work hard good things will come to you, and he's helped elevate our football program since he's been in school.' The school said one of the proudest moments was when DeJean walked into the stadium wearing his OABCIG letter Jacket. 'Hey, I've got one just like that,' said Kolar. 'Pretty cool.' The students and staff at the school say they look forward to when DeJean comes back home for a visit, and can share what it's like for a small town guy to play with the whole world watching. Iowa News: Cooper DeJean's hometown school celebrates Super Bowl play 3-year-old injured in Marshalltown house fire Monday Kidz Bop returning to Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 2025 Construction worker hospitalized after 10-foot-plus fall into basement of new home Iowa State drops again in AP poll, Drake remains just outside Top 25 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
3-year-old injured in Marshalltown house fire Monday
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — A 3-year-old was injured in a house fire in Marshalltown Monday afternoon. At around 4 p.m. the Marshalltown Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire with someone trapped inside in the 500 block of East Church Street. According to the fire department, police officers arrived at the scene first and informed firefighters where the victim was located. Construction worker hospitalized after 10-foot-plus fall into basement of new home Two firefighters tried a ladder rescue at the back of the house while two other firefighters entered from the front, the fire department said. The two firefighters who entered from the front found a 3-year-old girl unconscious on the second floor. According to the fire department, the girl was treated by medics before being transported via air ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The girl is currently in critical condition. The fire department said the family affected is being supported by family members and the American Red Cross. Iowa State Fire Marshal Special Agents, the Marshalltown Police Department, and Marshalltown Fire Department are investigating the cause of the fire. Iowa News: 3-year-old injured in Marshalltown house fire Monday Kidz Bop returning to Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 2025 Construction worker hospitalized after 10-foot-plus fall into basement of new home Iowa State drops again in AP poll, Drake remains just outside Top 25 Gov. Reynolds signs executive order to create Iowa DOGE Task Force Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
