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NEWS 9.26.22: Changing Voter Demographics, Weather Scam Concerns, Land Value Increase, and More

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With six weeks remaining in the 2022 campaign, Iowa Republicans have about a 4.5% statewide voter registration edge over Democrats.

Democrats back in 2008 did have an advantage of more than 100,000 registered voters, but are down 87,000 compared to GOP supporters.

Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann tells Radio Iowa, the big turning point was in 2020, right after the Iowa Democratic Party’s presidential Caucuses.

For years, independents were the largest voting block in Iowa. In the last mid-term election in 2018, 36% of all active registered voters were independents.

Election Commissioner Pat Gill tells Siouxland Public Media that out of more than 51,000 registered voters in Woodbury County, about 41% are now Republican, 30% Democrat and 29% identify as having no political party.

Voter Registration Demographics in Woodbury County, IA
Woodbury County Election Commissioner Pat Gill
Voter Registration Demographics in Woodbury County, IA

Since the 2020 election, it got harder to vote in Iowa relative to other states, according to a new study.

The Cost of Voting Index, which measures the ease of voting in all 50 states, ranked Iowa 23rd in the nation in its 2022 report, a decline of four places.

In 2016, Iowa was ranked among the top 10 easiest states in the country in which to vote. However, that changed after Republicans put in place a voter ID requirement and reduced the number of days for early and absentee voting.

For more information from the Iowa Capital Dispatch, click here.

The trial date for a Nebraska teenager accused of having an illegal abortion has been moved.

Siouxland News CBS 14/Fox 44 reports 18-year-old Celeste Burgess was in Madison County Court again Monday morning.

According to court documents, Burgess waived her right to a speedy trial, and a trial date set for November was pushed back to January.

A hurricane watch is posted for Florida’s Gulf Coast as Hurricane Ian approaches and while Puerto Rico recovers from Hurricane Fiona, but Iowans who sympathize and want to help are being warned about another storm of scams.

A spokeswoman for theBetter Business Bureau says the most important thing is? Know who you are giving to. When disasters strike, she says it’s better to send cash electronically instead of clothing or household items.

The BBB offers a free service on its website, the Charity Report Program, which helps donors to make informed giving decisions.

Survey information released from the U.S.D.A. shows a big increase in farmland values and cash rent. An economist from Iowa State University tells Radio Iowa cropland increased by almost 20%. That’s the highest level in more than 10 years.

High commodity prices are one of the big drivers of land values.

Camp High Hopes in Sioux City celebrated its 10th anniversary over the weekend. The organization helps people with special needs, disabilities, and chronic illnesses.