😁 Happy Friday! Pumpkin spice, cozy sweaters, crunchy leaves… and of course, those tiny no-see-ums that crash every outdoor plan. We’re all just trying to enjoy the season with cider and cozy nights, but these tiny biters keep showing up to keep things interesting. Happy Fall!

Weekend Weather:
Today ☀ Hi 84, Sat ☀ Hi 85, Sun ☀ Hi 86, Mon ☀ Hi 86

B&A Club:
🎂 Happy Birthday
Michaela Wikel -- Manilla
Kandi Quandt -- Carroll
Velma Tigges -- Carroll
🥂 Happy Anniversary
Gene & Vera Derner -- Dedham

Since Disney+ launched in 2019, its price has gone up 172%. A combined Disney+ and Hulu app paves the way for future price increases.

Rani Molla

When DisneyDIS $113.85 (0.37%) launched its streaming service Disney+ for $6.99 a month in 2019, it was cheaper than many other services out there.

Starting in October, it will be 172% more expensive than it was six years ago.

Back then, NetflixNFLX $1,215.15 (0.93%) had just raised its price to $8.99 per month for its basic service. HBO’s streaming service, then called HBO Now, cost $14.99. Apple TV+, which also launched in 2019, cost $4.99 but also had a tiny content library consisting of about eight originals. Hulu, which is owned by Disney and unlike the others had an ad-supported tier at the time, had recently lowered its ad tier to $5.99 per month while its ad-free tier was $11.99.

In the intervening years, these streaming services repeatedly raised their prices and ad-supported tiers became commonplace.

With Disney’s latest price hike — its fourth in four years — slated to go into effect in October, Disney+ and Hulu are now some of the most expensive streaming services. Disney raised the prices of its Disney+ and Hulu bundles as well, which cost only $1 more than a single subscription. On the company’s latest earnings call, it announced it would merge Disney+ and Hulu into a single app next year.

“I imagine down the road, it may give us some price elasticity as well that we haven’t had before,” CEO Bob Iger said on the call, suggesting the cost of Disney+ will likely continue to grow.

“You’re going to end up with a far better consumer experience when those apps are combined, by combining all of the program assets of both apps, both current apps, and obviously, with an improved consumer experience comes the ability to lower churn, which is obviously something that we’re very, very focused on and committed to doing,” Iger said.

Read more: The Disney, Hulu, Max bundle is more attractive to consumers than a Netflix subscription

Federal Signal Corp. announced Tuesday it has reached an agreement to acquire Scranton Manufacturing Co., d.b.a. New Way Trucks, in a $396 million deal. As part of the agreement, Federal Signal will also pay $30 million for New Way’s manufacturing facilities in Iowa and Mississippi, along with potential earn-out payments of up to $54 million tied to financial targets. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approval. New Way, the family-owned business with more than 750 employees, is one of the nation’s fastest-growing refuse truck makers and the leading U.S. producer of automated side loaders. New Way CEO Michael McLaughlin says, “As a family-owned company, we take great pride in our history of innovation, customer focus, and growth. Serving the local communities in which we operate and our commitment to employees are both of paramount importance to our company, and we believe that Federal Signal shares these values. They represent the right cultural fit to continue building on that legacy, while accelerating New Way’s growth prospects going forward.” Other subsidiaries of the McLaughlin Family Companies, such as Bowie, New Way Ford dealerships, Fast Lane, and others, are not included in the purchase agreement with Federal Signal. Carroll Broadcasting will bring you more information as details become available.

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🌳 Last week, several volunteers from the IKM-Manning School District and the community came together to plant over 30 trees as part of Manning Tree Project through the Manning Beautification Committee. Students, city staff, residents and more worked throughout the afternoon Wednesday Sept. 17, to add the new trees to many of the city’s parks, along the trail, Hausbarn-Heritage Park with more trees in the works to be planted at the school ground in the future. This initiative is a partnership of many organizations, IKM-Manning CSD, the City of Manning, Public Works Department and Manning Municipal Utilities (MMU) to aid in replacing the several ash trees that were found to contain the emerald ash borer. Nearly a fourth of all trees on public grounds located through Manning were ash trees, and the Manning Beautification Committee is aiming to replace the dead trees to continue to promote the natural charm of the city. The committee is asking for help from the community, whether by donation, volunteering or by helping to spread the word of the project itself. Those with additional questions or wanting to help out can reach out to Dawn Meyer, City Administrator, at Manning City Hall by calling 712-655-2176.

🛞 The checkered flags will be raised and the pedal to the floor this weekend at Glidden City Park for the annual Kids Power Wheel Nationals, hosted by the city’s park and rec department. Celebrating its third year, the event was inspired by an event in another town and a few individuals started discussing what it would take to bring such fun to the City of Glidden. Children ages two up to nine years old will have a chance to race in either the stock class or an outlaw class that will also certain modifications to power wheels. Tech checks will be starting at 10 a.m. at the park, with hot laps at 10:30 a.m. and the racing to begin at 11 a.m. Every driver must have at minimum a bicycle helmet, and closed toed shoes, as well as to use a seatbelt if one is provided. Each race will consist of two laps, with drivers separated into class and age groups. Registration is due by Friday before the end of the business day and can be dropped of at Glidden City Hall or the library. Thanks to the generous business sponsors, the Parks and Rec Department will also be raffling off 20 power wheels for racers to win, at one-dollar per ticket. Winners must be present to accept prize or a new name will be drawn. Again, join the Glidden Park and Rec’s popular Kids Power Wheels Nationals this Saturday at the Glidden City Park. register form

🪺 The Children’s Nest Board of Directors is seeking for more community support before looking to open the doors again to serve children and families in the area. Last week, the childcare center received an order from the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) close immediately due to the recent and unexpected resignation of its center director. The directors met on Monday to discuss the next steps. Being the only nonprofit, state-licensed center in the county, the 14 children enrolled now had families frantically searching for other arrangements to continue supporting working parents. Board Member, Sarah Robertson says this isn’t the first time the center faced uncertainty like this and more needs to be done to ensure that this will not happen again in the future. The center has seen a higher staff turnover, financial struggles, loss of support due to changes in legislation from Iowa’s Area Education Agency (AEA) and currently has only three active members on the board. Robertson says many community members have reached out saying that the center is such a staple for Audubon, but without support, she says it is nearly impossible to continue operations. While not the priority of the board at this point, Robertson says after getting the support needed, they will look at opening applications for a center director. She says there were individuals that reached out asking about the qualifications for the position, but hasn’t looked much into their backgrounds and just is honest with them about the requirements of the job. Robertson wants to emphasize that the staff that has stuck with the center has been amazing, willing to put in long hours and step up to assist in any way they can. The round table will hopefully be held in the next few weeks to get more input and gain the community’s support before looking to open the doors again. Anyone with questions or looking to help is encouraged to contact Robertson at 515-681-6331.

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At the start of each week the Carroll Broadcasting Sports Network Crew catches up with area high school coaches to recap their previous weeks events and preview the match ups that are happening for the week ahead. Listen here and subscribe.

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If you want the latest local sports anytime when you want it, download our APP to read, listen, and watch everything our local sports department has to offer!

Jason Clayworth

An insurance policy could cover about half of a $4.26 million jury award this week in a wrongful termination case against Polk County.

Why it matters: It is potentially millions of dollars in unbudgeted costs and comes as the county faces financial hurdles due to new state laws limiting property tax growth.

Catch up quick: The 2021 lawsuit filed by former county HR director Jim Nahas accused the Board of Supervisors of extortion and libel.

Zoom in: McCoy has denied the allegations made against him.

State of play: The county's max liability in the case is $2 million, which is when insurance kicks in and includes legal costs, spokesperson Jon Cahill told Axios.

Yes, but: An indemnity clause Norris received in a $520,000 settlement after being ousted by supervisors this year means the county is also responsible for covering his portion of the punitive damages.

What they're saying: The county is taking time to consider options in the case but will use the jury decision to improve practices and policies, County Administrator Frank Marasco said in a statement after the verdict Monday. keep reading

MORE STATE NEWS:

✅TRY: Cozy dinner recipes that the whole family will enjoy all season!
✅WATCH: Embrace the spooky season with the best new horror movies of the year.
✅INSPO: It’s almost here… get creative!
✅GOOD RIDDANCE: It’s “no-see-um” season… here’s how to keep them away!
✅COMING UP: 68th Annual Carroll Band Day is Saturday, October 4th. Mark your calendar!
✅SATURDAY: The Annual Oktoberfest in Manning!
✅SUNDAY: Carroll County Historical Society Ghost Town Tour returns!
✅ SIGN UP NOW: It’s ‘Fall Frenzy’ and we got Pokey’s Caramel Apples
✅ OCT. 1: The 15th Annual Healthiest State Walk presented by Delta Dental of Iowa

Crossword: For those of you that wake up each morning wanting a challenge—
how fast can you complete this crossword. Ready, set, go.

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