😁 Happy Friday! Ah, Spring. The season of renewal, rebirth, and reluctantly dragging the mower out from under five months of denial. The grass is growing faster than your motivation, and the weeds? Thriving. Honestly, they’re the real success story this season.

-Southern Living  

Weekend Weather:

Today ⛈️ Hi 61, Sat 🌤️ Hi 63, Sun 🌦️ Hi 70, Mon 🌩️ Hi 84

B&A Club: 
🎂 Happy Birthday
Scott Rotert -- Halbur
Eddie Vogl -- Halbur
Kerri Shipley -- Lake City
🥂 Happy Anniversary
Sparky & Laurie Behrens -- Carroll (27 yrs)

MARKETS FROM SHERWOOD

United Rentals soars after execs says tariff turmoil could make renting equipment more attractive

The world's largest rental company reaffirmed its full-year guidance on expectations that economic uncertainty could jump-start demand.

Nia Warfield

United RentalsURI $648.46 (10.06%) shares surged 10% Thursday after the company said it could benefit from ongoing trade turbulence.

United Rentals is the world’s largest equipment rental company, offering a wide range of machinery and tools for construction, industrial, and homeowner projects. Execs say current tariff troubles could work in their favor, since uncertainty often makes renting more appealing than owning.

The company also easily topped Q1 earnings estimates and reaffirmed its full-year guidance for both adjusted EBITDA and revenue. With over 1,100 rental locations across North America, United Rentals is betting that economic hesitation will keep fueling demand for its fleet.

Executives also downplayed cost risks from tariffs, saying capital expenditures for the year are already locked in. Looking ahead to 2026, they plan to lean on suppliers who can sidestep price hikes. Wall Street’s optimistic too, with the stock currently holding an average ‘buy’ rating from analysts polled by FactSet, the highest sentiment since last June.

Shares of United Rentals have fallen around 6% year-to-date. see chart

LOCAL NEWS

Sauk Rail Trail Spring Fundraiser Set For Sunday In Maple River

The Sauk Rail Trail Association (SRTA) will gather in Maple River this weekend to raise funds for ongoing maintenance and improvements to one of Iowa’s most popular recreational trails. Scott Kanne, an SRTA member, says it has been five years since the group last hosted their spring fundraiser. Kanne says Sauk Rail Trail supporters will gather at Whiskey Run in Maple River on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. for food, live music, and fun.

Part of the SRTA’s fundraising efforts includes raffle ticket sales, with prizes including Townie Go! 7D electric bikes, a $500 gift basket from Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson, and much more. Kanne says the SRTA has been able to add many improvements to the trail over the years thanks to support from members and the public. The SRTA Spring fundraiser is this coming Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Whiskey Run in Maple River. For more information on the event or to purchase raffle tickets, follow the link included here. Check out the full interview about SRTA and the fundraiser event.

More Local Headlines

• Registration Open For Carroll Chamber Of Commerce’s 10th Annual Color Fun Run

• New Hope Invitational Golf Outing Returns To Carroll In June

• National Take Back Day Is This Saturday, Encouraging Individuals To Clear Out Medicine Cabinets Of Unused Or Expired Medications

• Carroll REC Announces New Hours For Aquatic Center For 2025 Season

TOGETHER WITH CARROLL NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
Only a few more days for a chance to Win a FREE Family Membership! Sign Up Today!

Last day to enter to win is April 29th by 11:59 pm. Sign up today for a chance to experience the top-notch facilities at Carroll National Golf Club. Whether you’re practicing your swing, enjoying a meal at the clubhouse, or spending time by the pool, we have something for the whole family. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or sign up HERE for a chance to win! We look forward to welcoming you!

PODCAST
MUST KNOW PEOPLE - Season 2 Episode 1

A Century of Stories: Family, Business, and Brew

Join John Ryan as he sits down with Jim Auen of Auen Distributing, reflecting on a remarkable 75 years in the beer distribution industry. Jim shares the trials and triumphs of keeping a family-owned business thriving amidst consolidation, while celebrating the legacy left by Ike and Dorothy Auen. From navigating childhood memories of answering phones for the warehouse to understanding complex industry shifts, this conversation provides a fascinating insight into how a small family business has managed to stand the test of time. FULL PODCAST

AREA NEWS
Area headlines

🐖 The Breda American Legion is hosting its annual pork tenderloin dinner this coming weekend to raise funds in support of the Legion’s operations. The meal will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Breda American Legion Hall. Legion Member Bob Fasbender says they have an appetizing menu planned. He adds the best part is the price, as adult meals are only $12 each, while kids five years old and under eat for just $6. Fasbender says they understand this is a busy time of the year, so they have to-go orders available, too. Fasbender says the money raised will be used for much-needed replacements for the Legion’s honor guard uniforms. Again, the Breda American Legion’s annual pork tenderloin dinner is this Saturday, April 26, at the Breda Legion Hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Meals are $12 for adults and $6 for kids five and under. For to-go orders of 10 or more, please call ahead at 712-673-2683.

 🧑‍🌾 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced the recipients of 33 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants awarded to farmers and small businesses in 28 counties, totaling $463,000 in state funding. The grants, which help expand Iowa-grown, Iowa-raised, and Iowa-made food and ag products, leverage more than $1.3 million in total investments statewide. Among the recipients this year were Early Morning Harvest in Panora and Bruck Hillside Acres in Audubon. Early Morning Harvest received the maximum grant amount of $25,000 to purchase a semi-automatic bag filler and pneumatic conveying system, improving the efficiency of its retail flour operations. Bruck Hillside Acres was awarded $18,600 to install a new well and irrigation system dedicated to strawberry production—enhancing fruit quality and expanding seasonal availability. Naig says, “Consumers increasingly want more locally grown food, beverages, and ag products, and that’s great news for Iowa farmers and small businesses. These Choose Iowa value-added grants are designed to help small, young, and beginning farmers grow their businesses to meet this rising demand. By investing alongside them, we’re not only helping to expand the availability of Iowa products, but we’re also fueling economic opportunity in communities all across the state.” This year’s awards support a wide range of projects, from farm-to-table expansions to cider production and honey processing. Since 2022, the program has funded 100 projects, leveraging nearly $5.6 million of investment into Iowa’s local food infrastructure.

🏆️ Thirty-eight Iowa long-term care facilities, including several from the listening area, have received the 2024 National Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), recognizing their commitment to high-quality care. The facilities were honored during AHCA/NCAL’s Quality Summit on April 7 in Atlanta. IHCA Quality Improvement Director Kimber Larson says, “These providers are doing the hard work to raise the bar for quality in long-term care. This prestigious recognition reflects their dedication to continuous improvement and their deep commitment to the Iowans they serve every day.” Awards are given at three levels, bronze, silver, or gold, based on a scoring framework. Four Iowa facilities earned the 2024 Silver Achievement in Quality Award, placing the state among the top 10 nationally. Thirty-four facilities received the Bronze Commitment to Quality Award, ranking Iowa fourth nationwide for Bronze-level recipients. Among those bronze awards are Accura HealthCare of Pomeroy, Black Hawk Life Care of Lake View, and Rolling Meadows Senior Living of Carroll. Since the program’s inception, Iowa providers have earned more than 300 AHCA/NCAL national quality awards.

LOCAL SPORTS

PODCAST: Weekly Sports Recap and Preview Show

More Sports:

• Sports Schedule

• Brincks Exteriors Sports Reports

• Brincks Cabinets + Design Athlete Spotlight 🆕 

• Macke Motors Photo Gallery

• Motor Inn Player of the Game

• Outlaw Graphics Regional Player of the Week

• St. Anthony Athletes of the Week 

• Teamwork with Olsen’s Outdoor Power

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!

STATE NEWS
Des Moines hospitals exit voluntary tax program

Jason Clayworth

Des Moines' nonprofit hospitals have ceased contributing to the city's voluntary Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program, potentially exacerbating budgetary pressures amid statewide property tax limitations, records obtained by Axios show.

Why it matters: The program encourages organizations exempt from property taxes to support services such as public safety, reducing tax burdens on homeowners and businesses.

Between the lines: DSM's two largest hospital networks also lead Iowa's list of charitable hospitals, with the largest gaps between their tax exemptions and charity or community investments, according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Lown Institute.

• UnityPoint Health's Iowa Methodist Medical Center and MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center fell a combined $70 million short for three years ending in 2022.

State of play: Charitable hospitals in DSM owned nearly $617 million in property exempt from taxes last year, according to the Polk County Assessor.

Flashback: The PILOT program was initiated in 1998 in response to concerns from city leaders that over one-third of Des Moines properties were tax-exempt, creating increased strain on the city's tax base.

• Hospitals pledged to pay the city $860,000 annually, the DSM Register reported at the time.

Zoom in: UnityPoint Health last contributed $543,299 in FY22, catching up the health system with three years of voluntary payments it had previously agreed to make.

• Catholic Health Initiatives (MercyOne) made its most recent payment of $247,204 in FY21.

• The hospitals declined to comment in response to Axios' inquiries about their PILOT contributions, but they said they had provided hundreds of millions of dollars in community investments in recent years through charity care and education.

The intrigue: Only six of the hundreds of local nonprofits and government entities have contributed in the last three fiscal years. full story

MORE STATE NEWS:

• Iowa Board of Regents considers state university tuition, salaries

• Iowa nurse gets prison time after failing to assist suffocating nursing home patient

• Iowa farmer sues company, alleging three wind-turbine fires damaged his crops

• 2025 NFL mock draft: Where all 5 Iowa State Cyclones prospects are projected to land

• 2025 NFL mock draft: Where all 7 Iowa Hawkeyes prospects are projected to land

MORE NEWS
What else!

• NBA legend Gilbert Arenas' son Alijah, 18, placed into a coma after serious car crash

• Jets' Breece Hall Appears to Reveal He Wants Out of New York as Trade Rumors Swirl

• American Music Awards Nominations: Kendrick Lamar Leads With 10

• HARDY shares new tracks from upcoming ‘COUNTRY!’ EP

• Jason Ritter Boards ‘Lanterns’ at HBO

WEEKEND

✅MOM HACK: The best way to keep your house clean.
✅NO MESS: Effortlessly pot your plants and flowers with this hack!
✅SPRING: Spend a day exploring each of these parks with the kids!
✅TRY: Iced coffee season is here! Enjoy this cold brew recipe all Spring.
✅SIGN ME UP: You could be the winner of the Carroll National Family Membership Giveaway!
✅HIDDEN TALENT: Show us your pup’s best trick for a chance to win!
✅SATURDAY: Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at Books & Bakery!
✅SUNDAY: Sauk Rail Trail Spring Fundraiser!
✅ADD TO CALENDAR: The Mane Event at Carroll National May 2nd!

RIDDLE OF THE DAY:
What can run fast, but can’t walk?

Answer: WATER

GAMES
Ready…Get Set…Go

Word Search: For those of you that wake up each morning wanting a challenge—how fast can you finished this crossword. Ready…get set…go.

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