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Fort Dodge mother reached plea agreement in death of her child

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

A Fort Dodge mother charged with first-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter has followed the baby’s father and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Brooke Bickford reports.

 

Taylor Blaha pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter last November. Following the plea, Blaha requested that she be sentenced immediately, and she was sentenced to 50 years in prison. She must serve 70 percent of that sentence. Blaha’s plea follows a plea deal that the baby’s father, Brandon Thoma  made last month. He will be sentenced on September 1st for child endangerment causing injury or death and the abuse of a corpse.

Posted in News |

Deadline nears for Iowa’s unionized UPS workers to vote on new contract

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

There are about 800 U-P-S employees in Iowa and they have until August 22nd to vote on the contract the company and the Teamsters union negotiated. The deal would give all U-P-S full and part-time employees in the country a raise and guarantee a wage rate of at least 21 dollars an hour. James Bartlett is a Teamsters union steward. He delivers packages for U-P-S in Milford and Okoboji and is a “yes” vote for the contract. He says most of the people in rural shops like his are in favor of the contract, while some part-timers in larger cities want to hold out for higher wage increases.

Part-time U-P-S employee Adam Spencer has worked at the company’s facility in Hiawatha for nearly two decades. He’s a “yes” vote on the contract, but he’s heard the concerns that part-timers need a bigger raise

Teamsters leadership has recommended the deal. The company has called the five-year contract offer a win-win-win for the union, employees and the company.

Posted in News |

IEDA approves award to 3M Company for Ames expansion

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

(DES MOINES, IA) – Today, the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved an award to 3M Company. The company, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, plans to upgrade its existing facility in Ames.

3M designs, manufactures and distributes a broad range of products within four main business groups: safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, healthcare, and consumer. The company’s Ames location manufactures a variety of abrasives products in the industrial, automotive repair and consumer markets. 3M plans to upgrade the Ames facility with additional equipment to expand capabilities and capacity.

The board awarded the company state tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program. The project represents a nearly $13.6 capital investment by 3M and is also projected to create 25 jobs incented at a qualifying wage threshold of $30.07 per hour.

Posted in News |

Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg named Chair of National Lieutenant Governors Association

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

DES MOINES – Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg has been elected Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA).  NLGA is the professional association supporting lieutenant governors in all 50 states and the U.S. territories.  The mission of NLGA is to assist these leaders, and the states and territories themselves, to be as effective and as efficient as possible for constituents.    

“Adam Gregg is a strong advocate for rural Iowa and rural America, and serving as chair of the NLGA will present opportunities for him to further amplify the issues effecting rural communities nationwide,” Governor Reynolds stated.  

“I’m honored to be chosen by my colleagues from across the country to lead the National Lieutenant Governors Association,” said Lt. Governor Gregg. “We will continue to be a leading resource for innovative policy solutions at the state level.” 

“NLGA thrives under leaders that are willing to participate, share, and learn with their peer seconds-in-command from across the country,” said NLGA Director Julia Brossart.  “Lt. Governor Gregg’s peers find him to be an engaged leader willing to share ideas, from rural prosperity to emergency medical services.” 

Lt. Governor Gregg was nominated and approved by the NLGA membership and begins service immediately.  He will serve as Chair of the NLGA until the Summer of 2024. 

The association meets three times a year and is responsible for charting a course of issues and experiences to be available to the nation’s second-highest state officeholders, while working to address issues of mutual concern to all states and territories.     

Lt. Governor Gregg has served in the role of lieutenant governor since May of 2017.  He leads the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, he led the Feeding Iowans Task Force in 2020, and he is a past Chair of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association. 

Governor Kim Reynolds previously served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association from 2015-16. 

Posted in News |

Hawkeyes Softball announce 2023 Fall Slate

Sports

August 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team will host three games and play three road contests during the fall season, head coach Renee Gillispie announced Friday.

The Hawkeyes host Southeast Community College on Sept. 8 before facing Indian Hills on Sept. 22. Iowa hosts Illinois State on Sept. 23 in their final home contest of the fall. The Hawkeyes will travel to UNI for the first game of the Big 4 Classic on Sept. 29 against the Panthers. Iowa wraps up the Big 4 Classic in Ames with games against Iowa State and Drake on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 respectively.

All fall ball games at Bob Pearl Field are free admission and open to the public.

2023 Iowa Softball Fall Schedule

Sept. 8 – Southeast Community College – Iowa City, Iowa – 4 p.m.

Sept. 22 – Indian Hills – Iowa City, Iowa – 4 p.m.

Sept. 23 – Illinois State – Iowa City, Iowa – 1 p.m.

Sept. 29 – UNI – Cedar Falls, Iowa – 4 p.m.

Sept. 30 – Iowa State – Ames, Iowa – 2 p.m.

Oct. 1 – Drake – Ames, Iowa – 11 a.m.

*All games are 9 innings

Posted in Sports |

Heartbeat Today 8-18-2023

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

August 18th, 2023 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Ryan Hawkins about his professional basketball career.  Ryan is leaving next week for Italy where he will play this season with Pistoia in the Tuscany region.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (25.0MB)

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Posted in Heartbeat Today, Podcasts |

NEAL E. CHRISTOFFERSEN, 69, of rural Audubon (8-20-2023)

Obituaries

August 18th, 2023 by Jim Field

NEAL E. CHRISTOFFERSEN, 69, of rural Audubon died August 17, 2023 at his home. Funeral services for NEAL E. CHRISTOFFERSEN will be held on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 2:15 pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery near Audubon.  Following the private family interment they will be a Memorial Gathering at St. Patrick’s Parish Center for food and fellowship with the family.  Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon is assisting the family.

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Friends may call at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.  The family will meet with friends Sunday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

Burial in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery near Audubon.

NEAL E. CHRISTOFFERSEN is survived by:

Wife:  Janet Christoffersen of Audubon

Children:  Ann (Chad) Henrichs; Alicea (Ben) Norton of Bennington, NE; Eric (Hannah) Christoffersen of Audubon

Sisters:  Diane (James) Westervelt of Council Bluffs and Joni (Charles) Hansen of Audubon

Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law:  Pam (Mike) Hansen of Ankeny; Charles Stolz of Avoca and David (Kathleen) Stolz of Grand Island, Nebraska

nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

*Big Ten Preview* Penn State Nittany Lions

Sports

August 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Today, we continue our preview of the upcoming Big Ten football season with a 14-team preview over 14 weekdays. Tanner Hoops previews the 2023 Penn State Nittany Lions:

On Monday, we’ll preview the Michigan Wolverines.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Down Eagles, 1-0, in Season Opener

Sports

August 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

FORT MYERS, Fla. – University of Iowa women’s soccer opened the season with a, 1-0, victory at Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday night at Pickering Field.

The Hawkeyes emerged from an extended pre-game weather delay with an energetic offensive effort, producing ten shots and five shots on goal in the first 25 minutes action.

The seventh shot connected, a stinger through the bottom of the net by redshirt junior Meike Ingles in her first appearance since the 2021 season. Ingles finished with three shots, including two shots on goal.

The skies cleared, and Ingles’ goal would be the only score of the night, but that was not the end of a hurricane-like Iowa offensive attack. The Hawkeyes put up 25 shots on Thursday, matching last season’s game-high total (Sept. 8 vs. Iowa State, Sept. 11 vs. UNI).

Newcomer Kelli McGroarty led the way with eight shots in 53 minutes of action. Junior Kenzie Roling was next for Iowa with four shots, including two shots on goal.

For its part, the Hawkeye defense allowed just four shots. Goalkeeper Macy Enneking hauled in a pair of saves, preventing two of the Eagles’ best looks of the match.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANNI

“This is a tough place to play against a team that knows how to win. I am happy with how we competed all game and really liked the chances our team created in both halves. As a group, our defending was quite sharp except for some transition opportunities. This is a good start to the season for us, handling weather adversity and a difficult opponent on the road.”

 

HAWKEYE NOTABLES

  • Iowa’s 10 shots on goal are the best since its effort against Michigan last season on Oct. 2, 2022.
  • The following players made their Hawkeye debuts: freshman Millie Greer (90 minutes), senior Kelli McGroarty (53), freshman Sofia Bush (46), freshman Abby Skiff (36) and sophomore Shae Doherty (28).
  • 90 Tracker: Four Hawkeye position players logged 90 minutes of game action, including fifth-year Samantha Cary, senior Rielee Fetty, senior Maggie Johnston and freshman Millie Greer.

UP NEXT

Iowa (1-0) opens the home slate on Sunday vs. Kansas City (1-0) at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT). The game will stream live on B1G+ (subscription required). Admission is free to all home soccer matches.

Posted in Sports |

Cyclones Earn 100th Home Win; Down Arizona 2-1

Sports

August 18th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Salomé Prat and Abigail Miller scored their first goals of the season, powering Iowa State past future Big 12 school Arizona, 2-1, on Thursday evening’s season-opening victory at the Cyclone Soccer Complex as the Cyclones earned their 100th home win in program history.

The Wildcats struck first in the tenth minute of the match, as Arizona forward Nicole Dallin capitalized off an Iowa State error, sneaking one past redshirt freshman Avery Gillahan to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead.

Gillahan, who competed in her first regular season collegiate game this evening, totaled two saves and played all 90 minutes as she picked up her first career win.

The Cyclones found the equalizer in the 18th minute as Mira Emma played a perfect lob pass over the Arizona defensive line to Prat, who buried one off the Wildcat keeper into the back left corner of the net to knot the game at one apiece.

Iowa State threatened late in the first half as an Emma shot just missed wide left and both teams went into the break with one goal on the board.

About 15 minutes into the second half, the Cyclones found the difference-maker as a Prat shot was deflected right to Alex Campana, who played the ball to Abigail Miller and Miller punched it into the lower right corner of the net to give ISU the edge.

Iowa State clamped down on defense for the remainder of the match, holding onto its 2-1 advantage and earning its first win of the season. The Cyclones got revenge for last year’s season-opener as ISU fell to the Wildcats in the desert by a matching score of 2-1.

17 different Cyclones saw the field on the night, and six played all 90 minutes. Besides Miller and Campana, fellow newcomers Kristin Boos, Nicolasa Jacobs and Regan John saw their first action in a Cyclone uniform.

Iowa State out-shot Arizona 8-7 and had the corner kick advantage, 5-3.

 

Fannon’s Thoughts 

“We’ve got a really good group of new players that have added something that has been a big difference. We’ve also though, got a group of people who have fought through thick and thin and have been in a place where they’re ready to lead us. I think that being able to put that together and get that group to merge together has been what has stood out so far.”

 

Goals 

Iowa State:Salome Prat (18’), Abigail Miller (’64)

Arizona: Nicole Dallin (10’)

 

Assists 

Iowa State:Mira Emma, Alex Campana

Arizona: N/A

 

Up Next 

Following the season-opener against Arizona, Iowa State will take to the road for its first road contest of the regular season. The Cyclones will face Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado on Sunday, August 20. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.

Posted in Sports |