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UI prof says she teaches students to use AI responsibly and effectively

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

Some schools and colleges are trying to ban students from using artificial intelligence in their coursework, but a University of Iowa instructor is encouraging her students to embrace A-I in all of her writing classes. Professor Pamela Bourjaily, in the U-I’s Tippie College of Business, says she thinks it’s a smart move to “share the classroom” with Chat-G-P-T as a teaching tool.

Bourjaily says she’s teaching students that they’re responsible for the output they get from the A-I and how it’s important that they check for content and bias. She notes, it’s not necessarily less work to use A-I.

When Chat-G-P-T first appeared last fall, Bourjaily says she could quickly spot if a student had used the ‘bot versus writing something original themselves. Now, however, that’s changed.

She says one of her goals is to teach students to organize information and to be able to communicate that information fluently.

When Chat-G-P-T is used to produce documents like letters of recommendation, she says it can strip out the personal aspects. Instead, Bourjaily says collaboration and using A-I as a tool makes sure the humanity is kept in the writing.

Posted in News |

Candidates clamor for Governor Reynolds’ endorsement

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

It would be a big shot heard ’round the political world and it’s clear G-O-P candidates are gunning for it. That’s the endorsement of Governor Kim Reynolds.

Vivek Ramaswamy is among the 12 presidential candidates appearing with Iowa’s most popular Republican at this year’s Iowa State Fair.

Tim Scott took an audience survey when he sat down for his Fair Side Chat with Reynolds. “How many of y’all love Kim Reynolds?” Scott asked, the crowd cheered and Reynolds laughed before he calculated: “It’s 100%” Reynolds has said she is neutral in the 2024 presidential race — so all the candidates will feel welcome to campaign for the Iowa Caucuses. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says he doubts any one endorsement would secure an Iowa Caucus victory for a candidate. “But she could certainly shine a light of interest on a candidate,” Kaufmann says. “I think she is the only person in Iowa would who would have that effect.” Austin Harris, a state representative from Moulton, used for work for the Republican Party of Iowa and was the party’s political director in 2019. Harris, who is backing Nikki Haley, says an endorsement from Reynolds would be a game changer.

Steve Scheffler, the leader of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, is also the Iowa Republican Party’s National Committeeman. He says Reynolds is probably the only politician in Iowa who could move the needle a couple of points for a candidate.

A Des Moines Register Iowa Poll conducted in March found Reynolds had an 86 percent approval rating among Iowa Republicans.

Posted in News |

Days away from the start of school, some districts still need bus drivers

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

With classes starting next week for hundreds of thousands of Iowa students, many school districts statewide are facing a common problem — a lack of school bus drivers. In northwest Iowa, Le Mars Community Schools Superintendent Steven Webner says they’ve tried to prepare for the inevitable.

Webner says this bus driver shortage was anticipated so they’ve tried to get ahead of the problem.

Bigger buses carrying more kids means longer rides both in the morning and the afternoon, and more time behind the wheel for the scarce number of drivers.

An online report shows a wide range of school bus driver salaries in Iowa, with some making as little as 16-thousand-500 dollars a year, while others may be bringing in up to 41-thousand.

Posted in News |

Iowa Barn Foundation to host statewide barn tour September 16th and 17th

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

The Iowa Barn Foundation will hold their annual All-State Barn Tour on September 16th and 17th with 72 historic barns across the state open for touring inside and out. Many of the owners and family members will be on hand to share the stories behind their barns, which served as the central hub of activity on the farm. The Iowa countryside will be one expansive museum with barns located across the state. The self-guided tour is free and open to the public.

The Iowa Barn Foundation is especially excited to have a record eight round barns on the tour this year, which are the most unique and rare type of barns built in the state. Out of the approximately 200,000 barns built in Iowa, only 250 were round (including octagonal and multi-sided) representing just 0.13% of all barns built. Only 74 of Iowa’s round barns remain standing today, and many in various states of disrepair. Each of the 8 restored round barns on the tour are unique works of art, and visitors will leave with a great appreciation of the craftsmanship that went into their construction.

Why were round barns built? The largest surge in Iowa round barn construction came in 1910-1920 after they were promoted by universities, including Iowa State, for dairy operations. The circular interior layout was pitched as more efficient for the farmer to work in a circular pattern, accentuated by a central silo. Material efficiency in construction and greater structural stability were also key advantages cited. The enthusiasm for these barns was short-lived. Many of the efficiency claims were largely overstated and offset by more complicated and expensive construction methods. Construction largely ended as the 1920s came to a close.

The 1883 Secrest Octagonal Barn in Johnson County received an Award of Distinction in 2023, and it is joining the fall tour for the first time. The three-story bank barn is like no other barn in the world featuring an 8-sided bell-shaped roof topped with a cupola 72 feet above the ground. All eight of the round barns offer a glimpse into a unique period of agriculture history in our state. Don’t forget about the 64 other historic barns to visit as well, each with their own story to tell.

Full tour details can be found online at https://iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tour/2023-fall

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

No injuries as driver swerves to miss a deer near Creston

News

August 18th, 2023 by admin

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports no injuries occurred during a single vehicle accident on Thursday evening. At 8:02 p.m. Deputies responded to an accident on High and Dry Road. It was determined that a 2011 Chevy Equinox driven by 19-year-old Ella Jean Hoffman of Creston was traveling southbound on High & Dry Road when she swerved to miss a deer standing in the roadway and went into the ditch on the west side. All airbags deployed but Hoffman reported no injuries. The vehicle was disabled and privately arranged to be towed from the scene.

Posted in News |

Excessive Heat Watch to go into effect for listening area through early next week

Weather

August 18th, 2023 by admin 

*EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR CASS, CRAWFORD, CARROLL, AUDUBON, 
GUTHRIE, ADAIR, MADISON, ADAMS, UNION, TAYLOR, AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES
*WATCH IN PLACE FOR ALL OTHER COUNTIES IN THE LISTENING AREA UNTIL WEDNESDAY EVENING*

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values nearing
  105 or more possible for several days Saturday into next week.

* WHERE...Portions of south central and southwestern Iowa.

* WHEN...From Saturday afternoon through Monday evening.

* IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly
  increase the potential for heat related illnesses,
  particularly for those working or participating in outdoor
  activities.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Hot conditions are expected to expand into
  northern Iowa by Monday and then likely extend further into
  next week across the entire area as well. Additional expansion
  of heat related headlines is very possible over most of the
  region as more certainty on coverage and duration is realized.

Posted in Weather |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Friday, 8/18/23

Weather

August 18th, 2023 by admin

**Excessive Heat Watch in place for entire listening area from Saturday Afternoon through Monday evening, continues through Wednesday afternoon for most counties.**
Today: Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Yesterday’s high was 77 and the low was 50. This day last year the high was 83 and the low was 57. The all-time record high was 111 set in 1936. The record low was 40 in 2012. Sunrise is 6:31 a.m. and sunset is 8:15 p.m.

Posted in Weather |

Hawkeyes Volleyball Prepped for Black & Gold

Sports

August 17th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa volleyball will host its annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Sat., August 19 at 5 p.m. CT inside Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

The scrimmage is Hawkeye fans’ first chance to see the 2023 squad in action. Iowa returns nine letterwinners, while adding three transfers and six freshmen.

Following the scrimmage, the team will hold a kid’s clinic open to any and all children currently enrolled in sixth grade and below.

The Hawkeyes open the 2023 season at the Sacramento State Invitational on August 25-27 as the Hawkeyes take on Cal Poly, Sacramento State, and Nevada on Colbert Court at the Nest.

Team Black

Kaia Mateo

Amanda Darling

Anna Davis

Delaney McSweeney

Michelle Urquhart

Emily Lavin

Alyssa Worden

Audrey Black

Harlei Cole

Team Gold

Bailey Ortega

Sydney Dennis

Maddy Hanson

Rosa Vesty

Jacqlyn Caspers

Caitlan Buettner

Nataly Moravec

Gabby Deery

Olivia Lombardi

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State Releases 2023-24 Wrestling Schedule

Sports

August 17th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the 2023-24 schedule Thursday, which includes home duals against Iowa, Pittsburgh, Northern Iowa and Missouri.

“I know my team and my staff are really excited about this schedule,” Dresser said. “Our home schedule is particularly exciting and demanding this year. I really wanted to put something together that would excite our fans and motivate them to get to Hilton a lot this year. I think it will be a fun season to watch.”

The Cyclones’ dual slate will include matchups against four of the top seven, and three of the top five, teams at last season’s NCAA Championships. In total, there are eight top-25 teams on ISU’s 2023-24 schedule.

Iowa State will open its season Nov. 5 against Cleveland State inside David Carr’s high school gym at Perry High School in Massillon, Ohio, a nod to Carr as he begins his final season as a Cyclone.

The Cyclones will host the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk dual against the Hawkeyes Nov. 26 inside Hilton Coliseum. Seven other home dates dot the schedule as ISU also welcomes Davidson (Nov. 12), Utah Valley (Jan. 12), Pittsburgh (Jan. 14), West Virginia (Feb. 2), Northern Iowa (Feb. 11) and Missouri (Feb. 25) in dual action.

Carr’s final match inside Hilton Coliseum could be Part IV of college wrestling’s best rivalry, and a rematch of last season’s 165-pound Big 12 and NCAA title matches, against Mizzou’s Keegan O’Toole.

Iowa State will also host the Last Chance Open (Feb. 18) inside the Lied Recreation Center.

The Cyclones will return to Humboldt, Iowa – the hometown of Dresser – for the third season in a row for a neutral site dual against Wisconsin (Nov. 19).

In December, Iowa State will wrestle at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 1-2) for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The Cyclones will also make their second consecutive appearance at the Collegiate Duals (Dec. 18). Iowa State will see Little Rock, Pittsburgh and Cornell at the event, which will be held in Nashville, Tenn. this season.

ISU will have only three true road duals this season, all in January. The Cyclones open the new year with a western road trip to Arizona State (Jan. 5) before a neutral site contest against California Baptist (Jan. 7) in Walnut, Calif. Iowa State will close the month with duals against Oklahoma (Jan. 26) and Oklahoma State (Jan. 28).

The 2024 Big 12 Championship (March 9-10) will be held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., while the NCAA Championships (March 21-23) will take place inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Television and streaming listings for all events will be communicated at a later date. To view the complete Cyclone wrestling schedule, click here.

The Iowa State wrestling season ticket record has already been set. Tickets are still on sale and are available for purchase at cyclones.com/tickets.

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic Cross Country: “Glow Mile” August 18th

Sports

August 17th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

On 11:55 PM at the Trojan Bowl the Atlantic Cross Country team is hosting a “Glow Mile” run. The running will start at midnight. They’re providing a limited amount of glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces. You’re welcome to bring your own.

The run is open to the community and there is no cost.

Posted in Sports |