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Grassley: Biden made $6B ‘secret deal’ with Iran for release of hostages

News

August 23rd, 2023 by Jim Field

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is joining the chorus of critics accusing the Biden Administration of releasing six-billion dollars to Iran in order to secure the release of five Americans being held hostage. Grassley and fellow Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina have sent a letter, asking the White House about what they’re calling a “secret deal” with Iran.

A New York Times report says President Biden negotiated the release of the hostages in exchange for unfreezing Iran’s assets in South Korea, transferring the near-six-billion dollars to an account in the central bank of Qatar (kah-TAR). In a tweet on Monday, Grassley said, “That’s a lot of money to fund more terrorism + will make taking Americans hostage more likely.” Grassley talked with Iowa reporters in a conference call on Tuesday morning.

According to the Times, Biden administration officials have declined to comment or to confirm details about the agreement. Grassley is incensed the U-S would negotiate with Iran, which he says is negotiating with terrorists.

Reports say three of the Americans were being held in Iran on unsubstantiated charges of spying. The other two are reportedly a scientist and a businessman.

Atlantic Public Library to Re-Open Wednesday

News

August 23rd, 2023 by Jim Field

All systems that were affected by Monday’s faulty fire alarm at the library have been checked and are functioning normally again. The library will re-open at 9 am on Wednesday, August 23 and follow regular hours.

Hawkeyes Host Iowa State for Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Opener

Sports

August 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

THIS WEEK

The University of Iowa women’s soccer team kicks off the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Thursday night. The Hawkeyes face Iowa State at 7 p.m. on Aug. 24 at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex. Admission is free to all home soccer events.

WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE

  • Thursday’s match will stream on B1G+ (subscription required).
  • Links to streaming and live stats can be found at hawkeyesports.com/soccergameday.
  • Fans can follow the Iowa soccer program on Twitter (@HawkeyeSoccer) for live in-game updates.

SCOUTING THE CYCLONES

  • Iowa State opened the season with a pair of victories, defeating Arizona, 2-1, on Aug. 17 before shutting out Northern Colorado, 1-0, on the road. The Cyclone defense allowed just 16 shots and four SOG.
  • The Cyclones return key production from last year’s campaign, which finished 3-10-4 overall and 0-7-2 in Big 12 Conference play. Senior Emma Mira is back after posting a team-best nine points in 2022, along with Lauren Hernadez and Salome Prat, who finished with four points, apiece.
  • Prat and Abigail Salome scored vs. Arizona, while Mira made the game-winner at Northern Colorado.
  • One position where the Cyclones retool is at goalkeeper; redshirt freshman Avery Gillahan grabbed three saves at a .750 save percentage in Iowa State’s season-opening victories, replacing three-year starter Jordan Silkowitz in goal.

 

SERIES HISTORY – IOWA STATE

Iowa owns a 14-8-2 advantage over the Cyclones. Last year’s win in the series went to Iowa State, 2-1, in Ames.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Head coach Dave DiIanni is in his 10th season at the helm of the Iowa women’s soccer program. Last fall, the Hawkeyes finished 5-6-7 overall with a 2-3-5 Big Ten record, a few points shy of conference postseason qualification. Iowa returns eight players with at least three years of collegiate playing experience, including seventh-year player Josie Durr and fifth-year Samantha Cary, who was a captain last fall. Cary helps lockdown a Hawkeye defense that averaged just one goal allowed per game over the past two seasons while posting 13 clean sheets during that span.
  • Many of those veterans played for Iowa during its Cinderella-run in the 2020-21 postseason, which saw a two-win regular season result in the first Big Ten Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament win in school history. One such player is redshirt junior Meike Ingles, who scored all four of her goals that year in the postseason, including three game-winners during the Big Ten Tournament. Ingles netted a hat-trick in fall 2021 vs. Illinois (10/17) and scored Iowa’s first goal of the 2023 season at FGCU.
  • Another offensive headliner at is junior Elle Otto, whose three goals, five assists and 11 points last season are returning team-bests. Otto registered one goal and one assist last time out vs. Kansas City.
  • Senior Macy Enneking returns in goal. Enneking ranks fifth in program history for career wins (15) and sixth in career shutouts (11).
  • Iowa welcomes 16 newcomers, including 13 freshmen and three transfers.
  • Cary, Enneking and Ingles were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List.
  • Cary, Enneking, and senior Maggie Johnston were voted team captains for the 2023 season.

McNamara Named to Johnny Unitas Watch List

Sports

August 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior quarterback Cade McNamara has been named to the 2023 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class.

McNamara completed 210-of-327 passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, McNamara appeared in four games as a sophomore in 2020, completing 43-of-71 pass attempts for 425 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The award is named after quarterback Johnny Unitas, who was nicknamed “The Golden Arm” for his record-setting play for the Baltimore Colts in the NFL. Former Hawkeye Nate Stanley was a finalist for the award in 2019.

The 2023 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., as well as other notable attendees at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

McNamara and the Hawkeyes open their season on Sept. 2 against Utah State. The sold-out game is set for an 11:03 a.m. (CT) kickoff.

HAWKEYES ON 2023 WATCH LISTS 

  • Erick All – John Mackey Award (TE) // Comeback Player of the Year Award
  • Cooper DeJean – Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Jim Thorpe Award (DB) // Paul Hornung Award (Versatility)
  • Jermari Harris — Comeback Player of the Year Award
  • Nick Jackson – Dick Butkus Award (LB) // Lombardi Award (Most Outstanding DL/OL)
  • Kaleb Johnson – Doak Walker Award (RB)
  • Logan Jones – Rimington Trophy (C)
  • Luke Lachey – John Mackey Award (TE)
  • Cade McNamara – Maxwell Award (POY) // Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (QB) // Comeback Player of the Year Award
  • Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award (PK)
  • Tory Taylor – Ray Guy Award (P)

SANDRA M. MUSGRAVE, 74 of KIRKMAN (Private Family Service)

Obituaries

August 22nd, 2023 by Jim Field

SANDRA M. MUSGRAVE, 74 of Kirkman died August 20, 2023 at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan. Private Family Services are planned for Sandra Musgrave.  Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan is handling the arrangements.

———————————————————————

Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Kirkman.

Sandra M. Musgrave is survived by:

Husband: Dwight Musgrave of Kirkman

Sons: Bruce Musgrave of Denison; Chris (Terri) Musgrave of Council Bluffs; Dwight T. (Ashley) Musgrave of Harlan

Daughters: Tammy Schuck and Loretta Musgrave of Treynor

16 grandchildren

13 great-grandchildren

Critics of Summit’s carbon pipeline rally in Fort Dodge

News

August 22nd, 2023 by Jim Field

The Iowa Utilities Board has begun its hearing on the Summit Carbon Solutions application to construct, operate and maintain a liquid carbon pipeline through Iowa. Critics of the project held a rally in Fort Dodge just before the hearing started. The proposed pipeline goes through Tim Baughman’s property in Crawford County.

According to Baughman, people who own 900 parcels of land along the Iowa route have not signed contracts granting Summit access to their land. The company is asking regulators to grant it eminent domain authority to force unwilling property owners to sign easements.

Steve Kenkel (KINK-ell), chairman of the Shelby County Supervisors, says the people testifying today (Tuesday) are seeking respect for their land and their livelihoods.

Summit has planned a two-thousand mile pipeline through five states, to ship liquid carbon from ethanol plants to underground storage in North Dakota. The company’s says the project will provide a financial boost to the ethanol and agricultural sectors.

No 4-Day School Week in Griswold

News

August 22nd, 2023 by Jim Field

The Griswold school board voted Monday night against pursuing a 4-day school week for the 2024-25 school year.

Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the process started last spring by getting feedback from patrons of the district and more recently, a survey of staff.  The survey asked about student performance issues and staff retention.  Henrichs said the survey results were mostly down the middle.

Henrichs said they will continue to watch what is happening in school districts in Iowa and Missouri who have made the change to see if the 4-day school week might make sense down the road.

Bulldog Women Announce 2023-24 non-conference schedule

Sports

August 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake women’s basketball has solidified the start of their 2023-24 schedule, the team announced this morning. The Bulldogs will look to replicate an incredible 2022-23 run with another slate of challenging games against high quality opponents.

The Bulldogs will start their 2023-24 campaign with a pair of exhibition contests at the Knapp Center when NCAA Division II opponents Upper Iowa and Winona State come to town on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, respectively.

Drake will then kick off the regular season on Monday, Nov. 6 with another home matchup against St. Thomas. The Bulldogs will then hit the road for their first road contest of the year, a tilt at Saint Louis on Thursday, Nov. 9.

November will roll on with back-to-back in-state rivalry matchups, first back at the Knapp Center against Iowa State on Sunday, Nov. 12 then a trip east to the 2022-23 NCAA Runner-Up Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday, Nov. 17.

Drake will then be home for their next three bouts as they host a multi-team event around the Thanksgiving holiday. The Bulldogs will welcome Louisiana Tech, Maine, and Richmond to Des Moines for a round-robin style invitational from Nov. 24-26.

The calendar then turns to December with another big-time road trip, this time to Minneapolis, Minn. for a meeting with the Golden Gophers on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Drake’s non-MVC schedule will conclude with a trio of games against three more midwestern mainstays. The Bison of North Dakota State will travel to Des Moines on Friday, Dec. 8 before Creighton returns to the Knapp Center to continue their storied rivalry with the Bulldogs. The Bluejays will visit Des Moines for Drake’s penultimate non-conference battle on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Finally, Drake heads back out on the road to Grand Forks, N.D. for their final non-league matchup against North Dakota on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Bulldog basketball season tickets will go on sale to the public starting on Tuesday, Sep. 12. If interested, fill out this form here.

*Big Ten Preview* Ohio State Buckeyes

Sports

August 22nd, 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 Ohio State Buckeyes:

Tomorrow, we’ll preview the Northwestern.

Hawkeyes Ranked 7th in NFHCA Preseason Poll

Sports

August 22nd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa field hockey team opens the 2023 season ranked seventh in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll, it was announced Tuesday by the association.

The Hawkeyes ended the 2022 season ranked 11th after advancing to their 21st Elite Eight in program history. The team has been ranked in 72 consecutive polls dating back to the 2016 season.

Iowa return seven starters and a total of 14 letterwinners from the 2022 team that finished 12-8 overall. The returnees include NFHCA All-West Region and All-America selection Esme Gibson.

The Hawkeyes open the 2023 season Friday, against No. 12 Wake Forest at 5 p.m. (CT) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in the B1G/ACC Challenge. The game will be broadcast on the ACCN. Iowa will face No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday at noon – that game will be streamed on ACCNX.