2014

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Second-seeded Twin Cedars defeated top-seeded and defending state champion Mason City Newman Catholic 8-2 in the Class 1A finals Saturday afternoon at Principal Park, finishing the season with a perfect 36-0 record.

North Polk ended Beckman Catholic’s two-year reign as state champion as the Comets defeated the Trailblazers 2-0 in the Class 2A state championship game Saturday afternoon at Principal Park, earning their school’s first state baseball championship. The two teams had met for the 2A title in 2012 and 2013, with Beckman winning by scores of 3-1 and 2-1.

Fifth-seeded Davenport Assumption won the Class 3A state championship in walk-off fashion, defeating sixth-seeded Dallas Center-Grimes 1-0 Saturday evening at Principal Park.

A pitcher’s duel was front and center of the Class 4A state championship game, as two runs in the top of the first inning were all the sixth-seeded Southeast Polk Rams needed to defeat the fifth-seeded Iowa City West Trojans, 2-0, to claim the title.

Posted in Sports |

Chiefs’ Cooper latest defensive back to go down

Sports

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Marcus Cooper joined the lengthy list of Chiefs defensive backs that were forced to watch practice Saturday after tweaking his hamstring during an early portion of the workout. Cooper has been starting at one of the cornerback positions throughout camp.

The Chiefs were already missing Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry, who hurt his right heel during Thursday’s drill. Backup safety Sanders Commings is out after having surgery on a severe high ankle sprain and for a fracture to his fibula.

Reserve defensive backs David Van Dyke, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Phillip Gaines have also missed time with injuries. All the banged-up bodies forced the Chiefs to sign veteran defensive back Steve Gregory earlier this week.

Posted in Sports |

Omaha biocontainment unit inspected by feds

News

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials are assessing the Nebraska Medical Center Biocontainment Unit’s ability to treat people infected with the Ebola virus that is sweeping West Africa. The Omaha World-Herald reports that officials with the U.S. State Department inspected the Omaha unit on Friday.

The inspection came as officials prepared to fly two Americans infected with the deadly virus into the U.S. for treatment — the first time anyone infected with Ebola has been brought into the country. Dr. Philip Smith, medical director of the unit, says there are no immediate plans to transfer Ebola patients to the Omaha hospital.

But the Omaha medical center’s 10-bed biocontainment unit is the largest quarantine and treatment facility in the country and could be used if other cases turn up in the U.S.

Posted in News |

Downtown Sioux City casino, hotel opens

News

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City’s new downtown casino and hotel is now open for business. The Sioux City Journal reports that about 1,000 people turned out Friday night to celebrate the opening Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City.

The 30,000-square-foot casino floor boasts 839 slot machines and 25 table games, including jackpot and roulette. An oversized guitar, with wood and metal accents, flashes over the floor, which is also illuminated with decorative light fixtures bearing purple drum sticks.

The casino opens after a bruising legal fight by the owners of the nearby Argosy riverboat casino, which has been ordered to close.

Posted in News |

Iowa Lt. Governor to visit Creston, Lenox & Mt. Ayr

News

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will visit three communities in southwest Iowa this coming week. Her visits to Creston, Lenox and Mt. Ayr take place on Tuesday, Aug. 5th. Her first stop, at 9:30-a.m., is at the Creston Chamber of Commerce, where Reynolds will attend a “Connect Every Iowa” event.

At 11-a.m., Reynolds will tour Dalton Ag Products in Lenox, and at 1-p.m. Tuesday, she’ll tour Podium Ink, Inc., in Mt. Ayr.

Posted in News |

Wanted: genetic counselors

News

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

College students in Iowa are being urged to consider pursuing an emerging field in the health care industry. Colleen Campbell is a certified genetic counselor at the University of Iowa. She organized an information session on the UI campus Friday, to talk to students about genetic counseling. She says it’s part of the “personalized medicine” movement, as genetic counselors focus on patient education and advocacy. “You used to have genetics if you had a genetic disease and you were seen in a genetics clinic. But now, genetics is being integrated into all forms of medicine; cardiology, cancer, prenatal, OBGYN, everywhere,” Campbell said. “So, really getting it integrated, we need more genetic counselors as part of those health care teams…to help not only educate the patients, but also keep the health care team up to speed on things.”

Genetic counselors work with patients on health issues specific to their genetic profile. They also serve as an advocate for the patient by communicating with their doctor. “Doctors are really good at their jobs, but they also have a very short amount of time they’re allowed to spend with patients,” Campbell said. “The counselor is a person the patient can call if they see something on news or they read something and they have a question. The counseling appointments are typically longer, so you spend that time really answering patients’ questions and really helping them.”

In Iowa, there are currently only 12 certified genetic counselors. The University of Iowa offers a Genetic Counseling Internship for undergraduate students interested in a career in genetic counseling.

Learn more at http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/humangenetics/

Posted in News |

(Podcast) 8-a.m. News & funeral report, 8/2/14

News, Podcasts

August 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.2MB)

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Posted in News, Podcasts |

Family Fun in the Kitchen 08-02-2014

Podcasts, Family Fun in the Kitchen

August 2nd, 2014 by admin

Lavon and Miss Nini talk about grilling veggies.

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Posted in Podcasts, Family Fun in the Kitchen |

Grilled Pizza (8-2-14)

Family Fun in the Kitchen

August 2nd, 2014 by Jim Field

Ingredients:
Pizza dough: homemade, box mix, Pillsbury refrigerated, or ready made
Toppings of your choice: cooked/grilled veggies such as peppers, onion, mushrooms, spinach; cooked meat; sauce; cheese
Olive oil to coat dough
Instructions:
Roll out dough. Cut or shape into individual size pizzas-easier to handle on the grill and allows varied toppings. Coat with olive oil. This side becomes the top. Flip onto grill heated to medium. Close lid. Let pizza grill until bottom is just barely cooked about 1 to 3 minutes. You will see it get bubbly and rising. Every grill is different so depending on yours and how long you preheated it, the time varies. Use tongs or spatula to flip the pizza over. Move it to indirect heat or to a tray off the grill. Quickly add toppings. Grill until toppings are warmed through and cheese is melted about 3 minutes.

The first time may be an experiment, but you will want to make this yummy, easy, quick, fun food again. Any leftovers? Refrigerate of freeze.

A grilling pan or screen is necessary to prevent small items falling through the grill bars. Pizza dough may be placed directly on the grill.

Toss greens and/or veggies with olive oil, lemon juice, salt or other seasonings. Use medium heat. Some veggies require longer cooking time so cut them into smaller pieces when cooking a mixture. May take 10 or more minutes. Grill greens separately as only several minutes are required. Turn after a minute or so.