(Washington, D-C) – U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today (Wednesday) announced the 59th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, recognizing 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.  The Iowa scholars include (hometown, scholar, school, location):

IA – Cedar Rapids – Tejas Kishan Gururaja, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, Iowa.
IA – Diagonal – Alaina Marie Whittington, Diagonal Jr-Sr High School, Diagonal, Iowa. 
**IA – Johnston – Eshaan S. Chandani, Johnston High School, Johnston, Iowa. (**U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education)
IA – West Des Moines – Claire Gu, Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa.

Secretary Cardona says “U.S. Presidential Scholars have always represented the future of our country and the bright promise it holds. I want each of these remarkable students to know: your passion and intellect, pursuit of excellence, and spirit of service are exactly what our country needs. On behalf of President Biden, I am delighted to join your family, friends, and communities in celebrating your accomplishments. Aim high, share your talents, and continue embracing opportunities to lead as your exciting future unfolds.”

The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership.  Of the 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 5,000 candidates qualified for the 2023 awards determined by outstanding performance on the College Board SAT or ACT exams or through nominations made by chief state school officers,  other partner recognition organizations and YoungArts, the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.

As directed by Presidential Executive Order, the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars are comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large, 20 scholars in the arts and 20 scholars in career and technical education.  Created in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has honored over 8,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

The Presidential Scholars Class of 2023 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program.

A complete list of 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available at http://www.ed.gov/psp.

(Radio Iowa) – When Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley sits down for a budget committee hearing today (Wednesday), a familiar person will be on the witness list to testify. Former Iowa Governor and former U-S Ambassador to China Terry Branstad will be offering his perspective on climate change. “I particularly wanted Governor Branstad,” Grassley says, “because being ambassador to China, he can tell the Congress how far China is behind the United States in making changes in their economy that it takes to overcome it.” Grassley says Chinese industry is continuing to ignore the warnings from scientists about the looming ramifications of polluting the environment.

“China has got about 15% of the world economy. They have about 31 or 32% of the global warming gases put in the air,” Grassley says, “compared to the United States having about 21 or 22% of the world economy, and we’re putting in 13%.” Grassley, a Republican, notes there are many large and populous nations around the globe who are contributing to the specter of climate change, and action is needed. “We have to get the rest of the world, particularly China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, doing the same things that the United States is doing,” he says, “and it’s very important that we get that point of view across.”

While China is in the process of putting policies in place that would mitigate some of the impact of climate change, including a focus on ending the use of coal, Grassley says it’s too little, too late. Grassley’s schedule says the hearing at 9:30 A-M/Central time is called “Lessons Learned: Leadership Perspectives and Experience on the National Costs of Climate Change.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – This Saturday, May 13th, marks the 31st annual NACL (National Association of Letter Carriers) food drive across America. Postal carriers in Atlantic will be participating again this year, to benefit the local food pantry. Post Office Supervisor Mark McNees says “The carrier food drive is one of the largest efforts in the country and the Atlantic post office, and carriers, are proud to be a part of the effort to help out our customers who may be in need of assistance.”

Atlantic customers are asked to leave non-perishable food items in bags at their mailbox, and the carriers, and management, will collect the items and deliver them to the Atlantic food pantry. Atlantic Pantry Manager and Operations Coordinator Ken Burkhart says donated food items are always welcome, but so are monetary donations.

Burkhart said they can’t possibly store all the donated food the Pantry needs for everyone, so they purchase it on a weekly basis, as needed. Your cash or check donations can be left with your letter carrier this weekend, mailed to the Atlantic Food Pantry at P.O. Box 285 (Atlantic, IA 50022), or dropped-off at the Pantry, which is located at 704 W. 7th Street (The former “After 5 Somewhere” building). Drop-off hours for monetary donations are Mondays and Thursdays, from 9-until 11-a.m.

Customers wishing to contribute through their postal mail carrier should clearly address an envelope as a food pantry, or food drive donation, and leave visibly as outgoing mail. No stamp is required for this type of donation. Checks should be made out to the Atlantic Food Pantry. Customers may also hand donations to their carrier as well. Ken Burkhart says the pantry can take meat, but there are legal criteria they must abide by.

Burkhart says the need for food has not waned in Cass County, since the pandemic. The Pantry received a grant last year, but that grant is expiring, hence the need for monetary contributions. Food distribution at the Atlantic Food Pantry is on Thursday’s from 12:30-to 3-p.m. Burkhart says a majority of their clients show-up each week as needed. Anywhere from 70-to 80-percent are at or below the Federal Poverty Level. They typically are low income Senior Citizens (35-40% of their clients), persons temporarily laid-off from work, or are new to town and are between paychecks, and displaced domestic violence survivors.

The Atlantic community has donated tons of food and thousands of dollars over the years to the local food pantry by participating in the letter carrier’s food drive. Post Office Supervisor Mark McNees says “Your support is very much appreciated.” For more information about the Atlantic Food Pantry, please call 243-5019.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is leading the bipartisan effort to create a task force to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak and identify lessons learned regarding U.S. preparedness, response, and recovery to improve our ability to respond to future outbreaks. Ernst, along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), introduced the bipartisan National Task Force on the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, legislation that would create a 9/11 Commission-style task force to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic. The task force would investigate the origins of the pandemic, the U.S. response, availability of medical supplies and other resources, public health messaging, the government’s role in the development and distribution of vaccines, and more.

Ernst said, “In hindsight, there were many missteps made in the preparation and response to COVID-19—and possibly even in the origins of the pandemic. Learning from these mistakes is the only way to avoid them in the future. Every day we delay this independent, transparent investigation, we risk a fatal repeat. I am proud to be part of this bipartisan effort to uncover the truth before it is too late.”

SARS-Covid virus (Image from Johns-Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

The task force would have the authority to hold hearings, take testimony and issue subpoenas, and would be comprised of twelve members, six appointed from each party. The task force would submit an interim report to Congress and the president within six months, and a final report within 18 months of its initial meeting.

Red Oak, Iowa – Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst has announced that former South Caroline Governor, U-N Ambassador and 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley, will be one of her special guests at her annual Roast and Ride taking place on Saturday, June 3, 2023.  Ernst, who is from Red Oak, said she is “Thrilled to welcome Nikki Haley to Roast and Ride this year.” Ernst said also, her annual Roast and Ride is the perfect opportunity for here “…to showcase Iowa to all of our Republican candidates, and for them to speak directly with countless folks from all corners of the state. Iowa Republicans, Ernst says, are maintaining our FIRST in the nation status, and we take our job of vetting presidential candidates very seriously. Roast and Ride is THE event to be at in 2023, there’s no doubt about it!”

Nikki Haley speaks during an event in Denison, IA. April, 2023

Ernst, a combat veteran, donates the proceeds from her annual Ride to a veterans charity. This year, she will be honoring the Freedom Foundation of Cedar Rapids.  Nikki Haley says “America’s veterans are our greatest treasure and have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. We are blessed by their sacrifices, and it is an honor to work with Joni and the Freedom Foundation in supporting Iowa’s veterans on and off the battlefield.”

All 2024 Republican presidential candidates and hopefuls have been invited and additional special guests will be announced soon.  Senator Ernst’s first Roast and Ride was  held in 2015. Over the years, the event has featured some of the biggest names in Iowa and national politics, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Ambassador Nikki Haley, Senator Tim Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Terry Branstad, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and many more.

Sen. Joni Ernst on a “Roast and Ride.” (2016 file photo from Radio Iowa)

(Creston, Iowa) – A Taylor County man was arrested late Tuesday night on an assault charge, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 51-year-old Pedro Quintanilla-Flores, of Lenox, was arrested at 611 W. Adams St., at around 10:17-p.m.

Quintanilla-Flores was charged with Assault. He was cited and released on a Promise to Appear in court.