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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she and her fellow Republicans in the House and Senate are about two-thirds of the way toward reaching a final agreement on a tax plan. The governor is raising concerns, though, about the Senate G-O-P’s idea to convert more than 800 local option sales taxes into one statewide tax. It’s a legal maneuver so lawmakers could use other state tax money to fill the empty Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund, but Reynolds says she’s concerned because the move would impose that one percent sales tax in 50 local jurisdictions where it’s not collected today.
“With inflation at a 40 year high we have to be really careful about raising taxes right now. I’m interested in lowering taxes,” Reynolds says. “Even though, potentially, it would be an overall tax reduction, we just need to take all of that into consideration as we sit down and start to work through that compromise.”
Reynolds made her comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S. The other sticking point in the G-O-P tax negotiations is whether to cut the corporate income tax. Reynolds has proposed a significant cut. Senate Republicans propose a cut, along with reductions in some tax credits corporations typically claim. House Republicans have passed a bill that solely focuses on reducing personal income taxes.
(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa Department of Public Health reports Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of powder formulas, including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare manufactured in Sturgis, Mich., one of the company’s manufacturing facilities. The recall does not include any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas.
Affected products are in circulation in Iowa retail locations and have been distributed through the Iowa Department of Public Health’s WIC program. If Iowans possess any of the affected products, it should not be fed to infants.
Abbott is voluntarily recalling these products after four consumer complaints related to Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella Newport in infants who had consumed powder infant formula manufactured in this facility.
While Abbott’s testing of finished product detected no pathogens, they are taking action by recalling the powder formula manufactured in this facility with an expiration of April 1, 2022, or later. No Abbott liquid formulas, powder formulas, or nutrition products from other facilities are impacted by the recall.
Cronobacter sakazakii is commonly found in the environment and a variety of areas in the home. It can cause fever, poor feeding, excessive crying or low energy as well as other serious symptoms. It’s important to follow the instructions for proper preparation, handling and storage of powder formulas.
What Parents and Caregivers Should Do
The products under recall have a multidigit number on the bottom of the container starting with the first two digits 22 through 37, contains K8, SH, or Z2 and with an expiration date of April 1, 2022, or after.
To find out if the product you have is included in this recall, visit similacrecall.com and type in the code on the bottom of the package, or call +1-800-986-8540 (U.S.) and follow the instructions provided. No action is needed for previously consumed product. If your infant has recently consumed one of these products and is experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact your health care provider.
This is a rapidly evolving situation and IDPH will share more details for Iowa families as they are available.
(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court declined to address a lawsuit filed by bar and tavern owners who were forced to close by a COVID public health disaster proclamation. The governor’s proclamation required bars in six counties to close on August 27th of 2020 due to rising cases of COVID. Six establishments in Polk and Dallas County sued — but were denied a temporary injunction against closing. The governor rescinded her order on September 15th and the district court dismissed the lawsuit.
The bars asked the Supreme Court to still rule on the case — saying it is a public importance exception. The Court declined — saying they are not persuaded that the Governor rescinded her order in response to this lawsuit. It says the issues are important — but many of the conditions during late summer of 2020 are unlikely to be replicated — and a decision would not prevent future clashes over different pandemic-related orders made under changed conditions.
(Radio Iowa) – Some 20 counties in north-central and northeast Iowa will be under a Winter Weather Advisory today (Friday), from 2-until 10-p.m., when there is the potential for snow squalls. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says it’ll be quite windy statewide this afternoon with unseasonable highs in the upper 30s, 40s and even low 50s, but a cold front will arrive late this afternoon and into tonight. “That will bring even stronger northwest winds with gusts of 35, maybe even 50 miles per hour across the north half of Iowa as that front moves through,” Small says. “The front may also bring a period of snow showers, some of those may be intense, with some brief snow squalls as well.”
The weather roller coaster will likely continue over the next several days. “The weekend looks dry and we have some temperature flip-flops,” Small says. “Cool on Saturday but quite warm Sunday with highs in the 40s and 50s, but then we cool down again. Winter’s not over. We have chances for wintry precipitation, possibly some snow accumulations and multiple precipitation types for a system Monday and Tuesday.” The forecast high temps for Tuesday are only in the teens.
Winter Weather Advisory for those counties in purple; Wind Advisory for counties in light brown. (updated 11:36-a.m.)
Keep up with the forecast at weather.gov.
(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa State researcher is studying how singing can help those who have Parkinson’s disease. Elizabeth Stegemoller says Parkinson’s disease affects an area of the brain that controls movement and she’s trying to find out how music impacts its symptoms. “We haven’t looked at whether or not it is going to hold off the progression of symptoms — but we do see that their singing can help improve some of the symptoms,” she says.
Stegemoller is an associate professor of kinesiology, and a music therapist with a doctorate in neuroscience, She says the first music study found patients were helped with their breathing and the muscles used for swallowing. “This is important because aspiration pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in people with Parkinson’s disease — because of swallowing issues,” Stegemoller explains. “And so the breathing part is even important because you want that forceful cough to get rid of any particular foreign material if it does get into the lungs.”
Stegemoller says one study found other benefits as well. “They reported that they felt less stress, that they felt a better camaraderie and bonding between participants. And one lady even mentioned — well several mentioned that they moved better,” she says. One of the symptoms of Parkinson’s that is most noticeable are the tremors that cause movement and says another study found similar movement results. “Their walking and tremors and posture improved after singing,” Stegemoller says.
Stegemoller says the symptoms can vary greatly among patients, so she is not trying to come up with one singing plan for everyone. “My goal is to really understand the why behind it. You know, why is this working? Because I think music in itself is so individualized that it would be challenging to standardize just one treatment that works for everyone that involves music,” Stegemoller says. She says Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s. “Iowa in particular it is actually more prevalent than one would think. We have one of the highest populations of people with Parkinson’s disease because of kind of our environment in particular. Our herbicides and pesticides have been linked to Parkinson’s disease,” Stegemoller says.
Stegemoller received a three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to determine the underlying mechanisms by which singing helps improve symptoms of those with Parkinson’s disease.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – If you’ve ever wondered what Cass County was like about 140-years or so ago, you will probably want to attend a special program – Cass County [in] the Wild West taking place 2-p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 20th, at the American Legion Memorial Building (The Armory), in Atlantic. Dana Kunze, who served as Superintendent for the Griswold Community Schools from 2007-2016, will present a report stemming from his research, on the lawlessness that was a part of the early history of Cass County in the late 1800s.
The American Legion Memorial Bldg./ “Armory,” in Atlantic. (Photo by ARISE)
His research shows robberies, hangings and murders were committed here just as they were everywhere as folks moved west. One such example is of a body found in 1876 floating in the Turkey River on the Lewis and Atlantic Road. He was not a local resident. There’s more to the story. Kunze has researched these stories through newspapers, and. Cass County history books.
Kunze began his love of research very early in life. He grew up on a farm near Lewis and the Mormon Pioneer Trail. His parents fueled his interest in local, state and national historical sites. He was involved from the beginning with restoration of Hitchcock House. Kunze continues his work to clarify the history of the Underground Railroad and Southwest Iowa.
The presentation is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) and supported by Atlantic Community Promotion Commission. It is free and open to the public. The American Legion Memorial Building (the Armory) is handicapped accessible. It is located at 201 Poplar Street in Atlantic.
(Council Blufs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Council Bluffs man was arrested Monday evening on drug charges, following a traffic stop on Interstate 29 northbound at mile marker 60. Authorities say 35-year-old Kyle Steven Johnson was taken into custody for: Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender; Conspiracy with intent to Manufacture/Deliver more than 5 grams but under 5 kilograms, of methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Affix a drug tax stamp. Johnson’s bond for the offenses was set at $32,300 altogether.
Monday afternoon, 37-year-old Sheena Marie Griffen, of Omaha, was transported from the Mills County Jail in Glenwood to the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs. Griffen was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation. On Thursday, 20-year-old Elijah Matthew Jones* was arrested at a residence east of the State Patrol Headquarters in rural Council Bluffs. Jones was wanted on a Council Bluffs Police Department warrant for OWI/1st offense.
Early this (Friday) morning, 28-year-old Allyson MacKenzie Landen, of Underwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after Pott. County Dispatch advised law enforcement that a semi tractor-trailer had been hit by a pickup truck on westbound Interstate 80 at mile marker 11, in Council Bluffs. Landen was transported to the Pott. County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.
The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports also, two people being held at the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, were transported to Pottawattamie County under separate warrants. 37-year-old Krystle Marie Schulte, of Omaha, was wanted for Robbery in the 1st Degree – Inflict or attempt serious injury or armed w/a dangerous weapon. Her bond was set at $25,000. And, 37-year-old Michael Christian Sexton, of Omaha, was wanted for Theft in the 3rd Degree. His bond was set at $2,000.
*The report did not indicate or confirm his address of residence.
(Radio Iowa) – What’s billed as the Midwest’s largest and most colorful winter kite festival is scheduled for Saturday in north-central Iowa. Libby Hohn, tourism director for the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, says the Color The Wind Kite Festival is an exhibition of hundreds of traditional and inflatable kites, and even stunt kites doing aerial choreography to music. “We’re expecting great crowds and beautiful kites,” Hohn says. “We have dozens of kiters from all over the United States and even a kiter coming over from England to show off their kites.”
The 36-hundred acre lake is an ideal venue for kiting, she says, as there are no obstacles like trees or power lines. Ten-thousand spectators are expected for the one-day festival which will go on whatever the weather — as long as there’s wind. “Several years ago, there was very low wind and they would just attach kites to some ATVs and drive them around to try and pick up some wind,” Hohn says. “The way our topography is here in Clear Lake, there’s typically a nice breeze or wind so that’s also what makes us a great sailing lake in the summertime.”
Color the Wind Kite Festival (File photo, Clearlakeiowa.com)
At last check, the ice was 19-inches thick, so it’ll be safe to walk right onto the frozen lake to take in the spectacle in the skies. “We really recommend to dress for the weather. If you want to wear ice cleats on your boots, if you’re going to venture out on the ice, that helps with stability,” Hohn says. “If you’re bringing children, we recommend bringing a wagon or even a sled to pull them around on the ice.”
She notes, only kiters can park on the ice, though there’s free parking at Clear Lake High School and free shuttles. The event runs Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors, Thursday, visited with Leah Mundorf, owner of Skip’s Home Décor & More on East 7th Street, to celebrate the Grand Opening of her Home Décor/ Gift Shop in Atlantic. After closing The Gym, Leah and her husband Mitch were left with an opportunity to try something new. That something new came in the form of a Home Décor Store named after Leah’s late mother’s nickname. Leah is passionate about decorating and helping people create gifts for others and you can sense that when you arrive in the newly remodeled building.
Skip’s Home Décor & More has a little bit of everything from decorative signs, pillows, flowers and candles alongside cards, gift bags, and even some clothing. Leah has no desire to expand into clothing, but she “couldn’t help herself” with some of the pieces on display. Skip’s Home Décor & More has regular business hours of Monday and Thursday, 10AM to 6PM, Tuesday and Friday, 10AM to 3PM, and Saturday, 10AM-2PM.
Skip’s Home Décor & More is located at 1000 E. 7th Street in Atlantic. To learn more about Skip’s Home Decor, visit their Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/879933082670149/
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is reporting a drop in income but a rise in sales. John Deere is reporting first quarter net income of 903-million dollars. That’s down more than 321-million from the first quarter a year ago. Worldwide net sales and revenues for Quad Cities-based Deere rose five-percent in the quarter to more than nine-and-a half billion, up from about eight-billion last year.
Deere chairman and C-E-O John May calls the performance “impressive” given last fall’s U-A-W strike as well as “persistent challenges posed by the supply chain and pandemic.”