712 Digital Group - top

KJAN News

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!

Audubon School Board Special Session set for Monday night

News

October 30th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – A Special Session of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education will be held 7-p.m. Monday (11/1), in the High School Board Room.

On the agenda is a review of the Oct. 20, 2021 bids received for the Audubon Middle School/High School Interior Renovation Re-bid, and approving the Issuance of Contracts for Bid Packages 1-through 4, with Alternates.

The Board may also take action on: “Approximately $7,600,000 [$7.6-million] School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue and Refunding Bond, Series 2021 – A Resolution to Authorize the Sale and Issuance of School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue and Refunding Bonds and Approving the Official Statement.”

 

30 years ago Halloween saw lots of ice and wasn’t nice

News, Weather

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of what came to be known as the 1991 Halloween Ice Storm in Iowa. National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Ansorge says the storm approached the state from the southwest and started as snow.

Very cold air poured into the state after the storm.

The storm knocked out power to about 80-thousand homes in Iowa and a state of emergency was issued for 52 of the state’s 99 counties.

LIHEAP sign up starts Monday

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The application period for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins on Monday. Iowa Utilities Board spokesman, Donald Tormey, says the program provides a payment to help you with part of your heating bills.

Tormey says if you are behind on your bill, you should always reach out to the utility company.

He says you can sign up anywhere in Iowa.

There is also a weatherization program available. Iowa law protects those in the LIHEAP program who are the head of a household from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service from November 1st through April 1st.

(Update) Unusually rainy week helps lift some Iowa counties out of drought

News, Weather

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – It’s been an exceptionally rainy week in Iowa, with some communities reporting record precipitation, breaking rainfall records that have stood for more than a century. State climatologist Justin Glisan says the new U-S Drought Monitor map for Iowa shows improving conditions, with fewer counties indicated as being abnormally dry or in drought.

The entire southern tier of counties is in the clear, along with wide areas of western and southeast Iowa. The worst of the dry conditions, D-2 or severe drought, remain in central and north-central Iowa, with a small patch in the northwest.

This past Sunday’s rainfall set records in several Iowa cities, including Ottumwa, Waterloo, and Des Moines — where nearly three inches fell, breaking a record set in 1908. The new drought map was just released but it’s based on data that’s a few days old, so it’s not taking into account all the rain from Wednesday and Thursday, which was considerable.

October is wrapping up to be the wettest month of 2021, so far, and we’re heading into the driest months of the year. May is typically Iowa’s wettest month of the year while February is the driest.

(Update) Reynolds joins lawsuit challenging federal Covid-19 vaccination mandate

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the State of Iowa onto a lawsuit challenging one of the Covid-19 vaccination mandates President Biden has proposed.

Reynolds made her comments last week during a news conference inside a manufacturing plant in Adel. Iowa and nine other Republican-led states are challenging a requirement that workers employed by a company that’s a federal contractor be fully vaccinated. Reynolds says this requirement would affect one-fifth of the nation’s workforce.

Reynolds says thousands of Iowans would be forced to get a Covid shot against their wishes if the federal rule goes into effect. According to the lawsuit, most state agencies are technically federal contractors, so the vaccination requirement would force employees in Iowa’s state government to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Earlier this month, President Biden said vaccination mandates are a way to put the pandemic behind us and accelerate the country’s economic recovery.

Earlier today (Friday), Governor Reynolds signed a new law that lets workers facing the loss of a job over a vaccination mandate to claim a medical or religious exemption. The Iowa Association of Business and Industry calls the law misguided and says it means Iowa businesses are at risk of federal fines if they follow these new state regulations. The group says businesses will ultimately face higher taxes to cover the newly guaranteed unemployment benefits for workers who are fired for failing to get vaccinated.

Rollover accident in Page County, Friday morning

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

One person was injured during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday morning, in Page County. Authorities says 25-year-old Alexis Kimberly Graham, of Essex, was driving a 2006 Ford Fusion east on 140th Street at around 6:40-a.m., when for reasons unknown, her car entered the south ditch, east of the intersection with Highway 48/H Avenue.  The vehicle rolled twice before coming to rest.

Graham was found out of the vehicle by a passerby, who called 911. Graham was transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center by Shenandoah Ambulance with unknown injuries. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Essex Fire and Rescue and the Shenandoah Ambulance Service. No charges have been filed at this time.

COVID-19 Booster Shots Now Available in Cass County

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic say “Many individuals are eager for booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially before the holiday season. Based on the current CDC guidance, patients may have a preference, but you can get any booster shot regardless of what type of vaccine you have already had. There are several options on how to get the vaccine booster if you are eligible. All vaccination sites also offer first and second doses; adolescents aged 12 to 17 are only able to receive the Pfizer vaccine at this time.”

Pfizer & Moderna Booster Dose

  • If it has been at least 6 months since you received your Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series, then you may be eligible for a booster.
  • Those eligible include:
    • 65 years and older
    • 18+ and live in a long-term care setting
    • 18+ with underlying medical conditions
    • 18+ who work or live in a high-risk setting

If you aren’t sure if you live or work in a high-risk setting, visit cdc.gov for more information.

Atlantic Medical Center, RHC offers Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by appointment beginning Monday, November 1. Also locally, HyVee offers Pfizer vaccines and Walmart offers both Pfizer and Moderna; both pharmacies accept walk-ins, but online appointments are preferred. Rex Pharmacy has Pfizer vaccines, and will also have Moderna next week; walk-ins welcome Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to noon, and 2 to 5:30 pm.

Johnson & Johnson Booster Dose

  • If it has been at least 2 months since you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are now eligible for a booster shot. Cass County Public Health offers Johnson & Johnson vaccines by appointment; call 712-243-7551.

COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card

  • For patients who need their second or booster dose, remember to bring your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with you to your appointment.

Patients are always encouraged to talk to their primary care provider about their questions and concerns regarding vaccines. More information about booster shots can be found at cdc.gov, vaccines.gov, or casshealth.org/covidvaccine.

State of Iowa joins lawsuit challenging vaccine mandates for workers employed by a federal contract  

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds today (Friday) announced that the State of Iowa has joined nine other states in a lawsuit challenging President Biden’s vaccine mandate for all workers employed by a federal contractor, which is one-fifth of the nation’s workforce.   Reynold said Iowa “Is joining a federal lawsuit to challenge President Biden’s unprecedented use of the government to force every employee of every federal contractor in America, including thousands of Iowans, to take a vaccine against their wishes.”

She added, “I believe the vaccine is the best defense against COVID-19, but no one should be forced to choose between making a living or standing up for their personal beliefs. As long as I am governor, the State of Iowa will always stand alongside Iowans and to be sure their freedoms are protected.”

A copy of the federal complaint can be found here.

Illegal drug activity in Page County nets several arrests

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer, Friday (today), said “Over the last several months, the Page County Sheriff’s Office has been conducting ongoing investigations into illegal drug trafficking in Page County. Some of the arrests made during this investigation include three people from Shenandoah: 64-year-old Donna Sue Aldaz-Loya; 47-year-old Inna Renee Douglass, and 48-year-old Victor Bruce Ingrim. All three face felony charges that include: Gathering where controlled Substances are unlawfully used (a Class D felony); Failure to have a Tax Stamp (also a Class D felony); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Aldaz-Loya was arrested in a separate portion of the ongoing investigation. She was additional charged with: Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing less than 5 grams of Methamphetamine (A Class C Felony); Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing a controlled substance – Alprazolam (A Class C Felony); and Possessing – introducing a contraband into a Jail (A Class D Felony). Aldaz-Loya was held in the Page County Jail until she agreed until she plead guilty in District Court. The plea agreement was handled by the Page County Attorney. Aldaz-Loya was released after entering her guilty plea to the felony charges.

Aldaz-Loya

Ingrim was additionally charged with: Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing a controlled substance – Methamphetamine 5 grams or more (Class B Felony); and Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing a controlled substance – Methamphetamine 5 grams or less (Class C felony). Ingrim is currently being held in the Page County Jail on $36,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Victor Ingrim

And, Douglass was additionally charged with Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing less than 5 grams of Methamphetamine (Class C Felony). She was being held in the Fremont County Jail for Page County due to jail housing issues with other inmates. Bond was set at $10,000, pending court proceedings.

Inna Douglass

Sheriff Palmer says “This drug investigation is ongoing with more arrests probable. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted with the search warrants conducted just prior to the arrests of Aldaz-Loya and Ingrim. Douglass was arrested from a warrant issued for the charges as she was not at Ingrim’s residence at the time of the search warrant there. The investigations conducted by the Page County Sheriff’s Office and search warrants were conducted in Shenandoah.”

Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation Hits the Road to Fight Hunger in School-Aged Children

News

October 29th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(West Des Moines, Iowa)- With 1 in 8 Iowa children facing food insecurity, Iowa Select Farms, under the leadership of the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation, are driving the change to help end childhood hunger. Through the Power Snack program, Iowa Select Farms employees are giving ham and bread coupons, along with pork sticks, to teachers and schools for distribution to their students. The program is expected to supply enough coupons to total over 1-million ham sandwiches, as well as 20,000 pork snack sticks, to help end childhood hunger, which the Foundation’s Power Snack program has been trying to tackle for 9 years.

Beginning October 20th and continuing until November 15th, Iowa Select Farms employees will distribute Power Snack Teacher Supply Kits to schools across Iowa. In total, 89 school districts will be recipients of the program. Power Snack helps reduce childhood hunger in Iowa by providing kids the means to purchase nutritious food to prepare at home. Four different times throughout the school year, children identified by the school as food insecure receive a $5 coupon for deli ham and $3 coupon for a loaf of whole wheat bread.

Pork sticks were added by the Foundation to the deliveries to provide a non-perishable, immediate infusion of protein for students, resulting in hunger relief and an open door to engagement in the classroom.  Among the area school districts participating in the program, is:

  • Afton/East Union Community Schools
  • Bedford Community School District
  • Carroll Community School District
  • Charter Oak-Ute Community School District
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard Community Schools
  • Corning Elementary
  • Creston Elementary/Middle School
  • In Denison: Zion Lutheran School
  • Diagonal Community SchoolsLenox Community School District
  • IKM-Manning Community School District
  • Mount Ayr Community Schools
  • Schleswig Community School District
  • In Villisca: Enarson Elementary