(Radio Iowa) – More than 20 years after a southwest Iowan dug a large bone out of a creek bed near Shenandoah, researchers from the University of Iowa are publishing a paper about what turned out to be a family of three of the most prime specimens ever found of an ancient creature. Giant ground sloths were descended from tree-dwellers, but U-I Professor Emeritus Holmes Semken says there’s no tree that could have held these sloths, as they were the size of woolly mammoths.

“They were immense. We’re talking an elephant-sized animal here that’s a sloth,” Semken says. “They were super-sized. When one was sitting down, it would be about eight feet from the ground to the top of its head. If it were standing up, it would be about ten feet, and they had incredibly long forelimbs. If they held those up to pull down the branch out of a tree or something like that, you’re talking about 12 feet.” While today’s tree sloths have a reputation of being very slow moving, Semken says the giant ground sloth of 100-thousand years ago likely would have moved more quickly.

Giant Sloth bones. (U-I composite photo)

“Some speculate that this particular kind of sloth would hang the babies in trees to protect them from predators,” Semken says. “These definitely were ground dwellers and there’s really no way to measure their metabolism, but they probably were very much like most other animals.” Their feet weren’t configured to run, he says, and they likely were knuckle-walkers. This type of long-extinct Ice Age ground sloth wasn’t unusual, as they were documented in more than 150 places across North America, however, he says the Iowa find was exceptional as the three sloth skeletons were in near-perfect condition.

“Usually, it’s an isolated tooth, a finger bone, a femur,” Semken says. “What’s different about this, finding almost complete animals is almost unheard of. With this sloth, it could either be the first or the second most complete sloth known.” The person who found the bone had a daughter at the U-I and brought the femur in for study. Semken says his jaw dropped and he knew right away that it wasn’t the typical cow, pig or horse bone most folks find, and that he was holding a career-changer.

“Oh, yes, very definitely,” Semken says, laughing. “It’s always exciting to find something new and this was certainly new, no question about that.” He calls the discovery a type of “Rosetta Stone” for understanding the family life of these mysterious animals. After years of careful excavation, the three sets of giant ground sloth bones were eventually uncovered from the Tarkio Valley river bed in Page County. The research team’s findings are being published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report 48-year-old Joseph Haynes, of Glenwood, was arrested today (Wednesday), on a Pottawattamie County warrant. Haynes was being in without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Members of a key state panel say a recession would likely have a limited impact on Iowa’s economy. They’re predicting state tax receipts will decline by one-point-nine percent this fiscal year due to cuts in the top income tax rate for individuals and corporations as well as the end of state taxation of retirement income. Kraig Paulsen is director of state agencies that oversee state tax collections and the state budget.

“I continue to be optimistic that any downturn will be weathered and, at least in Iowa, it will be relatively shallow and short in length,” Paulsen says. “Overall, the state is in an incredibly strong financial position and is well situated to manage whatever future circumstances dictate.” Paulsen and other members of the Revenue Estimating Conference predict the state will collect more than 10 BILLION dollars in taxes during the current fiscal year, which ends June 30th. Jennifer Acton, a senior analyst with the Legislative Services Agency, is the new member of the Revenue Estimating Conference.

“Inflation appears to be slowing and, in addition, no key Iowa economic indicators are suggesting a downturn in the economy at this time,” Acton says. Action points to the October increase in the Iowa Leading Indicators Index. It includes things like diesel fuel consumption, unemployment claims and data on hours worked in Iowa manufacturing plants.

“This would not suggest an economy on the verge of a downturn in the near future,” she said. Acton, though, does say it’s an especially difficult time to predict the future. “Inflation appears to be slowing While there are no telltale signs of a future recession, many economists indicate that the 2023 economy may have a difficult time,” Acton says. “Despite households being squeezed by high inflation and high interest rates, many economists indicate there are signs that inflation may be moderating.”

Senator Janet Petersen, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee in the Iowa Senate, says Iowa’s labor market continues to lag behind neighboring states and the panel’s no-growth revenue estimate is yet another warning about Iowa’s economy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will meet 5:30-p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. City Administrator John Lund said Wednesday, “The agenda is set up to facilitate a very orderly and structured meeting that is fair to the applicant, abutting & opposite property owners, and the general public. Doors to the Council’s Chambers will open at 5:10-p.m. and close promptly at 5:30-p.m. Seating will be limited to 65 people, including staff and Board members. However, there will be a sign-up sheet for anyone wanting to speak during the public hearing. If we have reached capacity, you will be asked to wait outside or in your vehicle, and we will let you know when it is your turn to speak. All citizen comments will be made during the public hearing and will be time limited.”

The agenda is as follows:

1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of Agenda.
3. Nominations for Chair.
4. Order to Appoint New Board of Adjustment Chair.
5. Nominations for Vice-Chair.
6. Order to Appoint New Board of Adjustment Vice- Chair.
7. Approval of the May 11, 2020, Minutes.
8. Overview of the Board of Adjustment’s Role as a Quasi-Judicial Body and The Legal Framework for Decision-Making.
9. Rules and Procedure Regarding the Public Hearing.
10. Public Hearing to Consider a Conditional Use Permit Application by New Life Church for the Properties located at 28 W. 5^th and 410 Poplar Streets that would allow for the operation of a Church in the C-3 “Central Business” District as allowed by Section 12.30(10) of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa.
    1. Opening Statement by New Life Church.
    2. Statement from Property Owners of 28 W. 5^th and 410 Poplar.
    3. Statements from Abutting and Opposite Property Owners.
    4. Statements from the General Public.
11. Question & Answer Period Between the Board and New Life Church.
12. Order Regarding the Conditional Use Permit Application by New Life Church for the Properties located at 28 W. 5th and 410 Poplar Streets that would allow for the operation of a Church in the C-3 “Central Business” District.
13. Next Regular Meeting: Not Scheduled.
14. Adjournment.

WEST DES MOINES — Iowa Third District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne today (Wednesday), announced the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for Iowa’s Third Congressional District as a team from Parkview Middle School in Ankeny, who developed the Stock Market Learning Game application. The team consisted of  seventh graders Lucius Ray and Carter Marovets. The duo created the app to teach students about the stock market and its function through a game, and players advance through levels and earn points while learning along the way.

Lucius and Carter were inspired to create this app because they wanted to help others learn more about finance and investing, and they wanted people to be able to learn about these topics from a young age. This is what inspired them to create an app that would allow users to have fun, while keeping them engaged with the material as they advance through game.

“It is my pleasure to recognize Lucius Ray and Carter Marovets of Parkview Middle School the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge from my district,” said Rep. Axne. “With their app, Lucius and Carter have shown how much effort they’ve put into their school work and into learning how to code, and what an amazing job the Ankeny school system is doing at teaching STEM. Lucius’s and Carter’s app teaches students important lessons about the stock market, which is especially important today as other apps that encourage and sometimes even trick young investors into risking their money become more popular.”

The competition was judged by a panel of three judges. This year’s panel of judges consisted of:

Dr. Marjorie McGuire-Welch- President, Southwestern Community College
Brian Waller- Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
Geoff Wood- Founder, Gravitate Coworking

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition for middle school and high school students designed to engage students with STEM education and emphasize computer science careers in every corner of the country. Each participating Congressional district selects its local winner, who are then eligible for further awards for the entire class of 2022 winners.

(Radio Iowa) – An Eagle Grove man has been sentenced to a decade in prison after pleading guilty to meth, marijuana and gun-related charges. According to a news release from the U-S Attorney’s Office, 40-year-old Russell Spencer was a mid-level meth dealer in central Iowa. Court records indicate Spencer was part of a drug ring that sold meth in 2021 and he made several trips to California to pick up meth and even had it mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.

Spencer was arrested after he made three meth sales to undercover officers. He pleaded guilty in August to possessing and distributing meth and marijuana as well as a gun possession charge.

(Radio Iowa) – A toddler has died after an apparent street racer slammed into oncoming traffic in Des Moines last (Tuesday) night.  Witnesses tell Des Moines police a sedan and an SUV were involved in an extended street race on Fleur Drive about 6 PM. At Gray’s Lake Park, police say the sedan crossed the median and hit two approaching vehicles. Four people were rushed to hospitals, including a four-year-old who has died, and the 35-year-old Urbandale man who police say was driving the sedan. The other alleged racer, a dark-colored SUV, continued on after the crash and police are asking for the public’s help in finding it, though no further description is being released.

Anyone with information about the incident, should call the Des Moines Police at 515-323-8382 or Crimestoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400 or online at www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A man who posts inspirational thoughts and comments on social media, was honored today (Wednesday) in Atlantic, with the “Angel of Christmas” award, sponsored by Cass Health. The award presented to Tom McLaren recognizes and thanks area residents who symbolize the true meaning of the season. Angels exemplify the true holiday spirit all year long–putting others first, spreading generosity and sharing the holiday spirit with everyone they meet.

CCHS CEO Brett Altman…

Steele McLaren, who suffered a traumatic head injury in Oct., 2020, and went on to make a full recovery after many surgeries and months of therapy, submitted a nomination letter that was read by Steele’s mom Jess Ehrman-Ellis. Here’s a portion of that letter…

Steele said Tom McLaren prays for people nationally and locally every morning, whether he knows them or not.

The McLaren family

CCHS CEO Brett Altman, Tom McLaren & Steele McLaren

He’s posted over 750 straight days. The prayer requests on the Praying for Steele #32strong Facebook page come from all over the country.

For his part, Tom McLaren said the award was “A big struggle” for him because he doesn’t take praise very well, and “I don’t like to share,” which drew laughs among those attending the presentation. He choked-up though, when he spoke about Steele’s accident and the family that rallied around him, and decided to set aside his opinion on sharing.

He said he’s honored the posts on Steele’s page have helped others through times of loss and who are struggling with health issues.

He says people continue to reach out to him, and that “It’s really cool.”