(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is praising President Biden for signing an executive order based on a bill Grassley co-sponsored to boost the transparency of government records about the Nine Eleven attacks. Grassley says the move is designed to help people who want to sue Saudi Arabia for whatever role that nation may have played in the attacks 20 years ago this week. “The reason they can’t move forward with the lawsuit is these documents are still classified,” Grassley says. “Under the president’s executive order or under our legislation, these documents would be made public.”

President Biden’s order is based on the bipartisan September 11th Transparency Act, which requires federal agencies to conduct a declassification review of records related to the attacks. Grassley says it’s time for all of those documents to be opened. “After 20 years, they ought to be, not just for the sake of the lawsuit moving forward,” Grassley says. “A lawsuit is a lawsuit. They may have all the information they need and they still may not be able to make a case but they ought to be able to try to make a case. But also, for the principle of transparency in government.”

Grassley says the public has long waited for a full picture of everything that led up to the attacks, “including everyone involved in funding, planning and perpetrating these horrific acts of terrorism.” “What’s wrong, after 20 years of secrecy about this, making that public? Nothing,” Grassley says. He says he’s “grateful” for the executive order as it will begin to “pull back the curtain on the 9/11 records so that victims’ families, survivors and all Americans can expeditiously get the answers and justice they deserve.”

(Radio Iowa) – A small plane crashed Monday afternoon in the northwest Iowa’s Plymouth County about five miles east of Kingsley. The airplane crash was reported to the Plymouth County Communication at about 3:12 p.m. The plane had the pilot and his passenger, and fortunately, both did not suffer any injuries. The plane was located upside down about 75 yards in a cornfield. Law enforcement agencies have contacted the Sioux City Tower and the FAA.

The crash scene is being secured until the conclusion of the investigation. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kingsley Fire and Ambulance Department, and the Iowa State Patrol all responded to the scene.

The broadcast News at 8:05-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

One person suffered suspected minor, non-incapacitating injuries during an accident late Monday night, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 23-year-old Sheldon Levi Houg, of Creston, was traveling north on Cedar Street at around 10:37-p.m., when he struck a legally parked 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. Damage to Houg’s 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo was estimated at $3,000, while the pickup sustained $4,000 damage.

Police say Houg was allegedly drunk and driving in a “reckless, erratic, careless” or negligent manner, when the crash occurred.  Houg was not transported to the hospital.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report four recent arrests. On Monday (Sept.6), 23-year-old Sheldon Houg, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and Driving While Suspended. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,300 bond. 29-year-old Micah Denman, of Ankeny, was arrested at around 4-a.m. Monday, in Creston, for Public Intoxication. Denman was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control of a vehicle. He was later released on a Summons to Appear in court.

Saturday night, 54-year-old Jeannette Hayes, of Syracuse, NY, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication. She was released on a Promise to Appear in court. And, Friday afternoon, 38-year-old Hoby Gatson, Jr., of Waterloo, was arrested at the Union County Courthouse, on four Union County warrants for Violation of a No Contact Order. Gatson, Jr. was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,200 bond.

Sunday evening, 46-year-old Lance England, of Creston, was cited for Failure to Abate a Nuisance Property. He was released from the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Summons to Appear.  Creston Police said also, a man from Diagonal reported Friday afternoon, that sometime between Noon and 1:30-p.m. Friday, the rear Iowa license plate had been stolen from his vehicle. The incident occurred while the vehicle was parked at the Creston Walmart store. The loss was estimated at $15.

Our broadcast News at 7:07-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The Cass County Local Food Policy Council (CCLFPC) reports they have expanded their 2021 farmers market coupons to be used at approved farm stands for the remainder of 2021. Although the printed coupons indicate they are only redeemable at farmers markets in Cass County, as of September 2, the coupons will also be redeemable at approved Cass County farm stands. The coupons were distributed at schools, food pantries, and other events throughout the summer, and were originally designed to be redeemed at Cass County’s four farmers markets:

• Atlantic Farmers Market
• Anita Farmers Market
• Produce in the Park
• and the Lewis Farmers Market at 3HO.

As of September, only Produce in the Park and the Lewis Farmers Market remain open, and the Cass County Local Food Policy Council is hoping to have more coupons redeemed. Therefore, the CCLFPC is now allowing the 2021 farmers market coupons to be used at approved farm stands. In order to accept the coupons, a farm stand needs to fill out a simple application available from Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh via email at bhoegh@iastate.edu or from the Cass County Iowa State University Extension office (805 W. 10th St Atlantic, IA 50022). The application ensures the farm stand will agree to only accept coupons during specified business hours for produce grown on their farm.

Farm stands accepting coupons will be advertised on the CCLFPC’s Facebook Page @CassCountyLocalFood. People without access to Facebook can call or email Brigham or call 712-249-5870 for a list of approved stands. The coupons will continue to be accepted at the two Cass County farmers markets open this fall.

Produce in the Park is held in the Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th St. Atlantic, IA 50022) from 4:30-6:30 PM every Thursday evening through October 14. The Lewis Farmers Market is held at 3HO (201 1st St. Lewis, IA 51544), from 4:30-6:30 PM every Tuesday and Thursday evening through October 14.

The coupons, which can only be spent on locally grown produce, promote the CCLFPC’s strategic goals of increasing consumption of nutritious food and supporting local farms and food businesses. All farmers market coupons must be mailed or turned in to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at the Cass County Iowa State University Extension Office (805 W. 10th St Atlantic, IA 50022) by December 31, 2021.

More About Cass County Local Food Policy Council
For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood. The Cass County Local Food Policy Council is a Cass County Government advisory body that promotes local foods and food access. The Council facilitates networking among people and groups who are involved in all aspects of the local food system—from growing and processing, to selling and eating. In its work, the Council gathers information about local food-related needs and considers what might be
done to make sure everyone in Cass County has access to healthy food. The Council then makes recommendations and supports organizations working toward that goal. To learn more about the Council, contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or (712) 249-5870. The next Council meeting is September 14 at 2:00 PM at Mollett Park (1020 E. 3rd St. Place, Atlantic, IA 50022). Meetings are open to the public.

(Radio Iowa) – Many newer cars have a display on the dashboard that estimates how many miles you can drive before you run out of gas, but a new study finds those gadgets aren’t always accurate. Meredith Mitts, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club’s researchers tested the in-vehicle fuel systems that measure fuel economy and fuel range. “For the most part, they work, it’s a good average,” Mitts says. “Overall, they are fairly accurate, but as you’re getting towards those lower amounts of gas in your gas tank, if you’re relying on it for the exact mileage to that next exit and to that gas pump, you could be in some trouble if you’re taking it that literally.” The report finds some vehicles underestimate the miles-to-empty, but others overestimate, which can leave you stranded if you rely too heavily on it. The best bet, Mitts says, is to keep an eye on the trusty red needle that swings from F for Full down to E for Empty.

“Really, the most accurate one is where your fuel gauge, the lever, is and you should be watching that,” Mitts says. “As you get closer to the quarter tank of gas during the summer, that’s about the time you should think about filling up.” During the wintertime, she suggests filling up even sooner, whenever you reach a half-tank. “You never know what’s going to happen ahead of you,” Mitts says. “There could be an accident on the road, there could be a detour, maybe the gas station’s out of gas, all sorts of things can be happening here and when you reach that point, that’s when you should fill up.”

The study found the reliability of in-vehicle fuel systems varied significantly based on changes in speed, acceleration and distance. Read the full report here:
https://media.acg.aaa.com/content/1205/files/E_1_%20Accuracy%20of%20In-Dash%20Fuel%20Economy%20Displays%20Research%20Report_FINAL.pdf

(Radio Iowa) – Several dogs and cats displaced by Hurricane Ida have been brought to the Siouxland Humane Society in Sioux City. Spokesperson Kelly Erie says there are nine dogs and six cats. She says the animals were at a Louisiana shelter and were waiting for new homes when the loss of power and water forced their evacuation. The pets came to Iowa through “Operation Sunflower” after flying into Sioux Falls and being brought to Sioux City in a van. It’s not the first time the organization has helped. “We’ve helped out Louisiana I want to say three times. The most devastating one was Hurricane Katrina. We helped out with the last one (hurricane) and also the Texas flooding,” she says.

The cats and dogs will be ready for adoption after a few days. “They’ve had their first set of vaccinations, deworming, they are all ready to go. We’re just giving them a couple of days so we can place them under observation and make sure everything is doing well,” Erie says. You can adopt one of the animals from the Siouxland Humane Society — or make a donation to go toward their care.