(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Environmental Council (Citing the weekly Iowa Department of Natural Resources data), today (Friday), report a total of 14 beaches in Iowa are under advisories for excessive E. Coli levels. Advisories are issued when bacteria standards for safe swimming are exceeded.

All State monitored beaches are posted with Information Signs on indicator bacteria and blue-green algae toxins that provide general information regarding ways to reduce the potential health risk associated with swimming at public beaches. These signs will also inform the public of current monitoring efforts and ways to obtain the data. Water samples from the beaches are analyzed for microorganisms, known as bacteria and cyanobacteria toxins. These indicator bacteria are one-celled organisms visible only under a microscope.

High levels of these bacteria indicate that the water has come into contact with fecal material.

13 Beaches with an E. coli Advisory:
Backbone Beach (Dundee, Delaware County, IA)* 
Beed’s Lake Beach (Hampton, Franklin County, IA)*
Big Creek Beach (Polk City, Polk County, IA)* 
Clear Lake Beach (Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, IA)*
Lake Ahquabi Beach (Indianola, Warren County, IA)* 
Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)*
Lake of Three Fires Beach (Bedford, Taylor County, IA)* 
Lower Pine Lake Beach (Eldora, Hardin County, IA)*
Nine Eagles Beach (Davis City, Decatur County, IA)*
North Overlook Beach (Lake Red Rock, Pella, Marion County, IA)**
Pleasant Creek Lake Beach (Palo, Linn County, IA)*  
Sugar Bottom Campground Beach (Coralville Lake, Coralville, Johnson County, IA)**
Union Grove Beach (Gladbrook, Tama County, IA)*

1 Beach with a Microcystin Advisory:
Lake Darling Beach (Brighton, Washington County, IA)* 

4 City and County Beaches exceed the state’s advisory threshold for E. coli.*

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City is stepping back in time this weekend to highlight an important event that happened there in the 1800’s. Sioux City Museum spokesperson Theresa Weaver says the annual Lewis and Clark encampment starts Saturday at 10 a-m. “We’re basically marking the days that Lewis and Clark and their whole crew traveled through 200 years ago at this time. And you’ll see the tents and the gear, and there’s usually a blacksmith. People will be in uniform, and they’ll be reenacting parts of some of the core members of the crew that were with them at that time,” Weaver says. Lewis and Clark came through what is now Sioux City in 1804 as they explored the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase and sought a northwest passage to the west coast. Weaver says some of the re-enactors have been taking part for several years and take their roles very seriously.

“They’re really experts on their character that they’re portraying, and they have particular gear and items, replica items, that are focused on what their person might have worn,” Weaver says. “So there might be a private they might be one of the captains. And it is so neat to see the tents and the gear and the equipment that they use, because it was very much cutting edge at the time.” As the expedition came up the Missouri River Sergeant Charles Floyd became ill and died. He was buried on a bluff overlooking the river and the site is now marked by a monument overlooking Interstate 29. Re-enactors will hold a commemoration of Floyd’s burial at 6 Saturday evening.

“The captains and several of the sergeants wrote in their journals, and they, of course, all write about losing Charles Floyd, and we kind of draw on, you know, what were military funerals like at the time? It’s really an important piece of our Sioux City history and national history as well,” she says.

The encampment will run from 10 a-m until 4 p-m Saturday and then from 10 a-m until 3 p-m on Sunday at Chris Larson Park off the I-29 Hamilton Boulevard exit.

DES MOINES, Iowa, August 16, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that USDA is providing $14,610,814 in funding for 19 projects in Iowa to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels that will create new market opportunities and jobs for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Included among the projects are Casey’s General Stores in multiple western/southwest Iowa locations, and separate Higher Blends Infrastructure Projects in Oakland and Council Bluffs. The projects will increase American energy security and advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up.

“By providing fuel station and distribution facility owners with grants to install and upgrade infrastructure, USDA is helping folks find lower prices at the pump,” said Director Greenfield. “The Biden-Harris Administration is working to lower costs for rural Iowans while addressing the impacts of climate change. These projects announced today help create good-paying jobs and new market opportunities in rural Iowa.”

An additional project funded for $9,975,252 involves multiple locations in Iowa and four other states. All 20 projects are funded through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentives Program (HBIIP) and are part of a larger nationwide announcement.

(Radio Iowa) – Ryan Melton, the Democrat running in Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says the 36 counties in the district would benefit if Congressman Randy Feenstra joined the other three Iowa Republicans in the U-S House and asked for “earmarks” in spending bills. The requests for funding for specific projects are now called “Community Project Funding.” “The other three Republicans representing the other three House districts just this year alone asked for a collective $115 million and they should,” Melton says. “That’s why we elect them. That’s why we pay federal income taxes, so that our communities can be rejuvenated, but Feenstra’s doing the exact opposite.”

House rules let members request funding for up to 15 projects in their districts and Representatives Zach Nunn, Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks each submitted 15 requests. “Every member of the House of Representatives has this opportunity, to ask for community improvement money,” Melton says. “Four years in a row, representing a congressional district that is struggling so severely financially, he not only has asked for $0.00, he brags about it.”

Ryan Melton, a Democrat from Nevada, speaks at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox. (RI photo)

Melton made his comments on The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. Feenstra describes himself as a strong fiscal conservative and his campaign website says Feenstra does not support wasteful earmarks that fund liberal pet projects in New York and California.

Feenstra is at the State Fair today (Friday), hosting a congressional hearing about tax policy.

Des Moines, Iowa — Iowans affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding of April 26-27 and May 20-31 have until August 23, 2024 to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance.
Iowa homeowners and renters affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Adair, Adams, Cedar, Clarke, Harrison, Jasper, Mills, Montgomery, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Story and Union counties may apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance until August 23, 2024.

How to Apply with FEMA

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
• Download and use the FEMA app

Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.

Recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish).

(Shelby County, Iowa) – An official with the 1848 Danish Windmill in Elk Horn (IA) has announced a new, FREE, virtual tour of the authentic windmill, that’s viewable from the comfort of your favorite chair, and a new capital campaign to raise funds for repair of the windmill’s windshaft and cap frame, and prevent further damage. Danish Windmill Director Shaun Sayres says they are still encouraging everyone to visit the windmill, and while you’re in-town, visit all the other attractions and businesses.

Those who chose to participate in the virtual tour, will experience the attraction inside and out.

Screenshot of the Windmill Virtual Tour

There are also site-perspective videos of the windmill in operation, from whatever angle you wish to view it.You can sign a virtual guest book in the gift shop,

Other features will be added to the virtual tour as the material is created. Sayres said work on the project began in January. A skilled crew from Denmark is preparing to come to Elk Horn, and are expected to arrive in a few weeks, to made urgent repairs and install a grease hub and brake cable that will make it easier and safe to operate and maintain. Those repairs don’t come free. Sayres said their new capital campaign, “Back on the Grind,” aims to raise $60,000 for Phase 1 of the repair/upgrade of the Danish Windmill, which is set to begin in October.

Sayres said it’s an old building with moving parts, and there are challenges that come with keeping in functioning the way it what designed.

He said if all goes well with the repairs this Fall, and if time allows, they’ll be adding a new, sack-hoist wheel.

To learn more about the fundraising campaign, or to take a virtual tour of the windmill, go to www.danishwindmill.org., or call 712-764-7472. The Danish Windmill is a 501(c) tax-exempt organization.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is criticizing the governor’s proposed alternative to providing federal food assistance next summer to low-income households with children. Governor Kim Reynolds did not sign Iowa up THIS summer for the U-S-D-A program that would have provided families an extra 140 dollars for every child who qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch at school. Families can use the money to buy groceries at stores where food stamps are accepted. Reynolds is opting out of the program NEXT summer, too, but has asked the agency to let the state use 29 million dollars in federal money to buy groceries and provide food boxes to qualifying households.

A spokesperson for the U-S-D-A says the governor is asserting the State knows better than its own families do about what their needs are. Reynolds says her program would provide healthy meals and snacks for about 60-thousand more school-aged children because the state would make bulk purchases of food. The U-S-D-A’s spokesperson says there’s been rigorous evaluation of the agency’s summer food program showing it works to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets.

Friday evening, the Governor’s office issued the following statement:

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa schools are already back in session, while most others will be resuming soon, and motorists are being reminded to stay vigilant for young pedestrians, and for those big, yellow school buses. Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says if you’re behind the wheel and spot a bus, take the cue to be watchful for kids, whether you’re in town or in the country.

“Our school buses have very visible lights,” Palmer says. “They have a little white flashing light on top, plus your ambers and reds to indicate they are preparing to stop or stopping, and putting that stop arm out to load or unload children.” When approaching a school bus from behind, the sheriff says motorists should use extra caution and slow down.

“Flashing red or amber warning lights means, according to the Iowa Code, you’re not permitted to pass a school bus and should be ready to stop,” Palmer says. “When the school bus stops and the stop arm is extended, stop behind the school bus. It doesn’t take that long for them to load or unload kids. Don’t stop any closer than 15 feet from the rear of the bus.” If there’s a school bus pulled over in the far lane or a slow-moving vehicle lane, it could be a very costly mistake to assume it’s okay to pass.

“Probably 90% of our school bus violations come from Highway 2 about 4 to 6 miles east of Shenandoah,” Palmer says. “It’s because we have a slow-moving vehicle lane there. People think, ‘Since the bus got over, I can go around,’ or, ‘Since the bus is over and I’m meeting it, I’m okay.’ Well, that’s not okay. You’re still going to get a citation.” When the stop arm of a school bus is extended, it’s the same as a stop sign. Also, he says to give that bus — and the kids — plenty of room when you come to a halt.

“Make sure that you stop prior to the front of that school bus,” he says, “because a lot of times, if there’s children crossing the road, they’re going to cross in front. They’re not going to cross in back of the school bus, they’re going to cross right in front of it. So, be prepared to stop and stay stopped until the stop arm comes back in.”

In addition to stiff fines, Palmer says violating school bus laws may result in your license being suspended for up to 180 days.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Nine states, including Iowa, are challenging an executive order by the Biden administration, that would enlist federal agencies to help register residents to vote, and those states say the order undermines their power to control elections, calling it federally subsidized program aimed at boosting Democratic and left-leaning blocs. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen filed the federal lawsuit in court in Wichita, Kansas. The nine states are Montana, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Carolina. The heart of the lawsuit is Executive Order 14019, which was issued on March 10, 2021.

The states challenging the executive order say Biden converts various federal agencies, turning them in part into “a voter registration organization” illegally. The attorneys general say that elections, including voter registration, are solely the province of states, guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Moreover, the states said that it’s an example of the federal government trying to usurp the sovereignty of the states, and giving the states no other choice than to resort to federal court. The lawsuit said the states were never invited into the process, never allowed to comment, and they accuse the Biden administration of hiding the plans.

The lawsuit lists a number of federal agencies as defendants, including the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of The Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit also claims that the National Voter Registration Act means that federal agencies cannot stand in the way of citizens voting, but it also said that voter registration activity is left to the states, and Biden’s order oversteps its authority.

The 41-page suit outlines a number of ways the executive order commands the federal agencies to help bolster the efforts to register voters. The lawsuit said the order allows the Department of Education to allow federal work study funds to “support voter registration” activities. The states also said that encouraging a variety of different agencies without proper training put the elections at risk of fraud.

The states conclude the lawsuit by saying that the plans in the executive order weren’t motivated to help resident register to vote, rather they are part of a Democrat plan.

(Radio Iowa) – The World Health Organization is declaring an international health emergency over m-pox, what used to be known as monkeypox, though -no- cases are reported in Iowa and generally, Iowans are just warned to be aware. Brian Simmons, an infection preventionist with Gundersen Health System, explains how m-pox is transmitted and what it does. “Mpox is a virus that is spread either through close contact with family members or through sexual contact,” Simmons says. “It is a virus that can cause sores that we see on different parts of the body. It’s very similar to what smallpox might have looked like years ago.”

Symptoms of m-pox include: fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash or blisters. It can be fatal, especially a strain that’s appearing primarily in African nations. “The newer strain of mpox is more virulent than what the previous strain was that we saw a few years ago, that we actually saw around here in the United States, even around locally,” Simmons says. “Currently, the newer strain is mostly around or within the sub-Sahara African nations, such as Congo and so on.” The W-H-O has only declared public health emergencies seven times, including for m-pox in 2022.

CDC photo

Across the U-S, more than 16-hundred m-pox cases are reported this year, twice the number of cases seen by this time last year. Simmons says this virus shouldn’t be a big worry for the majority of Iowans, though people need to stay informed. “For those that could have a high risk for mpox, they may want to consider a vaccine. That still is a way to combat against mpox transmission,” Simmons says. “For those that are very low risk for mpox, just being aware of what’s going on in the world, or if you’re traveling to areas of Africa that have it endemic in those areas.”

State health officials say a limited amount of m-pox vaccines are available to eligible individuals in 13 Iowa counties: Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo, Des Moines, Dubuque, Johnson, Linn, Polk, Pottawattamie, Scott, Story, Washington, Webster and Woodbury.