(Washington, D-C) – Four school districts in the KJAN listening area have been chosen by the Biden administration to receive electric buses. The White House says the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Clean School Bus” Program is delivering nearly 2,500 electric and low-emission vehicles to nearly 400 districts nationwide.

Six school districts in Nebraska and 11 in Iowa were selected. In this area, Logan Magnolia will receive five buses, the Sidney School District receives three buses, the IKM-Manning High School and Coon Rapids-Bayard will each get one bus. 99% of the schools selected are in areas that are low-income, rural or serve tribal students.

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration will host its 23rd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This event offers anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has provided an easy, no-cost opportunity to dispose of medicines stored in the home that are susceptible to misuse and theft.

Opioid misuse remains at epidemic levels in the United States.  According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend.“I encourage everyone across the country to dispose of unneeded medications to help keep our communities safe and healthy,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The Take Back campaign is part of DEA’s continued efforts to combat the drug poisoning epidemic and protect the safety and health of communities across the United States.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, approximately 107,622 people died as the result of a drug poisoning last year.  This means that someone in the United States is dying of a drug poisoning every five minutes.

On Saturday, October 29, 2022, DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs.  Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs.  Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.  The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.  The event will also continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.

A location finder and partner toolbox are available at www.DEATakeBack.com for easy reference to nearby collection sites.  Beyond DEA’s Take Back Day, there are also opportunities to regularly and safely dispose of unneeded medications at close to 15,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses prescription disposal locations.  In addition, many police departments provide year-round drop boxes.

(Stuart, Iowa) –  The Stuart Police Department reports on their social media page, that per Stuart Municipal Utilities: The boil water order [in Stuart] will continue through today (Thursday). “Please continue to boil water until an update has been provided advising that the boil water order has been lifted.” The order was issued in response to a broken water main.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop early this (Thursday) morning in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Police say 43-year-old Kim Jack Douglas Trost, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Former President Donald Trump is returning to Sioux City next Thursday for a pre-election rally. The announcement from Trump’s political action committee says the event will highlight Trump endorsed candidates Kim Reynolds and Chuck Grassley. Senator Grassley anticipates he’ll get to address the crowd.

“Tell ’em what I’m trying to accomplish and what has been accomplished before and what is wrong with this administration…inflation and high gas prices and the border not being enforced and all that sort of stuff and I’m just going to speak that out,” Grassley says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to get in front of, I imagine, a few thousand people.”

A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll this month found 83 percent of likely Republican voters in Iowa have a favorable view of the former president, while just over half of all voters view from very or mostly unfavorably. Grassley says concerns about Trump aren’t very high on the list of the Iowans he meets.

“What I’m hearing from Iowans on my 99 county tour is inflation, high energy prices — gas prices,” Grassley says, “and I’m trying to address those issues that Iowans are most concerned about.” Mike Franken, Grassley’s Democratic opponent, says Trump’s appearance shows Republicans are in panic mode about the race.

“There is, in Navy parlance, a sea change happening and it’s quite palpable,” Franken said. “…Perhaps this is not the Chuck Grassley of old.” Franken said. Franken campaigned yesterday (Wednesday) in eastern Iowa with former Alabama Senator Doug Jones, a Democrat. Current Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee campaigned with Grassley in central Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – President Biden has hosted an online fundraiser for Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne, illustrating her bid for reelection is key for Democrats’ hopes of keeping majority control of the U.S. House. Biden spoke for about 15 minutes during the virtual event. He suggested if the G-O-P wins control of congress, they’ll push for the same kind of tax cuts Britain’s now former prime minister proposed, prompting economic chaos in that country.

Biden referred to Axne as one of the best persons in the entire congress. Zach Nunn is the Republican running against Axne. He spoke at a G-O-P event yesterday, but did not mention Axne or Biden by name. Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann issued a written statement about Biden’s event. He said Biden was trying to save his favorite congresswoman at the last minute, but held the event online because Biden — in Kaufmann’s words — “can’t show his face” here.