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Iowa lawmaker blasts board’s carbon pipeline decision

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A key Republican legislator is ripping the Iowa Utilities Board decision to approve the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton said the ruling sets a dangerous precedent. “The Utilities Board is dead wrong,” Kaufmann said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “They have failed miserably at their job and I’m going to file legislation to do their job for them.”

Kaufmann accused the board of capitulating to pressure from influential Republican donor Bruce Rastetter, who owns Summit Carbon Solutions. “I am stunned that Bruce Rastetter’s wallet has been found to be a public good,” Kaufmann said. “That to me is one of the worst rulings in the history of Iowa government.” The Iowa Utilities Board ruled the project’s public benefits outweigh the public and private costs.

Kaufmann said the board’s ruling is a signal the 300 mile Wolf pipeline is likely to be approved and it could lead to the “resurrection” of Navigator’s abandoned pipeline project. Kaufmann, along with a majority of Iowa House members, have passed legislation in previous years that would have set new requirements for the proposed pipeline, but those bills were never considered in the Iowa Senate.

Kaufmann predicts today’s Iowa Utilities Board decision will be a catalyst for action. “It was always a ‘What if? What if?’” Kaufmann said. “There’s no longer a ‘What if?’” Landowners who’ve opposed the project will speak at an online news conference later this afternoon.

The American Carbon Alliance issued a written statement this morning, commending the Iowa Utilities Board decision. The group’s CEO said the decision will be “transformative for the ag industry” by lowering or eliminating ethanol’s carbon footprint and, therefore, expanding ethanol’s use.

73 Hawkeyes Named B1G Distinguished Scholars

Sports

June 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Seventy-three University of Iowa student-athletes have been named Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.

 

Among the Iowa honorees, 21 maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the 2023-24 academic term, including:

 

Sofia Bush, women’s soccer

Samantha Cary, women’s soccer

Hillary Cox, field hockey

Molly Davis, Women’s Basketball

Harper Dunne, field hockey

Sharon Goodman, Women’s Basketball

Aaron Graves, football

Abby Jaynes, rowing

Luke Lachey, football

Lauren McMahon, women’s track & field/cross country

Katie Moore, women’s track & field/cross country

Julia Pattison, women’s track & field/cross country

Felipe Pedraza, men’s golf

Abby Ryon, women’s track & field/cross country

Lillian Schmidt, women’s track & field/cross country

Cullan Schriever, men’s wrestling

Sofie Stribos, field hockey

Kelli Tosic, women’s track & field/cross country

Ellie Twedt, women’s track & field/cross country

Michelle Urquhart, volleyball

Kaia Vanney, women’s gymnastics

 

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for a student-athlete’s academic career.

 

The Big Ten recognized 1,695 student-athletes in 38 different sports as Distinguished Scholars, including 385 who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the previous academic term.

Martin, Higgins Earn Iowa’s B1G Outstanding Sportsmanship Award

Sports

June 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Kate Martin (women’s basketball) and Jay Higgins(football) have been selected as Iowa’s 2024 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners. The duo were chosen from Iowa’s list of 2023-24 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winners, which had a representative from each varsity sport.

Martin and the Hawkeyes set a program record and tied the Big Ten single season record with 34 wins in 2024, captured the Big Ten Tournament championship and finished as national runners-up for a second straight year.

The Edwardsville, Illinois, native stands as the first Iowa women’s basketball player to have amassed 900+ points, 500+ rebounds, 400+ assists, 120+ steals and 60+ blocks in a career and is the third player in school history behind Caitlin Clark and Sam Logic to net 1,200+ points, 700+ rebounds, and 450+ assists. Martin scored 10+ points in 30 games last season, 15+ points in 17 games, while averaging 13.1 points per game in her senior campaign.

Martin was selected by the Las Vegas Aces with 18th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Higgins anchored the Hawkeye defense in 2023 with a breakout senior season. Higgins and the Hawkeyes won 10 games and advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game. Iowa’s defense was one of the best in the country, ranking fourth in scoring defense and the unit yielded 4.08 yards per play in 2023 to lead the nation for a second straight year.

The linebacker finished the year with 171 tackles, tying the Iowa record, while leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally. The Indianapolis native was a first-team All-American by FWAA, Phil Steele and Sports Illustrated and second-team selection by the AFCA, CBS, Walter Camp, Associated Press and Sporting News. He led the team in tackles in 12 of 14 games, with three 15+ tackle games and 10 contests with 10 or more stops.

Higgins was also the unanimous recipient of the 2023 Duke Slater Golden Gavel Award, presented annually to the Hawkeye football player who not only is most cooperative with local media but exhibits themself with professional integrity in all interactions.

The Big Ten first awarded the Outstanding Sportsmanship honor in 2003. The student-athletes chosen were individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, were in good academic standing and demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

Summer drills set the tone at Iowa State

Sports

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says setting the tone during summer workouts for the way the Cyclones play has been a key to their success and that does not change with a veteran team returning. Otzelberger has led ISU to three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and the top four scorers return from last season’s team that won the Big-12 Tournament and made it to the Sweet-16.

Otzelberger says summer workouts have been competitive.

Otzelberger says summer is a great time to establish daily habits.

Otzelberger says daily habits are also about off the court.

Ottumwa woman charged with arson, murder in death of 59 year old

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa woman has been charged with murder in connection to a house fire that took place early Sunday morning. Authorities say fire crews were dispatched to a residence in Ottumwa based on the report of a heavy fire. Two people were in the home at the time of the blaze. One person was able to escape but 59-year-old Ernest Wilson of Ottumwa died.

31-year-old Ashley Lankford of Ottumwa was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree arson, attempted murder, first-degree criminal mischief, and animal abuse. Lankford is currently in the Wapello County Jail. Her bond has been set at one million dollars. The fire remains under investigation.

Update: I-29 and I-680 north of Council Bluffs to close later tonight due to flooding

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC, IOWA – June 25, 2024 – If you travel on Interstate 29 or I-680 north of Council Bluffs, the Iowa Department of Transportation intends to close I-29 from 25th Street at the north edge of Council Bluffs to the I-29/880 interchange near Loveland later tonight. In addition, the portion of I-680 west of I-29 located in Iowa will also be closed.

Those roadways were originally announced to close around 11 a.m. However, Iowa DOT staff are working to keep the roads in the Council Bluffs area open as long as possible. We are closely monitoring the rising flood water levels on the Missouri River in addition to the latest weather forecasts. Timing of road closures will depend on river levels. For the latest travel information visit 511ia.org.

The Iowa DOT reminds travelers to never enter a water-covered roadway. Do not move or travel around barricades or fencing as they are placed there for your safety. Turn around and don’t drown.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

DENISE GRACE, 66, of Avoca (Memorial Svcs. 6/29/24)

Obituaries

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DENISE GRACE, 66, of Avoca, died Monday, June 24, 2024, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Memorial service for DENISE GRACE will be held 11-a.m. Saturday, June 29th, at Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, from 10-until 11-a.m.

DENISE GRACE is survived by:

Her sons – Ryan “T” Grace, and Brian Grace, both of Avoca.

Her brother – Dean (Sheryl) Renfeld, of Council Bluffs.

Her sister – Tina (Ron) Scroggie, of Avoca.

Her uncle – Russell & Suzanne Leslie, of Council Bluffs.

Iowa Utilities Board has approved Summit’s proposed carbon pipeline project

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board has unanimously approved the proposed route for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, but the company must meet other requirements before construction may begin. All three members of the Iowa Utilities Board agree the public benefits of the project outweigh the private and public costs. That clears the way for Summit to — eventually — use eminent domain authority to force landowners who’ve resisted the project to let the pipeline through their property. The board’s order includes some major caveats before Summit would get to start construction, however.

Summit must get approval from South and North Dakota regulators for its pipeline route in those states, plus approval in North Dakota for the underground site where carbon is to be shipped and stored. In addition, Summit cannot connect the pipeline to ethanol plants in Minnesota and Nebraska until officials in those states OK those moves. The Iowa Utilities Board order requires Summit to get 100 million dollars worth of liability insurance to cover any damages related to construction, operation and maintenance of the pipeline.

Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline route runs 688 miles, through 29 Iowa counties. According to a news release from the company, 75 percent of landowners along the route have signed voluntary easements and the Iowa Utilities Board decision is a significant milestone for the project.

Iowa HHS Warns of Serious Illnesses Reported from Diamond Shruumz Products

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa HHS News) – Iowa joins a list of several other states with individuals who have become sick, some in critical condition, after consuming Diamond Shruumz-brand products purchased through a retail store in eastern Iowa. Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about these products:

  • Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, or Gummies, and should discard them.
  • Consumers should check their homes and discard these products if found.
  • These products may appeal to children and teenagers. Parents and caregivers should consider discussing the information in this advisory with their children and take extra care to avoid these products being consumed by younger people.
  • Retailers should not sell or distribute any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, or Gummies, and should hold the product in a secure location until additional instructions can be provided on how to return or safely dispose of the product.
  • If you become ill after consuming these products, please contact your healthcare provider and/or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Let them know you have recently consumed the Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, and/or Gummies.
  • Healthcare providers should report these illnesses to their local health department and/or the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

The individuals in Iowa each reported consuming one of the following Diamond Shruumz-brand products: cookies, cream chocolate bars, and fruit cereal-flavored bars.

Iowa HHS officials recommend individuals do not purchase or consume these products and if they have any of these products, that they dispose of them. These products are considered dietary supplements and are not regulated by the State of Iowa and cannot be recalled by the state. These products are commonly available for purchase at consumable hemp retailers as well as tobacco and vape shops.

Iowa HHS is investigating these instances and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an ongoing investigation related to these events. The FDA also stated that they had been in conversations about with the firm about a possible voluntary recall, but these discussions are still ongoing. Any Iowan experiencing severe symptoms should visit the emergency room.

Evacuations in western Iowa this (Tuesday) morning; clean up begins as floodwaters recede

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Residents in Clay, Emmet, Lyon, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties may apply for federal aid through FEMA and businesses swamped by floodwaters may be eligible for low interest loans from the Small Business Administration. A levee on the Little Sioux River broke in western Iowa shortly before five this (Tuesday) morning, forcing the evacuation of the small towns of Rodney and Smithland. An emergency shelter has been set up in Onawa. Clean up has begun in other areas of northwest Iowa where floodwaters are receding.

Cheri Gacke of Rock Valley says this is the second time she’s had to recover from a flood, as her home was flooded a decade ago. She plans to move. “I hope the city comes up with something that’s going to fix this town because our town’s going to die otherwise, I think,” Gacke says. “(We) can’t keep doing this every few years.”

Five hundred homes in Rock Valley are damaged or destroyed after the Rock River crested five feet higher than it did in 2014. Volunteers are helping residents like Gacke sift through their belongings and haul debris to the curb. “Thank everyone for their help,” Gacke says. “They’re so compassion and sharing and willing to work.”

As previously mentioned, the Iowa D-O-T closed Interstate 29 north of Council Bluffs (effective 11-a.m. Tuesday). The timing will be determined by how fast the Missouri River rises in that area. Highway 20 between Moville and Correctionville is closed due to flooding.

(Reporting by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio; Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City and Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)