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Governor signs literacy bill into law

News

May 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says a focus on what’s called “the science of reading” will improve the reading skills of students. The governor went to Adel Tuesday afternoon and sat among a group of first graders as their teacher led them through a reading lesson. The Adel-DeSoto-Minburn district adopted the science of reading three years ago in all grades and Travis Welker, the administrator in charge of the project — says they’ve had amazing results. Four years ago, tests showed a quarter of the district’s students were not skilled readers. This year’s results show 95 percent are proficient at reading and writing.

“Our teachers have taken this on at all levels. We’ve asked our high school teachers to engage in this, not just our lowest grade levels, ” he said, “and the results speak for themselves.” Reynolds chose an A-D-M board room as the site for signing a bill into law that requires Iowa schools to develop a plan for each student in first, second or third grade who is not reading at grade level. The law also requires testing of Iowa college students who want to be teachers to gauge their knowledge of the science of reading. Reynolds says the most recent data shows 35 percent of Iowa third graders aren’t reading at grade level.

Governor Kim Reynolds sat in the back row as ADM teacher Erin Koelker led her first graders through reading exercises.

“That’s why we’ve made it a priority to empower all teachers and school districts with the tools they need to implement the science of reading in their classrooms by providing critical training at no cost to 6000 teachers and 600 administrators,” Reynolds said. Nine-million dollars is set aside in the state budget for that training. “Stay tuned because I think this is something we’re going to be able to show progress year after year and really have some good wins to talk about,” Reynolds said.

The governor spoke with reporters at the end of a hallway the school had named “Literacy Way.”

Millions in state’s opioid settlement fund in limbo

News

May 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Nearly 27-million dollars in state funding that could have been used for prevention and treatment of opioid use won’t be spent. States are getting money from legal settlements with pharmaceutical companies and distributors accused of fueling the opioid crisis, but Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate can’t agree on how money in the Iowa’s Opioid Settlement Fund should be spent. Republicans in the Senate favored letting Iowa’s attorney general and the Department of Health and Human Services distribute the money. House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans in the House had a different idea.

“Where we wanted to get is assign some of those dollars to specific projects, but at the same time not just blanket hand those dollars over to the department,” Grassley says. “…We wanted to at least set up an advisory board that the legislature would have some input on.” The state’s Opioid Settlement Fund will eventually receive 144 million dollars over the next several years. That is to be split evenly between state and local governments in Iowa. House Republicans proposed that new council made up of opioid experts in state government and the private sector review grant applications and make recommendations to the legislature for approval.

“To get those kind of dollars that you’re talking about out the door, I think the legislature should be involved in that conversation and ultimately that’s where the differences boiled down to,” Grassley says, “turn it over to the department or have a little bit more control by the legislature.”

Grassley made his comments during a recent appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

FRANCES STANDLEY, 81, of Creston – formerly of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 5/13/24)

Obituaries

May 8th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

FRANCES STANDLEY, 81, of Creston  (formerly of Greenfield), died Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.  Celebration of Life services for FRANCES STANDLEY will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Burial is in the Greenfield Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Frances Standley Memorial Fund to be established at a later date.

FRANCES STANDLEY is survived by:

Her son – Don Standley, of Creston.

Her daughter – Stacie (Tony) Davis, of Greenfield.

Her brother – Dean (Karen) Cass, of Fontanelle.

Her sister – Betty Weinheimer, of Fontanelle

1 grandson; 3 step-grandchildren; 2 step great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law: Joy Standley, of Greenfield; other relatives and friends.

Audubon Wheelers Boys Track Season Update with Coach Tony Konkler

Sports

May 7th, 2024 by admin

The Audubon Wheeler’s boys track team finished sixth place in their recent meet at AC/GC Meet on Monday. The Wheelers had a total of 55 points. Aaron Olsen won the 100 meter dash. The team of Brody Schultes, Mason Steckler, Aaron Olsen and Zeke Konkler won the 800 Sprint Medley. The Wheeler team of Mason Steckler, Adam Obrecht, Brody Schultes and Zeke Konkler won the Distance Medley.

The Audubon Wheelers were satisfied to get so many meets in this season.

Coach Tony Konkler was pleased with how the Wheelers last meet in Guthrie Center went.

The Wheelers are trying to prepare for the relay events on Thursday.

Coach Konkler commented on his advice to the team heading into Thursday’s meet.

The Wheelers next track meet will be Thursday May 9th when they will be part of the Class 1A-Region 3 meet in Earlham. That meet will start at 4:00 p.m.

Atlantic Trojans Girls Golf Team Picks Up Hawkeye Conference Tournament Win on Monday

Sports

May 7th, 2024 by admin

The Atlantic Trojans girls golf team earned themselves a Hawkeye Ten Conference Tournament win on Monday in Glenwood. Senior Belle Berg shot a low score of 91, while teammate junior Emma Rose shot a 96.

Coach Kathy Hobson commented on how well her team played at the Hawkeye Ten Conference Tournament.

The Trojans have been led by three top performers who have been playing consistently as of late.

The Trojans will host the regional meet next Wednesday and coach Hobson talks about the advantages of playing on their home course.

Coach Hobson summarizes what team will do to get ready for next weeks regional meet.

The Trojans next golf meet will be Wednesday May 15th they will host the Class 3A-Region 2 meet at Nishna Hills Golf Club. The meet start time is still yet to be determined.

 

Company To Pay Fine For Employing Kids At Sioux City Plant

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 7th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. Labor Department says a Tennesse-based cleaning company will pay $649,000 in penalties for employing children at facilities that included the Sioux City Seaboard-Triumph pork plant.

An investigation earlier this year found that children, some as young as 13, were put on overnight sanitation shifts at the Sioux City plant and Perdue farms facility in Virginia. At the Seaboard Triumph facility, federal investigators witnessed children concealing their faces carrying glittered school backpacks before starting their overnight shift.

They learned children were assigned to use corrosive cleaners to clean dangerous kill floor equipment. Seaboard Triumph has since fired the company.

Hawkeyes Headed to Iceland

Sports

May 7th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa Soccer travels to Iceland from May 12-22 to compete in exhibition matches against Valur and Breiðablik professional clubs.

Each opponent plays in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna, the top-tier women’s football league in Iceland. The clubs have won a combined 28 Icelanic Championships and 25 Icelandic Cups.

The trip will center around the Reykjanes Penninsula area and consist of visits to both dramatic natural vistas and major metropolitan areas.

Iowa Soccer will visit Golden Circle National Park, the Snæfellsnes Penninsula, the Westman Islands and Blue Lagoon thermal spa. The Hawkeyes will also see the waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields and black sand beaches of the South Coast region.

Back in Reykjanese, the Hawkeyes will have access to practice facilities and guest-coaching opportunities.

This trip is made possible by the generous donation of Janice Strang.

Iowa kicks off the fall season with an exhibition against South Dakota on Aug. 7 at the Iowa Soccer Complex.

Cooper DeJean returns to the practice field

Sports

May 7th, 2024 by admin

Former Iowa All-American Cooper DeJean finally made his return to the practice field by taking part in rookie-mini-camp with the Philadelphia Eagles. DeJean was taken by the Eagles in the second round of the NFL Draft after missing the final four games with the Hawkeyes after suffering a fractured leg.

The Eagles made a trade to move up in the draft to take DeJean.

The big question is where DeJean ends up on defense. He has worked at corner, slot corner and safety.

Former Iowa QB Spencer Petras named starter at Utah State

Sports

May 7th, 2024 by admin

Former Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras has been named the starter at Utah State. Petras was a three-year starter for the Hawkeyes but spent last season as a student coach after suffering a shoulder injury in the 2022 regular season finale against Nebraska. He beat out Cooper Legas during spring drills.

That’s Aggies coach Blake Anderson who felt he needed to name a starter at the end of spring drills.

Utah State finished 6-7 last season, including a 24-14 loss at Iowa in the season opener.

T.J. Tampa talks about rookie mini-camp in Baltimore

Sports

May 7th, 2024 by admin

Former Iowa State star T.J. Tampa is ready for the transition to the NFL. The All-American corner was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens and took part in their rookie mini-camp. There is a lot to learn for a rookie.

Tampa says it is about learning a new scheme.

Tampa says the disappointment of falling to the fourth round was negated when he was drafted by the Ravens.

Tampa says he enjoyed returning to the practice field.