(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State researchers are among a group developing technologies that use plant-based inks to print low-cost, biodegradable, and recyclable electronics for sensors and batteries. I-S-U’s, Jonathan Claussen, is working on the printing process for the inks. “We can actually make a material called graphene out of it. It’s a carbon-based material that is highly conductive and has other great properties such as high thermal conductivity and we make these inks and print them.” Claussen is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and says sensors can be used in a variety of ways. “We use them to sense fertilizers in the soil, pesticides in plants or in the soil, to food-borne pathogens in food, to even using them to try and detect cancer for cancer diagnostics,” Claussen says.

He says here’s another use for them as well. Claussen says it also deals with creating energy harvesters that could be used to store energy and charge up an electronic device. He says there’s a lot of potential uses.”We will help in printing them and then developing them into sensors,” he says. And he says they will particularly focus on ion sensors for use in hydroponics and plants. Claussen says using these plant-based inks is a safer way to make these items. “This uses printing technology that is a lot easier to scale. It’s a lot more friendly to the environment — the materials themselves are more friendly — they are just carbon-based. But also, we don’t need to do expensive cleanroom processing which has a lot of chemicals that are harmful to the environment,” Claussen says.

He says these sensors won’t replace all the existing sensors. “They wouldn’t replace silicon chips in your computer,” Claussen says, “but they could be used for sensors that may be integrated into clothing or senors that may be going into farm fields that integrate with some conventional electronics as well.” The National Science Foundation has awarded a five-year grant of nine million dollars to support the project and its team of researchers from the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Iowa State University.

A single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) morning in eastern Iowa has claimed the life of an SUV driver. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident north of Ladora on 212th Boulevard, happened at around 5:15-a.m.  Authorities say a 1991 Jeep Cherokee driven by 21-year old Dylan Storm Weaver, of Belle Plaine, was eastbound near FF Avenue, when the vehicle went out of control and entered the south ditch. Weaver, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted by Victor QRS, and Iowa County Ambulance.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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(Radio Iowa) – The latest count in Iowa’s second congressional district race shows Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the Republican, now leads Democrat Rita Hart by 47 votes. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says there could be more adjustments.  “We’re all pretty good at observing what’s going on and how the counts are moving and I’m sure that the media will report who’s in the lead,” Pate says,”but as for certifying and declaring, it’ll not until November 30.”

Pate has ordered Lucas County to run all their ballots through a machine and do a hand count of a precinct in Russell. That’s the precinct where results were not included in last week’s Lucas County vote count. Pate says any new adjustments from the Lucas County recounts today (Thursday) and Friday will be reflected in the final report. “We don’t declare a winner until we’ve finished and do our certification on the 30th,” Pate says.

With about four dozen votes separating the two candidates in the second district race, it’s likely one or both campaigns will seek more recounts by Friday’s deadline. And if votes are recounted, counties will have to cover the cost. That’s because the margin between the two candidates is less than one percent. Taxpayers cover the costs of recounts in Iowa when a race is that close.

Atlantic Activities Director Andy Mitchell, Wednesday, said COVID-19 did not have a huge affect on sports and other activities this fall.

He told the Atlantic School Board, Winter Sports activities begin next week.

Mitchell said also the coaches are doing their best to keep kids six-feet or more apart. When they can’t they rotate drills constantly. Masks are to be worn when they get on the bus and in the locker rooms. He said also they had a plan on how they were going to transition from outdoor sports to indoor sports, but the Governor’s new proclamation on Tuesday changed that.

Mitchell said events will be live streamed as well through booktix.com. More information will be available on that soon. There’s also some new technology in-place to live-stream various events.

Mitchell said the two fans per player policy was discussed among the Hawkeye 10 Conference members.

He said they have to find a way to pay officials, and that “There won’t be a lot of extra money coming in this year.

Red Oak Police report 32-year old Jeremy Michael Cabe, Sr., of Red Oak, was arrested at around 9:10-p.m. Wednesday, in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street. Cabe was taken into custody for Simple Assault. His bond was set at $300. And, at around 9:35-p.m., Red Oak Police arrested 20-year old Tyler Blaine Baucom, of Red Oak, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Baucom was being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail, while awaiting an appearance before the magistrate.

A school district in north central Iowa is mourning the loss of a teacher who died three days after testing positive for COVID-19. KCCI reports 38-year-old Jason Englert, of Belmond, taught students in the Talented And Gifted (TAG) program. He also coached junior high volleyball, junior high girls basketball, and had planned on coaching varsity girls track this spring for the Belmond-Klemme School District. He died Nov. 8th, at home.

Jason Englert (Photo via the Warner Funeral Home website)

Wright County has been hit hard with the coronavirus. That’s why the Belmond-Klemme district did mass testing last week. His family said while they don’t have an official cause of death yet, they wonder if the virus spurred a heart attack or stroke.

Englert was a native of Royal and graduated from Central Clay/Everly High School. Before taking the position at B-K, he taught math at Manson-Northwest Webster. Prior to that, Jason taught at Twin River Valley in Bode, and at East Union in Afton. A private family service is pending at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer.

(Radio Iowa) – High school and middle school students in Charles City were dismissed early Wednesday morning, due to a possible COVID-19 case on the food service staff. In a written statement, the district’s administrators said they didn’t think it was wise to serve food until the staffer gets a Covid test and they can review how the situation impacts staffing. The district’s website shows 17 active Covid cases in the district and 101 people from the district’s campuses in quarantine.

Over the weekend, came news a special education teacher in Charles City who fell ill with Covid in September had died. At this week’s school board meeting, Charles City Superintendent Mike Fisher asked the community to do its part to ensure the school could stay open.

“We’re just begging and asking the community to please continue to make wise decisions,” he said, “social distance, avoid large gatherings, wear your face coverings.” Fisher says it’s touch and go as to whether he can find enough staff to keep in-person classes going. Charles City high school and middle school students will be out on a “snow day” today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday), as administrators prepare for the possibility of digital days for students.