(Radio Iowa) – Consumers can buy small handheld devices that measure outdoor air quality for as little as 110-dollars these days — and Brian Hutchins of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says these monitors do show air quality TRENDS — but often have higher air pollution readings than the monitors used by government agencies like his.

“EPA has been doing some studies to show the differences between these monitors, so one needs to bear that in mind,” Hutchins says. At least one manufacturer of outdoor air monitors for personal use has warned that in wildfire conditions air quality readings may be slightly too high — because of the density of smoke particles. Hutchins says people with asthma or other health conditions still may find the information useful.

“It will give an indication of what the air quality is in real time, so one can look at the results from the low cost sensors and help people make determinations of their outdoor activities on a day to day basis,” Hutchins says. In 2020, the D-N-R participated in a 16-state study of how results from government-maintained monitors compared to hand-held devices.

The U-S Environmental Protection Agency then came up with a way to calculate the difference in readings and now uses data from small, consumer-grade monitors along with information from satellites and government-maintained monitors to measure air quality.  “People can go to EPA’s Air Now website and you can see the real-time data on that website and it will tell you whether we’re having a good day for air quality,” Hutchins says, “or if we have elevated levels, it will show that, too.”

There are also smart-phone apps that show air quality measurements. Last July, an air quality alert was issued for the entire state of Iowa due to wildfires in Canada and the western United States. Last month’s wildfires in southwest Nebraska did not dramatically affect air quality in Iowa, but experts say with wildfire seasons starting earlier in the west and spreading into Nebraska and Kansas, that’s likely to cause prompt more air quality alerts in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) -May is Stroke Awareness Month in Iowa, as people are urged to learn about the dangers of what’s now the state’s seventh-leading cause of death. Mark Mintun, a physician’s assistant at Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says a stroke is essentially a brain attack. “Everybody understands, for the most part, what a heart attack is,” Mintun says, “so if you think about a stroke as a heart attack but in the brain, maybe that would be an easier way to look at it.”

Mintun says there are basically two types of stroke.  “There’s one that’s a caused by a clot, which is like what you have with a heart attack,” Mintun says. “There’s another less common form called a hemorrhagic stroke, which is when you rupture a small artery in your head, and you have a stroke because all the brain tissue surrounding that area can’t get fed because of the blood that has leaked out into the brain.”

There are a few key symptoms or warning signs that a person may have suffered a stroke, and one way to remember them all as with the word FAST. “Face, Arm, Speech and Time,” Mintun says. “Face, if you have facial droop. Arm, if you have one-sided weakness, like you can’t lift your arm or your arm’s not functioning properly. Speech, if you’re having trouble speaking. And then Time. Naturally, if that happens, if you see any of those symptoms, get to the emergency department right away because time is important.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 1,390 Iowans died of stroke in 2020.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa-based Hy-Vee grocery store chain has cut more workers. A company statement says 57 positions were eliminated across Hy-Vee’s corporate offices. They include employees from the I-T, engineering, equipment, real estate, and construction departments. All of the employees were offered retail positions at Hy-Vee and will be provided 30 days of pay and benefits.

The statement says they have now reduced their corporate office staff by more than 415 positions. The employees transferred to leadership positions in retail, took early retirement, or voluntarily left the company. The statement concludes by saying Hy-Vee is confident that these changes will help them be better prepared for the potential economic difficulties to come.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Thursday, of 30-year-old William Lewis, of Glenwood. Lewis was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A man currently in custody in connection with a stabbing incident Thursday, now faces additional charges in connection with a house fire the day before. According to Atlantic Police, as the result of an investigation into a fire at 106 Cedar Street, 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay faces Class-B Felony charges of Arson/1st Degree and Attempted Murder, along with a charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury (a Serious Misdemeanor). In Addition, Asay is charge with Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness (Serious Misdemeanor), for an incident that occurred on April 30th.

With regard to the fire, authorities say the Cass County Communications Center received a report about the fire at 106 Cedar Street, at around 4:46-a.m. Wednesday. Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Atlantic Police responded to the call, and have continued to investigation the incident. Through the investigation into assaults reported on Thursday, May 5th, A-PD received information regarding the structure fire the day before.

Anthony Rey Asay (Cass County Jail photo)

As previously mentioned, late Thursday evening, Atlantic Police released information about a stabbing that had taken place earlier in the day, Thursday. According to Police Chief Devin Hogue, 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 2:43-p.m., on a Felony charge of Willful Injury causing Bodily Injury, along with charges that include Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) – 1st Offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts.

Chief Devin Hogue says the A-PD was notified by the Cass County Communications Center at around 2:32-p.m., about a stabbing that had occurred at 106 Cedar Street. During the investigation, police made contact with the victim, who was checked-out by Cass County EMS for injuries suffered in the assault. While the investigation was underway, police were also notified an assault had also occurred at around 11:00-a.m. Thursday. The investigations led Police to take Asay into custody at 1207 Birch Street, on the aforementioned charges. Hogue says Asay was uncooperative during his apprehension, and resisted arrest.

Atlantic Police were assisted in their investigation into the separate incidents by Atlantic Fire & Rescue, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol. No other information is being released at this time. If you have information regard the incidents mentioned, call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department have released a report on arrests taking place from April 27th through May 5th. Beginning with the latest arrest:

• On Thursday (May 5), 38-year-old Stephen Foote, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He remains in the Cass County Jail.
• On Wednesday (May 4), 45-year-old Adam Vanderpool, of Surprise, AZ, was arrested in Atlantic for OWI/1s offense.
• On Monday (May 2), 36-year-old Eric Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Public Intoxication.
• And, on Sunday (May 1), there were two arrests in Atlantic:
  • 26-year-old Sequoia Harrison, of Atlantic, was arrested for Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Domestic Abuse Assault, Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury. She remains held in the Cass County Jail.
  • 21-year-old Curclund Vanaernam, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.

On April 30th, 32-year-old Vincent Vasquez, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Possession of Controlled Substance, Gathering where Controlled Substances are used, and Keeping a premises or vehicle for controlled substance. On April 28th, 18-year-old Ashtyn McCarthy, of Walnut, was cited into court for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and then released. And, 36-year-old David Theisen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While License is barred.

And, there were two arrests in Atlantic on April 27th:

• 48-year-old Dan Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Consumption of Alcohol in a Public Place.
• 30-year-old Rebecca Klinghammer, of Griswold, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts , Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, and Driving While Barred. And, A-PD reports 30-year-old Nigel Newbury of Atlantic, was cited into court for Unlawful Passing of a School Bus.