(Radio Iowa) – The U-S surgeon general is urging Congress to pass legislation requiring warning labels on social media, an idea that’s gaining traction among some mental health professionals in Iowa who treat teenagers. Jeff Reiland, a child and family therapist with Gundersen Health System, says a host of studies confirm that too much social media can poison a child’s well-being. “The problem has been getting worse,” Rieland says, “and there’s a growing body of knowledge that really helps confirm more and more our concerns that when kids are exposed to too much social media, they experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

He says there have long been concerns among parents, school leaders and mental health professionals about the impact social media is having on America’s young people. “Teenagers average about five hours of social media time every day, and we know it is a big part or a contributing factor to problems kids are having with anxiety and depression,” Rieland says. “When kids have more than three hours of social media time, they are twice as likely to experience depression.” Putting a warning label on social media won’t magically fix the problem, Rieland says, but it may be a good first step.

“Past efforts at creating warning labels on things like tobacco products, and alcohol, can raise public awareness,” Rieland says. “It can help people to recognize, ‘Oh, this is a serious thing.’ It’s so big that we need to warn you that this is a concern, that this could cause problems for your child, if used in excess.” If a kid sees his mom, dad or both spending a lot of time on social media, Rieland says that’s a key driver in the child devoting more time to the screen. “Parents are our first and our most significant teachers across our lifetime for a child or a teenager. And so, parents modeling screen use is going to be followed by their teenagers,” Rieland says. “There is plenty of evidence and many studies have demonstrated that when parents are really involved in social media use, their children are more likely also to be involved in social media use.”

Not all social media is bad, Rieland says, noting how it was the only way kids could connect during the pandemic. Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Democratic Party leaders say having Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket will be a game changer in the final 99 days of the 2024 campaign. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart greeted a crowd of about 450 at a party fundraiser Saturday night. “The one word I keep hearing over and over again is excitement,” Hart said. Lanon Baccom, the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s third congressional district, told the crowd it’s clear something’s happening.

“We’ve had more folks knocking on doors today than we have at any point in this campaign,” Baccam said. Pam Jochum, the leader of Democrats in the Iowa Senate, says having President Biden for step aside and endorse Harris is having a trickle down effect. “Kamala Harris’ candidacy has brought an explosion of new energy and enthusiasm,” Jochum said. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says along with the change at the national level, there are other reasons the prospects for Iowa Democrats are rising.

Konfrst says Republican moves to overhaul Area Education Agency services and use state tax dollars to cover private tuition, are unpopular with voters. “And they do not want extreme abortion bans, threats to birth control and invitro fertilization,” Konfrst said. “Iowans are fed up, they’re furious about this abortion ban.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is in the national spotlight as Harris considers him as a potential running mate and he was the closer for Saturday’s fundraiser. Beshear described himself and Harris as unifiers. “Democrats govern well because we care, we genuinely care not just about people of our party,” Beshear said, “but all of the people we serve.”

Iowa Republican Party spokesman Luke Wolff issued a written statement before Beshear’s speech. He called Beshear an out of touch governor with an awful track record.

(Iowa News Service) –  Tomorrow marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and the state is calling on residents and employees alike to be aware of the signs that someone could be a victim.  The widespread use of social media has made it harder to corral sex traffickers in recent years. Secretary of State Paul Pate launched the Iowa Business Against Trafficking Initiative in 2022, to ask 300,000 employees of 800 Iowa businesses to be the eyes and ears if they sense a person is being trafficked.

“Well, we’re not asking anyone to be a hero here,” said Pate. “What we’re asking them to be is good neighbors. It’s like a neighborhood watch program. You watch for suspicious or unusual behavior, activities that are going on, and let law enforcement know – because they can’t be everywhere all the time.”

Pate has enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this year – which has started an initiative to remind people that if they suspect they spot human trafficking, they should say something to local authorities.  Tom Ruck is the senior engagement manager for the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign against human trafficking, and has been in Iowa to boost Pate’s efforts at confronting it.

He said it’s important not to try to physically step in and rescue a person who appears to be a trafficking victim, even if that’s the natural inclination of someone who wants to help.  “But we could put you at harm for doing something,” said Ruck. “The trafficker may try to hurt you – and definitely the person being trafficked could be put in harm’s way, down the road. So we say, ‘Call your local authorities.'”

He added that traffickers often prey on young people who report feeling isolated, depressed, or estranged from their parents – and the criminals work those angles to make contact with prospective victims.

(Jackson County, Iowa) –  A stunt involving a pickup truck went bad Sunday night at the Maqouketa Speedway, resulting in one person being flown to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports the incident at the Jackson County Fairgrounds occurred at around 9-p.m., when a 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup was attempting to jump through a camper. The vehicle collided with the camper and the driver – whose name was not released pending notification of family – lost consciousness.

The pickup continued off the track, across Highway 62 and came to rest after striking a residential shed. The driver was extricated and airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

ALGONA, Iowa — A 42-year-old man from Pocahontas died this (Sunday) afternoon, during a collision involving his motorcycle and a car, in northern Iowa. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Adam Allen of Pocahontas was riding a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on Highway 18 at around 1-p.m., just east of Algona, when a 2024 Nissan Sentra with a 17-year-old driver from Ackley, failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection of Highway 18 and 160th Avenue. The motorcycle struck the car, killing Allen.

The driver of the Nissan, who was not named, was taken by air ambulance to a Mason City hospital.

(Mason City, Iowa) – Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident early this (Sunday) morning, in northern Iowa’s Cerro Gordo County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 45-year-old Christopher Douglas, of Mason City, was traveling south on Spring Street in Rock Falls at around 3-a.m., when Douglas failed to negotiate a curve in the road near Nottingham Avenue.

The cycle left the road and struck a power pole. Christopher Douglas, and his passenger, 35-year-old Amanda Malfero, of Mason City, were thrown from the motorcycle. Neither occupant was wearing a helmet. Douglas and Malfero suffered serious injuries and were transported by Mason City EMS to MercyOne North Iowa.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Mason City and Northwood EMS personnel, along with Plymouth 1st Responders and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office.