(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says over 30-thousand students have been approved for state funding to cover private school expenses for the next school year. Reynolds made the announcement at an event hosted by The Family Leader, an evangelical Christian group. “Just another indication that parents want options,” she said, to applause.
In early 2023 Reynolds signed a law creating state-funded Education Savings Accounts. Last school year nearly 19-thousand students qualified for the program based on limited family income. This year, students from households with an annual income that’s 400 percent of the poverty level are eligible. The state will spend about 78-hundred dollars on each private school student who qualifies. Reynolds says the program injects competition in the state’s K-through-12 education system.
“As lieutenant governor with Governor Branstad we did a comprehensive education reform package and I can remember standing at a town hall saying: ‘You know, I think we should embrace competition. It makes us all stronger,'” Reynolds said. “…I was booed and heckled and nearly chased out of the room by just saying that simple statement.”
Reynolds describes the pandemic as a game changer in the push to dramatically increase state funding for private schools. “It really gave parents a front row seat to see what was happening in their classrooms,” Reynolds said, “and just the lack of the teachers union for really getting those kids back in the classroom.”
Beyond state funding for private school expenses, Reynolds says she’s trying to lift Iowa’s education system as a whole. She points to the raises she approved for beginning and veteran teachers in public schools and a new reading initiative. “Iowa used to lead the country when it came to education and I think a lot of people still believe that. We are not now, but we will be,” Reynolds says. “…Hang in there with me. We are on our way.”
Democrats say education is a major issue in legislative races this year. The Democratic leaders in the Iowa House and Senate say spending hundreds of millions of state tax dollars on private schools and the changes Reynolds pushed for in Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are unpopular with voters.
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior Brody Brecht was selected by the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in the Competitive Balance-A round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. Brecht was the 38th pick overall.
Brecht is the 30th player drafted under head coach Rick Heller. He is the highest draft pick under Heller at Iowa.
The Ankeny, Iowa, native went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 15 starts in 2024. The right-hander posted five quality starts and fanned 128 batters over 78.1 innings. Brecht ranked fourth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (14.71) and seventh in total strikeouts.
Brecht, a former dual-sport athlete with the Iowa football team, is Iowa’s single season and career strikeout leader. He totaled 281 strikeouts in 178 career innings and had a 10-9 record with a 3.49 ERA while making 32 starts.
The Hawkeyes finished the 2024 season with a 31-23 overall record. Iowa finished fourth in the Big Ten regular season standings and made its ninth straight Big Ten Tournament appearance.
Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger is glad the Big-12 focused on regional rivalries in next season’s schedule. Of the five teams the Cyclones play twice next season in the league race two of them are Kansas State and Kansas.
Otzelberger says they tried to balance the schedule from a competitive standpoint as much as possible.
Otzelberger says the new 20-game conference schedule will be demanding.
Last season the Cyclones did not play at Kansas and senior guard Curtis Jones is looking forward to playing in Phog Allen Field House.
Jones says the Big-12 schedule will be even more demanding next season with the addition of Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado.
Will Power finally broke through at the Iowa Speedway. Power went from the back to the front to win the Hy-Vee One Step 250 to cap an IndyCar twinbill.
That was Power on NBC’s post race coverage. He moves into second in the IndyCar standings and it was his first win on an oval in five years.
(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on 18 arrests that occurred between July 2nd and the 14th. In order from the most recent to the earliest arrests:
July 14: 20-year-old Riley Eileen Hunter, of Shenandoah, was arrested on an active warrant for Failure to Appear (in court); and, 23-year-old Blas Rendon Luevanos, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Harassment, and Violation of a No Contact Order.
July 12: 39-year-old Nichole Marie Nicholas, and 37-year-old Amy Jo Liles, both of Shenandoah, were booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
July 11: 46-year-old Michelle Marie Carnes, and 35-year-old Tyler Buck Carnes, both of Shenandoah, were arrested for Harassment.
July 9: 55-year-old Thomas Harold Nielsen, of Ida Grove, was arrested in Page County for OWI.
July 8: 33-year-old Bradley Aeron Haley, of Clarinda, was arrested for Sex Offender Registry Violations.
July 7: 62-year-old Judy Ann Berry, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Theft and Interference with Official Acts; 37-year-old Amanda Maria Carlson, of New Market, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant out of Taylor County. She was later transferred to the custody of Taylor County Deputies.
On July 5th, four people from Shenandoah were booked into the Page County Jail to serve time. They included: 39-year-old Nichole Marie Nicholas; 38-year-old Karl James Shade, III;37-year-old Amy Jo Liles, and 47-year-old Jamie Jay Shannon.
There were three arrests July 3rd in Page County: 41-year-old Michael Joe Baxter, of Des Moines, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Mischief, Assault on a Peace Officer, and Obstruction of Emergency Communication; 40-year-old Joshua Wayne Baer, of College Springs, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, Assault, and Child Endangerment; and, 35-year-old Kelli Jo Wiederholt, of Braddyville, was arrested for Criminal Mischief.
And, on July 2nd, Page County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Jessie Marie Patterson, of Clarinda, for OWI, Driving While Barred, and Assault on a Peace Officer.
Sheriff’s Office Disclaimer: “A charge of merely and accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
The Page County Sheriff’s Office also reports 14 people who received citations between July 4th and July 13th. Ten of those persons were cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol, four were cited for Speeding.
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM TODAY for Sac-Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold Counties. EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM TODAY for Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties.
Today: Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 105. South wind 10 to 20 mph. Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 106. South winds 5 to 10 mph becoming NW & gusting to around 20 mph. Monday Night: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 67. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northeast wind around 10 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 89. The Low was 72. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 83 and the Low was 61. The All-Time Record High in Atlantic on July 14th, was 112 in 1936. The Record Low was 41 in 1967. Sunrise: 5:58; Sunset: 8:53.
The Atlantic Trojans softball team suffered a tough 10-7 loss to the Clarinda Cardinals on Saturday night in the Class 3A region 2 semifinals. After one inning the ball game remained tied as both starting pitchers looked confident in the circle. The first score of the night was an RBI single from Addison Wagoner for Clarinda in the bottom of the second inning as the bases were loaded putting them up 1-0. The runs would not stop there when Ryplee Sunderman struck a strong double towards center field to bring in 2 more runs putting the Cardinals up 3-0. It was then Annika Price’s turn to bat, and she also hit herself a 2 RBI double with runners on second and third base making it a 5-0 lead. Things shifted for Atlantic starting pitcher Riley Wood as she gave up no hits or runs in the next three innings for the Clarinda. Atlantic’s initial response in the bottom of the fourth inning was to take advantage from a poorly timed throw at first, helping Zoey Kirchoff come in for a score to change the lead at 5-1.
When the top of the fifth came around Atlantic was ready to score. The inning started with a double by Claire Pellett and saw a sac fly by Riley Wood chip into the score at 5-2. Lila Wiederstein then got her first hit of the night to put her on first and Zoey Kirchhoff had a monstrous swing off of the first pitch for a 2-run homer. Suddenly the game was 5-4 and Clarinda seemed to be in trouble. In the bottom of the fifth Clarinda could only get one batter to first base as the rest hit pop flies. The top of the sixth inning was now crucial for Atlantic, but even with two singles the Trojans could not muster up a score.
In the bottom of the sixth inning is where Clarinda took control of the game again, scoring 5 runs off of 5 hits and forcing the relief pitcher Peyton McLaren to come in. The Cardinals were now up 10-4 after six innings and it looked almost over for the Trojans. Atlantic decided to start the top of the seventh inning off with a walk and base hit to put two runners on. A deep hit out towards left field by McLaren which popped out of Presley Jobe’s added two more runs to Trojans score. Suddenly it was 10-6 game with only one out for Atlantic. The Trojans then grounded out for the second out but did have one more run by a Claire Schroder single making it 10-7. Atlantic’s last at bat would end in a strikeout, giving the victory to Clarinda.
Trojans head coach Terry Hinzmann was proud of the way his team battled against a solid Cardinals opponent.
Zoey Kirchoff had an impressive night batting going 2-4, with 2 RBI’s, and a home run. Claire Pellet also played well in her last game as a Trojan with a 2-3 performance and with one of those hits being a double. Clarinda’s win will have them advance to play PCM on Tuesday night in Monroe for the Class 3A region 2 championship. Atlantic’s loss has them finishing the season with a record of 27-13.
UPDATED – (Radio Iowa) – The chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa says there’s no place for political violence in America. Iowa G-O-P chair Jeff Kaufmann spoke with Radio Iowa a few hours after former President Trump was shot in the ear and a person in the crowd at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania was killed.
Kaufmann says he doesn’t know if plans for next week’s Republican National Convention will change, but he hopes not.
Kaufmann was in Mount Pleasant, giving a speech to Henry County Republicans Saturday afternoon and someone stopped Kaufmann as he walked to his car to break the news.
As Kaufmann drove home Saturday afternoon, Kaufmann says he thought of another presidential candidate whose family has lived through two assassinations. “Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. needs to have Secret Service protection before the stroke of midnight,” Kaufmann said. Kaufmann has been to innumerable political rallies — and gone through the metal detectors along with the rest of the crowd — and he says it’s hard to comprehend today’s events.
Iowa political leaders immediately began issuing statements on social media Saturday afternoon, calling for Iowans to pray for Trump, thanking the Secret Service for its response — and condemning the violence. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Rita Hart said gun violence is never acceptable and violence of any sort should never be perpetrated against people who are trying to participate in our democratic process.
The FBI early on Sunday (today) identified the suspected gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. His motive for the shooting is not yet clear.
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Governor Kim Reynolds issued the following statement regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this evening: “This assassination attempt on a former president, current nominee for president, and leader of the Republican Party marks a dark day in American history. Kevin and I are grateful that President Trump is safe and is doing well. We will continue to pray for him and his family, as well as those who were shot and the family of the individual who was killed.
“As President Trump showed when he walked off the stage, we will not cower to such terror. I will be in Milwaukee this week and will proudly stand with him and our party. America will get through this, together, and President Trump will lead us into the next four years.”
A statement from IDP Chair Rita Hart: “The news about Former President Donald Trump is extremely troubling. Gun violence is never acceptable and violence of any sort should never be perpetuated against people who are trying to participate in our democratic process. My thoughts are with the people who attended today’s rally and were forced to witness today’s events. I am thankful for the Secret Service and all of the brave men and women who fight to keep our nation safe every day.”
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley’s post on X: Thank u secret service agents for ur selflessness& bravery
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst’s post on X: In the midst of chaos, Trump showed strength. Continuing to pray for him and our country. God bless America!
First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Davenport) on X: Tragic learning there’s one fatality and 2 injured in addition to Trump in Butler, PA. I pray for them & their families. I’m grateful for the Secret Service, LEO’s and first responders; thank you. Importantly, I absolutely condemn political violence. It is never acceptable! Solve differences at the ballot box.
Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s first congressional district, on X: Praying for the safety of former President Trump and everyone who was at the rally. Violence has no place in our political system.
Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-Marion) on X: Pray for President Trump.
Third district Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Bondurant) on X: Join Kelly and me in praying for President Trump, his family, and all attendees.
Lanon Baccam of Des Moines, the Democratic Party’s nominee in Iowa’s third congressional district, on X: Political violence is unacceptable. We cannot tolerate despicable acts like this. We must find a way to come back together as a country. I pray for President Trump and everyone affected at the rally today.
Fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued a written statement: “I join the American people in praying for President Trump and those in attendance at his rally. This violence is unacceptable and disgusting. I wish the President a speedy recovery.”
Ryan Melton of Nevada, the Democratic Party’s nominee in the fourth congressional district, on X: My thoughts and prayers are with Former President Trump, and I wish him the best in his recovery. I commend the Secret Service for their quick response, and wish the best for all rally attendees. There’s no place for any kind of violence in our political process.
DES MOINES, IA – On Saturday, State Auditor Rob Sand released the following statement in response to the political violence that erupted at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania:
“Please join our family and all Iowans in praying for former president Donald Trump and anyone else impacted by this senseless act of violence. Political violence of any kind is unacceptable, and has no place in a democracy. Thankful for the quick action by secret service and law enforcement, who put their lives on the line each and every day in service of our country.”
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