(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is among a bipartisan group of lawmakers who hosted today’s U.S. Capitol visit from families of Americans being held hostage in Gaza.

“For over 100 days now Americans have been held at the mercy of Iran-backed Hamas — six of them,” Ernst said. “Families don’t know if their loved one is dead or alive and, as you see here, no parent should have to endure this.”

Speaking at a news conference earlier today, Ernst told reporters that pain should be answered. “Bring these hostages home. Bring these Americans home now,” Ernst said. “…Every second counts.”

Earlier this month, Ernst led a delegation of Democrats and Republicans from the U.S. House and Senate to stops in four Middle East countries. “The mission of that delegation was solely focused on the return of our hostages. We called on leaders in the region to pressure Hamas into releasing these hostages,” Ernst said. “…We cannot let up in holding our partners feet to the fire to reunite these families.”

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst speaking at a news conference in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo provided by Ernst’s U.S. Senate office.)

Israeli officials estimate about 130 hostages remain in Gaza after being captured by Hamas on October 7. Ernst said the country of Qatar could be key to negotiations to free the hostages and she’s called on more members of congress and the Biden Administration to exert more public pressure on Hamas to free the hostages.

Ernst, other top Senate leaders and relatives of the six Americans who’s among the remaining hostages spoke earlier today during a news conference in Washington, D.C.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  A man from Mills County was arrested this (Wednesday) afternoon in Red Oak, on a Class-D Felony charge of Domestic Abuse Assault – Strangulation Causing Bodily Injury. The Red Oak Police Department reports 39-year-old Adam Chandler Orr, of Henderson, was taken into custody at around 12:30-p.m. in the 400 block of 1^st Avenue.

Orr was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail,  pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

Elk Horn, Iowa – The Danish Windmill will be hosting its Windmill Expo & Membership Drive on Tuesday, January 30th starting at 5:30PM in the Elk Horn Town Hall. This is a great opportunity to learn about everything the Danish Windmill accomplished in 2023 and what our future plans are for the organization. It will include a thorough presentation from the Danish Windmill’s executive director, Shaun Sayres.

This event is free to the public with food and drink provided. Membership is not required to participate. Come learn more about Shelby County’s largest tourist attraction. For more information, call the Danish Windmill at (712) 764-7472 or email us at info@danishwindmill.com.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass Health (in Atlantic) have announced that Registered Nurse Ashlynn Bagshaw was selected as one of the 2024 Great Iowa Nurses. Great Iowa Nurses is a non-profit program that recognizes nurses in Iowa and spotlights qualities that demonstrate efforts beyond those expected of a nurse within their normal duties.

After finding out she was selected, Bagshaw commented, “I am honored to have received this award, as there are so many hardworking and compassionate nurses who deserve to be recognized throughout Cass Health and across Iowa. This recognition is a wonderful reminder that the work we do matters!”

One of the primary reasons why Bagshaw was nominated by her team is her passion for building the next generation of nurses. Her nominators wrote, “She models how to manage the ebbs and flow of the department with grace. Her ability to reassess and pivot, while actively explaining her thoughts to new team members ensures patients receive excellent care and staff are supported. As new nurses observe, they learn from her to care for patients by establishing trust with them and their families by considering their biological, psychosocial, and cultural needs.”

Ashlynn Bagshaw, RN

Bagshaw became a nurse in 2018 and has worked at Cass Health for the last five years, currently working in the Inpatient Services department. Her original interest in a nursing career started in 2009 while her grandpa was battling terminal illness. “I remember watching the nurses and noticing how well they treated my grandpa. The kindness and compassion they showed him, my family, and me, left a lasting impression. I never contemplated another career path, as I always knew this is what I wanted to do,” said Bagshaw.

Originally called 100 Great Iowa Nurses, the recognition was established in 2004 and hosted by the University of Iowa until 2020. In 2022, with the support of Mary Greeley Medical Center, the program, now called Great Iowa Nurses, returned to recognize Iowa nurses that routinely go above and beyond every day and take that extra step to ensure safe, compassionate care for their patients. These great nurses share their experience and knowledge to improve the health of their communities. They also take on leadership and mentoring responsibilities, serving as role models for everyone they work with, especially those just entering the profession.

(Radio Iowa) – Work continues to remove the cars and trucks that hit the ditches in eastern Iowa following last week’s winter storms.

Tegeler Wrecker and Crane supervisor Holly Paris says employees are exhausted as they work around the clock to pull cars and trucks out. Paris told KCRG TV Tuesday that the phone has not stopped ringing.  “We took 9,900 incoming calls yesterday (Monday). Today, we were upwards of 6,000 right now, since midnight last night.” Paris says. Some cars are trapped under snow or ice and some tow truck operators have to shovel several feet just to get the car back on the road.

Paris says they have strict criteria for choosing who to help first, and those still in the vehicles have been the top priority. “We’ll either go get the driver or go get the truck – those people take top priority because their safety is in danger.” said Paris. Some tows can only be done at night and that requires traffic control from the state Patrol.

DOT traffic camera view on I-80 near Iowa City.

Trooper Bob Conrad tells KCRG TV it is not easy duty.  “In two days, we had two of our squad cars hit in this area. It’s very dangerous,” He says. Conrad says that while law enforcement, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and tow truck operators are working to get the cars and trucks out — it will still be some time before everything is cleared. “I would say before it’s all said and done, it will be upwards of a week.” Conrad says.

Conrad says it’s essential for drivers to lower their speeds and to always be on the lookout for tow trucks or patrol cars working on the side of the road.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to provide new product liability protection to Iowa retailers AND manufacturers has cleared its first hurdle in the House, but Republican lawmakers say it will only apply to retailers if it’s brought up for a vote in a House committee. The bill in its original form bars most lawsuits over faulty products if the product or its components cleared government safety reviews. Brad Hartkopt is a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, which represents 15-hundred companies in the state.

“Federal agencies promulgate extensive rules and requirements for products,” he said. “…Manufacturers expend extraordinary resources and time to ensure that the products they produce meet those standards.” Doug Struyk, a lobbyist for the Iowa Bar Association, says there are all sorts of products that were deemed safe by federal agencies, only to later be declared dangerous or defective. “And the Boeing 737 Max — how many times has the FAA stamped that thing as safe?” Struyk asked lawmakers. “…I guess we were lucky no one was injured when we blew out the door a week or two ago.”

Iowa Capitol Building (RI file photo)

Lisa Davis-Cook is a lobbyist for the Iowa Association for Justice that represents trial lawyers. She was 11 years old, attending a 4-H meeting in Clinton County, when the home’s furnace exploded and she suffered burns over 25 percent of her body. “The company that manufactured the furnace and the company that manufactured the valve were fully cognizant of the fact that that valve was faulty. They knew there was a problem and it was cheaper to keep that product on the market than to recall it and keep people safe,” Davis-Cook says. “…What this bill does is it tells companies: ‘As long as you’ve met safety standards, even though you find out later that it’s faulty, don’t worry about it.'”

One of the Republicans working on the bill says he has no desire to grant immunity to manufacturers, but is interested in some liability protection for Iowa retailers — as long as they don’t do anything negligent.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic High School Speech & Debate Team Head Coaches Trisha Niceswanger and Troy Roach say the team has qualified to send students to the National Speech and Debate Tournament.  The “small but mighty” Speech Team, Coach Niceswanger says, has had some great success over the years and this fundraiser will help to continue that success. She said also “We have qualified students to the National Tournament several of the past 10 years and our goal is to grow our program even more.”

The online “Bang Cookies” fundraiser will help support the registration costs, purchase of scripts, props, memberships, and travel costs. Bang Cookies are one-third POUND, giant organic cookies that get rave reviews throughout the nation.

Supporters can purchase directly from the company and they ship right to your home, anywhere in the US. They have multiple options available in variety boxes.  It runs until Monday, Jan 29 and 40% of the proceeds support the Atlantic Speech and Debate program.

(Atlantic, Iowa)- Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) and Regional Planning Affiliation 13 (RPA 13) is currently accepting applications for its Regional Transportation Alternatives Program fund, for projects in Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page Counties. Applications are being accepted until February 28, 2024.

Local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, school districts and local education agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, tribal governments, and non-profit entities are among those eligible to apply. Funds are limited to meeting certain project types. Those include but are not limited to construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation; conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for trails; construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; vegetation management; and historic preservation and rehabilitation of transportation facilities.

Projects and sponsors must provide a non-federal match of at least 20 percent of the eligible costs, comply with federal regulations, and maintain the project for 20 years among other requirements. Projects must be completed withing two fiscal years of the award.

Completed applications must be in to SWIPCO by 4:30 p.m. on February 28, 2024. Applications will be submitted to the Iowa DOT for review. The RPA 13 Technical Committee and Policy Board will meet to score applications and to award recommendations. Award letters will be sent to applicants and the Iowa DOT by August 1, 2024. Funds will be released by the Iowa DOT after October 1, 2024.

Application and criteria can be found online at htps://www.swipco.org/rpa-13/ For more information or to obtain a hard copy of the application contact SWIPCO Grant Specialist III, Tammy DeBord at 866-279-4720 ext. 234 or 712-249-4300. You can also email Tammy.DeBord@swipco.org

SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A program being held this weekend in Atlantic, will detail the story of former Atlantic Airport Manager Hap Westbrook. Westbrook managed the Atlantic Airport for 25 years, but few people know the rest of his story. His son, Dick Westbrook, will provide a more complete story about Hap this Sunday, January 21st, beginning at 2-p.m.  The event will be held at the American Legion Memorial Building, in Atlantic.

Hap was a decorated military pilot, Prisoner of War, flight instructor and pilot examiner. He served in WWII and the Korean Conflict retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He started the Iowa Air National Guard. He served his community in many ways such as delivering newspapers to small towns and even individual homes from his airplane. He created and instructed the Aviation Mechanics’ Program for Iowa Western Community College.

These are just a few of Hap’s experiences and accomplishments with more to be shared on Sunday. Dick is his father’s son beginning when he was a child playing at the airport and getting his pilot’s license before his drivers’ license. He has been flying for over 50 years.

The presentation is one of a series of programs sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). There is no fee but donations are welcome. Everyone is welcome. The building is located at 201 Poplar Street, Atlantic and is handicapped accessible.