(Radio Iowa) — An astronaut, the first women in Iowa to be elected as a county prosecutor and two retired university professors were inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame this weekend. Beaconsfield native Peggy Whitson has spent 665 days in space — more than any other American. She used her brief speech at Saturday’s ceremony to praise the other women on stage and in the audience. “One of the most important things about women being leaders and being out there and getting out there and doing more is that we make it easier for the next set of women,” Whitson said.

Whitson also honored one of her professors, who was in the audience. “Having mentors is an amazingly powerful experience for me,” Whitson said. “…Those mentors can make the difference in your life and they have for me.” Dolores Wilson, a biology professor, met with Whitson and Whitson’s mother on the Iowa Wesleyan campus in Mount Pleasant in the summer of 1978 and Whitson told the professor she wanted to be an astronaut. “I said: ‘Do it!’ and I said: ‘Don’t be discouraged,'” Wilson said Saturday as she recounted that initial conversation. “And I said: ‘You know, just because they’re not having women astronauts now doesn’t mean they’re not going to do it.'”

Ruth Harkin was elected Story County Attorney in 1972 when she was the only female attorney in Story County. “Early on I was motivated by a couple of guidelines. One — you have to be in the room to make a difference. A second guideline was to do what I wanted to do. Most of the work and jobs I have done people told me I could not do. I never listened to that,” Harkin said and the audience laughed. “It has been liberating, I can assure you.”  Harkin served two terms as Story County Attorney. She moved to Washington in 1979 after her husband, Tom Harkin, won a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Harkin says she was told her resume as an Iowa prosecutor wasn’t that impressive and she’d have a hard time finding a job. “Nonetheless, I became deputy general counsel at the Department of Agriculture. The secretary at the time said he didn’t want me. ‘When I look at you I see my wife and she could never do this job,'” Harkin said, drawing gasps from the audience, followed by laughter when she revealed: “I took the job anyway.”

In 1993, Harkin was the first woman appointed president and C-E-O of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. “The statistic I cherish the most, 50 percent of our lawyers were women and 50 percent of our bankers were women,” Harkin said.  In 1997, United Technologies hired Harkin as a senior vice president and, in 2003, she became a director of ConocoPhillips. Earlier this month, Dianne Bystrom retired as director of the Iowa State University Center for Women and Politics and she was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame this weekend as well. “In my 39 years of work in higher education, I know the importance of developing and supporting and recognizing the contributions of women,” Bystrom said.

Bystrom has done extensive research about ads used in races that feature a female candidate. Under her leadership, I-S-U’s Center for Women and Politics has hosted “Ready to Run” workshops for Iowa women considering a run for public office. Dr. Jean Jew, a researcher and instructor in the University of Iowa College of Medicine, was also inducted in the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame this weekend. In 1985, Jew filed a lawsuit against the University of Iowa for ignoring repeated sexual and racial harassment. She won not only a financial settlement, but also a public apology from the university.

Officials with Southwest Iowa Golf report the Ryder Tournament in Atlantic for today (8/20) at Nishna Hills Golf Course in Atlantic, has been cancelled due to the weather.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A 2-year-old boy is recovering from a gunshot wound to his chest and neck after police say he found his father’s loaded handgun. Clive Police say officers were called to the Sterling Inn Sunday morning after the boy was injured.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is revamping its nursing program after a wave of resignations from staffers alleging the college overworked faculty, didn’t invest in new equipment and ignored teachers trying to make improvements. The Quad-City Times reports that the nursing program is the college’s largest career program with more than 300 students, offered at all three campuses. College officials say they’ll spend $28,000 on equipment and have hired a new nursing program director.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Fire investigators say a fire that threatened residents of a Cedar Rapids apartment was intentionally set. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says in a statement that the fire early Wednesday morning was started when someone poured flammable liquid in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the three-story building and lit it. Several people had to be rescued from the fire.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport woman accused of pouring rubbing alcohol on her 2-year-old disabled child and threatening to kill the toddler while live streaming the incident on social media will face charges in court next month. The Quad-City Times reports that 29-year-old Darshanda McNeal will be arraigned Sept. 6 on a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment after she waived her preliminary hearing Thursday. McNeal remains jailed on $5,000 bond. Police say the child did not suffer any physical injuries.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A 2-year-old boy is recovering from a gunshot wound to his chest and neck after police say he found his father’s loaded handgun.

Clive Police say officers were called to the Sterling Inn Sunday morning after the boy was injured. Police did not know his current condition and his identity wasn’t revealed.

Police say the boy’s family was staying at the hotel, and his father left a loaded .45-caliber handgun in some luggage. The boy picked up the gun and pulled the trigger.
Police say the bullet passed through the boy’s chest and neck before lodging in a wall.
The father had a valid permit to carry the handgun.

Authorities say a man and a woman from Council Bluffs were injured during a motorcycle accident Sunday morning. The driver of the cycle, 42-year old Marc Stark and his passenger, 28-year old Sonia Smith, were found laying on the west side of N. 8th Street (just south of Big Lake Road) in Council Bluffs by Police, a little after they were dispatched to the scene at around 9:50-a.m. Stark had just regained consciousness when officers arrived. Smith later came-to in the ambulance. Both were transported to the UNMC in Omaha, by the Council Bluffs Fire Department. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known. The accident remains under investigation.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is revamping its nursing program after a wave of resignations from staffers alleging the college overworked faculty, didn’t invest in new equipment and ignored teachers trying to make improvements. The nursing program is the college’s largest career program with more than 300 students, offered at all three campuses in Clinton, Muscatine and Scott, the Quad-City Times reported . Former staffers said their resignations are a sign the nursing program is in jeopardy, pointing to a recent internal review highlighting their complaints. Nicole Tucker resigned Aug. 1, the day EICC announced to students it had hired a new nursing program director.

Instructors often worked seven days a week, pleaded for new or even functioning equipment, saying students were learning on broken or outdated devices, Tucker said. But she said the requests denied or treated as low-priority “resulting in stonewalling of any hope of program improvement or forward movement.” “Health care is ever-evolving. It is constantly changing, so our ability to educate must continue to evolve,” Tucker said. “We have a strong duty to help develop their critical thinking and enhance their practical learning experience, prepare them to care for patients after graduation, but we can’t do it with imaginative role play.”

But the college said the staff turnover is normal and that the program is in good health. The program is fully accredited, fully enrolled and fully staffed, producing 63 registered nurses and 30 licenses practical nursing graduates this past year, according to the college. College officials said they completed a review of the nursing program, prompting some of the changes. College officials said they plan to spend $28,000 on new equipment, such as simulation software. They also said they’re shifting its curriculum to better match expectations from partners and employers.

“There is no question that change is happening at the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges,” said Joan Kindle, vice chancellor for education and training. “And these changes, all focused on the needs of our communities and the success of our students, are bringing a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm to our programs.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Fire investigators say a fire that threatened residents of a Cedar Rapids apartment was intentionally set. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says in a statement that the fire early Wednesday morning was started when someone poured flammable liquid in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the three-story building and lit it.

The fire trapped several residents on the upper floors. Two people were rescued from the third floor by police officers using a ladder. Two other people jumped from upper floor windows onto cushions set up by firefighters. Three people were taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

Officials say the fire was relegated mainly to the stairwell, but there was smoke damage throughout the building. Authorities are asking the public for any information about the fire.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports that as the result of a narcotics investigation, a search warrant was executed at 112 S. 4th Street in Red Oak at around 10:30-a.m. Sunday, and three people were taken into custody.

• 71-year old Shyrel Lea St.Clair, of Red Oak, was charged with: Delivery of Methamphetamine, a Class-C Felony; Possession of Meth with the Intent to Deliver, a Class-C Felony, and Gathering where illegal drugs are used, a Class-D Felony. Her bond was set at $50,000.
• 59-year old Vicki Susan Huber, and 44-year old James Reed Mitroff II, both of Red Oak, were charged with Gathering where illegal drugs are used, both Class-D Felonies. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

A single-vehicle accident at around 12:15-a.m. today (Sunday), claimed the life of a Hamilton County man. The Iowa State Patrol reports 52-year old Monte M. Dilliner, of Stanhope, was riding a 2002 Kawasaki motorcycle eastbound on Highway 175 in Webster County, when the cycle drifted off the road and onto the right shoulder.

When Dilliner lost control of the machine, it rolled over and ejected him.  The man came to rest on the north shoulder of the road. He was pronounced dead the scene.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a 4-vehicle accident on Friday afternoon. At 4:40pm the accident was reported in the 1200 block of Highland Avenue. After investigation it was determined that a 2018 Ford F-150 Supercrew Pickup driven by 49-year-old Douglas Klimek of Red Oak was southbound on Highland when the truck was struck by a 2000 Chevy Blazer driven by 88-year-old Pauline Louise Walker of Red Oak. Walker was backing into the roadway from a parking spot when the accident occurred. The impact caused the Blazer to then collide with a 2003 Chevy Malibu and 1992 Ford Ranger that were parked. Pauline Walker was taken by Red Oak EMS to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to be treated for suspected minor injuries.

Damage to Klimek’s pickup was estimated at $20,000. Damage to the Blazer was estimated at $4,500. The Malibu sustained $1,000 and the Ranger $300 damage. The F-150 was privately towed form the scene. All of the remaining vehicles involved were able to be driven.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the accident.