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Sen. Grassley supports impeachment trial for Sec. Mayorkas over border ‘crisis’

News

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is speaking out in favor of the Senate putting U-S Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on trial for his role in what Republicans say is a crisis at the southern border. The U-S House has voted to impeach Mayorkas and next week, will send the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial. Grassley says Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is angling to get rid of the articles without a trial.

“The Senate has constitutional responsibility to hold an impeachment trial,” Grassley says. “Skipping the trial would be totally unprecedented. Now, just imagine the outrage if Senate Republicans had refused to hold a trial when House Democrats impeached Trump.” Grassley released a video statement saying Schumer sent his Senate colleagues a letter last week, listing 17 priority items for action, a list that did not include the Farm Bill, nor an impeachment trial.

“Skipping the trial this time around would be a blatantly hypocritical move,” Grassley says. “Schumer’s trying to sweep the Biden administration border mess right under the rug. The Senate must hold a trial.” Grassley has signed a letter with 42 other Republican senators, calling on Schumer to hold the trial. The letter calls the southern border “a national security disaster,” and says, “The border crisis under Secretary Mayorkas has become a nightmare for the American people.”

Iowa House passes a bill to change driving privileges for those under the age of 18

News

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa House Representative Tom Moore, from Griswold, reports the House this week passed a bill changing driving privileges for drivers under the age of 18. Moore says Senate File 2109 is the result of the Minor Driver’s License Interim Committee that met last fall.

Representative Moore said …

Teens must have written permission from a parent or guardian filed with the DOT.

Rep. Thomas Jay Moore (R-Griswold) (official photo)

Sac County Sheriff’s Office K9 Remo has received donation of body armor

News

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Sac City, Iowa) – The Sac County Sheriff’s Office reports their K9 “Remo” has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Remo’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Hobbs, Des Moines, IA – EOW (End of Watch) 12/12/23”.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 5,514 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

Sac County Sheriff’s Office K9 “Remo.” (photo from SCSO’s Facebook page)

The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $985 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1800.00, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty.
For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

 

High School Boys track results from Thursday April 11th

Sports

April 12th, 2024 by admin

8TH ANNUAL CB INVITATIONAL

2. Glenwood (105 points)

•Bryant Keller, 800 meter run (2:03.52)

•Reagan Skarnulis, shot put (51-05.50)

•4×100 meter relay: Jackson Mulkins, Trey Darden, Keaton German, Patton Longmeyer (43.79)

•Distance medley relay: Payton Longmeyer, Trey Darden, Cooper DeLashmutt, Andrew Smith (3:45.80)

 

3. Lewis Central (86 points)

•Ethan Eichhorn, 400 meter dash (54.30)

•Richard Selken, 1600 meter run (4:44.35)

•Marshall Arkfeld, 3200 meter run (10:51.08)

•800 sprint medley relay: Leonardo Hinojosa, Jimmy Scott, Parker Stessman, Aidan Bergman (1:40.46)

 

4. Bishop Heelan Catholic (80 points)

•Hunter Wauhob, 110 hurdles (14.41)

•Quinn Olson, 400 hurdles (55.54)

•Carson McInerney, discus throw (155-10)

•Shuttle hurdle relay: Quinn Olson, James Arlt, Drew Uhl, Hunter Wauhob (1:01.04)

 

5. Sioux City East (66 points)

•Louden Grimsley, 200 meter dash (22.05)

•4×200 meter relay: Fitzy Grant, Louden Grimsley, J.J. Ghosh, Christopher Ford (1:32.21)

 

6. Thomas Jefferson (65 points)

 

7. Harlan (50 points)

•Cade Sears, 100 meter dash (10.73)

•Brehden Eggerss, long jump (21-07.00)

 

8. Atlantic (43 points)

•Colton Rasmussen, high jump (6-00.00)

 

9. Treynor (38 points)

10. Abraham Lincoln (31 points)

10. St. Albert (31 points)

12. Red Oak (12 points)

High School Girls track results from Thursday April 11th

Sports

April 12th, 2024 by admin

FILLIE RELAYS AT SHENANDOAH

1. Fremont-Mills (100 points)

•Ellie Switzer, 400 meter dash (1:06.02)

•Emily Madison, high jump (5-04.00)

•4×100 meter relay: Izzy Weldon, Bella Gute, Carlie Chambers, Madison (52.83)

•Shuttle hurdle relay: Gute, Weldon, Carlie Nuckolls, Madison

 

2. Riverside (95 points)

•Bentley Rone, 800 meter run (2:38.93)

•4×400 meter relay: Kayden Schnack, Myah Husz, Sophia Fenner, Rone (4:33.62)

•4×800 meter relay: Bailey Richardson, Myah Husz, Meg Haines, Amaiya Less (11:48.95)

 

3. Shenandoah (78 points)

•Hailey Egbert, 1500 meter run (5:36.80) & 3000 meter run (11:39.92)

•Lynnae Green, shot put (36-04.75)

4. Red Oak (68 points)

•Jocelyn O’Neal, 200 meter dash (27.30) & long jump (16-07.50)

•4×200 meter relay: Amber Rea, Natalie Johnson, Gillian Heim, Karly Jenkins (2:02.41)

•Sprint medley relay: Amber Rea, Marley Gray, Karly Jenkins, Jocelyn O’Neal (1:58.88)

 

5. Stanton (64 points)

•Hannah Olson, 100 meter hurdles (16.51)

•Lauren Johnson, 400 meter hurdles (1:11.96)

 

6. Griswold (55 points)

 

7. Bedford (53 points)

•Distance medley relay: Caroline Simmons, Jaynee Snethen, Makayla Nicholas, Aniya Hardee (5:15.34)

 

8. East Mills (24 points)

 

9. Essex (23 points)

•Cindy Swain, 100 meter dash (13.31)

10. Sidney (20 points)

•Lilly Peters, discus (115-08)

High School Boys & Girls Tennis results from Thursday April 11th

Sports

April 12th, 2024 by admin

Boys

Atlantic 7, St. Albert 2

Southwest Valley 7, Atlantic 2

Southwest Valley 7, St. Albert 2

Audubon 8, Harlan 1

Bishop Heelan 9, Denison-Schleswig 0

Maryville 9, Clarinda 0

 

Girls

St. Albert 7, Atlantic 2

Southwest Valley 6, Atlantic 3

Southwest Valley 5, St. Albert 4

Harlan 5, Audubon 4

Spring cleaning can help improve mood, productivity

News

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – With the warmer weather, Iowans are finally starting to launch into their spring cleaning projects, sprucing up both their homes and their work spaces. Jessica Boland, a worksite wellness consultant, says cleansing and decluttering can help to improve your mood and your productivity level while reducing stress, though she reminds, don’t stress yourself out by trying to tackle too much at once.

“Make a plan for maybe doing one room in your home at a time,” Boland says. “Think about cleaning out drawers, closets, cupboards, and maybe organizing things into different piles. So maybe you have a pile for donation, keeping and recycling.” Once you get your space looking like you want it, Boland says you should consider what it will take to maintain that level of organization and to keep the clutter from reappearing.

“Maybe it’s doing a load of dishes every day in your kitchen, and then that will keep our counters free of clutter,” Boland says. “Maybe it’s doing laundry once a day, if possible, and maybe even it’s just sorting through your mail for five minutes every day to keep your counters free.” Once something is stuffed in a closet, some consider if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind, but Boland suggests you dig into those closets and be realistic about what you’ve saved.

“So if you have clothes in your closet from high school, maybe just ask yourself, ‘Do I really need these?'” Boland says. “Maybe you just think about, ‘These clothes were nice when I wore them in high school but I don’t need them,’ and maybe sometimes even taking a picture so you have a memory of that item.”

Boland is a consultant for Gundersen Health System, which has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

Groups on both sides of abortion speak about Sup Court arguments

News

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There was interest inside and outside the courtroom as the Iowa Supreme Court held oral arguments on the fetal heartbeat law. A group of people who back the law gathered in the parking lot of the Judicial Building at noon Thursday to pray and then entered the courtroom for the arguments. Opponents of the law held a rally on the courthouse lawn. Ruth Richardson, president and C-E-O of Planned Parenthood of North Central States, says “We are going to shout from the rooftops: ‘No bans now. No bans ever.'”

“I am so grateful to be in this space with all of you today because in this time what we need more than anything else is community,” she said. “We need to show up and we need to speak out and bodily autonomy.” House Speaker Pat Grassley says he’s not offering any predictions, but he’s hopeful the court will uphold the law he and other House Republicans passed last July. “It was something that we were willing to come in for a special session, we felt so strongly about it,” Grassley says.

Other Republican lawmakers who voted for the law in July were in the courtroom. Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville says “It’s just a waiting game now to see what they do.”  Salmon also voted for the 2018 six week abortion ban that the Iowa Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional. “We’ve got different justices on there now, so things could turn around pretty easily,” Salmon says, “so we’ll just see how that all pans out.”

After the legal arguments were over, the legal director of the A-C-L-U of Iowa told reporters it’s never wise to speculate about the questions the justices asked. Peter Im, an attorney for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told reporters they’re hoping the Supreme Court sends the case back to the district court. “This case, it was about five days old when it was appealed,” Im says. “…Ultimately I do think the case would probably end up back here, but it would end up back here in a situation where the arguments and everything are much more developed.”

The Iowa Board of Medicine has developed rules for how it would administer the law if the court lets it go into effect. The law does include exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest and for medical emergencies that endanger the life of the pregnant woman. The law also allows abortion when fetal abnormalities are fatal.

Crop planting is underway amid lingering concerns about deep soil moisture

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Warm soil temperatures and favorable weather have allowed farmers across Iowa to start planting corn and soybeans this week, according to several field agronomists. Wednesday was the earliest planting date for corn to be eligible for federal crop insurance replanting payments, which cover farmers if their young crops are damaged and need to be replaced. The earliest planting date for soybeans was also Wednesday for the southern three tiers of Iowa counties, and it’s April 15 for the rest of the state.

Most of the state’s topsoil has a temperature of at least 50 degrees, according to Iowa State University data. That temperature is a key threshold for seed germination. Soil temps are predicted to rise into the 60s in the coming days before retreating into the 40s by the end of next week. Air temperatures are expected to peak in the 80s in most of Iowa this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rainfall in wide areas of the state in March helped alleviate drought conditions that have persisted for more than three years. Still, available soil moisture is far behind what it has been in recent years.

About 51% of the state’s topsoil and 36% of its subsoil have adequate or surplus moisture, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Monday. At this time last year, those figures were 78% and 66%. The depleted subsoil is most worrisome for the field agronomists. About two-thirds of the state is suffering from some measure of drought, according to a Thursday report by the U.S. Drought Monitor. That affected area has declined for weeks and was aided again last week by heavy rainfall in southeast Iowa, which delayed planting in that area.

Those rains have alleviated some of the concerns about available water for livestock along the state’s southern border.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Friday, April 12, 2024

Weather

April 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 41.
Tomorrow: Increasing clouds & breezy, with a high near 82. S @ 10-25 mph.
Tom. Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind 10-20 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 54.
Monday: A slight chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, otherwise sunny & windy, with a high near 85.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 61. The Low was 35. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 85, and the Low was 55. The All-Time Record High on April 12th in Atlantic, was 86, in 1916. The Record Low was 13, in 1957. Sunrise: 6:45. Sunset: 7:57.