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Speaker Grassley, 31 GOP lawmakers react to IUB decision on carbon pipeline

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The top Republican in the Iowa House says the legislature must update the state’s eminent domain laws in response to the Iowa Utilities Board decision to approve the route for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. The board’s decision gives the company authority to force unwilling property owners to let the pipeline on their land. House Speaker Pat Grassley says landowner rights are one of the highest priorities for House Republicans and that’s why they passed two different bills on the topic — bills that died in the Republican-led Iowa Senate.

Grassley says House Republicans will seek feedback from Iowans on changes in the use of eminent domain in projects like the carbon pipeline. Two dozen other House Republicans — and seven Republicans who are state senators — have signed a joint statement, calling the Iowa Utilities Board decision a dark day for anyone who owns property in Iowa. The group says the board has crossed a line and the state’s proud tradition of clean government is being sullied.

Supporters of the pipeline say it will help Iowa-produced ethanol compete in low carbon fuel markets around the globe. In a written statement, Monte Shaw of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association said despite the overheated rhetoric of a few, the overwhelming majority of impacted landowners support this project. According to Summit’s C-E-O, 75 percent of Iowa landowners along the pipeline route have signed contracts to let the pipeline pass through their property.

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Here is the list of lawmakers who signed on to the statement: Senator Kevin Alons, Senator Jeff Taylor, Senator Dennis Guth, Senator David Rowley, Senator Sandy Salmon, Senator Cherielynn Westrich, Senator Lynn Evans, Representative Steven Bradley, Representative Ken Carlson, Representative Mark Cisneros, Representative Zach Dieken, Representative Dean Fisher, Representative Thomas Gerhold, Representative Cindy Golding, Representative Helena Hayes, Representative Steven Holt, Representative Thomas Jeneary, Representative Bradley Sherman, Representative Jeff Shipley, Representative Luana Stoltenberg, Representative Mark Thompson, Representative Anne Osmundson, Representative Brooke Boden, Representative Henry Stone, Representative Heather Hora, Representative Skyler Wheeler, Representative Eddie Andrews, Representative Dan Gehlbach, Representative Bob Henderson, Representative Bobby Kaufman, and Representative Charles Thomson.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Wed., June 26, 2024

Weather

June 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly sunny-to-sunny. High near 84. North northeast winds 10–to-20 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy w/a 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 78. E/SE winds at 10-20 becoming S/SE.

Tom. Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 64.

Friday: Showers & thunderstorms ending by around 7am. Becoming partly sunny & breezy. High near 88.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 94. Our Low this morning was 66. We received .06″ rain last night at KJAN. This day last year in Atlantic the high was 80 and the low 52. The Record High in Atlantic on June 26th, was 103 in 1934 & 1936. The Record Low was 43, in 1902. Sunrise this morning: 5:47 am. Sunset: 8:58 pm.

Posted in Weather |

Landowner coalition blasts IUB decision on Summit pipeline

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Landowners who have refused to grant property easements for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline say they’re outraged state regulators have given the project a green light — and considering their legal options. The Iowa Utilities Board announced today (Tuesday) that the project would get a construction permit if regulators in the Dakotas approve the pipeline route in their states. Jess Mazour of the Sierra Club’s Iowa chapter has been working with a coalition of landowners for the past three years.

“The Iowa Utilities Board voted 3-0 against Iowans and impacted landowners in favor of a dangerous and unpopular project that violates private property rights and the fact that IUB related this decision when a large portion of Summit’s route is underwater is shameful and callous,” Mazour said. “Iowa landowners are currently losing their homes and now get word they may be losing their farms.”

Sherri Webb and her siblings inherited Shelby County land from their grandmother. During the Iowa Utilities Board hearings last fall, she testified against the use of eminent domain to seize her family’s land for the project.  “I hope that the Iowa landowners now understand that absolutely none of their land is safe from being taken,” Webb said. “Will we give up? No. We will appeal and we will never give up.” Attorney Brian Jorde says the first step is a formal request that asks the Utilities Board to reconsider its decision, then a lawsuit could be filed in Iowa district court after that.

“They were handpicked, the three members of the IUB, to do this job,” Jorde says. “…Obviously disappointing, but I invite people to be more disappointed in Iowa’s politicians than Summit.” Jorde says Iowa politicians rolled out the red carpet for the pipeline developer. Governor Reynolds appointed two of the three members of the Iowa Utilities Board after it began reviewing Summit’s construction permit.

Wally Taylor, an attorney for the Sierra Club Iowa chapter, says regulators ignored evidence showing the project had no direct benefit to the public, but is designed to profit Summit and the ethanol plants it chooses to link to the pipeline.  “It isn’t like a train or an airplane where any passenger that buys a ticket can get on,” Taylor says.

The Iowa Utilibites Board decision stipulates that Summit must get approval from North Dakota for its pipeline route and underground storage location AND from South Dakota regulators for the route in that state. The approval process in South Dakota could stretch into 2026.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

GORDON R. FRIZZELL, 93, of Council Bluffs (formerly of Oakland) – Svcs. 7/2/24

Obituaries

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

GORDON R. FRIZZELL, 93, of Council Bluffs (& formerly of Oakland) died Monday, June 24, 2024, at Midlands Living Center in Council Bluffs. Funeral services for GORDON FRIZZELL will be held 2-p.m. Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024, at the Oakland United Methodist Church. Rieken-Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family.

Visitation with the family is on Tuesday, from 1-until 2-p.m. at the Oakland United Methodist Church.

GORDON R. FRIZZELL is survived by:

His daughters – Kathi (Dean) Sharp, and Debbie (David) Simonin.

His son – Jamie (Rebecca) Frizzell.

6 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

NANCY MARIE JONES, 75, of Audubon (Visitation 7/1/24; Private interment)

Obituaries

June 25th, 2024 by Jim Field

NANCY MARIE JONES, 75, of Audubon died Monday, June 24, 2024 at Bergen Mercy in Omaha, NE.  Services for NANCY MARIE JONES are currently pending with Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.

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Open visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 1, 2024, at Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon, IA.

Private family interment will take place at Murray Cemetery in Murray, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the Jones Family to be designated to many of her favorite organizations and charities. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

NANCY JONES is survived by:

Her sons – Bob (Monica) Jones, of Audubon [& their children Maria & Riley], and Jason (Anne) Jones, of Fredericksburg, VA.

Her step-daughters (& their children): Cris (Jason) Uhlenhopp, of Allison, IA, and Shelly (Chad) Oelke, of Omaha, NE.

Her sister – Vicki Merrill, of Indianola.

Posted in Obituaries |

4 Hawkeyes Garner Athlon Preseason All-America Honors

Sports

June 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Four University of Iowa football players have garnered Athlon preseason All-America honors for the 2024 season, it was announced Tuesday by the publication.

Fifth-year linebacker Jay Higgins was named to the first team, sixth-year linebacker Nick Jackson was a second team selection, center Logan Jones was a third-team honoree and defensive back Sebastian Castro was a fourth-team selection.

The Hawkeyes also had 14 players earn preseason All-Big Ten recognition by Athlon. Higgins, Jackson and Jones were first-team selections, senior Luke Lachey (tight end), senior Connor Colby (guard), senior Yahya Black (defensive tackle), graduate Quinn Schulte (defensive back) and Castro were second-team honorees, senior Deontae Craig (defensive end) and junior Xavier Nwankpa (defensive back) were tabbed as third-teamers and senior Leshon Williams (running back), senior Mason Richman (offensive tackle), graduate Jermari Harris (defensive back) and junior Drew Stevens (placekicker) were fourth-team selections.

Higgins, who was also named a preseason first-team All-American and the preseason National Defensive Player of the Year by Phil Steele, tied a program record with 171 tackles in 2023 to lead the Big Ten and rank third nationally.

Jackson earned his second All-America nod (fourth team by Phil Steele) after making 110 tackles in his first season as a Hawkeye. The Atlanta native has 464 tackles in his collegiate career, sitting just 113 stops from tying the all-time NCAA record.

Jones received his second third-team All-America nod after starting 13 games at center in 2023. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection a season ago.

Castro earned his first preseason All-America honor after making 67 tackles, recording three interceptions and having eight pass breakups in Iowa’s CASH position a season ago. The Illinois native earned Pro Football Focus first-team All-America and Associated Press third-team honors in 2023.

Lachey missed all but three games in 2023 because of injury. He made 10 catches for 131 yards before sustaining a season-ending injury in Week 3. Colby started 13 games at right guard en route to third-team All-Big Ten honors, Black accumulated 51 tackles and had five tackles for loss in 2023, while Schulte started 14 games, recording 65 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception. Schulte is a Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate.

Craig earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a junior after making 54 tackles, including five tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Nwankpa started 12 games at strong safety as a sophomore, where he made 42 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.

Williams earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2023 after leading the team with 821 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Illinois native had three 100-yard games. Richman started all 14 games and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2023, while Harris started 12 times, making 42 tackles, one tackle for loss, eight pass break-ups and one interception. He was Iowa’s Comeback Player of the Year Award recipient. Stevens was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree (coaches) and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 2023 after leading the team with 73 points on 18 field goals and 19 PATs.

The Hawkeyes open the 2024 season Aug. 31, hosting Illinois State at 11 a.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium.

 

Athlon Preseason All-America Teams

Jay Higgins, first team

Nick Jackson, second team

Logan Jones, third team

Sebastian Castro, fourth team

 

Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Teams

First Team: Jay Higgins (LB), Nick Jackson (LB), Logan Jones (center)

Second Team: Luke Lachey (TE), Connor Colby (OG), Yahya Black (DT), Sebastian Castro (DB), Quinn Schulte (DB)

Third Team: Deontae Craig (DE), Xavier Nwankpa (DB)

Fourth Team: Leshon Williams (RB), Mason Richman (OT), Jermari Harris (DB), Drew Stevens (PK)

Posted in Sports |

Domino toppling brothers from NW Iowa to appear on national TV tonight

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Twin brothers from northwest Iowa will appear on tonight’s (Tuesday) episode of “America’s Got Talent,” displaying their abilities in the building of intricate patterns with dominos — and then letting them tumble. Alex Koops of Sioux Center says he and his brother Derek grew up watching the show, so it’s a thrill to be featured guests. Koops says they’ve gained some celebrity status after winning the FOX Network’s “Domino Masters” in 2022.

“There are a lot of kids that loved watching us, come up and tell us about how much they loved our domino topples,” Koops says. “That also led into library programs so that was really cool. We could set up a demonstration. A lot of people came and watched those, a lot of kids, so it was cool showing off.” The twins have just shy of 200-thousand followers on YouTube with 45-million views, and close to 60-thousand followers on TikTok.

For tonight’s show, Koops says they flew to L-A in April and spent a week there. They had one full day to set up their topple for the recording of the episode. Because their setup was extensive, theirs was the first act to go, but it won’t necessarily be the first act that is broadcast tonight. Koops says the setup was a unique experience for them.  “The cool thing about it was, I think the last hour we spent building was when the audience started coming back, so we had probably like two- or 3,000 people just watching us build,” he says.

“Just that was for sure a different experience and then during the topple, I think it was the most we’ve ever performed in front of two- or 3,000 people.” The only interaction they had with the celebrity judges was during the interview before and after the topple. Off stage, the twins enjoyed mingling with other contestants and really enjoyed interacting with the host, Terry Crews.  “We didn’t have quite as much time as we were given on ‘Domino Masters’ for this audition and it’s just the two of us, so it’s not quite as spectacular as maybe those fields, but I’m still really proud of what we came up with,” Koops says, “so I think everyone will enjoy it.”

The brothers could not disclose whether they get to move on in the competition. “America’s Got Talent” airs at 7 p-m on N-B-C.

Posted in News |

Company awarded state incentives to expand in Boone County

News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A central Iowa company is receiving state incentives to expand its business. Iowa Economic Development Authority spokesperson, Kanan Kappelman says the company acquired 80 acres of land for the project in Boone County. “M-G Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company. They manufacture and distribute animal treatments, which include plasma, antibody products, and anti-venom. So they’re they’re planning on making a five million dollar capital investment,” she says.

The project involves two buildings, including a 20-thousand-square-foot multi-level facility for research, manufacturing and office space.. The other building will be used to treat animals. “The company is going to construct a six-thousand square foot animal care facility,” she says. Kappelman says there will be a small addition to the company’s workforce. “This project involves eight new jobs and the Iowa Economic Development Board awarded the company 231-thousand dollars in tax benefits,” Kappelman says.

The jobs will pay more than 31 dollars an hour.

Posted in News |

Iowa lawmaker blasts board’s carbon pipeline decision

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A key Republican legislator is ripping the Iowa Utilities Board decision to approve the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton said the ruling sets a dangerous precedent. “The Utilities Board is dead wrong,” Kaufmann said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “They have failed miserably at their job and I’m going to file legislation to do their job for them.”

Kaufmann accused the board of capitulating to pressure from influential Republican donor Bruce Rastetter, who owns Summit Carbon Solutions. “I am stunned that Bruce Rastetter’s wallet has been found to be a public good,” Kaufmann said. “That to me is one of the worst rulings in the history of Iowa government.” The Iowa Utilities Board ruled the project’s public benefits outweigh the public and private costs.

Kaufmann said the board’s ruling is a signal the 300 mile Wolf pipeline is likely to be approved and it could lead to the “resurrection” of Navigator’s abandoned pipeline project. Kaufmann, along with a majority of Iowa House members, have passed legislation in previous years that would have set new requirements for the proposed pipeline, but those bills were never considered in the Iowa Senate.

Kaufmann predicts today’s Iowa Utilities Board decision will be a catalyst for action. “It was always a ‘What if? What if?’” Kaufmann said. “There’s no longer a ‘What if?’” Landowners who’ve opposed the project will speak at an online news conference later this afternoon.

The American Carbon Alliance issued a written statement this morning, commending the Iowa Utilities Board decision. The group’s CEO said the decision will be “transformative for the ag industry” by lowering or eliminating ethanol’s carbon footprint and, therefore, expanding ethanol’s use.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

73 Hawkeyes Named B1G Distinguished Scholars

Sports

June 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Seventy-three University of Iowa student-athletes have been named Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.

 

Among the Iowa honorees, 21 maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the 2023-24 academic term, including:

 

Sofia Bush, women’s soccer

Samantha Cary, women’s soccer

Hillary Cox, field hockey

Molly Davis, Women’s Basketball

Harper Dunne, field hockey

Sharon Goodman, Women’s Basketball

Aaron Graves, football

Abby Jaynes, rowing

Luke Lachey, football

Lauren McMahon, women’s track & field/cross country

Katie Moore, women’s track & field/cross country

Julia Pattison, women’s track & field/cross country

Felipe Pedraza, men’s golf

Abby Ryon, women’s track & field/cross country

Lillian Schmidt, women’s track & field/cross country

Cullan Schriever, men’s wrestling

Sofie Stribos, field hockey

Kelli Tosic, women’s track & field/cross country

Ellie Twedt, women’s track & field/cross country

Michelle Urquhart, volleyball

Kaia Vanney, women’s gymnastics

 

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for a student-athlete’s academic career.

 

The Big Ten recognized 1,695 student-athletes in 38 different sports as Distinguished Scholars, including 385 who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the previous academic term.

Posted in Sports |