(Radio Iowa) – The the Iowa Cyber Hub is launching a “cybersecurity ambassador” program to help educate everyone about threats. Iowa State University Cybersecurity professor, Doug Jacobson says some of the ambassadors will be students. “And they can go out and into the community, then go out into the schools, and really promote the idea of cybersecurity or talk to people about various cybersecurity issues,” he says. They will also have community ambassadors.

“Which are ambassadors that are in an I-T or a cyber field already. And again, arming them with materials and, stuff that they can go out into their community, going to retirement homes, going to other types of venues, and really just trying to get people to be more conscious of the things they can do to be safer online.” Jacobson says. He says they are working through some of the logistics on how the ambassadors will get the word out in their local communities. Jacobson says for some groups it should be easy to do.

“Take a an ambassador chapter in high school, they have a captive audience already,” he says, “they could go talk to students middle school, they could talk to their peers, and go down and talk some the students in the grade schools.” Jacobson leads the Cyber Hub and says they will also have people who can help follow up after the ambassadors meet with groups.  “If questions come across. There’ll be a resource that people can go to, to ask those questions. Because often times you’ll give a presentation and a lot of questions that come up and people will think of things afterwards. And there may be some specific questions. So we’ll have a resource for people to ask those questions,” Jacobson says.

The program will officially launch in one week on October 31st.

(Radio Iowa) – One of this past summer’s biggest movies is proving to be equally big business for Halloween costumes in Iowa. Juanita Cameron, at the Theatrical Shop in West Des Moines, says blonde wigs and pink outfits are top sellers this October. “The first item is Barbie with her companion, Ken,” Cameron says. “Full outfits, cowboy, she has a white hat and he has the shirt with the fringe, and they’re rockin’ it this Halloween.” The dolls will be marking their 65th anniversary next March, and so far, the “Barbie” movie has grossed more than one-point-four billion dollars at the box office. Cameron says other characters from the big screen are continuing to be popular for Halloween costumes.

“People are falling back on the horror thing, Pennywise, Michael Myers and also, Jason, he’s in there, too,” Cameron says, “but they also like that Spiderverse, so the new Spiderman, and also the Ninja Turtles.” Instead of buying costumes off the rack, Cameron says some shoppers are getting quite creative this season. “People are coming in and they’re kind of doing their own thing and makeup,” Cameron says. “They’re making up as characters in their past. Someone actually wanted to be Lucy, when she was eating all the chocolate in the chocolate factory. People are kind of falling back on those type of things.”

Cameron is referring to Lucille Ball and an “I Love Lucy” episode that first aired in 1952.

(Radio Iowa) – South Carolina Senator Tim Scott’s presidential campaign plans to double its staff in Iowa and has announced that the candidate will be visiting the state weekly. In a news release, Scott’s campaign called it an “all-in on Iowa” strategy. It’s a bet that going for a win in the Caucuses could spur campaign fundraising and propel him in the polls.

Scott’s campaign manager says no other 2024 candidate has higher favorability ratings with Iowa evangelical voters — and there’s a lane for Scott to win the Caucuses if his appeal to those voters is successful. Scott’s faith is front and center as he speaks to Iowa audiences.

“I’m so thankful to know a risen Savior who has helped guide my way,” Scott said recently in Des Moines. This was his message at an Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event in late April. “A liberal reporter wrote that the era of value of voters was over. How ridiculous is that? They have never been to the great state of Iowa,” Scott said. “They have never been a room with a thousand value voters who have faith on their sleeves and Jesus in their hearts.”

Scott often uses Bible verses to frame his policy statements and Scott cites a passage from the New Testament as he talks about the situation in Israel.  “Romans 13:4 says for those who do evil, the wrath of God should be the consequence,” Scott said, “and I hope it comes with some Israeli and American hardware.” Scott is holding a town hall meeting in Indianola late this (Tuesday) morning. He campaigned in Marshalltown last (Monday) night.

Scott’s retooled campaign follows news that a political action committee supporting Scott had pulled the ads it planned to run this fall. It’s also unclear whether Scott will qualify for next month’s candidate debate, as the criteria calls for higher poll numbers. Scott’s campaign says it will boost its spending on social media and has reserved one-point-six million dollars worth of television ads in Iowa markets.

Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision at around 3:30-p.m. Monday, at Highway 25 and Prairie Street, in Creston. Authorities say a 2009 Chevy Impala driven by 16-year-old Jarrett Patrick Luther, of Creston, was attempting to cross Highway 25 as he was traveling west on Prairie Street.

When Luther pulled out in front of a northbound 2013 Ford Escape, driven by 19-year-old Hallie Nicole Orr, of Creston, he didn’t notice the oncoming SUV. He tried to avoid the collision, but his car struck the SUV, causing a total of $6,000 damage.

No citations were issued, but the police report noted Jarrett Luther failed to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 23, 2023) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed two positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), one in Pocahontas County and the other in Guthrie County.

The affected site in Pocahontas County is a commercial turkey flock. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, announced the signing of a disaster proclamation for Pocahontas County, Iowa effective immediately through November 22, 2023. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock there. 

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.   

The affected site in Guthrie County is a mixed species backyard flock.

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165 F.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report the arrest on Saturday, Oct. 21st, of 31-year-old Tawnya Arlene Dunlap, from Lincoln, NE. She was arrested on 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, following a traffic stop at around 8:10-a.m. on Interstate 29 at mile-marker 32. Bond was set at $3,000.

Des Moines, Iowa – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28th, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office of Drug Control Policy encourages Iowans to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused and unneeded medications. Local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies are teaming up to collect leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as part of this special one-day event held each spring and fall. The spring collection, held in April, netted over 3,800 pounds of old medicine from Iowans. To date, Iowans have safely disposed of over 98 tons of unused medications at these events.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for the dangerous misuse of opioid pain relievers and other drugs. “All of us can help reduce the risk of drug diversion and misuse, overdose, and even environmental contamination by properly disposing of unneeded medication,” said Susie Sher, Bureau Chief of the Office of Drug Control Policy.

Iowans can take excess medications to one of Iowa’s Prescription Drug Take Back locations, including nearly 400 permanent pharmacy and law enforcement center sites available on a year-round basis. For Iowa Take Back details, including education information and collection sites, visit: https://odcp.iowa.gov/programs/prescription-drug-take-backs.

Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back events will operate from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at designated sites across Iowa. As part of the national Prescription Drug Take Back program, the DEA also allows the collection of vaping devices and e-cigarettes from individuals, if batteries are first removed from the devices. For more information or to find a site near you, visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Iowans needing help for drug using behaviors or mental health can go to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Service’s YourLifeIowa.org.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon School Board will hold a Special Work Session beginning at 6-p.m. on Wed., Oct. 25th, in the High School Board Room. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss “Options for Transitioning to a New Superintendent,” and the “Next Steps for Hiring a Superintendent.”

The meeting falls on the heels of last week’s announcement Superintendent Eric Trager is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Cedar Rapids school leaders aren’t allowed to appeal directly to voters to approve a massive bond issue next month, but the state’s second largest district is offering unprecedented public tours of its aging — and in many cases century-old — facilities. Superintendent Tawana (tah-WAH-nah) Grover says residents are being shown muddy football fields, tiny cafeterias, and popular Career and Technical Education facilities that are bursting at the seams.

Robert Johnson, an associate principal at Cedar Rapids’ Kennedy High School, says the district wants students to try out career-oriented classes like welding, but the slots go quickly. Johnson says an interested freshman likely won’t get a chance until they’re an upperclassman.

If residents say yes to the bond, the district would get Career and Technical Ed additions to three buildings, a new middle school and more. The bond issues are divided into two phases totaling 445-million dollars, making it the largest school bond in Iowa history. This November, Cedar Rapids is asking for the first 220-million. With it, all buildings in the district would be new or recently-renovated by 2037.

Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum says he has no intention of dropping out if, as expected, he does not meet the polling and fundraising criteria for the next candidate debate on November 8th. “I’m not trying to sell a book. I’m not running for a cabinet position,” Burgum says. “…I look down that debate stage — I’ve created more jobs than all the rest of the candidates combined.” Burgum, who’s in the middle of his second term as North Dakota’s governor, invested in a software company in his home state in 1983. He became the company’s president in 1984 and sold it to Microsoft in 2001. Burgum says while national security is an important issue right now, the economy is what’s crushing Americans.

“We have to have someone from outside of Washington to actually come in and restore trust in the institution,” Burgum says. “We have to have someone who understands how the global economy works. I had people working for me in 130 countries.” Burgum says the president of the United States is the leader of the executive branch should not govern based on grievances or to benefit one party over another. “The role of the president’s more important than ever. We have to have a leader who understands they serve every American, not just serve one party” Burgum says. “Once elected, the job of the executive branch, the cabinet agencies — the limited role of the federal government is to serve everybody. That’s what you do.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said any candidate who does not qualify for next month’s debate in Miami should drop out of the race. Burgum says that’s an insult to the Iowans he’s meeting on the campaign trail. “If you want to let a network and a party, you know, a couple of people at ‘clubhouse rules’ decide who gets to be a finalist, you don’t need an Iowa primary because you’ll be down to one candidate by January,” Burgum said.

Burgum says missing the debate is no loss for him. “There used to be gravitas around presidential debates, but there’s no gravitas. It’s political theater at best and it’s actually reality TV,” Burgum says. “These are designed to drive inter-candidate conflict. They’re not designed to help the voters understand who the candidates are.”

Burgum made his comments during an appearance on “Iowa Press” that aired this weekend on Iowa P-B-S. It appears just three of the OTHER candidates challenging former President Donald Trump have shown they have enough support in polls and from donors to qualify for the next debate. Trump is skipping the televised debates. He’ll host a rally in Florida at the same time as the November 8th debate in Miami.