Iowa Hunger Coalition pushes back on SNAP cuts in Farm Bill

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – One version of the Farm Bill being debated in Congress would cut billions of dollars in SNAP benefits from agriculture-dependent states, including Iowa. Groups fighting hunger in the state are pushing back. The version of the Farm Bill released by House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson would cut nearly 30-billion dollars in SNAP benefits over the next decade – 170-million in Iowa, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Iowa Hunger Coalition Board Chair Luke Elzinga says based on those projections, the cuts would have a big impact on the most vulnerable people in the state.

The so-called Thrifty Food Plan, which creates funding formulas for SNAP and other food assistance programs, would also freeze future benefits. Thompson (R-Penn.) and others have argued this version of the Farm Bill amounts to responsible budgeting and future planning.

Elzinga’s coalition has provided numbers showing SNAP benefits are already not enough to keep up with providing the lowest-cost meals in the state, and come in about 20-percent below what it takes to make ends meet at the dinner table.

This isn’t the final version of the Farm Bill to be debated, but Elzinga argues releasing a measure with such major cuts to SNAP benefits isn’t a good starting point for negotiations. In his view, it creates the perception that for Congress, low-income people are not high on the priority list.

Posted in News |

Lady Vikes Softball complete comeback against Riverside

June 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The AHSTW Lady Vikes softball team had a well-earned 7-4 victory against the Riverside Bulldogs on Tuesday night. Tuesday’s matchup started as a stalemate as neither team was able to get past second through 2 innings of softball. Then in the top of the third Riverside had 3 straight hits and a 2 RBI Double from Kayden Schnack who went 1-4 on the night to take a 3-0 lead. Madison Kelley would tack on one more run with an RBI grounder towards third base to make the game 4-0. AHSTW would respond in the bottom of the third with an RBI triple from Bella Lamp chipping into the lead at 4-1.

The bottom of the fourth is when things turned around for the Lady Vikes thanks to an Addison Carroll sacrifice fly making the game 4-2 and a go ahead 3 RBI homer off of Kendra Hansen’s bat with AHSTW taking the lead at 5-4. Hansen would go 1-3 on the night with 4 RBI’s. The Bulldogs would manage to load the bases up in the top of the sixth with only out to try their turn at a comeback, but the Lady Vikes Etta Partlow stayed calm and retired the next two batters leaving three runners stranded. AHSTW scored two more runs in the bottom of the 6th making the game 7-4 and Riverside had no answer in the top of the 7th. Etta Parlow secured the win pitching 7 innings, having 3 earned runs, 8 hits, 7 strikeouts, and 4 walks.

Lady Vikes Head Coach Kathleen Pace message to her players after the win was to carry this positive energy into the rest of the week.

The sharp pitching from Partlow caught coach Pace’s eye and she gave credit to her starting pitcher.

The win improves AHSTW to 7-7 on the year as they head to Treynor on Thursday. Coach Pace would like to see continual improvement throughout the year.

The Riverside Bulldogs now sit at 8-8 with the loss and will host Tri-Center on Thursday at home.

Posted in Sports |

Former Iowa police chief could face prison for gun sales

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Text messages and emails from a fired Iowa police chief, recently convicted of illegally dealing in automatic weapons, indicate he knowingly used his position in law enforcement to acquire machine guns for himself and his for-profit business. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports, according to court exhibits, former Adair Police Chief Bradley Wendt wrote to an associate in 2019, “This chief (of) police gig is awesome. Send machine guns to my own gun store. LOL.”

In February, a federal jury convicted the 47-year-old Wendt of conspiring to make false statements to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, eight counts of making such false statements himself, and illegal possession of a machine gun.

Beginning in 2017, Wendt served as the chief of police in Adair while also working as the owner of BW Outfitters, a federally licensed firearms dealer with locations in Anita and Denison. Prosecutors allege that between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt used his position as Adair’s chief of police to obtain machine guns for his own personal use and profit, acquiring weapons for concocted law enforcement purposes and then selling them to others through his private company.

Wendt was also accused of selling guns to the Adair Police Department at a profit and of renting out city-owned guns for his personal profit. Generally, machine guns made after May 1986 are illegal to transfer and possess – but an exemption exists for law enforcement agencies, which can buy machine guns for their official use. Dealers can also acquire machine guns to demonstrate to a police department for the department’s potential purchase. If a police department wants to purchase, or receive a demonstration of, a machine gun, it must submit a letter to the ATF, referred to as a “law letter,” expressing its need for and interest in the machine gun.

Exhibits in the criminal trial of former Adair Police Chief Bradley Wendt suggest he knowingly used his position as chief to sell machine guns through his for-profit business. (Gun photo and Facebook text messages from U,S. District Court files)

Between July 2018 and August 2022, Wendt wrote nearly 40 such law letters, requesting the purchase or demonstration of 90 machine guns for the Adair Police Department, which had a total staff of two full-time officers, Wendt included. In the law letters to purchase machine guns for his two-man department, Wendt claimed to be buying the machine guns for the official use of his department and asserted he was not acquiring them for resale.

At trial, prosecutors said the evidence showed Wendt purchased an M134 motor-driven Gatling gun — capable of firing 50 rounds per second and typically used on military helicopters — that he mounted to his personally owned, armored Humvee. In his initial efforts to facilitate that sale, Wendt allegedly wrote a letter, as chief of police, to himself as the owner of BW Outfitters, claiming the Adair Police Department was considering purchasing the weapon due to its ability to lay down “suppressive fire.”

In another instance, prosecutors alleged, Wendt purchased three machine guns for $2,000 each, then sold two of them to a Florida buyer for a total of $50,000. Those guns had been registered to the Adair Police Department.

Wendt now faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count, five years in prison for each of the eight false-statement charges, and up to 10 years’ prison for illegal possession of a machine gun. Sentencing is scheduled for July 1.

Posted in News |

CCCB hosts Kids Book Club on June 25th

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Massena, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board (CCCB) and the Massena Public Library are holding a Kids Book Club Program on the book- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Kids are invited to read the book, discuss it, and learn more at the Massena Public Library in Massena, on Tuesday June 25th, 2024, beginning at 10:00-a.m.

The event is program is FREE, and geared to 3rd grade readers and up. If you need to borrow a copy of the book, both the Cass County Conservation Board and the Massena Public Library have additional copies.

The program on the 25th will feature activities that tie to the book besides discussing the book You DO NOT have to be a registered card holder to attend the program!

Posted in News |

Nunn Promoted to Colonel in United States Air Force

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today (Tuesday) was promoted to Colonel in the United States Air Force during a private ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. alongside family, friends, and colleagues.

“After 20 years of service, I am honored to earn the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force,” said Rep. Nunn. “It is a privilege to serve our country not only in Congress, but also as a member of the armed forces. My time in the Air Force has taught me patriotism, courage, and service above self – values I rely on every day as a father, Colonel, and Congressman.”

Rep. Nunn served our country for two decades in the United States Air Force. As an airborne intelligence officer, Rep. Nunn flew recon missions off the coasts of Russia and China. After 9/11, he deployed three times to the Middle East and flew over 700 combat hours, including being awarded “Aircrew of the Year” for combat operations to save special forces in Afghanistan.

In his 20 years of military service, Rep. Nunn has served as an active-duty officer in the Air Force and the Iowa National Guard. Rep. Nunn currently serves as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Posted in News |

STEPHEN WILLIAMS, 71, of Grant (Celebration of Life 6/21/24)

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

STEPHEN WILLIAMS, 71, of Grant, died May 22, 2024 at Greater Regional Health Center in Creston. A Celebration of Life Memorial service for STEPHEN WILLIAMS will be held 3-p.m. June 21st, at the Massena Baptist Church. Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation at the church is on June 21st, from 2-until 3-p.m.

There will be a light lunch following the service.

Burial is in the Grant Cemetery at Noon on the 21st.

Memorials may be designated to the Massena Baptist Church.

STEPHEN WILLIAMS is survived by:

His brother – Lee (Jeanie) Williams, of Atlantic.

His sisters – Jorene Williams, of Kalispell, Montana and Sheri (Ralph) Lindblad, of Fountain Inn, South Carolina.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Posted in Obituaries |

Higgins Named Phil Steele DPOY; 12 Hawkeyes Earn Preseason Honors

June 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa fifth-year linebacker Jay Higgins has been named Phil Steele’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced Tuesday by the college football publication. The Hawkeyes had three players garner preseason All-America honors and 12 earn preseason All-Big Ten laurels.

Higgins was also tabbed as a preseason first-team All-American, senior center Logan Jones was named to the third team, and graduate linebacker Nick Jackson was a fourth-team All-American. Each of the three players were also named preseason first-team All-Big Ten.

Iowa also had two preseason second-team All-Big Ten honorees in senior offensive tackle Mason Richman and graduate safety Sebastian Castro.

Four players – graduate Nick DeJong (guard), senior Yahya Black (defensive tackle), senior Deontae Craig (defensive end) and junior Drew Stevens (placekicker) – were named preseason third-team All-Big Ten, while senior Luke Lachey (tight end), senior Connor Colby (guard) and senior Luke Elkin (long snapper) were named to the fourth team.

Higgins earned the top defensive honor after having a breakout senior season. He finished the year with 171 tackles, tying the Iowa record, while leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally. The Indianapolis native was a first-team All-American by FWAA, Phil Steele and Sports Illustrated and second-team accolades by AFCA, CBS, Walter Camp, Associated Press and Sporting News.

Jones started 13 games at center for the 2023 Hawkeyes and he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors by the league coaches and Phil Steele. He was one of six juniors named to the Iowa Player Council.

Jackson finished second on the team with 110 tackles, a mark that ranked fourth in the Big Ten. The Atlanta native earned third-team All-Big Ten honors by the league media and honorable mention by the league coaches. Jackson enters his final collegiate season with 464 tackles – the most among active players nationally.

Richman garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and media in 2023 after starting all 14 games for a 10-win team. Castro earned Pro Football Focus first-team All-America and Associated Press third-team honors after finishing with 67 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass breakups.

DeJong was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches after being a super utility on Iowa’s offensive line in 2023. He played in 11 games, starting games at three different positions. Black started 14 games in his first season as a starter, accumulating 51 tackles and five tackles for loss, while Craig was honorable mention All-Big Ten after making 54 tackles, including five tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Stevens earned third-team All-Big Ten honors and was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist after making 18 field goals and leading the team with 73 points.

Lachey missed all but three games in 2023 because of injury. He finished with 10 receptions for 131 yards before sustaining a season-ending injury in Week 3. Colby started all 13 games at right guard a season ago en route to third-team All-Big Ten recognition, while Elkin was the long snapper for the Hawkeye special teams – one of the top units in the nation.

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

Phil Steele Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Jay Higgins

Phil Steele Preseason All-America Teams

Jay Higgins, first team

Logan Jones, third team

Nick Jackson, fourth team

Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Teams

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

Second Team: Mason Richman (OT), Sebastian Castro (S),

Third Team: Nick DeJong (OG), Yahya Black (DT), Deontae Craig (DE), Drew Stevens (PK)

Fourth Team: Luke Lachey (TE), Connor Colby (OG), Luke Elkin (LS)

Posted in Sports |

Naig seeking federal aid for dairy operations hit by bird flu

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig is asking the U-S-D-A to compensate dairy operations struck by bird flu. Naig says it’s a typical move when there’s an animal disease outbreak that leads to the loss of livestock or production. “You see a loss of milk production when a herd is affected, so we think it’s right that those producers, kind of like a crop insurance type concept, would be compensated for those losses,” Naig says, “and we are finding that some animals do have to be culled or sold off of the farm.”

Modern dairy operations have all sorts of ways to monitor cows, including how much they eat and how much milk is produced daily. Naig says those sick cattle are then isolated from the rest of the herd. “Their milk, then, is also captured and siphoned off and so that milk, from the sick pen, does not make it into normal production,” Naig says. “I think this is the good news is that there were already very well established food safety protocols on dairy farms and those certainly serve us well in normal times, but in times like this where there’s a developing situation with an animal disease, those protocols really are important.”

Bird flu has been confirmed among cows at dairy operations in Sioux and O’Brien Counties. A team of U-S-D-A veterinarians is in Iowa this week, trying to determine what might be the connection among poultry and dairy operations that recently have been hit by bird flu. “We requested those resources,” Naig says. “We’re going to probably request some additional resources to really, really run down these leads and really figure this out.” Naig says it will hopefully identify how the virus is moving and help develop new biosecurity strategies for poultry and dairy operations.

When bird flu was first confirmed at poultry farms and in backyard flocks nine years ago, testing was done in nearby poultry operations to try to contain the virus. Now, both dairy farms and poultry operations near a bird flu outbreak are included in testing protocols. “What you’re trying to do, again, is to prevent the spread,” Naig says. “You’re trying to identify early whether there may have been a connection between farms.”

Dr. Jeff Kaisand — the State Veterinarian — says they don’t yet know how bird flu is transmitted from cow to cow within a herd, but there is a key sign a dairy operation has cows infected with the virus. “In certain animals, they’ll see very serious drops in milk production. The milk may have a yellowish color or colostrum like color to it…but it does not usually cause major issues in the dairy farm,” Kaisand says. “We have had some reports that there is for a period time, about four or five days, a marked decrease in milk production.”

Kaisand briefed a state legislative committee at the Iowa Capitol Tuesday. The state vet says once bird flu has been confirmed in a dairy operation, workers are advised to wear protective gear, like face masks and public health officials ask the owner of the dairy to monitor the health of their employees. “We don’t know for sure how it’s being transmitted to people,” Kaisand said. “We don’t know whether it’s milk or other body secretions from the animals.”

While no cases of bird flu in humans have been reported IN IOWA, three dairy workers in other states recently have been infected with the virus after working around sick cows.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

U-S Appeals court hears arguments over law keeping some books out of school libraries

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A U-S Appeals Court heard arguments today (Tuesday) for lifting the injunction against a state law the prevents some books from being in school libraries. The state argues the law keeps sexually explicit books out of schools and inappropriate lessons out of school curriculum’s. The Iowa State Education Association teacher union is one of the groups that seeks to block the law, saying it is unconstitutional. I-S-E-A attorney, Christy Hickman, says it is too vague for schools and school boards to interpret.

“They have been tasked with trying to carry out a law that prohibits school libraries to include books with, quote, descriptions and depictions of sex acts without any additional meaningful guidance,” she says. Hickman says the penalties for violating the law have made teachers hesitant to take action. “Loss of employment licensure complaints that could lead to loss of license licensure the inability to you know practice as a public educator for a certain period of time,” Hickman says.

One of the judges asked why they should act if the book was available through other sources outside the school. “Public school libraries are intended to provide access to books to all children, regardless of whether or not they can buy it at the bookstore,” she says. “So, such an argument, while it might make sense in other contexts, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in the context of of our K-12 Public Schools.”

A judge also questioned why the law should be declared unconstitutional and where it was a better tactic to sue individuals school over the issue. Hickman says the law has already had an impact with reports that thousands of more books than needed being removed from school libraries. “It seems like an obvious chilling effect across the state and I don’t see that changing unless we get some acknowledgment from the Department of Education that there needs to be some additional guidance,” Hickman says.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued a statement after the arguments that says, inappropriate books do not belong in the hands of school children and “they made the case in court to defend Iowa’s law that protects kids, families, and parental rights. It is common sense.”

Posted in News |

Iowans who are planning a summer vacation shouldn’t boast online

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned to prune their social media friends lists and to be careful of who sees their posts about activities, especially summer vacations. Consumer protection expert Michelle Reinen says crooks have been using AI to doctor people’s videos, crafting elaborate scams against their loved ones. Reinen says, “What we’ve learned is it can just be as little as three seconds of your voice being cloned online.”

She suggests doing a sweep of your friends list to make sure you know everyone, and that only those friends can see your posts. Reinen says it’s not a good idea to broadcast your summer plans to the entire internet. “If you post that you have this upcoming vacation a few weeks later, well, you’ve set yourself up to have an opportunity to have things stolen from you,” Reinen says, “because people know that you’re not in your home and they know where your home is.”

For people who have hundreds of social media friends or followers, it may be laborious to wade through the entire list, but Reinen says it’s important to do so and limit who sees your posts. “Keep the private things private,” she says. “Not everybody needs to know everything that’s going on.”

On Facebook, for example, set the parameters on your posts to just “friends” and only on very rare occasions to “public” if you’re intentionally trying to reach a wider audience.

Posted in News |

Community Hub

Hetrick Auto Body

Griswold Communications

KJAN Social