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Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Monday, Feb. 5. 2024

Weather

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. North wind around 5 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 29.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy & windy, with a high near 57.
Wed. Night: Cloudy & windy, w/a 40% chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Low around 46.
Thursday: Partly sunny & windy, w/a 40% chance of rain. High near 61.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 47. The Low was 24. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 47 and the Low was 27. The Record High for Feb. 5th in Atlantic, was 66 in 1948. The Record Low was -26, in 1936. Sunrise today: 7:28. Sunset: 5:41.

National group weights in on Iowa reading standards

News

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill in the Iowa Senate would ban a type of reading instruction called “three cueing” and require that all Iowa schools use what’s called the science of reading. Heather Peske, executive director of the National Council for Teacher Quality, says it’s the appropriate move. She suggests state standards should specifically list phonics and other components of the science of reading — and provide Iowa schools with a list of the best reading courses available.

“It kind of serves almost as though it’s like a consumer protection device,” Peske says. “Many districts don’t have the capacity to review curriculum materials themselves. Some of them might not have much of an expertise in this.” Peske says Iowa policymakers should consider changing licensing standards for elementary teachers, too, so they’d have to pass an exam that tests their knowledge of research about how kids learn how to read.

“The stakes are very high for children,” Peske says, “and we need to make sure that teachers have the knowledge and skills before they get into classrooms to be able to effectively teach them to read.” Governor Reynolds wants to make a test called the “Foundations of Reading” a requirement in teacher preparation programs in Iowa. The three-cueing system of reading instruction has been banned in a dozen states — including Minnesota and Wisconsin — and Iowa is among several considering a ban this year.

Three-cueing encourages young students to draw clues from pictures on the page or other words in a sentence to figure out what a word might be before looking at the letters in the word and what sounds those letter combinations make.

French firm to pay Iowa $2.5 million as part of national opioid settlement

News

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An ad agency that promoted sales of OxyContin has agreed to pay Iowa over two-and-a-half MILLION dollars to address the opioid crisis. Publicis – which is part of a French media company – has agreed to pay a national settlement of 350 MILLION dollars. State prosecutors accused the marketing agency of downplaying the risks and addictive nature of OxyContin and other opioids.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says the company’s actions were flat wrong and the settlement secures critical funding for opioid treatment and prevention efforts to save lives across Iowa. Publicis worked with Purdue Pharma from 2010 and 2019 and state prosecutors accused the firm of contacting doctors who had the highest volume of OxyContin prescriptions and encouraging them to increase the dosages for patients.

A statement from the company said the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing. The marketing firm has agreed to give state prosecutors internal documents showing how it marketed opioids.

Bill calls for patriotic exercises in Iowa schools on 10 holidays

News

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill under consideration in the Iowa House would require schools to teach students the meaning of ten national holidays. Constitution Day in September, Columbus Day in October and Veterans Day in November are on the list, along with Bill of Rights Day in December and Martin Luther King, Junior’s Birthday in January. Republican Representative Brooke Boden of Indianola says it’s important to make celebrations of these holidays consistent from one school to another.

“I think that we need to make sure that we are teaching our children to respect America and that they should know what each one of these holidays mean,” Boden says. “It’s not just something that’s written on the calendar. It’s not just something that’s taken lightly.” The bill calls for social studies teachers in public schools to lead appropriate patriotic exercises to commemorate each of the holidays on the list, but the bill does not describe what those exercises should be.

Representative Art Staed, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says it’s worth teaching the meaning of these holidays, but the legislature does not need to pass the bill. “This is just a superficial thing,” Staed says. “I don’t know who it pleases, but it’s a problematic thing for our schools and curriculum.”

The bill has cleared a House subcommittee and is eligible for a vote in the House Education Committee, along with another bill that would require students to stand and sing the National Anthem each school da

Iowa Senate GOP Leader Whitver, former ISU athlete, comments on DCI probe of sports betting among UI, ISU athletes

News, Sports

February 5th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican leader in the Iowa Senate says legislators are monitoring what’s unfolding from the state investigation of sports bets placed by male athletes at Iowa and Iowa State. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says facts will be revealed as the civil lawsuits filed by the targeted athletes make their way through the court system.

Whitver was an Iowa State wide receiver — a starter for three seasons. That was two decades ago. He’s currently in his fourth term in the Iowa Senate and, as majority leader, brings up bills for debate.

Whitver made his comments this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

Dinnebier Triple-Double Highlights Team Victory Over UNI

Sports

February 4th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Drake University women’s basketball team righted the ship with a hard-fought 79-71 win at rival UNI this evening. The Bulldogs used a staunch defensive display and benefitted from Katie Dinnebier’s first-career triple-double to down UNI (7-12, 6-4) in Cedar Falls.

The Bulldogs (16-5, 9-1) won the tip and promptly put the first points on the board as Grace Berg collected a Courtney Becker dish and banked one in. UNI answered on the other end with a deuce from MVC Preseason Player of the Year Grace Boffeli.

The Drake offense continued to click early on as Becker finished a back-cut score to cap off a quick 7-0 run and force a Panther timeout. The Bulldogs extended their lead into double figures for the first time after the pause as Becker sprinted the floor for another bucket and Katie Dinnebier sank a pair of free throws.

Dinnebier made more history during her junior season with a 17-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, just the second in program history and the first of her career. Her 11 boards were also a career high.

Grace Berg led Drake’s scoring effort with 20 points, her sixth game of the year with at least 20 points.

Anna Miller and Courtney Becker also reached double figures on the glass with 10 rebounds and 12 rebounds, respectively. Miller added five blocks to lead all players and climb into sole possession of second on Drake’s all-time blocks list.

“This is a very, very good UNI team and we knew we had to be ready from the start,” Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. “I was proud of our team to be able to get scores and stops right away. We’re halfway through the conference schedule so I just wanted to see a fiery group coming in…and our team was so fired up and we got better. Every game we play is a big one and it’s special coming back [to Cedar Falls] and playing as well as we did.”

The Bulldogs will return home after their recent three-game road stretch for a pair of MVC matchups. Drake is set to conclude two season series as Bradley (Feb. 8) and Illinois State (Feb. 10) come to town.

Saturday High School Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball Scores

Sports

February 4th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Boy’s Basketball

Saydel 67, West Central Valley 28 (NC)
Bedford 56, Southwest Valley 52
Treynor 75, St. Albert 60
Denison-Schleswig 57, Carroll 50
Southeast Warren 103, Nodaway Valley 56
Exira-EHK 63 Lenox, 35 (NC)
Pella Christian 53 Van Meter, 52 (NC)

Girl’s Basketball

West Central Valley 53, Saydel 13 (NC)
Bedford 47, Southwest Valley 42
St. Albert 63, Treynor 44 (NC)
Orient-Macksburg 43, East Union 39 (NC)
Carroll 48, Denison-Schleswig 35 (NC)
Nodaway Valley 79, Southeast Warren 35
Exira-EHK 80 Lenox, 59 (NC)

2 Hawkeyes Win Grand View Open Titles

Sports

February 4th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

DES MOINES, Iowa – The second-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team brought home two titles from the Grand View Open on Saturday afternoon at the Johnson Wellness Center and Sisam Arena.

Felicity Taylor finished the day at the top of the podium after going 4-0 at 116 pounds. In the championship matchup, Taylor downed Missouri Baptist’s Juliana Diaz via a 9-3 decision. Bella Mir captured the second title for the Hawkeyes at 155, going 5-0 on the day. Mir defeated Shannon Workinger of Menlo by forfeit, finishing her tournament run.

Jaycee Foeller reached the finals at 191, after going 4-0. Foeller fell in the finals to Menlo’s Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson, via injury default.

Iowa’s Lilly Luft and Emmily Pautnead battled it out at 136 for third place. Luft took the win over Pautnead, winning via a 6-0 decision. Sam Calkins also finished the day out at the third-place bout, falling to Wayland Baptist’s Leilani Sanchez by decision, 4-2, at 235.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will head to Indianola, Iowa, at the end of February to compete in the NCWWC Regional Championships hosted by Simpson College. The top four finishers from this tournament at each weight class will qualify for the NCWWC National Championships in March.

Bookin-Nosbisch Rewrites Program’s Record Book

Sports

February 4th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – University of Iowa Track and Field senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch improved her 800-meter school record on Saturday at the Meyo Invitational. The senior from Ottumwa, Iowa, shaved her program best down to 2:04.20. 

“Today’s meet really got me rolling,” Bookin-Nosbisch said. “I got pretty boxed in early, and I was not able to get out as fast as I would have liked. I believe there is more in the tank. I’m excited for next weekend and have so much momentum heading into Arkansas.”

“Alli has been having a tremendous year,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “That’s her first 800 of the year and I think she has more in the tank. Her training has been incredible. It’s great to get that school record updated on the board. She can take it to an even higher level next week.”

Her twin sister, Grace Bookin-Nosbisch, joined Iowa’s top-10 list with a 2:08.09 mark that ranks eighth in the Hawkeye record book. In total, ten Hawkeyes recorded career bests at the Meyo Invitational, including eight new PRs in the 800 meters. 

On the men’s side, senior Nick O’Connor placed fifth in the 800-meter championship, running 1:50.55 for a new personal best. Sophomore Ryan Schreiner was close behind with a personal-best 1:51.08.

Four more Hawkeyes set PRs in open 800-meter races, including senior Katie Moore, sophomore Lily Johannes, sophomore Jalyssa Blazek and sophomore Derek Leicht

Iowa’s additional personal bests at Meyo came in the distance races. Freshman Cameron Kalaway improved to 5:06.86 in the open women’s mile, while junior Yohana Yual ran 8:21.88 in the men’s championship 3,000 meters. 

Elsewhere, junior Miya Brines placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles with an 8.58 mark. Brines was one of seven Hawkeyes to place inside the top ten in a final at the Meyo Invitational.

In Albuquerque, redshirt sophomore Chloe Larsen completed a strong weekend by moving into tenth on Iowa’s all-time list in the 400-meter race. After climbing to third in the 600 meters yesterday, Larsen doubled up with a 54.20 personal best to lead the Hawkeyes in the 400 meters. Additionally, sophomore Gabby Cortez (55.11) and freshman Olicia Lucas (55.22) posted career bests.

The men’s 400-meter group notched three personal records courtesy of freshmen Josh Pugh (47.40) and James Fingalsen (47.64), along with sophomore Tyrese Miller (48.13). The women’s 4×400-meter relay team of sophomore Audrey Biermann, Magee, Larsen and senior Nylah Perry ran a 3:34.24 to post the program’s sixth-fastest time.

The hurdle units were Iowa’s strength on day two, qualifying four hurdlers to the finals. On the women’s side, seniors Paige Magee and Tionna Tobias won their preliminary heats with times of 8.18 and 8.35, respectively. In the finals, Magee finished fourth in 8.12, while Tobias notched a personal-record 8.15 to claim fifth.

Seniors Gratt Reed and Grant Conway led the men’s hurdle squad into the finals with automatic qualifications of 7.77 and 7.81, respectively. Conway ended his weekend in fifth with a 7.77 in the finals, while Reed was right behind in seventh with a 7.82.

In Ames, the throws group was led by senior Kat Moody clinched another shot put title with a 16.63-meter mark. Senior Jamie Kofron finished second in the women’s weight throw with a 19.32-meter toss, while sophomore Sean Smith claimed fourth for the men following his 20.94-meter throw.

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY
“It was great to get four Hawkeyes in the hurdle finals this morning. I was excited to see Gratt get back into that 7.7 range. Grant is getting back into racing and is doing very well. Those two continue building their confidence. Tionna is firing on all cylinders, especially by setting that PR in the hurdles after coming off of a late night yesterday. Paige had an incredible start and I believe she will be in the 7.9’s very soon. Then she turned around and ran a 52.21 split in the 4×4. Our entire 400 group competed very well this weekend. Overall, we have momentum heading in the right direction. We need to keep competing. Our young group got great experience in a tough environment. We want to be in the fire with the best programs in the country. Let’s keep building.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to the Jarvis Scott Open in Lubbock, Texas, the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the Windy City Invite in Chicago on Feb. 9-10.

Hawkeyes Drop Dual in Ann Arbor

Sports

February 4th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The second ranked University of Iowa Men’s wrestling program fell on Friday evening to Michigan, 24-11, at the Crisler Center.

The Wolverines won the first five weights before intermission. The Hawkeyes won three matches and got bonus points in the 197-pound bout.

At 125 No. 12 Michael DeAugustino rode out fifth-ranked Drake Ayala in the first tiebreaker to get things started in the win column for the Wolverines.

Fourth-ranked Dylan Ragusin put together a 5-2 decision over No. 18 Cullan Schriever at 133. 19th ranked Sergio Lemley tallied an upset win at 141 with a 14-2 major decision over top-ranked Real Woods.

At 149 No. 6 Austin Gomez defeated Victor Voinovich III winning a 5-1 decision before 12th ranked Will Lewan sent Michigan to the break with a, 16-0, lead after one second of riding time gave him a 2-2 win in TB1 over No. 2 Jared Franek.

After the intermission Michael Caliendo got the Hawkeyes on the board with a 9-4 win over Beau Mantanona at 165.

At 174 third-ranked Shane Griffith won via major decision over No. 8 Patrick Kennedy, 12-1.

Aiden Riggins recorded a win for the Hawkeyes at 184 defeating Joseph Walker, 6-5.

Iowa got bonus points at 197 from Zach Glazier who remained undefeated on the year beating Bobby Striggow, 19-4. Glazier recorded a takedown right before the buzzer sounded to notch the technical fall.

Michigan’s Lucas Davidson closed out the night with a 11-2 major decision over Bradley Hill.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes host No. 1 Penn State on Friday, Feb. 9, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena beginning at 8 p.m. (CT).