United Group Insurance

Prescription costs soon to be capped for Iowa seniors

News

September 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – A new report from AARP Iowa predicts thousands of seniors on Medicare Part D in the state will save money on their prescriptions, thanks to a cap on out-of-pocket expenses set to take effect next year. The limit is part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The report says more than 27,000 Iowans will see their annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000.

AARP Iowa’s Advocacy Manager Paige Yontz said right now, some Iowa seniors are forced to use cost-coping strategies – like not filling a prescription or skipping doses – to save money. “On average, people who reach that capped amount are going to see a savings of about $1,500,” said Yontz. “This is something that AARP really fought hard for. We knew that this would provide critical relief for Medicare enrollees here in Iowa.”

The AARP report breaks down the number of seniors who will benefit from the cap by state, age, gender, and race between 2025 and 2029.  Nationwide, the new cap is expected to mean 3.2 million people will see a reduction in prescription drug expenses.  Yontz said the cost of prescription medications is among the biggest concerns Iowa seniors face. She added that the cap will provide some cost certainty for a vulnerable segment of the population.

“Knowing that people aren’t going to pay a dime over $2,000 is just such a financial relief for so many people, regardless of their income level,” said Yontz. “There are just so many people that struggle to make ends meet, when it comes to paying for the drugs that they need.”

The cap on prescription drug costs takes effect the first of next year.

High School XC Results at Tim Thomas Classic

Sports

September 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class A Girls:

4. Bishop Heelan Catholic (96 points) — 1. Addison Bertrand (19:35.40)

5. Sioux City North (143 points) — 7. Marcella Palmer (20:48.14)

6. Sioux City East (179 points)

9. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (197 points)

10. Sioux City West (211 points) — 13. Bailee Hansen (21:51.71), 15. Lilly Whiteshirt (22:01.70)

11. Kuemper Catholic (228 points)

 

Class A Boys:

1. Sioux City North (54 points) — 1. Kuma Gutema (16:14.70), 5. Connor Schultz (17:12.56), 7. Even Tesfaselassie (17:21.47), 11. Ben Hames (17:32.34)

5. Woodbine (104 points) — 2. Gunner Wagner (16:49.59)

6. Kuemper Catholic (166 points) — 3. Dayton Wiederien (17:02.13)

7. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (180 points)

8. Bishop Heelan Catholic (203 points)

9. Sioux City East (211 points)

12. Sioux City West (363 points)

 

Class B Girls:

4. Boyer Valley (141 points) — 10. Hailey Cue (20:57.05)

6. IKM-Manning (148 points)

8. Woodbine (166 points) — 5. Adyson Lapel (20:19.52)

9. Riverside (226 points)

Logan-Magnolia — 7. Allysen Johnsen (20:35.48), 9. Madison Sporrer (20:52.92)

 

Class B Boys:

1. Riverside (66 points) — 5. Dawson Henderson (17:16.42), 7. Brody Henderson (17:19.97), 12. Owen Fenner (17:49.22), 15. Eli Hudnall (17:56.00)

10. IKM-Manning (208 points)

11. Boyer Valley (216 points) — 10. Dane Gorham (17:32.22)

Logan-Magnolia — 13. Brodie Davis (17:51.54)

High School Volleyball Results from Saturday

Sports

September 15th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Griswold Tournament: 

AC/GC 4-1

Riverside 4-1

Southwest Valley 4-1

Griswold 1-4

Denison Schleswig 2-3

AHSTW 0-5

Griswold 2, AHSTW 0 (21-14, 21-14)

AC/GC 2, Griswold 1 (21-14, 19-21, 15-11)

AC/GC 2, AHSTW 0 (21-14, 21-15)

AC/GC 2, Riverside 1 (18-21, 24-22, 15-13)

Riverside 2, Griswold 0 (21-17, 21-11)

Riverside 2, Denison Schleswig 0 (21-12, 21-11)

Riverside 2, AHSTW 0 (21-12, 21-11)

Riverside 2, Southwest Valley 0 (23-21, 21-14)

Southwest Valley 2, AHSTW 1 (21-5, 18-21, 17-15)

Southwest Valley 2, Griswold 0 (21-10, 21-15)

Southwest Valley 2, Denison Schleswig 0 (21-8, 21-15)

Southwest Valley 2, AC/GC 1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-8)

Denison Schleswig 2, Griswold 1 (18-21, 21-18, 15-13)

Denison Schleswig 2, AHSTW 1 (19-21, 21-13, 15-11)

Shenandoah Tournament

Shenandoah 2, Fremont Mills 1 (21-17, 11-21, 15-7)

Shenandoah 2, Bedford 0 (21-3, 21-5)

Sidney 2, East Mills 1 (22-20, 18-21, 15-9)

Sidney 2, Missouri Valley 0 (21-8, 21-14)

Missouri Valley 2, Mount Ayr 0 (21-8, 21-13)

Missouri Valley 2, East Mills 0 (21-16, 23-21)

Lenox 2, Bedford 0 (21-19, 21-6)

Fremont Mills 2, Bedford 0 (21-6, 21-7)

Fremont Mills 2, Lenox 0 (21-11, 21-19)

Fremont Mills 2, Missouri Valley 0 (21-19, 21-17)

East Mills 2, Mount Ayr 0 (21-14, 21-16)

South Central Calhoun Tournament

Kuemper 2, East Sac County 1 (21-17, 13-21, 15-5)

Kuemper 2, Carroll 0 (21-7, 24-22)

Kuemper 2, Winterset 0 (21-17, 21-16)

Kuemper 2, Ridge View 0 (21-8, 21-9)

Kuemper 2, Kingsley Pierson 0 (21-13, 21-12)

Kuemper 2, South Central Calhoun 0 (21-13, 21-7)

Carroll 2, Ridge View 0 (21-18, 21-10)

Carroll 2, East Sac County 0 (21-12, 22-20)

Carroll 2, Kingsley Pierson 0 (21-12, 21-15)

Winterset 2, Carroll 1 (19-21, 21-16, 15-13)

Man from Elliott arrested Saturday night in Montgomery County

News

September 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop late Saturday night in Montgomery County, resulted in an arrest. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 40-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, was arrested for Driving While Barred, after he was pulled-over at around 11:25-p.m. near 110th Street and Redwood Avenue. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

2 arrested on separate charges Sunday morning (9/15/24) in Red Oak

News

September 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate charges early this (Sunday) morning. Authorities say 35-year-old Andrew Ryan Manning, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 2:20-a.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street, for Driving While Barred (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). Manning was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

And, at around 12:40-a.m. Sunday (today), Red Oak Police arrested 38-year-old Jessica Louise Abraham, of Red Oak, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Abraham was taken into custody in the 1700 block of Crestline Drive, and held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

Gas prices continue to fall in IA and across the nation

News

September 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  – Gas prices are expected to continue falling through the election. Right now, the national average price for a gallon of gas is $3.20. That’s down 24 cents from a month ago. Triple A says in Iowa, the average price of gasoline (as of Sept. 15th) in $2.99 a gallon, which is 99-cents cheaper than at this same time last year. Diesel is selling for an average of $3.35/gallon in Iowa. Last year, the price was $4.39 on average.

Prices are expected to keep dropping, with a national average below three dollars a gallon as soon as next month. The primary culprits behind the dip are low demand and falling oil costs.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand fell last week from 8.93 million b/d to 8.47. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks rose 219.2 to 221.6 million barrels, and gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day. Tumbling gasoline demand and oil costs will likely keep pump prices sliding.

Iowa looks to solve big play issues

Sports

September 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

There is plenty to work on at Iowa heading into Saturday’s Big Ten opener at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes closes non conference play with a 38-21 win over Troy but the Hawkeye defense got torched again by the big play, giving up two touchdown passes of more than 60 yards as well as a 77 yard punt return for a score.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz who says there are a variety of factors that went into it.

After struggling inside the five in a loss to Iowa State the Hawkeyes inserted back up quarterback Brendan Sullivan near the goal line and he threw a touchdown on his first snap.

Through three games the Iowa defense is giving up only 56 yards of rushing per game and the offense is averaging 243 yards on the ground.

UNI falls at Nebraska 34-3

Sports

September 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Northern Iowa suffered its first loss of the season, Saturday, 34-3 at Nebraska. The Panthers rushed for 139 yards and had 301 total yards. Panther coach Mark Farley liked the toughness his team showed.

Farley says the Panthers hurt their cause with nine penalties for 95 yards.

UP NEXT: The Panthers hop on a plane and travel to Hawaii to take on the Rainbow Warriors on September 21st to cap off their three-game road stand.  Kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. CT.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024

Weather

September 15th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 86. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph this morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 85. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts to near 20 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as to around 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy w/a 30% chance of showers & thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. High near 82.
Wed. Night: A 30% chance of showers & thunderstorms after 1am. Low around 62.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 83. The Low was 57. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 80, and the Low was 49. The All-time Record High in Atlantic for Sept. 15th, was 99 in 1939. The Record Low was 31 in 1961. Sunrise today: 7:00-a.m.; Sunset: 7:30-p.m.

WILMA M. BOWMAN, 107, of Audubon (Funeral Svcs. 9/20/24)

Obituaries

September 14th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WILMA M. BOWMAN, 107, of Audubon, died Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the Exira Care Center in Exira. Funeral services for WILMA BOWMAN will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, 224, at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon has the  arrangements.

A visitation will be held one hour before the funeral (from 9:30-until 10:30-a.m.), also on Friday at the church.

Following the service, interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery. A luncheon will be held following the committal in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon.

Memorials may be directed to the Wilma Bowman Family and designated to many of her favorite organizations in her memory. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

WILMA BOWMAN is survived by:

Her daughter  – Camilla (Howard) Lawshe, of Audubon

Her son – Wayne (Phyllis) Freetly and family, of Ankeny.

Her grandson – Todd Lawshe, of Audubon.