(Radio Iowa) – Record travel is predicted in Iowa and nationwide for the Thanksgiving holiday, and those who are flying somewhere else for the long weekend have likely already bought their tickets. Last-minute fliers might still be able to find some deals, and Gunnar Olson with Thrifty Traveler-dot-com says the best way to save money and time at this point is to avoid flying on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. “No matter what time of year, flying on Sunday is always where the pain is,” Olson says. “It’s going to be the most expensive to fly on Sunday, and everybody wants to be there at the same time, so the airports are going to be more busy, passengers tend to be more tense on Sundays. Everybody’s trying to get home. Flights are overbooked. I try to avoid Sundays like the plague.”
Olson says now is a good time to shop for Christmas airfares. He says if you look around, there’s still some value out there, even if you want to head to warmer places like Orlando and Los Angeles.”Because Christmas is in the middle of the week this year, it’s actually helping keep some fares low, travelers are not all traveling on the same days for Christmas this year,” Olson says. “So it’s going to make for a much more competitive flight pricing environment.” If you’re wanting to think even further ahead, he says the best travel deals right now could be for the summer of 2025. Olson says this past summer was disappointing for some of the airlines, so they’re testing the waters with cheaper airfares for next summer. “They haven’t pulled back yet and some fares for July, August, September of 2025 are really cheap right now, especially in the U.S.,” he says.
Olson says you can find cheap airfares for the summer on both coasts, and even normally expensive places like Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.
(Radio Iowa) – A recent Iowa Farm Bureau report shows the Iowa ag economy has seen a down trend from 2023 into 2024 that lead to farm incomes dropping by nearly 25 percent. I-F-B’s economics and research manager Christopher Pudenz says there are some things that could turn the farm economy around. He says getting away from Farm Bill extensions to passing a new five-year bill is one. “One of those aspects that is in that farm bill that’s really important for farmers here in the state of Iowa is the crop insurance programs that are funded in part by the Farm Bill,” he says. Pudenz says the safety net it provides takes some of the uncertainty out for farmers.
“The vast majority of acres for both corn and soybean farmers here in the state of Iowa are covered under crop insurance. That you know really does help during a year like this, when prices are depressed compared to previous years, or like when those folks up in northwest Iowa had all the flooding this spring and wiped out all those acres,” Pudenz says. He says there are some bright spots going forward, including the international export market. “We are looking to have a pretty strong here in terms of corn exports, the beef market remains strong. Iowa is fourth for cattle on feed, and it’s looking like some of those revenues in that in that industry might be shifting to some of those cow calf folks,” he says. “The hog industry, after having a pretty rough stretch there 18 months or so has had a better summer and fall and is looking to have a better 2025.” Pudenz says some of those areas could get farm incomes up a again.
“If farmers have, you know, higher incomes, they can, they can start buying machinery again. And then those manufacturers can start buying, you know, tires from their tire suppliers. Just kind of kick start the whole ag and ag adjacent economy,” Pudenz says. Republicans took back the White House and the Senate in the recent election and that can also impact the Ag economy. Pudenz can’t say yet what that impact will be. “It’s just too early to tell. We don’t know who is going to be the U-S-D-A Secretary yet. We don’t have an announcement about U-S-T-R (US Trade Representative), eagerly awaiting those announcements as we go forward here,” he says.
Pudenz says these factors are all important as the I-F-B analysis shows the negative impact on the state’s economy from the downturn is more than one- and-a-half-billion-dollars.
(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the last seven agricultural drainage wells in the state have been closed, which represents the end of about 30 years of research and management around the wells that negatively impacted water quality in Iowa.
Following the establishment of the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act in 1987, IDALS developed an inventory of ag drainage wells in the state and found there were 300, with a majority in Humboldt, Pocahontas and Wright counties. Per the groundwater protection law, the department conducted research on ag drainage wells and in-field nutrient management plans that, according to IDALS had “statewide application in dealing with the water quality concerns about nitrogen and herbicide movement from cropped lands to Iowa’s streams and lakes.”
A schematic showing how agricultural drainage wells operated. (Graphic courtesy of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship)
Another element of this research found that wetlands could remove up to 90% of nitrogen and herbicides from tile drainage. Drainage from the last seven ag drainage wells, all near Gilmore City, will be redirected to a 137-acre wetland to help manage water quality of the runoff. “Improving water quality takes time, commitment, and dedicated funding, but this demonstrates that when there is a strategy and funding in place, this impactful work can get done successfully,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a news release.
Closed agricultural drainage wells have a cover like this. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship)
Michael Schmidt, staff attorney for the Iowa Environmental Council, said the issue of ag drainage wells has been part of the council’s priorities since it started in 1995 and advocated for the 1997 law that required the closure of the wells. In areas prone to excess water, cropland will have tile, or underground drainage structures, to help drain water out of the fields and into ditches or streams. Ag drainage wells would funnel water from the tile down into bedrock aquifers, meaning any ag chemical or excess nutrients from that field would flow down into aquifers, many of which were also used for drinking water.
Most of these wells were constructed in the early to mid-1900s, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency more than 95% of all agricultural drainage wells in the country were in Iowa, Idaho, Ohio, Minnesota and Texas. To date, IDALS has made use of $25 million in state appropriations and an additional $12 million in landowner and partner contributions to close nearly 200 of these wells. The other third of the 300 identified wells were closed by landowners or were non-functioning. Landowners were also eligible for assistance to close the wells from the Watershed Improvement Review Board.
The final seven wells were closed on Tuesday, following six years of planning and construction around the closures, which according to IDALS, involved eight properties and 13 landowners. Schmidt called the effort a “big step forward” in addressing some of the major ground water pollution issues in the state.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm this afternoon. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. S/SE winds 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Tom. Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. S/SE wind 5 to 10 mph. Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 40. Our Low this morning, 21. Last year on this date, the High was 51 and the Low was 18. The Record High in Atlantic on Nov. 22nd was 69 in 1966. The Record Low was -10 in 1937. Sunrise: 7:16. Sunset: 4:55.
(Radio Iowa) – There’s an Education Committee in the Iowa House, but the House Speaker says a comprehensive review of the state’s colleges and universities is long overdue — and he’s establishing a new committee to do it. Republican Representative Taylor Collins of Mediapolis will be chairman of the House Higher Education Committee.
“It’s no secret that we have a workforce shortage in this state and I think many people have seen the fact that our institutions have been distracted by ideological agendas rather than actually filling the needs of Iowa’s workforce,” Collins says, “so we’ll be looking at a comprehensive review of Iowa’s higher education system.”
Collins led the effort to force the recent closure of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices at the three state-supported universities. Collins say there’s been great progress on that front, but the panel may push for the elimination of some courses or majors. “I think when you’re looking at some programs, for example when they focus on teaching literally a major in Social Justice, I think there is a question that needs to be asked: ‘What is the return on investment for the taxpayer and should our constituents be paying for those kinds of academic programs?” Collins asked rhetorically.
“…We have a lot of members in the House Republican Caucus that are passionate about reforming our system and making sure that we’re not wasting taxpayer money on initiatives or agendas that do not benefit Iowans. We have to make sure that Iowans are getting a return on their investment when it comes to these institutions.”
Collins says the focus will not just be on the three public universities in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City, but on Iowa’s community colleges AND the state’s private colleges and universities. Taxpayer money is used to provide Iowa Tuition Grants to students at those private institutions who are Iowa residents. “Last year we looked at what kind of course offerings and what return on investment Iowa taxpayers are getting with the Iowa Tuition Grant,” Collins says. “I think there is work in the future where we could look on ensuring when we are providing dollars to these institutions that they are focused on those high demand fields.”
In recent years bills to eliminate tenure at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa were introduced in the legislature, but Collins does not expect that policy to become law. “That issue’s been considered in the past. I don’t think it’s something that that legislature’s serious about, though,” Collins says. “There is a value to tenure and making sure the individuals are able to freely teach ideas.”
Collins was just reelected to a second term in the Iowa House. Collins earned a degree in business management from Iowa State University. He also has a master’s in public administration from Drake University. House Speaker Pat Grassley has announced all House committee leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Next year’s list of Senate committee chairs has not been released.
In a game where the offenses were supposed to be the main feature, it was the defense that stepped up when it mattered most and lifted the Tri-Center Trojans Football team to their first ever state championship. Defeating the West Hancock Eagles 14-10, the Trojan defense held firm at every turn limiting the Eagles to just 240 yards while making multiple red zone stands en route to their first state title victory.
Although the game was dominated by the defenses, the Trojan’s offense came right out of the gates. On the opening drive, Tri-Center drove 80 yards on nine plays that was capped off by a 38-yard AJ Harder strike to Carter Kunze. Down 7-0, the West Hancock offense went to work methodically driving the ball down the field. However, inside the red zone and looking to convert on fourth and short, the Eagles took a false start penalty, forcing them to attempt a pass that would fall incomplete.
At this point in the game, the defense started to take over. The line a scrimmage was a war for most of the contest, with neither team able to assert their full will on the other. Like a game of tug-of-war, both team’s defensive and offensive lines had their moments. However, after neither side could get much going, at 5:32 of the second quarter, the Eagles broke through on a 49-yard touchdown run by Gustavo Gomez. The Eagles’ only touchdown of the game was marked by controversy as an apparent holding penalty was picked up leaving the game tied at 7-7.
Now tied, Tri-Center’s offense needed a response to retake the lead before the half, and they would get one. Harder would lead the Trojan offense on a perfectly called and perfectly executed 12-play 73-yard drive. This included a huge fourth-down conversion reception from Zach Nelson, who finished the game with seven receptions and 78 yards. Kunze would cap off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown touchdown run that left little time for West Hancock to respond.
Down 14-7 and with the ball out of the half, the Eagles came out on a mission, going on a long extended drive. However, it was the Tri-Center’s defense that would come out on top. Despite some isolated explosive plays, West Hancock could not get anything going on offense. The Trojans’ defense allowed just twelve first downs and forced the Eagles to go o-for-3 in the red zone. They also forced West Hancock to punt multiple times in a game for the first time this season. After some big plays for Kunze and the defense, the Trojans came up with a goal-line stand forcing a field goal to push the score to 14-10 with 7:59 remaining in the third quarter. It would be the last score of the game.
Although Tri-Center’s offense couldn’t get much going either, they didn’t need to. With under four minutes to play, Harder punted the ball back to West Hancock and let the defense go to work one last time. After allowing a first down, the Trojans were able to halt the running attack of the Eagles once again. After a false start penalty made 4th & 15 West Hancock was forced to attempt a throw, which would ultimately fall incomplete all but sealing the game. After a first-down run by Kunze and a pair kneel downs by Harder, theb Tri-Center Trojans were Class A State Champions.
From going 3-6 a year ago to state champs, Head Coach Ryan Schroder was beyond pleased at reaching the top of the mountain.
For Tri-Center’s seniors, they will go out Champions. For a team that has barely gotten over .500 in the last five seasons, Kunze says that the championship mindset went all te way back to the beginning of the year.
Winning a championship can mean the world to a community and this one is no different as Kunze and the Trojans were proud to make the dream a reality.
Despite all the weapons at the Skill positions, it was the defense that was the star of the game for the Trojans. Schroder and his players credited their success to their preparation.
Although it might be way too early to start thinking about the future, don’t be surprised to see Tri-Center in the mix going forward. In addition to quarterback AJ Harder, the Trojans will return both of their top two receivers in Zach Nelson and Cael Witt. Harder is excited for what’s to come.
Regardless of what is to come, the celebration in Neola is here and now as the Tri-Center Trojans are the 2024 Class A State Champions
(Rural Creston, Iowa) – A collision between a semi and a pickup truck Thursday evening (11/21) in Union County resulted in a law enforcement estimated $2,800, but no one was injured and there were no citations issued. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says the collision happened on a gravel road at the crest of a hill, at around 6:43-p.m.
Authorities say a 1997 Freightliner semi driven by 26-year-old Grant M. Miller, of Redding, was traveling west on 205th Street, at approximately 4-to 5-miles per hour, pulling a grain hopper-style trailer. A 2019 Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by 25-year-old Marti Rae Sutton, of Corning, was also westbound and attempted to pass the semi when the rig began to turn into a driveway. Sutton told Deputies she didn’t know the semi was about to turn, because it wasn’t signaling to do so. Miller said he couldn’t remember whether he had flipped-on his turn signal, and that the sun was making it difficult to see.
The semi struck the pickup on the right front side. An investigation was unable to determine if the semi’s turn signal was on.
(Radio Iowa) – An exhibit now running at the History Center in Cedar Rapids tells the story of a local communications company that reached around the world and into space. Center curator Tara Templeman says they got a chance to tell the story of the Collins Radio Company as part of their STEM education efforts. “They designed some virtual reality training on their products that pilots can use to help them navigate in low visibility. And so we were able to bring that headset into a display to show people how Collins got from Art Collins being a kid playing with ham radios in his parents’ attic to what Collins is today,” she says.
Collins created the company in 1931 and provided radio equipment for some historic efforts in American history. “Arctic expeditions and sending people into space when you wanted to make sure that people would be heard and that contact would be continuous, you went with Collins,” Templeman says.
The work on the arctic expedition led to interest from the military and more work during World War Two. Collins later focused on aviation and then the company helped with the effort to land on the moon. The company merged with Rockwell International in 1971 to form Rockwell Collins and then Rockwell Collins merged with United Technologies Corporation to form Collins Aerospace in 2018. Templeman says the exhibit chronicles that history with a touch of the most modern technology
“There is the virtual reality headset that people can try on and go through a simulation of landing a plane in Alaska, and then we do have video footage that is playing that is very similar to what the person wearing the headset is seeing,” she says. The exhibit opened this month and is expected to run for three months. “The first floor of the museum is free to view, so there’s no cost to see the Collins exhibit specifically, and there’s a handful of artifacts that are on display that tell the history of some of the early Collins employees and innovations a little bit on how art Collins got Collins started in the first place,” she says.
The History Center is open noon to four p-m on Tuesdays and Fridays, 4 to 8 p-m on Thursdays, and 10 to 4 p-m on Saturday. She says they can make arrangement for special visits with groups.
(Radio Iowa) – The Holiday Train will be chugging into four Iowa communities for free concerts next week to get folks in the yuletide spirit. Terry Cunha, spokesman for the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad, says this is the 26th year for the holiday train tradition and it’s a sight to behold, especially at night. “It’s a really beautiful scene as the entire train is lit up with Christmas lights and beautiful displays,” he says, “just demonstrating the joy of the holiday season.”
Once the locomotive comes to a halt, the music begins, as the train is quickly converted into a stage where singer KT Tunstall and the band American Authors will be putting on a show. “One of the train car’s doors open up and then we have our musical artists performing a live set that includes some of their great hits,” Cunha says, “but also, of course, many Christmas songs that our crowd can sing along and enjoy during the 30-minute performance.”
Photo courtesy CPKC
The concerts are free, but the Calgary, Canada-based railroad is working with local non-profits in each of the four Iowa communities where the train will be stopping. “Bring a non-perishable food item that can be donated to each of the charities that will be set up at each show collecting donations at each and every stop,” Cunha says. “What we raise stays in the community and helps those in need in each of the stops that we’re visiting.”
Since its inception in 1999, the Holiday Train has raised more than $24-million and more than five-million pounds of food for community food banks. Stops are planned November 27th in Clinton, Davenport and Muscatine with a final Iowa stop on November 28th in Ottumwa.
Drake led nearly the entire way and beat Miami 80-69 in the opening round of the Charleston Classic, handing the Hurricanes their first loss. Bulldog coach Ben McCollum.
Drake held Miami to 41 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Hurricanes 35-23.
Bennett Stirtz had 21 points as the Bulldogs improve to 4-0 and move on to Friday’s semifinal round.
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