(Radio Iowa) – Some members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation have invited guests to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech who are highlighting key issues.

Senator Joni Ernst has given her guest ticket to Hagit Chen, the mother of an American currently being held hostage by Hamas. Ernst met with Hagit and her husband earlier today.

“I’ve known this family since last fall after their son was taken. We know not anything more about their son’s condition, not knowing if he is alive or where he’s being held,” Ernst said. “We have no information on him and you can feel the despair.”

Two other U.S. Senators from North Carolina have invited the families of other hostages to tonight’s speech. “It’s just important that we continue to put pressure not only on our administration, but also show the world tha we still care about these men that are still being held by Hamas,” Ernst said. A member of Israel’s war cabinet visited Washington earlier this week. “I hope that we can continue to encourage the Israelis and the leadership from Hamas to come to the table to figure out how to end this war in Israel,” Ernst said, “but what we want to see first and foremost is the return of the hostages.”

Ernst said the hostages would continue to be used as pawns if there’s a cease fire, but no deal to release the hostages.

Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley will be in the U.S. House as the guest of Second District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion. “There’s been a sharp rise in anti police rhetoric and a corresponding rise in violent acts against law enforcement officers,” Hinson said. “In 2023, 378 officers were shot in the line of duty and there were also 115 ambush style attacks on law enforcement.”

Hinson said President Biden’s border policies have allowed thousands of illegal immigrants into the country along with illegal drugs that go along our interstate highways. Chief Brinkley joined Hinson to talk about the drug battle.

“We do see the scourge of methamphetamine and now fentanyl is is introduced to our communities across the state we’ve maybe been a little bit more isolated from the fentanyl problem in North Iowa but no doubt Methamphetamine is our number one drug of choice,” he said.

Brinkley said the border issues are part of the drug problem. “I hope that we’ll see some improvement in border policy from the White House that is effective in helping us to maintain safe communities and a safe country,” Brinkley said.

Third district Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant has invited Deric and Kathy Kidd of Des Moines to tonight’s speech. Their son, Sebastian, died of fentanyl poisoning in 2021 after taking half a pill he bought on Snapchat that he thought was Percocet.

Deric Kidd sa\id it’s time for something to be done about the scourge of fentanyl. “We know that lives are being lost and when nothing is being done, when it’s evident if some of these changes were being made, if the border was tightened up it would at least help stop the flow of fentanyl into our country,” he said, “and save some lives.”

Kathy Kidd said by sharing their story, they hope more people pay attention to the issue. “It can, indeed, affect you. It can reach your family,” she said. ” We were one of those families that never thought something like this could happen to us and it did.”

Nunn said congress needs to address the opioid crisis — and stop the flow of illegal fentanyl coming into the U.S. from China and Mexico. “To help folks of all walks of life and all ages who are attempting to beat addiction, who are not intending to come in contact with Fentanyl and communities that are trying to interdict this,” Nunn said.

Fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra, in a written statement, said congress needs to eliminate burdensome federal regulations for community banks and his guest this evening is the president and CEO of a Rock Rapids bank. President Biden is scheduled to start delivering the 2024 State of the Union address to congress shortly after 8 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – Animal science students at Iowa State University are now able to do virtual 3-D dissections of animals on large touch screens and tablets to learn about anatomy. ISU Professor Karl Kerns says about 180 students taking Domestic Animal Physiology are using the virtual dissection table to supplement their hands-on learning.

“This is a new technology that we have for the anatomy physiology lab,” Kerns says. “We’re the first in the nation and only in the nation right now, as far as we know, of animal science curriculums and pre-veterinary programs to incorporate this into the classroom.”

Graduate student Alexandra Else-Keller, one of the course’s head teaching assistants, says this high-tech tool is “super-helpful.”

“We want to give students of different learning styles multiple ways to learn, because not everyone learns the same way,” Else-Keller says. “This gives a good 3-D picture of what those organs that we’re looking at and how they are organized in a specimen.”

Kerns says including an interactive digital component in the anatomy lab curriculum is a point of pride for the department.

“The experiential learning that this lab provides is really phenomenal,” Kerns says. “Getting to listen to something in a lecture gives you some level of detail, but then actually getting to see it in action, and put your hands on it, and navigate it, it really puts concepts into action.”

Grad student Alexandra Else-Keller leading the Domestic Animal Physiology class (ISU photo)

Graduate student Kourtney Jimmerson says a virtual dissection table is a relatively common teaching tool in medical and nursing schools, but it’s a rare opportunity for animal science students.

“Using this in animal science classes, it’s a new way to introduce the different models into the animal science world,” Jimmerson says. “There’s not many that have this for animal science. We see a lot of it in the human anatomy world.”

Virtual dissection has been used in the course for two years. Kerns says it doesn’t replace other methods of studying animal physiology, but the benefit is getting a fuller perspective on where organs are in a body and how they work.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A new, massive concrete entrance sign welcoming visitors to Atlantic will be installed soon at the intersection of Highways 6 and 71 (Near the Walmart store), on the east side of town. During Tuesday’s Atlantic City Council meeting, City Administrator John Lund said the sign was produced by J.J. Graphic Design, in Atlantic. The huge sign will be placed upon an equally large pedestal

The exact placement and location of the sign has not yet been finalized.

Lund said the sign is sturdy, can take some punishment, and is easily repairable. He mentioned also, he’s working with Snyder and Associates Engineers, on getting a TAP (Transportation Alternative Planning) Grant for the W. 22^nd Street Trail. The grant application must be completed and sent to SWIPCO by March 15^th.

Photo of the Welcome sign base ready to be installed. Courtesy City Administrator John Lund.

Photo of the new welcome sign courtesy City Administrator John Lund.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa dog breeder faces multiple charges on allegations of animal neglect. Multiple media outlets report the arrest on Wednesday of 62-year-old Loren Yoder of Riverside, the owner of Sunset Valley Farm. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reportedly charged Yoder with 41 counts of animal neglect after physical exams showed the dogs had a variety of health problems due to inadequate care.

Reports say Yoder surrendered all 131 of his dogs to Iowa City Animal Services along with his commercial breeding license.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors, were hosted by Sunny Singh, owner of Atlantic Liquor, Wednesday, to celebrate a new storefront located at 411 Chestnut Street, in the building previously known as China Buffett.

Singh is an experienced Midwest entrepreneur. For the past eight years, he has owned and operated multiple liquor stores in the Indianola and Des Moines area. Sunny Singh and his wife purchased the building in September of 2023, and quickly began remodeling the main level. Doors to the business officially opened on February 6th.

Ambassadors (Left to Right): Kelsey Beschorner, Megan Sramek, Anne Quist, Jim Kickland, Jennifer McEntaffer, Jeremy Butler, Steve Tjepkes, David Kalny, Julie Waters, Sunny Singh, BJ Hart, DeeDee Kalny, Jeff Christensen, Krysta Hanson, Dolly Bergmann, Steve Andersen, Tyler McAfee, Mel Newton, Kennedy Freund, Graydon Schmidt

Atlantic Liquor carries a variety of beer, wine, seltzers, along with a large variety of liquors. Singh says he plans to extend his selection of bourbons, but will also leave space on the shelves to fulfill the customers’ request for different products. Atlantic Liquor also supplies a selection of CBD products, cigars, soft drinks, snacks and other novelty items.

Atlantic Liquor is open Sunday to Thursday 8AM-12AM and Friday and Saturday 8AM-2AM.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Rotary Club would like to remind graduating seniors from the Atlantic High School of the opportunity to apply for scholarships sponsored by the Rotary Club. The Atlantic Rotary Club will award two $1,000 Scholarships to graduating seniors from Atlantic High School who will be attending a Community College, Vocational or Technical Institution.

The Club will also be awarding two $1,000 Scholarships to graduating seniors from the Atlantic High School who will be attending a 4-year University or College.

The applications are available to students on the Atlantic High School website. Scholarship applications and all supporting material must be postmarked no later than March 29, 2024.

Please take note of the date. Rotary member Dolly Bergmann says “In the past we have received applications past this date and cannot accept them. Don’t miss an opportunity to apply for a scholarship because you don’t submit on time.”