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Famed Iowa gold medalist stars in new TV show

Sports

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa native Shawn Johnson is appearing on a T-V series that opens its second season tomorrow (Tuesday), combining outdoor adventure with venture capitalism. At just 24, Johnson has won Olympic gold as a gymnast, the mirrorball trophy on “Dancing with the Stars,” and her first book was a New York Times best seller. Her latest project is called “Adventure Capitalists.” “What the show entails is kind of like ‘Shark Tank’ meets the outdoors or ‘Survivor’ almost,” Johnson says. “It’s funny because it’s the same concept as ‘Shark Tank’ but when the person pitches us their product, we actually go test it outside, do crazy things with it and then offer and negotiate a deal.”

The products are typically some sort of rugged outdoor gear, ranging from mountain bikes to kayaks. “I thought it was a perfect combination of business and fun and adventure and risk,” Johnson says. “I’m an adrenaline junkie so it was drawing me in with all of that and I thought it’s the perfect fit for me.” While some may question the business credentials of a person her age, remember, Johnson starred on “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2015 when it was hosted by the man who’s now the president of the United States. “I started my career when I was 12 years old and I’ve kind of grown up in the business world, negotiating contracts and deals,” Johnson says. “It’s a little bit different from venture capital but I’ve learned a lot. My husband has worked in venture capital before as well, so it’s something I’ve understood and been a part of for a while.”

Johnson first rose to global fame in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide watched as the then-16-year-old from West Des Moines won four medals, including gold, on the balance beam. Earlier this year, she was inducted into the Gymnasts Hall of Fame for her years of achievements. “Gymnastics will always be a part of my life,” Johnson says. “Whether it’s coaching during the summer, I do a lot of camps and clinics and work on the technical side. I go to the huge competitions and I’ve been watching world championships lately live on YouTube and it’s part of who I am. I’ll always be involved.”

Johnson says much of her time is spent working in social and digital media, and running a YouTube channel with her pro football player husband. She and Andrew East maintain homes in Los Angeles and Nashville. Season Two of “Adventure Capitalists” debuts Tuesday at 9 PM/Central on CNBC.

(Radio Iowa)

Second finalist named for Iowa State University presidency

News

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – The second of four finalists to be Iowa State University’s next president is senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Georgia, Athens.

The Iowa Board of Regents says Pamela Whitten will visit the Ames campus Tuesday and meet with staff, students and community members. Her curriculum vitae and interview schedule are available on Iowa State’s presidential search website, presidentsearch.iastate.edu. The first finalist, Sonny Ramaswamy, is visiting the campus Monday. He’s director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

The regents are scheduled to meet Oct. 23 to choose the next president.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 10/9/2017

Podcasts, Sports

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The 7:19-a.m. Sportscast w/Ric Hanson.

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Refugees in Iowa concerned about relatives yet to reach U.S.

News

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Iowa’s refugee resettlement agencies are expecting fewer arrivals and facing more uncertainty as the Trump administration continues to lower the cap on refugee arrivals. Carly Ross is director of the Des Moines field office for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. She says in past years, when she was notified that a refugee family would be traveling to the U.S., she could expect that family to arrive in two to three months. “But at this point, we are not as clear on those timeframes when we receive the notification,” Ross said. “We don’t know if they will be traveling within that same timeframe, two to three months, or if it could be even longer.”

That leaves refugees in Iowa with a lot of questions about when they’ll be reunited with their family members who are still overseas. According to Ross, one refugee family in Des Moines still has two teenage girls living in Malaysia.  “And they’re really fearful for those two girls’ safety, so they’re constantly just asking for updates about when they might be able to come to the U.S. and at this point, we just can’t give them very firm answers,” Ross said.

The Trump administration will admit 45,000 refugee arrivals this fiscal year — the lowest cap since the program’s start in 1980. The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, recently criticized the State Department for failing to consult Congress on its refugee plan.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 10/9/2017

News, Podcasts

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Officials release name of slain man in northwest Iowa

News

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

AKRON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man who was shot to death in northwest Iowa. Plymouth County officials identified the man as 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert. The county Sheriff’s Office says he was shot early Friday morning at a residence about 5 miles northeast of Akron. Arriving deputies found him suffering from the gunshot wound, and he was taken to a Sioux City hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Thirty-three-year-old Becky Hebert was arrested later Friday in Le Mars and has been charged with second-degree murder.

Police arrest suspects in Omaha dating app robberies

News

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Two people have been arrested in connection with a string of robberies of men in Omaha who thought they were meeting with a woman they had messaged on a dating application. Omaha Police say one of the suspects was linked to the robberies after he sold stolen cellphones at a kiosk and used one of the victims’ credit cards. The second suspect was arrested after a search warrant was served. Several items linked to the robberies, including two guns were found.

The suspects have both been charged in connection with seven robberies and one attempted robbery. Court documents say all but one of the victims used the dating application called “Plenty of Fish.” But instead of a woman, they met robbers.

Skyscan forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 10/9/17

Weather

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Today: Increasing cloudiness. High 64. N @ 10-20.

Tonight: Cloudy w/light rain. Low 42. N @ 10-20.

Tomorrow: Showers. High 50. N @ 10-20.

Wednesday: P/Cldy. High around 60.

Thursday: P/Cloudy. High around 70.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 82. Our Low this morning 51. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 73 and the low was 39. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 87 in 1930 & 1938. The Record Low for this date was 14 in 2000.

2 drug-related arrests in Montgomery County

News

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County report two separate drug-related arrests, Sunday. At around 9:50-p.m., Red Oak Police arrested 37-year old Luke Daniel Rinehart, of Red Oak, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Violation of a No Contact Order. Rinehart was taken into custody in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue and held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

And, at around 5:15-p.m., Sunday, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 23-year old Adam L. Schmidt, of Lincoln, NE., for Possession of Marijuana. Schmidt was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash bond.

Iowa early News Headlines: 10/9/2017

News

October 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A round of elections in Iowa this month will ask some public sector workers whether they want to keep their unions or dismantle them. The elections, beginning Tuesday, will be one of the biggest tests of labor strength in Iowa since a new law eliminated many collective bargaining rights for most public employees. Union leaders say the elections and the law aim to weaken workers’ rights and one official questioned logistics. The agency overseeing the elections says it will be fair.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The first of four finalists to be Iowa State University’s next president has been named. The Iowa Board of Regents says Sonny Ramaswamy will visit campus Monday to meet with faculty, staff and students. The next president will be chose on Oct. 23.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A bankruptcy petition filed by a California-based developer of a 12-story historic art deco building in downtown Sioux City has been dismissed. The Sioux City Journal reports the move paves the way for foreclosure proceedings on the Badgerow Building to resume. A federal judge in California on Wednesday granted Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust’s motion to dismiss the bankruptcy filing by Mako One Corp., of Carlsbad, California.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $150,000 from the School Nutrition Association of Iowa. The Quad-City Times reports that 74-year-old Norma Jean Adams pleaded guilty Friday to commission of an unlawful activity. Prosecutors say Adams was using the name Norma LaMantia while serving as the executive director of the nonprofit association. A state audit found that she had misused at least $169,000 over a five-year period.