Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says there are a lot issues left to resolve and the chair of the House Ag Committee says they will not pass the 2023 Farm Bill by the September 30th deadline.

Feenstra is a Republican from Hull representing the Fourth District. He says the U-S Senate is also working to get its version of the bill completed.

Feenstra says he does have some concerns about what will be in the final bill.

Feenstra made his comments after visiting with members of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce.

As many Iowa schools start classes this week, the state’s teacher shortage may be lessening, according to a source at the University of Iowa’s College of Education. Professor Mark McDermott, the U-I’s Associate Dean for Teacher Education, says he’ll frequently hear from K-12 principals and administrators who are scrambling to fill positions, even days before classes begin, but the demand is lessening.

Iowa has more than half-a-million students enrolled in some 13-hundred schools in more than 320 districts. Administrators routinely contact McDermott as fall approaches, checking to see if any recent graduates are available to fill teaching jobs.

The role of the U-I’s College of Education, McDermott says, is to work in partnership with the state’s K-12 schools, helping to support them.

Looking ahead, McDermott says he’s optimistic about the current crop of candidates who are just starting their journey toward becoming exceptional teachers.

While science teachers and those with special education training are often in high demand, he says the needs this year are individual to each district and there are few defined trends.

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson says former President Donald Trump’s absence from Wednesday’s debate will give the candidates who ARE there a chance to have a serious policy discussion.

Trump is skipping the debate and the New York Times reports he’ll be interviewed by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson instead. Hutchinson, a former Arkansas governor, spent five days campaigning at the Iowa State Fair and he spoke at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox this weekend as the heat index topped 100 degrees.

Hutchinson says Trump so far has been the default position for most Republicans.

Hutchinson announced Sunday morning he’d qualified for this week’s debate in Milwaukee, after over 40-thousand donors contributed to his campaign. He had already registered with at least one percent support in a few polls, the other criteria for debate participation. Ten candidates have said they met the benchmarks for the debate, but the Republican National Committee has not confirmed the debate lineup.

Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions has submitted a revised pipeline permit application to utility regulators in North Dakota.  Earlier this month North Dakota’s Public Service Commission rejected the company’s application for a 320 mile route through their state. Summit’s revised application moves the proposed pipeline route nearly 10 miles north of Bismarck’s city limits and according to a statement from the company it addresses other concerns cited by the commission. The company says North Dakota landowners have signed contracts giving it voluntary access to nearly 80 percent of the newly drawn route. Summit says it has almost 90 percent of the underground space in North Dakota where it plans to store carbon shipped out of ethanol plants in Iowa and other states. The Iowa Utilities Board will start its review of Summit’s proposed Iowa pipeline route on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Fort Dodge. The Iowa utility regulators will first hear from landowners who oppose having Summit’s carbon pipeline run through their property. The hearing is expected to last for several weeks. A Des Moines Register Iowa Poll in March found 78 percent of Iowans opposed having the Utilities Board give the company eminent domain authority and force unwilling landowners to sign contracts with pipeline developers.

Two people were injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident Friday night in Union County.

Deputies said 20 year old Garrett Neal Thomson of Creston was taken to Greater Regional Hospital in Creston by EMS with what were described as incapacitating injuries, while 18 year old Arya Autumn Sky Nunn of Creston was taken to the hospital suffering minor injuries.

A release from the Union County Sheriff’s Office states that the 2000 Honda Accord passenger van driven by Nunn was southbound on Clover Avenue and swerved to miss a deer in the road.  Nunn lost control and the van left the roadway, striking a ditch at an angle.  This caused the van to begin rolling over.  Deputies say the van traveled approximately 30 yards before coming to rest upside down.  Thomson was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected through the passenger side window.

A quick-acting Fremont County Secondary Roads employee saved the life of a child Friday Morning.  According to Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope,  Friday, August 18 at approximately 7:42 am, the Fremont County Sherriff’s Office received a 911 call about a possible drowning at the Waubonsie State Park.  The caller said a 5-year-old child was rescued from a pond at the park.

Deputies learned that Terry Travis, a Fremont County Secondary Roads Department employee was traveling through the park when he saw a small child standing on the dock at the Waubonsie Park pond alone.  Travis watched the child jump into the pond, and he took action.  Travis left his vehicle and ran toward the pond where he heard the child screaming and saw the child go under the water.  Travis reached into the water and pulled the child to safety.  The family, who had been looking for the child arrived on scene a short time later.  The child was checked by Sidney Rescue at the scene and transported by private vehicle to a Nebraska hospital for evaluation.

It was reported that the child, who is autistic, had wandered away from a cabin in the park.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office thanks Mr. Travis for his quick action and saving the life of this child.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office has reported a number of arrests over the last few weeks.

On July 21, 50 year old Merlin Glenn Linnger of Clarinda was booked into the Page County Jail for Driving While Barred.  84 year old Jack Earl Linquist of Shenandoah was booked into the Page County Jail for Sexual Assault.

On July 22, 48 year old Jennifer Elaine Archer of Shenandoah was booked into the Page County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Interference with official acts and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On July 23, 28 year old Haylie Ann Kalkas of Shenandoahwas booked into the Page County Jail for Domestic abuse.

On July 24, 29 year old Changkuoth John Dum of Omaha, Nebraska was arrested at the Pottawattamie county Jail on an active Page County Warrant for Probation Violation. Dum was transported back to the Page County Jail.  Also,33 year old Taylor Danielle Banks of Clarindawas booked into the Page County Jail for Assault and Criminal Mischief.

On July 25, 33 year old Samantha Danielle Hull of Coin was booked into the Page County Jail on an active warrant for Driving While Barred.

On July 27, 34 year old Timothy Ryan Eugene Betts of New Market was booked into the Page County Jail for Domestic Abuse.  Also, 34 year old Joseph Cody Foster of Shambaugh was booked into the Page County Jail on an active Ringgold County Iowa warrant for Domestic Abuse and Felon in possession of a firearm.

On July 28, 35 year old Rebecca Anne Mayer of Shenandoah was booked into the Page County Jail on an active Page County Warrant for Child endangerment.  43 year old Eric John Rehfeldt of Red Oak was booked into the Page County Jail for OWI first offense.  And, 30 year old Payne David William Dotson of Lincoln, Nebraska was booked into the Page County Jail for OWI second offense.

Excessive Heat Warning
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
939 AM CDT Sun Aug 20 2023

Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-
Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-
Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose-Davis-
Including the cities of Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora,
Bayard, Casey, Perry, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell,
Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset,
Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville,
Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia, Ottumwa,
Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon,
Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, Centerville, and Bloomfield
939 AM CDT Sun Aug 20 2023

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT
WEDNESDAY…

* WHAT…An extended period of dangerously hot conditions with
heat index values up to 114.

* WHERE…Much of the southern half of Iowa.

* WHEN…Until 9 PM CDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS…Extreme heat and humidity will significantly
increase the potential for heat related illnesses,
particularly for those working or participating in outdoor
activities.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The long duration of the heat can be
particularly hard on the very young, the elderly and those
with medical conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

Southeast Iowa’s Van Buren County is hosting its 37th annual Bike Van Buren this weekend, where cyclists can enjoy the landscape, the rural lifestyle and, of course, the home-baked pies. Emily Starnes, executive director of the Villages of Van Buren, says the scenery is stunning at any time of the year, but especially during the summertime. The rides begin and end both Saturday and Sunday at Keosauqua City Park and take different routes across the county each day, with stop-overs in various small communities.

The entire county only has a population of seven-thousand and the biggest town, Keosauqua, only has a thousand residents. It’s a different pace in that corner of Iowa, she says, and yes, you’ll be shifting gears.

Van Buren County residents pride themselves on laid-back living, as there are no big box stores, no chain restaurants, and no stoplights in the entire county. Historic communities include: Bentonsport, Bonaparte, Cantril, Farmington, Iowaville and Milton, and every year, the ride routes are changed up.

Walk-up registration is welcome at Keosauqua City Park on Saturday from 7 to 8:30 a-m and on Sunday from 7:30 to 8. Learn more at: villagesofvanburen.com or call 800-868-7822.

Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd says Donald Trump lost in 2020, prevented Republicans from having a red wave in 2022 and will lose to Joe Biden in 2024.

“You have to be clear and tell the truth,” Hurd says, “because if we continue to try to litigate things that happened in the past, we’re not going to be able to address these issues of the future.” Hurd is a former Texas congressman and C-I-A officer. He spoke at the Des Moines Registers’ Political Soapbox at the State Fair today (Friday). Hurd did not mention the indictments against Trump, but instead focused on his analysis of Trump’s prospects in 2024. Hurd noted Biden won a majority of independent voters in 2020.

“Who is that independent or Democrat who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 who is now going to change their vote and vote for Donald Trump if Trump is the nominee for the Republican Party?” Hurd has gotten campaign contributions from 40-thousand different donors, but he hasn’t registered at least one percent in any polling on the presidential race. Candidates have to meet the donor and polling criteria in order to get invited to next week’s debate for Republican presidential candidates.