Governor Kim Reynolds has traveled to southwest Texas for a border security tour led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Reynolds says the aerial tour showed her how challenging the terrain is around Eagle Pass, Texas. In July, Texas Governor Abbott ordered a floating barrier of large orange buoys be placed in the middle of the Rio Grande River.

Reynolds deployed 109 Iowa National Guard soldiers to Texas this month to assist state authorities in operations at the border. Reynolds says drug-related deaths have increased by 35 percent in Iowa this year and according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the drugs are primarily coming from Mexico.

This was the governor’s second trip to the southern border. Reynolds, along with the governors of South Dakota, Nebraska and Oklahoma spoke at a news conference organized by the governor of Texas. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (PILL-en) opposes the Biden Administration’s lawsuit seeking removal of the line of floating buoys in the Rio Grande.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (NOHM, rhymes with “home”) says the Mexican cartels are setting up in her state and driving up crime.

The 109 National Guard soldiers from IOWA are due to return at the end of August. Governor Reynolds plans to send a group of State Patrol Troopers to Texas in September.

With parts of Iowa expecting high temperatures in triple-digits today (Tuesday) along with heat indices as high as 115, hospitals across the state are bracing to handle an influx of heat-related cases. Emergency medicine specialist Dr. Luke Wood says the risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke rise with the forecast highs.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, dizziness, and profuse sweating, while symptoms of the more serious heat stroke include confusion or altered mental status and clammy skin, plus, you might stop sweating.

Young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The heat index is a calculation based on temperatures and humidity levels, what some call the misery index. Wood says says high humidity can cause heat-related health issues, too, especially if you’re not drinking enough water.

If symptoms develop, get the person out of the sun. Find shade. Get them to drink cool water, and seek medical help if you suspect heat stroke.

Numbers released from the Iowa State Fair show this year had the second best attendance ever.

This year finished with nearly one million-134-thousand people going through the gates as there was good weather right up until the heat wave hit in the last couple of days.  The attendance record of one-million-170-thousand was set in 2019.  The first Sunday of this year’s Fair on August 13th set an attendance record for that day of nearly 115-thousand.

Country star Eric Church’s performance at the grandstand that Sunday night helped out –with near concert record of more than 17-thousand people.

The Iowa Utilities Board is holding the first public hearing today (Tuesday) for one of the three proposed carbon dioxide pipelines that would run through the state.

Summit Carbon Solutions is seeking a permit to operate and maintain 687 miles of pipeline through 29 Iowa counties.  The I-U-B says Summit Carbon is requesting the right to use eminent domain for approximately 973 parcels on the proposed pipeline route.  The hearing begins at 10 a-m at the Cardiff Event Center in Fort Dodge.  The I-U-B is livestreaming the hearing, which is expected to last for several days.  The hearing is part of all the information that is being presented to the Board as it makes its decision.

Now that the Iowa State Fair has ended, what happens to all the left over food?  Sixteen Iowa State Fair vendors have donated 12,113 pounds of unused food to Food Bank of Iowa at the close of this year’s fair. That’s nearly 5,000 pounds more than last year!

Among the food collected by FBOI staff and volunteers on Aug. 21, some was delivered immediately to partners including Hope Ministries’ Bethel Mission, YMCA Supportive Housing Campus, Creative Visions and Central Iowa Shelter & Services. Other food will go on inventory for distribution across the 55 counties Food Bank of Iowa serves. Food items donated included:  Fresh produce including cucumbers, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes and onions, hard-boiled eggs, ice cream, strawberry shortcake rolls, coleslaw, milk, cheese slices and hoagie buns.

Among the vendors who donated:  Bud Tent, Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters, Centrum Valley Farms, The Depot, Iowa Egg Council, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Sheep Industry Association, Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, Grater Taters, Jalapeno Pete’s, Midwest Dairy Association, Saigonais LLC, Smith Concessions, Stockman’s Inn, Veggie Table and West Des Moines United Methodist Church.

The USDA estimates up to 40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted every year. According to Feeding America, that equates to more than $408 billion in food thrown away each year.

The Iowa DNR Atlantic Field Office was notified Monday morning, August 21st, of discolored water in an unnamed tributary of the North Raccoon River, approximately two miles east of the City of Cooper in Greene County.  According to the caller, the discolored water was first observed on the evening of Friday, August 18, 2023.

Black, pooled water has been observed in several areas behind beaver dams. The stream has low flow, and no dead fish were observed in the area.  DNR field tests showed elevated ammonia levels.

Water samples have been collected and sent to the State Hygienic Laboratory for further analysis. The investigation is ongoing. Swimming and recreating in the area is not recommended until additional information is gathered.

Anyone who might have information on the incident is asked to contact the DNR Field Office 4 in Atlantic at (712) 243-1934.

Iowa Department of Corrections officials report that Ronnie Wayne Lee, convicted of Habitual Offender in Carroll County, failed to report back to the Fort Dodge Residential Facility as required on Saturday August 19, 2023.

Lee is a 54-year-old white male, 5-feet-9inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on August 2, 2023.

Anyone with information on Lee’s whereabouts should contact local police.

The Atlantic Public Library experienced a fire alarm on Monday night that prevents the Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning system and the elevator from working properly until it is repaired.  At this time, the library will NOT be open on Tuesday, August 22.  Library Director Michelle Anderson thanked the Atlantic Fire Department for their quick response and expertise in responding to the alarm.  Keep updated on the library’s Facebook page as they hope to open as soon as the issue is resolved.

DES MOINES — U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Don Davis (NC-01) Monday introduced legislation to support rural communities by restoring land quality after devastating natural disasters. The bipartisan Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act would expand the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Emergency Watershed Protection Program to enhance long-term protection of our nation’s watersheds and rural communities.

“Our country is fed and fueled by the hearts, hands, and hard work of Iowa’s farmers. When natural disasters happen, though, rural communities and farmers are often hit especially hard,” said Rep. Nunn. “Floods and other natural disasters devastate livelihoods in Iowa and have a ripple effect on our nationwide food and fuel supply chain, which is why I’m working to ensure Iowa’s farmers have the tools to extend the health of their land after natural disasters.”

One third of all crop losses over the last twenty years have been due to flooding or storms. In 2019, Midwestern farmers lost $6 billion in crop sales due to rain. After the 2020 Derecho, Iowa farmers experienced crop losses that cost more than $490 million.

Currently, the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Program provides farmers and rural communities with assistance to recover from natural disasters; however, the program will only allow for restoration efforts that return an area to its pre-disaster condition, even if that condition was previously degraded, limiting the success of the program.

The Protecting Farmers from Natural Disasters Act will allow for restoration efforts above pre-disaster conditions if the restoration is in the best interest of the long-term health and protection of the watershed.

Rep. Nunn introduced the legislation during a tour of the American Flood Coalition’s flood prevention research site in Guthrie Center, Iowa.

The National Weather Service-Des Moines has announced that hot conditions will dominate our forecast throughout this work week. Daily highs from 95 to 105° are expected for all of Iowa with heat index values topping out from 105 to 115 during the afternoon and early evening hours each day. Overnight lows in the 70s to around 80° will provide little relief from the heat.

With this heatwave expected to last through the work week, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says facilities in Cass County have opened their doors this Monday thru Friday to people who need a break from the extreme heat. Libraries throughout Cass County will be available as cooling stations during their regular operating hours. In Atlantic, the Nishna Valley YMCA at 1100 Maple Street is open until 8:30pm thru Thursday and until 6:30pm on Friday. SWITA will also be available to transport individuals to and from these facilities by calling 712-250-1200 or 712-243-4196 for rural residents.

The extreme heat and humidity will increase the potential for heat related illnesses so be sure to take precautions to protect yourself from the heat by staying hydrated and limiting your outdoor activities, especially during peak heating hours of the afternoon into early evening.

Heat related deaths are preventable. Protect yourself and others from the impacts extreme heat. Heat stroke is an emergency…call 9-1-1.