Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack isn’t ruling out another stint as U-S Agriculture Secretary if Kamala Harris wins and asks him to continue in the role. “I’ve dedicated my life to try to figure out ways in which I can help farmers and small towns because of the important role they play in the country,” Vilsack said. “Regardless of where I might be or what I might be doing, I hope that I’m able to continue to contribute in that vein because that’s what I’ve done for the last 40 years and that’s what I hope to be able to continue to do until I take my last breath.”

Vilsack served eight years as U-S Ag Secretary during the Obama Administration and has been President Biden’s Secretary of Agriculture since 2021. The nation’s longest serving Ag Secretary was from Iowa. “Tama Jim” Wilson, a farmer from Traer who served in the Iowa legislature and the U-S congress, was ag secretary for 16 years, during the administrations of Presidents McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Taft. Vilsack, who is 74, was elected mayor of Mount Pleasant in 1987, then served in the state senate before he was elected to two terms as Iowa’s governor.

Vilsack spoke with reporters yesterday (Thursday) at the Farm Progress Show in Boone. Vilsack indicated he would not comment on Governor Reynolds’ request for a waiver from a U-S-D-A program, so she can provide state-purchased food to needy families with kids next summer. The U-S-D-A program provides electronic benefits cards to families during the summer months if a child in the household qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch during the school year. “I want the state to have the opportunity to have their waiver request examined,” Vilsack said, “so I don’t want to make a comment about it while it’s being considered.”

The governors of 43 states have signed up for the U-S-D-A program for the summer of 2025. He says research shows it’s the most successful way to make sure youngsters have appropriate nutrition in the summer months. “It was not something that we just cooked up in the back room. It was something that is based on 10 years of research and that research basically indicated when you provide the resources to the families, those resources will be used by the families in the most appropriate way,” Vilsack said, “and that they will be used to actually purchase nutritious offerings to their children.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says the state will be able to provide more food, by making bulk purchases of nutritious food.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, during their work session, Wednesday, discussed the size of educational and extracurricular activity classrooms and programs. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen said the district’s Kindergarten classrooms have one-or two that are at 25 students per class. Another has 22, and a few more are coming in, meaning those are large classes. Second-grade has a full class with 25 students. Dr. Johnsen said they are hoping to find someone to fill one of the Kindergarten classroom teaching positions.

Johnsen said Middle School Principal Casey Pelzer has some classes that have anywhere from 25-to nearly 30 students, “which are large class sizes, again,” she said. School Board member Laura McLean said not all of the district’s classes and grades are “massively overcrowded.”

Board President Kristy Pellett said it’s not an anomaly to have spikes in classroom sizes, and they’ve come up with ways to handle it in years past. Dr. Johnsen said when more bodies are packed into a classroom, the “style of learning changes.”

While no action was taken on class size during the Atlantic School Board’s work session, Board Policy says the Board is granted “Exclusive authority to decide the size of classes and determine the necessity of class grouping.” It is the superintendent’s responsibility to recommend class sizes to the Board, taking into account the district’s financial status, the qualifications and number of licensed employees, and other, relevant factors for the Board’s consideration.

With regard to extracurricular/advanced (elective) activities, Dr. Johnsen said asked the Board if a minimum number should be set for class-size, or to sustain a sports program, or should the program be put on hold until the numbers are up? Kristy Pellett responded to Board member Gini Jordan’s question “Doesn’t the sport kind of dictate the number that you need?”

She said “It’s really hard to have a student committed to start a sports season, have other kids drop out, and especially if the have the opportunity for individual competition, to tell that student you’re taking that opportunity away.” Board member Josh McLaren said that scenario a tough pill for him to swallow.

The Board agreed with Superintendent Johnsen, that there needs to be more discussion and a larger assessment and policy review, of academic and athletic programs, to determine what level of participation is best for student learning and enrichment.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man on an Assault charge this (Friday) morning. Authorities say 54-year-old Fred Francis Welch, IV, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:50-a.m., in the 200 block of E. Corning Street. Welch was charged with Domestic Abuse Serious Assault/2nd offense – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond, pending an initial court appearance.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a teenager suffered non-life threatening injuries after being shot Thursday night. No arrests have been reported. Authorities say at around 9:30-p.m., Council Bluffs Police Officers were dispatched to the area of S. 26th St. and 3rd Ave.for a “shots-fired” call. Officers arrived in the area and discovered that a 17-year-old male was shot in the chest and leg. The victim was transported to Mercy Hospital prior to officers arriving on scene.

An initial investigation indicated that a disturbance had occurred in front of 215 S. 26th St. During the disturbance one subject produced a firearm and fired multiple shots.

The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released at a later time. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728. To remain anonymous, they may call CrimeStoppers at 712-328-7867 or submit an on-line crime tip at https://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-2/Online-CrimeStoppers-Tip-70

DES MOINES, Iowa – For the second consecutive year, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and Iowa State Patrol collaborated at the Iowa State Fair to survey attendees on cell phone use while driving. The survey, conducted with over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county, revealed significant concerns about distracted driving. Despite half of respondents admitting to at least sometimes driving with a cell phone in hand, over 90% say the behavior is extremely dangerous.

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says “Law enforcement already know cell phone use behind the wheel is dangerous, it’s affirming to hear Iowa drivers feel the same. It’s frustrating that despite the perceived danger, so many drivers admit to doing it.”

In March, a report by Cambridge Mobile Telematics, “The State of US Road Risk in 2024”, projected a modest 10% reduction in distracted driving in Iowa would prevent 1,263 crashes, 708 injuries, 6 deaths, and save over $50 million in economic damage. Almost 85% of Iowans surveyed support legislation mandating hands-free phone use. Despite repeated attempts since 2019, proposed bills for hands-free driving legislation have failed in the Iowa Legislature.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads using federally funded grants.

(Radio Iowa) – The northwest Iowa town of Graettinger claims to have the state’s oldest Labor Day celebration, and another edition starts this (Friday) afternoon and runs through Monday night. Event co-chair Phillip Schmidt says the tradition had humble beginnings 127 years ago as a one-day event in a pasture with a tent and a traveling carnival. Schmidt says it’s grown to three-and-a-half days, now, with events including a golf tournament, a Miss Graettinger pageant, a truck and tractor pull, a large bake sale, and something called Cow Pie Bingo, where you pick a square on a field where a bovine may leave its mark.

See the full rundown of this weekend’s events at the Graettinger Labor Day Facebook page.

The final holiday of summer is here and those who plan to fly are expected to once again see big crowds at the airport.

(Radio Iowa) – Jessica Mayle with the TSA in Des Moines says the day before Thanksgiving is usually considered the biggest travel day of the year, but not this year. “‘This is just an incredibly busy time across the country. If you look at the top ten busiest days in the history of the TSA, they have all happened since May of 2024,” she says.

Mayle says getting to the airport two hours ahead of time is important. “Even an airport like Des Moines where, you know, or Cedar Rapids, any of our airports in Iowa, you know, we don’t see wait time issues there, but two hours is such a good rule of thumb, because it just gives you a little bit of a buffer,” Mayles says. “You do make a mistake. You do have something that you don’t mean to have. You need to run it back in your car. You need to check your bag. It just gives you a little bit of extra time.”

She says it begins with packing. “Start with an empty bag. Make sure you’re only putting the items in that you need to have, that you want to bring on this trip, and then check our website if you have any questions, do that research. That way you’re not caught off guard at the checkpoint,” she says.

Denver Airport. (Radio Iowa photo)

Mayle says some preparation can make the lines move faster for everyone. “It’s really not about, you know, expecting anyone to be perfect all the time. It’s just, what can you do to minimize those issues? Because, again, it’s just 30 seconds for you, 25 seconds for the next person. It just adds up when it goes back to back,” Mayle says.

She says you can find out all you need to know on the TSA website.

(Radio Iowa) – Thousands of people and at least 80 aircraft are expected at the Clarinda airport on Saturday for what’s known as Fly Iowa 2024. It’s the southwest Iowa community’s first time hosting the event in nearly two decades. Co-chair Steve Mowery says the big air show has been two years in the making. “The whole town is involved, from financial institutions,” Mowery says, “and of course our EMS, police and fire departments.” Plenty of pyrotechnics are promised for the air show, between 2 and 4:30 P-M Saturday, and Mowery says the climax will be a re-creation of a World War Two air battle, featuring some classic warbirds.

“We have a B-25 bomber of Jimmy Dolittle fame,” Mowery says. “We’ll have two P-51s, arguably the war’s best fighters, and also, we have pyrotechnics. There’s 400 gallons of fuel that we’ll blow up with dynamite. Spectacular.” There will also be what are described as high-energy aerobatic performers, and a micro-jet similar to one used in a James Bond movie. Prior to the air show, Mowery says there will be plenty of family fun activities.

“Several bounce houses, a rock climbing wall. NASA has donated aircraft for the event, so there’s going to be all kinds of aviation-specific things for the kids,” Mowery says. “Face painting, a railroad is coming, all kinds of food trucks.”

Admission to the air show is free, and spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Fly Iowa is a nonprofit statewide aviation fair organized by the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group.

DENVER (KDVR) – “Big Boy,” one of the world’s largest trains, took-off Wednesday from  Denver, Colorado, and plans to stop in 10 states while on tour. It’s stops include the Union Pacific Museum in Council Bluffs, where four lucky winners of an auction that took place August 12th, will ride in the cab on September 4th, during Big Boy’s planned Heartland of America tour. The train will then make it’s way to Carroll and Boone before heading to points eastward.

The history of Big Boy started with 25 trains, each of which were 132 feet long and 1.2 million pounds. The company said all are now out of service or on display, except for one: Big Boy No. 4014.

It originally ran in 1941 and retired after 20 years and over 1 million miles. However, after a lengthy restoration, the Union Pacific Railroad says the train is now the world’s largest operating steam locomotive and is hitting the rails again.The tour runs for eight weeks.

You can see all the scheduled stops and viewing opportunities at the Union Pacific Railroad’s website. Some of them are longer display visits – planned for Rochelle, Illinois; Houston; and Fort Worth, Texas – and dozens more are short “whistle stops” or viewing opportunities. They’ve also set up a live tracker so you can watch it move across the country on tour.

OMAHA, Neb. — [KETV] – Dozens are facing charges in hundreds of pharmacy thefts across the nation, including several in rural areas of Nebraska and Iowa. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Omaha division says a Houston-based organization has been linked to more than 200 pharmacy break-ins across 31 states in 2022 and 2023. They stole an estimated $12 million worth of controlled substances. Officials said 42 individuals, all from Houston, Texas’s Fifth Ward, have been indicted in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Five of which are linked to thefts in western Nebraska and western Iowa.

The DEA Omaha division said the crimes first began in Arkansas and quickly became a trend across multiple states. The administration said they have been part of a joint investigation for 21 months. Officials said the main drugs stolen include hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, Adderall, Xanax and promethazine with codeine. All of the drugs stolen were taken back to Houston and resold.

The DEA Omaha division said since 2022 there have been a total 17 pharmacy break-ins in Nebraska and 11 in Iowa, and some of those are linked to the Houston organization.

Officials want to remind everyone to never take or purchase any medications that are not prescribed to you by a medical professional and filled by a pharmacy.