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KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Atlantic, Iowa) – [CORRECTION ON DATE] The Atlantic City Council will hold a regular meeting beginning at 5:30-p.m. TUESDAY, March 5th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. Among the items on agenda, is:
According to Wastewater Superintendent Tim Snyder, the line runs north of [the] Noddle site and south of Atlantic Carrier, from Ash down to 3rd Street Place. It was noted the bottom of the creek has eroded to the point where the sanitary sewer line is showing in spots along the stream bed, and some manhole covers are exposed.
City Administrator John Lund said previously, a dam was added on the east end to to the ditch back-in, and that helped a small portion. Snyder & Associates Engineers looked at doing a series of small dams, to allow sediment to fill back in on the western side, as well as moving the entire line away from the ditch. Both options would cost $500,000.
The option to line sections of the sanitary sewer under the creek and taking care of work on the exposed manhole is being proposed. The lining will increase the strength of the existing clay pipe & hopefully prevent it from being shattered, in which case the creek would flow into the line at some point, causing “Some potentially catastrophic backups in basements all the way to the plant,” according to the City. The Public Hearing is to allow feedback on the project.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. Tuesday, March 5th, in the Board Room at the Courthouse, in Atlantic. Among the discussion and/or action items on their agenda is the consideration and possible passage of a resolution allocating ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act [Covid Relief funds]) for the Atlantic Splash Pad Project.
The full agenda can be seen below:
The order of agenda items may change based on when personnel are available and when time allows.
1. Call to order
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve minutes from the February 20, 2024 meeting
4. Public Comments
5. Proclamation of March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month and presentation by Amanda
McCall, Gambling Treatment Counselor with Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services
6. Approve Class C Retail Alcohol License for Griswold Golf & Country Club
7. Set the date of public hearing to approve a resolution declaring Emergency Medical Services to
be an Essential Service for May 21, 2024
8. Set the date of public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 tax levy for Tuesday, March 26,
2024
9. Authorize Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to sign the 28E Agreement with Juvenile Detention
10. Consider/approve Resolution 2024-05 Allocating ARPA funds for the Atlantic Splash Pad Project
11. Discuss/approve contributing to Connections Area Agency on Aging in FY 2025
12. Discuss/approve the county’s health insurance plan for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
13. Discussion/possible action on a Jail and ICE Detainment Policy
14. Discuss/approve abatement of all taxes, penalty, interest and tax sale for 405 Cherry Street in Atlantic, IA under Iowa Code 445.16 under the recommendation of the county treasurer
15. Report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken
16. Appoint Ciara Hoegh to fill the vacant position on the Cass County Local Food Policy Council for
the four-year term from January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2027
17. Appoint Mark Smith to fill the vacant position on the Cass County Conservation Board for the
five-year term from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2027
18. Supervisor Committee Reports
19. Filed Reports, if available: Recorder, Sheriff, Clerk of Court
20. Approve claims
21. Adjournment
22. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The meeting can be seen in-person, or electronically via this link (Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064). You may also call-in to join the meeting at 312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.
(Red Oak, Iowa) – A public hearing will take place 8:45-a.m. Tuesday, March 5th in Montgomery County, with regard to a proposal to enter into a General Obligation, Courthouse Improvement Loan Agreement. The hearing is part of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, which begins at 8:30-a.m. in their Board Room at the Courthouse, in Red Oak.
Following the hearing, the Board will consider and/or act on, a Resolution taking additional action on the proposal, and providing for the private placement of a G.O. Courthouse Improvement Note, Series 2024.
Other business on the Board’s agenda, includes:
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The filing period for candidates seeking nomination to County Offices in advance of the June 4th Primary Election, begins Monday, March 4th, with the last day to file being March 22nd at 5-p.m.
The filing period for State and Federal offices began February 26th, and ends on March 15th. The Voter pre-registration deadline is Monday, May 20th.
KJAN will provide updates from the Cass County Auditor’s Office, on candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the Primary Election, when those papers have been received and processed, but by no later than 4:30-p.m. each day candidates file.
There may, of course, be days when no nomination papers are filed by a candidate, in which case we will update you as soon as such nominations are filed.
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced appointments to Iowa’s various boards and commissions. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, and include (In western/southwest Iowa):
Here’s the full list of appointments announced by the Governor (Name/County):
Accountancy Examining Board
Commission on the Status of African American Affairs
Agricultural Development Board
Alcohol Beverages Commission
Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
Athletic Training Board
Iowa Autism Council
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences
Bioscience Development Corp Board
Commission for the Blind
Chiropractic Board
City Development Board
Commission on Community Action Agencies
Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board
Credit Union Review Board
Board of Dentistry
Early Childhood Iowa State Board
State Board of Educational Examiners
Electrical Examining Board
Employment Appeal Board
Environmental Protection Commission
Flood Mitigation Board
State Judicial Nominating Commission
Landscape Architectural Examining Board
Commission of Latino Affairs
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council
Iowa Lottery Board of Directors
Board of Massage Therapy
Board of Medicine
Mental Health and Disability Services Commission
Board of Mortuary Science
Iowa Commission of Native American Affairs
Board of Nursing Home Administrators
Board of Optometry
Board of Parole
Peace Officers Retirement Accident and Disability Systems Trustee
Board of Pharmacy
Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy
Board of Physicians Assistants
Board of Podiatry
Board of Psychology
Public Employment Relations Board
Public Information Board
Real Estate Commission
Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Board
Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography
School Budget Review Committee
Board of Sign Language Interpreters and Transliterators
Board of Social Work
Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission
Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission
Transportation Commission
Commission of Veterans Affairs
Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine
State Workforce Development Board
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Emergency crews in Dubuque, Friday morning, responded to the 3100 block of Lake Ridge Dr. for a report of a construction site trench collapse. The incident was reported at around 8:20-a.m.
Responders arrived at the construction site to find excavation co-workers attempting to dig out an individual who was buried under approximately 7-8 feet of soil. Rescue crews immediately initiated recovery efforts and began efforts to shore up the trench to prevent additional collapsing.
The deceased victim was recovered at 9:46 am. Officials have not yet identified the individual. The incident remains under investigation.
(Urbana, Iowa) – A collision Friday afternoon in eastern Iowa’s Benton County resulted in one person killed, another injured. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2022 GMC Sierra pickup was traveling south in the 5100 block of Iowa Highway 150 in Urbana at around 3:47-p.m., at the same time a 2013 Jeep Patriot SUV was traveling northbound. For reasons unknown, the Jeep entered the southbound lanes and collided head-on with the pickup.
The driver of the SUV died at the scene. The driver of the pickup was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. No names were released, pending notification of family.
(Atlantic, Iowa) The Coca-Cola Bottling Company plant manager Bill Garrett hosted a dinner for the plant employees to honor them for their achievement on Friday afternoon at the Venue in Atlantic.
Back in 2019, the plant had a ranking of 37th out of 116 other Coca-Cola bottling facilities in North America. Atlantic Coca-Cola plant manager Garrett then challenged his employees to improve the ranking to at least make the top ten. This ranking was based on safety, quality, and environmental requirements which is set by the North American operating unit which manages all of the plants. In 2022, the Atlantic Coca-Cola Company scored a ranking of one, one of the top rankings you can obtain, which they tied with a plant in Puerto Rico.
Plant Manager Garrett had this to say about another achievement that the plant employees were going to celebrate at the lunch gathering on Friday
This achievement is a something a very few companies have achieved, according to Garrett. Coca-Cola Bottling company production manager Andy Fewson had some praise for his good and quality employees at the plant .
Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett was also on hand to praise the plant employees for their hard work and dedication on accomplishing their goals.
The plant employees also received a sweatshirt as they were leaving the lunch, which stated the ranking and the ten years without any time incident.
DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens (steven bains), today (Friday), issued a statement with regard to a decision by the Story County Attorney’s Office, to discontinue prosecution of four sports wagering cases. Bayen said the decision is “disappointing,” and that “Despite their decision, they repeatedly shared with us their belief that the Division of Criminal Investigation’s actions were legal.”
In 2019, sports betting became legal in Iowa. Bayens said “The sports gambling industry is closely regulated and with that comes significant oversight. Once sports betting became legal on digital devices, Iowa law required sportsbooks to geo-locate players when placing wagers and to notify accountholders about information being gathered and shared.
To comply with Iowa law, sportsbooks contracted with GeoComply to facilitate geo-location and provide analytical software that allows aggregate data to be filtered. As a state gambling licensee, the company provided the state access to these tools to regulate the industry and enforce Iowa law. GeoComply specifically trained DCI agents on how to use the software and participated in ongoing meetings regarding its use. Agents were trained to review anonymized data points across Iowa for anomalies that called into question regulatory compliance or suggested criminal activity.
During a review of anonymous data points, anomalies were observed at athletic facilities that only individuals associated with NCAA-sanctioned sports teams had access. This was concerning because sportsbooks must seek to prohibit sports wagering by coaches, athletic trainers and players as required by Iowa law. Also, individuals with access to these facilities would possess insider information, could impact outcomes, and tended to be underage.
Given these red flags, agents obtained subpoenas seeking the names on the accounts affiliated with those data points. When the information was received, it became evident that many account holders lacked any real connection to the places flagged by the data, strongly suggesting fraudulent activity or identity theft. The Department investigated only these accounts.
Throughout the investigation, agents conferred with legal experts. Agents ultimately applied for search warrants to seize the digital devices controlling those accounts which were approved by impartial judges. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Department’s findings were presented to prosecutors who then made charging decisions.
The investigation uncovered concerns of a seismic magnitude within Iowa’s sports gambling industry. In 2023 alone, $2.4 billion dollars in sports bets were placed in the state with 91% of those being placed online. Existing guardrails were insufficient to deter the creation of fraudulent accounts, gambling by prohibited persons, or identity theft.
In the eleven months preceding this investigation, sportsbooks in Iowa closed 28,554 sports betting accounts. In the eleven months since the investigation, they closed 82,559 accounts.”
Commissioner Bayens said also, “I understand why this investigation and the resulting charges have generated so much attention and such strong opinions. We love our college sports here in Iowa, myself included. Had this situation not involved college athletes, the public perception may have been entirely different.
As law enforcement officers, we take an oath to uphold the law and we do so without exception, even when it’s difficult. Throughout the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we continually reviewed our actions and I fully stand behind the investigation and the agents who did the work. I want to thank them and their families for their service to Iowa. “
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Drake University Provost, Dr. Sue Mattison, Friday (Today), unveiled proposed plans to make changes to the University’s academic programs. Last month, Drake President Marty Martin sent a message to the student body and staff detailing the University’s financial sustainability and outlining Drake’s path forward to ensure its future success. ,
In her message on the University’s website, Dr. Mattison said, “To ensure Drake’s future as a mission-driven institution that provides outstanding educational opportunities, an academic program review was launched in November 2023 in partnership between faculty governance, administration, and the Drake Board of Trustees. The review process is one of several measures the University is taking to reach a balanced operating budget by July 2025. ”
Mattison said she has shared with the faculty and staff preliminary recommendations for changes to academic program. “Of the 4% of current students enrolled in these programs, each one will be provided with a plan to complete their degree on time. Prospective students interested in these programs will have alternative program options with similar learning outcomes and career opportunities and will receive individual communications, advising, and support for their decisions.”
She specified the following academic programs recommended for discontinuance:
Undergraduate Majors
Undergraduate Minors
Graduate Majors
Graduate certificate
Next Steps:
Dr. Mattison said “I want to emphasize these are only recommendations at this point. In adhering to AAUP guidelines, faculty in programs recommended for discontinuance may submit evidence between March 1 and April 1, in support of a claim that retaining the program is in the best interest of the institution. Faculty governance committees, the deans, and I will review feedback before providing final recommendations to Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees. On April 17, Faculty Senate will vote on the recommendations. Following Faculty Senate’s vote, President Martin will review the recommendations before presenting such to the Board of Trustees at their April meeting. President Martin will communicate the Board’s final decisions to campus on April 29.”
She added, “As President Martin stated in his message in early February, higher education is at a crossroads. With a declining high school population, inflation, and growing public scrutiny related to disinformation around the value of a college degree, institutions across the country must adapt and change. Academic program reviews serve as an essential process necessary to ensure we are meeting students’ interests, societal needs, and providing the highest quality educational programs.
While this work demands that we make difficult decisions, it also presents an opportunity to invest in academic innovation that aligns with institutional strengths and meets evolving needs of Drake students and the communities where they will engage. Earlier this week Drake launched an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program to address the national nursing shortage and growing demand for high-quality nursing education. We recently invested in other new programs, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. These programs exemplify the University’s commitment to create academic offerings built upon institutional strengths, address student interests and societal needs, and ensure Drake students are prepared to graduate ready to make a difference in the world.”
Dr. Mattison concluded by saying, “Drake University has navigated through many challenging periods in our 143-year history. Each time, struggles notwithstanding, the University has grown stronger. As we work together to face this most recent challenge, I’m confident we will leave a mission-focused legacy for another 143 years and beyond.”