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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!
(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowans who volunteer their time is growing, and college students in northeast Iowa are a big part of that. The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley pairs potential volunteers with some 250 area organizations and engages with multiple colleges nearby. Executive director Lauren Finke says since the pandemic, she’s seen a serious re-commitment from college students. “I think they’re staying and wanting to be a part of things,” Finke says, “which has been a really cool twist on seeing students who really connect to their community.” The center has paired about 95-hundred individuals with volunteer opportunities in the past year, up from five-thousand during the pandemic. Finke says talking to students about volunteering in the wake of COVID has helped spur that growth.
“Really having the opportunity to allow students to understand the impact they’re having as a volunteer has definitely made their follow-through, their commitment, and their desire to continue serving even after their assignment’s done for class,” Finke says. The volunteer center is regularly reaching out to at least four area colleges to recruit students, including a standing office at U-N-I. An AmeriCorps study ranks Iowa 4th in the nation for number of volunteers, and more than 40-percent of Iowans have formally donated time over the past two years.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center. The Board received annual updates from Russell Peck, Facilities Director, and Roger Warne, Technology Director.
Following the District Principal reports, the Atlantic School Board heard from Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, who said the fatal shooting incident in Perry last week was once again “An awakening on the safety of our kids, our most important things that we have.” Dr. Johnsen extended her appreciation of, and “prayers” for, the Perry community and school district, with regard to the tragedy and what they are going through. The incident was “Horrendous. It’s a parent’s worse nightmare,” she said.
When it comes to the Atlantic CSD, Dr. Johnsen said “We’re gonna work hard to make sure that our kids are safe, give parents the peace of mind that we are going to protect and take care of our kids, no matter what the situation.” She also thanked officers with the Atlantic Police Department who were in the building when the events began to unfold in Perry. “We didn’t ask them, they just showed-up because they knew just their presence gives us that peace of mind that they’re always there to be part of who we are as a school district, to support our families and our kids, and staff.” She said administrators are working on the district safety plan and crisis review, by updating the plans, policies and procedures.
Dr. Johnsen said the district is “sitting good,” with regard to Snow Days and student attendance hours, but considering this upcoming second round of snow storms, there’s less than two days left to miss before hours will have to be made up. Staff however, are going to have to make up some days, regardless of any further time-off for missed days. Those hours could be made-up at the end of the year.
The Board then proceeded to discuss: A Review of the scope of needs for facilities study; Next year’s school calendar, and a change of date for February’s Board meeting. Dr. Johnsen said the Winter (Christmas) break was very long, and staff have said they prefer to have a longer Spring break, which would also align with Iowa Western Community College. She asked the Board to consider how the calendar affects families, when it comes to putting together the 2024-25 District Calendar, and a public hearing on the matter. Board member Josh McLaren was concerned with the lack of “wiggle room” the District would have when it comes to meeting the requirement for student instructional hours, given the 15 hours lost so far this week, due to the snowstorm.
They also discussed and concluded moving their February, 2024 Board meeting to Feb. 7th instead of the 14th, would work out better, taking into account a leadership conference and other matters. Board Secretary Lisa Jones was concerned the Board packet and financial information and bills may not completely available that soon. The Board will hold a Work Session 5:30-p.m. January 24th, at the Central Office Conference Room.
With regard to the Consent Agenda, in the Atlantic School Board approved:
And, the following fundraising Requests: I-Jag Fundraiser; Speech & Debate Club Fundraiser.
During the Action Items portion of the agenda, the Atlantic School Board approved:
a. An Out-of-State Trip for Speech team
b. A Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) for Dropout Potential Prevention, At-Risk Students, of $539,871.
c. And the first reading of certain 400 through 700-series Board policies.
(Anamosa, Iowa) – A child who was sledding downhill late Wednesday morning in rural northwest Anamosa, was struck by an SUV when the sled crossed a road in front of a 2008 GMC Envoy SUV. The accident happened at around 11:30-a.m. The Iowa State Patrol was withholding the name of the child and their condition. The name of the SUV driver was also not released.
The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Anamosa Police Dept., Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and Anamosa EMS.
DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a proclamation to ease restrictions for transportation of and access to fuel used for heat. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through
11:59 p.m. on February 9, 2024.
The proclamation suspends the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code pertaining to hours of service for crews and drivers delivering propane, diesel, natural gas, and other fuels used for residential, agricultural, and commercial heating purposes.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Two Republican presidential candidates will be in Atlantic, Saturday afternoon, one a presidential hopeful, the other a former president who hopes to take back the White House. Never Back Down is continuing the Countdown to Caucus tour across Iowa with special guest Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the lead up to the Iowa Caucus on Monday, January 15th.
NBD is hosting meet and greets, retail stops, and drop by’s across the Hawkeye State from Thursday, January 11th through Sunday, January 14th. DeSantis will appear at the Downtowner Family Restaurant (inside the Whitney Building at 222 Chestnut St.), in Atlantic. The event begins at 12:15-p.m. Saturday (Jan. 13), with doors opening at 11:45-a.m. Register for General Admission tickets HERE.
Former President Donald Trump will speak at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, beginning at 2-p.m., Saturday (Jan. 13). Doors for the event open at 11-a.m. You must register for the event HERE.
(Radio Iowa) – Officials say some Iowa counties could fall short of having enough money to fund roads unless state lawmakers take action.
Woodbury County Engineer Mark Nahra says changes to Iowa’s new property tax system mean a loss of millions for his county alone. Nahra says counties that do not meet the minimum tax levy will lose road tax fund money and matching farm-to-market road funds.
“The limitations that were put on property tax growth under House File 718 affect the county road department’s ability to raise revenue out of property taxes,” he says.
Over a ten-year period, he estimates the cost for Woodbury County will be more than $26-million .
“If we don’t have that funding available to us,” he says, “it’ll result in some deterioration of our primary paved routes in the county.”
Nahra says if state lawmakers decide -not- to change the current law, counties with low tax levy rates may lose road funding.
“They need to make it quickly,” he says. “This year, we’ve got enough levy from last year that we can make our minimum local effort. We start falling short in fiscal year 2026, and then that shortfall accelerates.”
Nahra says about a dozen Iowa counties will be impacted in the next two or three years if lawmakers don’t modify the state law this session.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Larson Christensen is asking lawmakers to raise the pay for Iowa judges. “They are paid less than judges in every state that touches Iowa,” Christensen says. “…Iowa judges make $16,000 less per year than South Dakota judges and they make $38,000 less per year than Nebraska It’s no wonder the average number of applicants for per district court judge vacancy has decreased 62% in the past 20 years.”
Christensen delivered the annual “Condition of the State” address in the Iowa Capitol this (Wednesday) morning. “In the last 15 years, judges have received a pay raise five times,” Christensen says. “…Being appointed by our governor should be the pinnacle of an attorney’s career, not a deep financial sacrifice.” Christensen is also asking lawmakers to stabilize the contributions judges make to their pension system. “For those of you who have listened to my prior speeches, I have never broached the topic of either pay or pensions for our judges. This year is different,” Christensen said. “I feel compelled to publicly speak from this platform…as the voice for all judges in our state.”
West side of Iowa Capitol Building (RI file photo)
Christensen also asked lawmakers to raise the pay for contract attorneys who represent indigent clients in state courts. Christensen, as the chief of state government’s judicial branch, is asking lawmakers to approve a four-point-three percent increase in state spending on the state court system. Christensen’s speech comes after Governor Reynolds and other Republicans criticized the Iowa Supreme Court for failing last June to allow the six week abortion ban adopted in 2018 to take effect. The legislature passed an nearly identical law in July — and the state supreme court has yet to rule on a legal challenge of it.
“If your constituents come up to you and say: ‘Hey, Judge so and so really messed up this opinion,’ or if you maybe even tell your constituent the same thing that is your right to hold such a belief,” Christensen said. “I may even agree with you, but what I am asking you to do is to take that opportunity to explain that even when you think a judge is dead wrong, they are public servants just like you and they are committed to the rule of law, just as you would want them to be.”
The Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling on the so-called fetal heartbeat law is expected by the end of June.
(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Officials with the City of Macedonia’s Maintenance Department, today (Wednesday) issued a Water Boil Order. The order is in effect until further notice, and was issued due to low water pressure that was caused by a prolonged power outage.
All residents are encouraged to boil or use bottled water for consumption. Call City Hall with questions at 712-486-2323
(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate warrants, Tuesday. 39-year-old Cory Ross Smith, of Elliott, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 64-year-old David Gene Carroll, of Villisca, was arrested in rural Villisca, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Revoked/OWI charge. His bond was set at $2,000.
(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday) received funding requests from the Veterans Affairs Commission, County Recorder and Engineer. Each of the requests were taken under consideration for action during the budgeting process. Veteran’s Affairs Commissioner John Schildberg, III, asked the Board to approve an additional part-time employee to fill-in for an employee who is off-work, recovering from knee surgery. Wendy Lane has been filling-in, answering the phone, taking notes and making appointments, but none of the federal paperwork.
The Board approved the request. Lane will be paid $14 per hour, as Schildberg had requested. He said also, his budget request for the VA Commission is less than what it had been.
The Board then held a Public Hearing on an amendment to the FY 24 Adair County Budget. Having heard any spoken, nor received any written comments, the Supervisors closed the hearing and passed a Resolution approving the amendment, followed by passage of an Appropriations Resolution. Following the hearing, the Adair County Supervisors received an FY 25 funding request from County Recorder Janelle Schneider. Later on in their meeting, they passed a Right-of-way & temporary Easement Purchase Resolution, and received a FY 25 Budget request from County Engineer Nick Kauffman. Kaufman said with regard to the Easement Purchase Resolution, the rate the County pays has gone down.
He also discussed some issues they had this past weekend with three trucks breaking-down, and an additional truck mechanical issue popped-up Tuesday, but most of those issues have been repaired.
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