The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education, is rolling out Concussion Management Guidelines for Iowa Schools. The guidelines expand recommendations currently available through a community-based model for concussion management called REAP. REAP stands for Remove/Reduce, Educate, Adjust/Accommodate and Pace.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year; however, when concussions are properly recognized and managed within the first few weeks after injury, most individuals recover without lingering symptoms.

The guidelines bring health care providers, school nurses, coaches, teachers and parents together to work as a team to manage a concussion. In the past, concussion was often viewed only through the lens of participation in school sports. The guidelines recognize that concussion can affect a student in the classroom and at home and all parts of a student’s life should be taken into consideration and addressed by the student’s concussion management team.

Governor Reynolds will sign a proclamation regarding concussion awareness Thursday, August 3. To learn more about Iowa’s concussion management guidelines, REAP and brain injuries, including concussions, visit https://www.idph.iowa.gov/brain-injuries.

DES MOINES – An invasive beetle that kills ash trees, the emerald ash borer (EAB), has been confirmed in Ringgold County, making it the 52nd county in Iowa where this highly destructive insect has been found. The recent EAB infestation was discovered by a tree service that reported suspect ash trees to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Insect larvae were collected from this rural site west of Tingley, and positively identified as EAB.

EAB-infested ash trees can include branch dieback in the upper crown, water sprouts along the trunk and main branches, vertical bark splits, D-shaped emergence holes, S-shaped tunneling under loose bark, as well as woodpecker damage. EAB is difficult to detect in newly-infested trees.

All ash tree species are susceptible to attack by EAB. The larval stage of this insect kills ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves water and nutrients throughout the tree.

Mike Kintner with the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship EAB & Gypsy Moth Coordinator, says “We are already up to 13 new counties confirmed with EAB this year. As we continue to track EAB’s spread across the state, people are encouraged to report suspect trees in counties that have not yet been declared positive.”

EAB is native to Asia and was first identified in the U.S. in 2002 and in Iowa in 2010 in Allamakee County. Much of the pests’ spread can be attributed to humans inadvertently transporting it to new areas under the bark of firewood, logs and tree debris.  At this calendar date, the treatment window for soil-applied preventive treatment measures (soil injection, soil drench or granular application) and basal bark sprays has ended.

Trunk injections can be done now through the end of August if a landowner is interested in protecting a valuable and healthy ash tree within 15 miles of a known infestation. Good ground moisture is essential for systemic insecticide movement in a tree. Full details are available in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication PM2084:   https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/13114

To learn more about EAB and view maps of its distribution, please visit www.IowaTreePests.com.

While there’s several thousand bicyclists pedaling across northern Iowa this week, Iowans can expect to see a big influx in motorcycle traffic in the next few weeks as the big Sturgis Festival is coming up. Twenty-five motorcyclists have died on Iowa’s roads so far this year and Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A, is offering a reminder. “With three to four months remaining in the riding season, we’re urging all motorists to stay alert and check twice for motorcycles before changing lanes, turning, backing up, or pulling into traffic,” White says. “Of course, avoid all distractions that take your mind and eyes off of the roadway.”

Strengthening the state’s texting-while-driving law may help to prevent crashes, as well. Iowa’s new primary texting law became effective July 1st. White reminds motorists to never tailgate a motorcyclist. Give them extra space as they may need to make sudden lane changes to avoid potholes or road debris. She says motorcyclists need to be cautious and courteous, too.    

“Riders should always consider wearing clothing that makes them stand out in traffic, such as a reflective vest,” White says. “We also encourage riders to take a basic rider course if they’re a new driver or an experienced rider course if they have several years of experience. Both provide excellent defensive driving skills.”

Even more two-wheelers will be on the road soon. “We’re reminding all motorists, with the upcoming Sturgis Rally in South Dakota being held August 4th through the 13th, we do anticipate we’ll see an increase in motorcycle traffic during those two weeks, the week before and following the Sturgis Rally,” White says. “Keep in mind, remember to share the road safely with all motorists, including motorcyclists.”

The 25 motorcycle deaths on Iowa roads this year is tracking much lower than last year at this time, as 60 motorcyclists were killed in Iowa during all of 2016.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have arrested a suspect in the Sioux City stabbing death of a Nebraska man. Sioux City television station KTIV reports that the 29-year-old suspect was found and taken into custody around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City. Online court records don’t show that he’s been formally charged.

Police say 36-year-old Vincent Walker was confronted late Sunday afternoon and then assaulted by several people. He died later at a Sioux City hospital. Authorities say Walker lived in Winnebago, Nebraska.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Wednesday, in Creston. Authorities say 26-year old James Hunt, of Corning Clay, AR, was arrested at around 9:42-p.m. in the 600 block of New York Avenue. Hunt was charged with Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

And, at around 2:45-p.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 23-year old Michael Steven Cox, of Creston, for Theft in the 5th degree. Cox was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has taken to Twitter to offer a warning about embattled U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. President Trump lately has been tweeting about his disappointment in the man he picked to be attorney general. Trump’s complaint is that Sessions recused himself from the investigation of possible Trump campaign ties with Russia. Conservatives have rallied to defend Sessions, who was a leading advocate of tough immigration policies when he was a senator.

Now, Senator Grassley has tweeted that “Everybody in D.C. Shld b warned that the agenda for the judiciary Comm is set for rest of 2017.” Grassley is chairman of the committee and Grassley sets the schedule for hearings to consider Trump’s nominees for key government positions.

If Trump dumps Sessions and nominates someone else to be attorney general, Grassley has vowed that “no way” will there be a hearing this year for another attorney general nominee.

(Radio Iowa)

Today (Thursday), marks the first full-day of activities at the Cass County Fair, in Atlantic. The morning begins with breakfast at the Food Stand, with the KJAN crew serving up some awesome food. The Swine weigh-in takes place from 7:30-until 9:30-a.m.  Rabbit check-in is from 8-to 9:30-a.m., and the Poultry will be checked-in from 10-until 11-a.m.

Other scheduled activities include:

• Meat Goat weigh-in and Dairy check-in, 10:30-a.m. until Noon.
• Horse check-in & sheep weigh-in, from 4:30-to 5:30-p.m.
• 4-H exhibits open at 5-p.m.
• Little Miss & Little Mister contest 7-p.m.
• King and Queen Contest (on KJAN) at 7:30-p.m.
• Senior Recognition at 8-p.m.
• Outdoor movie at 8:45-p.m.

Senator Joni Ernst says taxpayers “shouldn’t cover the costs associated with gender reassignment surgery,” but Ernst says any qualified American should be able to serve in the military. President Trump has sent a series of tweets, announcing the U.S. military “will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the military.” Trump says transgender soldiers cause “disruption” and cloud the military’s focus on “decisive and overwhelming victory.”

Republican Joni Ernst is the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. While Ernst says she, too, doesn’t think taxpayers should pay for soldiers to have gender reassignment surgery, Ernst would not bar transgender people from joining the military. Ernst says anyone who “can meet the physical training standards” and is willing “to defend our freedoms and way of life” should be allowed to serve.

The Associated Press reports Congressman Steve King is praising Trump for ensuring the military isn’t “experimenting” and allowing transgender individuals to become soldiers. Senator Chuck Grassley told a group of Iowa reporters Wednesday that he routinely defers to Ernst’s expertise on military matters, but Grassley says he hasn’t studied this issue. It’s unclear how many transgender soldiers are currently serving.

A report for the military estimates it could be about seven-thousand of the one-point-three million soldiers currently on active duty.

(Radio Iowa)

A teenager from Bussey, in southeastern Iowa’s Marion County, died Wednesday when the ATV he was riding struck a tree. The Iowa State Patrol says the 16-year old male was traveling southbound on a private trail inside the city limits of Bussey, when the 2015 4-wheeler he was operating, hit a tree. The impact caused the driver’s head to also strike the tree, causing severe injury. The teen, whose name was withheld, died at the scene.