University of Iowa researchers say they’re finding cancer-causing chemicals in some older Iowa schools. Children may be exposed to airborne P-C-Bs in schools that were built between 1950 and the mid-1970s. P-C-Bs were banned in 1979. Keri Hornbuckle, a U-I professor of civil and environmental engineering, says they expected to find more airborne P-C-Bs outside of schools. Hornbuckle says, “We were surprised to find that many schools have indoor concentrations of PCBs that is much higher than outside, suggesting that there are direct sources of these chemicals inside of schools.”

Hornbuckle says likely sources include old caulking around windows and fluorescent light fixtures. Replacing those materials can reduce the concentration of P-C-Bs in a school. Hornbuckle says it’s long been known P-C-Bs are in some foods and that’s how scientists expect children take in most of those chemicals.  “Our study showed that inhalation of PCBs in their schoolrooms could also be another large source of PCBs,” she says. “Our estimation is that it could be similar to that that they get from their food.”

The report says P-C-B levels found so far in Iowa schools are below what’s considered dangerous by the Environmental Protection Agency, but Hornbuckle says they’re high enough to be concerning.

(Radio Iowa, w/thanks to Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

A traffic stop on a vehicle traveling the wrong way in Red Oak Tuesday night, resulted in the arrest of the driver and his passenger. Red Oak Police say the traffic stop happened at around 10-p.m. near 2nd and Coolbaugh Streets. As officers approached the vehicle, they detected a strong odor of marijuana. Upon further investigation, the driver, 29-year old Jacob Matthew Rose, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

His passenger, 36-year old Kale Garrett Hardman, of Red Oak, was arrested on two active Pottawattamie County warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault, and Theft in the 5th Degree. Both men were being held at the Montgomery County Jail, where Rose’ bond was set at $1,000, and Hardman was being held without bond.

People who attend the Iowa State Fair next month can try over 40 food items that are NEW to this year’s fair. Three of those foods were selected Tuesday for inclusion in the Iowa State Fair People’s Choice Best New Food Contest. Fair spokesperson Mindy Williamson says one of the finalists is called Pork Almighty.

“There’s a mountain of shredded pork, with queso cheese, twisty fries on the bottom, and then onions, green peppers, and BBQ sauce,” Williamson said. “We were told it’s about three pounds of food once you get that all put together.” The Pork Almighty will be sold with a drink for $12 at the Steer N Stein. Pork is also featured in another finalist — Iowa’s Big Pork Leg.

Pork Almighty

“It’s similar to a turkey leg, is what it looks like to me, but it’s actually a pork shank. They have these specially made with caribbean seasoning,” Williamson said. “They’re $9, but it’s definitely shareable.” That item will be sold at a booth just east of the Administration Building on the fairgrounds. The third and final new food item in the contest is called the Mig’s Hickory Smoked Chicken BLT Wrap.

“When George from G-Mig’s (pub/restaurant in West Des Moines) was talking about this…he thought it felt like summertime, you know, a chicken and bacon wrap,” Williamson said. The Mig’s Hickory Smoked Chicken BLT Wrap will be sold for $9. Fairgoers who sample the three new food items will cast their vote for their favorite. The 2017 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines is scheduled for August 10-20.

(Radio Iowa)

Learn more at https://www.iowastatefair.org/media/news-releases/the-wait-is-over-2017-new-fair-foods-announced

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:48 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A citizen activist group and an environmental organization have filed a petition asking the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to improve the state’s livestock farm permit process. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Food & Water Watch say the permit system established 15 years ago fails to give local officials enough control over where large hog, cattle and chicken farms locate.

The petition filed Tuesday asks the DNR for several changes to the master matrix system including stricter pollution requirements and increased distance requirements from schools, homes, waterways and wells. County officials say permits they reject are nearly always approved by a state governor-appointed board. DNR records show only 2 percent of applications have been denied.

Iowa has 9,000 large-scale animal farms producing 22 billion gallons of manure a year.

The Atlantic City Council will meet in a regular session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in their chambers at City Hall. On the agenda is approval of an order to close Palm Street from 7^th to 9^th Streets on July 29^th, to allow parking on one side of the street for the Cass County Fair. The street closure request comes from the Cass County Fair Board.

The Council will also act on approving a change order to the 2016 Street Improvement Project, which reflects the addition of a storm sewer on 8^th Street, and for the railroad flagger requirement. Additional costs amount to just over $6,650, and brings the total for the 2016 Street Improvement Project (which includes 2017 improvements) to more than $1.66-million. City Administrator John Lund says the costs can easily be absorbed in Fund 320-750, or 2016-17 Capital Improvements and Equipment.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on passing a Resolution “Setting wages for Interim Library Director Position effect August 2^nd, 2017.” The resolution pertains to Diane McFadden, whose appointment was approved by the Library Board, following the announced resignation of current Library Director Natalie Struecker, whose last day is August 1^st. The Board set the wage at $18 per hour. The Council does have the right to  overturn that decision if it deems necessary.

McFadden currently works 30 hours per week. By remaining an hourly employee, she would be eligible for overtime. John Lund says once a new Library Director is hired, Diane’s old classification and wage would return to what was previously established.

And, the City Council, Wednesday, will hear a report from Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson on progress made this past Spring and early Summer.

A man from Page County was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a Cass County (IA) Sheriff’s Office warrant, for Violation of Probation. Deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant just before 3-p.m. today (Tuesday), at 2378 270th street, about a mile north of College Springs.  The warrant was for 46-year old David Allen Holste, who resided at that location.

Holste was unable to post the $10,000 bond and is currently being held in the Page County Jail awaiting transportation to Cass County.

Holste (Page Co. S/O photo)

Charitable organizations in the Sioux City-area received an unexpected gift this week. Sioux City-native and World War Two veteran Bill Johnson died in late April at the age of 91. He lived his professional life in Los Angeles, accumulating wealth as a contractor. He returned to his hometown 11 years ago and has now left his estate to local nonprofits. Food Bank of Siouxland is one of the beneficiaries and its executive director, Linda Scheid has plans for the money.

“Mr. Johnson’s interest was in the area of children, so we will be dedicating his generous donation to us to supporting our work in fighting childhood hunger,” Scheid said. The $86,000 going to the Food Bank is the largest individual gift to the organization, at least since Scheid has been there. “One gift, all dedicated to childhood hunger, is really going to position us to take a strong stance and do some tremendous work in the months to come,” Scheid said.

The $2 million Johnson left behind is being split among 29 nonprofits working on children’s issues. Scheid said she had never heard of Johnson before getting word about the donation.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Newly released records show that public employees in Iowa have been fired in recent months for misconduct such as theft, fraud and student mistreatment. Documents detailing the firings and demotions of public employees have become available under a little-noticed but dramatic change to the Iowa Open Records Act signed by then-Gov. Terry Branstad in February.

The Associated Press used the law to obtain records of dozens of firings by state agencies, cities and school districts. A Polk County officer allegedly submitted fraudulent expense forms seeking reimbursement for 2,200 miles that he didn’t drive. A Department of Revenue clerk was accused of having 400 work records buried in her desk that she claimed she had completed. And a Cedar Rapids paraeducator who worked with children with autism allegedly mistreated a student.

ADEL, Iowa (AP) — An executive for a prominent Iowa seed company is alleging he was wrongly fired by Iowa’s richest man and deprived his right to acquire $80 million worth of corporate stock.

Joseph Saluri filed a lawsuit Tuesday against billionaire Harry H. Stine and Stine Seed Company over his termination after 18 years as general counsel and vice president. It alleges Stine fired Saluri in March as part of a conspiracy to enrich others at Saluri’s expense.

Saluri alleges he was fired after trying to exercise his right to increase his ownership in M.S. Technologies, a Stine company that has agreements with Monsanto for soybean trait technologies. He says Stine officials wanted him to waive his right so the ownership could be acquired by Stine’s former son-in-law, but Saluri blocked the deal.