Persons planning on traveling should avoid interstate 80 eastbound between the 70 and 64 mile markers due to multiple accidents including at least two fatalities. Law enforcement reports the interstate will be closed for at least 2 hours in the crash areas.

Multiple crashes are being reported this morning, as motorists fail to exercise their winter driving skills. A crash that happened at around 8:35-a.m. on Interstate 80 westbound one mile west of the Anita exit, has resulted in a woman passenger in a semi being injured. The trailer of the semi tipped over onto its side, spilling corrosive and flammable materials. The roadway is blocked eastbound. Firefighters from Atlantic are being assembled to handle the chemical spill.

A second, serious accident on I-80 in the same area, involved a semi and a car. Multiple injuries were reported. Several rescue squads and law enforcement were on the scene. Additional information is not available.

Rescue personnel from Shelby responded at around 8:30-a.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 31, with unknown injuries at the initial report. The roadway is blocked due to the crash.

Other, non-injury accidents have occurred, with vehicles spinning off into the ditch off I-80.

Rescue crews are responding to two separate accidents on Interstate 80. Emergency personnel from Anita and Wiota were called to I-80 westbound at the 65 mile marker at around 8:35-a.m. for a semi tractor trailer that rolled into the north ditch. The trailer was on its side. The rig was carrying flammable and corrosive materials, some of which were spilling onto the ground. A female passenger in the cab suffered from head injuries. The driver was not hurt. (Update 9:17-a.m.: The crash is between Exit 64: County Road N28 and Exit 70: IA 148; County Road F58 (1 mile west of the Anita area). The road is blocked due to a crash.)

And, rescue personnel from Shelby responded at around 8:30-a.m. to a multi-vehicle accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 31, with unknown injuries at the initial report. The roadway is blocked due to the crash.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Iowa Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the vote to institute a state beef checkoff passed with 56 percent of producers voting in favor. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association president Phil Reemtsma, says they did a lot of work to explain the referendum to producers. “I’ve always said a successful referendum for the I-C-A is one where we have a lot of participation and then let the people decide the outcome, “Reemtsma says. “Obviously I’m happy with the outcome as well. I believe we did our job in getting it to a vote and trying to get the word out there as best we can.”

Beginning on March 1st of 2017, producers will pay the 50 cent checkoff for every head of cattle sold. “The work is really just beginning. Now it’s the Iowa Beef Industry Council’s responsibility and job to oversee the fund and make sure that those funds are utilized correctly according to what the producers would like to see happen,” Reemtsma says.

There’s been a national effort to promote beef for many years, but Reemtsma says they felt the need to do something in Iowa. He says will be run through the Iowa Treasury and then back to the Iowa Beef Industry Council and will be a separate fund from that national fund and give them more flexibility in using it. “And that’s one of the benefits of a state fund, we have a little more flexibility in how we spend those dollars,” Reemtsma says.

He says it will be state dollars helping promote the industry, and he says it could also have some impact on the choices for those who eat beef. “There may be opportunities for us to develop new products that the consumer wants and the consumer needs within beef,” according to Reemtsma. “And so we are always looking at trying to enhance the marketing to our consumers and having some additional funding to bring new products to the market that they may want is always beneficial.”

Reemtsma says anything the checkoff dollars can do to support the industry is important. “The cattle industry in the last 18 months has been through quite a roller coaster — from record highs in 2014 to record lows in ’15 and part of ’16,” Reemtsma says, “so we have to view this as a long-term investment in our industry. We are hopeful that the funding will help us in Iowa stay in business.”

The checkoff referendum was the last big item on Reemstra’s list of things to do as his term as I-C-A president comes to an end. He runs a cattle operation in Dewitt in eastern Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey says he’d be willing to serve as Kim Reynolds’ lieutenant governor once she takes over as governor.
[RIcapBN1] :24 :makes sense.”
(as said) “I certainly am there to support her 100 percent and am willing to help in whatever way there needs to be, so I just am very excited about the opportunity,” Northey says. “I’m excited about the governor being our ambassador to China. I think that’s great for the state and for the country, but I’m also existed about the lieutenant governor becoming our governor and being able to help in whatever way makes sense.”

There’s no firm timeline yet for the transition of power, as there’s no date set for when Governor Terry Branstad will be confirmed for his new post as U.S. Ambassador to China. During an interview Friday afternoon with Radio Iowa, Reynolds says she has a list of individuals she’s considering to invite to be HER lieutenant governor. Northey issued a statement earlier this week, announcing he would NOT run for governor himself in 2018 and calling on Iowa Republicans to rally behind Reynolds.
Northey says the “math certainly changed” with Branstad’s looming exit and — since it is well known in political circles that he’s been considering a run for governor — he wanted to make his intentions clear.
[RIcapBN2] :07 :the Iowa legislature.”
(as said) “I think it’s important to support our next governor, to be able to have a strong two years with the Iowa legislature,” Northey says.

Northey is in the midst of his third term as the state’s ag secretary.
[RIcapBN3] :03 :to serve Iowans.”
(as said) “I certainly am interested in being able to serve Iowans,” Northey says.

And Northey says he’s “open” to leaving his post to become the state’s lieutenant governor, but Northey says there are “a lot of great folks” who could fill that role. Northey made his comments on this weekend’s edition of the Iowa Public Television program, “Iowa Press.”

(Radio Iowa)

Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says she and Governor Branstad have had an “excellent working relationship” and she’s prepared to take over as the state’s chief executive when Branstad leaves to become the U.S. Ambassador to China. Reynolds spoke Friday afternoon with Radio Iowa news director O. Kay Henderson. An outline for the transition of power is being developed, but there’s no date set for Reynolds to take the oath of office and become Iowa’s next governor.

Reynolds says she’s working with Branstad and the entire “team” in his office to put together a package of recommendations for the 2017 legislative session. And it will be Branstad who’ll deliver the annual “Condition of the State” message to legislators in early January and present a state budget outline for the coming year.

As for whether Reynolds might make significant personnel changes in state government, she says this is “just the second day” after confirmation of Branstad’s exit and her elevation to the governorship. Reynolds isn’t ready to say who she’s considering to invite to be HER lieutenant governor once she takes the oath and is Iowa’s 43rd governor, but she has “a lot of individuals” on her list.

Reynolds says she’s looking for “good chemistry” since she will consider her lieutenant to be a governing partner. After 42 previous governors who were men, Iowa’s 43rd will be a woman and Reynolds hints she’ll run as an incumbent in 2018 — to become the first woman ELECTED as the state’s governor.

Reynolds served in local government as the treasurer in Clarke County before a two-year stint as a state senator, then she accepted Branstad’s invitation to be his lieutenant governor running mate in 2010. She’s the fifth woman in a row to serve as lieutenant governor. Until 2014 — when Joni Ernst was elected to the U.S. Senate — only the states of Iowa and Mississippi had never elected a women as governor or to federal office. “I’m really proud to have the opportunity to be a part of history and be part of that,” Reynolds says.

Not only is Ernst the first female senator from Iowa, but Reynolds points to Linda Upmeyer, who last year became the first woman to serve as speaker of the Iowa House. “Probably the majority” of state agency directors are women, too, according to Reynolds. “Although I’m proud of that, what I’m most proud of is I think for all of them it was not really about gender, but it was about a passion to serve and to make a difference and that’s what I think is reflected in every one of the individuals that I just named and that’s what I think is really important,” Reynolds says. “So, kind of as a side bonus, though, young girls in this state have some wonderful role models.”

Reynolds, who is 59, is a native of St. Charles. She and her husband live in Osceola.

(Radio Iowa)

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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With the holidays approaching, many Iowans are sending and receiving packages but be warned. A new scam involves an email that claims there’s a problem with a package delivery and the message appears to be from U-P-S, FedEx or the U-S Postal Service. Jim Hegarty, head of the Better Business Bureau office in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says don’t be fooled. “Scammers use this time of the year, every year, to send these spoofed emails,” Hegarty says. “They look like they’re from legitimate delivery services but they’re designed to download malware into your system which can cause you all kinds of headaches.”

Should you get such an email, report it to your internet service provider and delete it. You can also call the agency to verify there’s no problem with your delivery. Hegarty also warns of recent scams on Facebook that appear to be from friends, touting federal grant money for people with disabilities. Hegarty says don’t accept “friend” requests on Facebook from people you don’t know.

“We’re in an environment now where this is a venue that’s being used very consistently to take advantage of people and get access to accounts,” he says. “We just have to be super cautious.” The grant scheme recently duped an Omaha-area woman out of more than two-thousand dollars, thinking she was following the advice of a “friend.”

(Radio Iowa)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year with local band Popcorn Button returning to the Elks Lodge to provide a holly jolly night of music and dancing on Friday, December 30th. As always, admission is free and dancers and listeners of all ages are invited to attend.

The sixteen-piece band will be playing a variety of classic Big Band era hits along with some special yuletide charts that will deck the halls and jingle bell rock all night for everyone to dance the night away to. There are even rumors that Santa Claus himself will be coming down to jam with the band to relax after his big day of deliveries.

Popcorn Button, founded in 2010, is a group of volunteer musicians from all walks of life. Many hail from the Atlantic community, including many alumni of Atlantic High School. Also featured are students and recent alumni from Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, Buena Vista University, and the community at large.

Since 2012, the band has operated the Popcorn Button Community Music Scholarship. This award supports young musicians from the community as they attend honor bands, band camps, and music lessons.

Holiday Ball is a free public event. All ages and dancing abilities are invited and encouraged to attend on Friday, December 30th at the Elks Lodge on 501 Poplar Street in Atlantic. A free will donation will be accepted at the door to defray the band’s operating costs. For more information on Holiday Ball or the scholarship, email info@popcornbutton.org or visit www.popcornbutton.org.