(Radio Iowa) – A central Iowa hospital will be the first in the state to offer a new program aimed at helping people with dementia stay in their homes. Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines was selected to get federal funding for the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience, or GUIDE. Dr. Yogesh Shah, medical director of Broadlawns’ Memory Clinic, says one main focus of GUIDE is to provide resources and respite for caregivers.

“We have patients and families, now, ‘I’m at the cliff. I can’t take it anymore. If I don’t get help, I’m going to quit my married life.’ It comes to that level,” Shah says. “So if we can provide that four hours of respite one time, that can resolve that problem.”

Shah says additional federal funding will allow the medical center to hire more care navigators to connect families with resources. “The GUIDE model not only supports patients, but also aims to reduce strain on caregivers,” he says, “offering them vital resources, a 24-7 support line, respite care, education.”

Broadlawns says it will launch the GUIDE program in July of next year. According to state data, more than 66,000 Iowans age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

(Iowa DNR News) – Despite warm weather persisting in much of the state, roughly 6,000 deer have been registered so far through the youth and disabled hunter seasons, and the opening of the archery and early muzzleloader seasons, which is slightly higher than both last year and the five-year average. The crop harvest, cooling temperatures and approaching rut, should increase deer activity leading to greater harvest success. The long-anticipated rut, which will be in full swing by November, is when mature bucks spend much of their time actively tending and searching for does during daylight hours, creating opportunity for thrilling action from the tree stand at any hour of the day.

A major factor leading to Iowa’s world-renowned buck quality is the simple fact that hunting during the rut – when bucks are most vulnerable – is restricted to compound and traditional bows. The archery season runs through Dec. 6, then closes for the two regular gun seasons before re-opening Dec. 23 through Jan. 10, 2025. The early muzzleloader season closes Oct. 20.

Deer Disease Update:

Iowa’s deer population is in the midst of another outbreak of hemorrhagic disease, which tends to affect Iowa deer from late summer to early fall. Though outbreak severity varies annually, it began increasing in September, with roughly 750 related deer mortalities reported throughout the state, which is considered a moderate outbreak compared to past years. The DNR added new online tools to the Deer Hunting webpage that allow the public to report and monitor hemorrhagic disease activity. Hemorrhagic disease has been reported in at least 78 Iowa counties, though disease activity has generally been mild at the county scale at fewer than 50 mortalities per county.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to increase in geographic spread and prevalence, though most Iowa counties have yet to detect their first CWD-positive deer. Last year, eight new counties were added to the list: Des Moines, Guthrie, Howard, Jones, Marshall, Monroe, Muscatine, and Tama, bringing the total number of counties that have had a positive deer to 23.

Testing of hunter-harvested deer is available in each county by contacting the local DNR wildlife or law enforcement staff. Hunters can help limit the spread of chronic wasting disease by refraining from feeding/baiting deer and transporting deer carcasses across counties. The Iowa DNR primarily manages the disease in areas with moderate-to-high deer densities by adding antlerless tags within special Deer Management Zones.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) administers the State of Iowa’s allocation of federal highway safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For the 2025 federal fiscal year, GTSB announces $11.5 Million in grant funds awarded to over 300 traffic safety partners across Iowa.

“GTSB is pleased to allocate these funds to support traffic safety partners,” says Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes. “Since 2019, 10,000 people have died or been seriously injured on Iowa roads. Lack of seat belt use, impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other risky driving behaviors continue to wreak havoc. These funds will be used to increase public awareness, collect data, train, and enforce. The goal is to improve safety for all road users.”

Money will be distributed to law enforcement partners for equipment, education, and enforcement projects.

“These partnerships are crucial,” says GTSB Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “Enforcing Iowa’s traffic laws is the strongest countermeasure to deter risky driving behavior. It’s vital these agencies have necessary resources to make traffic stops.”

GTSB also awards funds to support community partners in traffic safety. The Iowa Restaurant Association uses grant funding to offer ServSafe Alcohol responsible server training. This year they’re expanding the program to include courses in Spanish. GTSB partners with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to facilitate a dedicated program coordinator in Iowa. Iowa’s Child Passenger Safety program is executed through a partnership with Blank Children’s Hospital and GTSB.

Every year, traffic safety advocates seek funding through grant applications. Agencies meeting the required data driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded funds to support GTSB’s mission to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads. Those interested in applying should look for funding opportunities late January in Iowa Grants.

(Ankeny, Iowa) – The Iowa Cancer Registry reports that for the third straight year, Iowa as the second highest rate in the country, of new cancer diagnoses. The information was presented to the medical community gathered at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. The data show:

• 21,000 new cases of cancer (estimated)
• 6,100 Iowans will die from cancer (estimated)
• 168,610 cancer survivors in Iowa (estimated)

The Iowa Cancer Report points out that there is no one reason why the state is only one of two in the country with rising rates of cancer. But the report highlights the high use of alcohol. Iowans have the fourth highest rate of alcohol-related cancers and the fourth highest rate of binge drinking. The research shows that Iowans who are between 25-34 have the highest binge drinking rate of any age group. And Iowans making more than $100,000 annually binge drink more than those who make less money.

Learn more here: cancer-in-iowa-2024-compressed

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An Atlantic woman who is a veteran of the U-S Navy (and former Elk Horn resident), was presented with a Quilt of Valor ® Tuesday evening, at Chestnut Place.

Jan Snyder received a Quilt of Valor, which is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war and is intended as a means of healing. Judi Olson and Pat Engemann, representatives of the Southwest Iowa Quilts of Valor Worker Bees, presented the Quilt of Valor to Janet Snyder, who served in the United States Navy from 1974 to 1984, during the Vietnam Era. (Photos by Asa Lucas/KJAN)

Snyder attained the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer during her active duty, and accumulated multiple honors such as the Good Conduct Medal and Armed Forces Medal. The Navy gave Snyder various responsibilities during her service years.

Snyder’s time in the navy took her all over the United States from Chicago, to Philadelphia, Virginia, and eventually the Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico Naval Hospital. What sparked Snyder’s initial interest in the navy was the way the uniform looked.

Snyder noted that the recognition from Quilt of Valor was humbling, and emotional for her.

According to the The Quilt of Valor, the quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” To use the term Quilt of Valor, Quilts of Valor or QOV, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift). It must also be recorded.

More information on the organization is available at https://www.qovf.org/

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Exira, Iowa woman was sentenced on October 10, 2024 for a federal felony charge of straw purchasing a firearm.

According to public court documents, Leslie Nicole Moton, also known as Leslie Caniglia, 24, purchased a firearm in August 2023 for her significant other, Rey Moton, 23, of Elk Horn. Leslie Moton knew Rey Moton was a felon at the time she purchased the handgun for him and falsely represented at the time of the purchase that she was acquiring the firearm for herself. Less than a week later, Rey Moton possessed the handgun in Atlantic, Iowa and used it during a burglary.

Rey Moton was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. In March 2024, Rey Moton was sentenced to a 63-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Leslie Moton received a five-year term of probation.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Atlantic Police Department.

This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

DES MOINES — U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today announced that he secured a $1.5 million federal investment to replace the Bevington Park Road Bridge over the Middle River in Madison County.

“Iowans rely on safe bridges and roads to get to work, school, and spend time with family. We need to invest in our infrastructure so Iowans can continue to get from point A to point B,” said Rep. Nunn. “That’s why I’m proud to announce we secured $1.5 million to improve safety on Bevington Park Road in Madison County. This is exactly the kind of investment the federal government should make – one that does the most good for the most people.”

Rep. Nunn secured the $1.5 million investment through the Community Project Funding process, which allows members to designate funding for critical initiatives. The funding was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 which was signed into law on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

“Bevington Park Road is traveled daily by many.  The bridge is used for commuters, agricultural goods and services, fire and rescue, schools, and mail routes.  Getting the bridge replaced over the Middle River is an important step in bringing our infrastructure up to par,” said Mike Hackett, Madison County Engineer. “I am thankful that Congressman Nunn was able to secure the $1.5 million and make a critical investment into Madison County infrastructure.”

The funding will help replace a narrow, weight-restricted, 91-year-old iron bridge that is beyond its useful life. The new bridge will expand its width and allow heavier vehicles to pass normally. The new infrastructure is expected to be in place sometime in FY2026.

Rep. Nunn announced the new funding investment following a meeting at the Bevington Park Road Bridge at Middle River alongside County Engineer Mike Hackett and other members of the County Maintenance and Secondary Roads Department. Video of the announcement can be found here.

(Radio Iowa) -The University of Dubuque’s aviation program is seeing record enrollment, as the program’s director says the need for new pilots is growing.

Aviation Program Director Randy Warm tells KCRG TV the federal government’s requires commercial pilots to retire at the age of 65  “There’s a big bulk of generational (pilots) like me who are retiring or close to retiring in the pilot world,” Warm says.

A University of Dubuque Aviation program plane. (KCRG TV photo)

A study by Boeing projects the global aviation industry will need to hire more than 600,000 new pilots by the year 2037.  “If you put all of the aviation flight schools at universities together, we can’t even come close to half of that, filling those roles,” Warm says. The University of Dubuque graduated 55 pilots last year and has 126 new students this year, marking the school’s largest-ever incoming class of aviation students.

The Airline Pilots Association disputes the existence of a national pilot shortage but notes a robust pilot pipeline is needed.

The northern part of the state saw freezing temperatures overnight, and the rest of the state is expected to get them tonight.

National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Dodson says central and southern Iowa are under a freeze warning, and the north will be cold again. “Since we already reached those freezing temperatures in the north last night, the growing season has ended up there. So there’s not a freeze warning for that we issue it for for plant and sensitive stuff like that,” he says. “Since we’ve already reached that hard freeze, there’s not a freeze warning up there, but they will still be reaching temperatures as low as the mid 20s.”

Dodson says this is about that time of year when we start seeing these freezing temperatures, and he says the freezing cold is making a short visit for now. “You know, tonight and tomorrow morning will get pretty cold, and then you’ll see temperatures steadily warming through the week. Tomorrow night’s lows are in the mid to upper 30s, maybe even 40,” Dodson says. “And temperatures during the day, we’ll see highs in the 60s tomorrow, and then 60s, so maybe even the 70s on Thursday, and then by Friday and Saturday, we’ll be back well into the 70s.”

He says we shouldn’t have to worry about the cold again for a while. “Our forecast Friday through the rest of the end of the forecast is in those 70s. And I know that the Climate Prediction Center, their graphics have us for the six to 10-day outlook and then the eight to 14-day outlook are both above normal temperatures,” Dodson says.

While the cold is a concern for most of the state, the far northwest corner of the state remains in a Fire Weather Watch as conditions are right so any fires that develop would likely spread rapidly.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Vice Presidential nominee J-D Vance headlined a campaign fundraiser in Iowa this (Tuesday) morning. The Des Moines Register was first to report the appearance by Vance at a high-dollar event in Des Moines. Tickets to the reception were five-thousand dollars per couple and individuals who gave or raised 50-thousand dollars got to sit in on a roundtable discussion with Vance.

The event’s invitation listed Iowa native Matt Whitaker, who served as Trump’s acting Attorney General in late 2018 and early 2019, as a special guest alongside the G-O-P’s vice presidential nominee. It was a private event and Vance had no public stops scheduled in the state.