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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
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) – While many Iowans are relieved most of the “Masks Required” signs have come down, there are some who will continue keeping their faces covered well after the COVID-19 pandemic fades away. Epidemiologist Ajay Sethi says the U-S may be on the verge of joining other countries where mask use by those who are sick is much more commonplace.
Sethi says, “There are already people today who are more likely to wear a mask simply because they had the experience of the previous year of witnessing what the benefits can be.” In addition to helping prevent the spread of coronavirus, Sethi says masks work just as well with other respiratory illnesses like the flu or the common cold.
“Maybe folding mask use into ordinary cough etiquette that we already had before COVID,” Sethi says. “To cough into your elbow, to wash your hands frequently, to keep your distance from others if you have symptoms.” Sethi says the extremely low rate of influenza cases during the pandemic can be credited to social distancing and the use of masks.
“Mask use consistently every year will prevent the spread of things like influenza,” he says, “and I think that’s not a bad thing to do particularly since influenza is a virus that is very dangerous for people, particularly the elderly.” While not everyone will be wearing masks all the time, Sethi says you can expect masks to become part of a basic routine for the sick.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says she’s working to make the temporary federal child tax credit permanent. The new credit was included in the pandemic relief package passed in March and starting next week low and middle income parents of kids under the age of six will get 300 dollars a month through the end of the year, while parents of kids who’re six through 17 years old will get 250. Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says almost 200-thousand Iowa families qualify.
“This isn’t just a handful of people. Eighty-five percent of Iowa families are going to see support on a monthly basis to help them out,” Axne says. “…This is four out of five Iowa children who will qualify for this benefit.” The last federal child care tax credit payment will be made in December. Axne held a news conference outside a Des Moines preschool to tout the program’s potential to help current and future parents.
“We know too many people are deciding not to have kids just because of the cost, so it’s time to support young people. It’s time to support working families and ensure that they can raise their kids successfully and be prepared for the world,” Axne says, “and this tax credit will directly support that.” Tiffany Welch of Clive and her husband have two children. She brought her 13 year old son to the news conference.
Rep. Cindy Axne
“If these expanded tax credits had been available 12 years ago when he was a baby and I was trying to afford child care, I would have been able to keep working in the job that I loved,” she said. “Instead, I had to quit to stay home because it was taking two-thirds of my pay to keep paying child care.” Reverend Robyn Bles, pastor of the Wakonda Christian Church in Des Moines, is a single mom who may use some of her tax credit to pay for swimming lessons.
“It also means for my daughter but also for other single parents households, we can now afford better quality food for our children,” Bles said, “…the apples that my four-year-old will just grab and walk around eating as she is playing.” Some critics have questioned making these tax credits permanent based on the cost, while others say there may be better, more targeted ways to spend the money to improve the economic prospects for low income adults and children.
DES MOINES – More than 200 Iowa organizations and individuals working in arts and culture, film and media, and history and historic preservation will receive a boost from $2.3 million in grant awards announced today (Thursday), by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Among the Arts and Culture Grant recipients, is The New Century Art Guild in Elk Horn received $5,000 to develop a series of public art exhibitions, called “Walls of Honor,” created by military veterans.
Elk Horn, New Century Art Guild
The grants are funded through the annual appropriations passed by the Iowa Legislature and signed into law by Governor Reynolds, effective July 1, 2021. The state’s investment is enhanced by funding from two federal agencies, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and administered by the department’s three divisions: the Iowa Arts Council, State Historical Society of Iowa and Produce Iowa, the state office of film and media production.
“The annual funding has never been more important than this year’s investment, which will help fuel the resurgence of Iowa’s arts, film, heritage, humanities and creative sectors,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. “Audiences and visitors are eagerly returning to museums and historic sites, concerts and cultural festivals this summer, even as our industry continues to rebound from substantial financial losses from the pandemic.”
In this round of funding, the department made 244 grant awards for community initiatives and creative projects across the state, arts and cultural organizations, individual artists and filmmakers and historic preservation efforts in 46 counties and 71 communities. The department also designated 58 of Iowa’s leading arts and cultural organizations as Cultural Leadership Partners, a competitive process that occurs once every three years. Cultural Leadership Partners receive annual operational support in recognition of their role as community and cultural anchors that maintain high standards of excellence, generate tourism and support high-quality jobs.
The grants are divided into the following three general categories:
More information is available HERE.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Nishna Valley Family YMCA Staff and the Park and Recreation Staff would like to inform the public of a change in the meeting date/location for a community input session pertaining to the future of splash pad or aquatics facilities. The original meeting date was July 13th but that date conflicted with several community meetings.
In order to accommodate everyone, the new date/time/location for the discussion on aquatics will be Tuesday July 20th, at the YMCA, and it will take place at 6:00pm. Anyone interested in future aquatics facilities is encouraged to join the public discussion and give input.
For further information, you may contact the Park and Recreation Office at 712-243-3542 or Dan at the YMCA at 712-243-3934.
Trent Casey was diagnosed in March with Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). On July 29th, Trent celebrated his “rebirthday” which signifies the day of his blood stem cell transplant. Trent and his family feel so fortunate that were able to find a matched donor for Trent right away, and now to give that gift to other patients in need! The Be The Match Registry is the national blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant registry that matches patients in need with willing donors! Over 70% of patients do not have a matched donor in their family, and thus must rely on strangers joining the Be The Match Registry to offer hope and the chance for a cure.
Trent Casey (in the blue, seen here with his family)
Joining the registry is free, simple, and fast. If you are 18-44 years old, you can visit my.bethematch.org/CaseyStrong or text “CaseyStrong” to 61474 to register and learn more!! The Casey family and friends are hosting a benefit golf tournament and live auction for Trent and his family with a live auction on July 11th, 2021 at the Griswold Golf and Country Club.
For thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases, such as Leukemia and Lymphoma, a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor is their best or only hope for a cure. These patients depend on the national Be The Match Registry to find a match – and a second chance at life. While many patients do find the life-saving match they need each year, currently there are Iowans in need of a transplant who have no matched donor. They are waiting for someone new to register. More donors are needed to help increase the likelihood that all patients will find a match.
A simple cheek swab is all that is needed to determine if you could be the one to save one of the thousands of patients in need of a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. You’ll only be contacted if you’re a match for someone in need. We are seeking 18-44 year olds, in good health, that are willing to donate to any one in need to come out and join the Be The Match Registry. This event is open to the public.
If anyone is interested in registering but cannot attend the donor drive in honor of Trent, you can join the registry online at my.bethematch.org/CASEYSTRONG. A swab kit will be mailed to your home with instructions and a confirmation sent to you once completed.
ABOUT BE THE MATCH AND THE IOWA MARROW DONOR PROGRAM
Be The Match is the national blood stem cell and bone marrow transplant registry. This registry matches patients in need with willing and life-saving donors to cure over 80 different diseases like Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Sickle Cell Anemia. The Iowa Marrow Donor Program (IMDP) is Iowa’s Donor center for Be The Match. IMDP works with Iowan patients and donors to facilitate bone marrow and blood stem cell donations and to also recruit new potential donors to the Be The Match Registry. The Iowa Marrow Donor Program is located at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.
CRESTON, Iowa – July 8, 2021 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports a bridge deck and joint repair project on U.S 34 west of Red Oak between Iowa 48 and Montgomery County Road M-37 will require reducing traffic to one lane controlled with temporary traffic signals beginning on Monday, July 19, until Nov. 4, weather permitting.
Work will begin on the westbound lane of U.S. 34. A 15-foot height limit and 10-foot width limit restriction will be in place during this project.
(Radio Iowa) – A Webster County woman and her boy are home safe. Twenty-five-year-old Maria Towne and her three-year-old son Nylez Styler Towne of Moorland were reported missing July 1st. A family member posted on social media saying the boy had been originally turned over to DHS early Wednesday morning but by late Wednesday morning was safe with his family.
The family member went on to say, “I hope Maria gets the help she needs.” The post then commended the Gowrie Police Department for its help. The Gowrie PD issued an update Wednesday confirming both the mother and son were found safe and they thanked the public for their assistance.
(Radio Iowa) – An Ankeny man arrested after cleaning staff saw guns and ammunition in his hotel room in downtown Chicago proposed to the woman who picked him up from jail. Thirty-two-year-old Keegan Casteel has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
A hotel employee called police on the 4th of July after seeing a rifle and a semi-automatic pistol on the window sill of Casteel’s room. The 12th floor window overlooks Chicago’s popular Navy pier on Lake Michigan. Casteel was released after posting bond and video broadcast by Chicago TV station WLS shows Casteel, who was wearing a Kum N Go t-shirt, kneeling and making what appears to be a proposal to the woman who picked him up.
The couple did not speak to reporters and drove away.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Dallas County was arrested on numerous charges Saturday morning, in Stuart. Guthrie County dispatch received a call at around 5:05-a.m., from a woman who locked herself and her eight-month old child in a vehicle, with the woman’s boyfriend banging on the windows. When a Deputy arrived, the woman explained she and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Triston Michael Ladwig, of Waukee, had gotten into a verbal argument earlier in the morning, so she came to the home of her mother, in Stuart.
Triston Michael Ladwig (Guthrie Co. S/O photo)
She had called 911 earlier that same morning, because Ladwig allegedly broke into the house and that he had left. The man returned though, and allegedly caused about $300 damage to the exterior back door and interior bedroom door. He also allegedly took her cell phone when she tried to call 911. A mutual friend had dropped Triston Ladwig off at the residence, and was still in the driveway. When Triston reportedly left on foot with the woman’s phone, she locked herself-into the friend’s vehicle and used their phone to call 911.
Eventually, Ladwig was located back inside the residence, and was taken into custody. He admitted to using force to enter the residence and to taking the phone from his girlfriend. He also admitted the residence was not his, and that he did not belong there. Ladwig faces charges that include:
He was released from the Guthrie County Jail July 5th, on a $9,000 surety bond.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday, issued a report on arrests dating from June 28th through July 8th. Early this (Thursday) morning (7/8), 37-year-old Brad Michael Young, of Council Bluffs was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 191, outside of Portsmouth. Upon further investigation, Young was charged with Operating while intoxicated 1st offense, open container driver, failure to have valid driver’s license, controlled substance violation, failure to affix drug tax stamp, and prohibited act penalties. He was transported to the jail and held on a $13,300 cash/surety bond.
This past Tuesday, two male subjects were arrested following a traffic stop along the 1400 block of Highway 191. Authorities say 27-year-old James Andrew Eugene Cross, of Elk Horn NE, and 21-year-old Marc Anthony Aviles, of Omaha NE, were taken into custody after the K-9 unit was deployed and narcotics were found. Cross was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of prescription pills, and felon in possession of a firearm. Cross was being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $5,000 cash/surety bond. Aviles was charged with possession of controlled substance and was being held on a $2,000 cash/surety bond.
On Monday: 56-year-old Michael Allen Pitt, of Logan, was arrested following a traffic stop along Highway 59 south of Highway 37. Upon further investigation, Pitt was taken into custody for possession of drug paraphernalia. He later posted a $300 cash bond, was and given a future court date.; 58-year-old Robert James Allmon, of Harlan, was also arrested Monday, following a traffic stop along Highway 44 and Oak Rd. Allmon was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited act penalties. He was released from the Shelby County Jail the following morning, after posting the required $4,300 surety bond.
On Independence Day, 40-year-old Bryan Christopher Heller, of Avoca, was arrested in Shelby County following a call for a disturbance between two parties. Upon further investigation, Heller was charged with Domestic abuse assault, driving while barred habitual offender, possession of drug paraphernalia, and operation vehicle without consent. Heller being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $4300 cash/surety bond. Last Saturday, 33-year-old Joshua Adam Derengowski, of Shelby, was arrested following a call for a disturbance between a male and female party in Shelby. Upon further investigation it was determined that Derengowski had allegedly assaulted a woman, causing her to lose consciousness. He was charged with felony domestic abuse with strangulation and was transported to the jail, where remains held on a $20,000 cash/surety bond.
June 29th, 42-year-old Curtis Reinold Schutt, of Panama, was arrested following a call to Highway 191 south of Portsmouth for an accident between a tractor and car. Upon further investigation it was determined the operator of the car was found to be intoxicated. Schutt was charged with operating while intoxicated 2nd offense. He was taken to jail without incident and held under bond until he was able to post the required $2000 surety bond and given a future court date.
And, on June 28th, two females were arrested following a traffic stop near F-32 and Peach Road in Shelby County. 19-year-old Haley Marie Briggs and 41-year-old Lisa Marie Briggs were taken into custody. Lisa Briggs was charged with two counts of possession of Controlled substance, prohibited acts, possession of drug paraphernalia. Haley Briggs was charged with prohibited acts, operating while intoxicated 1st offense, possession of controlled substance, operating a non-registered vehicle, and no financial liability. Both women were transported to the Shelby County Jail and released the following morning on their own recognizance. Lisa Briggs will be continue to be held in jail for failure to serve a past due 20-day jail mittimus.