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Overnight road closure on westbound I-80 at the Jordan Creek Parkway interchange (exit 121) rescheduled for Monday night, Aug. 5

News

August 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CRESTON, Iowa – Aug. 1, 2024 – If you travel on westbound Interstate 80 near the Jordan Creek Parkway interchange (exit 121) you need to be aware of upcoming overnight construction work that may slow down your trip. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports the DOT needs to close the roadway overnight from the Jordan Creek Parkway interchange (exit 121) to the Grand Prairie Parkway interchange (exit 118) to allow the contractor to work on bridge deck repair and concrete patching. Due to weather delays, this has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, weather permitting.

While the roadway is closed, you will follow a marked detour route that will use Jordan Creek Parkway, University Avenue, and Grand Prairie Parkway (see map).

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Sunday, Aug. 4th, 2024

Weather

August 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 102. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5-10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. North wind around 15-25 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Wed. Night: A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 93. The Low was 64. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 82 and the Low was 65. The Record High here on Aug. 4th, was 110 in 1918. The Record Low was 38 in 1978. Sunrise today: 6:17-a.m.; Sunset: 8:35-p.m.

Heat Advisory today for Pottawattamie County (from 1-until 8-p.m.) 8/4/24

Weather

August 4th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
312 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2024

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM THIS EVENING.

* WHAT…Heat index values up to 104 expected.

* IMPACTS…Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

PHYLLIS HANKE, 87, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 8/14/24)

Obituaries

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

PHYLLIS HANKE, 87, of Greenfield, died Saturday, August 3, 2024.  A Celebration of Life service for PHYLLIS HANKE will be held 1-p.m. Wed., Augusy 14, 2024, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

A luncheon will follow the service.

There is NO visitation.

A Private family burial will be in the Prussia Township Cemetery north of Greenfield.  

Memorials may be directed to the Phyllis Hanke Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

PHYLLIS HANKE is survived by:

Her daughter – Teresa (Kenyon) Wood, of Des Moines.

Her sons – Brian Hanke (& Jane Reddington), of Fontanelle; Bret (Teri) Hanke, of Mingo; Andrew Hanke, of Brooklyn, Iowa, and Mark (Dawn) Reddick, of Arizona.

Her brother – Larry Pool, of Des Moines.

7 grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

2 area airport weather tracking sites disabled with new FAA guidelines

News

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Some Iowans will not see their local temperature and dew point weather reports because several weather tracking sensors across Iowa are disabled. In western Iowa, that includes the Denison and Carroll Airports.  The Federal Aviation Administration released new guidelines on July 2 that require malfunctioning Automated Weather Observing Systems, or AWOS, located at airports to be disabled.

There are 61 AWOSs at airports in Iowa. Seventeen are managed by the FAA, while 44 are operated by the Iowa Department of Transportation. These sites’ primary function is to track meteorological data such as wind speed, air pressure, temperature, and dew points to guide pilots; however, weather data is shared with the public and often used for local weather reports.

Currently, 12 weather tracking sites are not reporting temperature or dew point for the area. A full map of the weather tracking sites can be found here. Iowa DOT Aviation Director Tim McClung told KCCI, that prior to July 2, the DOT was only required to report if a site was producing inaccurate data. Now, if they must disable the sensor entirely along with issuing a report to pilots.

There is no danger to aircraft from the disabled sensors.  McClung said for aviation, they can map out general weather conditions, despite some sensors being down, that are sufficient for guiding aircraft. However, he said it is inconvenient for people who are looking at the sensors for weather reports. McClung said the technicians at the DOT are working hard to get the site back up as soon as possible but expects it will be a rolling cycle of sensors coming on and off over the next several months.

They are currently directing their focus on the offline sensors in Boone, Webster City, and Carroll because those locations are close together and all malfunctioning. The disabled sensors are expected to continue for several months as the DOT adapts to the policy change. McClung said the sensors they need to replace are currently backlogged, which has led to more delays.

He said the cooler weather in the fall and winter, combined with more time to get new sensors, should bring most of the sites back online. Below is a list of the sensors not currently reporting temperature or dew point:

  • Denison
  • Carroll
  • Perry
  • Webster City
  • Fort Dodge
  • Clarion
  • Boone
  • Fort Madison
  • Keokuk
  • Muscatine
  • Vinton
  • Grinnell

RUTH EASTER, 68, of Redfield (Celebration of Life 8/7/24)

Obituaries

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

RUTH EASTER, 68, of Redfield, died Thursday, August 1, 2024. A Celebration of Life Service for RUTH EASTER will be held 10-a.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in Redfield from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Burial is in the Dexter Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the burial at the Redfield Legion Hall.  The

Memorials:  To the Ruth Easter Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Additional Counties approved for FEMA assistance under the June Presidential Major Disaster Declaration

News

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES— Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced the approval of Monona County for Individual Assistance, and Harrison, Monona, Pocahontas, Winneshiek, and Wright Counties for Public Assistance for emergency protective measures and permanent work under the previously approved Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA DR-4796-IA, for Iowa counties where significant damage was sustained from severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred June 16, 2024, and continuing.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program is already activated for the following counties related to this incident: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Sioux, and Woodbury Counties.

The following counties were previously activated for emergency protective measures under Public Assistance and have been approved for the addition of permanent work: Lyon, and Osceola. Monona County residents are now eligible for the Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program, along with Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury counties.

This program is available to survivors whose homes were majorly damaged, destroyed, or deemed not habitable in counties currently under a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for both FEMA Individual and Public Assistance.

For more information on disaster-related programs and resources available to Iowans, visit DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov.

Iowa lawmakers address Olympic athlete abuse, poultry processing

News, Sports

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa Capital Dispatch/ Washington, D-C) – Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley penned letters this week to SafeSport and USA Gymnastics demanding answers to why the agencies have done so little to protect Olympic athletes. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports also, Iowa lawmakers also introduced bills aimed at increasing small-scale poultry processing, reducing paperwork for small businesses and preventing sexual assault on college campuses. Here’s what Iowa’s congressional delegation was doing in the last week before a month-long recess:

Grassley calls on SafeSport and USA Gymnastics to protect Olympic athletes from abusers

Grassley sent letters to the CEOs of SafeSport and USA Gymnastics demanding they take greater steps to protect Olympic athletes from abusers. His letters come amid the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Aly Raisman testified in September 2021 before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about failures that enabled the sexual abuse committed by the former USA Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar. SafeSport, a government agency designed to investigate Olympic athlete abuse, and USA Gymnastics can provide protective measures against individuals who are under investigation for the alleged physical or emotional abuse of athletes, according to Grassley. However, an internal SafeSport report revealed the agency only imposed protective measures on 5% of individuals under investigation.

To USA Gymnastics CEO Li Li Leung, Grassley is asking for data on the number of times they imposed restrictions due to SafeSport investigations, declined to impose restrictions from a SafeSport investigation, internal policies on when they will impose a restriction and policies for an athlete to request restrictions against an individual. Grassley brought up allegations of USA Gymnastics ignoring reports of children being slapped, dragged by the neck and kicked while the child was injured. To the SafeSport CEO, Grassley asked why the agency has decreased its use of protective measures, what efforts the agency has made to inform governing bodies what they can do amid a pending investigation as well as what metrics are used to assess the seriousness of an allegation and the risk posed by an individual.  Grassley said in the press release that SafeSport delaying or avoiding punishments of alleged abusers despite numerous warnings of their danger shows the agency needs change.

He also asked for data on the number of protective measures taken since June 2020, how long have the 120 cases opened for more than two years been pending investigation and how many times has the agency eased restrictions placed on individuals by national governing bodies.

Olympic gold medalist Simon Biles testifies Sept. 15, 2021, before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee with fellow gymnasts about sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics doctor. (Screen shot from U.S. Senate livestream)

Feenstra seeks an increase in small-scale poultry processing

Rep. Randy Feenstra introduced a bill to allow poultry processing plants to perform regular slaughter and custom exempt slaughter at the same facility. Custom exempt slaughter allows livestock owners to operate without federal inspection if the slaughter is exclusively for the use of the livestock owner or the owner’s family, guests or employees. “Due to outdated laws, Iowa farmers oftentimes travel long distances to have their broilers and turkeys slaughtered and processed – this must change,” Feenstra said in a press release. “By encouraging local processing and slaughter of poultry, we can deliver fresher products more quickly to consumers, eliminate unnecessary headaches and additional expenses for our producers, and strengthen our agricultural economy in Iowa.” If passed, the bill would amend the Poultry Products Inspection Act which would allow poultry producers to increase the availability of local poultry processing options.

Nunn bill would exempt small businesses from new reporting law

A bill introduced by Rep. Zach Nunn would exempt small businesses from the reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act. The Corporate Transparency Act is designed to root out shell companies operating outside of the country, however, Nunn said in a press release that the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) failed to adequately notify small businesses of the change. FinCEN Director Andrea Gacki said in a small business roundtable that only 2 million out of over 32 million small businesses had filed the new reports, according to Nunn’s press release. A survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses revealed that 80% of members had never heard of new requirements. Nunn said in the press release that changes are needed to remove unnecessary red tape for small businesses and protect small businesses from fines and potential jail time for failing to adhere to the reporting requirements. Failure to complete the reporting requirements will result in a $591 fine daily and up to two years in jail, according to the press release.

Grassley, Gillibrand push for bill to combat campus sexual assault

Grassley and New York Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand reintroduced a bill aimed at ensuring access to sexual assault prevention and education resources on college campuses. The bill, known as the Campus Safety and Accountability Act (CASA), would require colleges on their website to post campus safety policies, an annual security report, instructions for filing a complaint and data on sexual misconduct allegations on campus. “Our bill is a coordinated approach to addressing incidents of sexual assault on college campuses. It would inform university protocols for handling reports, while also strengthening recovery resources for survivors and empowering them to know their rights,” Grassley said in a press release. CASA would also provide more protections from university punishments when students’ reports include uses of self-defense, drugs or alcohol.

The bill also requires universities to name specialists who would act as confidential aides for survivors and expand the Violence Against Women Act’s campus grant program to address sexual harassment on campus.

Leaders of state’s new Division of Special Education announced as AEA law rolls out

News

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa)- In the upcoming school year, six new leaders will oversee Iowa’s Area Education Agencies as a part of the Iowa Department of Education’s division of special education following the implementation of a 2024 law making major changes to the state’s special education system. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, previously, Iowa’s AEAs, the regional agencies providing special education and other assistance for Iowa school districts, had internal staff with of accountability and oversight duties. But the 2024 law making funding changes to the AEA system, alongside increasing minimum teacher salaries and para-educator pay, moved these responsibilities to the state Department of Education under the reestablished division of special education.

Education Department Director McKenzie Snow said in a report to the Iowa Board of Education Thursday that Dr. Barbara Guy was selected to serve as the division administrator of state accountability and student supports, at the lead of the centrally located team, while Dr. Angelisa Fynaardt will serve as acting division administrator of regional continuous improvement and compliance working with regional-based teams through the nine AEA regions.

Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow answered questions from Senate panel considering her appointment to continue serving in the position on March 26, 2024 at the Iowa State Capitol. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Amy Thoms-Starr, Ivan Gentry, Lisa Glenn, Molly Elston and Seth Piro have also been selected to serve in senior leadership roles as regional special education directors, according to the department news release.

Most of the division staff have prior experience at AEAs. Fynaardt has 13 years of experience as special education director at Great Prairie AEA. Several of the regional directors also previously held leadership positions at the regions where they will be working, including Thoms-Starr at Central River, Gentry at Green Hills and Molly Elston at Prairie Lakes.

“Collectively, these experts represent over 150 of years of expertise in special education across Iowa and represent parents, families, advocates, peer educators, special education teachers, principals, school districts, special education directors, AEA, special education directors and more,” Snow said at the meeting.

Snow said the division will be tasked with implementing accreditation and accountability measures including providing finance and data analysis, providing student evaluation and placement, helping develop curriculum and instruction and resolving complaints. The department plans to hire three more Regional Special Education Directors, in addition to other leadership staff, according to the release.

The law, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in March, was one of the most controversial pieces of legislation to move in the 2024 session. In Reynolds’ original proposal, the division was much larger, with planned staffing of 139 state employees funded by funded by $20 million moved from AEAs.

In addition to giving more oversight power to the state education department, the law also created a new funding formula for AEAs and school districts that will go into implementation over two years. In the second year of implementation, 90% of school district’s special education funding will go to AEAs while 10% of those funds will stay in school districts for discretionary use. Additionally, all general education and media services funding currently going to AEAs will go to school districts on the second year of implementation.

Reynolds said the changes were needed to ensure the best outcomes for Iowa students with special needs, and that the Department of Education oversight was crucial. A report released by the Guidehouse consulting firm found that Iowa spent more on special education per-pupil than the national average, but that Iowa special education students scored lower than the national average on National Assessment of Educational Progress tests. Critics of the plan panned the report, saying it was misleading.

“This legislation intends to resolve these issues,” Reynolds said at the bill signing. “It shifts funding to school districts, empowering them with local control to decide how best to serve their students and improve education outcomes without disrupting services or dismantling the system.”

MidAmerican crews return power to 90,000 customers impacted in this week’s severe storms

News

August 3rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Officials with MidAmerican Energy, on Friday, said crews were able to restore service within 24 hours to 99.9% of the 90,000 customers impacted by this week’s string of severe thunderstorms. The severe weather produced storms with wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour and significant lightning causing large pockets of substantial tree damage, downed wires and broken poles.

MidAmerican and contractor line crews, along with tree crews, began restoration immediately, making safe and efficient progress as each round of weather passed. Early in the week, when the forecast for potential weather impacts became clear, additional contractor crews were secured from Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. MidAmerican crews from nonimpacted areas also traveled to support the restoration efforts in the Sioux City, Council Bluffs and Des Moines areas.

“Despite an extremely active storm season this year, MidAmerican crews and contractors have worked tirelessly to quickly and safely restore power to our customers,” Nick Nation, senior vice president of delivery at MidAmerican, said. “We understand how much our customers count on us to get the job done, and we are prepared to do just that, even when there is a new storm every night.”

“While we were able to restore nearly every customer’s power in less than 24 hours, multiple storms throughout the week hitting the same areas takes its toll, and we are so grateful to our customers for their patience and support of our crews,” he continued.

According to National Weather Service data, this year Iowa has had the second-most tornadoes and severe thunderstorms recorded to date.