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Iowa advocates rally for kids’ summertime food

News

July 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – Iowa is one of 13 states not participating in a federal summer food program for children. The Iowa Hunger Coalition has launched a petition drive to convince the state to take part in next summer’s program and the first deadline for signatures is approaching.

The Sun Bucks program was established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2020 to make sure kids have enough food in the summer, when schools are not in session. Iowa did not take part in the program this year, as Gov. Kim Reynolds cited administrative costs.

Anne Discher, executive director of the group Common Good Iowa, part of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said the Sun Bucks program can help families stretch their budget.

“It really helps increase consumption of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, without increasing consumption of, say, sugar-sweetened drinks,” Discher pointed out. “Not only is it really a huge help for families who are struggling to make ends meet, but it really has health benefits, as well.”

The coalition is halfway to its goal of 2,500 signatures and the first deadline to get the petition to the next step is Aug. 2.

Beyond making sure children have enough to eat in the summer months, Discher noted the Sun Bucks program increases healthy food options for economically disadvantaged Iowa kids. The $29 million available to be allocated to Iowa as part of the Sun Bucks program is federal money, so even considering the small state administrative costs, Discher argued the reasons for Iowa opting out do not make sense.

“For us, it seems something that, again, is pretty close to a no-brainer,” Discher contended. “It’s, you know, really good for Iowa. And of course, you know, those are dollars that families turn around quickly into their local economies, right? They use them at the grocery store.”

The Sun Bucks program would make food available to about 125,000 Iowa kids in the summer months.

State High School Baseball Scores from Tuesday

Sports

July 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 2A
Underwood 3, Unity-Christian 1
Chariton 7, Pleasantville 1
New Hampton 11, Aplington-Parkersburg 1
Sumner-Fredricksburg 6, Wilton 2

Class 3A

Wahlert Catholic 1, Central Dewitt 0

Class 4A
Cedar Rapids Kennedy 6, Pleasant Valley 3
Johnston 4, Waukee Northwest 3
Dowling Catholic 3, Dallas Center-Grimes 1

State High School Softball Scores from Tuesday

Sports

July 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 3A:
Benton Community 5, Solon 1
Davenport Assumption 6, Estherville Lincoln Central 5

Class 2A
Van Meter 10, West Fork 0
East Marshall 8, Lisbon 1
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 6, Northeast 1
Audubon 4, West Monona 3

Class 1A
Martensdale-St. Mary’s 2, Edgewood-Colesburg 1
St. Edmond 4, Collins-Maxwell 2
Southeast Warren 3, Wayne 2
Sigourney 3, Remsen St. Mary’s 1

Class 5A Consolation:
Muscatine 10, Waukee 0

Class 4A Consolation:
Norwalk 3 ,Dallas Center-Grimes 1
Fort Dodge 7, Western Dubuque 6

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley not ready to name new OC

Sports

July 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley is not ready to name an offensive coordinator. Former Washington State quarterback Luke Falk was named offensive coordinator last February to install the “Air-Raid” offense but he abruptly resigned this summer.

Trey Tinsley moved from receiver coach to quarterback coach and is one of the coaches who could become the play caller.

Farley says he will let several different coaches compete during fall camp to become the play caller.

The Panthers open the season at home against Valparaiso on August 31st.

Audubon Softball rolls on to State Semifinals

Sports

July 23rd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Audubon Wheeler softball team had a walk off 4-3 victory against the West Monona Spartans in the Class 2A State Quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon. The ball game started off in a grid lock for both sides as starting pitchers Riley Miller and Abby Hiatt looked dialed in. Through the first two innings neither team could create a hit and both sides combined for a total of 5 strikeouts. The momentum finally shifted for Audubon in the bottom of the third inning with one out and an error thrown at first to put the go ahead run on. The next batter up for the Wheelers struck out, adding on even more pressure for Taryn Petersen who hit a single right up center field putting two runners on.

Jordan Porsch was next up to hit and she drove a deep hit out past center field nearly escaping the fence and bringing in two runs making it a 2-0 lead for Audubon. Two batters later, Alexis Obermeier cleanly hit an RBI single out in right field to solidify the Wheelers lead at 3-0. The Spartans responded in the top of the fourth inning with one run scoring from a Abby Hiatt sac fly and another by a Carly Stangel bunt. Suddenly making it a 3-2 ball game.

The score would remain the same in a state of tug of war till the top of the seventh where West Monona tied the game via RBI single by McKenna Baker out in right field with a 3-3 score. The Wheelers started the bottom of the seventh with a Mattie Nielsen base hit. Taryn Petersen was then called out on runners’ interference and Jordan Porsch hit a line fly deep into center field for out number two. Miller then waited on a 3-1 count to hit the walk off single into center field bringing Nielsen home and sending Audubon to the next round with the final score of 4-3.

Miller had another efficient from inside the circle pitching 7 innings, giving up 3 earned runs, 4 hits, and 6 strikeouts. Audubon’s Porsch had a good day at the plate going 1-4, with a double and 2 RBI’s. Looking back on the walk off hit, Miller knew as soon as she hit the ball that the Wheelers had the win.

Nielsen explained her thought process with Miller’s hit.

The Spartans saw good production from starting pitcher Hiatt going 7 innings, with 4 earned runs, 7 hits, and 8 strikeouts. West Monona’s best batter on the day was McKenna Baker with a 1-3 performance and one RBI. The competitive matchup brought in a unique atmosphere and Audubon head coach Andrea Schwery complimented her team’s ability to stay calm in a back-and-forth game.

Coach Schwery respected the way her team handled the raucous atmosphere of the State Tournament.

Audubon’s next game will be on Wednesday evening against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. The Rockets are coming off an upset 6-1 win against the Northeast Rebels. Nielsen has confidence in her team as long as they don’t become complacent.

First pitch for the Audubon and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont semifinal matchup is set for 5:15pm.

State Auditor Rob Sand statement on DOE report

News

July 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Des Moines, IA – State Auditor Rob Sand today released a report on the Iowa Department of Education that shows the cost of administering the Educational Savings Account (ESA) program will more than double by fiscal year 2027 because of an amendment to the original contract.

“Just three months after signing the contract to administer the ESA program, the Department of Education agreed to amend it for no good reason.  And in doing so, the Department violated its own policies and procedures,” said Sand.  “Most Iowans believe a deal is a deal and can recognize a bait and switch when they see one.”

The amendment allows Odyssey, the company chosen in April 2023 to administer the ESA program for the state of Iowa, to collect an additional 25 cents for every $100 in qualified educational expenses processed on its platform.

“Conservative estimates show that alone could cost Iowa taxpayers an additional $2.3 million by 2027,” said Sand.  “But we won’t know exactly how much more Iowans will pay for these administrative fees until we know how many students are enrolled in the program.”

Odyssey, which claimed in its contract proposal to have an office in the State Capitol, will also collect 5 cents per ESA transaction, a $100,000 annual “Standalone System Fee” not included in its contract proposal, and be reimbursed for payment processing fees.

“The State Capitol is the peoples’ building and this is their money,” said Sand.  “I want to thank the Auditor’s Office staff for their diligence and hard work, and for shining a light on how Iowans tax dollars are spent.”

In a second finding, the report also noted the improper use of more than $840,000 from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  The use of the funds is limited to programs for school leaders but was inappropriately allocated to paraeducator programs.

Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Charge

News

July 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced July 16, 2024 to 120 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. According to public court documents, Lawaun Maurice Webster, 44 distributed approximately 70 grams of methamphetamine to another person from his residence in Council Bluffs, Iowa. During a search warrant at the residence, law enforcement recovered a loaded firearm near where other drugs and drug paraphernalia were found.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Webster will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Council Bluffs Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

Cyclists rolling through Greenfield can donate to tornado relief

News

July 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The southwest Iowa town of Greenfield is welcoming thousands of RAGBRAI riders as the near-halfway point on today’s 82-mile leg of the bike ride between Atlantic and Winterset. Greenfield was hit by a powerful tornado in May that killed five people and wiped out dozens of homes.

Local health care worker Bailey McLaughlin is a RAGBRAI volunteer and she notes as cyclists explore Greenfield, the tornado’s path is still very evident. “It mainly hit residential areas but the hospital that I work at, Adair County Health System, did sustain some damages,” she says. “It’s mostly internal so you’ll see that they don’t look that bad on the outside, but on the inside, lots of damages.”

McLaughlin is encouraging cyclists on the week-long ride to make a donation to help the town recover. “We are getting a lot of support from RAGBRAI, especially today, but we still continue our efforts on our website which is ACHSiowa.org,” McLaughlin says. “You can go and click on our link up there and then that goes straight to tornado relief as well.”

Photo of tornado damage in Greenfield by Melissa Ehrman Johnson

On that website, you’ll find a link to the Go Fund Me page that has a $250,000 goal.

In addition to the five people killed, 35 people were injured by the twister, which the National Weather Service classified as an EF-4 with top winds of 185-miles an hour.

Grassley: Secret Service boss quitting is just the start of what’s needed

News

July 23rd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the attempted assassination of former President Trump cast major doubt on Secret Service policies and procedures.

“Obviously everything that I’ve heard, either the non-answers or what we know for a fact, it wasn’t handled as properly as it should have been,” Grassley said this morning.

Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle resigned today, saying she takes full responsibility for the security lapse.

Grassley has posted messages on social media calling it a monumental security failure and he’s called on the Inspector General reviewing security measures at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania to provide regular updates to the public.

Cover Crop Fact Sheets Explain Options Available to Iowa Farmers

Ag/Outdoor

July 23rd, 2024 by Jim Field

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are collaborating on a series of cover crop fact sheets for Iowa farmers interested in adopting the practice or trying new cover crops to achieve specific goals on their operation.

Thousands of Iowa farmers plant cover crops annually to help reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, suppress weeds, minimize soil compaction, scavenge excess nutrients or provide supplemental livestock grazing. A large percentage of Iowa farmers use cereal rye, oats, wheat, radishes and turnips. However, there are many other cover crop options available.

The collection of fact sheets includes legumes like hairy vetch and cowpeas, broadleaves like flax and buckwheat, grasses such as millets and triticale, and brassicas like camelina and rapeseed.

“We feel these fact sheets are a good introduction to cover crops for producers who haven’t tried them yet,” said Mark Licht, associate professor and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “There are also species that a more seasoned cover crop user might be interested in learning more about.”

More than 25 fact sheets are currently available on the Iowa NRCS website, with 33 fact sheets expected by the end of August and the potential to add additional species as interest develops. Each fact sheet includes sections on identifying features, cultural traits, planting information and performance ratings, and pictures that highlight various features and growth patterns.

“The collaboration between ISU Extension and Outreach and NRCS on the fact sheets is important,” said Iowa NRCS state soil health specialist Hillary Olson. “We are on the same page in the belief that all Iowa crop producers can find a way to make cover crops work on their farms. We feel these fact sheets will be a valuable learning tool for producers.”

(From ISU Extension)