Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Friday, March 22nd, 2024

March 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Rain showers, possibly mixing with snow after 9am, then gradually ending. Some thunder is also possible. High near 40. N winds 10-25 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Partly cloudy & blustery. Low around 24. N/NE @ 10-20 mph.
Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 41. NE winds becoming-E/SE @ 10-15 mph.
Sat. Night: Snow showers likely after 1am, mixing with rain after 4am. Low around 30. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday: Rain, possibly mixed with snow showers, becoming all rain after 1pm. High near 49. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1am. Low around 38.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 52. The Low was 24. As of 7-a.m. in Atlantic (24-hour precip.), we had received .32″ of rain/sleet at KJAN. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 54 and the Low was 30. The Record High for March 22nd in Atlantic, was 86 in 1910. The Record Low was -6 in 1912. Sunrise: 7:21. Sunset: 7:34-p.m.

Posted in Weather |

House GOP strikes ‘final position’ on AEAs, teacher pay, school funding

News

March 22nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has narrowly passed a package to hike teacher pay, increase general state support for schools AND keep Area Education Agencies as the main provider of experts who assist schools with special education needs for students. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford says it provides certainty for students with disabilities and their parents and, in total, amounts to a five percent increase in state support of schools.

“We wanted to make sure that as we went home this weekend that our schools and Iowans had an idea where House Republicans stand and where our final position is going to be on these three topics,” Grassley said. House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley says it sends a clear and concise message to the Senate. “We expect for this to grt done because it is a priority,” Windshitl said. “…We need to get this done for our schools and for our kids.”

Under the plan, A-E-As would continue to get 90 percent of state funding for special education services. School districts would be able to spend the remaining 10 percent on district employees, private contractor OR continue to use A-E-A staff. The plan passed with the support of 51 of the 60 House Republicans present last (Thursday) night and is similar to three bills that passed the House in February. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says adjustments in the package appear to be concessions to Governor Kim Reynolds. who called for a major overhaul of A-E-As in January.

“Don’t have kids, families, educators be shrapnel in this game,” Konfrst said. Democrats argued the package falls far short of the state financial support schools need. Representative Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City who’s a retired teacher, says the plan weakens the A-E-A system because it reduces funding for other A-E-A services, like teacher training and bulk purchasing of school supplies.”Such nonsense,” Steckman said. “Why are we doing this to our kids and the AEAs? Because the governor wants it.”

Representative Chad Ingels, a Republican from Randalia who voted for the bill, says as the father of two children with Down Syndrome, he fought to get more pay for paraeducators in the package. “While AEA personnel are extremely valuable, paraeducators are there every day beside my kids,” Ingels said, “and they’re underpaid.” Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull, the bill’s floor manager, has a daughter who’s been diagnosed with autism and he also emphasized the importance of paraeducators and keeping A-E-As directly involved in special education services.

“I believe the Lord has placed us in this position for a reason and we have a significant interest in advocating for students with disabilities,” Wheeler said, “and we have done just that.” A few weeks ago, the House took separate votes on general state aid for schools and on teacher pay. The package that cleared the House last (Thursday) night includes the governor’s call for raise salaries for beginning teachers to 50-thousand dollars, plus money to raise the pay of veteran teachers and hourly staff.

In a written statement, Governor Reynolds said the House plan paves a path forward to further strengthen Iowa’s education system in meaningful ways. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver said Senate Republicans will discuss the House package next week and he looks forward to a resolution on education funding, raising starting teacher pay and A-E-A reform.

Posted in News |

Drake stumbles late and falls to Washington State in the NCAA Tournament

Sports

March 22nd, 2024 by admin

Drake faltered down the stretch and lost to Washington State 66-61. The Bulldogs led by eight points with just over seven minutes to play. It was the second straight season the Bulldogs failed to close a game out in the tournament.

That’s coach Darian DeVries. Drake hurt its own cause by making only six of 14 free throws and managed only two field goals in the final seven minutes.

The Bulldogs close the season with a record of 28-7.

Washington State coach Kyle Smith.

Posted in Sports |

High School Boys track results from Thursday March 21st

Sports

March 22nd, 2024 by admin

DOANE CLASS A MEET

Woodbine finished in 4th place with 62 points

Woodbine Landon Bendgen placed 1st in the 800 meter run, 2:01.38

Woodbine Jax Pryor took 1st place in the discus throw 139-07

Abraham Lincoln finished in 8th place with 9 points

Abraham Lincoln Cody Smith placed 3rd in the 3200 meter run, 10:55.83

MOUNT MARTY CLASS B MEET

Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Alex Wilson placed 1st in the shot put (52-06.00)

Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Collin Bliven, Dan Delarosa, Tate Loffswold, Gavin Ahrendt placed 1st place in the 4×400 meter relay, 3:45.61

Posted in Sports |

High School Girls track results from Thursday March 21st

Sports

March 22nd, 2024 by admin

Doane Meet Class A Meet

Woodbine placed 5th with 22 points

1st place finish for Woodbines Adyson Lapel in the 3200 meter run, 12:35.82

Abraham Lincoln finished in 10th place with 1 point

Abraham Lincolns Ava Watkins got a 6th place finish in the 200 meter dash, 28.13

MOUNT MARTY CLASS B MEET

Sergeant Bluff-Luton Bell Bockenstedt 3rd place finish in the 3200 meter run 13:40.15

Posted in Sports |

Tri-Center Trojans boys track season preview

Sports

March 21st, 2024 by admin

The Tri-Center Trojans boys track season has gotten underway. The Trojans will be coached by Gene Johnson.

Coach Johnson gave short recap of how the Tri-Center boys did the last year.

Coach Johnson elaborated on what his squad did over the offseason.

Coach Johnson mentioned about his top returners for this year.

Coach Johnson talked about his teams goals for the season.

The Trojans next event will be Tuesday March 26th at the Audubon Invitational. That event will get underway at 4:30 p.m.

Posted in Sports |

Riverside Bulldogs girls track season preview

Sports

March 21st, 2024 by admin

The Riverside Bulldogs girls track team is off to good start. The Bulldogs have 25 plus high schoolers and are coach by Jared Hoffman.

Coach Hoffman gave a brief recap of last season.

Coach Hoffman commented on what his squad has been working on in practice.

Coach Hoffman talked about what his teams goals are for the year.

Riverside girls next meet will be Thursday March 28th for the Griswold/Stanton COED invitational. That invite will get started at 4:30 p.m.

Posted in Sports |

Five Cyclones Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals

Sports

March 21st, 2024 by admin

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Iowa State advanced all nine of its qualifiers to day two of the NCAA Championships Thursday inside the T-Mobile Center. Five Cyclones – Evan Frost, Anthony Echemendia, Casey Swiderski, David Carr and Yonger Bastida – went 2-0 on the day and are now in the quarterfinals.

ISU went 8-1 overall in Session II, 5-1 in the Second Round and 3-0 on the consolation side. Kysen Terukina, Cody Chittum and MJ Gaitan all kept their seasons alive on the back side.

The Cyclones are tied for second place in the team standings, along with Iowa, with 24.5 team points. Penn State leads the tournament with 34.5. Once again, bonus points were a theme as ISU put 13 extra tallies on the board (3 WBF, 4 TF, 1 MD)

Up Next
Quarterfinals and consolation rounds will begin Friday at 11 a.m. and will air on ESPNU.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Advance 4 to NCAA Quarterfinals

Sports

March 21st, 2024 by admin

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team has four quarterfinalists, and all nine Hawkeyes are still alive following Session II of the 2024 NCAA Championships at the T-Mobile Center.

“We have another day tomorrow,” said head coach Tom Brands. “Guys on the consolation side of the bracket have two matches in the morning, need to keep a good thing going that way. Guys in the championship have one match in the morning. That is where we are at. It’s day one, and we are going to day two in a three-day tournament, and I’m fired up.”

No. 3 seed Drake Ayala dispatched the No. 14 seed Nico Provo of Stanford with a 19-4 technical fall in 5:20 at 125. He advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in his career.

At 141, third-seeded Real Woods advanced to the quarterfinals for the third straight season with an 8-0 major decision over No. 14 Jesse Vasquez.

The No. 10 seed at 157 pounds Jared Franek advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-3 victory over #7 Peyten Kellar of Ohio.

Michael Caliendo put up the second tech. fall of the session as the No. 6 seed at 165-pounds won, 26-10, over Bucknell’s Noah Mulvaney the No. 22 seed.

At 285, No. 25 seed Bradley Hill fell to Ohio State’s ninth seed Nick Feldman, 11-2.

In consolation matches the Hawkeyes won all three of their bouts. At 149, No. 13 seed Caleb Rathjen won via injury default over No. 29 Alek Martin of South Dakota State.

Patrick Kennedy had the third tech. fall of the session for the Hawkeyes. Kennedy, the No. 12 seed tallied 18 points en route to defeating fifth-seeded Philip Conigliaro of Harvard at 174.

At 197, No. 7 seed Zach Glazier closed things out for the Hawkeyes with a major decision, 16-6, over Ohio States 23rd-seeded Luke Geog.

“The national tournament is different,” said Brands. “You are resting, fueling, hydrating and repeating. You are constantly doing what you do to make sure that mind and body are ready to go.”

Iowa is tied for second with Iowa State in the team standings heading into the third session with 24.5 points. Penn State is leading the team race with 34.5 points, while Michigan and NC State are fourth with 22 points.

UP NEXT
Session III of the 2024 NCAA Championships will begin at 11 a.m. (CT) tomorrow and it will be televised live on ESPNU.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State beats South Dakota State in NCAA Tournament

Sports

March 21st, 2024 by admin

Iowa State used a 12-0 run early in the second half to take command in an 82-65 win over South Dakota State in the opening rund of the NCAA Tournament in Omaha.