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University of Iowa Athletics expects to break revenue records in upcoming year

News, Sports

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa City, Iowa) – The University of Iowa is expecting another record-breaking year for its athletics department while Iowa State University Athletics is working to handle changes to expected revenues as a result of collegiate athletic conferences shifting, university budget documents show. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that with revenues slated to increase in football, women’s basketball, wrestling and volleyball, among other areas, the UI is projecting a total income of more than $150 million for fiscal year 2025, just over a 7% increase from last year.

According to budgets submitted to the Iowa Board of Regents, which are set to be discussed at the board’s meeting next week, Hawkeye Football ticket revenue should increase this fall due to “a favorable home schedule and price adjustments,” and budgeted income for women’s basketball went from $1.3 million to $1.65 million in fiscal year 2025 because of “additional guarantees received for away contests.”

The university athletics department saw record-breaking revenue last fiscal year as well, prompted by soaring popularity in the women’s basketball team. Iowa women’s wrestling is projected to make $80,000 in fiscal year 2025. Renegotiated television contracts from the Big Ten Conference will give athletic conference revenue at the UI a $13.4 million bump from the $61.8 million the university saw last year.

The University of Iowa and Iowa State University athletic departments are both expecting increases in revenue in fiscal year 2025. (Photo via University of Iowa Facilities Management)

ISU Athletics is expecting to earn around $114.2 million in revenue for fiscal year 2025, $2.7 million more than the fiscal year 2024 budget. Cyclone Football is also expecting increased ticket sales due to an additional home game, and the athletic department is also planning to see increased ticket sales for women’s basketball and wrestling. The biggest bump is expected to come from women’s basketball, with the budget line increasing from $450,000 to $700,000. However, with changes to collegiate athletics conferences and tournaments, ISU Athletics has put certain projects on hold and “is continuing to make operational and personnel changes as necessary,” according to the budget document.

With four universities added to the Big 12 Conference as of July 1, ISU and the other continuing  conference members will receive $40 million less in Big 12 contributions through fiscal year 2031 than what was previously expected, according to the regents document. Also impacting the ISU athletic department’s budget is the College Football Playoff expansion, which makes it so playoff revenues aren’t equally distributed among the different conferences, according to the document.

The University of Northern Iowa, the only state university to provide support to its athletics department, is also the only university to expect a decrease in revenue for its athletics this upcoming fiscal year. According to the budget document, athletics revenue is projected to fall from around $14.8 million to just under $14.7 million. As with previous years, UNI men’s basketball doesn’t have game guaranteed revenue to include in the budget yet.

The university will also see a more than $1 million reduction in revenue from marketing due to its new contract with sports marketing company Learfield. The UI will only see a $150,000 decrease in its income from the contract it holds with Learfield, according to the document. UNI will allocate $3.26 million in operational support, $1.28 million in scholarship funding and $485,000 for “one-time support,” according to the regent document.

The university included an almost $100,000 increase in income from UNI football, but decreases in other men’s and women’s sports.

Young Atlantic woman helps Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa in the Governor’s Charity Steer Show

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Fair is quickly approaching and plans for the annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show are in full swing. Iowa cattlemen support this great event that benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

Claire Pellet of Atlantic, Iowa, has joined the Governor’s Charity Steer Show lineup of exceptional youth to show her steer at the August 10 event. Each steer is exhibited by a local youth representative and a guest celebrity selected by the sponsor of the steer. Twenty-four steers will be shown this year, with Gov. Kim Reynolds as one of the celebrities showing in the ring. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) and the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC).

Claire is the daughter of Brad and Kristy Pellett. Claire is a recent graduate of Atlantic High School. This fall she will be attending Oklahoma State University. Claire has been showing cattle for nine years and was involved in many things at her school. As true Cyclone fans, her family named her steer Magic, in honor of Hilton Magic. Claire will be partnering with Dr. Dan Grooms, dean of Iowa State University’s (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine. They are sponsored by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and ISU College of Veterinary Medicine.

If you are interested in supporting Claire Pellett, please consider donating online or attending the show/auction to contribute. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is being held in Pioneer Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, August 10 at 4:30 pm. For additional information about the Governor’s Charity Steer Show or to donate, visit www.iowagovernorscharitysteershow.com

Claire Pellett and her steer, Magic.

Jenna Smith, ICA member services and Governor’s Charity Steer Show co-chair, says “The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show highlights the good nature of the beef cattle industry and brings together a valuable collaboration between producers, industry supporters, youth, and community namesakes for an important cause. It is an honor to serve the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, which provides a crucial service to families in need. The youth participants of the Governor’s Charity Steer Show showcase the giving nature of our industry and offer a local connection to support this meaningful event.”

The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has been held since 1983 and has raised over $5 million since the show’s inception. Last year the show raised more than $500,000, the third year in a row that the fundraising record has been broken. Funds are raised through online donations, sponsorships, and an auction of steers following the show.

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa too.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Thu., July 25, 2024

Weather

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East southeast wind around 10 mph.

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 5-10 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 88.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Sun. Night: Partly cloudy w/a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 69.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 91.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 88. The Low was 61. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 88 & the Low was 67. The All-time Record High here, on July 25th, was 117 in 1936. The was also the hottest temperature ever recorded in Atlantic. The Record Low was 44, in 1894. Sunrise: 6:07. Sunset: 8:44.

Iowa officials discuss legal challenge of federal rules for wetland restoration

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says he’s met with Iowa’s attorney general to discuss legal challenges to some federal regulations relating to wetlands. “In the conservation space, we’re having some real problems in getting with some of our projects through permitting with the Army Corps of Engineers,” Naig says. “You can be sure that we’re going to be looking at how Waters of the U.S. is defined and the Clean Water Act as it related to trying to go out and do conservation work.”

Naig says the lawsuit would follow the U-S Supreme Court’s recent decision that sharply curtails the authority federal agencies have to interpret the laws they administer. “What that sort of says is here congress has been outsourcing a lot of the detail and some of the specifics to agencies and…congress should do their job give specific direction and then perform oversight over agencies,” Naig says.

Naig suggests a prime target for litigation would be federal rules for wetland restoration projects that require work in connected streams. “Nitrate reducing wetlands and whether or not we need to do stream mitigation adds to the costs of these projects,” Naig says. “…We would argue the overall environmental and ecological impact, the positive impact to that stream segment overwhelms the need to go mitigate.”

Naig made his comments during a recent appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S.

NW IA officials may join regional group that oversees Little Sioux watershed

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – As part of flood recovery efforts, some officials in northwest Iowa are exploring the idea of joining a Water Management Authority that oversees the Little Sioux River watershed. The Little Sioux Headwaters Coalition currently includes agencies in areas along the Iowa-Minnesota border. Clay County Supervisor Allen Batschelet says rather than reinventing the wheel, joining the coalition — which was set up 15 years ago — makes sense.

To create a new one…we would have to go find every affected entity and get them…educated and informed on what this was all about and then get them to go through their approval process and then we’d have to identify who would lead the new agency, wherever it would be. What are the boundaries going to be for it? It would be a pretty heavy lift, I think, and not expeditious,” he says.

Dickinson County Supervisor Steve Clark says it may be time to have his county, along with Clay, Cherokee and Buena Vista Counties become part of the Water Management Authority for the Little Sioux. “We can have a fairly good impact on the whole watershed as we bring in stuff from the top it will slow the water down that goes on downstream,” Clark says.

Last month’s Little Sioux River flooding devastated swaths of Spencer and Cherokee. In the small community of Linn Grove, the crest was six feet higher than the previous record set in 1993. The Little Sioux Headwaters Coalition is scheduled to meet August 14th to hear from a consultant about flood control measures.

Lyon County fairgrounds heavily damaged by flooding, this year’s fair elsewhere

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Lyon County Fair is underway this week — but changes had to be made after high water from the Rock River heavily damaged the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Rock Rapids. Lori Rens is the secretary of the Lyon County Fair Board. “It just devastated and decimated our fairgrounds, all the way down to our infrastructure,” she says. “Some buildings were damaged and we just knew it wouldn’t be a safe place to host our fair this year.”

Lyon County livestock shows were moved to the Osceola County fairgrounds in Sibley. “They ran their fair last week, so there are so many of their fair board members and their superintendents for livestock who are putting in a second week to help us out, so it’s just incredible,” Rens says. “Words cannot express how grateful we are that they opened up their home to us.”

While the livestock shows were moved to Sibley, the Lyon County Fair Queen pageant was held at the community center in Rock Rapids and that’s where 4-H exhibits were judged last Thursday. The Lyon County Fairboard will host a street dance fundraiser in Rock Rapids Friday night to raise money to repair their fairgrounds and racetrack. The flooding not only damaged buildings on the fairgrounds, it left behind large holes in the ground and exposed electrical lines.

(Reporting by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)

High School Boy’s State Baseball Results from Wednesday

Sports

July 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A 
Semifinals:

Remsen St. Mary’s 7, Newman Catholic 4
Lynnville-Sully 4, Akron-Westfield 0

Class 4A
Quarterfinals
Iowa City High 2, Waukee, 0

Class 3A Semifinals:
Bishop Helen Catholic 6, Wahlert Catholic 3

North Polk 2, Marion 1

High School Girl’s State Softball Results from Wednesday

Sports

July 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A
Semifinal:
Martensdale, St. Mary’s, 2 St. Edmond 1
Sigourney 6, Southeast Warren 1

Consolation:
Collins-Maxwell 3, Edgewood-Colesburg 2
Wayne 8, Remsen St. Mary’s 1

Class 2A 
Semifinals:
Audubon 3, Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont 2
Van Meter 4, East Marshall 3

Consolation:
Northeast 8, West Monona 2
Lisbon 4, West Fork 0

Class 3A

Semifinals:
Williamsburg 3, Wahlert, Catholic 2
Assumption 10, Benton 7

Consolation:

PCM 3, Sumner Fredericksburg 1
Estherville Lincoln Central 8, Solon 1

Class 4A:
Semifinals:
Carlisle 6, North Scott 2
ADM 7, North Polk 2

Class 5A:
Semifinals:
Valley 8, Ankeny 1
Pleasant Valley 4, Urbandale 2

Audubon Softball advances to State Championship over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont

Sports

July 24th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

In dramatic fashion again, the Audubon Wheelers softball team came back to win against the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Rockets 3-2 in the Class 2A State Semifinals. The start of the game was typical for Audubon softball as it quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel between Audubon’s Riley Miller and the Rockets Lanie Batterson. Miller was commanding in her first three innings of pitching giving up no runs, no hits, and 5 strikeouts. The Rockets finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning with a string of three hits in a row, including a 2 RBI double from Aliya Wagamon giving them the lead at 2-0. The Wheelers did minimize the damage thanks to a double play from Taryn Petersen who caught a pop fly and tagged the runner at second to end the top of the inning.

The game would remain at 2-0 while the Audubon bats remained silent, only having one hit throughout the first six innings. Time was running out for the Wheelers as they started the bottom of the seventh. Jordan Porsch was the leadoff hitter and she delivered with a single to put a runner on. Riley Miller was next up to bat and she drew a walk, putting the tying run on first with no outs. Alexis Obermeier then stepped into the batter’s box delivering an RBI single to make the score 2-1 and advancing the tying run to third base. Addie Hocker was up to hit and she hit a grounder towards second base to put herself on first due to a fielder’s choice. Hocker would steal second moving the go ahead in scoring position and Michelle Brooks took care of the rest hitting a line fly ball out towards right field for a 2 RBI walk off single and giving Audubon the victory at 3-2.

Miller again helped her team with the comeback pitching a full game, with 2 earned runs, 3 hits, and 6 strikeouts. Batterson also had a respectable day for Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont pitching over 6 innings, giving up 3 earned runs, 4 hits, and 2 strikeouts. Audubon head coach Andrea Schwery credited her teams win to their ability of staying motivated and calm.

Michelle Brooks went 1-3 for Audubon with a 2 RBI single and the walk off hit. She commented on how surreal the feeling of going to the state championship is.

Alexis Obermeier was also a key contributor with her 1-3 day and lone RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning. Part of her success in Fort Dodge is the trust she shares between her teammates.

The win against the Rockets will advance the Wheelers to the state championship game for the first time in program history. For Obermeier and her teammates they plan on staying positive and secure in one another.

The state championship game will be played against the 42-1 Van Meter Bulldogs on Friday. Coach Schwery’s approach to Friday is taking it one game at a time.

First pitch for the Class 2A state championship game is set for 5:00pm on the 26th.

Pickup & an SUV/trailer collision in Creston leaves both vehicles disable

News

July 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Wednesday morning in Creston left two vehicles disabled, but no one was hurt. According to the Creston Police Department, 37-year-old Andrew J. Putz, of Greenfield, was driving a pickup northbound in the inside lane on N. Sumner Street at around 10:25-a.m, when he noticed an ambulance with visible lights and siren activated, traveling north on Sumner, coming up behind him.

Putz immediately merged over to the outside lane, unaware an SUV was next to him before he merged. The front bumper of the pickup caught the front driver’s side corner of a trailer being pulled by the SUV, driven by 67-year-old Danny Lee McIntosh, of Creston.

Damage to Putz’ 2016 GMC pickup was estimated at $4,000, according to police. The 2002 Ford Explorer SUV sustained $3,000 damage. While no citations were issued, the report said Putz’s failure to yield the right-of-way was a contributing factor in the accident.