United Group Insurance

Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network Partner with Greenfly to Power Short-Form Digital Media Distribution to Student-Athletes

Sports

November 20th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

ROSEMONT, Ill. & SANTA MONICA, Calif. (November 20, 2023) – The Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Greenfly, the leading platform for short-from content capture, organization, and distribution, to power the flow of digital media assets for thousands of Big Ten student-athletes. The multi-year partnership will allow the conference to provide student-athletes across 14 member institutions sophisticated access to tailored content they can leverage to build their brands.

The Big Ten turned to Greenfly as a solution to empower student-athletes in growing their social media presence and platforms. For the first time, Big Ten student-athletes will have access to the very same tools that the world’s leading professional leagues, teams, and athletes use to enhance their digital presence and engage with audiences around the globe.

“Greenfly’s proven technology has given athletes from the most prominent professional leagues around the world the ability to tell their story and engage a community,” Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said. “We want to provide Big Ten student-athletes with the same level of technology. As broadcast coverage of Big Ten athletics continues to expand, this partnership is going to transform our ability to support student-athletes as they build their online presence and connect with fans, brands and alumni around the world.”

Greenfly’s technology will sort and organize thousands of incoming assets into curated galleries and make them immediately accessible to student-athletes. Broadcast content from the Big Ten Network and other conference partners will make its way to student-athletes.

“Powering the digital media ecosystem of the Big Ten will help the conference set a new standard for supporting student-athletes, and for storytelling and engaging their fans,” Greenfly CEO Daniel Kirschner said. “This is a game-changing opportunity for student-athletes to build their brands. In this transformational moment in college athletics, the Big Ten is leading the way in its commitment to address the content needs and opportunities for its community. We couldn’t be prouder to partner with the conference to help deliver this vision.”

Big Ten student-athletes across many sports will have access to Greenfly’s cutting-edge content tools – allowing them to create, receive and share compelling photos and videos with fans on social media. The technology is currently being used by leagues, teams and federations around the world, including MLB, the PGA Tour, the NHL and the NBA. The partnership with the Big Ten Conference marks Greenfly’s first broad collaboration in college athletics.

As the content licensing agent for the Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network, Veritone will introduce an NIL footage licensing program to power the partnership, which enables student-athletes to use Big Ten footage on their social media platforms to help them build their personal brands. The program will also provide a pathway for student-athletes and their NIL partners to license Big Ten footage through Veritone for use in commercial endeavors.

Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley wraps up the season

Sports

November 20th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

UNI football coach Mark Farley says it was a week 10 loss at Missouri State that kept the Panthers out of the FCS Playoffs. UNI finished the season with a 6-5 record after a 48-27 loss to North Dakota State.

It is the second straight season the Panthers have missed out on the FCS playoffs.

Farley feels good about the future of the program.

A tough nonconference schedule did not benefit UNI. The Panthers finished tied for third in the Missouri Valley race but did not get a playoff bid.

Iowa’s governor plots tax plan for 2024 legislature

News

November 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is preparing her list of priority issues for the 2024 Iowa legislature and it includes a tax plan. A year ago, Reynolds said her goal was to completely eliminate the state income tax by early 2027. Reynolds told reporters this (Monday) morning she’s meeting with legislators and business leaders — and her staff is analyzing a variety of data points, but the governor isn’t ready to reveal details.

“We’re visiting with the respective parties that we need to and, most importantly, economists to make sure that we’re in a good place to be able to sustain it,” Reynolds says. The Iowa Taxpayer Relief Fund currently has a more than two-point-seven BILLION dollar balance of taxes that were paid to the state, but not spent. The state surplus is approaching two BILLION dollars on top of that.

“The fact of the matter is we’re sitting on a pretty good surplus and the Taxpayer (Relief) Fund especially is designated to really help reduce the tax burden on Iowans, so we’ve got money there and we’re going to turn it back over to Iowans and we need to be more competitive,” Reynolds said. Democrats in the legislature say state tax cuts should be targeted to low and middle income Iowans.

K-State, OU, TCU and WVU Collect Big 12 Football Week 12 Awards

Sports

November 20th, 2023 by admin

TCU’s Jared Wiley (offensive), Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman (defensive), West Virginia’s Jahiem White (newcomer) and Kansas State’s Keenan Garber (special teams) earned Big 12 football weekly awards. It was the first career honor for each recipient.

Wiley compiled 178 receiving yards, the most by a Big 12 tight end in Conference history and the most in a game nationally this season by a player at that position, in TCU’s 42-17 win over Baylor. He set a TCU tight end record with his career-best receiving yardage as well as a career-high with seven receptions while tying another personal mark with two touchdowns. His 81-yard touchdown catch was the longest reception of his career, surpassing his previous best of 52 yards against TCU while playing for Texas in 2020. He later added a 28-yard scoring grab. The 81-yard TD was also TCU’s longest pass play since 2017. Wiley is pursuing a master’s degree in liberal arts.

Bowman returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown and registered nine tackles, including one for a loss (four yards), in Oklahoma’s 31-24 win at BYU. The interception came on a third-quarter first-and-goal play from the 2-yard line with the game tied at 17. It was the third 100-yard interception return in program history and OU’s first since 2014. Bowman’s interception was his fifth of the season, tied for the most in the Big 12 and tied for second-most nationally. It was the junior safety’s second interception returned for a TD this season (44-yarder vs. Iowa State), tied for the most in the country. His 193 interception return yards this season also lead the nation (next most is 167) and are already the second-most in OU single-season history (the record is 232 by College Football Hall of Famer Rickey Dixon in 1987 on nine picks). The sociology major’s nine tackles against BYU marked his second most of the year.

White racked up a career-high 204 yards on the ground in West Virginia’s 42-21 win over Cincinnati to become the first Mountaineer to exceed 200 yards rushing since Justin Crawford vs. Baylor on Dec. 3, 2016 (209). He finished with a game-high 279 all-purpose yards, including 75 yards receiving, for the most all-purpose yards in a game since Winston Wright finished with 256 at Maryland in 2021. White is the first true freshman to have 200 more yards rushing since Dustin Garrison finished with 291 yards rushing against Bowling Green in 2011. The exploratory pathway student scored his first receiving touchdown of the season with a 75-yard grab in the second quarter. The catch marked the longest Mountaineer touchdown reception since George Campbell caught an 83-yarder vs. Baylor on Oct. 31, 2019. The touchdown also marked West Virginia’s longest play from scrimmage this season. He added a rushing TD in the third quarter, finding the end zone on a four-yard run.

Lawrence native Garber returned a blocked PAT for a score to change the momentum of the game in K-State’s 31-27 win at Kansas. After KU scored early in the second quarter to go up 13-6, the social sciences major returned the PAT 91 yards to cut the lead to 13-9. K-State followed with a touchdown on its ensuing possession. It was the second straight week that Garber recorded a non-offensive score after a pick six the week prior. Garber’s return was just the fifth defensive extra point in school history and the first since Nigel Malone returned one 68 yards against Arkansas in the 2012 (post-2011 season) Cotton Bowl. It was the longest defensive extra point return off a blocked kick in school history – one yard longer than Terence Newman’s 90-yard return against USC in 2002 – while it was the longest overall since a 98-yard interception return by Chris Canty against Oklahoma in 1994.

Iowa governor pardons turkeys raised by 15 year old who’s fifth generation in turkey business

News

November 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has pardoned two turkeys raised by a teenager from northwest Iowa. Fifteen-year-old Ava Moline, of Manson, has been raising turkeys since she was nine. “None of my turkeys have ever been pardoned, so seeing that two of them will live is pretty exciting,” Moline says.

Moline picked out a tom and a hen that the governor nicknamed Freedom and Flourish. “I picked the hen because she came right up to me when I walked in the barn that day and so, I’m like, ‘You know what, you get to stay,'” Moline says. “And the tom basically did the same thing and he looked the best.” Moline’s profits go into her college fund and she took the rest of the turkeys she’d been raising to market earlier this month. “I got them mid-July and have raised them up ’til now,” Moline says. ” I started my business six years ago with the help of my brothers. I have an older brother and a twin brother and I basically have just taken over since and I started out my first year with around 300 turkeys and this year we had around 2000 turkeys.”

This tom turkey, nicknamed “Freedom” by Governor Reynolds, was pardoned this morning during a ceremony at the governor’s mansion in Des Moines. (RI photo)

Ava’s father is Brad Moline, president of the Iowa Turkey Federation. During today’s (Monday’s) turkey pardoning ceremony on the lawn of the governor’s mansion, Reynolds announced the Moline family has been in the turkey business for 99 years. Reynolds noted turkeys at a previous pardoning ceremony had been a bit more aggressive — and that prompted a reaction. “It’s not over yet. Well, I’ve egged ’em on.”

The Moline family provided the very first turkeys that were pardoned at Terrace Hill by Governor Robert Ray in 1976. Ava Moline, the fifth generation of the family in the turkey business, is raising free-range turkeys, taking them to a small poultry processor near her farm and selling them as fresh, not frozen turkeys to Thanksgiving customers. Her Golden Prairie Turkeys are being sold in grocery stores in Manson, Pocahontas, Greene and Ankeny.

Board of Medicine making rules to use for fetal heartbeat law

News

November 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) –  The Iowa Board of Medicine is beginning the process of setting rules doctors must follow if the so-called fetal heartbeat abortion ban takes effect. The law that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy has been blocked in court, but the Iowa Supreme Court will hear a request to let it move forward. The rules being considered say doctors must ask questions to determine if rape or incest occurred for that exception to be used. Doctor Deborah Turner, the League of Women Voters president, told the Board that would traumatize patients. “It is clear that these rules are written to assure that most women and those who can become pregnant and certainly girls who are victims of incest and rape are prevented from access to abortion and choice,” Turner says.

Deputy Attorney General Leif (leaf) Olson disagreed with that. “We trust that doctors in their professional judgment know how to…elucidate information from a patient to get to the root of a problem,” he says. “And in this case that includes the root of the reason for why the woman is presenting herself to request an abortion.”

Doctors who violate the rules could be subject to discipline. A public comment period on the rules is set to begin December 13th.

Adair County Sheriff’s report, 11/20/23

News

November 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, today (Monday), released a report on recent arrests. On Saturday (Nov. 18), 31-year-old Rogelio Olivera-Martinez, of Creston, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol at the Union County Jail, on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of OWI/1st offense. He was later that same day on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

Friday afternoon, Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 35-year-old Christopher Adam Fannon, of Corning, on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Fannon was released later that day on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

As we previously reported, 52-year-old David Matthew Hanson, of Creston, was arrested Nov. 15th, in Orient, on multiple felony & other charges. Sheriff Vandewater says at around 1:39-a.m., the Adair County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a man -later identified as Hanson – who said he was at a residence in Orient (Iowa), and that he was armed with and shooting “two guns.”  An Adair County sheriff’s deputy and a Greenfield police officer responded to the call. It is believed that Hanson fired multiple shots, with at least two handgun projectiles striking and entering the walls of the residence, which was occupied at the time. Hanson faces charges that include: Going Armed with Intent; Possession of a Dangerous Weapon while Intoxicated; Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon; Burglary in the 1st Degree; and Attempted Murder. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

On Nov. 12th, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 31-year-old Omar Andrew Hynes, of Des Moines, following a traffic stop for speeding on I-80 in Adair County. A records check indicated he was a fugitive from justice, wanted a warrant out of Clarke County, NV, for (Felony) Battery with substantial bodily harm; and Battery constituting Domestic Violence. Hynes was initially held without bond, but the following day, authorities in Nevada decided not to extradite him. Hynes was subsequently released from custody.

And, 19-year-old Keaton Michael Ballinger, of Creston, was arrested Nov. 12th by Stuart Police, for OWI/1st Offense, Interference with Official Acts, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. The Sheriff’s report says Officer Daniel Irving was dispatched at around 10:54-p.m. Nov. 12th to the area of the westbound off-ramp of I-80 at mile marker 93 (Near Stuart), for a reported vehicle in the ditch. He found a Honda Civic in the ditch, and was told a witness was out with the driver (Ballinger), at the Casey’s Store in Stuart. When the officer made contact with Ballinger – who had multiple cuts and bruises – he admitted to drinking and was on his way home from Des Moines, when the accident occurred. He would later attempt to discard a an item identified as THC wax. He was transported to the Adair County Jail and later released on a $2,300 cash or surety bond.

Disclaimer: “It should be noted a criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

Tory Taylor Earns B1G Weekly Honor

Sports

November 20th, 2023 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior punter Tory Taylor has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week following his dominant performance in the Hawkeyes’ 15-13 comeback win over Illinois, it was announced Monday by the Big Ten Conference office. The honor is Taylor’s third this season and sixth of his career.

Playing in his final game inside Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeye senior punted eight times for 413 combined yards, averaging 51.6 yards per punt. He had six punts of 50+ yards and two downed inside the 20-yard line.

The native of Melbourne, Australia, moved into first place in school history in career punts in his home finale, passing Jason Baker for the most punts in the Iowa history (274). Taylor also holds the school record with 12,647 career punting yards.

The Ray Guy semifinalist has punted 72 times for a 48.2-yard average in 2023 season with 31 punts traveling 50+ yards (five punts of 60+), 25 being fair caught and 27 being downed inside the 20, 12 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. Taylor only has five touchbacks and opponents average just 6.2 yards per return. His 72 punts are most by any punter nationally, while his punting average of 48.2 ranks fourth best in 2023.

This marks the sixth time this season that Hawkeye football players have earned Big Ten weekly recognition. Taylor was an honoree (special teams) three times after wins over Purdue, Wisconsin and Illinois. Drew Stevens (special teams) was honored after the win over Northwestern in Wrigley Field. Cooper DeJean (special teams) and Nick Jackson (defense) were recognized after Iowa’s win over Michigan State. Sebastian Castro (defense) was honored following the Hawkeyes’ triumph at Iowa State.

Iowa (9-2, 6-2), champions of the 2023 Big Ten West Division, returns to action Friday at Nebraska (5-6, 3-5). Kickoff is set for 11:09 a.m. (CT) in Lincoln, Nebraska. The contest will be televised on CBS and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Trading Post

November 20th, 2023 by Lori Murphy

WANTED: A small pickup to buy or trade for a 2002 Ford Explorer.  Call 712-243-4016

FOR SALE: Two vacuum sweepers both in good condition and work very well. Asking $10 for each of them. If interested come to 304 west 13th Street in Atlantic.

FOR SALE:  Have some Christmas fun Build your own village with Christmas Valley:::Hardware store–Round barn–4 Square house–craftsman house colonial farm house–ranger station–maple street Grocery–PAMIDA STORE– school–…Many accessories ie.. x barn solo church–people–gas station–many many more–All for$12.00 or $1 per each amana refrigerator 22 cu ft $100.00.  CALL early will go fast 243-4132 or leave message they boxed by each Merry Christmas.

FOR SALE: 2017 Red Dodge Grand Caravan. 55,000 miles. Very nice condition. Runs great. No issues or mechanical problems. Asking $18,000. Call 515-523-1350

FOR SALE: New fireplace for $90. Also an entertainment bundle that includes a foosball table, steamer chair, hockey table and hot tub. Asking $100 each. If you buy the first 3 items in the bundle, get the hot tub free. Also several tractors…call for information. 712-355-1566

FOR SALE: 2020 Jonesred snowblower, used 3 times, paid $1200. Sell for $925 OBO. 712-249-9258

FOR SALE: 2022 Sunny exercise bike. Like new. Asking $200, OBO. 712-249-9258SOLD!

Cong Hinson critical of reception given Chinese leader

News

November 20th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is slamming the reception given China’s leader by the president and governor of California. ” I think this warm reception filled with pleasantries in San Francisco is antithetical to our American values. And I’m quite frankly disgusted by it,” she says. Hinson says the Biden administration shouldn’t have reached an agreement on fentanyl that included lifting sanctions on China’s Forensic Policy Institute.

“Give me a break, that shouldn’t have been a negotiation. I am backing legislation that calls on the Biden administration to impose sanctions on Chinese suppliers of fentanyl precursors. And on any C-C-P official found to have ties to precursor production or trafficking,” Hinson says. “That should be our strategy, not compromising on human rights for lip service from a genocidal dictator. ”

IA (R) Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

Hinson says we have to treat the Chinese Communist Party based upon what they do, not based on the lies that they tell us. “I will continue working on the select committee on China to ensure that the C-C-P does not succeed in their goal to overtake the U-S as the dominant military, cultural and economic superpower by 2049,” Hinson says.

Hinson made her comments during her weekly conference call with reporters.