(Radio Iowa) – Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest singer-songwriters in generations, and a new touring Broadway production based entirely on his music will make a week-long stop in Iowa later this month. Actress and singer Chiara Trentalange starred in the original New York City cast of “Girl From The North Country” and she’ll be performing in Des Moines. The 31-year-old Trentalange wasn’t even born when Dylan first became popular, but she’s a longtime fan.

The story is set in 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota, which is Dylan’s hometown, and follows a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse. The musical contains 20 Dylan songs. Trentalange says you’ll definitely hear songs you know, and likely a few you’ve never heard before.

Chiara Trentalange and Ben Biggers (Photo provided by Des Moines Performing Arts)

The Tony Award-winning show will play the Des Moines Civic Center from November 28th through December 3rd.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Thursday) is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and an Iowan who beat one of the most deadly forms of cancer is speaking out about her challenges and successes. Beth Day, of Urbandale, is a former teacher and T-V reporter who’s now a nine-year survivor of pancreatic cancer. Day says battling the disease forced her to change her outlook on everything. “I never was afraid to die, but I knew that I had to get in that frame of mind that I’ve got to survive, I’ve got to fight with all that I can,” Day says, “and now that I’m here, I share my story with anyone who wants to hear it. I’ll tell you all the ugly details to all the hope — and there’s always hope.”

Day is now a volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or Pan CAN, and enjoys working with patients and their families, offering them encouragement, demonstrating that she fought it and won — and they can, too. “If you have family members or any of the symptoms, there are six really strong symptoms that you can find, but I had none of the six. I have no family history,” Day says. “I’m really an advocate for: Get to your doctor, advocate for yourself. If you are not feeling good, there’s a reason.” The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer rose in the past year from 11- to 12-percent. While that one-percent shift may not seem significant, Day reminds that it represents many hundreds of lives.

“That one-percent advance is so important because just in 2023 alone, 64,000 people will be diagnosed and more than 50,000 will die from the disease,” Day says. “There’s currently no early detection for pancreatic cancer. Usually you’ve got the disease before you even start showing signs.” Day was 52 when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and almost a decade later, the fight is still impacting her quality of life, though she emphasizes, she knows she’s very fortunate to be alive. “You’ve got to listen to your body still,” Day says. “Even nine years later, I’m realizing that I can’t do everything I want to do. I just don’t have the energy. I’ve got to take a break when I need to or say ‘no’ to something because I’d rather stay healthy instead of trying to do everything.”

Pancreatic cancer is a fast-moving disease and it’s difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be vague and are often ignored until it’s too late. Those symptoms include abdominal pain and back pain, changes in stool, yellowing skin, weight loss, appetite loss, and a feeling of being full after only eating a little food.

AMES, Iowa – Nov. 15, 2023 –  Now that the Interstate 74 bridge connecting Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, is completed, the Illinois and Iowa DOTs are focused on your input for a new I-80 bridge in the area.

The Illinois DOT is the lead agency for the I-80 project. They held the fourth in a series of public meetings related to the project this afternoon.

A Factsheet has been developed for the project and can be accessed on the project website – https://www.i80mississippibridge.com/.

DES MOINES-The Department of Management Division of Information Technology, formerly the Office of the Chief Information Officer, is requesting public comment on the State of Iowa Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Plan. The Initial Proposal encompasses Iowa’s proposed implementation of $415,331,313 of broadband infrastructure funding made possible through the Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The funds are being administered by the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration. This proposal will result in a future broadband grant opportunity within Iowa targeting unserved and underserved locations.

Public comments may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 15th by going to comment.iowa.gov. The public comment link may also be accessed by going to ocio.iowa.gov/broadband. Public comments will be made available to the public with personal identifying information redacted (pursuant to Iowa Code section 22.7) no later than December 27, 2023. Any questions regarding the initial proposal may be directed to ociogrants@iowa.gov.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic met this (Wednesday) evening, and wrapped-up their business in about 30-minutes. The Council acted to approve the following:

• A permit to close certain streets for the Lighted Christmas Parade on December 2nd. Line-up for the Parade begins at 5-p.m., at 6th and Walnut Streets. The parade gets underway at 6-p.m.
• The 2023 Street Finance Report (as required under the Code of Iowa).
• And, the second reading of an Amended Ordinance regarding a section pertaining to the duties of the City Administrator.

The Council’s amended agenda included the removal for discussion and action,an Order to approve termination of tenancy at 11 Locust Street, in Atlantic.

During his report to the Atlantic City Council, City Administrator John Lund said he’s taking a long Thanksgiving Break to keep his vacation hours where they need to be, but when he returns, he said he would like to schedule a Personnel and Finance Committee meeting to discuss possible fine dining incentives. Lund says “We just have to use TIF [Tax Increment Financing] and LOST (the Local Option Sales Tax] like  a sledge hammer, and make it almost impossible for someone to say ‘no’ to come in here,” with regard to luring in a new restaurant, since “Going around the edges is getting us no where with restaurants,” according to Lund. He says they want something that’s not a classic American dinner food, breakfast food, fast food or Mexican or Chinese [since] we have all that here.”

City Administrator John Lund reports to the Atlantic City Council during their meeting Nov. 15, 2023

John Lund tooted his own horn in saying he spoke with the Iowa League of Cities with regard to his thoughts on the Department of Management’s Property Tax Calculator.  He said the ILC’s Policy Analyst agreed with him, and confirmed he read the law correctly, but he did catch an error he made in entering the calculators, but it still comes full-circle to his original July forecast of $84,200 in the General Fund, and “Property taxes,” he said, “which is not actually a whole lot.” He added the City will be involved in Union negotiations in January, and the City’s Ambulance Service will be meeting with the City in January, “So buckle-up,” he warned the Council, “January is going to be a fun time.”

December will be a busy month, as well, with the Emergency Management Committee wrapping-up business, the Personnel Policy will be sent to Committee, the Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission will be meeting, there will be a new council member orientation tentatively set for December 5th, and then of course, there are the holidays.

In Council Committee reports, recent meetings of the Landfill Commission, Library Board, Airport Board and other business was discussed.