Roads in western and southwest Iowa (with the exception of parts of I-80/880 & 29) for are generally partially covered with a mix of snow/slush/ice, varying on/off ramp conditions, ice bridges and blowing snow, in the latest Iowa DOT report.
(Radio Iowa) Officials with the Iowa Donor Network are releasing numbers for 2023 to celebrate the extraordinary impact of organ and tissue donation. Network spokeswoman Heather Butterfield says during the past year, 123 “donor heroes” in Iowa gifted a remarkable 350 organs for transplant. She says a record was also set last year. “We had an unprecedented 1,027 tissue donors, and each tissue donor has the opportunity to enhance the lives of 50 to 300 people,” Butterfield says, “so we’re talking about thousands and thousands of lives saved, thanks to the generosity of donors from right here in Iowa.” Over the past few years, she says more Iowans have checked the box to identify themselves as donors on their drivers’ licenses.
“Iowa Donor Network has seen a remarkable 40% increase in organ donors since 2019 and a 21% increase in organs transplanted,” Butterfield says, “which just shows the incredible commitment that Iowans have to saving lives.” Regardless of age or medical history, she says anyone can register to save lives as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. “The most common way is at the DMV when people get their license. If they’re already a donor, it’ll say the word ‘DONOR’ right there on the front of your license,” Butterfield says. “If you aren’t registered, you can simply go online to our website, IowaDonorNetwork.org, click the ‘Register’ button, and it takes less than three minutes to sign up.”
Butterfield says the selflessness and generosity of Iowa’s donors creates a lasting legacy of hope and healing.
(Radio Iowa) – The manager of the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in western Iowa reports not as many birds flew through the area this past migration season. Desoto manager Tom Cox says the drought, left the refuge without the water to flood as much wetland for geese, ducks, and swans.“Birds tend to follow the habit. And with this kind of region-wide drought, they’re probably skirting around where they’re finding better habitat during their migration,” he says.
Cox says the dry conditions led to bird numbers dropping 50 percent.“It kind of opened your eyes up that what the birds are after is the habitat, and that’s what supports them.”
The refuge is along the Missouri River near Missouri Valley, Iowa. Cox says overall, he isn’t too worried because conditions usually bounce back, allowing for better birdwatching during a different season.
(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Thursday night, arrested 30-year-old Dallas Eugene Davis, of Red Oak, following a call about a domestic incident in progress in the 1000 block of E> Washington Street. Officers arrested Davis for: Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense; Assault with bodily injury to a law enforcement officer; 3 counts of Child Endangerment, and Interference with official acts.
Davis was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.
BRIAN MARK, 46, of Harlan, died Jan. 9, 2024, at Myrtue Medical Center. A Time for Sharing of memories of BRIAN MARK will be held 2-p.m. Tue., Jan. 23, 2024, at the United Presbyterian Church in Neola. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.
The family will greet friends at the church on Tuesday, from 1-until 3-p.m.
BRIAN MARK is survived by:
His wife – Jessica Mark, of Harlan;
His children – Lexy Coenen, Alexus Mark, Lana Mark, and Wyatt Alan Mark, all of Harlan.
His siblings – Shawn Burton, of Bellevue, NE; Michael (Deb) Burton, of Omaha, NE; Jason Burton, of Council Bluffs and Dave Schnitker, of Corona, CA.
other family members and many friends.
(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans intend to examine the activities of agencies that provide temporary workers, like traveling nurses, in Iowa nursing homes. “We pay for as a state, roughly 50% of the bill…in nursing homes through Medicaid,” Grassley says. “And right now we’re seeing every time we put more money into the sytem, these out-of-state companies continue to skyrocket the rates.” Grassley says it appears the agencies are also “poaching” staff from nursing homes.
“What is the number one priority when it comes to providing care?” Grassley says. “It’s making sure you have proper staffing levels and continuity of care and that’s why we’re going to look at it.” In December, Senate Democrats called on Senate Republicans to launch an investigation of cases of abuse and neglect in Iowa nursing homes. Grassley says as House members being drafting next year’s budget the state agency that inspects nursing homes, those issues will be examined, along with nursing home staffing issues in general.
“Whether it’s accountability for the individuals in the home or its for the taxpayer, I think it’s something we need to engage in,” Grassley says. Grassley made his comments on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S. Six months ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determined 42 percent of Iowa nursing homes had a shortage of nurses and other staff who provide direct care to residents. That’s nearly double the national average and Iowa nursing homes have begun to rely on temporary agencies to fill key roles.
(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley has been discharged from a hospital in the Washington, D.C. area where he was being treated for an infection. On Tuesday, Grassley’s U-S Senate office announced Grassley was receiving antibiotic infusions as treatment for an infection. His office announced late Thursday afternoon that he’d been released from the hospital and expects to be back to work next week. Just over an hour after that announcement, Grassley posted a message on the social media platform X in his typical syntax, thanking people for the well wishes and prayers, saying he’s happy to be home and he looks forward to getting back to work.
Grassley, who is 90, had hip surgery in January of last year to repair a fracture. He is the oldest currently serving member of the U-S Senate.
Today: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 5. Wind chill values as low as -20. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. **Winter Weather Advisory until 6-a.m.**Wind Chill Advisory until Noon**
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -18. Wind chill values as low as -25. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. **Wind Chill Advisory from 6-p.m. tonight until Noon on Saturday**
Saturday: Sunny and cold, with a high near 0. Wind chill values as low as -30. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 25. Windy.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of rain after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Breezy.
Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 22. Snowfall in Atlantic (at KJAN) was 2.7-inches. That melted down to .12″. Our Low this morning was -5. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 32 and the Low was 23. The Record High for Jan. 19th in Atlantic, was 56 in 1895. The Record Low was -38, in 1892. Sunrise today: 7:42. Sunset: 5:19.
Two of the three teams tied at the top of the Missouri Valley women’s standings meet in Des Moines Friday night as Drake hosts Belmont. Both teams are 5-0 in the Valley. It matches a drake team that averages nearly 80 points per game against a Belmont team that gives up a shade over 51 points.
That’s Bulldog coach Allison Pohlman who wants her team to take better care of the basketball. Drake is shooting better than 51 percent but is averaging 22 turnovers per game.
Murray State is also 5-0 in the Valley and will visit Northern Iowa Friday night.