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Drake prepares to visit Valparaiso

Sports

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Drake coach Todd Stepsis says great teams find a way to win and that is what the Bulldogs did last week in a 30-28 victory over San Diego. Drake squandered a 27-9 fourth quarter lead before putting together a late drive that resulted in a game winning 48-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

It was Drake’s 12th straight Pioneer Football League victory dating back to 2021. Nine of them have been by a touchdown or less.

The Bulldogs are on the road in the PFL on Saturday to take on Valparaiso. Drake edged the Beacons 20-14 last year in Des Moines.

Posted in Sports |

Federal EPA is weighing Sierra Club push for cleaner waterways

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A top official with the U-S E-P-A says the agency is still reviewing a petition by an environmental group asking for federal authorities to take over enforcement of clean water laws from the Iowa D-N-R. The Sierra Club of Iowa petitioned the E-P-A in July, claiming the state is failing to stop harmful levels of nutrients from reaching waterways. Bruno Pigott, who leads the E-P-A Office of Water, says if the agency agrees enforcement in Iowa is falling short, state authorities would have a chance to change course before federal regulators step in.

Pigott highlighted projects the E-P-A is helping fund in Iowa to improve water quality, including a 348-million dollar upgrade to the Cedar Rapids wastewater system.

He discussed the petition on the Iowa Public Radio program “River to River.”

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Iowa women are reminded about a cancer killer during October

News

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – About one in every eight Iowa women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dawna Currigan, spokeswoman for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, says having the correct information is vital and the organization’s Breast Care Helpline is an excellent resource.

The helpline is 1-877 GO KOMEN. The month ahead will bring a variety of programs and activities to educate Iowans about breast cancer, including Fit for the Cure events in Cedar Falls, West Des Moines, Davenport and Cedar Rapids.

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On the web at www.komen.org

Posted in News |

Big 12 Selected to Host 2027 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional in Kansas City

Sports

October 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Big 12 will join forces with the Kansas City Sports Commission to host the Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional during the 2027 NCAA Tournament at the T-Mobile Center.

With the 2027 selection, the Big 12 has had 18 opportunities to host Men’s March Madness since the Conference began competition in 1997. It was previously announced that the Conference would host NCAA First and Second Rounds at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City in 2026 plus the 2030 NCAA Men’s Final Four at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Most recently, the Conference hosted the 2024 NCAA South Regional at the American Airlines Center. The Big 12 last hosted the Big Dance in Kansas City during the 2023 Midwest Regional, also playing at the longtime host site of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.

Big 12 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Host History
2001 Kansas City, Mo (Kemper Arena), First/Second Rounds
2002 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), First/Second Rounds
2003 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center), First/Second Rounds
2004 Kansas City, Mo. (Kemper Arena), First/Second Rounds
2005 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center), First/Second Rounds
2006 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), First/Second Rounds
2009 Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center), First/Second Rounds
2010 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Ford Center), First/Second Rounds
2013 Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), South Regional
2014 Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), Men’s Final Four
2016 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Chesapeake Energy Arena), First/Second Rounds
2017 Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center), Midwest Regional
2018 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), First/Second Rounds
2023 Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center), Midwest Regional
2024 Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center), South Regional
2026 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Paycom Center), First/Second Rounds
2027 Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center), Midwest Regional
2030 Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), Men’s Final Four

Posted in Sports |

Iowa offense previews No. 3 Ohio State

Sports

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson will be returning to his home state when the Hawkeyes visit third ranked Ohio State. The native of Hamilton, Ohio has tallied 685 yards through four games and was not recruited by the Buckeyes while in high school.

Johnson is trying not to pay attention to all the publicity he is receiving.

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara says the Hawkeye offense needs to find a way to sustain drives against a Buckeye defense that is giving up less than seven points per game.

McNamara says these are games you dream about growing up.

Iowa is 10th in the country by averaging 250 yards of rushing per game. Hawkeye guard Connor Colby.

Colby says running the football will be imperative against the Buckeye defense.

Iowa tight end Luke Lachey makes his second trip to Ohio Stadium where he grew up watching games. His father, Jim, was an All-American offensive lineman for the Buckeyes before embarking on a lengthy NFL career. Lachey talks about the memories he had growing up.

His favorite memory in Ohio Stadium occurred when he was a freshman in high school.

Early in his high school career Lachey did not know if he would one day play in Ohio Stadium.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State defense prepares for Baylor

Sports

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State defensive tackle JR Singleton says the Cyclones are enjoying the national attention they are receiving but have kept their focus on Saturday’s game against Baylor. The 16th ranked Cyclones are 4-0 for the first time since 2000 and part of the early playoff projections heading into a prime time “white out” in Jack Trice Stadium.

The Cyclone defense ranks fourth in the country by giving up just over seven points per game and Singleton says the Cyclone run defense will be tested by Baylor.

Singleton says the ISU defense is playing with a lot of confidence right now.

The Cyclones have been winning the turnover battle. They are a plus-seven through four games.

Free safety Jeremiah Cooper says the Cyclones are keeping all the national recognition in perspective.

Iowa State’s secondary has been dominant this season and has already intercepted seven passes.

Cooper says the Cyclone defense will be challenged by Baylor.

Posted in Sports |

Hinson on Longshoremen’s strike

News

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says President Biden should use his influence to bring an end to the union strike at ports along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, but Hinson is not calling on Biden to use his authority to force workers back on the job.

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says farmers in her congressional district tell her they’re worried about the impact on ag exports. The National Retail Federation and the National Association of Manufacturers have urged Biden to seek a court order that forces striking dock workers back on the job for 90 days, while negotiations continue. Hinson stopped short of joining that call during her weekly news conference with Iowa reporters.

Biden has said he believes in collective bargaining and does not intend to invoke the 1947 law that would force the Longshoremen to return to the docks. The union that represents dockworkers is seeking a five dollar an hour pay raise in each year of the six-year contract, as well as protections from automation that would eliminate jobs.

Posted in News |

Cities can appeal DOT speed camera rulings

News

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The cities that were denied approval to keep their speed cameras running do have another chance to make their case. The director of the D-O-T Systems Operations Bureau, Dave Lorenzen, says they would have to file an appeal.

Lorenzen says they would have to take legal action if their appeal was denied.

A seven member panel put together by the D-O-T’s top safety engineer review accident reports and other material that led them to approve 11 of 139 requests to keep the speed cameras in place.

This is the first round of reviews under the new law passed by the legislature to regulate the cameras. Lorenzen says it will be a yearly process for those who were approved and any city wishing to put up a new speed camera.

He says there could be new speed cameras approved or current ones dropped in the next review.

Lorenzen says they cities that did not receive approval for their speed cameras could still keep them up, but they can only issue warnings and cannot collect fines from motorists. It may not be an option for cities as the revenue generated from the fines is used to fund their operation.

Posted in News |

Strike at Cargill plant in Cedar Rapids

News

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – About 100 workers at the Cargill plant in Cedar Rapids are on strike. The Teamsters contract for workers at the corn milling plant in Cedar Rapids expired at midnight Monday. The union sought a three-dollar-an hour pay increase over the next three years and rejected the company’s lower offer.

Cargill is a privately owned company and Cargill’s C-E-O says the marketplace is extremely challenging right now and company officials say they’re hopeful negotiations will yield a contract agreement in the near future.

The Teamsters say wages the Cargill plant in Cedar Rapids is below pay at other local plants and workers are striking for a fair wage increase.

Posted in News |

Iowans will hear -no- wind chill warnings next winter, but they will hear something new

News, Weather

October 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans will hear some new terminology when the winds of winter start to blow. National Weather Service meteorologist Chad Hahn says the agency is abandoning a few familiar terms in favor of language that’s a little more direct.

If the air temperature is ten-below-zero, that’s quite frigid whether there’s a breeze or not, so Hahn says it makes sense to have an alternative to wind chill advisories when it’s not windy.

The term “wind chill” isn’t going away, as Hahn says it remains very useful during the winter months to describe what the air temperature feels like with a combination of cold temperatures and sustained winds.

It’s possible we’ll hear about the heat index again in a few days, as the forecast calls for parts of Iowa to see unseasonably warm high temperatures in the low 90s by the weekend.

Posted in News, Weather |