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Judge rules on state case against TikTok

News

August 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has denied a request to dismiss a state lawsuit against TikTok. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed the lawsuit that says TikTok is lying to parents about the frequency and severity of inappropriate videos that it shows to kids. TikTok argued the state did not have standing to bring the case.

The judge ruled the case can move forward, but did rule against a request from the A-G for an injunction against the company. The ruling says the state has not yet produced any evidence to show an Iowan has viewed and been harmed by such videos.

Charles City police say two deaths were a murder/suicide

News

August 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Charles City Police released more information today (Wednesday) on a death investigation that began last week. Charles City Police were dispatched to a residence just west of the Floyd County Courthouse, shortly before noon on August 22nd. Chief Hugh Anderson said upon entry to the home, two people were found dead.

Charles City Police announced today (Wednesday) that 85-year-old John Flint and 85-year-old Jo Anne Flint, both of Charles City, died in an apparent murder-suicide.

C-C-P-D says no further details will be released at this time.

Panel votes to remove Libertarian Candidates from November ballot

News

August 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel voted 2-1 today (Wednesday) to take three Libertarian candidates for Congress off the November ballot. Republicans filed the challenge, saying the Libertarian county conventions didn’t follow state law. Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, voted to remove them from the ballot.

“It’s not an ideal situation but the rules are the rules, and I as the commissioner of elections don’t get to make them up. I get to enforce them as they are. And I think this is not an easy process.” Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird also voted to remove the Libertarian candidates from the ballot, while Democrat State Auditor Rob Sand, voted to keep them. Sand says issues with internal political party business aren’t a basis for removing candidates from the ballot.

“Both parties have the ability to appeal that. Why are we here today doing the opposite? Because they want to enforce a two party system divide Iowans and limit their choices?,” Sand says. Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair Jules Carter says she’s disappointed in the decision but not surprised.  “It is about silencing us. Yes, it is about making sure that they are better position to win. If you want to win, how about you campaign, not silence other people,” Carter says.

The three candidates say they’ll run write-in campaigns if their names can’t be on the ballot. First Congressional District candidate Nicholas Gluba, 3rd District candidate Marco Battaglia and Fourth District candidate Charles Aldrich won’t be on the ballot unless they successfully appeal the decision in court by September 3rd.

Clarke is looking to play up for Friday’s matchup against Atlantic

Sports

August 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

2023 saw a 4-5 campaign for the Clarke Indians football program and a quick exit out of the 2A postseason with a 42-7 loss against Roland-Story. In just a year a lot has changed for Clarke including the hiring of their new Head Coach Justin Clutter. Coach Clutter sees a lot of potential within his team and how their underclassman brings a lot of promise in the future.

Coach Clutter is also enthusiastic about the attendance he has seen in the weight room from most of his squad over the summer. That high attendance has helped Clarke get stronger and bigger. Players like sophomore Urijah Fry have taken advantage of the summer workouts and earned a starting spot.

The Indians offensive line has also dedicated large amounts of time to summer workouts with high attendance in hope of increasing their power and brawn.

Clarke is familiar with Atlantic as the Indians fell to the Trojans 47-33 over a year ago. Coach Clutter has been watching film on Atlantic’s week 0 victory against T.J. and he’s been telling his team to expect hardnosed football.

Friday’s contest between Atlantic and Clarke will be held at the Trojan Bowl. Coach Clutter is looking forward to the trip as he appreciates the unique culture that the Trojan Bowl brings.

KJANTV will have the coverage of Friday’s game with the pregame show starting at 6:30 P.M. and kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.

Play

School resource officer says safety, building relationships are top priorities

News

August 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa schools have had police officers walking their halls for decades, while others are new this fall to S-R-Os, or school resource officers. Le Mars police officer John Vickery covers that community’s five public school buildings as well as the Gehlen Catholic Schools. Vickery says law enforcement is -not- his primary concern.

“Making sure that everybody, the students, the staff here, and all of our buildings are safe,” Vickery says. “I’m doing my best to make sure all of our buildings are secured, that there’s really one main entry point for them while they’re here, to make sure that we can keep everybody safe in their learning environment.” Another priority as an S-R-O, according to Vickery, is to establish and cement good relationships with everyone he encounters.

“I’m here to try to build up relationships between the students, the staff and the police department, not only to benefit us here, while I’m in the schools, but also outside of the schools,” he says. “If they were to deal with an officer outside of the schools, we’ve built up some sort of relationship to better help them come to us with issues they may have, and also for us to be able to help them.” Vickery was the S-R-O when Le Mars Police launched the program in 2018 and he’s now beginning his third term in the position. Still, he says it takes time for students to get comfortable with a police officer in their school.

“At first, everybody was kind of reluctant,” he says. “They felt that I was here to enforce laws and to kind of crack down on everybody and they’re starting to realize more that I’m here for that relationship, for that safety side of things, and being able to just interact with them and let them get to know me. They’ll ask me all kinds of random personal questions, and for the most part, I’ll answer them.” Vickery says the most challenging part of his job is when he has to deal with students from a law enforcement perspective. He says good kids will sometimes make bad choices and while he tries to give them the benefit of the doubt, he still has a job to do.

Stolen Vehicle Involved in Pursuit and Fatal Crash

News

August 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports one person died and six others were injured in a crash that occurred during a pursuit this (Wednesday) morning, in Des Moines.

Authorities say at around 1-a.m., an Iowa State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a speeding blue Hyundai on Interstate 235 near Keo Way, in Des Moines. The driver refused to stop, exited Interstate 235 at the 31st Street exit, headed south, and then turned east onto Grand Avenue. The trooper slowed down as the fleeing vehicle sped away, heading the wrong way down Grand Avenue. A short time later, the trooper encountered a crash at Grand Avenue and 7th Street involving the fleeing Hyundai and a Jeep Cherokee. The two occupants of the Jeep Cherokee suffered minor injuries.

There were five occupants in the Hyundai. Four of the occupants, to include the driver, suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe. The fifth occupant, a passenger, died in the crash. The Hyundai was reported stolen. The 16-year-old driver had outstanding warrants for his arrest and a firearm on his person.

The crash is still under investigation.

3 Hawkeyes Named to B1G Watch List

Sports

August 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa field hockey juniors Mia Magnotta, Milly Short and sophomore Dionne van Aalsum have been named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, it was announced Wednesday. It is the second straight season Magnotta has a been preseason honoree.

Last season, the trio lead the Hawkeyes to a 13-6 overall record. Iowa made its sixth straight and 28th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history

Magnotta played the duration of all 19 games last season. She allowed 21 goals, tallied 69 saves and was part of eight Hawkeye shutouts.

The Forty-Fort, Pennsylvania, native tallied a career-high eight saves against No. 2 Northwestern breaking her previous career high six saves in a win over No. 1 North Carolina. Magnotta ranked second in the conference and sixth in the nation in goals against average (1.09).

Short started all 19 games in 2023, logging 1,127 minutes, the second most on the team. She played 60 minutes or more for the Hawkeye defense in 15 games and anchored a defense that recorded eight shutouts, with three coming against ranked opponents. Iowa’s defense ranked third in the nation in shutouts (8) and shutouts per game (.42).

Van Aalsum started all 19 games en route to All-America honors last season as a true freshman. The Castricum, Netherlands, native became the first Hawkeye freshman to be named an All-American since Kristy Gleason in 1989.

The Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten selection played a key factor offensively as she led the nation with 28 goals, 62 points, 1.47 goals per game and 3.26 points per game.

The Hawkeyes, ranked sixth in the Penn Monto/NFHCA preseason poll, open the season with the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Iowa will face No. 18 Wake Forest on Friday and defending NCAA Champion and second-ranked North Carolina on Sunday.

Zimmerman Earns Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Sports

August 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State redshirt sophomore Ella Zimmerman has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for her performance against UNI, the conference announced Wednesday.

Zimmerman, a Vanderbilt transfer, was only able to compete in one match this week, as an injury kept her out of the Drake contest. She made her impact felt, though, in Sunday’s matchup with UNI, as the Cumming, Ga., product recorded three points.

Ella played 70 minutes of action on Sunday, spearheading the Cyclone backline. Going into Sunday, Zimmerman didn’t have a single stat in her 29 previous games. She made sure to change that, stuffing the box score.

Against the Panthers, Zimmerman picked up her first career point in the 48th minute of action, feeding a ball from midfield to Hannah Shaw at the box, who then crossed a Panther defender and netted the Cyclones’ fourth goal of the contest.

She wasn’t done there, however, as she would later go on to score her first career goal. After a first-half shot on goal, Zimmerman got another crack in the 68th minute. She was playing up for a corner and was fed the ball out of the set but missed high off the crossbar. The ball serendipitously bounced back to her, and she buried the team’s sixth and final score.

She is the first Cyclone to win Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors since Lindsey Hendon did so on Sept. 6, 2016. Zimmerman is the sixth Cyclone to ever earn the award, joining the likes of Beth Chapman, Joanna Haig, Ann Gleason, Maddie Jobe and Hendon.

ISU will be back in action on Sunday, Sept. 1, when it heads to Memphis to face off with a top-ten Memphis Tiger program in its second road contest of the season. The Tigers will be the first ranked opponent for the Cyclones this year. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.

Big 12 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Week: Callie Conrad (BU)
Defensive Player of the Week: Ella Zimmerman
Goalkeeper of the Week: Azul Alvarez (BU), Jordan Nytes (CU)
Freshman of the Week: Bella Pierotti (OSU)

BREZINA NAMED TO SHAUN ALEXANDER AWARD WATCH LIST

Sports

August 28th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State freshman linebacker Cael Brezina has been named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award preseason watch list. The list includes 37 freshmen nationally and Brezina is one of three linebackers on the initial list.

A Downers Grove, Illinois, native, Brezina joined the Cyclones in the spring after a stellar high school career.

Brezina was a consensus three-star linebacker recruit and the No. 15 recruit in the state of Illinois according to ESPN.

MRS. CAROL ALBERTSEN, 84, of Audubon (Svcs. 9/9/24)

Obituaries

August 28th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MRS. CAROL ALBERTSEN, 84, of Audubon, died August 27, 2024, at Cass Health, in Atlantic. Funeral services for MRS. CAROL ALBERTSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, Sept. 9th, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon has the arrangements.

Visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 8th), 2024, at the funeral home.

Interment at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon will follow the service. A luncheon will be held following the interment in the fellowship hall of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in memory of Carol. They may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.

MRS. CAROL ALBERTSEN is survived by:

Her husband – Jeff Albertsen, of Gray, IA.

Her sons – Randy Nielsen, and Michael (Krystal) Albertsen, all of Audubon; & Mark (Sarah) Nielsen, of Grimes.

Her daughter – Lori (Jeff) Ray, of Lenexa, KS

Her Sister – Sharon (Ron) Drake, of Rogers, AR.

Mother-in-law: Ardys Albertsen of Exira;  Sisters-in-law: JoEllen Loveless (Matt) of Edmond, OK, and Joni Baier (Mark) of Audubon.

9 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and other relatives.