Three Apollo astronauts headline week of innovative speakers at central Iowa event

March 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — July will mark the 50th anniversary of what’s considered humankind’s greatest scientific achievement, landing a man on the Moon. To honor the landmark, Des Moines Area Community College is bringing in three Apollo astronauts to speak in a single panel this week. DMACC Provost Anthony Paustian says it’s an exceptionally rare treat to see these pioneers share one stage.

“We have three Apollo astronauts, Walt Cunningham from Apollo 7, we have Al Worden from Apollo 15, and Fred Haise from Apollo 13,” Paustian says, “and we have Gerry Griffin, who was one of the three flight directors for Mission Control coming in.” The astronauts are among 15 speakers who will be on DMACC’s West Des Moines campus as part of the 10th annual Celebrate Innovation Week. Among the entrepreneurs on the list is Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Paustian says, “Jerry and his friend and partner, Ben Cohen, took a $5 correspondence course through Penn State University many years ago on how to make ice cream and turned that small step into a giant leap when they sold Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream to Unilever for $350-million.” Other speakers include Roy Choi, a celebrity chef and the founder of the gourmet food truck movement; Danielle Feinberg, the director of photography and lighting at Pixar Animation Studios; and Randi Zuckerberg, a former Facebook executive and CEO of Zuckerberg Media.

There will also be an appearance by Lynne Cox, a world record-setting endurance swimmer and best-selling author. “She has swam more difficult swims in the world than anybody else has, over 60 of them,” Paustian says. “She swam the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia, she swam the English Channel twice, broke world records twice, faster than men swim it. She has swam around part of Antarctica just in a swimsuit and goggles. This is an amazing feat.”

The events run through Friday. All are free and open to the public. See the full list of speakers and the schedule at: https://www.dmacc.edu/ciweek/Pages/schedule.aspx

Posted in News |

US Secretary of State says he’s ‘very, very hopeful’ China trade talks wrap soon

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spent Monday in Iowa, assuring farmers there’s been “real progress” in trade negotiations with China. “I’m very, very hopeful we’ll be able to wrap up and get a truly successful outcome for the United States and for American ag,” Pompeo said.

Pompeo spoke late Monday afternoon at a forum in Des Moines organized by the Iowa Farm Bureau. John Maxwell, an eastern Iowa dairy farmer, was among those who asked Pompeo a question about the deal. “Would you comment on any kind of time frame because every day that marches on it’s getting tougher and tougher?” Maxwell asked. Pompeo responded: “No,” and both Pompeo and the audience laughed. “You remember I said I’d answer almost anything…I’m not trying to be short or not take your question seriously. I do. I am and the president is, too, enormously sympathetic to what you all are going through.”

A man who identified himself as a fifth generation farmer from northwest Iowa said he harvested a “really good crop” last fall and hasn’t sold all of it on contract yet. “Do you have a plan B or whatever to peddle these things someplace other than China?” the farmer asked. Pompeo said: “…I don’t know that there’s a concrete solution to the question that you raise. I wish I could tell you: ‘Yes, we’ve got the markets identified. We know the price at which we can clear,’ but there are lots of ideas about how we might do that, ways that we might assist.”

Pompeo made the stop in Iowa at the urging of former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who’s now the U.S. Ambassador to China. “I think it’s important to be able to share with the people of Iowa what’s being done on these very delicate, important issues,” Branstad told reporters. Pompeo suggested while it’s been hard to get China to agree to buy more American agricultural goods, the most difficult part of the negotiations has been about China’s theft of intellectual property.

Pompeo says that includes stealing the secrets of hybrid seeds developed in the United States. Pompeo also told the crowd he expects the U.S. Mexico Trade Agreement to ratified by all three countries by the end of this year — hopefully bringing an end to the tariffs Mexico placed on U.S. pork. “We’re trying to make sure we don’t fall down the same trap that American trade negotiators have done so many times,” Pompeo said. “We’re deeply aware of these retaliatory trade tariff issues and we know how much they affect you…Know they’re in the front of our mind.”

Pompeo told the crowd it’s an “enormous privilege” to serve in the Trump Administration and try to deliver on the promises Trump made during the 2016 campaign. “It’s a wonderful thing to have this opportunity and then you all get to read his Twitter account, too,” Pompeo said, with a laugh. Pompeo is a former Kansas congressman.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Defense alleges misconduct at trials in girl’s 1990 slaying

March 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Defense lawyers for a man jailed in the 1990 death of a 9-year-old girl are accusing Iowa prosecutors of letting a key witness give false testimony at three trials in the case.

An attorney for Stanley Liggins says he has discovered new records showing that prosecution witness Antonio Holmes was given a favorable plea agreement in exchange for his testimony against Liggins.

Liggins has twice been convicted of killing Lewis, who was kidnapped, raped, strangled and left dead behind an elementary school in Davenport, Iowa. Those convictions have been overturned. A jury deadlocked on whether he was guilty last year at a third trial. A fourth trial is scheduled next week.

Holmes had said he didn’t receive any benefit from prosecutors for his testimony.

Posted in News |

2018-19 Hawkeye Ten Boys Basketball All-Conference Teams

March 4th, 2019 by admin

FIRST TEAM

*Goanar Biliew, JR, Denison-Schleswig
Zach Carr, JR, Glenwood
Cole Jensen, SR, Lewis Central
Chase Mullenix, SR, Atlantic
Brett Sears, SR, Harlan
*Kylan Smallwood, SR, Creston
*Christian Stanislav, SR, Glenwood|
*Charlie Wiebers, JR, Denison-Schleswig
*Unanimous Selection

SECOND TEAM

Brance Baker, SO, Creston
Blake Baumhover, SR, Kuemper Catholic
Ryan Blum, SO, Glenwood
Dawson Dorhout, SR, Denison-Schleswig
Jared Gast, SR, St. Albert
Nathan Lindsay, JR, Clarinda
Tyler Moen, JR, Atlantic
Josh Simmons, SR, Lewis Central

HONORABLE MENTION

Isaac Birt, SR, Red Oak
Ben Brincks, SR, Kuemper Catholic
Connor Brown, JR, Clarinda
Kyle Cerven, JR, Shenandoah
Skyler Handlos, SO, Atlantic
Cael Kralik, SO, Creston
Damien Magnuson, JR, Denison-Schleswig
Nolan McKenzie, SR, Lewis Central
Jonathon Monson, JR, Harlan
Sam Rallis, SO, St. ALbert
Logan Reilly, SR, Atlantic
Seth Wineland, SR, Lewis Central

Posted in Sports |

CCHS Announces Darci Young named to 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2019

March 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ATLANTIC – Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) have announced that Darci Young, BSN, RN, was among the honorees named in the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for the 2019 award class. Patients, colleagues, and nursing leaders nominated more than 500 nurses from across the state for this prestigious award. Honorees are recognized for their outstanding courage, competence, and commitment to patients and the nursing profession.

Young has been the Manager of the Cass County Health System Emergency Department since August of 2010 and also serves as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and a County Medical Examiner for Cass County. Before beginning with Cass County Health System, she was an Emergency Department nurse at Jennie Edmondson hospital for five years and Creighton University Hospital for seven. She received her RN from Iowa Western Community College in 1998 and completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2016 from Aspen University.

Amanda Birline, Chief Nursing Officer for CCHS said “Darci is a wonderful asset to CCHS and Cass County. She demonstrates excellent clinical care, compassion and leadership every day. We are thrilled to see her receive such a great honor.”

Each year, the 100 Great Iowa Nurses are honored at a ceremony. This year’s 100 Great Iowa Nurses will be honored on May 5, 2019 – the beginning of Nurses Week – at the 15th annual celebration in Des Moines.

Posted in News |

(Update 4-p.m.) Des Moines police: Officers killed suspect who shot at them

March 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say a suspect in a carjacking shot at officers who fired back and killed him. Police say the carjacking victim called 911 around 3:50 a.m. Monday to report that he’d been shot in a leg when two people stole his sport utility vehicle. Police say the SUV was occupied by two men and a woman when it was spotted around 10 minutes later.

It went up a dead-end street and parked in a driveway. The three got out and walked away, and the woman and one of the men were soon detained. Police say three officers then found the last suspect hiding near a garage. Police say the officers told him to show his hands, and he responded by firing several shots at them. They returned his fire and killed him. He’s been identified as 36-year-old Luke Anthony Swann, of Des Moines.

The other man in the car, 21-year-old William Lee Weaver, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also had a warrant from Warren County for a probation violation. He’s being held in the Polk County Jail. The three officers were identified as Brian Buck, Brian Minnehan and Ryan Steinkamp.

Posted in News |

Initial bargaining proposals presented for Atlantic SD Non-Certified Staff

March 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A brief meeting was held Monday afternoon in the Atlantic Middle School for the purpose of initial proposals for 2019-2020 Bargaining between the District’s Non-Certified Staff and the Administration.

Speaking on behalf of the District’s 131 Non-Certified Staff, Andrea Halterman proposed a four-percent increase in the base (starting) wage, beginning with the first “step” in wages, or a total package of $114,031.

Superintendent Steve Barber, on behalf of the Administration, proposed that each eligible employee move a step on the salary schedule, and that each eligible employee’s hourly wage increase by 31-cents in every category, or 1.98-percent. In addition, the contract would be for one-year.

The next round of discussion will be held Tuesday between Halterman and Barber, to get additional information on costs.

Posted in News |

Boys State Basketball Tournament Schedule/Scoreboard – Monday – 03/04/2019

March 4th, 2019 by admin

Monday, March 4

CLASS 1A QUARTERFINALS

#1 Grand View Christian 58, #8 St. Albert, Council Bluffs 51

#4 Montezuma 78, #5 Bishop Garrigan, Algona 65

#6 St. Mary’s, Remsen 58, #3 Prince of Peace, Clinton 55

#7 Alburnett 55, #2 Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids 54

CLASS 2A QUARTERFINALS

4:30—#3 Boyden-Hull vs. #6 Regina, Iowa City

6:30—#2 South Hamilton, Jewell vs. #7 Rock Valley

8:15—#4 Van Meter vs. #5 Dike-New Hartford

Posted in Sports |

AP Women’s Basketball Top 25 03/04/2019

March 4th, 2019 by Jim Field

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ women’s college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Mar. 3, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

	Record	Pts	Prv
1. Baylor (28)	27-1	700	1
2. UConn	27-2	663	2
3. Louisville	27-2	638	3
4. Notre Dame	27-3	625	4
5. Mississippi St.	27-2	580	5
6. Oregon	27-3	567	6
7. Stanford	25-4	518	7
8. Maryland	26-3	508	8
9. NC State	25-4	442	10
10. Iowa	23-6	431	12
11. Oregon St.	24-6	428	9
12. South Carolina	21-8	348	14
13. Kentucky	24-6	326	11
14. Gonzaga	27-3	320	16
15. Texas A&M	23-6	307	19
16. Miami	24-7	289	15
17. Marquette	24-6	268	13
18. Syracuse	22-7	239	17
19. Iowa St.	22-7	235	20
20. Arizona St.	19-9	151	21
21. Texas	21-8	119	18
22. Florida St.	22-7	82	22
22. Drake	23-5	82	23
24. Rice	24-3	75	24
25. UCLA	19-11	62	25

Others receiving votes: South Dakota St. 23, South Dakota 23, DePaul 19, BYU 7, Rutgers 7, Kansas St 7, Florida Gulf Coast 5, UCF 4, Missouri 2.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa’s Gustafson named Big Ten player of the year

March 4th, 2019 by Jim Field

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa senior Megan Gustafson was named the Big Ten player of the year Monday, becoming the first Hawkeye to win the award twice.

Gustafson was tabbed for the honor in a vote by the league’s coaches and media members.

Gustafson averaged 28.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, and shot 68.7 percent from the field in Big Ten games this season. She scored at least 20 points in 17 of Iowa’s 18 games and had at least 10 rebounds 17 times as well.

Gustafson, one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy awarded to the nation’s top player, leads the country in field goal percentage (70.8) and points per game (27.7). Gustafson’s 27 double-doubles are the second-most in America.

Iowa, the second seed in the Big Ten tournament, plays on Friday against either seventh-seeded Minnesota or 10th-seeded Indiana.

Posted in Sports |

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