(Radio Iowa) – Dordt University in Sioux Center is announcing a $90-million capital campaign for a series of projects on the northwest Iowa campus. John Baas, Dordt’s vice president of advancement, calls the ambitious effort a “comprehensive” capital campaign, dubbed, “Planting for the Future.” “We’re attacking three areas of the campus,” Baas says. “One is our leading in innovative programs, second is in living and learning in Christian community, and the third is building the foundation for access and for the future of the university.”

There are already visible improvements in some areas, including a new wing for the nursing department as well as the Ag Stewardship Center, with more to come. “We’re addressing the programs on nursing and agriculture and our two-year technical programs in ag management and engineering and manufacturing technology.”

There are plans to build several new structures on the campus, including a new indoor athletic facility that will be shared with the city of Sioux Center and Sioux Center High School. “One is an addition to and renovation of our B.J. Haan Auditorium, that’s our chapel and our main auditorium where really all of the concerts and our worship space and lectures take place there,” Baas says. “That will be about a $15-million project all together.” Also, there’s a $24-million plan for a new dining hall.

Through discussions with the university’s lead donors, Baas says the university has already been able to raise, or have pledged, nearly $70-milllon of the $90-million capital campaign. He’s hoping the rest of the funds can be secured by 2023.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s growing, bipartisan support in congress for ending U.S. imports of Russian oil. “The United States, plain and simple, should not be purchasing any oil from Russia while Putin’s actively — illegally — invading a sovereign nation and slaughtering innocent people,” Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, said this morning during a conference call with Iowa reporters.

According to the trade association for the U.S. petroleum industry, about 3% of U.S. crude oil imports came from Russia last year. “Our current reliance on Russian oil will continue to drive up gas prices here at home,” Hinson said, adding it’s time to ramp up U.S. crude oil output. Production levels were rolled back in the U.S. after demand dropped precipitously early in the pandemic and the price for a barrel of crude actually hit a negative number in 2020.

This week, Democratic leaders in the U.S. House and Senate have expressed support for banning imports of Russian oil and gas and a large group of Senate Republicans held a news conference to call for energy-related sanctions against Russia.

(Radio Iowa) – Tonight’s (Friday) season premiere of CBS-TV’s “Undercover Boss” will feature a central Iowa woman unknowingly training — and gently correcting — her boss’ boss’ boss. Alina Winters, of Des Moines, will be seen instructing the disguised president and C-E-O of U-S Cellular, L-T Therival, on making cold sales calls to customers. Hint — he doesn’t do so well.

Ironic, since the promotional program he was pitching is one that he created. On the program, Therivel will go undercover, then reveal his identity to three associates at the West Des Moines retail store. Employees of the store are having a “watch party” tonight. The show airs at 7 PM/Central.

Alina Winters at the Merle Hay store in Des Moines

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday (today), said there were three separate arrests this week. Two arrests took place Thursday:

• 36-year-old Yasmeen Mostafa Mahmood, of Omaha, NE, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office at around 1:20-a.m.. She was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation (Bond: $7,500).
• and 45-year-old Sean Eugene Hicks, of Emerson, was arrested at around 1:50-p.m., Thursday, on a warrant for Ongoing Criminal Conduct (Bond: $30,000).

On Tuesday, Mills County Deputies arrested 39-year-old Jason Paul White, of Hamburg, for Driving while Barred (Bond: $2,000) The arrest took place on I-29 at around 6:16-p.m.

DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a proclamation declaring this Sunday, March 6, 2022, as a Day of Prayer for Ukraine in Iowa.  “Iowans, Americans and nations across the globe are watching the events unfolding in Ukraine with disbelief and sadness,” stated Gov. Reynolds. “As soldiers and civilians stand united to protect their homeland, Iowans can unite in our support for the Ukranian people through the power of prayer.”

On Sunday, Iowans are encouraged to join in the Day of Prayer for Ukraine to show solidarity in their fight against Russian forces and to restore peace and civility in their country.

A video reading of the proclamation is included below:
Day of Prayer for Ukraine Proclamation Video

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed on behalf of a man diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia who was convicted of a sex crime. Dantreon Newman was arrested in Des Moines in 2019. A 13-year-old girl told police that Newman, who was 22 at the time, had forced her to have sex in an abandoned apartment. Police described him as homeless. He pleaded guilty to lascivious acts with a child. The attorneys handling his appeal argue the district court judge should have held a competency hearing before Newman’s trial.

The Supreme Court has ruled Newman — who was taking medication for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and A-D-D at the time of his trial — was competent, had a lucid conversation with the judge about his guilty plea and appreciated the consequences of that plea.

(Cumberland, Iowa) – The next-to-last Cass County Legislative Coffee sponsored by the Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise (P.R.I.D.E), takes place tomorrow (Saturday, March 5th), at the Cumberland Fire Station, beginning at 9:30-a.m.  P.R.I.D.E Vice President Clark Gerlock is hosting the event. Unlike the last time a legislative coffee was held in Cass County, there will be no ZOOM access to Saturday’s meeting.

During the event, Senator Tom Shipley, of Nodaway, and Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, will take about five-minutes to update persons attending, on the happenings in their respective chambers. A time for questions from the public, will follow.

The final legislative coffee will be held on April 2, at 9:30 a.m. at the Marne Community Center.