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Iowans see jump in insurance premiums three times national average

News

October 20th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A study finds the average rate of family premiums for health insurance offered by private employers in Iowa has risen significantly. The report from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota found the average premium rate for Iowa families jumped about nine percent from 2020 to 2021, while the national average is only three percent. Robert Hest, a research fellow at the center, says Iowa’s relatively small population may be a factor.

Hest says, “It’s also kind of a statistical thing where, because there’s a smaller sample size in Iowa, that those estimates just tend to be less stable over time than you would see in a state with a larger population and a larger sample size.” Iowa has nearly three-point-two million residents, ranking it the 31st most populous state in the U-S. 

“Because there’s a smaller population, it doesn’t take as many employers, large employers to make changes to the types of plans they’re offering, or to the cost of those plans to really swing these statistics,” he says. The report found about 87-percent, or one-point-two million Iowans, who work in the private sector were offered employer-sponsored insurance last year.

(by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

Posted in News |

Regional Volleyball Schedule 10/20/2022

Sports

October 20th, 2022 by admin

Class 4A

Region 1

Sergeant Bluff-Luton @ Norwalk
Bishop Heelan @ Lewis Central

Region 3

Carroll @ North Polk
Humboldt @ Bondurant-Farrar

Class 5A

Region 1

Des Moines Lincoln @ Ankeny
Southeast Polk @ CB Abraham Lincoln

Posted in Sports |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022

Weather

October 20th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy. High 66. W/SW @ 10-20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 43. SW @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 75. SW @ 10-20.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High 78.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High near 80.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 55. Our Low was 12 (that tied the old, 24-hour Low of 12 set in Oct. 19, 1972). Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 64 and the Low was 41. The Record High on this date was 87 in 1947 & 2003. The Record Low for Oct. 20th, was 14 in 1960.

Posted in Weather |

Winnebago reports another record fiscal year

News

October 20th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Winnebago Industries reports record revenue for its just-completed fiscal year. The outdoor lifestyle products manufacturer with Iowa factories in Forest City, Lake Mills, Charles City and Waverly reports revenues of five-billion dollars for Fiscal Year 2022, rising almost 37-percent from three-point-six billion in Fiscal ’21. C-E-O Michael Happe  says that was driven by the recently-acquired Barletta boats, pricing actions, and strong consumer demand for the company’s products.

“Over the past seven fiscal years, we have been laser focused on enhancing and strengthening our enterprise portfolio,” Happe says. “The success that those initiatives has created a more diversified, resilient, competitive, and profitable Winnebago Industries. This was never more evident than in Fiscal Year 2022 when our company achieved record revenue, profitability, and overall outdoor market share.”

The outdoor lifestyle product market boomed beginning with the start of the pandemic as more people turned to the outdoors, and Happe says the company continues to benefit from that increased demand for the Winnebago, Grand Design and Newmar recreational vehicle brands as well as Chris-Craft and Barletta boats.  “It is no secret that demand for outdoor products exploded in the last two years, and that new consumer trends have emerged which will impact our industries forever,” he says. “Thanks to the relentless focus, commitment and heart of our world-class team here, we’ve delivered on unprecedented levels of demand for our premium products as new and existing consumers embrace the outdoor lifestyle.”

Happe says the results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year overall show the company’s flexibility and ability to deliver in a volatile economic climate.  “Winnebago Industries’ fourth quarter results were a strong finish to an outstanding year in which we delivered record revenue and profitability,” Happe says. “We recorded fourth quarter net revenues of $1.2 billion, which represent a 14% increase over the same period last year.”

Winnebago Industries’ net income for the fourth quarter was $82.6 million, and for the year, the company reported a profit of $390.6 million.

Posted in News |

DNR’s draft rules propose changes in livestock manure storage in northeast Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 20th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Staff in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have drafted tougher rules for manure storage at any new livestock confinements or cattle feedlots in parts of northeast Iowa. The regulations would apply in areas where the bedrock is closer to the surface and it can be porous. Under current rules for these areas, manure from livestock operations must be stored in concrete structures. If the changes are adopted, the distance from the concrete bottom of any NEW manure pit and the bedrock would have to triple from at least five feet to 15 feet.

Attorney Eldon McAfee represents the Iowa Pork Producers and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. He says the changes could end expansion of livestock operations in northeast Iowa. “We could have producers who can’t build livestock operations with concrete manure storage on their farms,” McAfee says, “and that is very important to that area.” More than a dozen environmental groups say the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Michael Schmidt is a staff attorney with the Iowa Environmental Council.

“We are calling on DNR to do a better job regulating all of this manure to reduce the nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria that enters our drinking water sources, our groundwater, our lakes, rivers and streams,” he says. It will be a few months before any proposed rules — whatever they may be — could be presented to the legislative committee that approves or blocks all state regulations.

The D-N-R is accepting informal comments on the proposed changes until late Friday afternoon. After that, there’s a formal public comment period and a possible rewrite of the proposed rules. The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission has to vote on any changes. Finally, a committee in the legislature that reviews all state regulations will either approve or block any proposed changes.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Ernst reacts to GOPers calling for ending US military aid to Ukraine

News

October 20th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – As some of her fellow Republicans call for deep cuts or an end to U-S aid for Ukraine, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst suggests that would be a dangerous step. “Do we want to live in a world where countries are free and can maintain their own sovereignty and their own borders or do we want to live in a world where Putin and President Xi and other authoritarians can just roll over whatever country they want without repercussions?” Ernst asks.

The Republican poised to be House Speaker if the G-O-P gains control of congress next year says the G-O-P will no longer give the Biden Administration a blank check for the war in Ukraine — and will insist on a plan for ending the conflict. While Ernst agrees unlimited spending on the war effort is unwise, she says the U.S. needs to keep supporting Ukraine. “But make sure that there’s absolute transparency with how we’re doing that,” Ernst says. “…People want to know how the dollars are being spent. They want to know what is being delivered to Ukraine.”

However, Ernst says that doesn’t mean congress should specify exactly what weapons and military equipment is shipped there. “Everything is so fluid on the ground,” Ernst says, “and we need to be able to provide them with what they need when they need it.” The U-S Defense Department is coordinating all the military aid the United States and its allies are providing Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s military.

“I think as long as they are willing to do that and stop this horrible, horrible man who also wants to do the U.S. harm, I think then we allow the Ukrainians to do that,” Ernst says.

In 2014, Ernst became the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate. In late 2015, she retired from the Iowa National Guard as a lieutenant colonel. She is now part of Senate G-O-P leadership as the vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.

Posted in News |

Atlantic fights, but Des Moines Christian proves too tough

Sports

October 19th, 2022 by admin

The Atlantic Trojans volleyball team put up a fight but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with Class 3A #1 Des Moines Christian on Wednesday night. The Trojans well in a 3-0 sweep to the Lions in a Class 3A Region 3 Semifinal.

The Lions jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set and were able to hold the Trojans at arms length throughout the opener winning 25-18. Atlantic made it tough on the Lions in the 2nd by grabbing a 12-8 lead before the Lions roared back with 6 straight. The Trojans tied it back up at 14 but then DMC put together a 9-0 rally to grab the momentum and ultimately a 25-16 set win. The third went back and forth for the first ten points on each side but the Lions put together back to back 4-point rallies to grab control and put the match away with a 25-14 set win.

Atlantic head coach Michelle Blake was proud of the team’s fight.

An impactful group of 8 seniors ended their careers with the loss and Coach Blake said they all were important to the growth of the program.

Listen to the full match replay below.

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Posted in Sports |

State Cross Country Qualifying Meets for Class 1A and 2A on Thursday

Sports

October 19th, 2022 by admin

State Cross Country Qualifying Meets for Class 1A and 2A schools will be held Thursday. Meets start at 4:00 p.m.

In Class 2A the top three teams and top fifteen individuals will qualify for the state meet on Friday, October 28th. Class 1A qualifiers will be the top two teams and top ten individuals at each site.

Here’s a look at the area sites and teams involved.

Class 1A 

@ SW Valley: Diagonal, East Mills, East Union, Essex, Fremont-Mills, Griswold, Grand View Christian, Heartland Christian, Lenox, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Mount Ayr, Martensdale-St. Marys, Sidney, SW Valley, St. Albert, Stanton, Tri-Center, Woodbine

@ ACGC: ACGC, AHSTW, Ankeny Christian, Audubon, Boyer Valley, CAM, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Earlham, Exira-EHK, IKM-Manning, Iowa School of the Deaf, Nodaway Valley, Orient-Macksburg, Panorama, South Hamilton, West Harrison, West Monona, Woodward-Granger, Woodward Academy

@ Ridge View: Akron-Westfield, Alta-Aurelia, Gehlen Catholic, Harris Lake Park, HMS, Hinton, Lawton-Bronson, MMCRU, Ogden, Ridge View, Riverside, Sibley-Ocheyedan, Sioux Central Sioux Rapids, Siouxland Christian, South O’Brien, St. Mary’s Remsen, Trinity Christian, Westwood, Whiting

Class 2A

@ Shenandoah: Clarinda, Chariton, DM Christian, East Sac County, Greene County, MVAOCOU, Red Oak, Shenandoah, South Central Calhoun, SE Valley, Treynor, Woodbury Central/Kingsley-Pierson, Underwood, Van Meter, West Central Valley

Posted in Sports |

4A state cross country qualifying meet at Council Bluffs

Sports

October 19th, 2022 by admin

Class 4A State Qualifying Meet
at IWCC in Council Bluffs

Girls Team Scoring

  1. Waukee 36
  2. Dowling Catholic West Des Moines 44
  3. Valley West Des Moines 48
  4. Dallas Center-Grimes 113
  5. Sioux City North 150
  6. Sioux City East 161
  7. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 209
  8. Des Moines Abraham Lincoln 245
  9. Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson 265
  10. Sioux City West 274

Girls Individual State Qualifiers

1. 11 Addison Dorenkamp 19:09.40 Valley West Des Moines
2. 9 Greta Bergman 19:55.80 Valley West Des Moines
3. 9 Michelle McConkey 19:56.50 Waukee
4. 11 Liv Hall 20:07.50 Dowling Catholic West Des Moines
5. 9 Hayden Beyer 20:18.80 Waukee
6. 11 Avery Muller 20:19.90 Dowling Catholic West Des Moines
7. 12 Sally Gaskell 20:20.60 Dowling Catholic West Des Moines
8. 12 Bella Webb 20:21.70 Waukee
9. 9 Sydney Burrier 20:26.30 Waukee
10. 12 Lauryn Frerichs 20:37.20 Dowling Catholic West Des Moines
11. 10 Mallory Wurth 20:38.10 Waukee
12. 12 Elizabeth Jordan 20:42.80 Sioux City North
13. 10 Maddy Stevens 20:44.10 Dallas Center-Grimes
14. 9 Raegan Reuter 20:56.50 Valley West Des Moines
15. 10 Coco Kooker 21:12.30 Valley West Des Moines

Boys Team Scoring

  1. Dowling Catholic 31
  2. Valley 60
  3. Sioux City North 63
  4. Dallas Center-Grimes 78
  5. Waukee 131
  6. Des Moines Lincoln 210
  7. CB Thomas Jefferson 227
  8. Sioux City East 229
  9. CB Abraham Lincoln 231
  10. Sioux City West 258

Boys Individual State Qualifiers

1 Jackson Heidesch 12 Dowling Catholic 15:33 1
2 Flynn Milligan 12 Dowling Catholic 15:56 2
3 Natnael Kifle 11 Sioux City North 16:02 3
4 Gabe Nash 12 Sioux City North 16:05 4
5 Jack Flori 10 Dowling Catholic 16:37 5
6 Max DeRocher 11 Dowling Catholic 16:38 6
7 Evan McClinton 11 Valley 16:42 7
8 Jackson Bergman 11 Valley 16:43 8
9 Jacob Forney 11 Valley 16:52 9
10 Garrett Weber 12 Waukee 16:55 10
11 Jack Every 11 Dc-Grimes 16:56 11
12 Beshanena Gutema 12 Sioux City North 17:02 12
13 Jonathan Owen 10 Valley 17:04 13
14 AJ Angus 11 Dc-Grimes 17:09 14
15 Abubekar Kumbi 11 Sioux City North 17:12 15

Full results HERE

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic qualifies 4 runners for State Cross Country

Sports

October 19th, 2022 by admin

The Atlantic Trojans will have four runners participating in the 2022 State Cross Country Meet in Fort Dodge on October 29th.

Three girls placed in the top 15 to advance from the state qualifying meet in Glenwood on Wednesday night and the team ended up just four points shy of qualifying. Ava Rush was 3rd, Claire Pellett was 6th, and Belle Berg finished 12th to qualify. Other Atlantic finishers were Katrina Williams 26th, Mariah Huffman 34th, Hailey Huffman 35th, and Faith Altman 38th,  The Trojans scored 80 points in the team race to finish 4th. They were just four points back of Harlan.

Devon Fields was an individual qualifier on the boys side with a 14th place run. The Trojans finished 7th in the team standings with 164 points. Other Atlantic finishers were Christian Thompson 30th, Alex Sonntag 31st, Tyrell Williams 41st, Mason McFadden 48th, Luke Irlmeier 58th, and Bennett Whetstone 60th.

Girls Team Scores

  1. ADM 49 (Qualifier)
  2. Glenwood 64 (Qualifier)
  3. Harlan 76 (Qualifier)
  4. Atlantic 80
  5. Denison-Schleswig 145
  6. Lewis Central 178
  7. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 207
  8. Kuemper Catholic 217
  9. Creston 256
  10. Perry 285
  11. Saydel 317

Girls Individual State Qualifiers

  1. Geneva Timmerman, ADM
  2. Lindsey Sonderman, Harlan
  3. Ava Rush, Atlantic
  4. Lola Mendlik, Denison-Schleswig
  5. Haley James, ADM
  6. Claire Pellett, Atlantic
  7. Madelyn Berglund, Glenwood
  8. Marie Dea, Kuemper Catholic
  9. Breckyn Petersen, Glenwood
  10. Hannah Desmarais, ADM
  11. Brylee Schechinger, Harlan
  12. Belle Berg, Atlantic
  13. Lauren Hughes, Glenwood
  14. Jenna Gessert, Harlan
  15. Mackaelin Sutton, ADM

Boys Team Scores

  1. Glenwood 30 (Qualifier)
  2. Lewis Central 83 (Qualifier)
  3. ADM 91 (Qualifier)
  4. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 129
  5. Denison-Schleswig 148
  6. Kuemper Catholic 158
  7. Atlantic 164
  8. Harlan 177
  9. Clarke 235
  10. Perry 281
  11. Creston 305
  12. Saydel 346

Boys Individual State Qualifiers

  1. Ethan Eichhorn, Lewis Central
  2. Bryant Keller, Glenwood
  3. Andrew Smith, Glenwood
  4. Liam Hays, Glenwood
  5. Kade Diercks, Lewis Central
  6. Torin Timmerman, ADM
  7. Richard Gonzalez, Denison-Schleswig
  8. Ryan North, Kuemper Catholic
  9. Kevin Coots, Glenwood
  10. Evan Janzen, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
  11. Jacob Greving, Kuemper Catholic
  12. Preston Slayman, Glenwood
  13. Dillon Anderson, Glenwood
  14. Devon Fields, Atlantic
  15. Jackson Griffin, Glenwood

Full reults HERE

Posted in Sports |