(Radio Iowa) – A native of Akron in western Iowa is seeing the turmoil in the Middle East first hand through his work with the United Nations in Gaza. Scott Anderson graduated from Akron-Westfield High School in 1985, then spent 21 years in the Army and has been with the U-N in the Middle East and Afghanistan for ten years. He is helping provide emergency response and humanitarian services to those hit by the Israel-Hamas war.

“There’s a long history here dating back to Biblical times of the claims to this land. That does play a role in all the politics that surround us conflict. And partially why I think personally there hasn’t really been a solution found politically that’s acceptable to both sides,” Anderson says. “But in our job, I’m not a politician and I’m quite thankful for most days, is not to worry about that part of it. I just worry about trying to find people food and water and shelter and that’s, ‘s more than enough to keep us busy every day.” Anderson sees a lot of people who also don’t want to be involved in the politics.

“There are many innocent civilians here, many people who just want peace, who just want as I did as a parent, an opportunity for their children to have a better life than they did,” Anderson says. He’s talked with many people following the October 7th massacre. “And I was very much struck by how much it felt like it was in New York on 9-11,” he says. “The mood and what was an act of terror both on 9-11 and October 7th, there’s so many similarities.”

Anderson was stationed in Syracuse New York at the time of the 9-11 attacks in the U-S. Anderson credits growing up in the western Iowa area as preparation for him in his role of helping people in need in the Gaza crisis.

(Radio Iowa) – A House subcommittee has blocked a Senate-passed bill that would have changed the rules for people banking blood for themselves or donating for someone else, usually for a relative. Senator Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center, says a constituent who worked in the blood industry for 26 years asked him to sponsor the bill.

“I’m very simply stating that in Iowa we would like to ensure that the patient should be able to continue with the basic right to know who their donor is,” Edler says. Under current practice, doctors write an order when individuals give their own blood for an upcoming surgery or donate for someone else’s care. The bill would have forced Iowa blood banks to take and store blood from Iowans, for any reason.

Republican Representative Tom Moore of Griswold, a retired teacher and coach, opposes the bill. He says there’s nothing keeping a doctor and patient from deciding together that the patient’s blood should be stored — but the bill could create a dangerous dilemma in an operating room. “What if this bill passes and I am in need of my own blood because I have stored up three pints of it and we get in and a transfusion of more than three pints is warranted and I’ve said: ‘All I want is my blood,’ what happens to me on the table?” Moore asked. “I see that as problematic.”

A doctor and a dentist who serve in the legislature also opposed the bill in subcommittee, so the bill is not advancing in the Iowa House. Several officials from blood banks spoke during the subcommittee hearing and urged lawmakers to take that action. Dr. Emily Coberly is the divisional chief medical director for the American Red Cross. “Essentially everyone — all patients involved in this entire process that may need blood — could be harmed by this bill,” Coberly said.

No one but Edler spoke in favor of the legislation during the subcommittee hearing.

MASON CITY, Iowa – Feb. 27, 2024 – On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Iowa Department of Transportation was alerted to unexpected movement on the existing Mississippi River Bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing, Iowa to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, Wisconsin. The bridge was closed as a result of this discovery. After thoroughly inspecting the bridge, engineers have determined there has been movement in two existing bridge piers near the work zone.

Work is already in progress to stabilize the two impacted piers so we can reopen the bridge as quickly as possible. However, work is expected to take up to two months. The bridge will not be reopened until it is deemed safe. The nearest bridges for vehicle traffic to cross the Mississippi River are at La Crescent, Minnesota/Lacrosse, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Iowa/Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The Iowa DOT is currently working on alternative transportation options for those who rely on the bridge.

Mississippi River bridge at Lansing. (DOT website photo)

For updates on the bridge construction and optional transportation services, please go to https://iowadot.gov/lansingbridge. Brief updates will be posted to the website and you can sign up to receive more detailed updates, as well.  You can also find more information on the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.

(Radio Iowa) – House Democrats are proposing a state directed investment option for Iowans who don’t have access to a retirement plan through their employer. Iowa businesses with five or more employees that don’t offer pensions or 401k’s would have to notify the state– and I-R-As would be set up for those employees. Workers could opt out and choose not to participate. Representative Austin Baethof Des Moines says 19 other states have launched similar program. “A very large percentage of our citizens are not financially prepared for retirement,” Baeth says. A recent survey found 19 percent of retired Iowans are relying solely on Social Security benefits.

“A mission of Iowa House Democrats is to see that every Iowan has the opportunity to realize their life’s full potential at every stage of their life,” Baeth says. “and it’s not right that so many of Iowa’s seniors who should be enjoying the fruits of their labor are instead just struggling to get by.” Baeth says he’s pushing for state action because research shows only half of Iowa workers have a retirement savings plan.

House Democrats at a news conference in the state capitol on Feb. 27, 2024. (RI photo)

“One third of Iowa’s private sector workers lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan,” Baeth says. “That’s an estimated 424,000 Iowans.” Republicans control the agenda in the Iowa House, but Democrats could offer this proposal as an amendment to bills Republicans bring up for debate. Baeth and other House Democrats say they’re looking for those opportunities.