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A winter blast for 2024 Iowa Caucuses

News

January 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The final weekend of campaigning is ahead, leading up to what may be the chilliest evening ever for the Iowa Caucuses.  The candidates are fully aware of the forecast. Ron DeSantis says Floridians usually don’t go north in the winter. “I haven’t ever experienced negative 15 degrees in my life,” he said at an event Thursday. DeSantis says his winter coat is getting shipped up to Iowa from Tallahassee.

Nikki Haley is from South Carolina. “In October and November and December I’m like: ‘It’s cold!’ And everybody was like: ‘No, it’s really mild,'” Haley said Thursday morning. “I get it now.”

Iowa State University political science professor Dave Peterson says the temperatures will be a test of voters’ attitudes about the candidates. “You’re going to have to be pretty enthusiastic to go out there Monday night,” Peterson says. Peterson has been directing a monthly “Civiqs” poll for the past five months. In December, he described support for former President Trump as “durable.” Peterson is using the word “immovable” after this month’s poll. “Nothing’s changed,” Peterson said. “It’s an entirely stable race.”

Jean Schlichtemeier of West Des Moines is a Trump voter who went to see him in Newton last weekend. “I think the other candidates are just playing politics and we need someone who’s gutsy — and this man seems to have guts,” she said. In 2016, 37,000 Iowans who were Democrats registered as Republicans on Caucus Night in order to cast a straw poll vote for president. Mary Howard of Cedar Rapids says it’s hard to decide which party’s caucus she’ll attend this year. “I want to vote against Trump which would be the reason to go to the Republican Party thing,” Howard said at the end of December, “but I’m unsure of the candidates.”

There is one sure thing. The Caucuses will start at 7 p.m. Monday, regardless of the weather.

Judge rules Iowa’s gender balance requirement for one state panel unconstitutional

News

January 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A judge has ruled the State of Iowa cannot require a panel that nominates people to fill vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have an equal number of men and women. In her ruling, U-S District Court Judge Stephanie Rose said the gender balance requirement for the State Judicial Nominating Commiussion violates the U-S Constitution’s equal protection clause.

A California based group filed the lawsuit challenging the rule on behalf of three Iowans. One of them is chief legal counsel for The Family Leader, a group that pushed for recent changes in Iowa’s judicial selection process. Governor Kim Reynolds is asking lawmakers to repeal Iowa’s gender balance requirement for ALL state boards and commissions.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Friday, Jan. 12, 2024

Weather

January 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: **Winter Storm Warning until 10-a.m., then a Blizzard Warning until 6-a.m. Saturday** Snow, mainly before 3pm. Widespread blowing snow, mainly between 3pm and 4pm. High around 10, with wind chill values as low as -15. N/NW winds 20-35 mph. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight: Patchy blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -5. NW @ 20-40 mph. Wind chill values as low as -25.

Saturday: Areas of blowing snow. High around Zero. NW @ 25-40 mph.  Wind chill values as low as -35.

Saturday Night: Patchy blowing snow before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -17. NW @ 15-30  mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near -8. Blustery.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -20.

M.L.King Day: Partly sunny and cold, with a high near -5. Blustery.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 20. Our Low this morning (as of 7-a.m.) was 8. Snowfall as of 7-a.m. was 4-inches at KJAN. Last year on this date, the High was 27 and the Low was 16. The Record High for Jan. 12th in Atlantic, was 57 in 1961 & 1987. The Record Low was -37, in 1974. Sunrise today: 7:45. Sunset: 5:11.

Classes set to resume for many students in Perry after deadly shootings

News

January 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The funeral was held this (Thursday) morning for the 11-year-old boy who was shot to death at Perry High School last week. Perry police say sixth grader Ahmir Jolliff was shot three times in the cafeteria by the 17-year-old gunman who wounded four other students and three adults — including the principal — before taking his own life.

According to a post on the Perry Community School District website, elementary school students will head back to class next Thursday, which will be two weeks after the violence, while middle schoolers will return next Friday.

The site says the return for high school students is “still being discussed as there are many factors to consider.”

Funding dwindles for senior meal delivery program in NE Iowa

News

January 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa nonprofits are facing a financial crunch as they run out of state and federal pandemic relief funds, which is a concern for Iowa seniors who rely on meal deliveries. The Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging’s nutrition budget has been cut nearly in half since its COVID assistance ran dry. That means a reduction in daily hot meal deliveries for 18 counties. Agency C-E-O Mike Donohue says state legislative funding just isn’t keeping pace with the cost of meals.

“We have seen those costs just go through the roof,” Donohue says. “We had per-meal costs that were in the $6 range prior to the pandemic that today are $10.” Donohue’s agency does get state money to operate but he says that funding isn’t keeping up with the cost of inflation.

“Overall, funding really hasn’t changed much,” he says. “I think if you look over the past five years, funding has grown about six percent total.” The agency plans to continue to make meal deliveries to about 500 area seniors, though as of last week, those deliveries started coming in bulk, every two weeks, instead of every day.

Iowa National Guard’s new leader says ‘transformation’ underway

News

January 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Osborn — appointed to the post last March — says he’s leading “the greatest transformation” of the Guard in its 186 year history.

“This initiative is a reorganization that optimizes organizational efficiencies, leverages our human capital, and brings the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard into a more cohesive, joint team,” Olson said today, “without growing our force structure.”

Olson delivered the annual “Condition of the Guard” address to Iowa lawmakers this morning. “Ultimately, these long range, holistic efforts lay the groundwork to keep your Iowa National Guard ready to execute any state or federal mission well into the future,” Olson said.

Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Olson (Official photo)

Olson has hired a full-time staff director to oversee Army and Air Guard operations. Also, in response to a congressional mandate, he’s hired 14 new civilian employees to help service members with violence and sexual assault prevention, as well as victim advocacy.

“We owe our service members every opportunity and benefit to take care of them,” Olson said, “and to allow them to do their jobs.”

There are nearly 9000 soldiers, airmen and civilian staff in the Iowa National Guard today. Iowa Army National Guard units have deployed to Poland, Kosovo, the Middle East and the U.S./Mexico border in the past year. Airmen from the Iowa Air Guard were on missions in Korea, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greenland, and Germany during 2023.

NORMA FINCK, 90, of Greenfield (Celebration of Life 4/13/24)

Obituaries

January 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

NORMA FINCK, 90, of Greenfield, died January 11, 2024, at the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.  Celebration of Life services for NORMA FINCK will be held April 13th at 10:30-a.m., at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Burial is in the Fontanelle Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Norma Finck Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

NORMA FINCK is survived by:

Her sons – Jim Finck (Marla), and Gary Finck (Joanie), all of Greenfield.

Her daughter – Sherri Lund, of Greenfield.

Her brothers – Earl and Larry (Evelyn) Jacobson, all of of Menlo.

Her sister – Bev Wright, of Greenfield.

12 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, her in-laws,  other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

2024 Iowa Girls High School Basketball Rankings

Sports

January 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 1A

No.
School
Record
LW
1
North Linn
10-1
1
2
Newell-Fonda
10-1
2
3
Martensdale-St. Marys
8-3
3
4
Remsen St, Mary’s
10-0
4
5
Riceville
13-0
5
6
Council Bluffs St. Albert
10-1
6
7
Algona Bishop Garrigan
11-1
8
8
Calamus-Wheatland
11-1
7
9
CAM
10-1
9
10
Woodbine
8-2
10
11
Lynnville-Sully
11-2
11
12
Coon Rapids-Bayard
7-2
12
13
Montezuma
9-2
15
14
George-Little Rock
9-1
14
15
Fremont-Mills
11-0
NR
 
Dropped Out:  Springville (13)
 

Class 2A

No.
School
Record
LW
1
Dike-New Hartford
9-1
1
2
Panorama
10-0
2
3
Westwood
11-0
3
4
Iowa City Regina
10-2
4
5
Sioux Central
10-1
5
6
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont
10-1
6
7
Central Lyon
10-1
7
8
Nodaway Valley
10-1
8
9
North Mahaska
10-1
9
10
Cascade
8-2
11
11
Grundy Center
11-1
13
12
Treynor
8-3
12
13
Aplington-Parkersburg
10-2
14
14
Hinton
10-2
15
15
Kingsley-Pierson
8-3
NR
 
Dropped Out: MVAOCOU (10)
 
 

Class 3A

No.
School
Record
LW
1
Solon
10-1
1
2
Mount Vernon
11-0
2
3
Des Moines Christian
11-1
3
4
Estherville-Lincoln Central
11-2
4
5
Roland-Story
11-0
6
6
Dubuque Wahlert
9-2
5
7
Harlan
8-2
7
8
Benton Community
6-4
9
9
Monticello
10-2
8
10
Forest City
11-1
10
11
Algona
8-3
11
12
Spirit Lake
6-3
12
13
Cherokee
9-3
13
14
Chariton
10-1
15
15
Williamsburg
5-4
14
 
Dropped Out: None
 

Class 4A

No.
School
Record
LW
1
Dallas Center-Grimes
10-1
1
2
Clear Creek-Amana
9-0
2
3
North Polk
10-2
3
4
Waverly-Shell Rock
11-0
4
5
Sioux City Bishop Heelan
9-0
6
6
Mason City
10-2
5
7
Le Mars
10-2
7
8
Norwalk
9-2
8
9
Lewis Central
8-3
9
10
Marion
9-2
10
11
Maquoketa
10-2
11
12
Carlisle
7-3
12
13
Pella
9-2
14
14
Central DeWitt
8-3
13
15
Gilbert
7-3
NR
 
Dropped Out: Western Dubuque (14)
 

Class 5A

No.
School
Record
LW
1
Johnston
12-0
1
2
Davenport North
11-2
2
3
Dowling Catholic
9-3
3
4
Waukee
9-2
4
5
Ankeny Centennial
7-5
5
6
Pleasant Valley
9-3
6
7
Ankeny
8-4
7
8
Cedar Falls
19-1
9
9
West Des Moines Valley
7-4
8
10
Cedar Rapids Prairie
8-1
10
11
Southeast Polk
6-6
11
12
Sioux City East
8-3
13
13
Waukee Northwest
5-6
12
14
Iowa City West
6-4
14
15
Sioux City West
4-5
NR
 
Dropped Out: Linn-Mar (15)

Iowa State men host Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon

Sports

January 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger does not feel the Cyclones will look past Oklahoma State when the teams collide Saturday in Hilton Coliseum. ISU is coming off a win over second ranked Houston and will host a Cowboy team that is 8-7 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12.

The Cowboys have won three straight in Hilton.

Otzelberger believes the Cyclones will be ready.

Otzelberger on the concerns he has about Oklahoma State.

Iowa men host Nebraska Friday night

Sports

January 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

The Iowa Hawkeye men take a 1-3 Big Ten record into Friday night’s game at home against a vastly improved Nebraska team. The Huskers are 13-3 overall and coming off Tuesday night’s 88-72 win over top ranked Purdue.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery who says Husker coach Fred Hoiberg has boosted the talent level on his roster and balance has been a key,

Senior guard Keisei Tominaga leads the Huskers at 14 and-a-half points per game and his ability to move without the ball makes him tough to guard.

The Hawkeyes have been off since Saturday’s win over Rutgers.