(Washington, D-C) – Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, led a hearing Wednesday in Washington, to increase the effectiveness of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) veterans’ business development programs in meeting the challenges faced by veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners. Ernst heard directly from Iowans Lisa Shimkat, state director of the Iowa Small Business Development Center, and Dustin Rhoades, CEO and owner of Ability Tech, about the difficulties Iowa’s veteran entrepreneurs face in navigating SBA resources.

Senator Ernst at a hearing on Veteran’s Business Development programs (11-15-23)

During the hearing, Ernst discussed her Stop Stolen Valor for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Contractors Act, a provision included in the National Defense Authorization Act, that works to reduce fraud and stop stolen valor in the SBA’s service-disabled veteran-owned small business contracting program. Ernst also advocated for her bipartisan VET Act to reauthorize the SBA’s Boots to Business program and help America’s service members succeed in small business and entrepreneurship after their time in the military.

View the hearing by clicking on this LINK.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) — One group at the University of Iowa is providing students with a new tool to help make their college experience safer. The undergraduate student government at UI is planning to give away 450 Nightcaps for free at several spots around campus. KCRG-TV reports it’s a relatively new product designed to prevent drink spiking. The product itself is designed as a scrunchie, which includes a hidden pocket. Users can pull a flexible cap out of it and cover their drink, preventing the possibility of drink spiking.

The initiative was sparked after a third-year student at the U-of-I saw the product being advertised on social media and knew there was a need for something like this on campus.

They plan to start giving out these products next semester.

(Radio Iowa) – Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest singer-songwriters in generations, and a new touring Broadway production based entirely on his music will make a week-long stop in Iowa later this month. Actress and singer Chiara Trentalange starred in the original New York City cast of “Girl From The North Country” and she’ll be performing in Des Moines. The 31-year-old Trentalange wasn’t even born when Dylan first became popular, but she’s a longtime fan.

The story is set in 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota, which is Dylan’s hometown, and follows a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse. The musical contains 20 Dylan songs. Trentalange says you’ll definitely hear songs you know, and likely a few you’ve never heard before.

Chiara Trentalange and Ben Biggers (Photo provided by Des Moines Performing Arts)

The Tony Award-winning show will play the Des Moines Civic Center from November 28th through December 3rd.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Thursday) is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and an Iowan who beat one of the most deadly forms of cancer is speaking out about her challenges and successes. Beth Day, of Urbandale, is a former teacher and T-V reporter who’s now a nine-year survivor of pancreatic cancer. Day says battling the disease forced her to change her outlook on everything. “I never was afraid to die, but I knew that I had to get in that frame of mind that I’ve got to survive, I’ve got to fight with all that I can,” Day says, “and now that I’m here, I share my story with anyone who wants to hear it. I’ll tell you all the ugly details to all the hope — and there’s always hope.”

Day is now a volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or Pan CAN, and enjoys working with patients and their families, offering them encouragement, demonstrating that she fought it and won — and they can, too. “If you have family members or any of the symptoms, there are six really strong symptoms that you can find, but I had none of the six. I have no family history,” Day says. “I’m really an advocate for: Get to your doctor, advocate for yourself. If you are not feeling good, there’s a reason.” The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer rose in the past year from 11- to 12-percent. While that one-percent shift may not seem significant, Day reminds that it represents many hundreds of lives.

“That one-percent advance is so important because just in 2023 alone, 64,000 people will be diagnosed and more than 50,000 will die from the disease,” Day says. “There’s currently no early detection for pancreatic cancer. Usually you’ve got the disease before you even start showing signs.” Day was 52 when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and almost a decade later, the fight is still impacting her quality of life, though she emphasizes, she knows she’s very fortunate to be alive. “You’ve got to listen to your body still,” Day says. “Even nine years later, I’m realizing that I can’t do everything I want to do. I just don’t have the energy. I’ve got to take a break when I need to or say ‘no’ to something because I’d rather stay healthy instead of trying to do everything.”

Pancreatic cancer is a fast-moving disease and it’s difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be vague and are often ignored until it’s too late. Those symptoms include abdominal pain and back pain, changes in stool, yellowing skin, weight loss, appetite loss, and a feeling of being full after only eating a little food.

AMES, Iowa – Nov. 15, 2023 –  Now that the Interstate 74 bridge connecting Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, is completed, the Illinois and Iowa DOTs are focused on your input for a new I-80 bridge in the area.

The Illinois DOT is the lead agency for the I-80 project. They held the fourth in a series of public meetings related to the project this afternoon.

A Factsheet has been developed for the project and can be accessed on the project website – https://www.i80mississippibridge.com/.