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Iowa plays Northwestern in Wrigley Field

Sports

November 3rd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz hopes the developments of this week are not a distracton as the Hawkeyes get set to play Northwestern in Wrigley Field. The week began with the announcement that Brian Ferentz will not return next season as offensive coordinator.

Ferentz says the Hawkeyes can’t afford to be distracted.

At, 4-4 Northwestern is considered a pleasant surprise under interim coach David Braun.

Red Oak man arrested on a warrant, Friday

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak , today (Friday), report the arrest on an active Montgomery County warrant, of 40-year-old Terence Chevy Magill. The Red Oak man was taken into custody in the 500 block of 3rd Avenue, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. He was being held in the jail without bond.

Secretary Pate, ‘Election Security A Team’ reassure voters of Iowa’s election integrity

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and state and federal partners are reassuring voters of the many steps taken to provide a secure election. The State of Iowa has received national awards for its election cybersecurity efforts and was named one of the top three states in the nation for election administration.

“In Iowa, we take a holistic approach to election integrity and security – pre-election testing, paper ballots, post-election audits, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and partnerships with our Election Security A Team make that possible,” said Secretary Pate. “The public should be reassured that we are protecting the integrity of their vote in all 99 counties.”

Secretary Pate also reassured Iowans that their votes are cast safely and if anyone tries to impede that process in any way, election officials have local law enforcement on speed dial. “Intelligence and law enforcement communities at all levels of government have been tasked with ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens said. “Iowans respect and actively exercise their right to vote and do so with civility and integrity. We take our responsibility to protect this right seriously and will be aggressive in deterring any criminal effort to compromise our system of government.”

The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management assists in monitoring Election Day activity. “Every voter in Iowa should have the opportunity to freely, safely, and securely cast their vote,” said John Benson, Director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “The department is proud to support Iowa’s election safety and security efforts.”

The State of Iowa works with the federal government to ensure elections are protected at every level. “Iowans should feel very confident when they go to the ballot box, that their vote will be counted as cast,” said Phil Kirk, Regional Director from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “They should have every confidence in the integrity of Iowa’s elections. And they should have confidence in the state and local election officials and their partners in the federal government who’ve been working in solidarity to ensure the security and resilience of our elections.”

Secretary Pate also partners with fellow state agencies to ensure top level cybersecurity protections. “In support of this year’s election, the Department of Management, Division of Information Technology, formerly the Office of the Chief Information Officer, will be monitoring cyberthreats. The State of Iowa Security Operations Center will provide 24-hour-a-day cyberthreat monitoring and heightened support during this year’s elections,” said Shane Dwyer, State of Iowa Chief Information Security Officer.

Secretary Pate and other speakers also urged Iowans to be leery of election misinformation and disinformation. Instead, turn to trusted sources for election information, which are the Secretary of State and county election officials. “I’d like to provide an additional thanks to local partners, including county auditors and the unsung heroes of elections, poll workers. They stepped up to provide a civic duty and put in long hours. It’s an important job and they do it because they care about our elections,” Secretary Pate said.

Time running out to return your absentee ballots for Tuesday election

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Next Tuesday is Election Day, and that means time is running out if you want to vote absentee. Woodbury County elections commissioner, Pat Gill, says timing is more important this election.

Gill says there’s not leeway for late ballots.

He says the absentee numbers in already are down, and he says the law change has contributed to that drop.

This election is for city council and school boards.

Already 5,400 car-deer collisions in Iowa this year, tips to avoid being next

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Farmers are nearly done with the harvest and those empty fields mean thousands of deer are losing their hiding places and they’re scampering onto roads — and into the paths of Iowa motorists. This is among the worst times of the year for car-deer collisions, and Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner says they’ve already taken quite a toll this year.

Gardner says Iowans have likely heard the phrase, “Don’t veer for deer,” and he says it’s one they need to commit to memory — and take seriously.

So the odds finally caught up with you and you’ve hit a deer. What should you do next?

The incidence of car-deer crashes tends to rise around sunrise and sunset. Gardner suggests you use particular caution if you see a yellow “Deer Crossing” sign, as those are placed in areas the animals frequent.

36-year-old pedestrian struck & killed on I-80 in Council Bluffs

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A pedestrian who was struck by an SUV this (Friday) morning, in Council Bluffs, died from their injuries. According to Council Bluffs Police, at around 6:47-a.m., a 36-year-old man was walking near mile marker 1 on the Interstate 80 westbound express lanes, when he was struck by a 2020 Jeep Wrangler, driven by a 44-year-old woman from Council Bluffs. The pedestrian died at the scene. The female driver was uninjured.

The roadway was closed and traffic diverted to the local lanes for approximately four hours. The incident is in the early stages of investigation and the names are being withheld at this time.

Anyone who witnessed this crash is encouraged to call the Council Bluffs Traffic Unit at 712-328-4948.

Fatal crash in Council Bluffs Friday morning

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) [KETV] – One person was killed and another was critically injured in a crash Friday morning on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs. KETV in Omaha reports the crash occurred around 7 a.m. near Interstate 80 and 24th Street. There is no information as to the cause of the crash at this time, and the person who died has not yet been identified.

According to the latest data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, 312 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads. That’s 27 more than at the same point in 2022. Over the last five years, an average of 338 people have been killed in statewide crashes annually.

Ortega, Taylor Named October’s Student-Athletes of the Month

Sports

November 3rd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa student-athletes Bailey Ortega (volleyball) and Tory Taylor (football) were named October’s Student-Athletes of the Month, the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee announced.

Ortega, a senior from Davenport, Iowa, reached 2,000-career assists on Oct. 20 at Penn State. She is the 10th Hawkeye in program history to achieve the milestone. Heading into November, Ortega has 2,062 assists – 97 away from moving to ninth all-time at Iowa. The senior setter led the team with 168 assists in October.

The Hawkeyes head east for a match at Michigan on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (CT) before a contest at Michigan State on Saturday at 6 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).

Taylor, a senior punter from Melbourne, Australia, averaged 48.9 yards on 24 punts in October. Ten punts traveled 50+ yards, including a 62-yarder at Wisconsin to tie a season high. 11 of Taylor’s punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. He was named to six midseason first-team All-America teams (Associated Press, ESPN, FOX, The Athletic, Sporting News, CBS). Taylor ranks first in the country in total punts and third in average yards per punt.

Iowa will travel to Chicago on Saturday to face Northwestern in the Wildcats Classic at Wrigley Field. The game will begin at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on Peacock (subscription required).

Anita businesses burglarized; ATF and Cass County S/O investigating

News

November 3rd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic, IA is assisting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in an investigation regarding a recent burglary of the BW Outfitters – Anita, IA location; including the Anita Supply Center. The crime occurred during the night / early morning hours of November 2nd, 2023. (See surveillance camera still photo images below)

If you have details that may assist in the investigation of this crime, including images from nearby locations, camera footage, witnessed suspicious vehicles, or any additional information, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 712-243-2206.

Hawkeyes Sell Out Carver-Hawkeye Arena for Third Consecutive Season

Sports

November 3rd, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Friday that season tickets for the 2023-24 Hawkeye wrestling season are sold out for a third consecutive season.

Capacity for wrestling duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2023-24 is 14,847. The Hawkeyes have led the nation in attendance in every season since 2006-07, head coach Tom Brands’ first as head coach. Iowa set an NCAA record, averaging 14,905 fans in 2021-22.

Iowa is coming off a 2022-23 season where it posted a 15-1 overall and 7-1 Big Ten mark. The Hawkeyes placed second at both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. Iowa crowned two Big Ten champions and had six All-Americans. The program had 14 Academic All-Big Ten selections for a second straight year — tied for the second highest total in school history.

The Hawkeyes open the 2023-24 season on Saturday in Riverside, California facing California Baptist at 8 p.m. (CT).