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A third case of high path avian influenza is confirmed in NW Iowa dairy

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Bird flu is confirmed at a third dairy in northwest Iowa as state and federal officials are trying to find out how the virus spreads between farms and livestock. On Wednesday, Iowa’s ag department confirmed avian influenza at a dairy farm with 17-hundred cows in Sioux County. State veterinarian Jeff Kaisand says most cows recover within a few weeks, unlike infected poultry, which are euthanized.

“We do have a USDA epi strike team that’s on the ground in Iowa right now that we requested,” Kaisand says. “They’re trying to help us understand some of those connections between farms to try and reveal some of those connections as best we can.” It’s the second case in Sioux County and the third in the state after the virus was first found in an Iowa dairy in O’Brien County last week. Kaisand says one priority is trying to figure out how avian influenza spreads between farms and livestock.

“We don’t know how it moves through the whole herd,” he says. “Does it go through all at once, or are there pockets that it doesn’t go through? And also trying to understand how it goes through a dairy herd or a poultry herd or vice versa.”

The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship recently started testing dairies within a 12-mile radius of infected poultry farms.

Sen. Grassley predicts a new Farm Bill won’t pass (again) this year

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Blaming partisan politics and a packed legislative calendar, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s no longer optimistic a Farm Bill will pass Congress this session. “I may often be the first to say that we probably won’t be getting a Farm Bill this year, but I’m also the first to say that farmers need the Farm Bill this year,” Grassley says, “because they need the certainty that comes with a five-year Farm Bill instead of a one-year extension.” The legislation is typically reviewed and renewed every five years, but it had to be extended last year into this fall, and Grassley fears another repeat is looming.

“Farmers today are operating off of the 2018 Farm Bill,” Grassley says, “a five-year Farm Bill which is now a six-year Farm Bill and I think soon-to-become a seven-year Farm Bill.” Grassley, a Republican, suggests the Farm Bill won’t pass this year because of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the Democrat who’s created the framework for this session. “That’s my feeling. It’s not on the list of 17 bills that Schumer wanted to get done this year,” Grassley says, “and also, there’s just such few legislating days left before the 2018 Farm Bill sunsets, September 30th.” Grassley says there needs to be “more farm in the Farm Bill,” noting that 85-percent of the U-S-D-A’s spending outline is for food stamps. He says farmers in Iowa and nationwide will have a difficult 2025 if Congress -again- fails to update the important legislation.

“It’s not adequate from the standpoint that a one-year extension will still use 2018 prices,” Grassley says, “So it doesn’t reflect the inflation we’ve had in diesel, seed, fertilizer, chemicals and interest, and those are all things that should be added to the safety net for farmers.” He says the Farm Bill being drafted by Senate Republicans includes a 15-percent increase in commodities supports, stronger crop insurance, a doubling of funds for foreign market assistance — or exports, along with a healthy boost in spending on ag research.

High School Softball Scores from Wednesday June 12th

Sports

June 13th, 2024 by admin

Rolling Valley Conference 

CAM 12, Boyer Valley 0

Woodbine 13, Coon Rapids-Bayard 0

Glidden-Ralston 13, Ar-We-Va 4

 

Western Iowa Conference

Missouri Valley 10, Logan-Magnolia 1

Griswold 6, IKM-Manning 0

 

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Orient-Macksburg 13, East Union 1

Martensdale-St. Mary’s 5, Southeast Warren 3

 

Raccoon River Conference

ADM 10, Boone 0

Gilbert 11, Carroll 1

North Polk 4, Winterset 2

 

Non-Conference Games

Thomas Jefferson 10, Red Oak 6

Shenandoah 12, Sidney 0

West Central Valley 4, Nodaway Valley 3

Albia 12, Pleasantville 1

Madrid 6, Baxter 2

 

Iowa Part Of Baby Powder Settlement

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) –  Iowa is part of a 700 million dollar nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson over allegations of deceptive marketing practices related to the company’s talc-based baby powder and body powder products. The company has agreed to permanently stop the creation and sale of these talc-based products within the U-S. Iowa will receive more than nine million dollars from the settlement.

Graduate Students Ask Regents To Not Raise Fees And Tuition

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The state Board of Regents will vote on an increase in tuition and mandatory fees undergrad and graduate students at their meeting today (Thursday) in Iowa City. Graduate students spoke out against their increases Wednesday during a public comment period. Amanda Kozar is a grad student in history, and says they can’t afford increases. She says between moving expenses, security deposits, university fees, the U-bill and the monthly payments, the current pay scheme is unsustainable for graduate students. Noah Neibor is also a history grad student and he called for the fees be abolished altogether. Nicole Yeager says other universities have recognized this and taken steps to help and keep graduate students.

Montgomery County man arrested for Probation Violation

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Red Oak was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and Evergreen Avenue. 37-year-old Jesse Ray Nelson was taken into custody at around 12:36-a.m., on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Nelson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted by Officers with the Red Oak Police Department, in making the arrest.

Red Oak man arrested for Interference w/Official Acts

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak say a man was arrested Wednesday afternoon, following a traffic stop. 29-year-old Tylor Daniel Fine, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:35-p.m. and charged with Driving While Under Suspension, and Interference with Official Acts. Fine was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $491.25 bond.

JOYCE TRUE, 80, of Elk Horn (IA) – Memorial Svc. 6/21/24

Obituaries

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOYCE TRUE, 80, of Elk Horn, died Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn. A Memorial service for JOYCE TRUE will be held at 10:30-a.m. on June 21st, at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.

Visitation at the funeral home is on the 21st, from 9:30-until 10:30-a.m.

A Private family burial will take place in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.

JOYCE TRUE is survived by:

Her sons – Terry (Connie) Pieken, and Bill True III, all of Avoca.

Her daughters – Pam Beasley, of Springfield, MO., & Donna (Jeff) Slack, of Viborg, SD

17 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; and her daughter-in-law: Linda Pieken, of Avoca.

Hail pounds eastern NE and parts of western Iowa late Wednesday

News, Weather

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Omaha, NE) – The National Weather Service in Omaha reports hail the size of baseballs or larger pummeled parts of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, Wednesday evening. In western Iowa, golfball-size hail ( 1 3/4″ in diameter) fell at around 6:50-p.m. along the Interstate 29 corridor in Monona County, about three-miles west of Whiting, and covered the roadway. Other reports include:

  • 3.5″+ hail 3-miles W. of Onawa at around 7:30-p.m. (Harrison County)
  • 1.75″ hail 4 miles NW of Little Sioux at around 8:10-p.m. (Harrison County)
  • Winds in excess of 65 mph & 3″ diameter hail fell 1 mile NW of Little Sioux at around 8:30-p.m.
  • Hail ranging in size from quarters to golf balls fell between 8 and 8:20-p.m. near Little Sioux
  • and tennis ball (2.5″) size hail was reported southwest of Council Bluffs at around 9:15-p.m.

Hundreds of people in eastern Nebraska and parts of western Iowa also lost power during the storms.

Pursuit results in a fatal crash in northern IA Wed. night

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Lake Mills, Iowa) – A vehicle being pursued by law enforcement in northern Iowa’s Winnebago County, crashed Wednesday night and ejected the driver, who died at the scene. According to the Iowa State Patrol, authorities were chasing a 2005 Lincoln LS at around 10-p.m., when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve on Highway 69 at 212th Avenue, near Lake Mills.

When the car entered the ditch and rolled over, the driver was ejected. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Lake Mills Police, Fire & EMS  Departments, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.