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USDA confirms cases of bird-flu found in dairy cows

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG & USDA) – This week, the USDA announced cases of bird flu had been found in dairy cows in a few states; Texas, Kansas, and Michigan. Iowa currently isn’t one of those states, but cattle farmers are keeping a close eye it. Last year, the avian flu killed nearly 3 million birds in the state of Iowa. That ranges from commercial poultry farms to backyard flocks.

Iowa State Extension Dairy Veterinarian Phillip Jardon said cows in Texas had contracted an unknown illness, which reduced milk production in older cattle. It wasn’t until this week he said pathologists learned it was the bird flu, but they aren’t sure how it happened.

Jardon said in each of the found cases in Texas, dead birds had been found near the farm. While he said the findings are all still new and research was being done, so far, the virus doesn’t seem to be as deadly to cattle. Jardon said it would still be a good idea for farmers to be vigilant as they get closer to starting selling and moving cattle this season.

In its latest report, the USDA said ” There continues to be no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply because products are pasteurized before entering the market, or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply.

In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce for human consumption. FDA’s longstanding position is that unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to consumers, and FDA is reminding consumers of the risks associated with raw milk consumption in light of the HPAI detections.”

Iowa man wanted by the FBI for alleged money laundering & fraud

News

March 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb.  – The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Omaha field office is seeking the public’s help in locating an Iowa man wanted for alleged money laundering and wire fraud.

The office says William Jack “Bill” Berg, 51, is wanted for allegedly defrauding over a dozen client investors in a scheme that resulted in the loss of over $1.5 million. It’s alleged that the victim investors provided Berg, a financial advisor in the Des Moines metro area, with funds for investment — only for Berg to use those funds for his own benefit.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Berg on March 19. He most recently lived in the Waukee and Adel areas and is suspected to have been in the Des Moines area as recently as Monday (March 25th).

William Jack Berg, (AKA Bill Berg) – FBI Photo

Berg is described as 5′11″, 195 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI’s Omaha field office at (402) 493-8688.

Muscatine restaurant wins Iowa’s best Pulled Pork Sandwich award

News

March 30th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The experts have spoken: Iowa’s best pulled pork sandwich is made in eastern Iowa. Voters in a recent social media contest sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association picked Skinny’s Barbecue in Muscatine as winner of the annual Pulled Pork Madness contest, according to a news release.

The Pork Producers say the bracket-style competition, in its seventh year, starts with 16 contenders and follows a narrowing process similar to the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament. The public determines which restaurants advance to the next round.

From the news release:

“At Skinny’s, pork butts are traditionally slathered with mustard to bind an equal mix of salt and pepper. Owner Cord Kleist uses a thick-cut pepper to grow a bark, the flavorful black crust that forms on the outside of the meat during the cooking process. He only recently began adding a special blend of seasonings.

“The pork is then cooked on a gas-powered rotisserie smoker at a low temperature for about 14 to 15 hours, and gets wrapped for the last couple of hours to seal in the moisture and juices. Oak wood is added as the meat cooks, to enhance the taste.

pulled pork sandwich at Skinny’s BBQ in Muscatine

“Each sandwich is served on a shiny brioche toasted bun, with house-made pickles and onions on the side, along with a choice of one homemade side dish. Three flavors of house-made sauces are available — sweet, spicy, or Carolina tangy gold.

“Winning the title ‘brings a tear to my eye,’ says Kleist, who will receive $250 and a Pulled Pork Madness plaque. “It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come and adapted and changed.”

Previous winners have included:

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Saturday, March 30, 2024

Weather

March 30th, 2024 by admin

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. North wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Sunday: Showers likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. East wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. East northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a northeast wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: Rain showers likely before 5am, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday’s High in Atlantic was 68. The Low was 37. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 72 and the Low was 29. The all-time Record High in Atlantic on March 30th, was 87 in 1968. The Record Low was 8 in 1964. Sunrise today: 7:07. Sunset tonight: 7:43.

Winterset Husky Invitational (Local Results)

Sports

March 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

2. Underwood (76 points) — Winners: Maxwell Tiarks, shot put (53-03.00) & discus throw (160-04)|Mason Boothby, long jump (22-00.00) & 110 hurdles (15.04)|Shuttle hurdle relay — Jack Vanfossan, Lucas Bose Jr., Sam Hulsing, Mason Boothby (1:01.07)

8. Treynor (42 points) — Winners: 800 sprint medley relay — Jett Sornson, Drew Meyers, Brady Wallace, Karson Elwood (1:36.10)

10. Creston (25 points)

High School Soccer Scores from Friday

Sports

March 30th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Girls Scores

Dallas Center-Grimes 3, Ankeny 2
Panorama 10, West Central Valley 3
Nevada 3, Indianola 0

Boys Scores

Carroll 2, Atlantic 1
Southeast Polk 1, Indianola 0
West Central Valley 7, Panorama 0

Hawkeyes Drop Series Opener to Gophers

Sports

March 29th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team was defeated, 16-9, by Minnesota on Friday night at Duane Banks Field.

The Hawkeyes raced out to a 7-0 lead through two innings, but Minnesota responded back with a seven-run inning in the top of the third. The Gophers would ultimately scored 16 unanswered runs en route to the win. The Hawkeyes scored two in the eighth but couldn’t mount a comeback.

Brody Brecht got the start on the mound for Iowa. Brecht threw three innings and allowed seven runs on five hits. The Ankeny, Iowa, native struck out five Gophers while walking two and hitting one.

Jack Whitlock was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs in 1/3 of an inning. Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue and Zach Voelker each allowed three runs.

Jack Young, Ganon Archer and Chas Wheatley combined to throw 4 1/3 innings allowing a combined two hits and no runs while striking out four.

On the offensive side two Hawkeyes had three hit performances. Davis Cop and Kyle Huckstorf were both 3-for-5 with an RBI on the night.

Raider Tello was 2-for-5 with four RBIs. Gable Mitchell, Andy Nelson and Sam Petersen each tallied two hits for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes outhit the Gophers 14-11, but Iowa left 10 runners on base compared to Minnesota’s three.

Tobias Notches Top-3 Long Jump Nationally

Sports

March 29th, 2024 by admin

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Iowa track and field competed from coast-to-coast on Friday at the Florida Relays on the campus of the University of Florida, as well as the Mike Fanelli Track Classic in San Francisco and the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, California.

Senior Tionna Tobias headlined the day with a personal-best 6.51 meters (21’ 4.25”) in the women’s long jump invitational at the Florida Relays. That mark ranks third in NCAA Division I this season, as well as third in the Hawkeye record book. Tobias placed first in the event.

Iowa’s jumpers weren’t done. In the women’s long jump, freshman Maud Zeffou-Poaty placed second with a jump of 6.19 meters (20’ 3.75”). That marks a new PR and ties for fifth in the women’s program history. The jump also ranks 17th in NCAA Division I.

UP NEXT

Tomorrow, Iowa competes at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Florida, and the Mike Fanelli Track Invite in San Francisco, California.

Hawkeyes Wrap Up Day One at Sunshine State Invite

Sports

March 29th, 2024 by admin

SARASOTA, Fla. – The University of Iowa rowing team competed in the Sunshine State Invite on Friday at Nathan Benderson Park.

The Hawkeyes competed in the 1V8, 2V8, 3V8, 1V4, and 2V4 in heats of 1-km sprints. The field consisted of Miami, Louisville, UCF, Michigan State, UNC, Kansas, Kansas State, Jacksonville, UMass, Old Dominion, West Virginia, and Stetson.

Iowa’s top placements of the day came from the 1V8, placing 1st by 1.49 seconds, 3V8, placing 1st by 2.57 seconds, and 2V4, placing 1st by 4.37 seconds. All of Iowa’s boats from today’s competition advanced to the A-4 Finals Saturday morning.

Hawkeyes will return to action tomorrow morning beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CT) to compete in the finals. Fans can watch live at http://rhstv.com or follow along live at https://www.firarowing.org.

Iowa Softball: Adams No Hits the Spartans

Sports

March 29th, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team took game one of the three-game series against Michigan State, 4-0, on Friday evening at Bob Pearl Field.

Sophomore Jalen Adams (8-6) threw the program’s 19th no-hitter as Iowa picked up the win over the Spartans. This was Iowa’s first no-hitter since May 2021. Adams allowed two free passes and struck out two Michigan State hitters in seven innings of work.

UP NEXT

Iowa (15-11, 3-1) returns to action Saturday for game two against Michigan State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required) and broadcast live on the Hawkeye Radio Network.