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Ramaswamy to hold Town Hall events this week in southwest Iowa

News

December 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will hold 29 events out of 99 counties in Iowa, this week.  In this area, Ramaswamy will hold Town Hall events this Thursday. Tickets for the events are available through the candidate’s website (shown below).

The schedule is as follows:

  • 9-a.m. at the Guthrie Activity Center at Guthrie Center.
  • 10:30-a.m. in Adair County at the Hotel Greenfield.
  • Noon at the Pizza Ranch in Atlantic.
  • 1:30-p.m. Thursday at Vic’s Main Tap, in Audubon.
  • 3-p.m. at the Buck Snort Restaurant in Harlan.
  • 4:30-p.m. Thursday at The Boneyard, in Logan.
  • And, the Pottawattamie County Town Hall event for Vivek Ramaswamy will be held 6:45-p.m. Thursday, at Barley’s Bar & Grill, in Council Bluffs.

https://events.vivek2024.com/?_gl=1%2A14rkxv6%2A_gcl_au%2AMTk4NjkxMzAzOS4xNzAyMzE5MjUz&_ga=2.252023689.1458380787.1702319254-1114449620.1702319253

Greenfield man sentenced to prison for Violation of probation, re:felony & other charges; Anita man arrested for Probation Violation

News

December 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports 41-year-old Dustin Brian Benge, of Greenfield, was arrested Dec. 8, 2023, at the Adair County Courthouse. Benge was taken into custody for Violation of Probation on the original charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine- 2nd offense; A Class-D felony charge of Dominion/Control of a Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon; and Tampering with a Witness. His probation was revoked, and Benge was ordered to serve a term not to exceed five-years on the Dominion/Control charge, two-years on the Tampering charge, and two-years on the Possession charge. The sentences will be run concurrently. Benge will serve his time at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. He was also ordered to pay fines amount to $2,735 plus a 15% surcharge.

And, 44-year-old Ryan James Cook, of Anita, was arrested December 9th in Adair County, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Cook was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail.

4 Hawkeyes Voted AP All-America

Sports

December 11th, 2023 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Four University of Iowa football student-athletes — junior Cooper DeJean, and seniors Sebastian CastroJay Higgins and Tory Taylor — have been voted All-America by the Associated Press (AP). The announcement was made on Monday by the AP.

DeJean and Taylor are first team honorees by the AP, Higgins is recognized on the second team, while Castro is a third team selection. Iowa has had at least one AP first or second team All-American 10 straight seasons (2014-2023). The AP has been one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sporting News, Football Wristers Association of America).

DeJean was one of top defensive players in the nation before going down with a season-ending injury on Nov. 15. The Odebolt, Iowa, native finished the season with 41 tackles, two TFL, two interceptions and five pass break-ups in 10 games. DeJean did not allow a touchdown pass in 388 snaps in coverage in 2023. As a punt returner, DeJean was one of the nation’s best. He had a 70-yard punt return for a game-winning score against Michigan State and he had a second touchdown return for the game-winning score negated because of an “invalid fair catch signal” against Minnesota. DeJean is second in the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally, averaging 11.5 yards per return.

DeJean is also a first-team All-America honoree by Walter Camp, FWAA, CBS, Sports Illustrated and The Athletic. He was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe and Bronko Nagurski awards and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He was previously named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year last month. DeJean was also a first-team all-conference honoree by the Associated Press and league coaches and media.

Taylor, the 2023 Ray Guy Punter of the Year, broke Iowa’s single season punting yardage record for a third consecutive season. He has an NCAA-best 86 punts for 4,119 yards with his 47.9 average leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally. Thirty-six of his punts have traveled 50+ yards (six punts of 60+), 27 have been fair caught, 30 have been downed inside the 20, 11 inside the 10 and six inside the 5. The Australia native only has six touchbacks and opponents average just 8.8 yards per return. He has 288 punts for 13,297 yards — both school records — and his 46.2 career average will break Jason Baker’s mark come season’s end.

Taylor is also a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, FWAA, CBS (unanimous), The Athletic and Sports Illustrated. Taylor (46.2) will finish his collegiate career breaking the NCAA’s career punting average record; currently held by Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda (42.5). Taylor, who is a two-time FWAA first-team All-America, has averaged 40 or more yards (min. four punts) in an NCAA-best 42 career games. He was named the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media last month.

Higgins has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking up 155 tackles — the most in the Big Ten, the third-most nationally (most by a Power 5 player) and the fourth-most in a single season in school history. The Indianapolis native has led the team in tackles in 11 of 13 games with two 15+ tackle games and nine games with 10 or more stops. He has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is fourth nationally, allowing 13.2 points per game.

Higgins was previously recognized as first-team All-America by FWAA and Sports Illustrated, and a second team honoree by CBS. He is also a first-team All-Big Ten honoree by the Associated Press and league coaches and media.

Castro has been a menace in the CASH position, amassing 61 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack and a team-best three interceptions. The Illinois native had a 30-yard pick six in Iowa’s road win at Iowa State and he had the game-sealing interception in the road win at Wisconsin. Castro was previously honored as a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus.

The No. 17 Hawkeyes will play No. 21 Tennessee on Jan. 1, 2024, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game will start at noon (CT) and will be televised on ABC.

98 Hawkeyes Named Fall Academic All-Big Ten

Sports

December 11th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Ninety-eight University of Iowa student-athletes have been named to the 2023 Big Ten Fall Academic All-Conference team. The list includes student-athletes from men’s cross country (9), women’s cross country (18), field hockey (12), football (39), women’s soccer (14), and volleyball (6).

The Big Ten Conference recognized 1,573 fall sports athletes. The list includes 139 field hockey players, 586 football players, 132 men’s and 219 women’s cross-country runners, 133 men’s and 242 women’s soccer student-athletes and 124 volleyball players.

Among the fall Academic All-Big Ten honorees, 68 had unblemished GPAs, including seven Hawkeyes.  The group included cross country’s Lillian Schmidt and Kelli Tosic, field hockey’s Harper Dunne, women’s soccer’s Samantha Cary, Halle Skibo and Camille Welker and volleyball’s Anna Davis.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team, as verified by being on the official squad list as of November 1 for fall sports, who have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

For the full list, click the link here: https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2023/12/11/98-hawkeyes-named-fall-academic-all-big-ten/

Gov. Reynolds Extends Harvest Proclamation  

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation, issued today (Monday, 12/11/23) is effective immediately and continues through January 11, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation. 

 

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges. 

 

See the proclamation here. 

Senate GOP aims to eliminate state income tax

News

December 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has said her goal is to get rid of the state income tax by the end of her current term, which would be December of 2026. A bill that cleared an Iowa Senate committee last spring suggested elimination of the state income tax could be accomplished in the next decade. “The Senate Republican goal has always been to eliminate the income tax in a responsible and thoughtful manner,” Republican Senator Dan Dawson says. “and that is the pathway that we are going down this next session.”

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver (on left) and Senate Ways and Means chairman Dan Dawson. (RI file photo)

Dawson, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, says he’s looking forward to seeing the tax plan Governor Reynolds is set to unveil in January. Under current law, the state’s personal income tax will become a flat three-point-nine percent by 2026, but Republican leaders say the state is still taking in far more tax dollars than needed to run the government.

Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum says the focus of tax cutting should be on helping working families and elderly Iowans. “Not on the wealthy and the big corporations who have quite frankly benefitted from this series of tax cuts we’ve seen in recent years,” Jochum says. Jochum and Dawson made their comments at a forum sponsored by the Iowa Taxpayers Association. The 2024 Iowa legislative session begins Monday, January 8.

CAM Basketball sees Success with Spreading out Scoring

Sports

December 11th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

The 1-2 CAM Cougars basketball team have had a slow start to the year, losing their first two games of the year to Coon Rapids-Bayard 56-48 and Woodbine 69-51. Now, the Cougars are coming off a 65-54 win against West Harrison last Friday. Where Head Coach Ian Hunt enjoyed the high amount of ball movement and scoring production from his squad.

Four CAM players reached double digits in scoring with the win against the Hawkeyes. Ryan Bower had 18 points, Chase Spieker had 12, Collin Bower 15, and Chase Jahde with 16.

The leading scorer for the Cougars is Jahde who has gathered 46 points through three games and averaging just over 15 per game. Coach Hunt has been impressed with the various ways that Jahde has been able to score, not limiting himself to just one style of play.

Even with Jahde being the leading scorer on the team, the Cougars do a nice job of sharing scoring opportunities and playing selfless basketball. Everybody in the starting lineup has the opportunity to score. Chase Spieker has 26 points and Colin Bower has totaled 35.

The mentality of consistently passing and waiting for open looks has been a focus for Coach Hunt beginning in the offseason. He believes it is one of the reasons why CAM plays such balanced basketball.

The Cougars have two games this week. One Tuesday night at Boyer Valley and the other at home on Friday against Paton-Churdan. Coach Hunt hopes that his team can jump out to an early lead and control the tempo in both games.

KJAN will bring you the coverage of Tuesday night’s contest with the pregame show beginning at 7:20 p.m.

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Nebraska man arrested on drug charges Sunday, in Glenwood

News

December 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) –  Police in Glenwood report a man from Nebraska was arrested Sunday, on drug charges. Authorities say 39-year-old Cody Heanue, of Cedar Bluffs, NE, was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance and possession drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300 cash or surety. Heanue posted bond, and was released.

Western IA woman charged in Kinnick Stadium protest incident

News

December 11th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

Police in Iowa City arrested nine people, including a woman from Pottawattamie County,  for allegedly bolting themselves to a door at Kinnick Stadium, preventing university staff from entering on Saturday, KCRG reports. In criminal complaints, police said the group was protesting at around 4:30 p.m. when they chained themselves to an entrance door using U-bolts and shouted abusive language at police and university staff. Police said they had to use bolt cutters to cut the protesters free of the door. They then had to lift the protesters off the ground and take them to police vehicles after they allegedly refused to comply. Police said the group caused more than $200 in damage during the protest.

The following people were charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct and interference with official acts for the incident:

  • Anthony Allou, 19, of Coralville
  • Ariele Andalon, 27, of Iowa City
  • Miriam Daoud, 22, of Cedar Rapids
  • Ella Doolittle, 22, of Council Bluffs
  • Jared Kula, 22, of North Liberty
  • Brian Nilles, 23, of Ashton
  • Clara Reynen, 26, of Iowa City
  • Cassidy Slater-Scott, 24, of Iowa City
  • Gabriel Sperry, 26, of Iowa City

Police did not confirm what the group was protesting.

3 Hawkeyes Honored As First-Team All-America

Sports

December 11th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three University of Iowa football student-athletes — junior Cooper DeJean and seniors Jay Higgins and Tory Taylor — have been voted first-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The announcement was made on Monday by the FWAA.

  • Iowa is the only school in the country to have three first team All-Americans by FWAA in 2023.
  • The Hawkeyes have had a FWAA All-American (first or second team) 11 straight seasons, dating back to 2013.
  • Iowa has had eight FWAA All-Americans the last three seasons, second only to Georgia (9).
  • The Hawkeyes have had a special teams All-American three of the last five seasons.
  • Iowa has had multiple FWAA All-Americans each of the last five seasons (2019-23).
The FWAA is one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sporting News, Associated Press). DeJean and Taylor were recognized as first-team All-Americans last week, while Higgins was a second team honoree by Walter Camp.

IOWA — FWAA ALL-AMERICAN STREAK

2013: OL Brandon Scherff (second)

2014: OL Brandon Scherff (first)

2015: DB Desmond King (first)

2016: DB Desmond King (second)

2017: DB Josh Jackson (first); LB Josey Jewell (first)

2018: TE T.J. Hocksenson (second)

2019: PK Keith Duncan (first); OL Tristan Wifs (first)

2020: DL Daviyon Nixon (first); C Tyler Linderbaum (second)

2021: C Tyler Linderbaum (first); LB Jack Campbell (second)

2022: LB Jack Campbell (first); P Tory Taylor (first)

2023: DB Cooper DeJean (first); LB Jay Higgins (first); P Tory Taylor (first)

2023 IOWA POSTSEASON NATIONAL HONORS

SEBASTIAN CASTRO: Pro Football Focus (first-team All-America) 

COOPER DEJEAN: Walter Camp, FWAA, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, CBS (first-team All-America)

JAY HIGGINS: FWAA, Sports Illustrated (first-team All-America); CBS (second-team All-America)

PHIL PARKER: Broyles Award

TORY TAYLOR: Walter Camp, FWAA, The Athletic, CBS, Pro Football Focus, Sports Illustrated (first-team All-America); Ray Guy Punter of the Year Award

The No. 17 Hawkeyes will play No. 21 Tennessee on Jan. 1, 2024, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game will start at noon (CT) and will be televised on ABC.