Newborns are being outfitted with purple hats at hospitals around the state this month. The campaign is part of a national effort to help parents cope with crying babies. Alyssa Hague is an assistant nurse manager at Mercy Medical Center’s Birthplace in Cedar Rapids. “For every baby that’s born, they’re getting a purple knitted hat to try and raise awareness about the ‘period of purple crying’ and reduce the risk of Shaken Baby Syndrome,” Hague says.

Research shows that frustration with a crying infant is the number one trigger for the shaking and abuse of infants. Hague says it’s import for parents and caregivers to realize that a certain amount of crying during the first few weeks and months of life is normal. “It can be frustrating, but they’re not doing anything wrong and their baby isn’t doing anything wrong,” Hague says. Coping with a crying baby can be difficult, so Hague suggests calling on another family member or a neighbor to watch the child if frustration levels are running high.

“If that’s not an option, because you’re alone with your child, then put them in their crib because that’s a safe place,” Hague says. “It’s okay to leave them for 10 minutes, reset your clock a little bit, get yourself in a better frame of mind and go back your baby.” Volunteer knitters and crocheters have donated thousands of purple caps for the campaign. More information about the Period of PURPLE Crying program is available online at: PURPLEcrying.info.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Korean War veterans (or one representative per family of a Korean War veteran) are invited to receive a free hardbound copy of “Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth,” a commemorative gift produced in cooperation with the Republic of Korea and the United States. Published in 2013 by Remember My Service Productions and funded by an alliance of South Korean public and private organizations, this 162-page book honors and remembers those U.S. servicemembers who bravely served during the Korean War. Distribution is limited to 5,000 books, first-come, first-served, one per Iowa Korean War veteran or their family.

Books will be available starting today (Monday) Veterans Day, November 11, at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, 7105 NW 70th Ave., Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa. Museum hours on Veterans Day are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After Veterans Day, books can also be obtained from the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs-contact them at 515-727-3440 to coordinate pick up.

The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum is located on Camp Dodge, 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston, Iowa. Admission is free. Museum hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please use the NW 70th Ave. entrance, which is open 24-hours a day. Photo identification is required for adults to gain admittance to Camp Dodge (a driver’s license is acceptable).

The men and women in Iowa who have served in the military are being honored on this Veterans Day, but making sure vets in the state have the support they need is happening every week of the year. Many veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are finding the move back into civilian life can present barriers, but there is help and it’s year-round, not just on Veterans Day. One hurdle is finding employment, so local employers are being encouraged to hire former soldiers, says retired colonel and Executive Director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Robert King.

King says “They’re experienced. They’re dedicated. They come with leadership that’s been provided by the military. They’re tested, they’re proven. They’ve got job skills in a lot of different areas. They understand teamwork, and they bring with them a family that gets involved in the community. You just can’t ask for more.

King says in Iowa, the gap in unemployment rates between veterans and the general population has now almost fully been closed. Nationally, the unemployment rate for the youngest vets, between ages 18 and 24, is still at about 20-percent. Another issue for some returning soldiers is mental health, and King says there are various options for help for those dealing with anxiety, depression or P-T-S-D.

King says he “Would just encourage service members that have returned and have issues to seek help. There are a number of places in the community where they can get assistance, and I just encourage them to reach out sooner than later.” There are nearly 240-thousand veterans who currently call Iowa home.

(Iowa News Service)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A new memorial stone outside a Waterloo high school football stadium honors the life and service of an Army veteran who died in 2005. Family and friends of Staff Sergeant Eric Steffeney gathered Saturday to dedicate the stone outside West High’s Memorial Stadium. Steffeney graduated from West in 1994 and joined the Army. Steffeney became a bomb disposal technician and was killed near the end of his second tour in Iraq. He was 28 and left behind a wife and three children.

AKRON, Iowa (AP) — Three people are facing charges after the discovery of a stolen car in northwest Iowa. KTIV reports the arrests were made Saturday evening after a stolen car was located in Akron, Iowa.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man is maintaining his innocence in a fatal shooting, but he has pleaded guilty to a gun charge. Authorities say 35-year-old Fernando Jaimes-Martinez pleaded guilty Friday to being a felon in possession of a firearm because he has two Nebraska felony convictions on his record. Jaimes-Martinez faces three to 15 years in prison and deportation. The murder trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Naz Long hit eight 3s en route to a career-high 26 points and Iowa State pounded UNC-Wilmington 95-62 yesterday. Georges Niang had 16 points and DeAndre Kane added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Cyclones, who cruised to their 16th straight win in a home opener.

Authorities say a man wanted on felony charges led police on a two-hour high-speed vehicle chase through Omaha and Council Bluffs Saturday night. The Omaha World-Herald reports the chase began at around 10:30-p.m. in Omaha, after police saw a suspect in a pickup truck and began to follow him. The unnamed suspect pulled into a gas station just after 11-p.m., got out of the pickup and allegedly car jacked a four-door vehicle.

The ensuing chase involved the stolen car driving through backyards and fences, running stoplights and heading into oncoming Interstate 80 traffic. It finally ended in a cul-de-sac with the suspect being taken into custody about 12:20 a.m.  today (Sunday), in a residential area near 108th and Q Streets in Omaha.

The paper says there was a report of shots fired at the scene, but no one was hit. The suspect was treated by rescue crews however, after officers used a stun gun to subdue him.

Authorities in Pottawattamie County say no injuries were reported after a 4-wheeled off-road utility vehicle erupted into flames late Saturday morning, near Oakland. Oakland Fire Chief Brant Miller told the Daily NonPareil the Gator utility task vehicle (UTV) was being used to gather soil sampled in a harvested corn field about seven miles southwest of Oakland, when  it caught on fire at around 11:30-a.m., Saturday. Brant said wind blew the flames into the corn stubble and burned a small area.

The cause of the fire was undetermined, but it’s suspected the UTV either overheated or ignited some corn stubble. Oakland Fire & Rescue was assisted by fire crews from Minden who brought their grass trucks to the scene.