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Bill bans building code restrictions on home siding

News

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa legislature have voted to prevent city and county building codes that restrict what kind of siding can be used on the outside of homes. Senator Janice Weiner, a Democrat from Iowa City, says it’s a bill that benefits the vinyl siding industry.

“I don’t understand why we are voting on a bill that supports one particular industry,” Weiner says. “…This takes away local control to regular local design standards. Vinyl also happens to be very flammable.” Senator Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf who works in construction, responded.

“It’s not about vinyl siding because a city could easily tell you you can’t put brick in particular areas, you couldn’t use aluminum siding in particular areas, you’ve got to paint your house a certain color in certain areas,” Webster said. “This is telling cities and counties that the ultimate local control is the home buyer and the home owner.”

If the governor signs the bill into law, there could be exceptions for cities that have building code requirements for the outside of homes that are in historic districts or homes in special purpose zones.

Iowa women beat LSU to return to the Final Four

Sports

April 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Hawkeye women are headed back to the Final Four. Here’s the call from Rob Brooks and Tiffany Reedy on the Hawkeye Network:

Caitlin Clark poured in 41 points and added 12 assists as the Hawkeyes beat LSU 94-87, avenging a loss to the Tigers in last year’s national championship game.

With the game tied at 45 at halftime the Hawkeyes took control by outscoring LSU 24-13 in the third quarter. It will be Iowa’s third trip to the Final Four in program history.

Clark says last year’s loss to LSU was never mentioned leading up to Monday night.

Clark tied an NCAA Tournament record with nine three pointers.

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder says a good start to the third quarter was a key.

Bluder says Clark took the game over in the third quarter.[

Bluder on returning to the Final Four for the second straight season.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey on trying to slow down Clark.

Mulkey on the much anticipated rematch of last year’s title game.

LSU forward Angel Reese finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out in the final quarter.

The Hawkeyes are 33-4 and will play UConn in the national semifinals Friday night in Cleveland. UConn pulled away late to beat USC 80-73.

Nodaway Valley Girls Golf preview

Sports

April 1st, 2024 by admin

Nodaway Valley Wolverines girls season is off to flying start. They have been preparing for their first meet of the year. The Wolverines are coached by Julie Hartman.

Coach Hartman said that some juniors from last years team did well and she is looking forward to see what they can do this season.

Coach Hartman says that two of her athletes worked very hard during the offseason.

Coach Hartman talked about what the Wolverines have been working on in practice.

Coach Hartman elaborated on what her goals and expectations are for the squad this year.

The Wolverines next golf meet will be on Monday April 8th at the Mt. Ayr Golf & Country Club, as they will take on Martensdale-St. Marys, Mount Ayr and Southeast Warren in a Quad Meet. That meet will start at 4:00 p.m.

 

High School Soccer Results Monday April 1st

Sports

April 1st, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Boys Scores

St. Albert 6, Harlan Community 1
Glenwood 9, Atlantic 1
West Central Valley 7, AHSTW 0
Treynor 4, Tri-Center 0

Girls Scores

West Central Valley 11, AHSTW 1
Council Bluffs Jefferson 10, Riverside 0
Underwood 9, Missouri Valley 0
Treynor 2, Tri-Center 0
ADM 10, Perry 0

Bill requires insurance coverage for MRIs to screen for breast cancer

News

April 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Legislature has unanimously voted to require that insurance plans cover diagnostic tests like M-R-Is and ultrasounds that are used to detect breast cancer. Senator Cherilynn Westrich, of Ottumwa, says a mammogram alone may not be appropriate for patients who’ve had cancer or have a history of breast cancer in their family.

“An MRI is one of the most effective tools around for finding these breast tumors,” she says, “even those in dense breast tissue which is notoriously hard to image.” According to the National Science Institute, about 10 percent of women have dense breast tissue. Westrich says she’s heard about many women who had standard mammograms regularly, but but the mammograms did not detect their tumors in the early stages of the disease.

“If it had been caught in early stages it would not have been a an issue or a smaller issue for them, but now many of them are facing consequences — and many of them are facing death,” Westrich said.

Under current federal law, insurers are only required to cover the costs of an annual mammogram. In 2017, legislators in Iowa passed a law requiring mammogram notification letters to let patients know if the test shows they have dense breast tissue and other testing might be needed.

Mills County Sheriff’s report (4/1/24): Separate drug & assault arrests on Friday

News

April 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate charges last Friday. 41-year-old Richard Steven Kraft, of Omaha, NE., was arrested on two counts Possession of Controlled Substance and possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His arrest followed a traffic stop on I-29 at around 5:45-a.m.  Bond was set at $2,300.

And, at around 10-p.m., Friday, Mills County Deputies arrested 50-year-old Dustin Clark Anglen, of Malvern, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Anglen was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Adams Named B1G Co-Pitcher of the Week

Sports

April 1st, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Sophomore pitcher Jalen Adams has been named Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the week, it was announced Monday. The honor is the first Big Ten weekly honor of her career. She shares the award with Courtney Wyche from Maryland.

The Fort Dodge, Iowa, native picked up two complete game shutout victories in the series win over Michigan State. Adams threw her first career no-hitter on Friday, the 19th no-hitter in program history. She allowed just two baserunners and had two strikeouts in the, 4-0, victory. This is the first seven inning no-hitter for the Hawkeyes since the 2015 season when Shayla Starkenburg no hit Southern Utah on Feb. 7th.

In game two of Saturday’s doubleheader the sophomore went the distance again allowing no runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Adams held Spartan hitters to a .152 batting average against on the weekend. She lowered her season ERA to 1.96 in 103 2/3 innings pitched.

The Hawkeyes return to action on Friday as they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. for their first Big Ten road series at Purdue. First pitch at Bittinger Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.

State received $46 million worth of vaccines from federal govt. in last fiscal year

News

April 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A report from State Auditor Rob Sand shows the State of Iowa spent nearly 12 BILLION dollars in FEDERAL funds the last fiscal year.

About six percent of that federal money was related to pandemic era spending. Some of it came from the CARES Act President Trump signed in 2020 and some from the American Rescue Plan Act that President Biden signed in 2021. The report covers the period from July 1st of 2022 through June 30th of 2023. It shows the State of Iowa received 46-MILLION dollars worth of vaccines during that 12 month period.

While the state gets money from 345 federal programs — about half of all federal funds sent to the State of Iowa in the last fiscal year were spent on Medicaid and food assistance programs which are administered by states.

March sees above normal precipitation

News, Weather

April 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Climatologist Justin Glisan says March saw a turnaround after what was the third-driest February on record. “A statewide average of about a half an inch above normal, so definitely good rain totals across much of the state, particularly in Western Iowa where we sell anywhere from 200 to 300 percent of normal,” Glisan says. Glisan says the March precipitation helped some in battling what has been 196 days of moderate drought being reported somewhere in the state.

“So seeing increased rainfall and some snowfall in March really helped improve soil moisture conditions,” he says. “And we did see a one category improvement in the previous Drought Monitor map last week for western Iowa. So, seeing good, good outcomes out there with the wetter conditions we’ve been seeing.” Temperatures in March were also a little above normal.

State Climatologist Justin Glisan (Official photo from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship photo.)

On the temperature side about four-point-six (4.6) degrees above average, with an average temperature of 41 degrees,” Glisan says. He says the current outlook shows some good chances for April showers. “A very strong signal for warmer temperatures getting into the middle of April along with an elevated signal for wetter conditions, which meshes well with the overall temperature and precipitation outlooks for April with higher chances of warmer temperatures and then elevated signal for wetter conditions across much of the state,” Glisan says.

80/35 festival makes a move, will allow Hinterland-style camping

News

April 1st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A popular summer concert series in central Iowa is changing its venue. Andy TeBockhorst, the interim executive director of the Des Moines Music Coalition, says the 80/35 Music Festival has been held the past 14 years in the Western Gateway area of the capitol city’s downtown, but it will move to Water Works Park this July 12th and 13th.

“We’ve already seen Water Works Park be established as a premier concert venue for central Iowa, and moving the festival there does a number of things for us,” TeBockhorst says. “It opens up opportunities for additional activities, additional stages. We’re going to have stuff going on all over the park.”

The 1,500-acre Water Works Park is enormous, almost twice the size of New York’s Central Park. Another change in 80/35 this summer will be the addition of overnight camping, mirroring the Hinterland Music Festival, which is scheduled for August in Saint Charles.

“We’re learning from them and we’re partnered with them and we think it’ll be a big thing,” TeBockhorst says. “It’s just an opportunity for people to get really, fully immersed in the experience.”

The festival will feature a main stage in the paid area, and free stages for anyone to attend. In past years, 80/35 has drawn crowds of 25- to 30,000 for the music, art and culture, and he’s hoping the new venue will allow it to grow even larger.

“We’re just hoping that this is an all-new experience. This is a premier event for central Iowa and it’s one of the largest nonprofit festivals in the country,” TeBockhorst says. “It’s the only nonprofit one in Iowa and we just think it’s a really important thing for central Iowa and we can’t wait to have people come back.”

The lineup will be announced on April 12th and TeBockhorst says it will include local, regional and national bands and artists across several genres, including multi-Grammy-winning headliners each night. The theme for this year’s 80/35 is, “Some Call It Sorcery, We Call It Music.”