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State spending millions to buy industrial property in Des Moines

News

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State officials have approved the purchase of an industrial property about two miles northwest of the Iowa Capitol, to consolidate Iowa Department of Public Safety facilities. Once the two building complex is occupied, two district offices for the Iowa State Patrol in Des Moines will be closed. A vehicle storage facility, a warehouse for supplies and the shop where squad cars are put together will also be relocated to the new site.

Governor Kim Reynolds and other statewide elected officials who serve on the state’s Executive Council approved spending 10-point-eight MILLION dollars to buy the centrally located property. This is one of several moves over the past few years that are changing the footprint of state government operations in Iowa’s Capital City.

Last August the Executive Council spent 21 MILLION dollars to buy a two-story office building on the south side of Des Moines — for staff from two state agencies who’ve been working in the Wallace Building across the street from the statehouse. In 2019, the state acquired an office building near the Des Moines Airport and it’s where the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority are located.

This spring, the Iowa legislature approved spending five MILLION dollars to complete renovations of the Lucas State Office Building, which is directly east of the Iowa Capitol. The 45-hundred employees of the Department of Health and Human Services will work in the building once that project’s done. In 2011, the Iowa Utilities Board moved into a new building constructed on the southeast side of the Capitol Complex. And, in 2007, a restored building to the southwest of the Iowa Capitol became the headquarters of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Gov. Reynolds appoints Jeffrey McDaniel as District Judge 

News

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced her appointment of Jeffrey McDaniel as a district judge in Judicial District 7.  

McDaniel, of Bettendorf, Iowa, serves as shareholder and president of Brooks Law Firm, P.C. He received his undergraduate degree and law degree from the University of Iowa. 

McDaniel fills a vacancy created following the retirement of the Hon. John D. Telleen. Judicial District 7 includes Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine, and Scott counties. 

Road closure at the Pottawattamie County Road L-55 bridge over I-80 (exit 23) in Neola scheduled for Monday, July 1

News

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – June 12, 2024 – If you travel on the Pottawattamie County Road L-55 bridge over Interstate 80 in Neola you should be aware of an upcoming road closure that may slow down your trip.

The Iowa DOT’s Council Bluffs construction office announces that both directions of Pottawattamie County Road L-55 at I-80 (exit 23) will be closed on Monday, July 1, weather permitting, so crews work on repairs to the bridge approach and guardrails.

If you are traveling on southbound Pottawattamie County Road L-55 you will be detoured around the work zone using eastbound I-80, westbound I-880, and Railroad Highway.

If you are traveling on northbound Pottawattamie County Road L-55 you will follow a marked detour route using westbound I-80, Magnolia Road, and eastbound I-80.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

NASCAR driver Austin Dillon previews the Iowa Corn 350

Sports

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

NASCAR veteran Austin Dillon says Friday’s practice session will be crucial leading into Sunday night’s Iowa Corn 350. After crashing out early in last week’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 in Sonoma, California, Dillon’s car will be the first one to make a qualifying run Saturday afternoon at the Iowa Speedway.

Cup Series cars will have 50 minutes of practice time on Friday afternoon and based on that will set the car up for a qualifying run.

The 2018 Daytona 500 champ has had a lot of success at the Iowa Speedway over the years. He won a truck race in 2010 and finished second a year later. He also has three top five finishes in six Xfinity Series starts.

Dillon says he was excited to see the Iowa Speedway added to the Cup Series schedule.

It will be the first Cup Series race at the Iowa Speedway but Dillon is one of 19 drivers expected to be in the field who have won a race at the track.

The first of three days of action on Friday is capped off by an ARCA/Menard Series race.

Former Iowa State All-American prepares for his third season in the NFL

Sports

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Former Iowa State All-American Breece Hall hopes to become one of the top running backs in the NFL as he prepares for his third season in the NFL with the New York Jets. Hall suffered a season ending ACL injury as a rookie in 2022 and last season finished with nearly 16-hundred yards of rushing and receiving. He averaged 119 yards or rushing and scored four touchdowns in the final three games of the season.

With quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming back from injury and an upgraded offensive line Hall feels the offense has the weapons needed for him to become one of the top running backs in the league.

Hall had 76 receptions last season but feels he can be even a bigger receiving threat out of the backfield.

Rodgers was a no-show at Jet’s mini-camp this week.

SW IA man cited following a collision in Union County

News

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – The driver of 2007 Ford Mustang was cited following a non-injury accident Tuesday afternoon, in Union County. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the car, driven by 41-year-old Christopher David Zimmerman, of Clearfield, was traveling east on Highway 34 at around 1:20-p.m., when Zimmerman tried to pass multiple vehicles at one time. The attempt started in a legal passing zone, but ended-up in a no passing zone at the crest of the road.

Zimmerman saw a 2018 Ford Transit van approaching from the west, and tried to evade a collision by traveling toward the north shoulder of the road. The driver of the van, 28-year-old Sean Ray Hodges, of Carlisle, also took evasive action toward the same shoulder at the same time. The reaction of both drivers resulted in the vehicles colliding before they came to rest in the north ditch.

Union County Sheriff’s Deputies cited Zimmerman for Unsafe Passing. Damage from the accident amounted to $10,000.

The Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council is planning the Free Family Fun Day at The Cass County Fair

News

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee says the Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council and Healthy Cass Coalition are currently planning the Family Fun Day at the Cass County Fair. The event will be held July 27th from noon until 4-p.m., at the Cass County Fairgrounds. The event is meant to encourage families to visit the Cass County Fair, by hosting fun activities for the entire family. In past years, booths have included Water Fights, Yard Games, a Duck Pond, a Book Walk, and more.

Mark your calendar for July 27th for this free family fun event. If your community organization would be interested in hosting a free activity booth at Family Fun Day, please get in touch with Grace McAfee by Tuesday, June 25th, at mcage@casshealth.org or 712-250-8170.

Getting ready for the Free Family Fun day, 2024

Southern Iowa man killed in a Ringgold County crash

News

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Kellerton, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) morning in Ringgold County claimed the life of a man from Lucas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2015 Chevy Express 3500 van driven by 34-year-old James Cody Sage, of Lucas, was traveling east on Highway 2 west of Kellerton at around 4-a.m., when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the south ditch before striking a tree. James Sage was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office.

ROBERT “Bob” STRAKA, 76, of Atlantic (Graveside Svcs. 6/27/24)

Obituaries

June 12th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT “Bob” STRAKA, 76, of Atlantic, died October 19, 2023, at Atlantic Specialty Care. A Celebration of Life Graveside service for BOB STRAKA will be held at 11-a.m. Thursday, June 27, 2024, in the Brighton Township Cemetery, north of Marne.  Immediately following the service, a time of lunch and fellowship will be held at Roland Funeral Home, in Atlantic.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Heartbeat Today 6-12-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

June 12th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Julie Murren who is directing the Andrew Lloyd Webber presentation “School of Rock – The Musical” at the Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak.  The two-week run includes evening shows on Friday June 14 & 21 and Saturday June 15 & 22 at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees on June 16 & 23 at 2:30 pm.

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