(Radio Iowa) – While some Iowans’ homes will be visited by a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer tomorrow (Saturday) night, it’s hoped there’s also -not- a visit on Sunday from a fire truck. Andrea Vaspis, public education director for the National Fire Protection Association, says if you’re trying to add some holiday ambience to the room by lighting a few candles, do so with caution.

December is the peak time of year for candle fires and studies find almost three of every five December home fires are started by candles.

Christmas Day is also one of the top three days of the year for home cooking fires, but she says lighting candles may only increase the risk of a disaster.

Christmas tree fires don’t happen often, but when they do, they tend to be serious. An association report finds, on average, one of every 52 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 135 total reported home fires.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iowa Third District Representative Cindy Axne today (Friday), announced that $23,770,522 that will go toward 15 community projects in Iowa’s Third Congressional District was included in the government spending bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Axne submitted her request for funding for the community projects to the House Appropriations Committee in May of 2022 and joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in voting to fund the projects this week.

“These projects I secured for Iowa’s Third Congressional District will deliver money that communities specifically requested in order to help fund homeless youth programs, support workforce development initiatives, open more slots at child care centers, and so much more,” said Rep. Axne. “These projects will help communities in the Third District continue to grow and thrive for years to come and I’m pleased to know this money will do good things for communities and people here in Iowa.”

The 15 projects that will receive funding include (in southwest Iowa):

• $779,025  to help Adams County Economic Development Corporation create an entrepreneurial and incubator center in Corning.
• $1,000,000 to retrofit green stormwater infrastructure practices in Pacific Junction.
• $1,000,000 to construct a child development center in Griswold.
• $2,000,000 to replace a bridge on 250th Street between Evergreen Avenue and G Avenue in Montgomery County.
• $750,000 to revitalize downtown Mount Ayr through surface transportation improvements.

Under guidance issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative could request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for Fiscal Year 2023. Projects were restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible non-profit entities were permitted to receive funding.

AMES, Iowa – Dec. 23, 2022: 3 p.m. – Road conditions have become extremely hazardous in northern portions of the state making travel in some areas impossible.

 Closure of a portion of I-35 near Ames to Clear Lake

The Iowa Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Iowa State Patrol, has closed north- and south-bound I-35 at Exit 111 (U.S. 30) in Ames to Exit 194 (U.S. 18) at Clear Lake.

If you are headed northbound, barriers have been activated at the U.S. 30/I-35N interchange. I-35 travelers must exit at U.S. 30. Traveler services are available at the nearby U.S. 30 exits into Ames.

If you are headed southbound, barriers have been activated at the I-35S/U.S. 18 interchange. Southbound I-35 travelers must exit at U.S. 18. Traveler services are available at the nearby U.S. 18 exits into Clear Lake and Mason City.

 The roadway will remain closed through the overnight hours. Officials will re-evaluate the ability to reopen Saturday morning based on conditions at that time.

Plows being pulled in northern Iowa

Due to the dangerous conditions, Iowa DOT snowplow operations are being suspended in many areas on Iowa and U.S. Highways in northern Iowa and plows will be returning to local maintenance garages before dark. The Iowa DOT has been advised that many counties will begin pulling plows from county roads as well.

Until plowing operations resume, you should expect conditions to worsen quickly into the afternoon and evening, with many roads becoming impassable. Travel is already not advised in large portions of the area.

 At this time, Interstate 29 in Iowa will remain open.

Iowa DOT snowplows will resume plowing operations in areas where plows have been pulled once it is safe to do so.

You are strongly urged to evaluate the need to travel in extreme conditions. Remember, if you become stranded it could quickly become a life-threatening situation, especially in these extreme temperatures. It may be very difficult, if not impossible, for emergency crews to reach you.

 If you must travel, be sure to monitor road conditions and Iowa DOT snow plow cameras at www.511ia.org or on the 511 app and be sure to travel with a full tank of gas and pack a winter survival kit. If you do become stranded, it is safest to remain with your vehicle.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says the national opioid-related settlements a half dozen businesses have agreed to pay must be spent to address the opioid crisis.

Opioid makers and distributors have so far agreed to pay states and local governments around 50 BILLION dollars to settle lawsuits over the marketing and sale of opioids. In 1998, tobacco companies agreed to pay 246 BILLION over 25 years in a national settlement, but much of that money has been spent on initiatives that have nothing to do with smoking.

Miller was among the attorneys general who negotiated the settlement with cigarette makers. He also worked more recently on national settlements with mortgage lenders and the anti-trust case against Microsoft. Miller, who has been Iowa’s attorney general for nearly 40 years, lost his campaign for an 11th term and will be leaving office at the end of the year.

DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday), issued a proclamation to ease restrictions for transportation of and access to fuel used for heat during the extremely frigid temperatures during the blizzard.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through 11:59 p.m. on January 1, 2023. The proclamation suspends the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code pertaining to hours of service for crews and drivers delivering propane, diesel, natural gas, and other fuels used for residential, agricultural, and commercial heating purposes during the duration of the blizzard.

See the proclamation here. 

(Radio Iowa) – Cabin fever may already be setting in with kids home from school for the holiday break, but a developmental psychologist recommends Iowa parents avoid giving them rewards and bribes. Dr. Christi Bergin says if you want your children to have positive social behavior and self-esteem, don’t pay them for being good. Bergin says kids don’t learn to govern their own behavior if they’re given treats.

Bergin says giving a reward or bribe highlights the power you have over the child.

Bergin says if you want your kids to have good social graces, don’t pay them for being good. She says giving your kids an allowance is okay if it’s a specific amount of money each week or month for certain expenses, like gas for a car or their own clothing. She says being compensated for doing routine chores is not a good idea because they need to learn to contribute to a team without always asking “What’s in it for me?”