The Delta Dental Foundation of Iowa is again offering grants to schools to replace drinking fountains with stations that have touchless water bottle fillers. Foundation executive director, Suzanne Heckenlaible says there's a continued need for the modern stations as schools adapt to the pandemic. … [Read more...]
Red Cross needs volunteers to make up for pandemic drop
The pandemic has been particularly difficult on non-profit groups that rely on volunteers to operate, and the American Red Cross is asking Iowans for help in order to help other Iowans in need. Emily Holley, spokeswoman for the agency's Nebraska-Iowa region, says people who give freely of their … [Read more...]
Stepped up security at Iowa Capitol amid safety concerns
Local, state, and federal law enforcement officials say they are monitoring potential threats in Iowa leading up to inauguration day. Following the violence at the U.S. Capitol, the FBI has warned of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitols. "Currently we are not seeing any concrete … [Read more...]
Congresswoman Axne favors Biden pandemic relief plan, Hinson not ruling out a ‘yes’
Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, the only Democrat in Iowa's congressional delegation, says she'll "absolutely" vote for the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan President-elect Joe Biden unveiled last night. "The American public needs this more than ever," Axne said this morning, "and … [Read more...]
Drought expected to continue into spring
Much of western Iowa was in drought last year and even with a couple of heavy snowstorms already this winter, the drought is expected to continue at least into spring. Dennis Todey, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says it’s unlikely things will change … [Read more...]
DOT plow crews struggling against blizzard conditions
Hundreds of snowplows are fanned out across the state, doing their best to clear the drifts and keep the roads passable, but some of them are losing the fight in this blizzard. Craig Bargfrede, winter operations administrator for the Iowa Department of Transportation, says the heavy snow and high … [Read more...]
State Patrol not recommending travel in parts of western Iowa
The Iowa State Patrol has issued a "Do Not Travel" advisory for parts of western Iowa -- including Adair, Cass, and Pottawattamie Counties. Trooper Ryan DeVault was working near Exit 60 in Cass County and says, “Travel is absolutely treacherous.” He says they have multiple semis in the ditch and … [Read more...]
Former House Speaker Upmeyer to become Iowa GOP co-chair
The former speaker of the Iowa House who did not seek re-election in 2020 will be helping the Iowa Republican Party to try to win elections statewide in 2022. Party leaders meeting tomorrow plan to elect Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake as the co-chair of the Republican Party of Iowa. "I've been … [Read more...]
Death penalty proposed for specific child murder cases
A bill to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa -- just for those convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering children -- has cleared a subcommittee in the Iowa Senate. Sam Jones, pastor of the Faith Baptist Church in Hudson, spoke in favor of the bill during a hearing yesterday. "What does … [Read more...]
14 days into the new year, how are those resolutions holding up?
We're two weeks into 2021 now and the experts say eight out of ten New Year’s resolutions are broken by the second week in February. One popular vow is to lose weight. Nutritionist Heather Rasmussen says for Iowans who’ve already cheated, that’s perfectly fine but now, get back on course to … [Read more...]