United Group Insurance

KJAN News

KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa,  Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!

New Marshalltown veterans home commandant discusses his background

News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – How do you go from teaching Advanced Events In World History at a charter school in Austin Texas to being Commandant at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown? For Iowa native Matt Peterson, the chance to come back home and, as a retired Marine, work with Veterans was too good for him to pass up. With his Mom from Spencer and his Dad an Army doctor from Red Oak, Peterson, and his parents got to know Joni Ernst. Peterson says the Senator had been trying to find a way to get him back home.  “She had done some heavy lifting to try and get me back to Iowa and it just didn’t work out, so I went to Texas. She stayed on it and was committed to figuring out something I could do here,” Peterson says. “So, when she called and said ‘would you be interested, I said yes and she said, I’ll let the Governor’s office know and they’ll take it from there.”

With two months at I-V-H in his rear-view mirror, Peterson says the staff couldn’t have done a better job in dealing with the COVID. He says they have conducted over 44-thousand tests and have just recently gone above the 50-positive results level. As far as the possibility of a federal mask mandate being issued for long-term care facilities, Peterson says the bottom line is simple. “President Biden has expressed his desires and to leverage his desired outcome, he’s got the federal funding that we depend on…about 40 percent of our budget comes from the federal government and that makes if difficult for us to do anything but comply should that order become law,” he says.

Peterson notes he does not have a health care background, but he has a background in leadership. Among the concepts Peterson is already exploring, making sure more Iowa Veterans are aware of what I-V-H has to offer, having an on-site child care program, adding a canine program for the residents…and installing the biggest flag pole and flag they can find.

Back to in-person school and masks? Some Iowa kids may not be coping well

News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The pandemic’s been rough on some Iowa kids, many of whom are back to in-person classes and wearing masks again. A child psychologist suggests parents and teachers need to keep an eye on the children to see how they’re adjusting. Dr. Jason Horowitz says most kids are better off being with their peers, but that’s not always the case.  Horowitz says, “Kids who may be prone to anxiety particularly in social situations may have difficulty making the transition from what may have been more comfortable for them, doing school at home or doing school virtually.”

There are some warning signs parents can watch for that may indicate the child is having a hard time with the transition. “It comes out in a lot of ways,” he says. “It comes out behaviorally, it may come out in sort of externalized behavior and misbehavior, acting out. For some kids it comes out in the more internalizing way, they become withdrawn or anxious or depressed.” Horowitz says other red flags your child might be having trouble adjusting include new mis-behaviors you haven’t seen before. He says, “Teachers are really good at looking for those kinds of warning signs and I’m sure that they will be doing that.”

He says it’s up to parents and teachers to help kids make the adjustments needed to flourish with their peers.

Axne backs vaccine mandate for federal workers

News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says she supports the president’s vaccine requirements for federal employees and contractors. “I’ve looked at this all along as continuity of government…it’s absolutely what we should do. You know, government should never shut down and government needs to be here to serve the people,” Axne says. “…Same with the military.”

As for forcing larger companies, with more than 100 employees, to ensure workers get vaccinated or tested for Covid regularly if they’re not, Axne says she will defer to the experts. “If OSHA believes that we’ve got an opportunity to keep people safe — and that’s their job, to keep employees safe in the workplace — and they believe there should be a vaccine mandate put in place and so does the CDC, as I’ve done every step of the way I will go with CDC guidelines,” Axne says, “because it’s the right thing to do.”

A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee says President Biden’s executive orders — like the ones on vaccinations — are unconstitutional and taking away the rights of Hawkeye Staters.

Today’s the day Iowa redistricting ‘Plan 1’ is released

News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The big reveal happens later this (Thursday) morning at the Iowa Capitol, as the plan for redrawing congressional and legislative district boundaries gets delivered to lawmakers and released to the public.  Reapportionment happens every 10 years, to adjust for changes in Iowa’s population, so some incumbent legislators may be thrown into the same House or Senate district with another incumbent as boundaries change.

At 10 a.m., the Legislative Services Agency will deliver paper copies of what’s called Plan 1 to the House and Senate. The maps will be posted on the legislature’s website shortly after that.

IKM-Manning School Board Special Meeting tonight at 5:30

News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A Special Meeting of the IKM-Manning School Board will be held 5:30-p.m. today in Manning, at the High School Library. During the meeting, the Board will act on a Resolution “Approving a Revenue Purpose Statement; Ordering an Election on a Revenue Purpose Statement to authorize expenditures from revenue received from the State Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) Fund; Ordering election on the question of levying and imposing a voter approved physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) Tax; and ordering the publication of a notice of election.”

The next Regular meeting of the board is Sept. 22nd at 7-p.m., in the HS Library, in Manning.

On Tuesday, patrons of the IKM-Manning School District failed to approve by a 60% majority, a $19.5-million General Obligation Bond Referendum that would have allowed the district to address a series of facilities needs in both Irwin and Manning. Following the results of the vote, the IKM-Manning officials posted on their social media page, “Unfortunately, we know that our district’s facility needs will not go away. The district and board will now turn our attention to finding an alternative solution to our needs. This work will begin very soon.”

Report details damage to millions of trees by 2020 derecho

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Last year’s powerful derecho damaged or destroyed an estimated seven million trees across Iowa, according to a new report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Nick McGrath, a community disaster recovery coordinator, hired by the DNR and the nonprofit Trees Forever, says diversity is key when Iowans replant trees. “I think this does provide a really sad but unique opportunity to replant for resiliency,” McGrath says. “So, taking a look at what is left after the storm and maybe those species are what we should be focusing on.”

Damaged trees following the derecho. (Trees Forever photo.)

According to the report, derecho damage to the urban tree canopy alone amounts to $20 million a year in lost benefits. McGrath discussed how long it might take to replace what was lost. “I think we could see some real results in 30 to 60 years, maybe, if we start now, but the more we delay, the longer it takes,” McGrath says. “If you think about the trees that we lost, if you want to regrow your 100-year-old oak, it’s going to take 100 years.”

The DNR’s analysis finds the derecho damage to the urban tree canopy alone amounts to 90-million dollars’ worth of lost carbon storage. The August 10th, 2020 storm impacted 27 counties along the Highway 30 corridor, primarily in central and east-central Iowa.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Axne and First Lady Biden tout child care as infrastructure

News

September 16th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – First Lady Jill Biden and Congresswoman Cindy Axne held an event in Ankeny, Wednesday, to tout elements of the $3.5 trillion infrastructure package Democrats are proposing. Jill Biden said it would guarantee access to high quality, child care and free preschool.

“Whether you’re a struggling single parent or a dual income family, the cost of child care can be crushing,” Biden said. “…This is infrastructure and investing in working families is the best way that we are going to recover from this pandemic.”

Axne told reporters America’s roads and bridges need repairs, but she fields far more concerns from Iowans about a lack of child care options. “We’ve got waiting lists over 80 kids strong in Stanton, Iowa — a tiny town, so imagine what some of our larger cities are facing as well, “Axne said. “This is a real problem here.”

The pair mentioned the expanded child tax credit Democrats approved this spring, The infrastructure package House Democrats are proposing would extend it for four more years. Axne told the crowd in Ankeny 80% of Iowa children have parents receiving additional tax relief this week from the now temporary credit.

“And, as the president would say himself: ‘That’s a big deal,’” Axne said and the first lady laughed as the crowd applauded.

The pitch to Iowans from the first lady and Axne comes as the Biden Administration tries to get reluctant Democrats in congress to vote for the infrastructure package. Axne told reporters “first and foremost,” no one knows if the final package will reach $3.5 trillion.

“Secondly, this is over a decade, so this is not spending in one year. Third, it’s about an investment. It’s time we invest in this country…It’s time we do this again,” Axne said. “Our working families need it.”

The Iowa Republican Party’s chairman said Axne and other Democrats should “be worried” about following Biden’s agenda after the GOP candidate for an Iowa House seat won Tuesday’s special election in a swing district in Ankeny.

Two facilities to be presented with 2021 Governor’s Award for Quality Care Care

News

September 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) said Wednesday, two health care facilities will be presented with the Governor’s Award for quality healthcare. In southwest Iowa, DIA Director Larry Johnson, Jr., will present the first 2021 Governor’s Award for Quality Care in a Health Care Facility to Accura HealthCare of Stanton, on Friday, Sept. 17, beginning at 11 a.m. Accompanying Director Johnson will be senior staff from the department’s Health Facilities Division: Administrator Dawn Fisk and Bureau Chief Geri Paul.

Accura HealthCare of Stanton, a 46-bed skilled nursing facility, is located at 213 Halland Avenue in Stanton, Iowa (Montgomery County). Officials said also, the Lake Mills Care Center will receive their award Oct. 8, 2021.

City office candidate filings reported on 9/15/21 (Cass County)

News

September 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports four more filings for various city offices took place, Wednesday. The latest candidates to file their completed nomination papers, and whose names will be on the ballot November 2nd, includes:

For Anita City Council Member: Deanna Andrews

For City Council Member in Cumberland: Matt Dolch

For Lewis City Council Member: Christopher Jahnke

For Massena City Council Member: Doug Venteicher.

Don’t forget: The deadline to submit papers with the proper number of signatures to the Cass County Auditor’s Office, is Thursday, Sept. 16th, at 5:00 p.m.  Once the filing deadline passes, we will populate the entire list of candidates for you on the kjan.com news page. Those candidates’ names will appear on the ballot in your respective city.

Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to Prison for Crop Insurance Fraud

News

September 15th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, Wednesday, said a Council Bluffs man, 55-year-old Andrew J. Fischer, was sentenced September 10th to five months in prison, for False Statements in Connection with Federal Crop Insurance. His term of imprisonment is to be followed by five years of supervised release. Fischer was ordered to pay $399,725 in restitution.

According to court documents, Fischer obtained crop insurance for the crop years 2012, 2014, and 2017 through the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency’s Federal Crop Insurance Program. Fisher then submitted fraudulent insurance claims which resulted in indemnity payments of approximately $399,725 to which he was not entitled. According to court documents, Fischer pleaded guilty to False Statements in Connection with Federal Crop Insurance in May of 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Risk Management Agency Special Investigations investigated the case.