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!

Iowa Climate Statement: We need to bolster electric grid to prep for extreme weather

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa needs targeted investments to strengthen and expand its electrical grid to prepare for extreme weather events brought on by climate change. That’s the recommendation from the latest Iowa Climate Statement being released by a coalition of more than 200 researchers. Iowa State University engineering professor Jim McCalley says the extensive power outages from last year’s derecho showed clear vulnerabilities in the state’s infrastructure.  “We need to reduce impact and increase speed of restoration and recovery during extreme events,” McCalley says. “This requires diversification in the ways that we supply power. It means, for example, deploying microgrids for loads providing critical services such as hospitals and grocery stores.”

Utility companies should be making investments now, he says, to bolster Iowa’s electric grid.  McCalley says, “The future is going to bring winds, extreme temperature evens, floods and droughts at a frequency and severity exceeding conditions for which much of this equipment was designed.” Fortifying the grid will also allow for more wind and solar development, which McCalley says is key to zeroing out emissions.  “The transmission capacity that we currently have is insufficient to build out the resources that we need to hit zero carbon,” McCalley says. “That’s not an opinion. It’s a fact.”

The authors of the Climate Statement are calling on residents and regulators to push utilities to make the investments.

On the web at https://iowaenvironmentalfocus.org/iowa-climate-statement/

(reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 10/14/21

News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Wednesday evening. Authorities say 37-year-old Shanna Marie Black, of Omaha, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. Black was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. 39-year-old Dustin Lee Harriman, of Council Bluffs, was also arrested at the Pott. County Jail. He was taken into custody on two counts Violation of Probation. Bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $10,000.

And, 51-year-old John David Stone, of Braddyville, was arrested on I-29 Wednesday evening. He was charged with Driving While Barred, and held on a $2,000 bond.

Cass Health Main Entrance Reopens on Monday

News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) — The construction at Cass Health, in Atlantic, will reach an important milestone on Monday, October 18th: the Main Entrance and Parking Lot A will reopen to patients and visitors after being closed since June. Cass Health Chief Financial Officer Abbey Stangl says “We are so appreciative of the community’s patience with the construction project, and we are all happy to have the Main Entrance reopened.”

The new Registration bays will be open in the atrium, and staff will be ready to assist patients with checking in for their appointments, and the valet service will also shift back to the Main Entrance. Stangl says “We anticipate that the new portion of the Atlantic Medical Center will open in January, at which time the construction zone will flip-flop, and we’ll be able to begin on the second half of the clinic.”

Construction is expected to last through 2022. Beyond the work within Atlantic Medical Center, construction will continue in the gift shop, coffee shop, Specialty Clinic, and cafeteria.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 10/14/21

News, Podcasts

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

More area News from Ric Hanson.

Play

Pickup reported missing from Creston

News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say a man residing in the 200 block of Cottonwood Road, informed Police at around 10:15-p.m. Wednesday, that his pickup truck was missing. The orange/copper 1981 Chevrolet K20 pickup was parked outside Supreme Cleaners between 6-p.m. and 10:11-p.m., Wednesday. The loss was estimated at $3,000.

(Podcast) KJAN morning News, 10/14/21

News, Podcasts

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Local & area News from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Cong Hinson blasts Democrat spending plan

News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa First District Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, voted against raising the debt limit in the House Tuesday. “We are hearing the Democrats in Washington D-C talking about cutting a trillion or two from a multitrillion-dollar social spending spree like they should get a pat on the back for that for being fiscally responsible,” Hinson says. ” And I think it is very clear to Iowans that these are not nickles and dimes — we are dealing in trillions of dollars here. And the Democrats have forgotten how many zeros are in trillions.”

Hinson says her vote sends a message on Democrat spending. “It is critical of course, that we do not default on our debt. But it is equally important that we don’t let democrats spend as much as they want on whatever they want to. Or to signal to them that we will give them a pathway to do that in the future,” she says.

A proposal to have banks track accounts with 600 dollars or more in them is part of the Democrats’ spending proposal. Hinson is not in favor of the idea. “It’s a completely invasive policy, we heard Speaker Pelosi acknowledge that for the first time,” Hinson says.

The Biden Administration says the proposal is designed to find people who are NOT paying taxes they owe. “I can tell you loud and clear Iowans do not want the I-R-S to monitor when they are paying their bills or making a big grocery store run. I think about families making a big trip to Costco or HyVee and stocking up. Why does the government need to know that? That’s exactly why I have been leading the charge against this in Washington D-C with my legislation, the Protecting Financial Privacy Act,” according to Hinson.

Hinson says the proposal is a way to expand the size of the I-R-S. “We need more border patrol agents — not more I-R-S agents right now,” Hinson says.

Her comments came during her weekly conference call with reporters.

USDA to launch new insurance program for farmers who sell locally

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is rolling out a new insurance option designed for producers with small farms who sell locally. It’s called the Micro Farm Policy and it simplifies record-keeping and covers post-production costs like washing and value-added programs. Iowa Farmers Union president Aaron Lehman (LAY-mun) sees this as a great option for beginning and small-to-medium-sized farmers. “For that type of farmer, there tends to be a lack of support mechanisms that are in place for more traditional farmers,” Lehman says, “and it’s a big barrier for our next generation of farmers and our farmers who want to connect with their local communities through growing local and regional food.”

Lehman says the Micro Farm Policy promises to fit well with producers who are looking to grow their operations in new directions. “It’s not just those who are new to farming,” Lehman says. “It’s for farmers who want to diversify their farm operation and branch into different operations. A modified whole-farm policy that is more accessible, is certainly a big part of it.” Lehman says a wide range of Iowa farmers can use this type of insurance program. “We have a lot of farmers who need the enhanced services that this might provide,” he says, “so we’ll see how the roll-out goes and how it comes from here.”

The Micro Farm Policy will be available beginning with the 2022 crop year through Whole Farm Revenue Protection.

Charges pending against alleged car jacking suspect in Council Bluffs

News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs say charges are currently pending against a man described as being a transient, following a car-jacking incident Wednesday night. Authorities report that at around 8:23 pm, officers responded to a carjacking in the area of North 16th street and Avenue G. It was reported that the incident began as an accident, in which the offender’s vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle from behind.

The male victim exited the vehicle to see the damage and the offender jumped in the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle driving away. The victim’s wife was in the passenger seat and fell out of the vehicle onto the roadway sustaining serious injury. The alleged suspect, 33-year-old Zachary White,  drove west towards Omaha and causing several accidents along the way. White was stopped by officers from Council Bluffs PD and the Iowa State Patrol using a PIT maneuver on the Iowa side of the I‐480 Bridge.

White was taken to UNMC for injuries he sustained during this incident of the accidents and carjacking. Police says White  will be charged with Robbery. Additional charges are pending at this time. The incident remains under investigation.

Shelby County Sheriff’s report, 10/14/21

News

October 14th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests from the past couple of weeks. Most recently:

On Tuesday (10/12),  53-year-old Tina Marie Hilts, of Logan, was arrested following a call for a vehicle fire in the ditch along the 500 block of Dogwood Road.  Upon arrival and further investigation, it was determined that Hilts would be taken into custody and charged with operating while intoxicated 1st offense, child endangerment, and reckless driving.  Hilt was transferred to the jail for further testing and then released over to jail staff without further incident where she was held pending appearance before the magistrate the following morning.  Hilts was seen and bond set at $2000 cash or surety, and she was released later in the evening after posting the required bond.

On Monday (10/11):  38-year-old Shane Michael Givehand, of Omaha, was taken into custody on a statewide warrant for failure to appear on original charge of forgery in Pottawattamie District Court.    Givehand was able to post the required cash bond and released from custody and given a future court date to appear.

Sunday, Oct. 10th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 23-year-old Alex Michael Petersen, of Avoca, following a traffic stop along Highway 59 in Shelby County.   Petersen who had been stopped for traffic violations and upon further investigation was taken into custody and charged with Operation while intoxicated 1st offense, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, and operating a non-registered vehicle.   Petersen was taken to the jail without incident and held under a $1000 cash or surety bond, and then released under his own recognizance the following morning.

On Oct. 6th: 26-year-old Samantha Marie Swanson, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody by the Iowa State Patrol following a traffic stop in Shelby County.   Swanson driving privileges through the State of Iowa are barred, therefore she taken into custody and charged with Driving while barred habitual offender, improper use of registration, and no proof of insurance.   Swanson was released later that afternoon after posting the required surety bond.

And, on Oct. 1st:  30-year-old Kaleigh Marie Turner was taken into custody following a traffic stop and charged with driving under suspension.   Turner was processed into the Shelby County jail without incident and released a short time later after posting the required cash bond.