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Some Iowa hospitals resort to mask mandates as flu cases increase

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Flu cases across Iowa are still rising and it’s prompting some hospitals to reinstate a policy from the pandemic era.  The medical director for UnityPoint’s emergency departments in Des Moines, Clint Hawthorne, says they’ve started requiring staff members to wear masks. Even if a patient doesn’t have respiratory symptoms, Hawthorne says the staff is wearing masks. Iowa hospitals reported more than ten-percent of emergency room visits were for the flu in recent days, which is significantly higher than at this time last year.

Officials says you should take care to wash your hands and stay home if you are sick. Dozens of Iowa schools are still reporting absence rates of at least ten percent due to illness.

NWS Extreme Cold Weather statement (5-a.m. 2/19)

News, Weather

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

An Extreme Cold warning has been issued for portions of southwest Iowa tonight. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect elsewhere, today.Both are for dangerously cold Arctic air.

No. 8 Iowa State beats Colorado 79-65

Sports

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State jumped out to an early 15 point lead as the eighth ranked Cyclones beat Colorado 79-65 in Ames. It was their third win over Colorado this season.

That’s Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones had five players in double figures and recorded 19 assists in moving to 11-4 in Big 12 play.

It was a physical game in which the teams combined to commit 45 fouls.

The Cyclones are 21-5 overall.

LIHEAP payments delayed for some

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some payments from the federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP have been delayed. Jean Logan of the Community Action Agency of Siouxland says
they been busy answering questions. “We have been getting a lot of calls. People are concerned because they know that they have qualified for assistance, but there has been a delay in those payments showing up on their Mid American account as a credit,” Logan. Logan says the delay comes from the state.

“Because the state has a new accounting software system, I think that’s caused some anxiety for people that have maybe been qualified for the program for many years,” she says, “and I just want to reassure people you are protected by the moratorium if you qualify for energy assistance. The amount that you are told will be credited to your account.” Logan says they recommend that people talk with the utility company if they are concerned. “If a person would call in and they’re behind on their bill, Mid American will say, we’ll give you 30 days to make an appointment to see whether or not you qualify. They’ve extended that to 60 days they know that we’re running behind. So they really are trying to do everything that they can to help us through this,” she says.

Logan says you can still apply for LIHEAP funding if you are not already signed up. “It’ll run through April 30th. We’re booking appointments to March 6th right now, so we’re behind a little bit. Our staff are working really diligently to try to get that caught up so that there’s not so much of a lag time,” Logan says. Logan says the average grant in her area is 300 to 400 dollars. anyone in the state can contact their area community action agency to sign up.

Bringing a minor to a drag show would be a felony under Iowa bill

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A bill to outlaw minors from being present at drag shows could have wider implications for access to art and transgender rights, opponents of the legislation said Tuesday. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the legislation, House Study Bill 158, moved out of an Iowa House subcommittee, where lawmakers said they expect changes to the bill. Under the current proposal, any adult person who knowingly brings a minor to a drag performance at a business can be charged with a class D felony. The owner or manager of an establishment who knowingly allows minors to attend drag shows could also be charged with a class D felony, and businesses could be fined $10,000 under the bill.

Many speakers advocating against the bill were against this premise — with many drag performers speaking about their experiences in age-appropriate drag shows. Other speakers said the bill’s definition of a “drag show” is far greater in scope than shows at LGBTQ pride events or those like “drag brunch” events.

The bill defines a drag show as a performance where “the main aspect of the performance is a performer who exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer’s gender assigned at birth through the use of clothing, makeup, accessories, or other gender signifiers.” It also opens the definition of a performance to include singing, dancing, as well as reading or other performances “before an audience for entertainment.”

Bill would let county attorneys sue school boards, superintendents to enforce laws

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Civil lawsuits could be brought against school boards and superintendents for not complying with state laws under a bill discussed by a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Senate File 178 proposes allowing a county attorney to bring a civil lawsuit against a school’s superintendent or board of directors if a person residing in the school district believes the school is not complying with state laws. While there is an existing appeals process for schools not complying with state laws conducted through the Iowa Department of Education and other state entities, Shellie Flockhart, a parent, said “it seems you only get so far” using this process.

Flockhart said she is in the midst of a dispute in her home school district in Dallas County for allegedly not following a state law dealing with diversity, equity and inclusion, and that while she has brought up problems with the curriculum, that she has not seen changes despite notifying authorities that the school was not in compliance. She called for the bill to be amended to allow private citizens to bring lawsuits against school leaders instead of going through the local county attorney.

However, education advocates said there is already a process in place to report schools that are violating state laws, and that they believe the handling of these matters should remain with the state. Michelle Johnson with the Iowa Association of School Boards said to their knowledge, no Iowa school boards are adopting policies that conflict with state law — but  there are circumstances where this could occur.

Sen. Doug Campbell, R-Mason City, said the appeals system has been tested repeatedly “with no resolution, no satisfaction to the taxpayer and the parents of our school system” when schools are in violation of state law. Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-Dewitt, said the fact that individuals may have been unsatisfied with the results of their appeals did not mean the system was not functioning.

The bill moved forward to the full Senate Education Committee with Campbell and Sen. Jeff Taylor supporting the measure.

Reynolds says she’ll be running on her record as governor in 2026

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds hasn’t made an official announcement about a campaign in 2026, but she sounds like a candidate for reelection. “I’m running on my record. I’m going to run on what we’ve done for Iowans since we’ve been elected and I’m proud of that record,” Reynolds said. “We’ve gotten a lot done on a short timeline and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to do.” Reynolds, who was elected in 2010 as Governor Terry Branstad’s running mate, became governor in mid-2017 when Branstad resigned and she has been elected to two terms.

On Monday, Republican Brad Sherman, a Williamsburg pastor, announced he plans to run against Reynolds in a G-O-P Primary. During a news conference yesterday (Tuesday), Reynolds was asked about Sherman. “I’ll stand on my bold, conservative record of getting things done,” Reynolds said, “…most of which he probably voted for.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill creating Education Savings Accounts for private school expenses on Jan. 24, 2023. (official photo)

Sherman served in the Iowa House in 2023 and 2024. Sherman endorsed President Trump before the 2024 Iowa Caucuses, while Reynolds endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Reynolds says she has a good working relationship with Trump and while she’d love Trump’s endorsement in 2026, she will run on her own record as governor.

Senate passes video requirement for human growth classes in 4th-12th grade

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would require that schools show an ultrasound as well as a video about fetal development to students in 4th through 12th grades has passed the Iowa Senate. Senator Jeff Taylor, a Republican from Sioux Center, says the video will encourage respect for life, no matter how small. “Whether we are a zygote or then we become an embryo and then we become a fetus, it’s all the same person,” Taylor said. “These are just stages of development that have been given scientific names.”

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner of Iowa City says the bill pushes a political agenda. “It refers to an unborn child. Your religion may teach that a fetus is a child. Mine does not,” Weiner said. “I would hope we could all agree that religion doesn’t belong in the science classroom.” All but one Democrat in the Senate voted against the bill. Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the bill is based on an ideology and local schools should decide what’s appropriate to show in classrooms.

“Communities vary widely across our state in their perspectives and a one-size-fits-all programming does not fit the perspective of all families,” Donahue said. Republican Senator Kevin Alons of Salix says the bill addresses the fundamental question of when life begins. “It kind of boggles my mind to think that it’s somehow political to talk about fetal development from conception on,” Alons said.

Republicans in previous years have proposed similar bills that would have required that schools show a video — titled “Baby Olivia” — that was produced by a group that opposes abortion. This year’s version does not mention a specific video.

Governor confident Iowa can land $150 million in federal funds for medical residencies

News

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State officials say July 1st is the target date to launch a project to train 460 physicians at 14 Iowa hospitals over the next four years. Governor Kim Reynolds is seeking 150-million dollars in federal funding for the initiative. “We know that doctors often decide to practice where they do their residency,” Reynolds said, “which means this truly could be a game-changer for our state.” While the Trump Administration has been focused on budget cutting lately, Reynolds says she feels good about this request for federal funding.

“We’re going to make a strong case for it, for approval. We feel pretty confident,” Reynolds says “The good news is there are a lot of other states that are already doing this…Remember, we’re setting up state dollars to draw down federal dollars, so we have some skin in the game as well.” Shelly Russell, C-E-O of the Mitchell County Regional Health Center — a 25 bed hospital in Osage — is chair-elect of Iowa Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She says the medical residencies are important, particularly in rural Iowa, because hospitals need to more staff.

“Hospitals don’t have the option of closing early if they can’t cover a shift,” she said. “Illnesses, injuries and emergencies happen every day — day and night.” Reynolds has submitted a bill to the Iowa legislature to address medical residencies as well as other health-related issues, like maternal health. She proposes raising the Medicaid reimbursement rate for patients with a complex pregnancy.

“Today Iowa reimbursement doctors and hospitals and physicians at a single, bundled Medicaid rate, regardless of the number of office visits or the risk level of the pregnancy,” Reynolds says, “and that doesn’t really make sense for doctors or mothers.” Reynolds also proposes expanding a state program that currently provides state funding to four hospitals that have become hubs for specialized care. Kevin DeRonde is C-E-O of Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa, one of the regional centers in the program today. Its heart doctors saw 800 new patients in the past eight months and the hospital has become a regional hub for deliveries.

“Mahaska Health has seen a 102% increase in births, with 267 born in 2024. We are on pace to deliver over 400 babies in 2025,” he says. “Our OB-GYN specialists opened and expanded the first ever fertility services clinic in southeast Iowa, providing specialized care for 50 couples.”

The governor’s health care package also would consolidate and double student loan repayment programs for doctors who agree to practice in Iowa.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Wed., Feb. 19, 2025

Weather

February 19th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

Today: **COLD WEATHER ADVISORY until Noon for dangerous wind chills as low as -30** Cloudy w/a slight chance of snow before 8am, then a chance of flurries thru 10am; Gradually becoming mostly sunny. A high near 3. Winds N/NW @ 10-20 mph. Wind chill values as low as -25.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around -20. NW winds 5-10. Wind chill values as low as -30.
Tomorrow: Sunny and cold, with a high near 6. NW winds 5-10. Wind chill values as low as -35.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -17.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 15.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 4.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 2. The Low was -13. Last year on this date (Feb. 19th), the High in Atlantic was 58 and the Low was 17. The Record High was 71, in 2017, and the Record Low was -22 in 1936. Sunrise: 7:09. Sunset: 5:58.