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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!
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrives in warm water and typically spreads through contaminated mist. It is not spread person to person. Untreated, Legionnaires’ disease can be deadly, and symptoms include shortness of breath, headaches, chest pain and more. An outbreak this summer in New York led to seven deaths and 114 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
(Radio Iowa) – The percentage of people who return to prison in Iowa after being released is the lowest it’s been in the last decade. About a third of people paroled in the past three years have ended up back to prison. The Iowa Department of Corrections says that’s a three percent decrease from last year and it means fewer people are committing new crimes or violating the terms of their supervised parole.
Shannon Magnuson is the lead researcher for a study on Iowa parole by the nonprofit Justice Systems Partners. She says fewer returns could mean Iowa is better preparing people to re-enter the community when they’re paroled. “If you’re seeing a rise of people staying longer in prison and then returning less, then we must be functionally doing something different in prison, or while people are under supervision, that’s keeping them from coming back,” she says.
Beyond regular check-ins with a parole officer, people recently released from prison may have to show they’re employed or have somewhere to live. Magnuson says her research shows there was a 25 percent decrease in people returning to prison in the judicial district that includes central Iowa when the department relaxed those rules. “What we’re seeing in the fifth district was that when we gave people time to tackle one thing at a time, they did better,” she said, “and overall, we see less recidivism as a result.”
There are 22 counties in the fifth judicial district and it includes the cities of Des Moines, Newton, Knoxville, Osceola, Creston and Guthrie Center. (The list of counties in the fifth judicial district include: Adair, Adams, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Guthrie, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Polk, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Warren and Wayne.)
(Radio Iowa) – Lawmakers on a panel that reviews state regulations have temporarily blocked a proposed change in state guidelines for a specific type of septic system, a change that would make it cheaper to install. Republican Representative Mike Sexton, a farmer from Rockwell City, proposed the delay. “If these were livestock farms we were talking about instead of homeowner’s septic tanks, the [expletive] would hit the fan,” Sexton said.
There are tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Iowa that are not connected to a public sewer system and use a septic system to trap and filter toilet waste. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has proposed ending the requirement that aerobic treatment units which circulate air to treat sewage have a final step that sends discharged water through soil or sand filters. Sexton says blocking that change from going into effect until at least the middle of next year will hopefully pressure lawmakers to crack down on a related issue.
“Folks, raw sewage is coming from these septic tanks that aren’t maintained,” Sexton says. “There’s not a reporting mechanism on failed systems. We have homes that aren’t being inspected. You know that’s right.” The legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee voted eight-to-two to block the rule from taking effect now — a delay that will last until the 2026 legislature ends. The vote came after more than 40 minutes of public testimony from people who strongly supported or opposed changing state guidelines for aerobic treatment units.
Nick Laning is a lobbyist for Infiltrator Water Technologies — a company that makes these type of septic units. Laning told legislators very few aerobic treatment units are being installed in Iowa today because state regulations are outdated and unnecessary.”Delaying these rules only prevents Iowans from accessing ATUs which are already available in every other state,”Laning said, “and they can be more affordable, better suited to local geography and capable of treating nitrates other water quality issues.”
The DNR and EPC identified an outdated, unnecessary regulation,” Laning said. Jim Carroll, a licensed engineer who designs and maintains wastewater systems in Iowa, opposed getting rid of the filtering requirement for aerobic treatment units. “Environmental protection is really our primary concern, not whether that product is affordable or not,” Carroll said. “If it’s going to pollute the environment, it doesn’t matter what it costs.”
The water quality bureau chief in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources told legislators the proposed change creates a level playing field for all types of septic systems and it fulfills the governor’s executive order that requires agencies to reduce regulatory burdens.
(Clarion, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident late Sunday evening about eight-miles south of Clarion, in Wright County, left one person dead and two others injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2009 Chevy Cobalt driven by 24-year-old Josue Castanon Coronado was traveling south on Wright County Road R-38 at around 7:20-p.m., Sunday, when the passenger side tires dropped-off the edge of the road. Coronado over-corrected, causing the car to lose control.
The vehicle struck a utility pole and entered a cornfield and caught fire after the car came to rest. Coronado, and two passengers in the car – 20-year-old Antoni Emmanuel Castanon-Coronado, and 36-year-old Michael Mendez-Mendez, of Webster City – were ejected. None of the victims were wearing seat belts. Mendez died from his injuries.The other victims were injured.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – A regular monthly meeting of the Atlantic School Board takes place Wednesday, Sept. 10th, in the Atlantic High School Media Center. Their session begins at 6:30-p.m. (Live Streaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/cKOn0tOma1Q)
On the Board’s agenda is action on approving the resignations of:
The Board will also act on a Recommendation to Hire: Lynnae Grandin, HS Activities & Athletic Secretary. Discussion items on the agenda include Phase 1 of the High School Roof Replacement, and the Bond website, with regard to District Facility projects.
The Atlantic School Board will act on approving, among other matters:
The meeting will conclude with a closed session for an a review of a personnel matter (pertaining to Superintendent Goals).
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports two new filings from candidates for public office in the upcoming City elections on Nov. 4th. Those filing papers for today for the Cumberland City Council include:
They join previously reported Cumberland City Council candidate Matthew Dolch. There are three seats open on the Council for the Nov. 4th elections. There are also three candidates (Previously mentioned) for two seats on the Lewis City Council: David Raymond; Jim Triller and Russell Miller.
Each of the other offices in the County have one candidate:
The deadline to file nomination papers is 5-p.m.Thursday, September 18th.
(Radio Iowa) – Diamond Vogel Paint in Orange City announced last week it is going to sell of the company owned stores that sell what it calls its architectural paint that is used by homeowners and contractors. Diamond Vogel C-E-O Jeff Powell says they determined its the best move for the future of the company.
“The retail environment is has been challenging for several years and it’s just a very difficult challenging decision for us because we’ve got such great employees,” he says. The employees will be offered positions by the company that is purchasing the retail stores. Powell says they have been a regional player for this type of paint, and plan to supply it to the new retail owners.
“At this point in time, we’re going to continue to manufacture those great Diamond Vogel architectural products to supply to those locations. So yes, you’ll still be able to get Diamond Vogel paint and it’ll be coming out of the Diamond Vogel factory,” Powell says. Powell says they will now focus more on industrial customers and the industrial products manufactured in Marshalltown. He says they hope to expand the reach of those services.
“We are more, more national, less regional and we certainly have opportunities to expand that to be both national and potentially international over the long term. But yeah, it’s a much wider geography that we supply those particular products,” he says. Powell says the company buying the retail stores hopes to expand into more areas outside the current regional reach, and that will keep the Orange City plant going.
“We aren’t anticipating any changes at that manufacturing site at this point in time and if all things go well, we hope to maybe even expand that in the future,” Powell says. The company was founding in Orange City in 1926.
(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs says more needs to be done to improve veterans’ health care. Secretary Doug Collins toured the V.A.’s Central Iowa Health Care Center in Des Moines today (Monday) and talked about efforts to reshape the system. “We’re trying to get better decisions quicker,” Collins said. “We’re making better decisions on where we put personnel and how we put our money.”
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins (official photo)
Earlier this year Collins set a goal of cutting the V.A. payroll by 80,000 workers by September 30, but in July Collins said due to retirements, normal attrition and a federal hiring freeze, a new workforce reduction target of 30,000 employees will be reached without any layoffs. That’s 6.2% of the V.A.’s employees.
During his stop in Des Moines, Collins said there are structural issues that hinder the V.A. health system’s ability to serve patients. “Whether it be how quickly it takes us to get someone hired, how we can add new facilities, how we can add things to our repertoire, and also working with our community and our community docs,” Collins said.
Collins is a former chaplain in the Air Force Reserves. Collins represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives for eight years before President Trump appointed him to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.
DES MOINES, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a man from Adel man was sentenced on Friday, September 5, 2025, to 108 months (nine-years) in federal prison for transportation of child pornography.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that an account, later determined to be associated with 55-year-old Douglas Harsh,received files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Harsh’s Adel residence. The investigation showed that Harsh was a member of an online chat group whose members shared images and videos of child pornography including content of prepubescent children.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Harsh will be required to serve a seven-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Harsh was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children, and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The 33rd Annual Coca-Cola Days in Atlantic will be held September 26th and 27th. The event is the second largest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbecue open to the public, a Show, Swap & Sell, Coca-Cola themed raffle and many more activities for all ages.
The theme for the 2025 Coca-Cola Days is “Catch the Wave” a beach theme. The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says the Coca Cola Days committee brainstormed ways to celebrate the theme through raffle items, which include Coca-Cola beach towels, beach umbrella, IGLOO cooler, JENGA game and bags board.
Chamber Programs Director Kelsey Beschorner says “Coca-Cola Days is a fun tradition for our community, and this year’s ‘Catch the Wave’ theme lets us add a little extra summer spirit. From beach-inspired raffle prizes to many tables of collectibles at the swap meet, there’s lots of fun in store.” 
2025 Coca-Cola Days t-shirts are available for purchase online now until September 14th at https://cocacoladays2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/. The t-shirts are a District Tee with a soft, polyester and cotton blend. T-Shirts can be picked up on the day of the event, or at the Chamber following Coca-Cola Days. For an additional fee, your purchase can be shipped right to your door.
Raffle tickets are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce for $5 a ticket or 5 tickets for $20. The winner will be announced Saturday, September 27th at 2 PM at the Show, Swap & Sell meet at the Cass County Community Building. Tickets will also be available for purchase that day, and the winner does not have to be present to win.
For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.
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