Homefront activities and life during World War II is the subject of a special ZOOM program this Sunday afternoon (Jan. 17th), in Atlantic.  Iowa did more than its share to supply goods to help win the war. Dr. Lisa Ossian will tell that story beginning at 2 pm. Dr. Ossian has researched and published a book The Home Fronts of Iowa, 1939 – 1945. Ordnance plants in Burlington and Ankeny and the Maytag industry produced guns, bullets, bombs and other military necessities during the war. Iowa exceeded records in War Bond Drives. Farmers, men and women, met food goals.

Dr. Lisa Payne Ossian

Dr. Ossian is a professor of history at Des Moines Area community College and has served on numerous state and national educational boards. She has been a Humanities Iowa speaker for many years. The program is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). It is supported by Atlantic Community Promotion Commission and made possible by Humanities Iowa.

Using Zoom makes it possible to reach up to 100 people in your own homes. No masks and social distancing required. Find the link to the Sunday program Zoom at “What’s New” on the ARISE web site, ariseAtlantic.org.

(Radio Iowa) – After ten U-S House Republicans joined Democrats in impeaching President Trump on Wednesday, now some Republicans in the U-S Senate are considering voting to convict Trump in a looming trial there. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he’s not sure there should even be a Senate trial, given the timeline, as it wouldn’t likely take place until Trump is already out of office. “It’s a big constitutional question about impeaching a private citizen,” Grassley says. “That’s a major thing you’ve gotta’ think about, should Congress, under the Constitution, even do it?”

Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, voted for impeachment, calling the president the rhetorical “ring leader” of last week’s riot at the U-S Capitol, while Iowa’s three Republican House members opposed impeachment. President-elect Biden’s inauguration is scheduled for next Wednesday and Grassley says he’s focused on looking ahead, not back. “We’re just six days away from a new president,” Grassley says. “I’ve been spending all of my time, as I hope all of my colleagues are, on working with the Biden administration to unify the country and it seems to me, that’s not an action that unifies the country, it further divides.”

If there should be a Senate trial, Grassley would not commit in advance to how he’d vote, as senators would be sitting as jurors. “We ought to listen to all of the evidence that’s presented and the defense that’s presented before we make a decision,” Grassley says. “I haven’t even read the indictment that comes from the grand jury-like action that the House took yesterday (Wednesday).”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is quoted as saying he won’t stand in the way of an impeachment trial in the Senate, adding that he is “done” with Trump.

954 AM CST Thu Jan 14 2021; A Blizzard will significantly impact much of Iowa tonight into Friday. Extremely stout winds coupled with moderate to heavy snow will lead to blizzard conditions tonight and throughout much of the day Friday over the central to western sections of Iowa. The heaviest snowfall is likely to fall over north central portions of the state, but even further south and west blizzard conditions are anticipated. Significant travel impacts are expected, especially along Interstates 80 and 35.

Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold-Crawford-Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont and Page Counties.…A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 12-AM FRIDAY TO 6 PM.

* WHAT…Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches with winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult if not impossible at times with blowing snow significantly reducing visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and
evening commutes. Isolated power outages and tree damage may occur with the gusty winds.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

A WIND ADVISORY IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT THURSDAY for much of western and southwest Iowa.

* WHAT…Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

(Radio Iowa) – Forecasters say a large winter storm system is moving toward Iowa that will likely impact travel for many of us before the weekend arrives. Up to nine inches of snow is forecast for parts of west and central Iowa along with winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour. Meteorologist Cory Martin, at the National Weather Service, says it’ll get wicked late tonight (Thursday) and early tomorrow (Friday). “We’re looking at snowfall increasing by late today and into the overnight hours,” Martin says. “Really, the story with this system isn’t necessarily going to be how much snow falls, it’s just that the combination of the snow with the really strong winds is going to make travel really difficult — if not impossible — in some areas, generally along and west of the Interstate 35 corridor.”

A Blizzard Warning is posted for much of the state’s western half from 6 o’clock tonight through 6 tomorrow night. Snowfall could be heavy. “North-central and northwest Iowa, we’re looking at over six inches likely up there, a little less as you get south towards the Des Moines metro and into west-central and southwest Iowa,” Martin says. “Again, combined with the strong winds, you’re going to have widespread visibilities of a quarter-mile or less possible which would make travel very difficult.”

With some of the advisories and warnings taking effect at 6 P-M, the weather could start getting nasty about the time many tens of thousands of Iowans will be trying to get home for the day. “The worst of the conditions are probably going to be overnight into tomorrow,” Martin says, “but if you do have travel plans or you need to commute later today, it’s best to check ahead before you leave and make plans accordingly.”

Seven counties in central and north-central Iowa are under a Winter Storm Warning while wide sections of Iowa’s eastern half have Winter Weather Advisories posted, though he says Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Davenport won’t see as many falling flakes. “Not as much snow out that way,” Martin says. “They’re looking at a couple of inches but still some stronger winds and it won’t take much snow when combined with this wind to possibly cause some travel issues.”

Keep up with the changing forecast at kjan.com or at weather.gov.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Sioux City, Iowa — The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reports a western Iowa man was sentenced to federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender in two states. 44-year-old Tyrone Haskell Tyndall, of Onawa, was sentenced to slightly more than two-years behind bars after admitting he failed to register with the Monona County Sheriff’s Office. He’d been convicted in 2004 of sexually abusing a child in Nebraska. Tyndall also admitted failing to register in Nebraska where he also lived from 2018 to 2019.

Tyndall admitted to violating his requirement to register as a sex offender in Iowa and Nebraska from July 2018 to August 2019, even though he lived in both states during this timeframe. Tyndall was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tyndall was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Tyndall is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Fletcher and Ron Timmons and investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

(Radio Iowa) Democrats are warning about the potential spread of Covid-19 in the Iowa Statehouse this week as the 2021 legislative session gets underway. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, is accusing Republican leaders of acting like Covid is no big deal. “Your lame reasoning about not being able to require legislators to wear masks is a joke,” Bolkcom said. “I’m mandated to wear this tie and this jacket to be able to stand at this microphone and speak.”

The top G-O-P leaders in the legislature say they are strongly encouraging lawmakers to wear masks when they can’t socially distance, but they say the Constitution doesn’t give them the power to force elected officials to cover their faces. Democrats have tried, but failed this week to get their Republican colleagues to agree to mask mandates in committee rooms. And Bolkcom singled out G-O-P leadership for allowing a few hundred people who were not wearing face coverings to protest inside the statehouse Monday. “You’re making the Tyson managers look like they had their act together,” Bolkcom said.

Bolkcom also blasted President Trump and Governor Reynolds during a speech on the Senate floor yesterday (Wednesday). A spokesman for Governor Reynolds says the governor has taken a balanced approach to the pandemic that has protected the lives and livelihoods of Iowans.

(Radio Iowa) – Democratic Congressman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says those responsible for last week’s insurrection in the U.S. Capitol must be held accountable and that’s why she voted to impeach President Trump. “No one is above the law,” Axne says. Axne says she was encouraged that House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney and other nine other House Republicans supported impeachment. “The vast majority of folks know what we witnesses last week was absolutely unacceptable,” Axne says.

Axne calls Trump the rhetorical “ring leader” of the riot. “What message do we send to our children on an accountability perspective if we say we’re not going to hold the person who was responsible for inciting this responsible?” Axne asked rhetorically.

The three REPUBLICANS from Iowa who serve in the U.S. House said it’s time for the country to unify and they voted against the articles of impeachment against Trump. Trump issued a written statement yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, citing reports of demonstrations in coming days and saying there must be no violence. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, the two Iowa Republicans who serve in the U.S. Senate, have not announced how they plan to vote after the Senate holds an impeachment trial.