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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!
(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a vehicle that was parked in an alley in the 200 block of W. Mills Street, was struck by an unknown vehicle at around 7-a.m.,Tuesday. The vehicle left the scene. The vehicle that was hit, a 2017 VW Jetta registered to a man from Creston, sustained $4,000 damage.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic reminds residents and business owners, to keep your sidewalks clear of snow. Snow must be removed within 24 hrs AFTER the snow stops. City officials say Code Enforcement personnel are out AND writing citations for those sidewalks not cleared.
The National Weather Service is predicting anywhere from 5-to 10-inches of snow will impact the area between Thursday night (Tonight) and Saturday morning. There will be an extended period of drifting snow and near-blizzard conditions beyond the cessation of snowfall.
Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Des Moines International Airport, Wednesday, announced a significant milestone in its history, surpassing the unprecedented mark of serving 3 million passengers in a given year. This achievement is a testament to the airport’s commitment to growing air service and its pivotal role in connecting communities. The Des Moines Airport Authority served 252,219 passengers in December, a 11.7% increase over 2022, totaling 3,097,006 total passengers served in 2023. The remarkable accomplishment of surpassing 3 million passengers reflects the trust and confidence travelers place in the services provided by the airport, the airlines, and all the tenants who strive to make the travel experience convenient and pleasurable.
Airport officials credit this achievement to strategic collaborations with airline partners to offer desirable service to business and leisure travel destinations, continuous infrastructure enhancements to sustain growth, and a steadfast commitment to providing a seamless and enjoyable travel experience. The Des Moines International Airport team thanks passengers, airlines, and the community for their unwavering support in reaching this historic milestone.
DsM International Airport
Kevin Foley, Executive Director of the Des Moines Airport Authority, said “We are thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion and express our gratitude to the passengers who have chosen Des Moines International Airport as their gateway to the world. This milestone is a testament to the collective efforts of our dedicated team, the enduring support of our community, and the appetite for air travel in our market. We remain committed to elevating the travel experience with the terminal expansion and contributing to the growth and prosperity of our region.”
The Des Moines International Airport, he said, looks forward to building on this success with ongoing initiatives to enhance infrastructure, expand services, and strengthen connectivity to and from Iowa. As the airport continues to play a vital role in connecting people and places, it remains dedicated to providing world-class service to the growing number of travelers choosing Des Moines as their preferred gateway.
To commemorate 2023’s passenger record, the Des Moines Airport Authority is celebrating publicly in the terminal on January 11 with giveaways and a chance to win a $500 flight voucher on the airline of their choice. They will draw three winners from a chance drawing shared on social media, one for every million passengers served last year. The lucky individuals drawn will be announced on the Airport Terminal intercom and will be notified via phone. Additionally, the airport’s flagship restaurant, Portermill will offer a food and drink special to celebrate reaching 3 million passengers.
No purchase, payment, donation, or account is required to enter or win the prize. A new winner will be drawn if the winner cannot be reached within 24 hours. The winner will receive a $500 flight voucher on an airline offering commercial service at the Des Moines International Airport.
(Radio Iowa) – We’re 11 days into the new year now and while some Iowans resolved to lose weight, save money or travel more, certain resolutions can have the critical, long-term benefit of reducing your risk of developing dementia. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says the list starts with having your blood pressure checked by a medical professional — and taking action if it’s too high.”People who have a blood pressure with that top number of 120 versus 140 were almost 20% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, which is a stage before you develop Alzheimer’s disease,” Livingston says. “That goes in line with what’s good for your heart is also good for your brain.”
In addition to having your B-P checked, Livingston suggests you take a hearing test. In adults over the age of 60, studies find 65-percent of them have hearing loss, but many of them decide -not- to get hearing aids. “People who are at higher risk for cognitive decline, if they did wear a hearing aid, they were able to cut their cognitive decline in half,” Livingston says, “and that’s likely due to just being able to hear and understand and process information more than if they weren’t wearing a hearing aid, just to keep themselves able to engage in conversations.”
Alzheimer’s disease ranks second only behind cancer as the diagnosis people most fear as they age, but she says with lifestyle changes, Iowans have the ability to lower the risks. Another big help is keeping up with your shots. “Getting an annual flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine was associated with a 40% decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease over the next four years,” Livingston says. “Every year that you’re getting one of those vaccines, you are reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”
In people who were isolated during the pandemic, Livingston says they saw a huge decrease in cognitive health and faster progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia. She says it’s very important to stay social. “Get together with your friends, go to family get together s,” Livingston says. “Even if you’re noticing some changes in your cognitive health, if you’re forgetting things and are feeling embarrassed, it’s still really important to get together and stay social. That will keep your mind more active and help your cognitive health.”
There’s no certain way to prevent Alzheimer’s, but Livingston says there is much to be gained by living a healthy lifestyle and adopting brain healthy habits. It’s estimated there are 66,000 Iowans living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, and another 98,000 Iowans are their caregivers.
(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowans who volunteer their time is growing, and college students in northeast Iowa are a big part of that. The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley pairs potential volunteers with some 250 area organizations and engages with multiple colleges nearby. Executive director Lauren Finke says since the pandemic, she’s seen a serious re-commitment from college students. “I think they’re staying and wanting to be a part of things,” Finke says, “which has been a really cool twist on seeing students who really connect to their community.” The center has paired about 95-hundred individuals with volunteer opportunities in the past year, up from five-thousand during the pandemic. Finke says talking to students about volunteering in the wake of COVID has helped spur that growth.
“Really having the opportunity to allow students to understand the impact they’re having as a volunteer has definitely made their follow-through, their commitment, and their desire to continue serving even after their assignment’s done for class,” Finke says. The volunteer center is regularly reaching out to at least four area colleges to recruit students, including a standing office at U-N-I. An AmeriCorps study ranks Iowa 4th in the nation for number of volunteers, and more than 40-percent of Iowans have formally donated time over the past two years.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center. The Board received annual updates from Russell Peck, Facilities Director, and Roger Warne, Technology Director.
Following the District Principal reports, the Atlantic School Board heard from Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, who said the fatal shooting incident in Perry last week was once again “An awakening on the safety of our kids, our most important things that we have.” Dr. Johnsen extended her appreciation of, and “prayers” for, the Perry community and school district, with regard to the tragedy and what they are going through. The incident was “Horrendous. It’s a parent’s worse nightmare,” she said.
When it comes to the Atlantic CSD, Dr. Johnsen said “We’re gonna work hard to make sure that our kids are safe, give parents the peace of mind that we are going to protect and take care of our kids, no matter what the situation.” She also thanked officers with the Atlantic Police Department who were in the building when the events began to unfold in Perry. “We didn’t ask them, they just showed-up because they knew just their presence gives us that peace of mind that they’re always there to be part of who we are as a school district, to support our families and our kids, and staff.” She said administrators are working on the district safety plan and crisis review, by updating the plans, policies and procedures.
Dr. Johnsen said the district is “sitting good,” with regard to Snow Days and student attendance hours, but considering this upcoming second round of snow storms, there’s less than two days left to miss before hours will have to be made up. Staff however, are going to have to make up some days, regardless of any further time-off for missed days. Those hours could be made-up at the end of the year.
The Board then proceeded to discuss: A Review of the scope of needs for facilities study; Next year’s school calendar, and a change of date for February’s Board meeting. Dr. Johnsen said the Winter (Christmas) break was very long, and staff have said they prefer to have a longer Spring break, which would also align with Iowa Western Community College. She asked the Board to consider how the calendar affects families, when it comes to putting together the 2024-25 District Calendar, and a public hearing on the matter. Board member Josh McLaren was concerned with the lack of “wiggle room” the District would have when it comes to meeting the requirement for student instructional hours, given the 15 hours lost so far this week, due to the snowstorm.
They also discussed and concluded moving their February, 2024 Board meeting to Feb. 7th instead of the 14th, would work out better, taking into account a leadership conference and other matters. Board Secretary Lisa Jones was concerned the Board packet and financial information and bills may not completely available that soon. The Board will hold a Work Session 5:30-p.m. January 24th, at the Central Office Conference Room.
With regard to the Consent Agenda, in the Atlantic School Board approved:
And, the following fundraising Requests: I-Jag Fundraiser; Speech & Debate Club Fundraiser.
During the Action Items portion of the agenda, the Atlantic School Board approved:
a. An Out-of-State Trip for Speech team
b. A Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) for Dropout Potential Prevention, At-Risk Students, of $539,871.
c. And the first reading of certain 400 through 700-series Board policies.
(Anamosa, Iowa) – A child who was sledding downhill late Wednesday morning in rural northwest Anamosa, was struck by an SUV when the sled crossed a road in front of a 2008 GMC Envoy SUV. The accident happened at around 11:30-a.m. The Iowa State Patrol was withholding the name of the child and their condition. The name of the SUV driver was also not released.
The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Anamosa Police Dept., Jones County Sheriff’s Office, and Anamosa EMS.
DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a proclamation to ease restrictions for transportation of and access to fuel used for heat. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through
11:59 p.m. on February 9, 2024.
The proclamation suspends the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code pertaining to hours of service for crews and drivers delivering propane, diesel, natural gas, and other fuels used for residential, agricultural, and commercial heating purposes.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Two Republican presidential candidates will be in Atlantic, Saturday afternoon, one a presidential hopeful, the other a former president who hopes to take back the White House. Never Back Down is continuing the Countdown to Caucus tour across Iowa with special guest Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the lead up to the Iowa Caucus on Monday, January 15th.
NBD is hosting meet and greets, retail stops, and drop by’s across the Hawkeye State from Thursday, January 11th through Sunday, January 14th. DeSantis will appear at the Downtowner Family Restaurant (inside the Whitney Building at 222 Chestnut St.), in Atlantic. The event begins at 12:15-p.m. Saturday (Jan. 13), with doors opening at 11:45-a.m. Register for General Admission tickets HERE.
Former President Donald Trump will speak at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, beginning at 2-p.m., Saturday (Jan. 13). Doors for the event open at 11-a.m. You must register for the event HERE.
(Radio Iowa) – Officials say some Iowa counties could fall short of having enough money to fund roads unless state lawmakers take action.
Woodbury County Engineer Mark Nahra says changes to Iowa’s new property tax system mean a loss of millions for his county alone. Nahra says counties that do not meet the minimum tax levy will lose road tax fund money and matching farm-to-market road funds.
“The limitations that were put on property tax growth under House File 718 affect the county road department’s ability to raise revenue out of property taxes,” he says.
Over a ten-year period, he estimates the cost for Woodbury County will be more than $26-million .
“If we don’t have that funding available to us,” he says, “it’ll result in some deterioration of our primary paved routes in the county.”
Nahra says if state lawmakers decide -not- to change the current law, counties with low tax levy rates may lose road funding.
“They need to make it quickly,” he says. “This year, we’ve got enough levy from last year that we can make our minimum local effort. We start falling short in fiscal year 2026, and then that shortfall accelerates.”
Nahra says about a dozen Iowa counties will be impacted in the next two or three years if lawmakers don’t modify the state law this session.
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