(Radio Iowa) – An arbitration panel has set an award for the University of Iowa in a claim against several contractors over a faulty windows installed at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The U-I reports the arbitration panel awarded them 49-point-four million dollars in damages for replacing the windows. The Board of Regents approved an increased budget in February from 45 to 52-and-a-half million to replace the windows.

U-I vice president Rod Lehnertz says the windows were delaminating and cracking and they have been replacing them in sections. The Children’s Hospital was completed in 2017 and has gained national notoriety from “The Wave” as everyone in Kinnick Stadium waves to patients looking out the windows of the hospital at the end of the first quarter of home football games.

(Radio Iowa) – The state and other partners are launching a more than one-point-nine MILLION dollar project in five Iowa counties to reduce nitrate run-off into the Beaver Creek Watershed. A 380 square mile area drains into the watershed and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the money will be used over the next three years to finance conservation measures around Beaver Creek.

“Things that will have an impact on reducing nitrate loss and nitrate levels in the stream and so of course that’s of interest, certainly, in central Iowa, but I would stress that it’s really been a focus of ours now for several years,” Naig said, “and we’ve done projects like this before and so it’s a next round, if you will.” Beaver Creek flows into the Des Moines River, a drinking water source for over 600-thousand customers in metro Des Moines.

Central Iowa Water Works has banned lawn watering since June 12 as the utility’s nitrate treatment facility has had a hard time keeping up with high nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. Naig says he’s focused on collaboration with the utility and other parties. “We know that they’ve got infrastructure needs and investments that they certainly need to make on the water treatment side and there’s work that needs to be done and is being done upstream in the farm landscape,” Naig said.

“It’s time to talk again, of course, and we’ll continue that conversation…I don’t think that playing the blame game is a good idea. Let’s figure out ways we can work together on both ends of the equation.” This latest water quality project along Beaver Creek will finance efforts in Boone, Webster, Greene, Dallas, and Polk Counties, like bolstering oxbows in the stream.

“When a stream meandered and then through flooding or just normal kind of how the water flows, it’ll cut a new channel, but it leaves the remnant of that bow out of the stream and so what you can actually do is work to engineer those in a way that they can once again be useful in denitrifying water,” Naig said. Over time, soil fills in oxbows, but Naig says mapping can discover where those oxbows were and plans can be made to restore those side channels along Beaver Creek into wetlands.

“They are a low cost practice that can be very, very effective,” Naig said. “They don’t work everywhere and they don’t exist everywhere, but where they do they make a ton of sense.” The money will also be used to help landowners build saturated buffers and bioreactors that filter run off from farm fields.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture, the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District and other public and private groups are partners in the project.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Children in Atlantic are being invited to take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning, for the new Splash Pad next to the Sunnyside Pool. The event takes place at 10-a.m. Atlantic Splash Pad Fundraising Committee Chairman Jeremy Butler, said in a news release, “We are going to let the kids in the community cut the ribbon. Any kids that [who] would like to take part in the ceremony are welcome to come.” (Photo & conceptual planning images are from the Atlantic IA Facebook Splash Pad page)

Butler says they have over 20 pairs of small scissors, but kids might want to bring their own, in case the turnout is too large. They will have several rolls of ribbon and will stretch them out as much as needed.

The Atlantic Splash Pad opened May 26, 2025, at 1000 Sunnyside Lane. The Splash Pad covers approximately 5,000 square feet. It features a variety of interactive elements such as fountains, spray pads, dump buckets, water cannons, and a first-of-its-kind rabbit racer located next to the dump bucket.

Fundraising efforts to make the attraction a reality, began in April 2023. Construction in the summer of 2024. The hours of operation are from 10-a.m. to 7-p.m., seven days per week.

(Radio Iowa) – D-O-T director Scott Marler told the Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) that traffic deaths are down so far this year. “Just yesterday we were we were about 11 below our five-year average,” Marler says. There were 132 traffic deaths through today (Tuesday). Marler says there were several deaths during the recent holiday.

“Tragically, we saw over the 4th holiday, we saw five fatalities in total over the holiday weekend,” Marler says. The new hands-free phone law went into effect on July 1st and Marler says that should help bring down traffic deaths. “We believe that this law will have a direct effect,” he says.

There have been more than 300 traffic deaths in the state in each of the last five years, with 2023 seeing the most in that period at 379. There 356 traffic deaths last year.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials are considering paying a private company to provide health care services in Iowa prisons. The agency has been facing staffing shortages, but a top administrator in the Iowa Department of Corrections said no final decisions have been made.

Todd Copley is president of AFSCME Council 61, the union that represents prison employees, including nurses and other health care workers. “The employees are already underpaid for what they do, what their expectations are,” Copley said. “Now a private company is going to come in, give them the first opportunity to apply for these jobs that are now going to be open, but at even lesser wage than what they’re already making.”

There are currently openings at the state prison in Newton for a nursing unit coordinator and a registered nurse

Copley said he’s been fielding lots of calls from prison workers. “They have every reason to be concerned,” Copley said.”Anytime the state says we’re just exploring options means that your job is on the line.”

The state employs nurses, dental hygienists, psychiatrists and other medical professionals to provide care for prison inmates. Paul Cornelius, chief of staff for the Iowa Department of Corrections, said in a written statement that “no immediate changes are planned for staff or services.” Cornelius said “seeking bids from private companies that would provide health care to inmates will help officials evaluate how to best meet long-term healthcare needs while continuing to provide high-quality care.”

The agency’s website currently lists job openings in state prisons for nine nurses, a P.A. and a physical therapist in state prisons.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking informal comments on administrative rules related to game harvest reporting and landowner tenant registration. Executive Order 10 (EO10), signed by Governor Reynolds on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded. The EO10 process includes public engagement with the opportunity for input.

The Iowa DNR has reviewed chapter 571 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) Chapter 95 (Game Harvest Reporting and Landowner-Tenant Registration). Based on the review, DNR has revised this chapter to modernize processes and improve clarity to customers on methods to report harvests. The public is invited to provide informal comments on the proposed rule changes. DNR will accept written comments through July 15, 2025. Written comments regarding the proposed rules should be submitted to: denise.roberg@dnr.iowa.gov. Comments should be made to specific portions of the rule.

After receiving and reviewing informal comments, the DNR will create a draft Regulatory Analysis and draft Notice of Intended Action.

Drafts of the rules, including a “clean” copy and a version showing revisions, can be found on the DNR webpage: www.iowadnr.gov/eo10.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa National Guard, today (Tuesday) announced the death of one of their soldiers. 19-year-old Specialist Marin Michael Rose, of Fort Madison, died July 2nd, 2025, following a traffic accident in rural Mt. Pleasant.

The Guard says “SPC Rose was a dedicated Soldier serving as a transportation driver with the 1133rd Transportation Company, Detachment 1, based in Iowa City. He joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 2023 and quickly became a beloved member of his unit, known for his work ethic, positive attitude, and deep commitment to his fellow Soldiers. Born on January 24, 2006, in Fort Madison, Marin was a 2024 graduate of Fort Madison High School where he played basketball and football and enthusiastically supported his friends in their activities. He was an avid Miami Dolphins and Iowa Hawkeyes fan, a passionate weather-watcher, and loved spending time with family, gaming, golfing, and going on long drives.”

Specialist Marin Michael Rose (IANG photo)

At the time of his passing, Marin was also a student at Southeastern Community College, continuing to pursue his dreams while serving his state and nation. “SPC Rose is survived by his parents, Greg Rose and Vickie Kautzky; siblings Austin, Nathan, Ryen, Bentley, and Emma; his girlfriend, Gracie Blind; and a large extended family of grandparents, nieces, nephews, and friends who cherished him dearly. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, a stepsister, and his loyal German Shepherd, Rocky.”

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 3:00–6:00 PM at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory in Fort Madison. Funeral services will follow at 6:00 PM, officiated by Rev. Chad Savage. Military honors will be rendered by the Iowa Army Honor Guard.

The Iowa National Guard extends its deepest condolences to SPC Rose’s family, friends, and fellow Soldiers. We honor his life, his service, and his lasting impact on those who knew him. A memorial has been established in Marin’s name, and online condolences may be shared at www.kinglynk.com.

(Iowa DNR News) -Iowa’s 2024 estimated pheasant harvest was the second highest in nearly two decades, coming in at more than 460,000 roosters last fall, surpassed only by the 2023 harvest of 590,000. This is the best back to back pheasant harvest years since 2007. Only South Dakota had more pheasants harvested last year. The 2024 August pheasant survey showed a population decline of 14 percent from 2023, likely due to ill-timed spring flooding across northwestern Iowa. “The roadside counts were confirmed in the small game harvest hunter survey, but overall we had a really good fall and are looking forward to this year’s August roadside survey to see where the bird numbers are ahead of the 2025 season,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The statewide August roadside survey is conducted by Iowa DNR staff between Aug. 1-15, who drive 225, 30-mile routes on gravel roads at dawn on mornings with heavy dew. Hen pheasants will move their broods to the edge of the gravel road to dry off before they begin feeding, which makes them easier to count. Bogenschutz estimated more than 77,400 hunters pursued pheasants in Iowa last fall, down from 83,600 in 2023. Iowa’s quail hunters harvested 27,500 birds or 2,700 fewer than last year. Iowa’s rabbit and squirrel harvest both increased over 2023; rabbits by 13 percent to an estimated 77,000, squirrels by 32 percent, to more than 124,300. Iowa mourning dove hunters harvested an estimated 143,000 doves, down from the 195,000 in 2023.

A century of pheasant hunting

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated. Hunters can commemorate the 100^th anniversary by purchasing a hard card featuring Iowa Pheasants Forever Print of the Year when they purchase their 2025 hunting and fishing licenses.

Information on places to hunt, the August roadside survey results and more is available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting link at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Transportation is using a high-tech truck to patch potholes on busy interstates. Highway Division Administrator Tony Gustafson tells the Transportation Commission the truck allows one person to safely do the job. “Normally when we do patching, it’s at least a two person operation and our employees are out on the pavement exposed to the environment. Here this is a controlled environment in the cab of a truck,” he says. Gustafson says the Dura Patch truck is like a rolling video game.

The DOT Dura Patch truck filling a pothole. (DOT photo)

“It’s just that one person with a joystick that controls everything on just one joystick,” he says. “There’s like half a dozen buttons on the joystick where they can control all the setting out of the emulsion, putting out the rock chips and covering it to protect it, protect traffic from the emulsion. So it’s all one operation, so it’s really slick.” Gustafson says they plan to eventually purchase two more trucks. ” The cost of this patching truck was just over 300-thousand dollars, so it’s equivalent to a fully decked out snowplow,” he says This truck has been operating on the interstate roadways in District 4, which is in the southwest corner of the state.

Gustafson says it has been a hit with employees. “They really enjoy the dura patcher, there’s nothing but positive comments, they can fill the holes twice as fast with less people,” he says. Gustafson says the two new trucks would operate in District 1 in central Iowa, and District 5 in southeast Iowa.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report two people were arrested recently on drug charges. 27-year-old Halee Forbey, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Sunday for: OWI 1st; 2 counts of Possession of a controlled substance; Possession of a dangerous weapon and possession Drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $4,300.

And, on July 7th, 43-year-old Jamie Opalia, of Glenwood, was arrested for: Violation of a controlled substance; Gathering; Keeping premises for controlled substances; Possession of a controlled substance; Methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana, and possession of Drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $19,300.