(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest zoo is adding sharks to its Big Reef Aquarium for the first time. Two bamboo sharks, named Snoopy and Pluto, were introduced this week at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines. Zoo spokesman Alex Payne says the light brown, spotted sharks are slender and about two feet long, but they may eventually grow up to four feet.

“They’re cute little sharks, but they do like to hide, so you’ll find them around the bottom of the aquarium most of the time,” Payne says. “They’re a lighter color, so sometimes they’ll come out and you’ll see them pop out, and it’s pretty cool to be able to stand there and just watch them interact with the exhibit.”

Payne says the zoo’s excited for visitors to connect with this new species and appreciate the rich diversity that makes our planet’s oceans so extraordinary. “This is the first time that we have had sharks at the zoo,” Payne says. “We were looking for some new species to introduce into our aquarium and they were a perfect match. We have the size of aquarium that we could fit them in, and it adds something a little additional to the aquarium for guests to be able to interact and engage with.”

Bamboo shark (Blank Park Zoo photo)

Sharks have a reputation for being predatory, but Payne doesn’t expect any trouble with the other fish in the 15,000-gallon aquarium. “We make sure that when we do put animals together that they will interact with each other in a positive way,” he says. “Our keepers make sure that they work with the sharks and they’ll make sure that they’re well fed and have the enrichment items that they need to make sure that there won’t be any sort of conflict with the other animals.”

June 20th marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the classic shark horror film “Jaws,” and some Iowa theaters are holding special screenings this weekend, though Payne insists, it’s just a happy coincidence.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says President Trump is projecting “peace through strength” as tensions in the Middle East escalate. Trump has called for the “unconditional surrender” of Iran, while Iran’s leader said there will be “irreparable damage” if the U.S. military joins Israeli attacks. “I think America continues to stand with our allies, in this case Israel,” Hinson said this morning during her weekly conference call with Iowa reporters. “What we’re seeing with Iran is that they continue to chant ‘Death to Israel’ followed by ‘Death to America’ and the bottom line is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, told reporters Trump has been clear about U.S. objectives. “I think these are some truly defining moments that (Trump) was meant to carry America through,” Hinson said. “…The bottom line here that is Israel does have the right to defend itself and Iran should never have a nuclear weapon and I think we’re all safer with Iran’s military officials eradicated.” More than a dozen Iranian military officials have been killed in Israeli strikes over the past six days. Hinson expressed support for Trump’s “maximum pressure campaign” against Iran. “That’s something that he ran on since the start and I don’t think it’s wise for Iran or anyone to threaten the United States, our allies or our interests,” Hinson said. “President Biden appeased Iran at every turn. Those days are over under President Trump.”

Two House members — a Republican from Kentucky and a Democrat from California — have introduced a resolution that would force Trump to get congressional approval to join Israel’s attacks in Iran. Hinson said while “people are right to be worried about messy foreign entanglements,” Trump may decide the U.S. has to take action to halt enrichment of nuclear material in Iran and she said that is the president’s decision to make. “As far as the House is concerned, congress is taking a look at legislative remedies to sever Iran’s financial pathways to nuclear weapons development and terrorist financing which is the other part of this conversation. That’s something that I think we all need to take seriously. They are the number one financier of terrorism and so I look forward to taking a look at a potential sanctions package,” Hinson said this morning.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson speaking in Mason City this spring. (RI file photo)

Other members of Iowa’s congressional delegation recently made statements on social media in support of Trump’s approach and in support of Israel. Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull said, “We stand with Israel against terrorism,” last week. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport said Iran is “escalating its nuclear program and fueling terror” and she supports Israel’s right to defend itself. Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant said Trump is “right to back Israel” with the goal of “crushing both Iran’s war machine and its nuclear ambitions.”

Yesterday afternoon, Senator Joni Ernst said on X that “a nuclear Iran is a threat to America.” On June 13, Senator Chuck Grassley posted this comment on X: “Iran was abt 2 get nukes Last night Israel acted 2 protect itself but its action helps protect US bc Iran says DEATH TO ISRAEL DEATH TO AMERICA.”

(Radio Iowa) – The state Environmental Protection Commission approved a new contract Tuesday with the University of Iowa Hygienic Lab to continue running air monitors. D-N-R Air Quality Bureau environmental specialist Wendy Walker told the Commission some of the monitoring is done to see if the state is meeting the E-P-A guidelines. “We also want to provide real time air pollution data. You’ve seen some of the pictures from the Canadian wildfires as it comes into the air, that is provided under this contract,” she explains. “We want to make informed decisions about what’s going on, what our background values are.” The contract is just under one-point-eight-four million dollars, up three-thousand dollars from last year. Walker says the monitors go beyond the basic air testing.

“We also have special purpose monitors that will provide some more of the public reporting data that we’re looking for, as well as background values, air quality mapping and compliance issues,” Walker says. Walker says they have the biggest focus on where the people are. “We monitor a large public large populated areas in your cities. We are also looking to see where ozone is coming in, down wind ozone monitors. We’re looking at what comes across our borders and the transportation of air pollutants,” Walker says. “Unfortunately, air pollution doesn’t pay attention to jurisdictional boundaries between countries or states or anything like that. So we want to know what’s coming in from where and what we’re actually sending out too.” Walker says some of the pollution they monitor is very small.

Iowa DNR graphic

“We have what we call particulate matter, ten microns and then two-point-five microns or less in size. A human hair is on average. 50 to 70 microns in diameter. So if you think about, look at your hair, it’s 50 to 70 microns. We’re looking at ten microns or less for two-and-half microns or less,” she says. Walker says the Hygienic lab will supply data and will also keep an eye on the monitors to be sure they are working correctly. “One time we had a monitor that went down because of bees. So you do have to go in and make sure that they are running OK and make sure that you have no insects or any other type of issues,” Walker says.

Walker says they have use the State Hygienic lab to test air quality for more than 30 years.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber, Tuesday morning, provided a regular monthly report to the Cass County Board of Supervisors. He said as we approach the official start of Summer, on Friday, his department has been very busy conducting septic system inspections on new and current properties.

He septic systems that were installed within the past 40-years (Mid-1980’s), are coming to the end of their useful life. The other they’re thing they’re seeing, is issues with rural water supply, given the current state of the drought in this area.

Arber says depending on the type of your well, there are different procedures to rehabilitate it.

Some of the well issues property owners may have, can be remedied through the use of U-V (Ultra Violet) lights or filters. Another option may be to hook-up to a rural water system, if that’s available to you.

More information on septic systems and well water can be found on the Environmental Health Department’s website.

(Cass County Environmental Health Office)

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say nitrate levels are still high in central Iowa waterways that supply the Des Moines area with drinking water. It’s been nearly a week since the Central Iowa Water Works banned its 600-thousand customers from watering lawns to keep drinking water from violating E-P-A standards. Water usage has dropped, but Ted Corrigan, C-E-O at Des Moines Water Works, says the ban will remain in place. “We’re going to need your continued support,” Corrigan says. “This is likely going to be measured in weeks, not days.” Nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are at their highest since 2013. Corrigan says the main source of the high nitrate levels is fertilizer from farm field runoff.

Christina Murphy, general manager at West Des Moines Water Works, says treatment plants are working at max capacity to filter out the chemicals, but she notes, central Iowans are using less water. “We estimate that there’s a 30% reduction in water that’s being consumed by our customers,” Murphy says, “obviously attributable to outdoor water use.” Murphy says the ban will continue in order to keep nitrates in drinking water below the federal standard. She says water works staff are not worried about additional restrictions.

Central Iowa Water Works is also planning multiple long-term projects to expand treatment capacity.

(Radio Iowa) – The calendar says summer arrives on Friday and forecasters say the steamy, hot weather of the season will also arrive in Iowa on Friday, right on time. Meteorologist Donna Dubberke, at the National Weather Service, says Iowans should try to enjoy these final days of spring.

“By the time we get to Friday, we’re going to be into a warming trend,” Dubberke says. “We’re looking at heat indices pushing 100-degrees on Friday and then Saturday, it looks downright hot with a heat index over 105, it’s going to be hot and muggy, and then still hot on Sunday.”

She says the long-range forecast shows high temperatures are expected to fall back in the 80s by next Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2025 – FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, Calif., Montezuma, Ga., and Indianapolis, Ind., are recalling chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may be adulterated with an outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.

The following ready-to-eat products were shipped to Kroger and Walmart retail locations nationwide [view labels]:

• 32.8-oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/27/25 or prior.
• 12.3 oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/26/25 or prior.
• 12.5 oz. tray packages containing “HOME CHEF Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese” with best-by date 06/19/25 or prior. 

The products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label as well as establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” printed on the side of the packaging.

FSIS and public health partners are investigating an outbreak of Lm that currently includes 17 ill people in 13 states. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak. The outbreak strain of Lm was isolated from ill people on dates ranging from August 2024 – May 2025. The same outbreak strain was isolated from a routine chicken fettuccine alfredo sample collected by FSIS in a FreshRealm establishment in March 2025. The lot of chicken fettuccine alfredo represented by this sample was held during sampling, destroyed, and never entered commerce. The subsequent investigations at the establishment that produced this product, and into the product ingredients, have not identified the source of contamination. FSIS also used purchase records from two ill people to trace purchased chicken fettuccine alfredo products to FreshRealm establishments. An additional two ill people verbally described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased. FSIS identified products produced by FreshRealm that matched the descriptions during follow-up at the retail stores where they shopped. This investigation is ongoing. FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettucine alfredo may be the source of this strain of Lm.

Consumption of food contaminated with Lm can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest Tuesday evening of 41-year-old Daniel Lee Fasce, of Creston. Fasce was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana/1st Offense. He was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.

And, a Lenox Business, Lincoln’s Lawn Care, reported to Creston Police Tuesday morning, the theft of a John Deere 322 Lawn Tractor. The tractor was parked east of County Club Drive, in Creston. It had concrete filled wheel weights, a missing rear taillight, and a dry rotted seat that is in bad shape. Estimated loss is $3000.

The Iowa Broadcasters Association, at its Annual Convention in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday, June 12, 2025, awarded four outstanding Iowa media executives for their contributions to broadcasting and to the State of Iowa.

2025 Broadcaster of the Year – Kevin Tlam

The 2025 Broadcaster of the Year award was presented to Kevin Tlam of Spencer Media Group in Spencer, Iowa. Kevin worked part time at KFMC/KSUM in Fairmont, Minnesota while in high school and during his years at Iowa Lakes Community College. Upon his graduation from ILCC in May of 1997, Kevin joined Spencer Media Group. He currently serves as operations manager for the Spencer Media Group, program director for KICD-AM and KMRR-FM, co-host of the MORE Morning Show on KMRR-FM, back-up engineer, back-up severe weather broadcaster and fills in as news reporter when needed.

Kevin has shown exceptional leadership over the years, but never more than during 2024. The station’s weather director resigned his position in May and Kevin absorbed the severe weather reporting duties.  On Saturday, June 22, 2024, Spencer was hit with a 500-year flood. Much of the city was devastated by flood waters, including the radio station’s tower site, transmitter building and basement. From 7:25 am to 6:00pm, Kevin was on the air sharing emergency updates and information on safety procedures and instructions from emergency personnel, simulcasting this information on all three of our stations. The live broadcasts continued every day for three weeks.

Kevin is also an active in the Spencer community. He is a member of the After 5 Kiwanis Club, on the Clay County Regional Events Center Advisory Board, active in the United Methodist Church in Spencer, an ordained Wedding Officiant and serves on the Executive Board for the Clay County Fair.

2025 Hall of Fame Award – Roger Riley

Roger Riley is well-known for his tireless work ethic, boundless faith, and devotion to his family. Reporting the news took him across the state and provided the opportunity to tell some of Iowans’ most memorable stories.

Riley was a broadcast journalist for more than 40 years and in 2025, retired as a multi-media journalist at WHO-TV in Des Moines. His hard news stories often led the evening newscasts, and he traveled to many parts of the state for feature reporting. Viewers appreciated his severe weather reporting as he used his camera-equipped car.

As a native of Norway, Iowa, his interest in broadcasting traces back to his school days when his dentist’s office was in the same building as WMT radio and TV. Curiosity about broadcasting that he had developed during a high school speech class led him to write a letter to the station, and they invited him to watch a noon newscast.

A graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, Riley’s first TV reporting job was in Roswell, New Mexico at KBIM-TV. He soon returned home where the legendary KWWL News Director Grant Price hired him for a job at KWWL’s sister station, KTIV in Sioux City. Riley became KTIV’s first Spencer Bureau reporter where he covered stories around northwest Iowa.

Riley’s career also included: reporter at KSFY, Sioux Falls; Waterloo bureau reporter for KGAN-TV, Cedar Rapids; and reporter/photographer at WOI-TV, Des Moines, before joining the staff at WHO-TV.

2025 Hall of Fame Award – Dolph Pulliam

Dolph Pulliam was the first African American television broadcaster in the State of Iowa, joining KCCI in 1969. He served KCCI as a reporter, sports reporter/anchor and show host over his twenty-year broadcasting career.

Following his four-year career playing for the Drake Bulldogs, Dolph had the opportunity to go into the NBA or NFL. He was drafted and heavily recruited to play in the NFL by legendary coach Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys. He was also drafted by the Boston Celtics where Red Auerbach promised him a shoe contract and other amenities befitting an NBA player. Despite these opportunities, Dolph chose
broadcasting instead. His decision was influenced by one of his Drake professors and advisors who told Dolph, his impact on others would be far greater if he stayed in Iowa and became a television broadcaster.

While at KCCI-TV, Dolph reported news and sports. He eventually joined Mary Brubaker as a host of the station’s midday news and lifestyle show. He hosted the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon for 18 years and Operation Santa Claus for 10 years. Dolph also became the host for two KCCI-TV originally produced children’s shows, “One, Two, Three” and “Dolph’s Cartoon Corner.” Dolph has dozens of anecdotes from Iowans who were impacted by his television work.

For years Dolph provided color commentary on radio broadcasts for the Drake Bulldogs basketball games. Recently, he served as an executive producer on the nationally acclaimed documentary on the life of Drake football legend, Johnny Bright.

2025 Hall of Fame Award – Mark Osmundson

Mark Osmundson was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. After his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, he graduated from Overton High School in 1969 and obtained a business degree from the University of Memphis in 1973. On November 29, 1975, Mark married Emily Campbell, and they moved to Marshalltown in 1978 to launch MTN Broadcasting (KDAO), thus continuing his family’s broadcasting  legacy another generation.

Osmundson passed away at the age 73 on February 4, 2025. His son, Eric Osmundson, accepted his Hall of Fame Award.

Osmundson was an active member of the Board of Directors for both the Iowa Broadcasters Association and Iowa Broadcasters Association Foundation.

Always the eternal optimist, Mark’s glass wasn’t just half full, it was overflowing. He loved his family, his broadcasting career, and giving back to his community.

He was an engaged member and leader of several community organizations, committees, and industry groups such as Rotary International, Iowa Broadcasters Association, Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Marshall County Crime Stoppers, United Way, and International Broadcasters Idea Bank.  His generous service earned him several awards including Iowa Broadcaster of the Year, Marshalltown’s Volunteer of the Year, and Rotary’s Kenneth Brintnall Award

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, Tuesday morning, provided his regular report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities, during a meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors. He started-off with an update on current construction projects.

Wolken said three of the four bridges on the 10-mile stretch of Road were finished before paving, with work on the shoulders starting before the end of this week

Cass County Board of Supervisors meeting, 6-17-25

Wolken said also, two bridges were part of Tuesday’s Iowa DOT bid-letting.

The results of the bid-letting will be reported by Wolken during the Board’s next regular meeting. He reported also on an accident on 620th Street that occurred last week, and that involved a Cass County motor grader and a semi, as we had reported Monday, on KJAN.

Wolken estimated the damage to the grader at $35,000. There was also a $4,500 fee to tow the grader from the scene. No injuries were reported, and as of the latest information, no citations had been issued.