(Radio Iowa) – State health officials say -no- measles cases have been reported in Iowa so far this year, but more than 900 cases are confirmed nationwide. That’s more than triple the number from all of last year. Some clinics in Iowa are offering free measles vaccinations, like Delaware County Public Health in Manchester, where Krystal DeShaw is the public health manager.

“Measles is a highly, highly contagious viral infection,” DeShaw says. “It can affect people of all ages. It’s known for causing this distinctive rash, and it has a range of other symptoms, high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, conjunctivitis.” The rash typically starts at the hairline and spreads across the entire body. DeShaw says someone who’s been infected is contagious up to four days before the rash appears and for another four days after it appears. She stresses, it’s a very contagious and very potent virus.

“The thing that’s different about measles than other airborne illnesses and diseases is, it’ll stay in the air for up to two hours,” DeShaw says. “That’s why in our schools, communities, recently in Chicago, there was a measles case that exposed people in the airport and on the airplane. I mean, it hangs out in the air.” Of the 900-plus cases nationwide, three deaths have been reported that are attributed to measles. DeShaw is recommending the M-M-R vaccine, for measles, mumps and rubella, especially for young children and those with weakened immune systems.

“The main thing about this is, people who get the vaccine are very unlikely to get measles,” she says. “So think of this, if you’re exposed, if you’re not vaccinated at all and you’re exposed, you may have to quarantine up to three weeks. That’s 21 days, no daycare, no school. That is a huge, huge thing.”

The free M-M-R vaccination clinics are being offered to Delaware County residents on June 4th and 6th. Appointments are required.

(Radio Iowa) – The manager of an ethanol plant near Council Bluffs says a bill that would set new restrictions on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline in Iowa would also impact his company’s plan connect to a Nebraska pipeline. Mike Jerke is C-E-O of what’s known as SIRE — Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy.

“SIRE has engaged two different engineering companies to look at expansion of our facility,” he says. “All of that is predicated on the ability to sequester CO2 and the demand pull that would bring.” A nearly 400 mile long natural gas pipeline in Nebraska is being retooled and will start capturing carbon from ethanol plants this fall. Jerke says his ethanol facility plans to start sequestering carbon in mid-2026 and connect to the Tallgrass Trailblazer pipeline in Nebraska.

“We have 100% voluntary easements for our project,” Jerke says. “We have those secured.” Jerke says the bill requires a type of insurance that would violate the permit his company is seeking and the legislation would set a 25 year limit on operating a pipeline transporting liquid carbon dioxide. Jerke says that would be a death blow because his company already negotiated 45 million dollars worth of contracts to buy the equipment needed to sequester C-O-2.

“We’ve probably spent a little over half that because equipment purchases take time and construction will come here in the fall,” Jerke says. “Apparently this is going to be, if this is to stand or be signed into law, something that we would only be able to operate for 25 years…Just extremely problematic would probably be putting it lightly.”

Jerke made his comments during an online news conference hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. The group is urging Governor Reynolds to veto the pipeline bill.

(Creston, Iowa)  – A man on a motorcycle was injured during a collision Thursday afternoon, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 27-year-old Aaron Jeffery Johnson, of Creston, suffered minor injuries during the accident that happened at around 3:45-p.m. on Highway 25 North, at the intersection with New York Avenue.

Police say a 2017 Chevy pickup driven by 66-year-old Kevin White, of Bedford, was stopped facing north at the yellow traffic light, when Johnson, who was riding a northbound 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle, grabbed his front brake. The action caused his motorcycle to slide onto its side before it struck the pickup’s trailer hitch.  White was not injured in the collision.

Johnson was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston by EMS ambulance. Upon being treated and released, he was cited by police for Driving While Revoked and Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance.

Damage to the motorcycle was estimated at $700. The pickup sustained an estimate $5 damage to the trailer hitch.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – A collision Thursday evening in Webster County left one person dead and two others injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened at around 4-p.m. at the intersection of County Highway P-59 and U-S Highway 20, in Fort Dodge. Authorities say a 2011 Honda Fit driven by 82-year-old Hal Chase, of Des Moines, was traveling north on P-59, when the vehicle failed to stop at the controlled intersection to eastbound Highway 20.

Chase’ vehicle was struck broadside by an eastbound 2023 Lincoln SUV driven by 78-year-old Diane Witt, of Arcadia. Both drivers and a passenger in the SUV, 51-year-old Stacie Segebart, of Westside, were injured, and transported by Fort Dodge Ambulance to the hospital in Fort Dodge, where Chase died from his injuries.

Multiple agencies assisted at the crash site.

(State Center, Iowa) – In an update to our previous report, the Iowa State Patrol, Thursday night, said a man on a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) has died from injuries he suffered Wednesday afternoon, when the UTV he was operating was struck by an SUV in Marshall County. 78-year-old Jeffrey Larsen. of State Center died after he was transported by helicopter to Methodist Hospital, in Des Moines.

The accident happened at around 3:40-p.m. Wednesday near State Center, when the 2021 Polaris XP-1000 Larsen was operating was struck by a 2010 Ford Edge SUV, near 190th Street and Binford Avenue.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the SUV, driven by an (unidentified) 16-year-old, and the UTV, were both traveling eastbound on 190th Street, when the UTV entered a farm field access road, with Larsen intending to make a U-turn and head back west. When he pulled the machine out onto the roadway, it was struck by the right front side of the SUV.

The driver of the SUV and their passenger were not injured in the collision.

Iowa state parks and forests are gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the outdoor summer recreation season.

“Park visitors are excited to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather,” said Sherry Arntzen, chief of the DNR’s State Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau. “Our parks offer a variety of activities for all enthusiasts from hiking the trails to picnicking, fishing and swimming. There’s something for everyone while enjoying the outdoors.”

Campers are urged to plan ahead when visiting Iowa state parks and forests for Memorial Day weekend. Most electrical and full hookup sites in busy parks are already reserved, so campers may want to consider non-electric sites or at “hidden gem” parks a little further away from home. To find site availability and make a reservation, go to https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/

For an up-to-date list of park and trail closures due to renovations or weather-related alerts, visit the DNR’s Alerts and Notifications web page.

Park visitors can help take care of the parks by cleaning up trash after themselves, and carrying out what they brought in. Please park vehicles in designated parking lots and not along roadways. If visiting beaches, be aware that most swimming areas do not have a lifeguard on duty, and pets must be kept off beaches and be on a leash.

“We hope that campers enjoy their time and make memories while staying in our parks and recreational areas, and do so safely and return again,” Arntzen said.

Tips

• Keep track of the weather and have a plan in case of severe weather
• Be a good neighbor. Observe quiet hours and keep noise levels respectful
• Practice Share the Trail etiquette
• Pack bug spray, sun screen and a basic first-aid kit
• Check the registration kiosk for activities in the area
• Keep pets on leashes

(Radio Iowa) – A representative of the company planning to build a wind farm in northwest Iowa says a proposed ordinance in Emmet County would likely block Steelhead Wind Energy’s project near the Estherville airport. Tyler Raniszewski — the company’s development manager — says the plan is to erect 45 wind turbines in the area and over 30 landowners have signed contracts to allow the turbines on their property. “There’s been a ton of work done on the ordinance to this point and, with where it is now, ultimately we feel like siting turbines would be nearly impossible,” Raniszewski says. “…Look, if the goal here is to obtain an ordinance that is balanceable for both the people who do want it and don’t want it, then the some of the setbacks and things within (the ordinance) may need to be slightly reduced.”

Raniszewski says his company hopes to work with county supervisors and provide studies or whatever input might be needed to reach a compromise. “We’re prepared to review specific things with them,” Raniszewski says, “…help to just point them in the right direction and hopefully obtain that balance.” Opponents of the project say there are safety concerns about having the wind turbines located near the Estherville Municipal Airport and it could be dangerous for students in the Iowa Lakes Community College aviation program who use that airport for flight training.

Last fall, the Emmet County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary moratorium on new wind energy projects in the county. The board plans to adopt a new wind energy ordinance this summer.

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 – As friends and families get ready to kick off summer by firing up the grill and serving foods at a cookout, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) shares some tips to keep your celebrations safe.

“Food safety is a year-round priority, but it’s especially important during summer months when we’re cooking outdoors and handling food in warmer temperatures,” said FSIS Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen. “We have simple but effective steps that can keep you and your family safe while enjoying those outdoor meals.”

Here are some key recommendations.

Clean Your Grill:

• Grill surfaces should be washed with soap and water. Ensure old residue is scraped off.
• If you don’t have access to a faucet, carry bottled water, soap and paper towels.
• After washing, start your grill and allow the heat to kill any remaining bacteria before cooking.

Prevent Cross-Contamination:

• Pack raw meats in sealed containers at the bottom of the cooler to prevent juices from contaminating other items.
• When grilling, use separate plates, cutting boards, and utensils for raw and cooked foods.
• Never place cooked food on plates that held raw meat, poultry or seafood.

Cook to Safe Temperatures:

• Remember that color is not a reliable indicator of doneness.
• Use a food thermometer to ensure foods reach a safe minimum internal temperature:
  • Beef, pork, lamb, and veal steaks, chops and roasts: 145 F
  • Seafood (fish and shellfish): 145 F
  • Ground beef, pork, lamb and veal: 160 F
  • Poultry (whole and ground): 165 F

Avoid the Danger Zone:

• The bacteria that can cause foodborne illness grow between 40 F and 140 F — also known as the Danger Zone.
• If you plan to keep perishable foods on the table for more than two hours (or one hour in temperatures above 90 F), keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold to avoid the Danger Zone.
  • Keep hot foods heated at or above 140 F with chafing dishes or preheated grill.
  • Keep cold foods chilled at or below 40 F by placing them on bowls of ice or keeping them inside a cooler near the picnic table.

For more information about food safety, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – Some residents in western Iowa have purchased monitors with the help of environmental advocates to track air quality conditions. The Iowa Environmental Council published a report last year showing that parts of Sioux City have the highest asthma rates in the state. Organizer Lexi McKee-Hemenway says the group is working with residents to put up monitors that detect particles in the air called P-M two-point-five.

“Some of this P-M two-point-five., they are heavy metals. So when they start to, you know, stack on top of each other, it never leaves your body,” she says. McKee-Hemenway says the monitors are showing that low-income residents of color are living in places with bad air quality.” So it becomes an environmental justice concern, and these monitors have, like, really underscored that that’s an issue,” McKee-Hemenway says.

The Iowa Environmental Council helped cover the cost of six air quality monitors with donations. One monitor costs around 350 dollars. The I-E-C report last year linked Woodbury County’s asthma rates to coal plants.