Advocacy group: Iowa needs a mask mandate

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Des Moines, Iowa — The advocacy group Progress Iowa is calling for Governor Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide mask mandate to combat the rampant spread of COVID-19 in our state. The call for additional action by the governor comes as hospitalizations are at crisis levels, some schools are reporting that they are “holding on by a thread,” more than one hundred Iowa nursing homes are reporting outbreaks, and as the White House calls on Iowa to issue a mask mandate.

Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, says “Iowans are pleading for their lives — we need the governor to put politics aside and take clear, decisive action to halt this pandemic. Hospitals are begging for help. Some schools are saying they’re holding on by a thread. And we’re rapidly approaching two thousand deaths in our state.” Sinovic says President Trump’s White House is calling for a mask mandate. Research proves it will work. Polling, he says, shows Iowans will listen.

Sinovic says Research conducted by the University of Kansas demonstrated that in their state, “counties with mask mandates thwarted significant escalation in transmission of COVID-19 and counties operating without a requirement people wear a face covering suffered steady infection rate increases.” He said also, new polling conducted by Public Policy Polling shows that 74% of Iowans who voted in this year’s election would follow a statewide mandate to wear a mask in public places to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and a majority of Iowa voters believe that the governor has not gone far enough with restrictions to stop the spread of the pandemic. Progress Iowa will hold a poll briefing today at 2 PM to discuss these results.

The White House coronavirus task force has also called for increased COVID-19 restrictions in Iowa, including a statewide mask mandate in their latest report. Sinovic says “Because of Governor Reynolds’ failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa is rapidly approaching 2,000 deaths and more than 170,000 confirmed cases. We also have the third worst increase in cases among all states during the past two weeks, a more than two hundred percent increase. Hospitals are in critical condition, and not able to keep up with demand in Des Moines. Cedar Rapids schools are “holding on by a thread.” There are at least 100 outbreaks in long-term care facilities.”

Posted in News |

Hart seeks recount in Iowa’s second congressional district race

News

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Democratic candidate Rita Hart is seeking a complete recount in all 24 counties of Iowa’s second congressional district, where the current tally shows Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks ahead by just 47 votes. Hart’s campaign manager cites what he calls “consequential errors” that were discovered in Jasper and Lucas Counties in making the request — adding Iowans deserve to know that their ballots have been accurately counted. Secretary of State Pate Pate says he does not certify the election until November 30th, so there are two weeks for the recount, although the second week includes the Thanksgiving holiday.

Election officials are recounting all ballots cast in Lucas County today (Thursday). Tomorrow, there will be a hand recount of ballots from the precinct in the Lucas County town of Russell where results were not reported until this week. Miller-Meeks, the Republican candidate in the race, has already claimed victory and was a guest on Fox News this (Thursday) morning discussing prescription drug pricing.

Posted in News |

Congresswoman-Elect Hinson tests positive for coronavirus, will quarantine

News

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Marion, IA – Wednesday night, Iowa Congresswoman-elect Ashley Hinson learned that she tested positive for COVID-19. Campaign officials say she feels great and is quarantining at her home in Marion until advised to do otherwise by her physician.

Congresswoman-elect Ashley Hinson.

For planning purposes, her staff says Hinson will be participating in new member orientation for the 117^th Congress virtually and is ready to get to work for the taxpayers of Iowa’s First Congressional District.

Posted in News |

ISU researchers using plant material to make sensors

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State researchers are among a group developing technologies that use plant-based inks to print low-cost, biodegradable, and recyclable electronics for sensors and batteries. I-S-U’s, Jonathan Claussen, is working on the printing process for the inks. “We can actually make a material called graphene out of it. It’s a carbon-based material that is highly conductive and has other great properties such as high thermal conductivity and we make these inks and print them.” Claussen is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and says sensors can be used in a variety of ways. “We use them to sense fertilizers in the soil, pesticides in plants or in the soil, to food-borne pathogens in food, to even using them to try and detect cancer for cancer diagnostics,” Claussen says.

He says here’s another use for them as well. Claussen says it also deals with creating energy harvesters that could be used to store energy and charge up an electronic device. He says there’s a lot of potential uses.”We will help in printing them and then developing them into sensors,” he says. And he says they will particularly focus on ion sensors for use in hydroponics and plants. Claussen says using these plant-based inks is a safer way to make these items. “This uses printing technology that is a lot easier to scale. It’s a lot more friendly to the environment — the materials themselves are more friendly — they are just carbon-based. But also, we don’t need to do expensive cleanroom processing which has a lot of chemicals that are harmful to the environment,” Claussen says.

He says these sensors won’t replace all the existing sensors. “They wouldn’t replace silicon chips in your computer,” Claussen says, “but they could be used for sensors that may be integrated into clothing or senors that may be going into farm fields that integrate with some conventional electronics as well.” The National Science Foundation has awarded a five-year grant of nine million dollars to support the project and its team of researchers from the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Iowa State University.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Eastern Iowa man dies in single-vehicle accident

News

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

A single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) morning in eastern Iowa has claimed the life of an SUV driver. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident north of Ladora on 212th Boulevard, happened at around 5:15-a.m. Authorities say a 1991 Jeep Cherokee driven by 21-year old Dylan Storm Weaver, of Belle Plaine, was eastbound near FF Avenue, when the vehicle went out of control and entered the south ditch. Weaver, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted by Victor QRS, and Iowa County Ambulance.

Posted in News |

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 11/12/20

News, Podcasts

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Posted in News, Podcasts |

Praline Pumpkin Pie (11-12-2020)

Mom's Tips

November 12th, 2020 by Jim Field

1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter

Combine these ingredients and press into bottom of 9″ unbaked pie shell. Prick sides with fork. Bake in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes and cool.

Pie Filling

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
2 cups cooked pumpkin
1 (14 oz.) can condensed milk

Mix together eggs, sugars, flour, salt and spices. Blend in pumpkin. Gradually add milk. Mix well. Pour into baked pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted in filling comes out clean.

Posted in Mom's Tips |

Iowa State volleyball welcomes three on signing day including St. Albert’s Petry

Sports

November 12th, 2020 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball welcomes three newcomers as part of its program for the 2021 season during the November National Letter of Intent signing period, head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch announced Wednesday. ISU will welcome setter Addi Heidemann of Diller, Nebraska, defensive specialist/libero Allie Petry of Council Bluffs and defensive specialist/outside hitter Brooke Stonestreet of Olathe, Kansas.

“All three of them will be wonderful additions to our culture,” Johnson-Lynch said. “They are really impressive young women: great students, hard workers and team-first type athletes. They are competitors, and have played a high level of volleyball throughout their careers. Each of them have the potential to help our team right away.”

Addi Heidemann: S, Diller, Nebraska

Heidemann joins the Cyclones after leading her Diller-Odell Lady Griffins to their second-straight Nebraska State Championship last weekend, claiming class D-2 this year after winning D-1 the previous season. She earned All-Tournament Team this past weekend, was First Team D-1 All-State in 2019 and Honorable Mention All-State in 2018 along with earning all-conference honors each of the past three seasons. The No. 127 ranked recruit in the Class of 2021 according to PrepVolleyball.com, Heidemann finished her high school volleyball career with 3,198 assists, 829 digs, 446 kills, 354 aces and 174 blocks. She is also an accomplished basketball player, earning all-conference twice and Honorable Mention All-State honors last season for Diller-Odell. She played her club ball for Volleyball Club Nebraska in Lincoln.

“Addi has been training and playing at a very high level for a long time,” Johnson Lynch said. “She is polished and well-trained as a setter. She has great fundamentals and is very smooth in her delivery. She also has the perfect demeanor for the setting position, she is calm and consistent, but also very competitive. She knows how to run an offense and run the court, is smart and has a great volleyball IQ.”

Allie Petry: DS/L, Council Bluffs, Iowa

Petry helped lead Council Bluffs St. Albert to consecutive Class 1A state tournament appearances (earning All-Tournament Team honors earlier this month) playing as an outside hitter. An AVCA High School All-Region choice, and a three-time Hawkeye 10 All-Conference honoree and First Team All-State recipient in 2019, Petry ranked fifth in Class 1A with her 356 kills at .337 hitting in 2020. She finished her St. Albert career with 1,176 kills, 875 digs, 92 aces and 92 blocks. Petry played her club volleyball for Nebraska Elite, helping them to a second-place finish in 2018. She is another accomplished multi-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in basketball and softball as well.

“Allie is another great athlete we are excited to add to this class,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She has been primarily an outside hitter for all her teams, but I really believe once she focuses on passing and defense she will really take off, similar to several other liberos we’ve recruited over the years. Allie is fast and has great reactions – so as a back-row player I see her chasing down everything that is hit in her zone.”

Brooke Stonestreet: DS/OH, Olathe, Kansas

Stonestreet is a versatile player who has done a little bit of everything for her DeSoto Wildcats throughout her prep career. A two-time All-United Kansas Conference honoree and a 2020 AVCA High School All-Region selection, Stonestreet’s high school career saw her record 558 digs, 481 kills, 321 assists, 50 blocks and 41 aces. She plays her club volleyball for Kansas City Power, the same club that where current ISU libero Izzy Enna played before coming to ISU. With KC Power, she has helped lead them in the Open Division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships four-straight seasons from 2016-19. She has also claimed Heart of America Power League championships with KC Power on six-straight occasions.

“Brooke is a really fun player to watch,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She is very athletic and has great hops. She is a little bit undersized for an OH, but makes up for it with athletic ability and a great arm. She has played at a very high level for a long time and is a great competitor. We anticipate training Brooke as both an outside and a back row player. She is so smooth in everything she does, she is on her way to becoming a great passer and defender, and could contribute anywhere on the court for us.”

Posted in Sports |

Payton Sandfort signs with Hawkeyes

Sports

November 12th, 2020 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery announced on Wednesday that Payton Sandfort has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Iowa.

PAYTON SANDFORT

Forward, 6-foot-7, 210 pounds

Waukee, Iowa (Waukee High School)

“I am super excited to make this commitment official and can’t wait to get to Iowa City to be with the team! Through this process, I felt that Iowa was home for me. Coach McCaffery and the entire staff made me feel like I was a priority from day one, which was really cool, and I got to know the players throughout the process. Ultimately, when it came down to it, this felt like home to me because of the style, the culture, and the people within the program and the people who support the program.”

Averaged 19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists as a junior team captain in 2019-20
Shot at a 45 percent clip from 3-point range each of the last two seasons
First-team All-State (Iowa Newspaper Writers Association), first-team all-conference, State All-Tournament Team, and All Substate Team honoree as a junior
Led Waukee High School to a school-record 23 wins, conference and substate championship, and State tournament runner-up finish last season as a junior
Member of the Waukee 2018 and 2019 conference and substate championship team that also placed third at the Iowa State tournament both seasons
Competed on Kingdom Hoops AAU team in 2020, averaging 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists
Starter on the Waukee Golf Team that won the 2020 state and district championship
Individual runner-up at the district tournament, shooting an even-par 71
National Honor Society member
Three-time All-Academic Award (Central Iowa Metro League)
Powerlife Leader for Lutheran Church of Hope middle school students the last three years

FRAN McCAFFERY ON PAYTON SANDFORT

“We’re thrilled to have Payton join our program. I offered a scholarship the very first time I saw him play. He is perfectly suited for our style of play with his size, versatility, competitiveness, 3-point accuracy, ball handling and post-up skill. I believe he is going to have a tremendous career here at the University of Iowa.”

Posted in Sports |

Iowa State women’s basketball handling lofty expectations

Sports

November 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly says lofty expectations are good for the program. The Cyclones return their top four scorers from last season’s team that finished 18-11. They are ranked 15th in the A-P preseason poll.