(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Director Mark Lowe unveiled three potential designs for Iowa’s new license plate Thursday morning at the Iowa State Fair. “The designs represent elements of what makes us Iowans,” Gov. Reynolds said. “We are patriotic. We are forward thinking. We take pride in our state’s natural beauty. And we embrace contributions from both the rural and urban areas of our state.”

“License plates offer Iowans the opportunity to display the spirit of our state wherever they go,” Lt. Gov. Gregg said. “Each of the three designs represents the state of Iowa in its own unique way.”

The designs were created by Iowa DOT graphic artists with input from the governor’s office and several state agencies.       The new plate will replace the county standard plate which currently carries a blue and white city and country design. Right now, there will be no change to collegiate plates or other specialty plates that do not include this design. The city and country plate design has been in place since 1998 and accounts for about 4.2 million of the 4.4 million plates in circulation.

Once a design is chosen, the new plate will be available sometime in 2018. Plates with the new designs will be issued to vehicle owners whenever they add or change vehicles and obtain new county standard plates and whenever they replace lost or stolen county standard plates. In addition, Iowans who currently have county standard plates will receive replacement plates with the new design when their current plate reaches the end of its 10-year replacement cycle. Vehicle owners who want a new plate sooner may purchase a set from their local county treasurer’s office for $5.

Iowans can cast a vote for their favorite design at the DOT’s booth (number 762-764) in the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds or online at iowadot.gov/StateFair/PickAPlate.aspx. Voting will be open Aug. 10-20.

Southwest Iowa-born astronaut Peggy Whitson will be staying aboard the International Space Station longer than first expected. The Beaconsfield native’s third stay aboard the station is now in its tenth month. Originally scheduled for an April return, NASA opted to extend her stay through early September. In an interview from the orbiting station, Whitson says the decision to remain aboard was a coincidence, brought about by a recent crew change.

“The Russians decided they were only going to have a total of one crew member instead of the normal two they would have on board — two or three,” Whitson says. “So, during that time period, we wanted to have a crew of three on board, instead of just two crews. So, I agreed to stay on and come home aboard the next Soyuz, the subsequent Soyuz.”    

Whitson says the longer stay aboard the I-S-S hasn’t produced any noticeable changes in her health or body. She is, however, bracing for her return to Earth and an adjustment from weightlessness to gravity. “The first couple of days are difficult from a neurovestibular perspective,” Whiston says. “Then after that, even though I maintain my muscle strength I think very well doing all the exercises we do up here, I find that the fast-twitch muscles — the things that require faster response times — are slow to pick up and remember that you’re back on Earth.”

In space, she says, things don’t require a lot of speed or motion to get moving, so those muscles “forget” how they’re supposed to work. Whitson says her prolonged mission will add to NASA’s continuing study on the impact of long-duration space flights on humans. That will help in preparations for future flights to the Moon or beyond. “Right now, we’ve got a pretty good database of six-month flyers on board the station,” she says. “The natural extension is important for us, particularly if we go on trips to Mars, when those trips may last anywhere between six and nine months just to get there.”

Whitson says we need to have a good understanding of how our bodies are going to respond once we get back to a gravity environment and an understanding of what happens over time. Back in April, Whitson became the all-time record holder for cumulative time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut. She had already logged 377 days in space from two previous space missions before her latest flight. Whitson was asked how she felt to be included among other legendary astronauts, like Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Alan Shepard and Sally Ride.

“I’m not sure I’d put myself in that same category,” she says. “But, I do think that having records, breaking records all the time is important for NASA. It shows that we are still progressing, we are still doing new things, and continuing to expand on what we know about space. It gives me pride to be a part of that.” Whitson also holds the record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut, with ten.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the FBI report four suspects who were convicted of a September 10, 2016 robbery of a U.S. Bank location in the Omaha area were sentenced Tuesday, for their roles in carrying out the robbery. 23-year old Marcus Warren, 22-year old Steven Muldrew, 25-year old Shaun Murph Jr., and 24-year old Freddie Johnson IV were arrested on September 10, 2016 after being pursued by the FBI and the Omaha Police Department (OPD) shortly after the robbery occurred.

Sentencing was carried out by the Douglas County, NE., District Court on August 8th 2017. Warren, Muldrew, and Murph received a sentence of 20—25 years while Johnson was sentenced to 14—18 years. In addition to this robbery, each of these suspects have been connected to other local Omaha bank robberies.

The Omaha Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with FBI Greater Omaha Bank Robbery Task Force (GOBRTF) members at the Omaha Police Department Gang Unit and other task force members were instrumental in the successful apprehension of these suspects. Special Agent in Charge Randall Thysse of the FBI Omaha Division said in a press release, “This is a perfect example of what this partnership represents. We are grateful for the level of collaboration and integration we have from OPD and all of our bank robbery task force members, because clearly, this is working.”

The FBI Greater Omaha Bank Robbery Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners including the Omaha Police Department, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Bellevue Police Department, Papillion Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Ralston Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, and La Vista Police Department.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) – A former manager of the Fremont County landfill in southwest Iowa has been given probation after pleading guilty in a deal with prosecutors. Court records say 32-year-old Dusty VanRenan pleaded guilty Monday to theft after prosecutors dismissed a charge of ongoing criminal conduct. He was sentenced to two years of probation and given a deferred judgment. Under a deferred judgment, records of his convictions in the case will be expunged if he completes the terms of his probation. A $750 civil penalty against him was suspended.

A state auditor’s investigation says VanRenan used a country truck to haul pallets he sold for recycling in Council Bluffs. The auditors say the nearly $5,500 paid for the pallets wasn’t turned over to the county account.

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

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The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, received updates from Technology Director Roger Warne, and updates with regard to the CCEOC building, as well as bus inspections. In his report, Roger Warne said Mariah Mailander is doing a great job as the new Tech Integrationist. He called her a “Diamond in the rough,” and that she’s learning the new position, and he hopes to keep her around for a long time. The Board had approved her contract during their last meeting in July.

Warne also talked about the One-to-One laptop rollover program for District staff and students, which is in its fourth year. He said all the staff machines being pulled-in will be refurbished as best as possible. Once they are not serviceable, they will be used for other purposes until the die. The central office staff computers will be replaced within the next couple of weeks. The 1-to-1 laptops for Freshmen will be ready today (Thursday) and be available for students by next Thursday’s Freshman orientation. Next year, the laptop’s at the High School will be rolled over.

At that time, a decision will have to be made about which laptops should be purchased new for the future. Superintendent Steve Barber spoke during Wednesday’s meeting about the former Cass, Incorporated building, which was purchased by the District and is being converted into the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC). He said while efforts continue on finishing work, “It’s pretty evident that it’s not going to be done by [the start of school] August 23rd.” Barber said they’re hopeful that after next week’s inspection by the Fire Marshal, he will grant the building occupancy in the non-construction areas.)

The CCEOC staff and students would occupy those areas, while the Link Center staff and students would occupy the multi-purpose room at the High School until the Cass, Inc. building is ready. And, as for the Bus inspection, Mr. Barber said the District’s bus fleet is in good shape, overall. There was one bus with minor issues, but it was previously taken out of service for 30-days until electrical repairs could be completed.

Barber thanked Transportation Director Dave Eckles for “Keeping the fleet afloat,” so to speak. In other business, the Atlantic School Board voted to set  “Standards and Accountability,” “School Funding Policy,” and “SAVE (Secure and Advance Vision for Education)” as their top three IASB Legislative Priorities.

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP) – A November trial has been scheduled for a northwest Iowa man accused of stabbing a man and punching a woman. Court records say 29-year-old Nicholas Thompson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and related charges. His trial is set to begin Nov. 7.

The records say Thompson repeatedly stabbed the man June 22 at a home in Spirit Lake and punched the woman during the same incident.

Police in Creston report a woman was arrested late Wednesday on a Union County warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. 28-year old Trisha Mitchell, of Lenox, was transported to the Ringgold County Jail following her arrest at around 8:40-p.m. Mitchell was being held in the jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, at around 11-p.m. Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 49-year old Jack Howard Davis, of Orient, for Driving While Revoked. Davis was released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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CALUMET, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa woman has been accused of stealing more than $24,000 while working at a trucking company. Court records say 32-year-old Jamie Riedemann, of Calumet, is charged with tampering with records, four counts of theft and three counts of unauthorized use of a credit card.

Prosecutors say Riedemann turned in fraudulent time cards and used company credit cards for personal purchases while working as business office manager for Calumet Carriers between January 2014 and August 2016.