(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Congressman Randy Feenstra say they are working to help producers hit by the bird flu. Hinson, a Republican from Marion says it was the topic of a recent meeting. “Our Ag F-D-A Appropriations Committee had experts from U-S-D-A, APHIS, and animal research A-R-S, to really talk about what we need to be doing to combat avian influenza. This is about protecting those farmers and ranchers from losing their flocks and herds,” she says. Hinson says one topic was using prevention measures. “They’ve got a pilot program that’s designed to help with stopping the critters that get into these facilities that help spread, helping to deter the wild bird blocks that otherwise might bring that disease close to these, these barns and facilities,” Hinson says. They also discussed helping producers with their losses.

“On the indemnity side, we also had a great discussion about the math that they’re using and the system that they’re using to calculate what that indemnity looks like,” she says. Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says he recently talk with the new U-S Ag Secretary about the issue. “We just lost 21 million birds over the last several months right here in western Iowa. So we’re looking at vaccines and solutions to try to mitigate this issue. We just heard that. You know, bird flu is now in rats and mice, so we’ve got to figure out a solution to this epidemic,” Feenstra says. Feenstra says he also learned some frozen U-S-D-A funds have been released. “There’s 20 million of grants that got released as of the 20th of February. So I’m so excited that happened,” Feenstra says. “We had a lot of discussions with the administration, and this is what happens. We have a new administration, and some things get hooked up, but I tell you what, we got this resolved.”

Feenstra spoke at an event in Sioux City and Hinson made her comments on her weekly conference call with reporters.

(Radio Iowa) – The Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will let a higher blend of ethanol be sold this summer in Iowa and seven other Midwestern states. The sale of fuel with a 15 percent blend of ethanol has been prohibited nationwide in the summer due to concerns it could worsen smog levels. Bills have been introduced in congress to make the year-round sale of E-15 a permanent federal policy.

E-P-A Administrator Lee Zeldin says in the absence of congressional action, the agency is considering emergency waivers. He announced late Friday that E-15 may be sold in the Midwest this summer. Iowa elected officials, farm groups and the ethanol industry praised the decision.

(Radio Iowa) – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is urging residents of Iowa’s first congressional district to contact Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks and ask her to vote no this week on a House plan that includes budget cuts and tax cuts. “We cannot allow that legislation to pass,” Sanders said. “…I look at a lot of polls and what the American people say is don’t give billionaires a tax break. Demand that they start paying their fair share of taxes.”

Sanders, who ran for president in 2016 and 2020, spoke in Iowa City this past weekend. People who gathered to hear from Sanders in the main venue and in two spill over locations were asked to share their contact information. The senator says they’ll be getting information via text or email on how to contact Miller-Meeks.

“Can you make that call?” Sanders asked, and the crowd cheered. President Trump has expressed support for the package House Republican leaders unveiled to implement his border security and energy policies, while cutting about two TRILLION dollars in federal spending. It includes an estimated four-and-a-half TRILLION dollars in tax reductions as well. Sanders launched a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour this past weekend.

“Trump believes he can do anything he wants for any reason — he can ignore congress, he can ignore the courts, he is above the law,” Sanders said. “…Now is not the time for despair or feeling helpless. Now is the time to stand up, to fight back, to take on Trumpism.”

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds posted a message on social media criticizing Sanders for lecturing Iowans on socialism while he owns three houses.

(Iowa News Service) – An agriculture program in Iowa is helping new and up and coming farmers learn from more experienced ones – and its organizers have uncovered another outcome they weren’t expecting. Steve Riggins and his wife moved to their Cambridge, Iowa, farm ten years ago. It’s been in the family since 1855, but hadn’t been worked in decades.

Riggins turned to Practical Farmers of Iowa’s “Labor for Learning” program, which recruits farmers who’ve been around a while to teach those, like Riggins, where to start. “They taught me everything from cutting hay, raking hay, working on machinery, moving cows, working in the dairy,” said Riggins. ‘They taught me a million different things I never would have had a chance to learn. And it was 10 times better than going through YouTube.”

The program teaches beginning farmers practical, hands-on skills and helps them understand ag management practices and financial strategies. It also gives those more experienced farmers some extra hands on their land. Research shows roughly 10% of the nation’s farmland will transition to the next generation in just five years.

www.color24.org

Martha McFarland, farmland viability coordinator with Practical Farmers of Iowa, said while the Labor for Learning program is good for teaching the next generation, organizers were surprised to discover that the more experienced farmers are also potentially recruiting people they will pass their farm on to – as rural America undergoes a huge generational shift in land ownership.

“It’s really awkward to have a match between a retiring farmer and someone who might come in and take over the land and just say ‘OK, now take over,'” said McFarland. “There has to be some kind of an interim getting to know you period. And so, to be able to help retiring farmers find that, in that context, is really helpful.”

She said the more experienced farmers go through a training program with PFI before they take on the new ones.

(Iowa City, Iowa) – A pedestrian who was struck by a fire truck this (Sunday) morning, in Iowa City, has died from her injuries. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened as an Iowa City fire truck driven by 33-year-old Brandon Pflanzer, of Iowa City, was leaving a medical call in the 1000 block of S. Scott Blvd., at around 7:15-a.m., when it struck 99-year-old Evelyn Bothmer, of Iowa City, who died at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation by the State Patrol. Following the incident, Iowa City Public safety released a statement reading

The Iowa City Fire Department and City of Iowa City are devastated by this incident and we share our deepest condolences with the family, friends, and loved ones of the deceased, as well as the staff at Legacy Senior Living. We are fully cooperating with the Iowa State Patrol in their investigation.

Iowa City Public Safety

(Clarinda, Iowa) – An accident early this (Sunday) morning between Clarinda and New Market, in Page County, claimed the life of a man from Taylor County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 19-year-old Jase Michael Wilmes, of New Market, died when the pickup he was driving crashed at around 2:40-a.m. as it was traveling east on 210th Street, just east of Willow Avenue.

The pickup came up over a hill and went out of control before leaving the road to the left and into a ditch, where it struck multiple trees, went airborne, and landed upside down in the wooded area. The vehicle became engulfed in flames after it came to rest.

Wilmes – who was wearing his seat belt – died at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A group calling themselves “The Patriot Front” was seen marching Saturday just after noon in Downtown Des Moines, just outside the state capital and around the East Village. Video sent to Des Moines television stations [KCCI, WHO & WOI] show that at around 1 p.m. the group marched wearing jackets, hats, and white masks. In video’s posted by the group, some are seen carrying the 13 colonies flag and the An Appeal to Heaven flag, while other carried banners with the words “Deport Invaders, Keep America American.”

They moved through the East Village chanting including “Life, Liberty, Victory” and “Reclaim America.” The organization’s  website describes their goals related to each one. According to the Patriot Front homepage, Patriot Front is a white nationalist organization that aims to reclaim America for its European people.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation refers to “The Patriot Front” as a far-right group created in Texas that has white supremacist ideology. Des Moines police said officers are aware of Saturday’s demonstration.

Both chairs from the Iowa Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Iowa shared the following statements:

“Today, a white supremacist group that primarily exists to spread hate and fear by marching with their flags and hiding their faces with white masks, tried to intimidate Iowans. This group has joined protests that resulted in murder, harassment and chaos in cities like Charlottesville and Nashville. Let me be clear: This group, their scare tactics, and their hate have no place in Iowa.” -Iowa Democratic Party Chair, Rita Hart

“I don’t know who this group is. I’ve never heard of them. They sound like morons and I and the Republican Party will always condemn crap like this.” -Republican Party of Iowa Chair, Jeff Kauffman

The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP posted a statement on Facebook in response to the march, encouraging Iowans to contact their legislators and stress the “need to keep civil rights protections intact.”

(Grinnell, Iowa) A semi tractor-trailer driver from Urbandale died this (Saturday) morning when the 2020 Freightliner he was driving left Interstate 80 eastbound at mile-marker 179 in Jasper County, and crashed. The rig entered the median and struck the cable barrier before going between the bridge decks and striking the creek bed. The driver, 45-year-old Mebratu Menteso Wonjala, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene. The accident happened at around 10:45-a.m.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested this (Saturday) morning, on drug and other charges. Authorities say 21-year-old Jaime Jose Avila was taken into custody at around 2:10-a.m. in the 300 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. Avila was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on charges that include Interference with Official Acts, Possession of drug paraphernalia (Both Simple Misdemeanors), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (A Serious Misdemeanor). Bond was set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — An Iowa man is in custody after police say he fired shots at law enforcement officers who suspected him of stealing his own dog from a shelter while it recovered from a gunshot wound. Des Moines police say 49-year-old Christopher Kern was arrested Wednesday in Cedar Rapids. Kern was wanted by police who believed he had broken into an animal shelter the previous day and stolen his injured dog, which officers have named Dionysus.

Dionysus had been taken to the shelter after being found with a gunshot wound during a previous investigation into a report of gunfire in Des Moines on Jan. 31st. When Cedar Rapids police officers attempted to take Kern into custody earlier this week, he allegedly fired shots at officers, who returned fire. Kern was arrested following an 11-hour standoff and negotiation and now faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder of a peace officer.

No one was harmed. Dionysus was returned to the care of the Animal Rescue League.