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Museum of Danish America Recognized for Excellence

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Museum of Danish America, in Elk Horn, has passed the American Alliance of Museums’ Core Documents Verification, an important milestone in its ongoing efforts to demonstrate excellence and meet standards and best practices. Earning Core Documents Verification means the national professional organization for the museum industry has verified – through a thorough expert review- that the Museum of Danish America has policies in place that reflect standard practices of professional museums.

Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, IA.

Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, IA.

Of the nation’s roughly 35,000 museums, only about 1,100 have passed the Core Documents Verification. Museum of Danish America is one of 19 museums in Iowa to have done so. Core Documents Verification is a launching pad for accreditation, the museum field’s mark of distinction and “gold standard” of museum excellence.

Dr. John Mark Nielsen, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Museum of Danish America, said “One reason we undertook this external review was to show that the museum has in place the policies and plans that are essential to good museum management and which provide our staff and board the structure, ethical grounding, and accountability needed to make informed and consistent decisions for the good of our public and for the sustainability of our institution.”

The Museum of Danish America was founded as The Danish Immigrant Museum in 1983. It is the only national institution of its kind with a professionally-trained curatorial staff and is located in the heart of the largest rural settlement of Danes. The Museum of Danish America includes the main museum, the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, a separate Genealogy Center, a homesteader’s cabin, and Bedstemor’s House, a house museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

More information can be found at www.danishmuseum.org.

3 percent Iowa tuition hike proposed for spring semester

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Undergraduate students at Iowa’s three public universities may have to pay $100 more for tuition next spring. The Iowa Board of Regents released a proposal Tuesday for a 3 percent tuition increase to go into effect for the spring 2016 semester. The board will discuss the increase next week and is expected to vote in September.

The increase would mean that full-time undergraduate resident students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa would pay $100 more. The proposal says that lawmakers only gave the schools a $6.5 million base budget increase, far less than the regents requested.  Earlier this month, Gov. Terry Branstad vetoed an additional $6.2 million in one-time funding for the schools that had been approved by lawmakers.

Sen. Grassley touts 6-year version of transportation bill

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Federal dollars for road work in Iowa and all other states will hit a dead end later this week without fast action in Congress. While the U-S House has approved a five-month extension of the current funding, the Senate is leaning toward a six-year plan for the transportation bill. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, favors the long-term version and won’t try to predict what’s going to happen in either chamber.

“We don’t know what the House will do until we pass a bill,” Grassley says. “This is what we can pass now and we’d better take advantage of bipartisan cooperation that we can get in the Senate, which you seldom get.”

The Senate held a rare Sunday session to pass its version of the transportation bill, which included an amendment to revive the Export-Import Bank, an issue that’s drawing opposition in the House. The Ex-Im, as it’s called, is a little-known federal agency that helps foreign customers buy things from U-S businesses. Grassley hopes all sides will reach agreement on the transportation bill — and soon.

“The long-term bill is the best for the economy,” Grassley says. “It’s the best for highway construction, best for creating jobs, not only in construction but in the manufacture of this heavy equipment. People are more apt to buy it if they know there is a long-term commitment to funding the highway program.” The current transportation funding bill expires on Friday. The proposed six-year measure is worth 350-billion dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

Council Bluffs trucker & his son killed in CT crash

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

STONINGTON, Conn. (AP) – Authorities say a man and his young son from Iowa have been killed in a tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 95 in Stonington, Connecticut.
Connecticut State Police say 31-year-old Sergio Amilear Castellon, of Council Bluffs, and his 7-year-old son, Sergio Giovanny Castellon, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash Monday night.

Police say the truck struck a guardrail and bridge abutment. The wreck scattered debris across the highway, and witnesses reported seeing smoke and hearing explosions.  The accident remains under investigation.

Progress slowed on Hwy 6/7th Street Project

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa DOT District 4 Transportation Coordinator Scott Suhr, in Atlantic, reports weather continues to slow progress on US Hwy 6/7th Street, in Atlantic, but crews were able to pave up to Cherry Street, last week.Road work Suhr says they continued to dry the grade from Cherry to Plum Streets last week, as well. This week, they plan on working on hand pours for driveways and intersections and sidewalks near Spruce, and Pine to Mulberry Streets.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 7/28/2015

News, Podcasts

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

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

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 7/28/2015

News, Podcasts

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Bluffs Police investigate home invasion

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say a Council Bluffs couple escaped injury during a home invasion early this (Tuesday) morning. Officers were called to 3545 9th Avenue at around 2:15-a.m. with regard to the incident. The victims, 53-year old Timothy Freeman and 50-year old Candy Freeman, reported that they were in their bedroom when they heard someone kick in their back door and start yelling their name.

Timothy Freeman walked down the hallway and saw three suspects standing in his kitchen. One of the suspects pointed a black semi-auto handgun at him. Freeman said when the suspects saw him, they ran out of the house and eastbound down the alley.

The incident remains under investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP (7867)

Serious injuries reported after motorcycle hits deer in Council Bluffs

News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The operator of a motorcycle suffered serious injuries after the machine hit a deer early this morning, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Corey Danker, of Council Bluffs, was driving the cycle when a deer ran into his path at around 1:30-a.m. near the intersection of Bennett and Franklin Avenues.

Danker suffered bleeding on the brain and a spinal cord injury during the collision. He was transported to Jennie Edmundson hospital for treatment.

Iowa dad, son die after being overcome by manure pit fumes

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 28th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CYLINDER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 58-year-old Iowa man tried to rescue his son who was overcome by fumes in a hog manure pit, but both men later died. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon in the northwest Iowa community of Cylinder. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says Gene Opheim and his 32-year-old son, Austin, were making repairs when Austin was overcome by the gases. His father then entered the pit to save his son but also was overcome.

Fire and rescue personnel were called to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office says the men were removed from the pit and taken to Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, where they were pronounced dead.