(Radio Iowa) Friday marks one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and experts from across the Midwest are gathering in Iowa City tonight for a panel discussion about the war and what may be next for that region — and for the world. Marina Zaloznaya (ZAL-ohz-NY-ah), a sociologist and political science professor at the University of Iowa, says she’s surprised the conflict has lasted this long, and it’s an ill omen that we’re now entering a second year.

Zaloznaya, director of the U-I’s European Studies Group, says there’s “no clear offramp” for Russia, while the Russian people support the war because they don’t know the full story, being cut off from Western media.

Russia has the resources to continue the war for years, while Ukraine is being backed by the United States and numerous other countries, setting up the potential genesis of another much larger war. While the future of the conflict may have a profound impact on millions of people around the world, she says there are also resurrected fears of nuclear escalation.

Various sources show the U-S has spent between 25- and 75-billion dollars on weapons, training and supplies for Ukraine since the war began a year ago. Zaloznaya says Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has shaken Europe to its core and set off a global humanitarian crisis.

Tonight’s panel discussion will include experts from the U-I, the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It starts at 5:15 at the Iowa Memorial Union on the U-I campus and is free and open to all.

(Des Moines, IA) Effective April 1, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) will no longer require positive COVID-19 tests to be reported to the state Public Health Division. Since March 2020, any COVID-19 test processed in a clinical lab was required to be reported to the state Public Health Division and then to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This type of reporting no longer accurately reflects the prevalence of the virus in the state.

Since the development and widespread availability of rapid in-home tests – which are not required to be reported – the case and positive test counts in the state are no longer as meaningful as they once were. Iowa currently has no mandatory reporting order for any of the other respiratory viral illnesses such as influenza, RSV, and rhinovirus.

Beginning April 1, Iowa’s COVID-19 reporting dashboard will be replaced by the incorporation of surveillance data into the weekly respiratory virus surveillance report published by the Division of Public Health and available at https://hhs.iowa.gov/influenza/reports. The report will be published weekly, similar to existing reporting standards for other respiratory viruses. The Public Health Division will continue to review and analyze COVID-19 and other health data from several sources, including Syndromic Surveillance which the state has launched through the Health Information Exchange allowing near real time monitoring of illnesses.

“It’s important for Iowans to know that the Public Health Division will monitor the virus, just as we do for other respiratory illnesses,” said State Medical Director Dr.Robert Kruse.“The Public Health Division will continue to work collaboratively with our local health departments, healthcare partners in the state, and partners at the federal level.”

TestIowa at Home will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing for Iowans through the end of 2023.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services announced that based on current COVID-19 trends, they plan for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. More information is available at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/02/09/fact-sheet-covid-19-public-health-emergency-transition-roadmap.html

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope released details on a myriad of accidents on Wednesday during icy road conditions.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls for a multi-vehicle accident near the Missouri River bridge on Hwy 2, east of Nebraska City.

A 1996 Chevy 1500 was westbound on Hwy 2 on the levee Bridge when it lost control on ice and struck the north concrete barrier, coming to rest facing east in the westbound right lane. The vehicle was then struck by a white 2005 Buick Park Avenue. A westbound semi driver took evasive action and attempted to avoid the initial accident, stuck the Buick, and then overturned blocking both westbound lanes of travel.

A black 2019 Dodge Journey Stopped east of the initial pickup accident to assist with traffic control and was struck by a black 2022 Chevy Malibu.

The two occupants of the Chevy 1500 were transported to the hospital with possible injuries and one occupant of the Buick Park Avenue was transported as well. No other injuries were reported.

Westbound Hwy 2 traffic was halted until approximately 1:00 a.m.

The Sidney Fire and Rescue, Percival Fire and Rescue, Hamburg Fire and Rescue, Nebraska City Fire and Rescue, Iowa State Patrol, Otoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, the Nebraska City Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

At approximately 7:57 p.m. four other traffic accidents occurred between the 8 and 10-mile marker northbound Interstate 29. One patient was transported to the hospital from a rollover accident at the 8-mile marker. A male was also transported from Sapp Brothers by rescue with a possible cardiac event, not related to the accidents.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two recent arrests.

On Tuesday, February 21st Glenwood Police arrested 35-year-old Jeffrey Neppl of Plattsmouth, NE on two Mills County Warrants. He was booked in and later released on $600 cash bond.

On Wednesday, February 22nd Glenwood Police arrested 45-year-old Amanda Berglund of Glenwood on a Mills County Warrant. No further details were provided.

(Radio Iowa) The Board of Regents has given approval to the University of Iowa to begin planning for a new dorm and the possible sale of the current Mayflower dorm. U-I Vice president for finance and operations, Rod Lehnertz says the new dorm would cost between 40 and 60 million dollars and will be tailored to the needs of returning students.

He says they have a couple of potential sites for the new dorm that are near the current dorms on the east side of campus.

Lehnertz says the returning students are often those who transfer, or are coming back to college. He says they benefit from living on campus by meeting people and making connections.

He says the Mayflower dorms location one mile from campus makes it the least desired for the new students who end up there, and that is why they want to sell it. Lehnertz says Mayflower was a two tower building that was originally built as an apartment and would be desirable for those who want to make it back into apartments.

Lehnertz says they would look at the possibility of using the proceeds of the Mayflower sale to help pay for the new dorm. The new dorm plans and the sale of Mayflower are part of the overall housing master plan that includes renovations of the existing dormitories.

(Radio Iowa) A new study shows the three state universities add nearly 15 billion dollars to the state economy. The study from the labor market analytics firm Lightcast shows the contributions form the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa were equal to approximately seven-point-one percent of the total gross state product of the state. The study notes university activity supports nearly 200-thousand jobs in the state, which is one out of 10 jobs, and returns nearly three dollars for every taxpayer dollar spent. The study also outlines the impact of student education, alumni, and extension and outreach services. You can see more details of the report at RadioIowa.com

A prom dress pop-up is happening again in Atlantic this year. The event will offer a comfortable in-home style shopping experience on two different days at 804 Poplar Street in Atlantic, the white house just to the south of the Methodist Church. The event will be held on February 25th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon and March 3rd from Noon-3:00 p.m.

This comfortable free boutique style feel shopping event provides an opportunity for students to browse available dresses, try on as many as they want, and go home with a dress and shoes for free. A free will donation will be accepted but is not necessary. Light refreshments will be available and shoppers can enter to win a prom-day goodie bag as well.

The free will donation will go to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A local LLS team named “Got Cure Age” run by three teen girls will be credited with the donations.

The event is hosted by Mallory Robinson with help of the United Methodist Church. If you would like to donate dresses you may drop them off at the Atlantic Chamber office or contact Mallory at 712-249-1985. She can also be reached for possible evening appointment arrangements between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise (P.R.I.D.E.) will host a final legislative coffee to share your views on Iowa and local issues with Senator Tom Shipley and Rep. Tom Moore. The event will be held on Saturday, March 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Anita Public Library.  Light refreshments will be provided.

P.R.I.D.E. is an economic & community development organization.

(Radio Iowa) Officials with Prestage Foods of Iowa are announcing a joint venture that’s being called Prestage Wholestone. The collaboration is with Wholestone Farms of Nebraska which is a farmer-owned pork processing facility based in Fremont, Nebraska. Prestage Wholestone will operate the two plant locations in Eagle Grove and Fremont with a daily single shift harvest capacity of approximately 21,000 head per day. In a press release, the Eagle Grove facility will remain managed by the Prestage family. Prestage Wholestone is expected to start joint operations within the next 12 months. Wholestone Farms was founded as a cooperative of 200 Midwest family farms in 2018. The Eagle Grove Prestage Foods of Iowa opened its $350 million pork plant in 2019.

The Exira-EHK School board met on Tuesday evening in the conference room in Elk Horn for a regular meeting. During the meeting Superintendent Trevor Miller presented a tentative agreement with the Exira-EHK Education Association that proposes a 5.45% salary increase for Certified Staff members. That was unanimously approved as presented by the board.

The Board also approved resignations, hires, and transfers. Resignations included: Cody Parmley, Spartan Media Sponsor; Julie Rasmussen, Art Teacher; Andrea Schwery, Science Teacher and Softball Coach (after 2023 season); and Heather Sprague, Title Teacher. Hires included Cory Bartz as high school girls track coach and Doug Newton as junior high boys track coach.

A public hearing was also held on the proposed 2023-24 District Calendar with no comments received from the public.

The Exira-EHK School Board will next meet on March 21st at 5:30 p.m. in the Exira-EHK Conference Room in Elk Horn.