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Twins born Jan. 11 at 22 weeks in Iowa hospital are in good condition 167 days later

News

June 27th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A southwest Iowa couple who are the parents of twins born prematurely at 22 weeks say taking their son home from a Des Moines hospital five and a half months later is exciting. Cristal Alvarez of Lenox went into labor on January 11th. “I didn’t think they were going to make it,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. “…Seeing them here and alive is a miracle and it was really scary for us because you know you never really see babies this early make it…so seeing them now, you know, it’s overwhelming.”

Jacob was one pound, six ounces when he was born 167 days ago. His twin sister, Luna, was three ounces smaller. Luna remains in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. She’s in stable condition and will be released when she starts getting her food from a bottle. She was the vocal twin, chiming in, as her parents spoke at a news conference Monday afternoon at the hospital.

“It’s exciting to start this adventure with them at home,” Alvarez said. “I know Luna will eventually come home soon, but just seeing them do good is exciting for us, to take them home and be a family.” Dr. Samir Alabsi is medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Blank Children’s Hospital. Dr. Alabsi says the hospital had not been providing active treatment for babies born before 24 weeks, but that changed January 1st. On January 11th, he got a call about Crystal’s early labor and the twins.

“I said: ‘We are ready and we prepared to provide the best care for those babies,'” Alabsi says. “And they came and we did it.” The twins are the first babies born at 22 weeks at the hospital to survive.  “They are not only alive, they are alive with good condition,” Alabsi said, “and that’s a big achievement for the team here.” Dr. Alabsi says the survival rate for 22 week old babies in U-S hospitals is between 30 to 50 percent and for twins that age, the survival rate is even lower.

Junior Mendez, the father of the twins, spoke through an interpreter at the news conference. He says after visiting the babies in the hospital for 166 days, it was a happy day to be able to leave the hospital with Jacob.

Posted in News |

Caitlin Clark Wins 2023 Honda Cup, Named Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year

Sports

June 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Junior guard from the University of Iowa, Caitlin Clark, won the 2023 Honda Cup and was named Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year as announced tonight by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

The Honda Cup Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 47 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.

Clark was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools.

Clark, from West Des Moines, Iowa, was named the 2023 Naismith, Wooden and Wade Trophy winner along with the Associated Press and USBWA Ann Drysdale Player of the Year honors.

The guard is also a two-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and is the first-ever three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Award. She also won the Honda Sport Award for Basketball in April.

She led her team to its first-ever NCAA Championship game and helped post the Hawkeye’s most wins in a single season. During the NCAA Tournament, she posted the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA Tournament history (men’s or women’s) and broke the NCAA single-tournament records for most 3-point FG made (24) and most points scored (191). This season, she is the only player in the nation with 1,000 points, 240 rebounds, 310 assists and 45 steals.

Overall, Clark became the first player in Division I women’s basketball history to record more than 1,000 points and 300 assists in the same season and was fastest Division I player (men’s or women’s) to reach 1,500 career points over the last 20 seasons.

Off the court, she is a two-time First Team Academic All-American and was named the 2023 CSC Academic All-America of the Year.

The CWSA, entering its 47th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.

Posted in Sports |

Crusaders come away with a road win over CAM

Sports

June 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

(Anita) — Since the first pitch both CAM and Coon Rapids-Bayard were ready to play gritty baseball. The Crusaders were first to score in the 3rd thanks to an RBI single from Parker Hays and then a sac-fly RBI from Cade Behrens. They gained a 2-0 lead and were ready to hold. Coon Rapids-Bayard added two more runs in the 4th with an RBI base hit thanks to Cal Heyden and another sac-fly from Lance Clayburg.

The game at that point seemed over until an RBI single from Brayden Chester in the 4th brought life back into the Cougars. The game was now 4-1 and you could feel the excitement from the CAM fans. But the excitement was short lived because Lance Clayburg for the Crusaders continued to throw strikeouts. Clayburg pitched the full 7 innings, had 5 hits, 1 ER, and 14 K’s.  CAM’s last hit came in the bottom of the 7th inning. Clayburg finished the game like he started, with a strikeout.

The final score was 5-1.

Coach Ticknor was honest about summarizing the game.

The Cougars remain focused as they look to the post season.

With the loss CAM stands at (8-11) and they will go on the road Tuesday June 27th to play Audubon. The Crusaders improve to (22-4) and are at home Tuesday June 27th against Ar-We-Va.

Posted in Sports |

Open records lawsuit settlement with governor is now final

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A settlement with the governor in an open records lawsuit is now final. A-C-L-U of Iowa attorney, Thomas Story, says there will be some oversight along with the payment in case. “We have now settled this case by an agreement that the court has approved and adopted We are pleased that the governor’s office has agreed to a one year term of judicial oversight of its compliance with the open records law,” Story says.

Clark Kauffman and The Iowa Capital Dispatch, Randy Evans and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, and Laura Belin and the Bleeding Heartland blog sued after the governor failed to turn over records requests during the pandemic. An Iowa Supreme Court ruling against the governor led to the settlement. “We look forward to working closely with the governor’s office to ensure our clients can access public records in a timely manner and report on state government so that we the people can understand oversee and engage with our elected officials,” Story says.

Iowa Freedom of Information Council executive director, Randy Evans, says the settlement will hopefully send a message to others. “The governor’s failure to comply with the law would cost Iowa taxpayers 135-thousand dollars. Those are 135-thousand reasons why state and local government officials and employees should understand they cannot ignore their duty to comply in a timely manner with records requests,” Evans says.

Story and Evans made their comments in a news conference on the finalized settlement.

Posted in News |

Red Oak man arrested for OWI on Sunday morning

News

June 26th, 2023 by admin

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 21-year-old Drake Leslie Brown of Red Oak at 7:11 a.m. on Sunday, June 25th for OWI, 1st Offense. Brown was arrested in the 300 block of West Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

Posted in News |

Experience a plus for Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey

Sports

June 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

With workouts underway it is a much different summer for Iowa State sophomore Tamin Lipsey. The Ames native is coming off a freshman season in which he started all 33 games at point guard and was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

Lipsey says with a year under his belt coach T.J. Otzelberger wants him to become even more of a leader.

With more depth at guard next season, it should help Lipsey share some of the ball handling duties.

Lipsey is working on all aspects of his offense. He averaged just over seven points per game last season but shot only 20 percent from three4 point range.

Otzelberger says one of Lipsey’s biggest strengths is his durability.

Otzelkberger says Lipsey excels in the areas of leadership and toughness.

Lipsey finished third n the team in offense rebounds as a freshman and Otzelberger says that is the result of his effort.

Otzelberger says Lipsey is a much more confident player this summer.

Posted in Sports |

Mills County Sheriff’s report, 6/26/23

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 5:20-a.m. Saturday, of 26-year-old Edy Geovani Baltazar-Franciso, of Omaha. Baltazar-Franciso was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 29, and charged with OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, a man from Malvern reported Sunday afternoon, an incident of Theft in the 2nd Degree. The only other information provided was that the incident occurred at a location on Rains Avenue.

Posted in News |

120 Hawkeyes Earn Spring Academic All-Big Ten Honors

Sports

June 26th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – One hundred twenty University of Iowa student-athletes have been named to the 2023 Spring Academic All-Big Ten team, the conference office announced Monday. The list includes student-athletes from baseball (11), men’s golf (3), women’s golf (2), rowing (32), softball (11), women’s tennis (4), men’s track and field (15), and women’s track and field (42).

The 32 rowing and 42 women’s track and field honorees are both school records.

A total of 2,192 students competing in spring and at-large sports were honored, including 360 in baseball, 181 in softball, 311 in women’s rowing, 74 in men’s and 79 in women’s golf, 180 in men’s and 178 in women’s lacrosse, 63 in men’s and 70 in women’s tennis, 263 in men’s and 336 in women’s track and field and 262 in at-large sports (representing bowling, men’s and women’s fencing, ice hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s and women’s rifle and pistol, men’s volleyball, sand volleyball, synchronized swimming and water polo.)

Eighty-one student-athletes carried a perfect grade point average, including rowing’s Natalie DeGabriele and track and field’s Jamie Kofron, Lillian Schmidt, Konnor Sommer and Kelli Tosec.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team, as verified by being on the official squad list as of May 1 for spring sports, who have been enrolled fulltime at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Baseball (11)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Brody Brecht                         So.           Management                                                                                   Ankeny, Iowa

Ben DeTaeye                          Sr.            Environmental Policy and Planning                                            Clive, Iowa

Brayden Frazier                     Sr.            Entrepreneurial Management                                                      Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Sam Hojnar                           Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Naperville, Ill.

Kyle Huckstorf                       Sr.            Interdepartmental Studies                                                           Waterford, Wis.

Luke Llewellyn                       Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Urbandale, Iowa

Cade Moss                             Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Johnston, Iowa

Will Mulflur                           Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Mercer Island, Wash.

Sam Petersen                         Jr.             Finance                                                                                             Huxley, Iowa

Michael Seegers                    Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Oconomowoc, Wis.

Ben Tallman                           Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Billings, Mont.

Men’s Golf (3)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Ronan Kleu                            Sr.            Business Analytics                                                                          Zollikerberg, Switzerland

Callum Macfie                       So.           Exercise Science                                                                              Yorkshire, England

Felipe Pedraza                       Jr.             Business Analytics and Information Systems                            Lima, Peru

 

Women’s Golf (2)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Caroline Gray                        So.           Pre-Business                                                                                    Winnetaka, Ill.

Lea Zeitler                              Sr.            Journalism and Mass Communication                                        Tyrol, Austria

Rowing (32)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Lily Beardsley                        So.           Psychology                                                                                      Bettendorf, Iowa

Liz Blewett                             Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Dallas, Texas

Sydney Brands                      Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Iowa City, Iowa

Verity Carstensen                 Jr.             Interdepartmental Studies                                                           Waukee, Iowa

Melissa Cronnolly                Sr.            Speech and Hearing Science                                                        Park Ridge, Ill.

Orla Cuffe                              So.           Management                                                                                   Auckland, New Zealand

Emma Dabinett                     Jr.             Psychology                                                                                      Bracknell, England

Natalie DeGabriele              Jr.            Human Physiology                                                                        Cedar Falls, Iowa

Grace Ethofer                       Jr.             Pharmacy Interest                                                                          Polk City, Iowa

Elora Fierke                            Sr.            English and Creative Writing                                                        Fort Dodge, Iowa

Jaecee Hall                            Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Ankeny, Iowa

Heidi Hines                            Sr.            Human Physiology                                                                         Three Rivers, Mich.

Abby Jaynes                          Jr.             Elementary Education                                                                   Greenwood Village, Colo.

Kirsten Jurgersen                  Sr.            CLAS Non-degree Student                                                            Wilton, Iowa

Abbey Klostermann             Sr.            Biology                                                                                             Davenport, Iowa

Nina Lawrence                       Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Wellington, New Zealand

Paige Leibfried                      Jr.             Exercise Science                                                                              Waukee, Iowa

Taryn Lindaman                    Sr.            Graduate Nondepartmental                                                         Ankeny, Iowa

Myah Lugar                           So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Clinton, Iowa

Natalie Maher                       Jr.             Business Analytics and Information Systems                            Huxley, Iowa

Emma Mask                          Sr.            Nuclear Medicine Technology                                                     Bettendorf, Iowa

Kassandra McWhorter        Sr.            Neuroscience                                                                                   Atkins, Iowa

Hailey Mercuri                      Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Grimsby, Ontario

Ava Parris                              Sr.            Management                                                                                   Capron, Ill.

Haley Reeves                         So.           Environmental Sciences                                                                Ames, Iowa

Molly Rygh                            Sr.            Sport and Recreation Management                                            Cedar Falls, Iowa

Ava Satterfield                      Jr.             Human Physiology                                                                         Bettendorf, Iowa

Molly Shannon                     So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Clinton, Iowa

Kenni Smith                           So.           Business Standard Admission                                                      Toronto, Canada

Abbyl Thoms                         So.           Human Physiology                                                                         Marion, Iowa

Maggie Toennis                    So.           Human Physiology                                                                         Naperville, Ill.

Claire Wragge                        Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Hampton, Iowa

 

Softball (11)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Grace Banes                          Sr.            Human Physiology                                                                         Kansas City, Kan.

Kalena Burns                         Sr.            Elementary Education                                                                   Corona, Calif.

Nia Carter                              Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Amber DeSena                      Jr.             Psychology                                                                                      Concord, Calif.

Tristin Doster                        So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Fort Dodge, Iowa

Haley Downe                         So.           Environmental Engineering                                                          Norwalk, Iowa

Anna Henderson                   Jr.             Biology                                                                                             Battle Ground, Ind.

Emma Henderson                 Jr.             Human Physiology                                                                         Battle Ground, Ind.

Brylee Klosterman                Jr.             Enterprise Leadership                                                                    North Liberty, Iowa

Rylie Moss                             Jr.             Health Studies                                                                                Muscatine, Iowa

Breanna Vasquez                  Sr.            Psychology                                                                                      Norwalk, Calif.

Women’s Tennis (4)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Samantha Mannix                Grad.       Sport and Recreation Management                                            Elkhorn, Neb.

Vipasha Mehra                     Jr.             Science Studies                                                                               Calgary, Canada

Barbora Pokorna                  So.           International Relations                                                                  Ostrava, Czech Republic

Marisa Schmidt                     So.           Business                                                                                           KarlSenioruhe, Germany

 

Men’s Track and Field (15)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Armando Bryson                  Sr.            Political Science                                                                              Anaheim, Calif.

Grant Conway                       Sr.            Sport and Recreation Management                                            St. James, Mo.

Spencer Gudgel                    Sr.            Sport & Recreation Management                                                Carmel, Ind.

Peyton Haack                        Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Westfield, Ind.

Kaleba Jack                            Jr.             Psychology                                                                                      Iowa City, Iowa

Noah James                           So.           Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Treynor, Iowa

Khullen Jefferson                  Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Lynwood, Ill.

Aidan King                             Jr.             Political Science                                                                              St. Charles, Ill.

Max Murphy                         Sr.            Mechanical Engineering                                                                Bettendorf, Iowa

Tyler Olson                            Sr.            CLAS Non-degree Student                                                            Muscatine, Iowa

Gratt Reed                             Sr.            Finance                                                                                             Atlantic, Iowa

Konnor Sommer                   Sr.            Electrical and Computer Engineering                                        Bettendorf, Iowa

Martin Strong                       Jr.             Mechanical Engineering                                                                Kirkwood, Mo.

Nick Trattner                         Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Naperville, Ill.

Austin West                           Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Iowa City, Iowa

 

Women’s Track & Field (42)

Name                                     Year        Major                                                                                               Hometown

Amber Aesoph                     Sr.            Health Studies                                                                                Sioux City, Iowa

Alivia Bauer                           Sr.            Elementary Education                                                                   Indianola, Iowa

Myreanna Bebe                    Jr.             Journalism and Mass Communications                                      Marion, Iowa

Maddie Block                        Other      Clinical Anatomy                                                                            Marion, Iowa

Alli Bookin-Nosbisch            Sr.            Sport and Recreation Management                                            Ottumwa, Iowa

Grace Bookin-Nosbisch       Sr.            Marketing                                                                                        Ottumwa, Iowa

Miya Brines                           So.           Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Loveland, Colo.

Mariel Bruxvoort                 Sr.            Accounting                                                                                      Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dimia Burrell                         Jr.             Journalism and Mass Communication                                        Marion, Iowa

Claire Edmondson                Jr.             Ancient Civilization                                                                        Dubuque, Iowa

Laney Fitzpatrick                  Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Davenport, Iowa

Bryce Gidel                            Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Humboldt, Iowa

Emma Gordon                      Sr.            Law                                                                                                   Ankeny, Iowa

Anne Guest                            So.           Elementary Education                                                                   Ottumwa, Iowa

LaSarah Hargrove                 Sr.            Criminology, Law and Justice                                                       Tampa, Fla.

Amanda Howe                      Sr.            Sociology                                                                                         Southington, Conn.

Jade Hunter                           So.           Exercise Science                                                                              East Moline, Ill.

Kaitlin Knape                         So.           Political Science                                                                              Tecumseh, Mich.

Jamie Kofron                        Sr.            Finance                                                                                            Tipton, Iowa

Leah Kralovetz                      Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Denmark, Wis.

Chloe Larsen                          Jr.             Health Studies                                                                                Waukee, Wis.

Lia Love                                  Sr.            Public Health                                                                                   Chapel Hill, N.C.

Paige Magee                          Jr.             Sport and Recreation Management                                            Columbia, Mo.

Mytika Mayberry                 Jr.             African American Studies                                                             Ankeny, Iowa

Brooke McKee                       Jr.             Business Analytics and Information Systems                            Johnston, Iowa

Lauren McMahon                 Sr.            Biomedical Sciences                                                                       Ankeny, Iowa

Tahlee McVee                        So.           Environmental Policy and Planning                                            Perth, Australia

Ella Meeuwsen                      So.           Nursing Interest                                                                              Green Bay, Wis.

Kat Moody                             Sr.            Political Science                                                                              Clive, Iowa

Katherine Moore                  Jr.             Radiation Sciences                                                                          Olathe, Kan.

Nylah Perry                           Jr.             Communication Studies                                                                Sicklerville, N.J.

Katie Petersen                       Sr.            Human Physiology                                                                         Ankeny, Iowa

Claire Pitcher                        Sr.            Enterprise Leadership                                                                    Franklin, Wis.

Micah Poellet                        Jr.             Environmental Sciences                                                                Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Ianna Roach                          Sr.            Journalism and Mass Communication                                        Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

Abby Ryon                             Sr.            Biology                                                                                             Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Miriam Sandeen                   So.           Exercise Science                                                                              Eden Prairie, Minn.

Lillian Schmidt                      Jr.            Biomedical Engineering                                                               Dubuque, Iowa

Sam Strauss                           Jr.             Environmental Sciences                                                                Johnston, Iowa

Kelli Tosic                               Sr.            Theatre Arts                                                                                   Grayslake, Ill.

Ellie Twedt                             Fr.            Pharmacy                                                                                         Elkhart, Iowa

Kathryn Vortherms              Sr.            Exercise Science                                                                              Ankeny, Iowa

Posted in Sports |

Grinnell forum explores intersection of agriculture and space exploration

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s two U.S. senators say NASA’s lunar research may help improve food production and resource conservation on Earth. The lawmakers joined NASA astronaut Raja Chari for a discussion at Grinnell College this (Monday) morning. Chari, who was raised in Cedar Falls, says as astronauts learn to live on the moon through NASA’s Artemis Project, they’ll need to learn to grow food.

“I think it’s important that we invest in the technology in getting there so that we can continue to lead as a nation and lead the world,” Chari says, “just as we did during the Apollo era.” Chari is the leader of astronaut development and testing for the Human Landing System for NASA’s Artemis Program. Republican Senator Joni Ernst says what astronauts learn from living on the moon may wind up influencing a wide range of federal policies.

“It’s important not just for the Farm Bill, but it’s important for other departments as well as we’re moving forward doing research on crops, on protecting our water — water purification,” Ernst says. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says NASA’s ag research may be more quickly adopted by the private sector. “What we learn from research out of gravity is very important for agriculture research,” Grassley says. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, was also at the event in Grinnell.

“My key takeaway is that collabortation is essential to making sure we can continue to collaborate,” Hinson says. “Hearing about the work happening on the International Space Station down to the work we’re going to be doing on the Farm Bill to make sure that research and that innovation is supported, I think it’s absolutely critical.”

NASA’s Artemis crew has begun training, with a target date in 2026 for landing on the moon and spending nearly a month living on the surface.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Iowa attorney general hiring three new prosecutors

News

June 26th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is hiring three new attorneys for the Statewide Prosecutions Section in the Iowa Department of Justice.  “Back in 1997, there were 11 prosecutors who could travel around Iowa and do cases in every corner of Iowa. When I took office in January, they were down to seven,” Bird says. “Sexual assault cases are up about 101% (and) homicides are up about 70% since then, so there’s clearly an even greater need than there was before.” According to a job posting on the Attorney General’s website, the salary range for the new prosecutors is between 120- and 135-thousand dollars and they will assist county attorneys in the prosecution of felony-level crimes, like murder. The legislature provided Bird’s office with extra money for these positions, as well as others.

“A victim witness coordinator, also someone who can help as an investigator to help put together those cases,” Bird says. The government reorganization plan lawmakers approved this spring included language saying Bird may intervene in criminal prosecutions, even if a local county attorney does not request assistance. The Iowa County Attorneys Association objected, saying county attorneys are elected officials who answer to their constituents and they should retain prosecutorial discretion. A representative from Bird’s office told lawmakers it was important for the legislature to weigh in, so Bird’s authority would be clear.

“The attorney general has had statewide criminal jurisdiction since the 1860s and they further clarified that to make that clear, but as far as how we’re working with county attorneys, that hasn’t changed,” Bird says. “We have county attorneys here in this state who doing a great job and we work with them on different cases that come up in their county.” Bird, who’s been attorney general for nearly six months, says she has not intervened in any county-level prosecutions. Bird, a Republican, defeated Tom Miller last November. Miller, a Democrat, had served as Iowa’s attorney general for 40 years.

Posted in News |