(Radio Iowa) – Iowa native astronaut Peggy Whitson and her three-member crew are now halfway through their two-week research mission aboard the International Space Station. This is Whitson’s fifth visit to the orbiting laboratory, while her teammates — from India, Hungary and Poland — are all rookies. The 65-year-old from Beaconsfield was asked in an Axiom Space interview how the new astronauts have adapted to working in weightlessness. “They’re doing great. Everybody is really busy,” Whitson says. “We’re getting a lot of science research done and managing to have a good time in the meantime.” Ax-4 is the fourth mission to the space station for the private, Houston-based firm, which aims to build its own space station in the coming few years. Whitson says they have a full slate of about 60 experiments on their to-do list.

“We have investigations from the four different countries and we’re just doing a wide variety of things,” Whitson says. “My favorite is the Cancer in Low Earth Orbit study. ‘Shux’ (Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla) has already started his muscle stem cell growth study, looking at how muscles change in space, because we know our muscles atrophy unless we are working out a lot, every day.” Another Ax-4 experiment is designed to test how a person with diabetes would be affected by spaceflight, as regulations now keep diabetics from orbit due to so many unknowns. “We just finished an ultrasound investigation, looking at the cardiovascular system, how it changes in space, and ‘Suave’ (Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski) has been doing also a lot of different experiments,” Whitson says. “He did one on muscle stimulation where they were stimulating his muscles to see if that’s going to impact or affect and improve his ability to retain muscle during spaceflight.”

Peggy Whitson, front left, poses with the ISS crew (Photo from NASA-TV)

Whitson was asked if she’d brought along anything personal from Earth to remind her of home and loved ones while she’s 250 miles up. “I brought something that I’ve brought for every space mission, and if I can find it — a necklace — here, and it’s the necklace my husband gave me when we got married,” Whitson says, “and this is the fifth time it’s been in space.” This is Whitson’s second mission with Axiom Space, following three NASA missions before she retired from the agency in 2018. Considered the United States’ most experienced astronaut, Whitson has now spent some 683 days in space, more than any other American.

The Ax-4 crew is due to undock from the I-S-S in about another week and return home.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, July 2nd, .acted on approving fireworks permits for Mark O’Brien. The events will take place at the following locations, dates and times:

• The Cass County Fair at 805 West 10th Street on July 25th, 2025 for a Show Beginning Approximately 30 Minutes After Sunset and Lasting for a Period of Approximately 20 Minutes.
• At the County Fairgrounds during a Tractor Pull on August 23, 2025 for a Show Beginning Approximately 30 Minutes After Sunset and Lasting for a Period of Approximately 20 Minutes.
• For the Tolton Picnic at 103 West 29th Street on September 13, 2025 for a Show Beginning Approximately 30 Minutes After Sunset and Lasting for a Period of Approximately 20 Minutes.
• And, the Council approved a Street Closing Permit for 4th Street, From Walnut to Chestnut for SHIFT ATL’s Summer Soiree Fundraiser Event/Dinner on Saturday, August 9, 2025, Starting at 6:00 A.M. and Ending at Midnight.

Atlantic City Council mtg. 7-2-25

The Council passed readings of the following Ordinances:

• Third & Final Reading of Ordinance No. 1056 “Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa by Amending Chapter 6 Entitled ‘City Election.’ The ordinance returns City elections to a “Plurality-takes-all” system, instead of a runoff system, which had been enacted by the Council in July 0f 2021.
• Third & Final Reading of Ordinance No. 1057 “Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa, by Amending Speed Regulations, Section 63.04(2) of the City Code. The language was amended to reduce the speed limit on 29th Street from 35-to 30-miles per hour, to the southern City limits.
• Third & Final Reading of Ordinance No. 1058 “Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa, by Amending Speed Regulations, Section 63.04(2) of the City Code.’ The language was amended to reduce the speed limit on 29th St. from 35- to 30-mph from Chestnut St. to Palm St.
• Third & Final of Ordinance No. 1059 “Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa, by Amending Speed Regulations, Section 63.04(3) of the City Code.’” The language was amended to reduce the speed limit on 29th St, from the Palm St. intersection to a point 800-feet west of the intersection. The reduction to 35-mph remains unchanged.
• First Reading of Ordinance No 1060 “Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic, Iowa, by Amending Section 70.03 ‘Parking Violations: Alternate.’” (Ordinance 1060 would require the late fee for non-payment of parking fines from $20 to 50 dollars, after 30 days on non-payment. The increase would cover the cost of certified letters the City is required by Iowa Code to send out when people, when they ignore the due date.)

In other business, the Council passed a Resolution (#52-25) “Setting Wages for the Employees of the City of Atlantic Animal Shelter for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 Through June 30, 2026.” Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett commented on Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the new murals created by Iowa State University College of Design student, on the old YMCA building.

Garrett said they will be meeting with ISU officials again next week, with regard to the “Re-imagining Bull Creek” project, which is a collaboration between the City of Atlantic, Iowa State University’s College of Design, and ISU Extension and Outreach. The project focuses on improving the Bull Creek corridor, addressing issues like erosion and flooding.

(Mt. Pleasant, Iowa) – One person died during a collision this (Wednesday) afternoon in southeast Iowa’s Henry County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2025 Honda Civic was traveling south on Highway 218 at around 12:53-p.m., when for reasons unknown, the vehicle cross the median and struck a northbound 2017 Freightliner semi, driven by a man from California.

The driver of the car died in the crash. Their name was being withheld by the State Patrol, pending notification of family. The crash remains under investigation.