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UI scientist finds out from media he’s lost key post with EPA

News

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A University of Iowa scientist says he and others who’ve served as advisers to the U-S Environmental Protection Agency are finding out in news stories they’ve been removed or demoted. Many of the scientists come from academia and say they’re being replaced by scientists from industries regulated by the E-P-A. Professor Peter Thorne heads the U-I’s Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and says until recently, he chaired the E-P-A’s Science Advisory Board, the agency’s most prominent advising body. “I was term limited, but I was nominated to continue and I found out from the media that someone else had been asked to chair that going forward,” Thorne says. “So I have not gotten official word, but my name disappeared from the website this week, so that’s confirmation.”

Thorne says he’s worried changes at the E-P-A will limit the agency’s ability to protect public health and the environment. He says scientists from academic institutions serving as advisers are being “marginalized” by the agency’s new leadership. “The scientists are being replaced by industry scientists,” Thorne says, “people who have worked for industry, people who have worked for law firms that have sued the EPA.”

Thorne says scientists who get E-P-A funding for research are now blocked from serving as advisers to the agency. He made his comments on Iowa Public Radio’s program “River to River.”

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 11/10/2017

News, Podcasts

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

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Posted in News, Podcasts |

2017 8-Man, District 7 Football All-District selections

Sports

November 10th, 2017 by admin

2017 8-Man, District 7 All-District Honors

2017 Class 8-Man, District 7 Final Standings

*^Sidney                            7-0                  10-1
^Fremont-Mills                  6-1                  9-3
C-A-M                               4-3                  6-4
Exira/EH-Kimbltn                4-3                  5-4
Woodbine                          3-4                  4-5
East Mills                           3-4                  3-6
Clarinda Academy              1-6                  2-7
Essex                                 0-7                  0-10
*District Champion.  ^Playoff Qualifier.

2017 District 7 Honors

Coach of the Year: Donnie Sears, Sidney
Offensive Player of the Year: Thomas Hensley, C-A-M, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Hontz, Fremont-Mills, Sr.

First Team Offense

Quarterback: Thomas Hensley, C-A-M, Sr.
Linemen: Thomas Wilson, Sidney, Soph.; Blake Hurley, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; Brady Lorimor, Sidney, Jr.
Running Back: Bryson Duncan, Sidney, Sr.; Joey Wolf, Woodbine, Sr.; Jaeger Powers, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Tight End/Receiver: Layne Pryor, Woodbine, Fr.; Nick Holste, C-A-M, Sr.; Dylan Schroeder, East Mills, Sr.
Utility: Andrew Honz, Fremont-Mills, Sr.
Kicker: Sergio Rodriguez, Sidney, Sr.

First Team Defense

Linemen: Andrew Hontz, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; Cody Dupre, Sidney, Sr.; Austin Gartner, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Linebacker: Cole Madsen, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Sr.; Joey Wolf, Woodbine, Sr.; Seth Malcom, Fremont-Mills, Fr.; Isaac Bower, C-A-M, Jr.
D-Back: Thomas Hensley, C-A-M, Sr.; Jaden Sears, Sidney, Jr.; James Switzer, Fremont-Mills, Soph.
Utility: Jaeger Powers, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Punter: Joey Wolf, Woodbine, Sr.

Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Mason Vanatta, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Linemen: Brady Griffin, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Sr.; Kaleb Venteicher, C-A-M, Sr.; Clay Kuhlman, Woodbine, Jr.
Running Back: Darien Burnison, C-A-M, Jr.; Cody Dupre, Sidney, Sr.; Damani Green, Clarinda Academy, Sr.
Tight End/Receiver: Sergio Rodriguez, Sidney, Sr.; Tristan Vanatta, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; Trey Nelson, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Jr.
Utility: Cole Burmeister, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Jr.
Kicker: Connor Alley, Fremont-Mills, Jr.

Second Team Defense

Linemen: Blake Hurley, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; DeShawn Carr, C-A-M, Jr.; Thomas Wilson, Sidney, Soph.
Linebacker: Cameron Whitehead, Sidney, Sr.; Bryson Duncan, Sidney, Sr.; Connor Alley, Fremont-Mills, Jr.; Nic Duysen, East Mills, Soph.
D-Back: Dylan Schroeder, East Mills, Sr.; Jayden Goodwin, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Jr.; Michael Schafer, East Mills, Soph.
Utility: Caleb Behrends, Sidney, Sr.
Punter: Chris Darnold, East Mills, Soph.

2017 Honorable Mention

Sidney: Brock Shirley (Jr.); Cameron Whitehead (Sr.); Tate Thompson (Sr.); Tim Hensley (Sr.); Brady Lorimor (Jr.); Christian Nennemann (Jr.); Sergio Rodriguez (Sr.).
Fremont-Mills: Jonah Bateman (Jr.); Clayton Stille (Soph.);
C-A-M: Ethan Steffensen (Soph.);
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton: Josh Pettepier (Jr.); Trever Schulz (Jr.);
Woodbine: Wyatt Pryor (Soph.); Carter Ellison (Sr.); Tyler Coberly (Jr.).
East Mills: Chris Darnold (Soph.); Nate Richardson (Jr.);
Clarinda Academy: Cornelius Kellogg (Sr.); Eric Fraise (Sr.); Garrett Hastie (Jr.);
Essex: Colton Thornburg (Soph.); Aaron Whistlar (Sr.); Luke Dailey (Jr.); Daniel Ohnmacht (Jr.);

2017 Academic All-District – Must be Jr., Sr. – Maintain 3.25 GPA

Fremont-Mills: Connor Alley (Jr.); Dylan Chambers (Jr.); Austin Gartner (Jr.); Andrew Hontz (Sr.); Blake Hurley (Sr.); Jaeger Powers (Jr.); Mason Vanatta (Jr.);
C-A-M: Isaac Bower (Jr.); Darien Burnison (Jr.); Jackson Heithoff (Sr.); Thomas Hensley (Sr.); Andrew Holste (Jr.); Nicholas Holste (Sr.); Sam Martin (Jr.); Teaguen Sothman (Jr.); Kaleb Venteicher (Sr.); Mitchell Williamson (Jr.).
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton: Jayden Goodwin (Jr.); Brady Griffin (Sr.); Ian Leader (Jr.); Cole Madsen (Sr.); Trey Nelson (Jr.); Josh Pettepier (Jr.); Dalton VanderWal (Sr.).
Woodbine: Alex Bantam (Jr.); Clay Kuhlman (Jr.); Connor Sullivan (Jr.); Joey Wolf (Sr.).
East Mills: Trevor Glockel (Jr.).

Posted in Sports |

(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 11/10/2017

Podcasts, Sports

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 11/10/2017

News, Podcasts

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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MidAmerican plans to spend $1B to update wind turbines

News

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — MidAmerican Energy says it plans to spend $1 billion updating more than 700 older wind turbines across Iowa. The turbines will be retrofitted with newer, more efficient components, including longer blades, to extend their lifespans an estimated 20 years. The company says each upgraded turbine will annually net between 19 and 28 percent more energy.

The project is beginning with MidAmerican’s first three wind farms, built in 2004 in northern Iowa. Construction crews often work overnight, when winds die down. Work stops when the wind exceeds 20 mph.

Posted in News |

Charity launches annual Red Kettle campaign in Iowa with tree-lighting

News

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

One of the sounds of the Yuletide season will soon be heard in Iowa. The ringing of bells on street corners and outside of stores will mark the start of the Salvation Army’s annual fundraising campaign. Susan Eustice, spokeswoman for the charity’s Omaha-Council Bluffs chapter, says their tree-lighting celebration will be held tonight (Friday) and the tree itself is spectacular. “It is 75 feet tall, has 80,000 LED lights and 600 snowflakes,” Eustice says. “It’ll all light up as a signal that the Tree of Lights and the Red Kettle campaign will begin.”

The Salvation Army is putting out an urgent call for help. “We are in serious need of volunteer bell ringers in Omaha and Council Bluffs,” Eustice says. “To volunteer, it’s easy. Go online to RegisterToRing.com or call our volunteer office at 402-898-6000 and sign up.” Chapters across Iowa are seeking volunteers and that same website can be used. In Omaha-Council Bluffs, hundreds of helpers are needed to station themselves beside the red kettles. “We have over 130 sites and we have seven weeks, and that’s six days a week, to ring that bell,” Eustice says. “We need families, we need business groups, church groups to come out, adopt a kettle for a day or two and help us reach our goal.”

The tree-lighting event starts at 6-p.m. at 90th and Dodge Street in Omaha. There will be food, live entertainment, Santa and his reindeer. The kettles will remain out through December 23rd.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

USDA boosts its guess for Iowa corn production

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The U.S.D.A. has increased its corn production outlook for Iowa and the nation. The National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report released Thursday shows Iowa corn production is now forecast at 2.54 billion bushels. Yields are expected to average 197 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels per acre from the October forecast. If the predictions hold, this would be Iowa’s second highest yield and production on record behind last year. Nationally, the average corn yield is forecast at just over 175 bushels per acre, which would be a new all-time high.

Iowa’s soybean production is forecast at 557 million bushels, with a yield of 56 bushels per acre. Both of those predictions are unchanged from last month’s forecast.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

US Ag Secretary jokes he’s wearing ‘Free Bill Northey’ t-shirt

Ag/Outdoor

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is suggesting he’ll ask the G-O-P leader in the U.S. Senate to intervene if an Iowan nominated for a top job in the U.S.D.A. isn’t confirmed soon. Texas Senator Ted Cruz is blocking a Senate vote on Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey’s nomination to be U.S.D.A. Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Cruz wants President Trump to meet with oil-state senators who object to the federal production mandate for biofuels. “I know that there’s a lot of tradition in the Senate,” Perdue said, “but this ‘blue slipping’ people for issues that don’t have anything to do with them I don’t agree with.”

Perdue spoke with farm broadcasters in Kansas City yesterday (Thursday). Perdue joked that he was wearing a “Free Bill Northey” t-shirt under his suit. “God help us if he’s not on board by January, for heaven’s sakes,” Northey says. “We hope to get that done. I will probably go and make direct appeals to the leadership of the Senate if it goes on that long.”

Ted Cruz isn’t the only Republican senator blocking confirmation of one of Perdue’s top aides. Senator Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican, is blocking a vote on the man President Trump picked to be the U.S.D.A.’s chief agricultural negotiator. Perdue is due in Iowa this (Friday) morning for events with Republican Congressman David Young and Governor Kim Reynolds.

(Reporting by Meghan Grebner of Brownfield Ag News)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Area residents appointed to various Iowa Boards & Commissions

News

November 10th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions, Thursday. The appointees are unpaid and are subject to Senate confirmation. In the KJAN listening area, the following persons were appointed to their respective Board or Commission:

Workforce Development Board: Becky Jacobsen, Denison; Richard Moon, Sioux City.

School Budget Review Committee: Martha Bruckner, Council Bluffs.

Board of Nursing: Sue Putnam, Griswold.

Posted in News |