Blizzard Conditions Continue For Northwest Iowa
(Le Mars) — A blizzard warning has been issued for Plymouth County and all of northern Iowa, and with the heavy snow and blowing winds, the Iowa Highway Patrol is advising not to travel. Here is Trooper Vince Kurtz with the latest road condition update.
As mentioned, all of northern Iowa and surrounding states are in a blizzard warning.
Many of the roads are closed due to the heavy snowfall, and Kurtz says Iowa’s weather can change quickly.
Tow bans are now in effect for Plymouth, Sioux, Woodbury, Ida, Sac, O’Brien, Clay, and Dickinson Counties. The Iowa Highway Patrol officer explains what we should expect as a result of the blizzard conditions.
Kurtz suggests to pay close attention to the local weather forecast.
Plymouth County Sheriff’s office says people have taken the blizzard warnings seriously and have remained at home. The Plymouth County Communications Center says they have not had many accident reports, or reports of stalled vehicles.
Holz Meets With Veterinarian Association
(Des Moines) — After last week’s controversial vote on the collective bargaining bill, this week has been more mild for the state legislators. State Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars says the state house was able to pass several bills this week.
The Le Mars state representative says it was time to address what he calls was an antiquated bill.
Holz says members of the Iowa Veterinary Association met with lawmakers at the state capital. Having been a veterinarian himself, Holz says the association is near and dear to his heart. Holz says he was asked to speak to the veterinarians. The Le Mars state representative says the Veterinarian Association is advising legislators of the need to update the Iowa Veterinarian Diagnostic Laboratory.
Motivational Speaker Addresses Students
(Le Mars) — Gehlen Catholic’s Christian Leadership Team hosted nationally
known speaker Paul J. Kim. Students from Gehlen Catholic High School and Remsen
St. Mary’s high school attended the assembly. Kim, a motivational speaker, says
he likes to visit with faith-based students, and tell them that their lives do
matter. He says while growing up in high school and during his college years, he
felt empty.
The motivational speaker says he experienced some troubling times and reverted back to his Catholic religious roots, and as a result, found meaning for his life. He says he shares a positive message with his audiences.
Kim says he likes to incorporate music along with his spiritual message.
Kim says he got his start at being a motivational speaker in his home town
To obtain additional information, you can visit his website which is PJKMusic.com.
State House Sub-committee Passes Gun Rights Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A subcommittee in the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature has approved a comprehensive gun bill that includes a stand-your- ground provision.
The panel signed off on the measure Thursday, and it now heads to the full House Judiciary Committee.
The bill would allow people in Iowa to use deadly force anywhere if they believe such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety. People could use deadly force even if an alternative course of action is available, and it allows people to be wrong in that estimation of danger.
The bill also would remove background check restrictions on private handgun purchases and allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. It would also stop colleges from banning weapons on campus, allow firearm permits to last
a lifetime, prohibit local governments from passing gun restrictions, allow children under age 14 to use guns with supervision of a parent and allow guns on the Capitol grounds.
Congressman Faces Hostile Crowd
URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) – A sometimes hostile crowd peppered Iowa Congressman David Young with questions about the Affordable Care Act, environment and other issues at a public forum in Urbandale.
House and Senate members from across the country have faced skeptical crowds while home during a congressional break, and that was the case Thursday when Young took questions during a forum that lasted more than an hour.
Jordan Hobfoll asked the two-term Republican if health care would remain affordable for his 1-year-old son, who was born with a serious health problem.
The crowd jeered Young as he sidestepped giving “a definite answer” but said the boy wouldn’t be denied care.
Others criticized Young’s support for President Donald Trump and expressed fears about the president’s cabinet choices for the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.
