“Then Feed Just One” Packages More Than 200,000 Meals For Honduras
(Le Mars) — A total of 217,296 meals, consisting of rice, textured soy protein, dried vegetables, and vitamins and minerals were packaged during the two-day event “Then Feed Just One.” The packaged meals will now be on their way
to the Central American nation of Honduras. Students from the Gehlen Catholic and Spalding Catholic, along with several adult volunteers worked Thursday evening and all day Friday assembling the meals. Each bagged meal is capable of
feeding six people. “Then Feed Just One” coordinator, Dick Sievert says the meals that will soon be sent to Honduras, do actually make a difference in the lives of so many poverty-stricken children, who may get to eat every other day.
Sievert says the packaged meals will be distributed to several organizations at Honduras.
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Visits Iowa Farm
(Nevada, Iowa) — Newly confirmed U-S Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made his first appearance to Iowa today. Perdue’s podium and stage was on top of a hayrack at a cattle farm. Perdue informed the gathering that
agriculture, and especially Iowa agriculture is essential for national security.
Perdue says agriculture needs to be science based. He also says those involved with agriculture needs to be good communicators, and tell the story of agriculture.
Perdue also praised Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and other Iowans that have participated on so many trade mission trips to China. Perdue says what Iowans did in 1984 is today benefitting all of America.
The Agriculture Secretary was also asked about his commitment to ethanol and other renewable fuels.
Following the question, the new Agriculture Secretary then promptly attached a button to his shirt proclaiming “Don’t Mess with the RFS.”
The new Agriculture Secretary was asked from a member of the crowd, how soon would some key positions within the Department of Agriculture be filled. He replied by saying “as soon as possible”. Perdue then mentioned some of the
people already at the U-S Department of Agriculture who are from Iowa. He specifically mentioned two that are from Plymouth County.
Iowa Supreme Court Stops Three-Day Wait From Abortion Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Planned Parenthood and ACLU of Iowa are applauding the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily halt a 72-hour abortion waiting period soon after Gov. Terry Branstad enacted several restrictions.
The state will have an opportunity to respond to the temporary
injunction on Monday. The court will then decide whether to extend the short- term injunction.
Planned Parenthood notes the court’s action Friday allowed 44 women with scheduled abortions to proceed with their appointments. Suzanna de Baca, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, says in a statement that the law had caused
confusion for patients.
She says one woman had driven seven hours to her appointment Friday and then was told she couldn’t have the procedure that day. She says women were “angry and upset at the intrusion into their lives.”
Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Branstad, says the state believes the 72- hour wait period will ultimately be implemented.
He calls the court’s injunction “part of the process,” adding that the governor expects the stay will soon be lifted.
Bridge Collapses In Northeast Iowa
CRESCO, Iowa (AP) – Officials say a small county-owned bridge in northeastern Iowa has collapsed after a semitrailer weighing more than 10 times the bridge’s weight limit drove across it.
Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke says the collapse happened early Friday morning on Cattle Creek Road over the Upper Iowa River east of Cresco.
Bjerke says the small bridge had a weight limit of 3 tons (2.72 metric tons), about the weight of a pickup truck. A sign warning of the span’s limit was clearly posted. But Bjerke says a loaded grain truck estimated at more than 30 tons (27.22 metric tons) tried to cross it, causing the collapse. No one was injured.
Canoes and other water crafts have been barred from the stretch of river until debris from the collapsed bridge is cleared.
Mississippi River Traffic Resumes After Tow Ship Hits Pier
SABULA, Iowa (AP) – Rail and barge traffic at a railroad bridge over the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois has reopened after a tow ship hit its protective pier.
Canadian Pacific Railroad spokesman Andy Cummings says rail traffic on the bridge at Sabula in eastern Iowa resumed about four hours after the protective pier was hit by a towing ship late Thursday night.
Cummings said Friday that while the pier had been damaged, the bridge is
structurally sound. The railroad had divers inspect the bridge’s concrete
supports and found them to be undamaged.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Giles said that the river under the bridge reopened to marine traffic shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.
The ship’s three grain barges broke away after the impact, but were later retrieved.
Board of Regents Propose Tuition Increase
The Board of Regents is proposing another increase in tuition to make up for state budget cuts.
The board approved a two percent increase in tuition at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa in December based on their previously adopted plan to raise tuition by that amount with a corresponding two percent increase in state funding. But the Iowa Legislature cut funding in February by nearly 21 million dollars and then again in April by nearly ten million dollars due to lagging state tax collections. The Regents are now proposing tacking on a 216 dollar increase for undergraduate students at the three state schools to make up that difference. They will meet Monday to discuss the tuition increase.
Woodbury County To Hold Escaped Inmate Accused of Killing Pottawattamie Sheriff’s Deptuy
The man accused of murdering a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy will be held in the Woodbury County Jail. Sheriff Dave Drew confirms that Wesley Correa-Carmenaty is being transferred to the jail after waiving extradition to Iowa in an Omaha court hearing Thursday. Drew says it makes sense to transfer the prisoner away from the jail where he allegedly fatally shot Deputy Mark Burbridge and wounded Deputy Pat Morgan during his escape.
The Woodbury County attorney had indicated they would seek to put Correa-Cermenaty in a different jail just to avoid any liability if he claimed retaliation by Pottawattamie County employees. The county attorney said the concern was finding a jail that could handle a high-risk inmate. Sheriff Drew says his jailers are well prepared.
The lead prosecutor for Pottawattamie County says they will likely wait until after the slain deputy’s funeral on Monday to retrieve Correa-Carmenaty from Nebraska.
