Reynolds Honors Fallen State Patrol Trooper
(Des Moines) — Visitation of Iowa State Patrol trooper Jim Smith is scheduled for today between 3:00 – 8:00 p.m., with funeral services set for Friday at the Independence High
School. Smith was killed during the line of duty when he was shot to death last Friday evening while pursuing a fugitive near Grundy Center. Governor Reynolds addressed the incident during her weekly news conference held Wednesday.
Several law enforcement personnel from across the state and the nation will travel to eastern Iowa to attend the Iowa State Patrol trooper’s funeral.
Rick Singer, the Chief Deputy of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office will be a part of the honor guard. A representative from Sioux, Cherokee, Woodbury and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Offices are all planning to attend the funeral, and Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says he is hoping to send a
representative to the funeral services from the Le Mars Police Department.
Iowa Department Of Public Health Partners With Iowa State University Extension And Outreach Along With University of Iowa To Hold Online Seminars About COVID vaccinations
(Des Moines) — Iowa Director of Health and Human Services, Kelly Garcia, informed the news media during Governor Kim Reynolds weekly news conference on Wednesday that the state agency is teaming up with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University Extension to help provide information regarding COVID vaccinations. Garcia says to help provide Iowans with the information they need to make decisions about their health, The Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and University of Iowa are partnering to host a series of live, virtual information sessions on COVID-19 vaccinations. Garcia says the state now needs to move in the direction to advise and inform those people who are still undecided as to whether or not to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot.
The on-line vaccine sessions are scheduled for April 17th at 10:00 a.m., April 19th at 6:00 p.m., and a Hispanic speaking session is scheduled for April 24th at 10:00 a.m. Director Garcia tells of the format for the online sessions.
Garcia says there isn’t any registration or fees associated with the online sessions, and people can participate by logging on to www.iowacovidinfo.org. Garcia says the vaccines remain the most powerful tool to turn the page on the pandemic.
DNR Investigating 2 Manure Spills in Northern Iowa
(Rock Rapids, IA) — The Department of Natural Resources is investigating two manure spills in northern Iowa that have resulted in fish kills. D-N-R staff estimate several hundred thousand gallons of liquid manure from the Rock Bottom Dairy spilled into Mud Creek northwest of Rock Rapids. The manure
laden-water is moving slowly downstream, and the agency is warning farmers in the area who use the creek to water their livestock that conditions may not improve for the next few days. The Iowa D-N-R also responded to a Kossuth County manure spill near West Bend. It was caused when a hose used by a
company applying liquid manure on land came loose, flopped into Lotts Creek, and spilled about ten-thousand gallons of manure. The manure is flowing toward the East Fork of the Des Moines River, but is not expected to impact drinking water supplies.
Buena Visa University Student Busted With Marijuana Products From California
(Storm Lake, IA) — A student at Buena Vista University is facing drug charges in connection with a package sent to him from California. Storm Lake police say 21-one-year-old Christopher Ramirez from Lancaster, California was
the recipient of a package containing marijuana products. Ramirez was arrested Tuesday on a felony controlled substance violation. Investigators haven’t said how much marijuana was in the package. Recreational cannabis is legal in Ramirez’s home state of California but not here in Iowa.
Thousands of Iowa Football Fans Sign Petition to Save Hawkeye Express
(Iowa City, IA) — Thousands of Iowa football fans want to save a popular passenger train service to Kinnick Stadium. A petition at change-dot-org to save the Hawkeye Express had more than four-thousand signatures this morning (Thursday). The University of Iowa Athletic Department and Iowa Northern Railway Company announced last week that the Hawkeye Express was shutting down. The petition asks for more information about what would be needed to continue operations of the Hawkeye Express. Organizers says it enhances the game day experience for thousands of Hawkeye football fans.
