Governor Reynolds Allocates $38 Million For Three Water Projects
(Le Mars) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was in northwest Iowa on Friday to announce a $38 million commitment to helping with three water quality and infrastructure projects. One of those projects is the Lewis and Clark Water project that would transport water from the Missouri River to help communities in northwest Iowa, southeast South Dakota, and southwestern Minnesota. The water project in Iowa would go to help five different communities, including Hull, Sheldon, Sioux Center, Rock Rapids and Sibley. Governor Reynolds made a visit to KLEM offices and commented on the project.
Reynolds says the water project is unique when having three states working together. She says she has visited with her border colleagues about having South Dakota and Minnesota to step up so the project can be completed by 2023.
Reynolds says the completion of the water pipeline project will help with the region’s economic development.
Reynolds says the federal government has been slow to fulfill the end of the commitment. She say the plan is to increase from 45 million gallons of water per day up to at least 60 million gallons of water.
Reynolds says she is hopeful the U-S government will recognize the need to complete the project and will allocate the appropriate funding in a timely manner.
Orange City To Stop With COVID Testing
(Orange City) –The COVID-19 testing clinic operating in MB1 on the Orange City Area Health System main campus will be closing effective Monday, January 31 due to the inability to access rapid antigen tests. Also effective January 31, the health system’s Walk-In Clinic in Orange City will no longer offer rapid tests for COVID-19. Options for accessing COVID testing include: pick up a free take-home test kit at the Walk-In Clinic or Emergency Room desk, which is then sent to the Iowa Hygienic Lab for results; check with an area CVS or Walgreens pharmacy for availability of tests; call your provider to make an appointment for a test if symptomatic (Orange City Medical Clinic 712-737-2000); or order free at-home tests online from the federal government at covidtests.gov.
Iowa House Bill Would Protect Schools That Block Wi-Fi Access
(Des Moines, IA) — A state lawmaker who is also a teacher is authoring a bill to make it clear school-owned Wi-Fi systems may block access to certain internet sites. Representative Garrett Gobble of Ankeny teaches U-S history to eighth graders. Gobble says he’s seen kids on Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat many times “and it’s obviously not an academic purpose.” In a subcommittee hearing, Gobble said “a lot” of schools are blocking certain websites, but other districts are concerned about accusations of censorship and this bill provides those districts some “cover.” Representative Tracy Ehlert of Cedar Rapids works in an elementary school and says this move could help prevent some of the cyber bullying that’s going on.
1st Homicide of 2022 Under Investigation in Cedar Rapids
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Police in Cedar Rapids are investigating the city’s first homicide of 2022. Officers say shots were fired Thursday afternoon and a man was found lying in the street with an apparent gunshot wound. The unidentified victim died at the scene. Investigators say it appears to be a targeted shooting. They are still searching for suspects.
Farmer Rescued From Grain Silo Near Cedar Rapids
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A man rescued from a seven-thousand bushel grain bin near Cedar Rapids Thursday afternoon is expected to be okay. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says the farmer was engulfed by corn to chest level but was conscious and alert. Firefighters used specialized rescue techniques and equipment to protect him before removing the corn around him with hand tools and augers. Crews then cut open the sides of the grain bin to release pressure and vacuum trucks removed more corn. The man was rescued after about an hour-and-a-half and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
University of Okoboji Winter Games Begin
(Arnolds Park, IA) — The University of Okoboji Winter Games are underway on the Iowa Great Lakes. Festivities kicked off Thursday and run through Sunday. Okoboji Tourism director Rebecca Peters says the annual event has about a three-million-dollar impact on Dickinson County. The schedule includes broomball, softball, and flag football on the frozen lakes, a polar plunge, the Okoboji Kite Festival, a chili cookoff, live music, fireworks, and a mass burning of Christmas trees.
