AIR QUALITY ALERT
The Iowa DNR has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine
particulate pollution, which is in effect for all of Iowa Through
Noon today…
Smoke from wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia continues to
hover over Iowa. Air quality is expected to improve statewide by
this afternoon, with smoke clearing from north to south.
The DNR recommends that people reduce long or intense activities,
and take more breaks during outdoor activities until air quality
conditions improve. The recommendation is especially pertinent to
individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and
teenagers, and outdoor workers. People in these categories should
consider rescheduling or moving outdoor activities indoors.
TAYLOR CAMPAIGN KICKOFF
State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center has decided to run for reelection in Senate District 2. This includes the northern half of Plymouth County, and the southern half of Sioux County. Taylor plans a campaign kickoff and fundraiser Thursday, July 27 at 7 p.m. at the Sioux Center Public Library. Former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker is the featured speaker at the event. Taylor says in his first term in the Iowa Senate, he stood for adherence to the Constitution, protection of life, and was an advocate for landowner property rights. Taylor’s campaign website is www.taylor4senate.org
TCC VERIZON GRANT
A Le Mars business Sunday presented a 10-thousand dollars grant to the American Legion Riders. Doug Harms is grateful for the grant, and says it will help a lot of veterans.
Harms says TCC Verizon has been a long-standing partner with the American Legion Riders.
There are many ways the public can partner with the American Legion Riders.
TCC Verizon and the American Legion Riders are teaming up for an event Saturday.
Sheri Bauman, District Manager for TCC Verizon, says this is the largest grant they’ve ever awarded.
Sheri has a special place in her heart for the military and veterans.
She says it’s important to support the community
The Riders want to honor the veterans in the Le Mars Community.
RAINS HELP RELIEVE DROUGHT
Recent rains have given some hope that Iowa will pull out of the drought conditions that weren’t helped by a drier than normal spring. D-N-R hydrologist Tim Hall says some areas saw several inches of rain in a short time — which he says is good — even is a lot of it ran off the ground without sinking in. There weren’t any reports of significant flash flooding, which Hall suggests is a good indicator of just how dry it was prior to this rain. Hall says we need more consistent rains at about one inch each week, as no single storm event is going to eliminate the drought. The recent rains should show up in the U-S Drought Monitor which comes out Thursday.
2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN INTENSIFIES
The 2024 Iowa Caucuses are now a little less than six months away and the intensity of the G-O-P presidential contest is growing. Two-thousand evangelical Christians heard from six candidates Friday in Des Moines. Bob Vander Plaats is president and C-E-O of The Family Leader, the group that hosted the event. He told they crowd they are on the front row seat of choosing the G-O-P’s nominee — and he’s been making the case that it’s time for the G-O-P to turn the page from former President Trump. Trump is due in Iowa tomorrow (Tuesday) to tape a program with Sean Hannity that will air on the Fox News Channel. It’s Trump’s first appearance here after complaining last week that Governor Kim Reynolds is maintaining neutrality in the 2024 presidential race.
SIOUX CENTER ARREST
A Sioux Center man was arrested Friday for violating terms of the state sex offender registry. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brady DeJong-Pedersen, age 22. The arrest stemmed from a compliance check on DeJong-Pedersen’s status with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry regulations. Upon further investigation, along with additional reports received by the Sioux Center Police Department, it was determined that DeJong-Pedersen provided false information and additionally violated terms of the Registry. The arrest is the result of a joint investigation of the Sioux County Sheriffs Office and Sioux Center Police
FOUR INJURED IN SIOUX COUNTY ACCIDENT
A two vehicle accident last Thursday injured four people north of Boyden. The Sioux County Sheriffs Office reports a head-on collision occurred early that evening three and a half miles north of Boyden on Kennedy Avenue. 18 year old Cody Van Engen of Orange City was driving a pickup north, when he crossed the center of the board and struck a semi driven by 63 year old Robert Feldman of George. After impact, the pickup left the roadway, entered the east ditch and came to rest in a bean field. Van Engen and three passengers in the Ford were all transported by the Boyden Ambulance to Sanford Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. He was cited for failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle, driving in the wrong lane and use of an electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle. Boyden Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene of the accident.
BRAZIL ETHANOL
US Rep Randy Feenstra 4th District Iowa says Brazil intends to place barriers on trade in US ethanol. Feenstra says that nation is considering a tariff in ethanol imports to Brazil.
Feenstra says the U.S. has to take decisive action against Brazil.
Brazil is a major U.S. competitor in ethanol production.
ABORTION BAN
A ban on most abortions in Iowa is in effect today (Monday). The ban has been in effect since about 2:45 Friday afternoon. That’s when Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill that bans abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around the sixth week of a pregnancy. The law includes exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape and incest. A Polk County district court judge has indicated he will issue a ruling, perhaps as early as today (Monday), on whether the law can be enforced while the lawsuit challenging the abortion ban makes its way through the state court system.
