HEAT RETURNS TO IOWA FOR AN EXTENDED STAY
A sweltering, late summer heat wave will arrive this weekend. High temperatures will reach into the upper 80s today. Sunday and Monday, temperatures will top out in the mid 90s. A Heat Advisory is in effect from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Heat indices up to 108 are expected. Temperatures will be hot enough to cause heat illnesses.
SOUTH DAKOTA COURT HANDS SUMMIT PIPELINE A SETBACK
A legal set back this week for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. South Dakota’s supreme court has ruled in favor of landowners in that state who object to the project and sued to keep Summit’s survey crews off their property. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.
A spokesperson for Summit Carbon Solutions says the company will provide additional information that will prove to South Dakota courts that it is a common carrier and eligible to use the power of eminent domain. In late June, Iowa utility regulators granted Summit a permit to build and operate its pipeline route through Iowa — but construction may not start until Summit secures all the permits that are required in North and South Dakota.
FLOOD RECOVERY GROUP FORMS IN WESTERN IOWA
A long-term recovery group has been formed to help with building materials, food, financial support, and mental health services for part of western Iowa. Jean Logan of the Community Action Agency of Siouxland says the assistance is mainly focused on Woodbury County but is also available for other areas just outside the Sioux City metro area.
Logan says recovering from a natural disaster takes time and money.
Logan says one of the biggest challenges is finding contractors to fix homes.
She says people can also get help with food, financial assistance, and mental health services. Logan hopes the group will continue expanding into other communities as more organizations offer assistance.
REYNOLDS LOBBYING FOR USDA WAIVER
Governor Kim Reynolds says she has not opted out of a federal program to provide food to needy Iowa child next summer, she’s just waiting to see if the U-S-D-A will let her use the money to set up a new system in Iowa for distributing it.
Iowa was one of 13 states that did not participate in this summer’s U-S-D-A program which provided families with an extra 140 dollars in grocery money for each child who qualifies for free or reduced price school lunches. Reynolds has drawn up a plan to distribute the 29 million dollars in benefits by having the state buy the food and box it up.
The governor says the boxed up food would be distributed by the state’s 12-hundred food banks and food pantries as well as the 500 sites around the state — mostly schools — that provided summer meals this summer. Critics say giving Iowa parents electronic benefits cards lets them address the nutrition needs of their family and avoid foods their kids are allergic to. Reynolds says the emphasis in her alternative is on healthy food.
MORE SCHOOLS TO BAN CELL PHONES, SMART WATCHES
At least two more Iowa schools have recently moved to ban smart phones from high school classrooms. Cell phones were already prohibited in elementary and middle school classrooms in the Carroll Community School District, but the ban now extends to the high school. High schoolers WILL be allowed to put their cell phones, smart watches and ear buds in their lockers — and check them during lunch or between classes. In May, Des Moines Hoover High School administrators announced students would not be allowed to use smart phones, AirPods or other personal electronics during the school day. High schoolers in Ottumwa may take their phones to school, but have to store the devices in their locker all day.
