TOUR OF HISTORIC HOMES TODAY
The Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission and the Plymouth County Historical Museum will hold the 2025 Tour of Historic Homes in Le Mars this afternoon. Four historic Le Mars homes will be open for viewing. They include Mitch and Leah Christoffel, 718 1st Ave. SE; Sharen Johnson, 515 1st Ave. SW;Rodney and Sandra Le Bahn, 610 3rd Ave SE; and Robert and Margaret Dull 531 1st Ave. SE. The homes will be open from noon to four pm today. Tickets are 15 dollars for adults and 5 dollars for children 12 and under. They can be purchased at the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
GOVERNOR POSITIVE ABOUT SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM
Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s getting positive signals from U-S-D-A officials reviewing Iowa’s alternative summer food program for families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. The Biden Administration twice rejected the governor’s plan but U-S Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said during a stop in the state last month, she was excited about the plan Reynolds had presented, and her staff was reviewing it very closely. Reynolds is seeking three other waiver requests from the Trump Administration. Reynolds asked in February for authority to roll federal funds designated for a variety of education programs into one block grant and let Iowa officials determine how the money is distributed. Reynolds is also awaiting word on a waiver to let the state change what products can be purchased with federal food benefits as well as a plan to require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to show they work 100 hours a month.
RAZZLE DAZZLE
The Sioux City Art Center has been honored by the state of Iowa for its Razzle Dazzle project, which draped the Art Center’s exterior with multi-colored fabric designs by artist Amanda Browder.
Razzle Dazzle and the Art Center have received the Arts Service Award from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer
Browder says it’s a great honor for her, the Art Center, and the people of Sioux City:
Browder used fabric collected from dozens of recycled, donated, or local sources, and hosted public sewing days to construct the brightly colored giant textile sculpture that was draped over the facade of the Sioux City art Center and Gilchrist Learning Center buildings.
Art Center Director Todd Behrens says they had never previously had so many community members take part in a project as with Razzle Dazzle:
The project engaged hundreds of local volunteers and transformed the building into a vibrant, community-driven artwork last year.
Razzle Dazzle was one of ten projects or individuals selected for an award out of over 90 nominations.
KEEHNER ORDAINED BISHOP OF SIOUX CITY DIOCESE
The Most Reverend John Keehner of the diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, was ordained as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City at the Cathedral of the Epiphany on Thursday.
He was ordained by Archbishop Thomas Zinkula of Dubuque with Bishop Walker Nickless, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Sioux City and Bishop David J. Donnar of Youngstown serving as co-ordaining bishops.
Pope Francis named then-father Keehner to serve as the next bishop in February.
Fourteen bishops from around the country concelebrated as well as 80 total priests from the Sioux City, Youngstown and other dioceses.
Fifty deacons, local leaders and invited guests were also present at the mass in the downtown cathedral.
Bishop Keehner was one of the last bishops named by the Holy Father before his recent death.
SURVEY SHOWS IOWANS’ CHANGING ATTITUDES ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease now tops seven-million for the first time, including more than 62-thousand Iowans, and a new survey finds people’s impressions of the disease are changing. Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter spokesperson Lauren Livingston says nearly four in five people surveyed would want to know if they had the disease before it impacted their lives. The majority of respondents would also want treatment, even if it comes with risks, as long as it slows the progression of the disease. The survey also found four in five Americans believe new treatments to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s will emerge in the next decade, and 66 percent believe new treatments to prevent Alzheimer’s will be available soon.
