Rob Sand Visits Le Mars Tuesday, July 1st, the Same Afternoon Plymouth County Democrats Will Protest Medicaid Cuts
Democratic State Auditor and candidate for governor Rob Sand will come to Le Mars and meet with residents in the Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlar on Tuesday, July 1st. It is part of Sand’s 100 Town Halls Tour across Iowa. That visit comes a few hours before the Plymouth County Democrats gather to protest proposed cuts to the medicaid program.
Democrats are inviting all community member to join them for the protest at Foster Park, at 5:15 p.m. to support the Medicaid program and rural hospitals.
The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed cuts and changes to Medicaid. The protest will begin at 5:15 p.m. at Foster Park, Sixth Street and Central Avenue South, in Le Mars.
Law to Ban Handling a Cell Phone While Driving In Effect July 1st
Starting Tuesday, July 1st, it will be illegal for Iowa motorists to hold a cell phone, scroll through it or watch videos on it while driving. Sergeant Alex Dinkla is the spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol.
A 2017 Iowa law has banned texting while driving, but Dinkla says it’s been hard to enforce because drivers were allowed to handle their phones to make calls or fiddle with digital maps for navigation. That changes July 1st.
If a vehicle doesn’t have “hands-free” techology, Dinkla says there are ways to adapt.
There are small Bluetooth transmitters that can be installed in vehicles that don’t have the technology. The law allows for one-touch activation, so Dinkla says you could buy a cell phone holder and answer calls in speaker mode. However, Dinkla says the best option is having the phone in “do not disturb” mode while driving.
Starting January 1st, the fine for handling a cell phone while driving will be 100 dollars. Fines escalate if there’s an accident causing serious injury or death. There are some exemptions in the bill for people like bus drivers, emergency responders and people driving farm machinery.
Jodi Huisentruit Disappearance Anniversary
Thirty years ago, Mason City news anchor Jodi Huisentruit disappeared. Although there have been a few leads in the case over the years, many unanswered questions remain.
On Thursday, a gathering will took place in front of the TV station where she worked.
Former Minneapolis crime reporter Caroline (carol-line) Lowe is with the group FindJodi, which helped organize the event.
Mason’s City Police Chief says officers continue to work on the case in the hope that they can provide answers to the family and the community. Omaha news anchor Brian Mastre worked with Jodi Huisentruit at KIMT in Mason City.
Mastre was one of the first to read news reports about his 27-year-old colleague’s disappearance.
So far, there have been no arrests. However, authorities say one of Huisentruit’s neighbors, a person of interest, died last year.Mason’s City Police Chief says officers continue to work on the case in the hope that they can provide answers to the family and the community.
Consider Corn Challenge
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is calling on entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups to reimagine the potential of field corn. The Consider Corn Challenge will award up to $300,000 to help jump-start the early development of high-value, corn-based products that can create long-term demand for U.S. growers. NCGA says the contest is helping the organization position corn as a key ingredient in the future bioeconomy.
Sarah Mackay is the Director of Market Development and Research at the National Corn Growers Association. She says the Consider Corn Challenge is about creating more opportunity and demand for corn growers and elevating corn’s value far beyond its traditional uses in food, feed and fuel.
The Challenge encourages innovation across industries spanning sustainable chemicals, bioplastics, textiles, fuels and more to reduce reliance on petroleum-based materials. Applications for Consider Corn Challenge V are due June 30. Full details and submission guidelines are available at ncga.com/considercorn.
Remsen St. Mary’s Breaks Ground on New School Addition
School, parish and community members gathered earlier this week to bless and break ground in preparation for construction of a new elementary school addition that will attach to the existing middle/high building at St. Mary’s School in Remsen.
Along with six classrooms for PreK-2, the new addition is going to include new offices and a common space with a library. The current library in the middle/high school will be remodeled and made into two additional classrooms for the third and fourth grades.
Construction is slated to begin July 1.
