Strong winds cause semi truck accidents in Plymouth County
Strong winds Friday afternoon contributed to some accidents involving semi trucks in Plymouth County.
The Iowa State Patrol says one accident around 2pm involved a semi blowing over near James at Highway 75 and 325th. That semi was then struck by a second oncoming semi. Then a third semi overturned in a separate accident south of Merrill. Injuries were believed to be minor in both accidents.
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Beat the Blues Challenge continues with focus on mindfulness, meditation
The Le Mars Public Library is continuing their Beat the Blues Challenge, with this week’s challenge focused on mindfulness and meditation.
To help people with the challenge, the library is offering several yoga and meditation classes this week. On Wednesday, January 21st, Beginner Yoga will be held at 10:30am, Chair Yoga will start at 2:00pm, and a Meditation Class will take place at 5:30pm on Thursday, January 22nd. All classes are free, with no registration required, and will be held inside of the library’s meeting room.
These sessions will be led by library staff member Vicki Oetken, who is also a certified yoga instructor. She says that yoga is a practice that unites postures/poses and mindful breathing, and that the benefits of a yoga practice include increasing the body’s strength, flexibility, and balance, as well as promoting physical and emotional well-being.
Oetken will also lead the mediation class, which will focus on mindfulness. Oetken says that mindfulness is a practice of living in the present moment without judgment in order to live a more meaningful, fulfilling life, and that mindfulness principles and meditation enable us to live in the here and now giving our lives more purpose and meaning.
The classes are part of the Beat the Blues Challenge, and patrons will receive a punch on their challenge card for attending. For more information on the challenge, click the link under this story on our website.
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Bird hopes Iowa lawmakers will address victims rights and courtroom safety
Iowa attorney general Brenna Bird has some priorities she would like state lawmakers to address in this year’s legislative session. She wants to see more emphasis on legislation to protect crime victims.
Bird would like to see improvements in “no contact orders” for victims of domestic abuse and assaults.
She says it should be up to a victim if they never want to see their assailant again.
Bird also wants to make sure the state’s judges have protection.
Bird is also proposing that judges and prosecutors may be armed in the courtroom if they wish to carry a firearm.
A week ago the attorney general also called on Iowa lawmakers to pass a law requiring the collection of DNA from adults arrested for felonies or misdemeanors.
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