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Ford, Mazda warn owners to stop driving older vehicles with dangerous Takata air bag inflators

DETROIT (AP) — Ford and Mazda are warning the owners of more than 475,000 older vehicles in the U.S. not to drive them because they have dangerous Takata air bag inflators that have not been replaced.

The warning issued Tuesday covers more than 374,000 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles from the 2004 through 2014 model years and nearly 83,000 Mazdas from the 2003 through 2015 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the inflators can explode with too much force in a crash, blowing apart a metal canister and shooting fragments that can severely injure or kill people. All were recalled previously but repairs have not been completed.

Ford models covered by the warning include 2004 to 2011 Ranger pickups, 2005 through 2014 Mustangs, 2005 and 2006 Ford GTs, 2006 through 2012 Fusions and 2007 through 2010 Edge SUVs.

Affected Mercury and Lincoln models include the Milan, MKZ and Zephyr from 2006 through 2012, and the MKX from 2007 through 2010.

Mazdas covered by the warning are the 2004 to 2009 B-Series pickup, 2003 through 2013 Mazda 6, the 2006 and 2007 Speed6 and the 2004 through 2011 RX-8. Also included are the 2004 through 2006 MPV, the 2007 through 2012 CX-7 and the 2007 through 2015 CX-9.

The government says 27 people have been killed in the U.S. by faulty Takata inflators, which used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. The chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. More than 400 people in the U.S. have been hurt.

Worldwide at least 35 people have been killed by Takata inflators in Malaysia, Australia and the U.S.

Potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million Takata inflators involved. The U.S. government says many have not been repaired. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding air bags sent Takata into bankruptcy.

Owners can check to see if their vehicles are covered by going to the NHTSA website and keying in their vehicle identification or license plate numbers.Ford and Mazda also have recall websites.

If a vehicle has an unrepaired Takata inflator, owners should stop driving them and call a dealer to set up a repair appointment. Ford and Mazda are offering free towing or mobile repairs and loaner vehicles if necessary, NHTSA says.

“Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries,” the agency said in a statement. “Older model year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk.”

Ford says more than 765,000 inflators in Ford and Lincoln vehicles worldwide should not be driven until the air bag inflators have been replaced. In the U.S., the company has made more than 121 million attempts to contact owners including emails, phone calls, text messages and visits to customer homes. The company says over 95% of its U.S. customers have had their inflators replaced.

Nissan, Honda, Stellantis, Ford, BMW and Toyota and Mazda have previously issued similar “do not drive” warnings for some of their vehicles equipped with Takata inflators.

Extra Traffic Enforcement for the End of Summer in Iowa

DES MOINES — Last year, during the final weeks of summer, there were 54 traffic fatalities in Iowa; 44% involved impairment.* To prevent future tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across the state to decrease impaired driving. August 16 – September 2, agencies will be participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement project. You’ll see officers working together to remove impaired drivers/motorcycle riders from the road.

“We want drivers to understand it’s law enforcement’s first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to make a plan,” says GTSB’s Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “The drive sober/ride sober campaign is an awareness effort to spread the message that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives.”

There are plenty of options to get impaired drivers home safely. Designate a sober driver or call a taxi/rideshare service. If available, use your community’s sober ride program. If you see a drunk driver/rider on the road, contact local law enforcement.

Garden Show Off to Be Held

OSKALOOSA — The public is invited to see the gardens the Mahaska County Master Gardeners are involved with on Tuesday, August 27, beginning at 6:30 pm at the Herb Garden at Nelson Pioneer Farm, Oskaloosa. Other stops at the Flagpole Garden at the Mahaska County Extension office at 7 pm and Lacey Garden along the bike trail south of the roundabout by Oskaloosa Elementary at 7:30 pm.   The event is free and open to the whole family and includes a summertime treat at our last stop.  Master Gardeners, and their activities will be discussed as well as the garden specifics as we visit the sites.

The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate summertime treats. RSVP to 641-673-5841; or email striegel@iastate.edu.  Inclement weather will postpone the event to Wednesday August 28.  If in doubt, please check local media, ISU Extension Outreach – Mahaska County office and/or website, and Mahaska County Master Gardeners Facebook pages.

Eveland Access Campground Vendor Fair and Silent Auction to Happen This Weekend

OSKALOOSA — The public is welcome to attend The Eveland Access Campground Vendor Fair and Silent Auction on  August 17th, 2024. The event will be from 10 am to 8pm on the east side of the campground. There will be  a potluck dinner from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The Silent auction winners will be announced at 7:00pm.  

Silent auction items will include : 1 Tamarack 10ft Fishing kayak, home décor items, offers from local  restaurants, pet supplies, Cookware and more.  

Proceeds from the event will help fund park improvements at Eveland Access.

New Mars study suggests an ocean’s worth of water may be hiding beneath the red dusty surface

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Mars may be drenched beneath its surface, with enough water hiding in the cracks of underground rocks to form a global ocean, new research suggests.

The findings released Monday are based on seismic measurements from NASA’s Mars InSight lander, which detected more than 1,300 marsquakes before shutting down two years ago.

This water — believed to be seven miles to 12 miles (11.5 kilometers to 20 kilometers) down in the Martian crust — most likely would have seeped from the surface billions of years ago when Mars harbored rivers, lakes and possibly oceans, according to the lead scientist, Vashan Wright of the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Just because water still may be sloshing around inside Mars does not mean it holds life, Wright said.

“Instead, our findings mean that there are environments that could possibly be habitable,” he said in an email.

His team combined computer models with InSight readings including the quakes’ velocity in determining underground water was the most likely explanation. The results appeared Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

If InSight’s location at Elysium Planitia near Mars’ equator is representative of the rest of the red planet, the underground water would be enough to fill a global ocean a mile or so (1 kilometer to 2 kilometers) deep, Wright said.

It would take drills and other equipment to confirm the presence of water and seek out any potential signs of microbial life.

Although the InSight lander is no longer working, scientists continue to analyze the data collected from 2018 through 2022, in search of more information about Mars’ interior.

Wet almost all over more than 3 billion years ago, Mars is thought to have lost its surface water as its atmosphere thinned, turning the planet into the dry, dusty world known today. Scientists theorize much of this ancient water escaped out into space or remained buried below.

Iowa parents need to regulate who sees those back-to-school photos

By Matt Kelley (Radio Iowa)

Classes open in most Iowa schools in the next week or two, and Iowa parents are being warned to be careful with what you share online about your children.

Jim Temmer, with the Better Business Bureau, says those cute social media posts about your kid’s first day in their new grade give away a lot of key details that could be misused.

“Are they holding a board with their name, their age, their height, what grade they’re in, whatever it is? Maybe they’re wearing the school uniform,” Temmer says. “Scammers or predators could use that information.”

He says that could mean basic identity theft, or even using that information to gain your child’s trust.

“Make sure your home with your address and street sign are not visible so they can’t find out exactly where you live,” he says, “or there’s some landmark that everybody would know where you are.”

Temmer says if you are going to share those pictures on social media, make sure they’re only going out to actual friends.

Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Iowans flocked to Des Moines during the first few days of the Iowa State Fair, setting an all-time single-day attendance record on Saturday thanks to beautiful weather,” said Secretary Naig. “With favorable growing conditions expected to continue, USDA’s latest projections show record-breaking corn and soybean yield potential, all of which underscores the need to further develop new and existing markets for Iowa commodities.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Most of the State experienced dry conditions and cool temperatures which allowed Iowa farmers 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 11, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and preparing for the fall harvest.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 16 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Corn silking reached 96 percent this week. Sixty-nine percent of the corn crop has reached dough stage or beyond, 1 day behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Seventeen percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage, 4 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of the average. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent. Ninety-four percent of soybeans were blooming, equal to the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 74 percent, 5 days behind last year and 2 days behind the average. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of oats have been harvested, 1 day ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of average.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 97 percent complete. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 45 percent, 1 week behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 75 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 63 percent good to excellent.

Community Invited to Central’s Big Red Rally Aug. 22

PELLA — Central College invites the public to a free mini-block party with the Iowa Wild Hockey 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, for the inaugural Big Red Rally on the Central campus.

Iowa Wild will bring its Wild on Wheels tour to Pella, presented by Kwik Star. Iowa Wild mascot Crash and the organization will bring in street hockey, games and giveaways. Central will offer mini-golf around the pond, corn hole, inflatables, a petting zoo, balloon artist, dance lessons, and more. Food trucks will be on campus for meal purchases from Prime Country BBQ, Pho’t, Kaaswagen, Over the Top, Zimms Kettle Corn and Central Catering.

Central plans to give away prizes. Game winners will turn in tickets for raffle prizes like tickets to a Wild game, a Wild jersey, a Spirit Shoppe gift card and more.

“We were thrilled when the Iowa Wild approached us about bringing their tour to Pella. It fits perfectly with the beginning of the semester and our Welcome Week activities on campus,” says Karmen Ten Napel, vice president for student development and dean of students. “We welcome all to join in the family-friendly fun and games on campus.”

Community members may park in Central’s guest lot on University Street, south of 812 University St. Any weather-related announcement will be made by noon, Thursday, Aug. 22.

FDA approves first nasal spray to treat dangerous allergic reactions

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials on Friday approved a nasal spray to treat severe allergic reactions, the first needle-free alternative to shots like EpiPen.

The Food and Drug Administration said it approved the spray from drugmaker ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc. as an emergency treatment for adults and older children experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis occurs when the body’s immune system develops a sudden, unexpected reaction to a foreign substance, such as food, insect stings or medications. Common symptoms include hives, swelling, itching, vomiting and difficulty breathing.

The device, marketed as Neffy, could upend treatment for the 33 million to 45 million Americans with severe allergies to food and other triggers. Anaphylaxis sends more than 30,000 people to emergency rooms and results in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and more than 230 deaths in the U.S. each year.

Of the 6 million prescriptions written for auto-injectors each year, more than 40% are never filled, Dr. Thomas Casale, an allergist at the University of South Florida, told an FDA advisory panel last year. Even when they are available to caregivers, many auto-injectors are used incorrectly, he said.

“There’s a real unmet medical need for a large portion of the population,” he said.

Neffy is intended for people who weigh at least 66 pounds. It is given in a single dose sprayed into one nostril. A second dose can be given if the person’s symptoms don’t improve.

The new treatment could be life-changing for people with severe food allergies, said Dr. Kelly Cleary, a pediatrician and director with the Food Allergy Research & Education, a nonprofit advocacy group.

“I have seen the look of worry or fear,” said Cleary, whose 11-year-old son has multiple food allergies. “I worry about what happens if someone hesitates.”

Requiring an injection in an emergency is as scary to some children as the allergic reaction itself. Some parents have had to restrain thrashing children to inject them, sometimes causing cuts that require stitches. About 3,500 caregivers a year are injured when they accidentally inject themselves in the hands, ARS said.

Priscilla Hernandez, of Pasadena, California said her 12-year-old son, Zacky, who is allergic to sesame, peanuts, tree nuts, avocado and other foods, was traumatized when he had a reaction at school about six years ago and a nurse treated him with an auto-injector.

“Having to do a shot creates this whole different level of anxiety,” she said.

She said, “we are over the moon” about the FDA’s approval of the spray, which Zacky will start carrying when it becomes available.

First marketed in 1901, epinephrine predates the FDA itself. Products like the EpiPen auto-injector, approved in 1987, were authorized based on chemistry and manufacturing data and were not required to prove safety and efficacy.

Clinical trials of people experiencing potentially deadly reactions are difficult for ethical and pragmatic reasons. Instead, ARS officials compared the effect of the nasal spray on biological markers to existing epinephrine treatments.

Results showed Neffy worked about as well as injected epinephrine to boost heart rate and blood pressure, which counter severe reactions. The drug is combined with a patented agent that allows it to be easily absorbed through nasal membranes.

Other needle-free epinephrine devices are being developed to treat allergic reactions. In the pipeline are nasal sprays from Bryn Pharma, of North Carolina, and Nausus Pharma, of Israel; a needle-free auto-injector from Crossject of France; and an epinephrine film that is administered under the tongue from Aquestive Therapeutics, of New Jersey.

Neffy is designed to be easy to carry and easy to use, especially for children, said Richard Lowenthal, president and chief executive of San Diego-based ARS.

“We don’t want fear. There’s no needle, there’s no pain with this product,” he said. “It’s basically like spraying saline into your nose.”

ARS didn’t immediately disclose a list price, but said it would make the spray available through certain discount programs for about $200 per two-pack. Insurance plans must still decide whether to cover the product and at what price.

Iowa State Fair dairy cattle entries stable amid bird flu precautions

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

The number of exhibitors in dairy cattle shows at this year’s Iowa State Fair is nearly identical to last year, despite new bird flu testing requirements for milking cows entered in the contests.

“There was definitely an increased number of heifers. At some of the farms, their heifers happened to be on a different location didn’t have to be tested if they didn’t have cows in that location,” Mike Eilers, the superintendent for dairy cattle at the Iowa State Fair, told Radio Iowa, “but there still was roughly 120 to 130 cows here at the show which is pretty good given all they had to go through with the testing and stuff.”

Eilers grew up on a dairy farm and showed Guernsey cattle, but has what he describes as an office job now. For the past decade, he’s been managing the State Fair dairy shows to stay connected to the industry and make sure kids, in particular, have a place to showcase their work.

“Just to be able to come here and compete to see the quality of the animals they have and compare it to everybody else in the state and the other animals, and just to meet and hang out,” Eilers said. “There’s a lot of families and kids from all over the state that get to become friends just because they come to the fair.”

Mike and Rhonda Guy of Newton were in the State Fair Livestock Pavilion this weekend, watching their granddaughter show her Brown Swiss heifer in the youth dairy show “The value of this is tremendous. It teaches them a work ethic,” Mike Guy said. “It’s nice to see them do things that we did as well — carry on a tradition, to some extent.”

Rhonda Guy grew up on a dairy farm and showed Brown Swiss cattle as a kid. Watching her granddaughter in the show ring was a thrill. “It’s fun to be at the top of the class,” she said, “but just to be in the class at the Iowa State Fair is a big deal.”

Mike Guy and his brother shut down their milking operation about 20 years after deciding they either had to expand or get out of the dairy business. According to the latest data from the USDA, there were about a thousand dairy farms in Iowa in 2022.

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