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Sinclair says moratorium on new Iowa casinos a ‘jump ball’ in Senate

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A five-year moratorium on new state-licensed casinos easily passed the Iowa House yesterday, but Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair suggests its chances in the Senate are far different.

“Honestly, I’d say the prospect of a moratorium is basically a jump ball in the senate,” she said. “…I don’t know. I’ve tried to do a soft vote count. I can’t honestly tell you where the senate will land.”

Sinclair indicates a provision tucked in the bill that makes the moratorium retroactive to January 1st of this year means there’s no rush to approve the bill before February 6. That’s when the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is scheduled to decide whether to grant a state license for a casino in Cedar Rapids.

Sinclair said the bill that passed the House on a 68-31 vote yesterday will be sent to the Senate State Government Committee next week for review.

“I don’t believe there is any fast tracking that we can do,” Sinclair said, “that we would do.”

The Senate Local Government Committee passed its own version of a casino moratorium yesterday, but Sinclair said that bill also will be referred to the State Government Committee. The pace will allow for an important “philosophical conversation,” Sinclair said.

“This isn’t a Republican versus Democrat issue. This is an Iowa issue and the question is: Are there enough casinos in the state or are there not?,” Sinclair said. “The quetion is: Should we allow those established boards and commissions to do the job they were appointed to do or do we not?”

Vermicomposting Workshop to Be Held

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Learn to unleash the magic of vermicomposting and join Mahaska County Extension on Tuesday February 11 at 7:00 PM for a workshop led by Shannon Rabotski, ISU Extension and Outreach-Mahaska County Youth Coordinator (CYC). The workshop is open to the public and is for 4-Hers, 4-H aged youth and adults. It will be held at the Mahaska County Extension office auditorium (212 North I Street, Oskaloosa).

Vermicomposting is a technique which turns food scraps into gold for your garden! Learn to harness red wiggler worms, nature’s tiny workers, as you create and learn to maintain your very own worm bin.
This hands-on workshop. Participants are asked to bring a plastic bin with lid which fits tightly (it does not need to be new – just clean. Any size bin will work. However, the best bin size is 2’x3’ one foot deep. The bin should be opaque – NOT CLEAR.  Holes will be drilled in the bin bottom and lid at the workshop by Mahaska County Master Gardeners.
Participants will add shredded paper and coir as bedding to the bin. Participants will pay for the amount of worms and coconut coir they use for their bin. The worms and coir will be divided into lots of approximately 100 worms for $5. Please register in 4-H online if a youth or by calling 641-673-5841 if an adult to reserve worms and coir by Monday Feb 3.
Non worm bin creating participants are encouraged.  Please indicate you wish to observe when you register. Red Wiggler worms can not survive Iowa’s winter weather. Participants are recommended to take the worm bin directly home to a space heated to 55-77 degrees at the end of the workshop.
To learn more about what 4-H Has to Offer in Mahaska county visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska/4h or stop by the  Mahaska County Extension office for more details on programs and clubs including membership and volunteer opportunities.

Under 2 Months Remaining for Chamber Scholarship Applications

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — High school seniors living in Mahaska County and attending any high school are eligible to apply now for a Chamber Scholarship sponsored by the Mahaska Chamber & Development Group. Information is available from one’s school counselor or the web at https://www.mahaskachamber.org/resources/scholarships/ where you will find a link to the fillable form. Scholarships are sponsored by area businesses and industries. Last year $25,750 was distributed to 22 students.

The application requests information such as participation in school and community activities and a short essay. Be prepared with a PDF of your transcript. Online applications and school transcripts are due no later than Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
“Area businesses and individuals are encouraged to contribute to the Chamber Scholars program to provide deserving students with financial support as they pursue their academic and career goals. This program would not be possible without the generous contributions we receive annually from local business leaders and individuals. We encourage more community members to get involved, as this program continues to strengthen the partnership between education and community,” Morgan McClendon stated. “Another way to contribute to this special program is by participating in the annual Chamber Golf outing on Friday, May 9. Teams of four and hole sponsorships raise additional funds for the Chamber Scholars program.”
The Chamber Scholars program, now in its 29th year, continues to partner with the “52577 Scholarship.” Contributions to the program are tax deductible and can be made in any amount. If one chooses to donate $1,000 it will be awarded this year. If one wants to contribute to the perpetual scholarship fund through “52577”, any amount may be donated to be used in future years.
For further information to apply or to contribute to the fund contact the Mahaska Chamber at 641.672.2591 or email events@mahaskachamber.org

NFL says it will look into allegations by massage therapists about Justin Tucker’s behavior

Posted on by Sam Parsons

BALTIMORE (AP) — The NFL will look into allegations that Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker behaved inappropriately toward massage therapists at four spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, a league spokesman said.

The Baltimore Banner detailed the accusations in a lengthy report Thursday. The paper said it spoke to six massage therapists who recounted firsthand experiences with Tucker from 2012 to 2016. Several therapists said they ended Tucker’s sessions early or refused to work on him again, and managers from two spas said they banned him from returning.

“We first became aware of the allegations from the reporter investigating this story as they were not previously shared with the NFL,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “We take any allegation seriously and will look into the matter.”

Tucker is accused of exposing his genitals, brushing two therapists with his exposed penis and leaving what they believed to be semen on the massage table after three treatments, according to the Banner.

Tucker posted a statement on social media calling the allegations about him in the Banner story “unequivocally false.”

“In accusing me of misconduct, the article takes innocuous, or ambiguous, interactions and skews them so out of proportion they are no longer recognizable, and it presents vague insinuations as fact,” he said.

Tucker, 35, just finished his 13th season in the NFL, all with the Ravens. He’s achieved stardom both league-wide and among Baltimore fans in a way that’s rare for a kicker, and his 66-yard field goal in 2021 remains the longest successful kick in league history.

In 2022, Tucker agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2027 season. That deal included $17.5 million guaranteed.

“We are aware of the Baltimore Banner’s story regarding Justin Tucker as well as his response,” a Ravens spokesman said. “We take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.”

According to the Banner, a representative of the spa chain Ojas said Tucker was “immediately terminated as a client” in 2014 after “a massage therapist reported an incident that allegedly occurred during a massage therapy session with Justin Tucker.” Owners of Studio 921, which is now closed, said through an attorney they “took immediate and decisive action to ban this individual from our business and services to ensure a safe environment for all.”

In his response, Tucker said: “I have never received any complaints from a massage therapist, have never been dismissed from a massage therapy or bodywork session, and have never been told that I was not welcome at any spa or other place of business.”

The allegations have some similarities to unrelated accusations made against another NFL player, quarterback Deshaun Watson. More than two dozen women accused Watson of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions while he played for Houston. After being traded to the Cleveland Browns, Watson missed the first 11 games of the 2022 season after an independent arbitrator determined that he had violated the league’s personal conduct policy.

Iowa House, on 68-31 vote, approves moratorium on new casinos

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A five-year moratorium on new casinos in Iowa has passed the Iowa House this afternoon and the same proposal has been approved by a committee in the Senate.

If the bill becomes law by early next Thursday morning, it will block state regulators from considering the application for a new casino in Cedar Rapids. The Racing and Gaming Commission is scheduled to vote on the Cedar Crossing Casino project on February 6.

During remarks on the bill in the House today, Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton pointed to recent studies suggesting a Cedar Rapids casino would draw customers — and revenue — from currently operating casinos.

“I think the cannibalism is very real,” Kaufmann said. “…I think a ruling of this significance should have us electeds’ involvement.”

Senator Scott Webster, a Republican from Bettendorf, guided the bill that would block a Cedar Rapids casino through the Senate Local Government Committee today.

“When the report came out and I believe it said 58% of the revenue of a new casino in that area would be a cannibalization of other casinos in the area, it’s a concerning issue,” Webster said.

it took just 11 minutes for the House to debate and pass the moratorium this afternoon. Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, saod the legislature should let the Racing and Gaming Commission make the call.

“It shouldn’t be our job, the second of third week of session, to be protecting existing casino operators,” Scheetz said.

Representative Amie Wichtendahl, a Democrat from Marion, said Linn County voters approved a gambling referendum in 2021 and the legislature shouldn’t interfere in the process set up to consider the application for a casino license.

“Let the chips fall where they may. Let not this government be in the business of micromanaging the local economy,” Wichtendahl said. ” The voters in the market have spoken and I humbly ask you to listen to their voices.”

Senator Dawn Driscoll, a Republican from Williamsburg, voted for the moratorium in committee today, She’s the state senator who represents Riverside, which has had a casino since 2006. “And I’m here to fight for the people that have worked there, our rural communities and the businesses that are around that.”

Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, opposed the moratorium. He said it limits competition in Iowa’s gambling market. “If you have a restaurant on Main Street in your hometown, well another restauranteur comes along and wants to open a second restaurant, they’re not prohibited from doing that,” Quirmbach said.

There’s been no announcement yet from GOP leaders on a potential vote in the 50-member senate on the casino moratorium bill.

DNR to recap hunting seasons, discuss possible rule changes at Feb. 18 public meeting

Posted on by Sam Parsons

BLOOMFIELD – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff provide updates on recently completed hunting seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

Locally, the Iowa DNR will be at the Pioneer Ridge Nature Center, 1339 Hwy. 63, north of Bloomfield, on Feb. 18. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.

“We want people to come out, listen to the hunting seasons reviews, ask questions and hear directly from our staff,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Part of the meeting will be devoted to discussing potential rule changes and collecting feedback as we work through the rules process.”

The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements, such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments, should contact the Iowa DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

Central College to Host Intercollegiate Honor Band Festival

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Central College welcomes the public to the Intercollegiate Honor Band Festival at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, in Douwstra Auditorium on Central’s campus.

A public concert will conclude the two-day Intercollegiate Honor Band Festival, which takes place Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1. College students from 10 Iowa institutions will rehearse throughout the day on Friday and the morning of Saturday, Feb. 1. Participating schools include Buena Vista University, Central College, Clarke University, Coe College, Iowa Central Community College, Northwestern College, St. Ambrose University, Simpson College, the University of Dubuque and William Penn University.

Stan Dahl, senior lecturer of music and director of the Flying Pans Steel Band, and Brad Lampe, lecturer of music and director of bands, organized the event. They invited Captain David Regner of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, and the USAF Heartland of America Band, based at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, to conduct the concert.

The free concert will feature works by Andrew Boysen, Gustav Holst, Michael Markowski, Modest Mussorgsky, Florence Price and Alfred Reed.

Newly spotted asteroid has a tiny chance of hitting Earth in 2032

Posted on by Sam Parsons

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A newly discovered asteroid has a tiny chance of smacking Earth in 2032, space agency officials said Wednesday.

Scientists put the odds of a strike at slightly more than 1%.

“We are not worried at all, because of this 99 percent chance it will miss,” said Paul Chodas, director of NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies. “But it deserves attention.”

First spotted last month by a telescope in Chile, the near-Earth asteroid — designated 2024 YR4 — is estimated to be 130 to 330 feet (40 to 100 meters) across.

Scientists are keeping close watch on the space rock, which is currently heading away from Earth. As the asteroid’s path around the sun becomes better understood, Chodas and others said there’s a good chance the risk to Earth could drop to zero.

The asteroid will gradually fade from view over the next few months, according to NASA and the European Space Agency. Until then, some of the world’s most powerful telescopes will keep monitoring it to better determine its size and path. Once out of sight, it won’t be visible until it passes our way again in 2028.

The asteroid came closest to Earth on Christmas Day — passing within roughly 500,000 miles (800,000 kilometers) of Earth, about twice the distance of the moon. It was discovered two days later.

Chodas said scientists are poring over sky surveys from 2016, when predictions show the asteroid also ventured close.

If scientists can find the space rock in images from then, they should be able to determine whether it will hit or miss the planet, he told The Associated Press. “If we don’t find that detection, the impact probability will just move slowly as we add more observations,” he said.

Earth gets clobbered by an asteroid this size every few thousand years, according to ESA, with the potential for severe damage. That’s why this one now tops ESA’s asteroid risk list.

The potential impact would occur on Dec. 22, 2032. It’s much too soon to know where it might land if it did hit Earth.

The good news, according to NASA, is that for now, no other known large asteroids have an impact probability above 1%.

Weekly Fuel Report

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 6 cents, averaging $2.95 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $2.26 per barrel over last week, currently priced at $73.29.
  • Brent crude oil fell by $1.95 and is currently priced at $77.13.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $77.25 and Brent crude was $83.99.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.95 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices rose 6 cents from last week’s price and are up 19 cents from a year ago.
    • The national average on Wednesday was $3.12, down 1cent from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 2 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.42.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.57 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 25 cents lower than the national average of $3.67.
  • Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.08 for U87-E10, $2.25 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.33 for ULSD#2, $2.57 for ULSD#1, and $1.93 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were down $.77 at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.12/MMbtu.
  • Propane prices averaged $1.68 per gallon in Iowa.
  • Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $3.03 per gallon.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Mahaska Hospice Auxiliary Board Invites Community to Share the Love Event to Support Hospice Care

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — The Mahaska Hospice Auxiliary Board is excited to invite the community to the 8th Annual Share the Love Event! This year’s event will take place Saturday, February 8th, 2025, at Serenity House in Oskaloosa, IA, featuring a drive-thru take out dinner from Catered 2 U, a gemstone pendant necklace raffle from Gardner-Collier Jewelry, and an online auction. 

The drive thru take-out dinner will be catered by Cater 2 U. Pick-up will be 4:30PM – 6:30PM at Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House. Dinner tickets are $25 Adult and $10 Child. Dinner & Raffle tickets are available from Mahaska Health Hospice Auxiliary Members, Hospice Serenity House, and Gardner Collier Jewelry, Oskaloosa.

Share the Love event proceeds benefit the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House to enhance the quality of life for the friends, family, and community members of Oskaloosa and the Southeast Iowa Region. Mahaska Health, generous community members, and businesses have covered the expenses of the event so that individual participation makes the greatest influence possible. The event’s food, auction, and raffle items are sponsored, making it possible for 100% of the profits to support the Mahaska Health Serenity House directly. 

“We want to thank the community for their overwhelming support of Share the Love,” shared Amanda Doud, Mahaska Health Foundation Director. “This event is only possible because of the care of community members. Every year the event grows, and with that, every year we’re able to support our patients and their families even more.”

The Auxiliary Board would like to extend a sincere thanks to Musco Lighting, MCG, Mahaska Bottling, NoCoast, Mahaska Health, and the Oskaloosa Gardener-Collier Jewelry for their generous contributions to the Serenity House mission.

For more information and to purchase raffle tickets, participate in the online auction, and shop apparel, follow the Mahaska Hospice Auxiliary Facebook Page and visit mahaskahealth.org/share-the-love.

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