ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The gambling industry’s national trade group predicts that 1-in-5 American adults will make a bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The American Gaming Association says over 50 million U.S. adults plan to bet on the game, wagering a total of $16 million. That’s more than twice the amount that was expected to be wagered on last year’s Super Bowl. Sports betting is legal in 33 states plus Washington, D.C. this year, up from 30 states last year. The group’s survey finds bettors evenly split, with 44% backing the Eagles and an identical 44% putting their money on the Chiefs.
ISU part of project to diversify the cornbelt
By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)
Iowa State University researchers are part of an effort led by Purdue University to diversify the cornbelt. ISU sociology professor J. Arbuckle says farmers once planted many different crops on their land.
“The long rotations with lots of different crops, spread risk, all around the farm, but they also took care of, you know ecological processes, agro ecological processes that took care of a lot of the, you know, the pest cycles and the weed cycles and that sort of thing,” he says. The crops became less diversified with the advent of chemicals to deal with the pests and weeds, and the use of mechanized farm machines.
Arbuckle says farmers started specializing in soybeans and corn.
“We’re seeing a lot of problems stemming from that specialized system, right? So we’ve got a lot of tillage going on that results in reduction of soil health and soil erosion. We also have herbicide resistant weeds, we’ve got pesticide resistant insects,” Arbuckle says. There’s also a boom and bust pattern for the price of those commodities. He says this project is looking at ways to add some diversity back into the system.
“To number one, provide more market opportunities for farmers, more ways to have more resilient cropping systems that use more agroecological processes to deal with those pest and weed cycles,” Arbuckle says. “But also to deal with some of the more extreme weather that we’re having.” They hope to find some of the answers with the ten million dollar USDA grant.
“This is a five-year project. So we don’t have any illusions that we’re going to change the system in five years,” he says. “So really, what we’re doing is looking at different options and pathways and potential creative visions for ways that we might open doors for diversification.” The team includes more than 30 investigators who are working with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois to envision and evaluate more diverse agricultural systems for the Midwest.
City of Ottumwa Announces Phase 8 Sewer Separation Closures
OTTUMWA — Beginning Wednesday February 8th, 2023, the following closures will take place:
- The intersection of Walnut and Second Street will be closed for storm sewer installation.
- South Van Buren Avenue from the alley adjacent to 130 S. Van Buren to Main Street will be closed for storm sewer installation.
This work is part of the continued Phase 8 sewer separation project. Residents will have limited access to their homes, all other motorists are advised to seek alternate routes, and to navigate in and out of the construction areas with extreme caution. Weather permitting, expect the work in both of these locations to last about two weeks.
Knoxville City Council Awards Park Project Bids, Begins Hearing Budget Presentations
By Sam Parsons
The Knoxville city council met last night and held public hearings for improvements to both Edwards Park and Veterans Park.
The Edwards Park Improvements Project mostly involves making improvements to the drainage at the park, including the replacement of the outlet structure. 8 bids for the project were received and the contract was awarded to Cushman Excavating for $179,318.90. Work is expected to be done by the end of September.
The Veterans Park Improvements Project is more extensive. It entails vegetation removal, pavement removal, tree protection, excavation, bioretention cells, splash pad PCC, equipment and amenities, playground area, landscaping and seeding, restroom, utilities including electrical, water service, storm sewer and subdrain structures and piping, and sanitary structures and piping, PCC sidewalk, temporary traffic control, erosion control, and other miscellaneous work. 5 bids were received and Cushman Excavating was awarded the contract for a low bid of $1,012,500. This project has the current deadline of August 18, 2023.
The council also heard budget presentations from the police department as well as the airport and library. The airport’s expenditures for the upcoming year are estimated to be $691,250, a decrease of 15.07% from the previous year. The library’s expenditures are estimated at $704,017, an increase of 10.44%. And the police department’s expenditures are expected to total about $2,197,691, an increase of 14.89%. No action was taken yet, with more budgetary presentations still to be given in the coming weeks.
The next regular meeting with the Knoxville city council is scheduled for February 20.
Blommers, Foster Make History as Osky Splits DH with Newton
By Sam Parsons
Friday night was Senior Night at Oskaloosa High School for girls and boys hoops, and it was a night headlined by the history made by two members of the Indians’ girls team.
Osky senior Presley Blommers entered the contest 11 points shy of the 1,000 mark for her career total. Sophomore Dasia Foster was 8 rebounds away from breaking the school’s single season record in that category.
Both would reach the milestones quickly enough. But plenty of drama was included along the way.
The game began with Blommers scoring 10 points in the first quarter, seeming poised to hit 1,000 very quickly, and the Indians jumped out to a 14-4 lead; however, the Cardinals put up quite the fight. They were able to round into form with sophomore Alex Garvis among the primary players tasked with stopping Blommers. The Cardinals succeeded in a big way in the second quarter; they outscored the Indians 10-5 in the frame and held Blommers off the scoreboard. Blommers was hobbled from an ankle injury sustained early in the game, but gutted it out for the rest of the night; in the meantime, though, the Indians and Cardinals were tied at halftime, 19-19, and she still hadn’t hit the milestone.
“I thought we came out and looked pretty good. I thought, ‘Okay, we’re in rhythm, this is going to happen,'” said Osky coach TC Cunningham after the game. “And then the closer Presley got to the record, the tighter we became. And [her teammates] wanted it just as much as her.”
Dasia Foster sat out for much of the second quarter and entered halftime with 3 (unofficial) rebounds. She still had some ground to cover to make history, too.
The third quarter of play was back and forth, but the celebrations cut through the tension when Blommers hit a lay-up in the third quarter to record her 1,000th and 1,001st career points.
It wasn’t long after that that Foster would break the school record for rebounds in a single season; this moment didn’t quite have the reaction from the crowd that Blommers’ shot did, as rebounds are not counted live on the scoreboard, but it was clear by the time the fourth quarter began that Foster, who finished the night with 12 official rebounds, had the record.
“Before the game, I was nervous,” said Foster. “I don’t really get super nervous before games, but this game, I just knew what I wanted to do, and what I needed to do. And it was just nerve wracking. But then I got in the game, and it was just gone.”
“I wanted to get it done with one of my favorite teammates and best friends, Presley Blommers…being able to have her break 1,000 for her Senior Night and me getting the school record is just a crazy feeling.”
Still, there was a job to be finished: Newton had, in the midst of all the emotion, taken the lead from the Indians and entered the fourth with a 31-29 lead.
With the feelings of pride put in the rearview mirror (for now), the Indians got back to work in the fourth. Right away, Blommers started piling on the points on her way to 19 on the night. The Cardinals, meanwhile, got cold from the floor after shooting the ball exceptionally well for much of the game. Junior Sophia Reynolds finished the game with 19 points and was on fire from midrange in the first three quarters, but with the Indians’ defense tightening up and shots starting to miss, the Cardinal offense was held to just 4 points in the fourth quarter as the Indians put the finishing touches on a 43-35 victory to seal the deal on a great night for Osky girls basketball.
“I’m so proud of them,” Cunningham responded when asked about the girls who came through with the milestones. “The work they’ve put in, the time they’ve gelled together to know how to play with one another…it’s been great to see them grow. Especially Presley…to see her grow and mature to where she’s at, she is a true leader of our basketball team and as a student in Oskaloosa High School. Dasia is just a sophomore…her future is off the charts.”
The win improves their record to 9-10 on the season with two games left to play before the postseason begins.
Full postgame comments from TC Cunningham:
Full postgame comments from Dasia Foster:
The nightcap of the doubleheader featured Osky’s boys hosting the 5th ranked 3A team in the state in Newton. The Cardinals entered this game full strength; in their previous meeting with Osky, they had been missing senior guard Jake Ingle, who is their #2 scorer on the season.
It was the Cardinals’ game to lose from the first quarter on. The game began with a touching moment as the Indians agreed to let the Cardinals score 2 points on a lay-up in exchange for senior Brody Allman getting the start and cashing in a 2 point shot of his own to begin the competitive part of the game 2-2. It was Allman’s second field goal attempt of the season, and his second make.
From there, though, the 5th ranked Cardinals handled their business. They jumped out to a 24-13 lead after one quarter and led 42-29 at half, thanks in large part to 16 points and 5 (unofficial) rebounds in the half from senior Cole Plowman, who finished with a game-high 23 points. The third quarter was even more dominant for Newton, as they held the Indians to just 6 points scored and pulled away to a 27 point lead entering the final quarter. The Cardinals coasted to a 79-43 victory to sink the Indians to 1-16 on the year.
Osky will face Knoxville tonight (2/6) in search of win #2 on the year.
List of Grammy winners in top categories
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Winners Sunday in the top categories at the 65th Grammy Awards:
— Album of the year: “Harry’s House,” Harry Styles
— Record of the year: “About Damn Time,” Lizzo
— Song of the year (songwriter’s award): “Just Like That,” Bonnie Raitt.
— Best new artist: Samara Joy
— Best pop solo performance: “Easy on Me,” Adele
— Best pop duo/group performance: “Unholy,” Sam Smith and Kim Petras
— Best rap album: “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” Kendrick Lamar
— Best dance/electronic album: “Renaissance,” Beyoncé
— Best R&B Song: “Cuff It,” Beyoncé
— Best country album: “A Beautiful Time,” Willie Nelson
— Best pop vocal album: “Harry’s House,” Harry Styles
— Best música urbana album: “Un Verano Sin Ti,” Bad Bunny
— Best rock album: “Patient Number 9,” Ozzy Osbourne
— Best rock performance: “Broken Horses,” Brandi Carlile
— Best rock song: “Broken Horses,” Brandi Carlile
— Best rap performance: “The Heart Part 5,” Kendrick Lamar
— Best rap song: “The Heart Part 5,” Kendrick Lamar
— Best melodic rap performance: “Wait For U,” Future featuring Drake & Tems
— Best R&B album: “Black Radio III,” Robert Glasper
— Best R&B performance: “Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
— Best traditional R&B performance: “Plastic Off the Sofa,” Beyoncé
— Best progressive R&B album: “Gemini Rights,” Steve Lacy
— Best alternative music performance: “Chaise Longue,” Wet Leg
— Best alternative music album: “Wet Leg,” Wet Leg
— Best audio book, narration and storytelling recording: “Finding Me,” Viola Davis
— Best traditional pop vocal album: “Higher,” Michael Bublé
— Best solo country solo performance: “Live Forever,” Willie Nelson
— Best country duo/group performance: “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde
— Best country album: “’Til You Can’t,” Cody Johnson
— Best music video: “All Too Well: The Short Film,” Taylor Swift
— Producer of the year, non-classical: Jack Antonoff
— Best comedy album: “The Closer,” Dave Chappelle
— Best musical theater album: “Into The Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording)”
— Best music film: “Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story”
— Best song written for visual media: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from “Encanto,” Lin-Manuel Miranda
— Best jazz vocal album: Samara Joy
— Best Americana album: “In These Silent Days,” Brandi Carlile
— Best Americana performance: “Made Up Mind,” Bonnie Raitt
— Best American roots song: “Just Like That,” Bonnie Raitt
— Best dance/electronic recording: “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
— Best metal performance: “Degradation Rules,” Ozzy Osbourne featuring Tony Iommi
— Best engineered, non-classical album: “Harry’s House,” Harry Styles
— Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: “Encanto”
— Best score soundtrack for visual media: “Encanto,” Germaine Franco
DNC votes to end Iowa Democrats’ first-in-the-nation Caucuses
By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
The Democratic National Committee has voted to eliminate Iowa from the list of states that will start the party’s 2024 presidential campaign.
South Carolina is replacing Iowa as the lead-off state, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada, then Georgia and finally Michigan. it’s a sequence President Biden recommended in December. Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison of South Carolina said these changes are long overdue.
“It expands the number of voices in the early window and it elevates diverse communities that are at the core of the Democratic Party,” Harrison said.
Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell drew cheers as she addressed national party leaders this weekend. “Here’s the reality: no one state should have the lock on going first,” Dingel said.
The delay in announcing the results of the 2020 Iowa Caucuses due to a faulty smart phone app intensified criticism of the caucuses, after decades of being first in the nation. Leah Daughtry of New York, the former chief of staff of the Democratic Party, said Iowa law requiring the Caucuses be first doesn’t give Iowa Democrats the divine right to defy party rules.
“We decided we wanted a calendar that will reflect who our party is now and not who our party was back then,” said Leah Daughtry of New York, the former chief of staff of the Democratic Party.
Scott Brennan, a former Iowa Democratic Party chairman, is also member of the Democratic National Committee. He warned the committee that two of the states selected to be in the early group cannot hold their primaries on the dates national party leaders have set.
“We are creating a situation of continued uncertainty that will drag on throughout 2023,” Brennan said. “…We can approve this calendar, but we will leave here with absolutely nothing settled.”
Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Rita Hart has indicated the party will move ahead with its new vote-by-mail plan for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses.
“Iowa has been put in a position that makes it impossible to comply with both DNC rules and our own state law,” Hart said during remarks before the DNC vote, “which has exactly zero chance of being changed by the Republican legislature.”
Hart emphasized that Iowa Republicans will host Caucuses in 2024 that will kick off the GOP’s presidential campaign. “They feed the narrative that Democrats have turned their backs on Iowa and on rural America,” Hart said Saturday. “In the coming weeks, our state will be flooded with Republican hopefuls, spreading this damaging message to every corner of our state.”
This weekend, prominent Iowa Republicans began blasting that message via Twitter. Senator Joni Ernst said President Biden and Democrats were “giving middle America the middle finger.” Governor Kim Reynolds said President Biden was “too afraid” to face Iowa voters.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig Visits New Sharon
By Sam Parsons
On Friday afternoon, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited the Pro-Line Building Company in New Sharon as part of his annual 99 county tour across the state. Naig took a tour of the facilities at Pro-Line and asked questions about how business was going, challenges faced by local industry leaders, and the outlook in the near future.
Bill Maschmeier, the owner of the Pro-Line Building company as well as several other business tied to the industry, talked about the ongoing supply chain issues over the last few years, and other typical challenges that have come in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, but one topic that was raised consistently was the lack of young, skilled tradesmen. Naig suggested that awareness among current primary school students and parents could be playing a role in the fact that fewer high school graduates are pursuing careers in trade.
Naig also discussed his legislative priorities in the year ahead, and mentioned housing, child care, youth apprenticeships, and making the state of Iowa a competitive and attractive place for industry leaders. He also mentioned the farm bill that will be discussed in legislative sessions this year as one of the main drivers to accomplish those goals.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture website can be accessed here.
Boil Order in Place in East Oskaloosa; Hy-Vee Offering Free Water to Residents
By Sam Parsons
A portion of the city of Oskaloosa is now under a boil order after a water main break early in the morning in the eastern part of the city rendered much of the city without running water for several hours.
From the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department:
The Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department has issued a boil order for residents in the following area. An area with 11th street as the west border, 9th avenue East as the south border, B avenue East as the north border, and including all of Park Place, North and South Park, Highland Avenue , Hillcrest Drive, Solar Drive, Terrace Drive and Maplewoods Drive.
Residents in these area should:
- Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
- Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible.
Handwashing
- In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
- Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Bathing and showering
- Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
- Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing teeth
- Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
- Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if:
- The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or
- The dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
- Sanitize all baby bottles.
- To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
Laundry
- It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
- Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
- Bottled water,
- Boiled water, or
- Water that has been disinfected with bleach [PDF – 1 page].
Caring for pets
- Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
- If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
- Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
- Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
- You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.
Oskaloosa Hy-Vee Offering Free Water to Oskaloosa Residents
In the wake of the unfortunate situation, the Oskaloosa Hy-Vee location offered free 24-packs of water for Oskaloosa residents. One 24 pack per household member could have been picked up at the Oskaloosa Hy-Vee located at 110 S D St.
This was made possible by Hy-Vee dispatching its Disaster Relief fleet of trucks to the location. Members of the Disaster Relief team at Hy-Vee unloaded crates of bottled water and handed them out to people driving through the parking lot adjacent to Hy-Vee.
Over 130,000 bottles of water were handed out through the partnership of Mahaska County EMA, Mahaska County CERT, the Oskaloosa Fire Department, and Mahaska Health.
What Happened
In the early morning hours on Sunday (2/5/23), a resident posted to Facebook reporting a broken water main and a massive leak happening near the intersection of 11th Street and High Avenue East. It was later revealed to be a 12″ main.
Workers from the Oskaloosa Municipal Water Department quickly were sent out to address the issue. Much of the city was left without water for several hours on Sunday morning. By the early afternoon, water flow had been restored, but a portion of the city was placed under a boil order until further notice.
School Still In Session for Oskaloosa CSD
The Oskaloosa Community School District announced in the wake of the water main break that school for Monday (2/6) is still on.
In a statement from the district:
“On Sunday morning, the City of Oskaloosa lost water service following a 12” water main break. We have been notified by Mahaska County Emergency Management that water will be restored in time for school Monday and the water will be safe to drink.
“We do not have any boil advisories for our school campuses. School will resume at its usual time on Monday.
“School and district leaders have been working to prepare for any disruptions to teaching and learning as a result of this situation. We will have a large supply of bottled water on hand at each school in case we need it.
“We are grateful for the crews who have been working quickly to fix the water main. We also appreciate our families’ patience and understanding at this time.”
This is a developing story. This article will be updated as information comes in.
Bengals’ Joe Mixon charged with pointing gun at woman
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon has been charged in a warrant with pointing a gun at a woman and threatening her. Mixon faces a misdemeanor charge of aggravated menacing, according to documents filed Thursday in Hamilton County Municipal Court and obtained by The Associated Press. No attorney is listed for him in court records. According to the warrant, Mixon pointed the gun at the woman and told her, “You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you, the police (can’t) get me.” The incident occurred on Jan. 21, the day before the Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills in a divisional-round playoff game.