TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""

Walk to End Alzheimer’s Tomorrow at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa

OTTUMWA — The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting South Central Iowa residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa.

On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with a meaningful Promise Garden Ceremony that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers – purple, yellow, blue and orange – represent the different reasons why people walk to end this disease.

There is no fee to register for Walk, however, all participants are encouraged to raise critical funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure. This year, the goal is to raise $39,000, and currently, over $17,000 has been raised through sponsorship and participant fundraising.

More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, nearly 12 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa, there are more than 62,000 people living with the disease and 80,000 caregivers.

To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk.

Oskaloosa CSD Facing Litigation After Firing of Matt Kargol

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Community School District is now being sued as a result of their firing of OHS art teacher Matt Kargol this week.

The district says they were made aware of the lawsuit yesterday, which was filed as Kargol v. Oskaloosa Community School District in federal district court. In a public statement, the school district said that the school board acted on superintendent Mike Fisher’s recommendation to terminate Kargol’s contract, and that the matter was handled in accordance with applicable federal and state law and board policy.

The district added that they would not provide any further comment due to the pending litigation and the fact that this is a personnel matter. 

Kargol’s contract with the district was officially terminated by the school board in a special meeting on Wednesday evening. The decision was made in response to a controversial social media post shared by Kargol last week following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk: Kargol had posted the text, “1 Nazi down,” to his personal Facebook profile.

Kargol’s lawsuit claims that the comment was “rhetorical hyperbole about a widely reported public event,” and that Fisher was invoking his own personal ideology in his decision.

The board cited “just cause” as their basis for terminating Kargol’s contract, as well as the framework established by Iowa Code Chapter 279.

Court case link

ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely beginning Wednesday after comments that he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing led a group of ABC-affiliated stations to say it would not air the show and provoked some ominous comments from a top federal regulator.

The veteran late-night comic, made several remarks about the reaction to the conservative activist’s assassination last week on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Monday and Tuesday nights, including that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.”

ABC, which has aired Kimmel’s late-night show since 2003, moved swiftly after Nexstar Communications Group said it would pull the show starting Wednesday. Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s death “are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. Nexstar operates 23 ABC affiliates.

There was no immediate comment from Kimmel, whose contract is up in May 2026. ABC’s statement did not cite a reason for why his show was preempted.

President Donald Trump celebrated ABC’s move on the social media site Truth Social, writing: “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”

Earlier in the day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and said his agency has a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and network parent Walt Disney Co. accountable for spreading misinformation. He said the comic appeared to be making an intentional effort to mislead the public that Kirk’s assassin was a right-wing Trump supporter.

During his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel suggested Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-Trump Republican. “The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

“This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney,” Carr said on the Benny Johnson podcast. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

Authorities say the 22-year-old grew up in a conservative household in southern Utah but was enmeshed in “leftist ideology.” His parents told investigators he had turned politically left and pro-LGBTQ rights in the last year. His voter status is inactive, meaning he did not vote in two regular general elections. He told his transgender partner that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”

The business landscape around late-night television

Both Disney and Nexstar have FCC business ahead of them. Disney is seeking regulatory approval for ESPN’s acquisition of the NFL Network and Nexstar needs the Trump administration go-ahead to complete its $6.2 billion purchase of broadcast rival Tegna.

For both companies, reinstating Kimmel after a suspension would risk the ire of Trump, who has already claimed that the show has been canceled.

While CBS said this past summer that it was canceling Colbert’s show next May for financial reasons, some critics have wondered if his stance on Trump played a role. Both Colbert and Kimmel have made the president the frequent target of his jokes. Soon after the Colbert cancellation, the FCC approved CBS parent company Paramount’s long-pending deal with Skydance.

Trump similarly celebrated Colbert’s impending exit. “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,” Trump said then. “His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.”

Within the past year, both Disney and CBS parent Paramount chose to settle lawsuits brought by Trump against their news divisions rather than fight it out in court.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized the administration for “using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression” in a post on X.

“Another media outlet withered under government pressure, ensuring that the administration will continue to extort and exact retribution on broadcasters and publishers who criticize it,” said Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “We cannot be a country where late-night talk show hosts serve at the pleasure of the president.”

The scene outside Kimmel’s studio after show was suspended

Kimmel departed the Hollywood theater where his show is taped about three hours after ABC’s decision. He was seen wearing a black hat, backpack and plaid shirt and kept his head down as he entered a waiting vehicle.

An audience was lined up outside the theater where “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” tapes when they were told Wednesday’s show was canceled.

“We were just about to walk in — interestingly enough, they waited to pull the plug on this right as the studio audience was about to walk in,” Tommy Williams, a would-be audience member from Jacksonville, Florida, told The Associated Press outside the theater. “They didn’t tell us what had happened. They just said that the show was canceled.”

More of what Kimmel said on his show

Kimmel said that Trump’s response to Kirk’s death “is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, OK?” He also said that FBI chief Kash Patel has handled the investigation into the killing “like a kid who didn’t read the book, BSing his way through an oral report.”

He returned to the topic on Tuesday night, mocking Vice President JD Vance’s performance as guest host for Kirk’s podcast.

He said Trump was “fanning the flames” by attacking people on the left. “Which is it, are they a bunch of sissy pickleball players because they’re too scared to be hit by tennis balls, or a well-organized deadly team of commandos, because they can’t be both of those things.”

The move comes as the president, his administration and political party have stepped up their effort to police speech about Kirk’s death. Vance earlier this week urged Americans to turn in fellow citizens who mocked the assassination. It is also the latest effort by the administration to use its power to lean on the media. Carr has launched investigations of outlets that have angered Trump and the president has sued numerous media organizations for negative coverage.

Weekly Fuel Report

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 3 cents from last week’s price and is currently averaging $2.97 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by 9 cents per barrel over last week, and is currently priced at $64.12.
  • Brent crude oil rose by 31 cents and is currently priced at $68.05.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $72.16 and Brent crude was $74.55.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.97 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices rose 3 cents from last week’s price and are unchanged from a year ago.
    • The national average on Wednesday was $3.20, up 1 cent from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 3 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.51.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.34 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 20 cents lower than the national average of $3.71.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.00 for U87-E10, $2.26 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.47 for ULSD#2, $2.81 for ULSD#1, and $2.11 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were up 7 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.11 MMbtu.
  • We will continue reporting retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa in October.

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

Deadline to Submit Nomination Papers for November City/School Election is Today in Many Cities

OSKALOOSA — Today is the official deadline to submit nomination papers for local city/school elections this November for many cities.

For Oskaloosa, candidates interested in running for a city office at the November 4, 2025 city/school election can download the 2025 City of Oskaloosa Candidate Guide from the city’s website. Download the available election packet to review the number of required signatures needed for each available office, deadlines for submitting required documents to the Mahaska County Auditors office, and the Secretary of States Candidates Guide to the Regular City Election.  The packet also provides links to the Mahaska County Auditor and Secretary of State’s website for additional election information and forms.  Printed packets are also available at the Oskaloosa City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 220 South Market Street.

Completed Affidavit of Candidate and Nomination Petitions will be accepted at the Mahaska County Auditor’s office in the Mahaska County Courthouse, 106 South 1st Street, from Monday, August 25 through Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.  Review all requirements prior to submitting candidacy documentation.

For more information, contact the Oskaloosa City Clerk’s office at 641-673-9431 or the Mahaska County Auditor at 641-673-7148.

Oskaloosa School Board Fires OHS Art Teacher Matt Kargol for Controversial Social Media Post

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Community School Board fired OHS art teacher Matt Kargol in a special meeting last night.

The firing comes after a controversial social media post made by Kargol last week in the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kargol posted the text, “1 Nazi down” to his personal Facebook page last Wednesday. He was placed on administrative leave the following day.

The Oskaloosa school board entered a closed session for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to consider the termination of Kargol’s contract at the recommendation of superintendent Mike Fisher. The board then re-entered an open session and voted unanimously to fire Kargol.

Board president Kathy Butler thanked the law enforcement officers that were present at the meeting to provide extra security, as well as the parents, alumni, and staff within the district for their support. No other comments were made by board members during the open portion of the meeting.

The Federal Reserve wrestles with how many interest rate cuts to make and how fast

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the Federal Reserve widely expected Wednesday to reduce its key interest rate by a quarter-point to about 4.1%, economists and Wall Street investors will be looking for signals about next steps: How deeply might the Fed cut in the next few months?

There are typically two different approaches the central bank takes to lowering borrowing costs: Either a measured pace that reflects a modest adjustment to its key rate, or a much more rapid set of cuts as the economy deteriorates in an often-doomed effort to stave off recession.

For now, most economists expect it will take the first approach: What many analysts call a “recalibration” of rates to keep the economy growing and businesses hiring. Under this view, the Fed would reduce rates as many as five times by the middle of next year, bringing its rate closer to a level that neither stimulates or slows the economy.

Wall Street traders expect three reductions this year and then two more by next June, according to futures pricing tracked by CME Fedwatch.

A rate cut Wednesday would be the first in nine months. The Fed, led by Chair Jerome Powell, reduced borrowing costs three times last year. But it then put any further cuts on hold to evaluate the impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on the economy.

As recently as their last meeting in late July, Powell described the job market as “solid” and kept rates unchanged as officials sought to take more time to see how the economy evolved.

Since then, however, the government has reported a sharp slowdown in hiring, and previous government data has been revised much lower. Employers actually cut back slightly on their payrolls in June, shedding 13,000 jobs, and added just 22,000 in August.

The government also said last week that its estimate of job gains for the year ended in March 2025 would likely be revised down by 911,000, a sharp reduction in total employment. Powell and other Fed officials had previously pointed to a robust job market as a key reason that they could afford to keep rates unchanged. But with businesses pulling back on hiring, the economic case for a rate cut — which can spur more borrowing and spending — is stronger.

The downward revision of nearly a million jobs is a “huge downgrade,” said Talley Leger, chief market strategist at the Wealth Consulting Group. “If that doesn’t light a fire under the Fed just from an economic perspective I don’t know what will.”

Still, inflation remains stubbornly elevated, partly because tariffs have lifted the cost of some goods, such as furniture, appliances and food. Prices rose 2.9% in August from a year earlier, the government said last week, up from 2.7% a month earlier.

Persistent inflation could keep the Fed from cutting too rapidly. The central bank will release its quarterly economic projections after the meeting Wednesday, and many economists forecast they will show that officials expect three total reductions this year and at least two more next year.

Five reductions would bring the Fed’s key rate down to just above 3%. Many economists think that is roughly the rate that would neither stimulate nor slow the economy.

If Fed officials began to worry the economy would slip into recession, they would likely cut rates more quickly. But for now, most economists don’t see rapid cuts as necessary.

“We’re not at a break-glass moment,” said Vincent Reinhart, chief economist at BNY Investments. “This is a recalibration.”

Whitver stepping down as GOP leader in Iowa Senate

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Jack Whitver, the top Republican in the Iowa Senate, is stepping down from his leadership position and will not seek reelection in 2026.

Whitver has been Senate Majority Leader for the past seven and a half years. Last spring, Whitver announced he’d been diagnosed with a brain tumor. In a written statement issued today, Whitver said “while progress remains positive, I still have a long way to go.”

Whitver, who’s from Ankeny, was first elected to the Senate in early 2011. Whitver said he ran because “taxes were too high and I wanted to make it easier to work, start a business and raise a family in Iowa.” Whitver said he believes through is service in the senate he’s accomplished those goals.

Whitver’s current term in the Iowa Senate extends until early 2027. Senate Republicans will meet soon to select a new majority leader.

Governor Kim Reynolds, in a written statement early this evening, said Whitver’s been part of the G-O-P leadership in the statehouse “during one of the most consequential periods in modern Iowa history.” Whitver has constantly listed tax cuts as his top priority. This is how he put it five years ago. “As long as I’m leader, as long as we’re in the majority, tax reform is going to be on the agenda,” Whiter said in the fall of 2020 after his GOP peers reelected him senate majority leader.

This past spring, Whitver received the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Service Award and he made brief remarks on the senate floor. “The last year has been full of challenges for me, but almost daily someone asks how my family is doing,” Whitver said. “…The kids are actually doing well. I’m thankful for every person that has been praying for us and helping us.”

Whitver turned 45 earlier this month. He and his wife are the parents of three children.

Road Closure over Red Rock Dam September 18

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces a full road closure to Highway T15 across the Red Rock Dam September 18. The closure will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day. The closure is necessary for the ongoing rehabilitation project on the Red Rock Dam gates.

Additional partial and full road closures may be needed throughout 2025. For more information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock at 641-828-7522 or by email at: lakeredrock@usace.army.mil.

2025 Cemetery Fall Cleanup in Ottumwa

OTTUMWA — Crews at the Ottumwa, Calvary, and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries will begin the annual fall cleanup on Wednesday, October 1. Families that wish to keep any tributes or memorial decorations need to remove those items from the cemetery prior to that date. If a shepherd’s crook is used to hang an arrangement, families may leave the shepherd’s crook, but please remove the arrangement. Cemetery personnel will remove all floral tributes, decorations, and wreaths remaining after October 1. Fall and winter decorations may be placed after November 1.

The Ottumwa, Calvary, and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries are cleaned twice annually (spring and fall). Residents with questions about the cemetery cleanup or the requirements for memorial decorations can call (641) 683-0687.

NEWSLETTER

Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.