WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence agencies are shifting more money and resources to China. They’re moving hundreds of officers to China-focused positions, including some who were previously working on terrorism. One year after ending the war in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden and top national security officials speak less about counterterrorism and more about the political, economic and military threats posed by China as well as Russia. In a recent closed-door meeting with leaders of the CIA’s counterterrorism center, the CIA’s No. 2 official made clear that fighting al-Qaida and other extremist groups will remain a priority but that there’s an increasing focus on China.
DNR to host public hearing Aug. 11 on Intended Use Plans for new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) general supplemental funds
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa DNR has released Federal Fiscal Year 2022 BIL General Supplemental Fund Intended Use Plans (IUPs) for public review, and will be hosting a virtual hearing Aug. 11 to take comments. The IUPs are for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
The IUPs outline projects and priorities for federal infrastructure dollars to fund water quality projects in Iowa. The plans can be reviewed at: https://www.iowasrf.com/
The public are invited to provide comments on the IUPs through a virtual public hearing Thursday, Aug. 11 at 10:00 a.m. Participants should use the following conference call-in information to participate. Comments will be recorded.
Meeting ID
Phone Numbers
(US)+1 240-457-9376
PIN: 670 973 501#
Written comments also can be submitted through Thursday, Aug. 18 by email to: Water-infrastructure@dnr.iowa.
It is anticipated the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission will act on the IUPs at its Sept. 20, 2022 meeting. Intended Use Plans for BIL PFAS/Emerging Contaminants and Lead Service Line Replacement Funds are still forthcoming and will be published as separate documents at a later time.
City of Oskaloosa Commences Massive Road Project
The city of Oskaloosa announced that beginning today (8/8), work will begin to convert A Avenue/IA92 between Highway 432 and the east corporate limits and on Market Street between 2nd Avenue and 16th Avenue from four-lanes to three with a continuous left turn lane.
This work involves the removal and replacement of pavement markings, median construction at the railroad tracks on A Avenue West, installation of a new traffic signal at Market and C Avenue, and a small portion of sidewalk work. Construction will begin on A Avenue/IA 92 with outside lane closures across two intersections at a time progressing from west to east. The contractor will leave access to homes and businesses along the construction route at all times. The project is slated for a total of 60 working days.
The city says these improvements are based on a study through the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Improvement Program. This type of conversion is shown to improve safety and efficiency, minimize traffic delays and congestion, and allow for future planning.
More information on the project is available at https://www.oskaloosaiowa.org/…/TSIP-IA-92A-Ave-US-63Market… or by contacting Civil Engineering Technician Courtney Ryan, cryan@oskaloosaiowa.org, 641.676.5014. To learn more about three lane conversions, visit the Iowa DOT’s webpage at https://iowadot.gov/tra…/4-to-3-lane-conversion/3-lane-roads.
Alex Jones ordered to pay Sandy Hook parents more than $4M
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas jury has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay more than $4 million in compensatory damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre over Jones’ repeated public claims that the attack was a hoax. The jury’s decision Thursday marks the first time the Infowars host has been held financially liable for falsely claiming that the attack that killed 20 children and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, was staged. It might not be the last such judgment against him, as a judge in Connecticut has already ruled against him in a similar lawsuit. The Texas jury must still decide how much to award in punitive damages.
Iowa DNR Issues Water Summary Update for July
DES MOINES — Iowa’s July precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.51 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update. Some locations in southern Iowa had July rainfall of four inches less than normal.
An area of extreme drought returned to Iowa for the first time since August 2021, and drought conditions were deteriorating as the month ended. Streamflow, groundwater and soil moisture conditions are below normal in parts of Iowa.
“July was the fourth below normal rainfall month in a row, and the sixth month this year that was drier than normal. We are seeing a continued deterioration of conditions across northwest Iowa, as well as the introduction of drought conditions across a large area of southern Iowa,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “July is normally a fairly wet month, but the expected rainfall did not occur in much of the state.”
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/
First Edition of “Mahaska Mixer” a Success
The Mahaska Chamber held its first social event under the new name of “Mahaska Mixer” last night at the newly christened Twin Cedars Bank in Oskaloosa, celebrating its name change from the State Bank of Bussey and being in business for 130 years. We chatted with chamber director Deann De Groot, who talked about how everything turned out as well as the possibility of the chamber putting on more Mahaska Mixers in the future.
You can find the full schedule of events with the Mahaska chamber here.
Ottumwa Council Approves Updates to Fire, Electrical Codes; New Parking Lot Project in the Works
The Ottumwa City Council met on Tuesday. Among the action items the city approved were updates to its fire and electrical codes, as well as the designation of a portion of Church street with the honorary name of Madre Irene Munoz Way to honor her recent retirement.
The city also heard from Public Works Director Larry Seals about a possible upcoming project related to the Troeger parking lot.
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2023, though Seals said winter work could be approved if weather permits. This work would be done on the beach side and would not have any effect on the tennis courts in the area. The project was approved unanimously.
China claims ‘precision missile strikes’ in Taiwan Strait
KEELUNG, Taiwan (AP) — China says it has conducted “precision missile strikes” in the Taiwan Strait as part of military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments in six zones surrounding the island. The drills were prompted by a visit to the island by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week. They are intended to advertise China’s threat to attack the self-governing island republic in response to moves to solidify its de facto independence from Chinese rule. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the exercises were joint operations focused on “blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control.” Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, while the U.S. has numerous naval assets in the area.
National Group Sues Iowa District Over Its Policy for Transgender Students
By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
A national parental rights group has filed a lawsuit challenging an eastern Iowa school district’s policy for transgender students.
The lawsuit accuses the Linn-Mar School District of allowing children to make “fundamentally important decisions” about their gender identity “without any parental involvement.”
Linn-Mar students in 7th through 12th grades may use different names or pronouns at school and use the restroom that matches their gender identity and choose whether their parents are notified. Linn-Mar School Board members who adopted the policy in April said the plan follows federal guidelines for supporting transgender youth in school.
Parents Defending Education, the group that filed the lawsuit, is also alleging the district is violating the First Amendment by threatening to discipline classmates or school staff who refuse to call a student by their preferred pronouns or new name.
Vehicle Collision with Residence in Ottumwa Results in Fatality
OTTUMWA – On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at approximately 9:54 a.m., a vehicle collided with a residence located at 601 East Williams. Preliminary investigation suggests that the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed on Williams Street and lost control causing the vehicle to strike a residence.
The vehicle was a 2007 BMW X5 passenger car that was being driven by Jason Andrew Tobeck, age 44, of Ottumwa. Tobeck was pronounced dead on the scene of the accident. A passenger inside the vehicle was identified as Brianna McConnell, age 21, of Ottumwa. McConnell was transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center by ORMICS and is in stable condition.
Due to the serious nature of this accident, the Iowa State Patrol was requested to conduct a Technical Accident Investigation into this incident.
The Wapello County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol, Ottumwa Fire Department, and ORMICS assisted with this investigation.