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Oskaloosa Main Street Now Accepting Entries for Young Ambassador Contest

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — The holiday season is just around the corner, and Oskaloosa Main Street is excited to bring back a beloved community tradition – the Main Street Young Ambassadors Contest! Once again, one young man and one young lady will be chosen to represent Oskaloosa as Young Ambassadors.

Children from three years old through kindergarten are invited to enter and be part of this special holiday tradition. It’s a wonderful opportunity for local families to celebrate their little ones while helping make the holiday season brighter throughout our community.

All contestants will be introduced, and the Young Ambassadors will be announced at a special ceremony on Monday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. at the Penn Central Mall. The event will celebrate the contestants, their families, and the community.

To enter, parents or guardians should submit a photo of their child no larger than 3×5, a $5 registration fee, and the child’s name, birthdate, parent’s name, address, phone number, school, favorite activity, and what they want for Christmas. Entries should be submitted to Oskaloosa Main Street, 222 1st Ave. East, Oskaloosa, IA (2nd floor of Nicolet National Bank). Applications can also be found on the Mahaska Chamber website under Main Streets Holiday Events. https://www.mahaskachamber.org/page/main_street_holiday_events/

Entries must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23.

Once registered, each contestant will have a secure voting canister placed at a participating local business. Families may request a preferred canister location but must first receive permission from that business. Voting begins Monday, November 2, and continues through the morning of Monday, November 30. The young man and young lady with the most money collected in their respective canisters will be named Oskaloosa’s Young Ambassadors.

Every contestant will have the opportunity to be part of Oskaloosa’s “Winter Wonderland: Let It Glow” Lighted Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m.

Most importantly, this tradition gives our community a chance to come together and support local. Proceeds from the contest will benefit a local preschool and help with expenses for the Lighted Christmas Parade.

Local businesses interested in hosting a voting canister or families looking for more information are encouraged to contact Oskaloosa Main Street at 641-672-2591.

FDA says its safety review of abortion pill will continue into next year

Posted on by Sam Parsons

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says its ongoing safety review of the nation’s main abortion pill will continue into next year, a timeline that was quickly condemned by abortion opponents hoping to see the drug’s use curtailed.

The FDA gave a court-ordered update on its progress in a legal filing late Wednesday, providing the first substantive information about the controversial reevaluation ordered by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000. The agency has repeatedly reaffirmed the pill’s safety and effectiveness over the years, in addition to easing a number of restrictions on the drug, including dropping a requirement that it be dispensed in person.

But since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, anti-abortion groups and their allies in Congress have pushed the administration to revisit the pill, in the hopes of restricting its use.

The FDA said in its filing that it expects to complete a safety study of the pill by mid-December this year. A report on the findings is expected “no later than March 2027,” after which the agency will decide whether to impose new restrictions or other changes on the drug’s use.

Gavin Oxley of Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion group, criticized the move as a lack of “true leadership” by Trump administration officials.

“The administration continues to find itself on the wrong side of women’s health, clearly uninterested in mitigating the ongoing harms caused by the abortion pill,” Oxley said.

The two-drug regimen of mifepristone, combined with a second drug misoprostol, is the most common form of abortion in the U.S.

The FDA was directed to provide the latest update by a federal judge in a case brought by the state of Louisiana alleging that mail-delivery of mifepristone undermines the state’s abortion ban. It’s one of several state lawsuits related to mifepristone winding their way through the courts.

Last month a three-judge panel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioned the merits of Louisiana’s case, including whether the state had the legal standing to challenge FDA’s oversight of mifepristone.

Any ruling from the 5th Circuit on the Louisiana case would not immediately change the landscape because the Supreme Court has blocked changes to the drug until it sees the case again.

The FDA said Wednesday it is using a “statistical data mining method” to discover “unknown safety concerns,” that may exist with the drug. The data comes from an electronic database that collects reports of medical injuries and drug side effects from major health networks and insurers.

In addition to the safety study, the agency said it is considering a number of petitions proposing changes to how mifepristone is prescribed and distributed.

Abortion opponents have focused most of their efforts on a 2021 decision allowing doctors to prescribe the drug online and send it through the mail during COVID-19. That decision, made permanent under President Joe Biden in 2023, had the effect of undermining a number of state abortion bans, since women can receive the drug through the mail.

Iowa Business Council survey shows positive outlook on state’s economy

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Business Council (IBC) has released its third quarter Economic Outlook Survey that gauges the outlook for the next six months.

IBC President Joe Murphy says it’s based on a 100 point scale. “Our overall survey score was 64.91 index points, so just under 65 points, relatively flat, virtually no movement on the overall number from the second quarter, but well above that 50 point threshold that we calculate to have a positive outlook,” Murphy says. Murphy says there’s continue resiliency by members despite some continuing uncertain economic conditions.

He says that’s most evident in the capital spending expectations are up. “And what that’s indicating to us is that companies are not going to be pulling back on their investments within their companies. They’re bullish on their company’s ability to achieve and produce new things over the coming months here,” he says.

Murphy says capital spending is a leading indicator about the expectations for Iowa’s economy. “If there were long-term concerns, we would see that number decrease and we would see it decrease by a lot, but instead we had just about three and one quarter points of an increase,” he says. It is well above the 50 point positive indicator at more than 67 points.

The sales outlook decreased by about one point, but Murphy says they are still well above the positive mark. “I think sales are indicative of future and growing demand in this state,” he says. “And despite the fact that it did decrease very marginally, to have such a positive outlook is a really good thing and I think falls in line with the capital spending expectations.”

Employment expectations did decrease by about two points, but are still well above the positive outlook. “And so while we’re not negative on employment expectations, I think companies are continuing to take a hard look at hiring, freezing hiring in some aspects, and then really not rushing to replace individuals who may leave the organization,” Murphy says. He says finding employees has been an ongoing issue for some time as members are really trying to focus in on attracting and retaining a talented workforce.

The Iowa Business Council is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose 22 members are the chief decision makers of major Iowa employers.

Rob Lindley ’95 Returns to Central in “Working Actor” Career Conversations

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Rob Lindley, actor and 1995 Central College graduate, is coming back to campus for a conversation and storytelling event. Entitled “Working Actor,” the event will engage students and the public in strategizing a career in the arts.

“Working Actor” will be at the Kruidenier Center main stage on Central’s campus from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9. The event is free and open to the public. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis.

During the event, Lindley will recount the story of his career so far, from his start in Alta, Iowa to Central to gracing stages in Chicago and across the United States.

Lindley has been a professional actor for more than 25 years. Some of his most notable roles were in “Phantom of the Opera,” “Carousel” and “James Joyce’s ‘The Dead’” — all of which have won Lindley theatrical awards recognizing his talent. He has worked behind the scenes as well, as a producer, director and writer.

“Rob has such energy and enthusiasm for musical theatre but also the tenacity to handle the business of being a working actor,” says Mathew Kelly, chair of Central’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts. “We are extraordinarily fortunate he is returning to Central College to share the tools that helped him succeed and show our students a bright future in the world of theatre.”

William Penn University Awarded $2.1 Million Federal Grant to Strengthen Student Success and Career Readiness

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Five-year Title III initiative will expand first-year advising, modernize digital infrastructure, reduce learning costs, and strengthen work-based experiences.

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded William Penn University a five-year, $2.1 million grant through the federal Title III, Part A, Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). Through its Building Pathways to Persistence initiative, the university will invest in four connected priorities—student success, digital infrastructure, affordable learning, and work-based readiness—to remove barriers, improve persistence and completion, and prepare students for meaningful careers.

“This grant will allow us to make a significant investment in our students and advance William Penn University’s mission,” said Ken Oliver, executive vice president for advancement. “It will help us provide more personalized support, reduce financial barriers, strengthen our technology, and create career-connected experiences that prepare students to graduate with confidence and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

Expanding First-Year Advising and Student Support

William Penn University will establish three dedicated first-year advisor positions to provide proactive, personalized support for entering students. Each advisor will manage a defined student caseload and conduct structured outreach during orientation, midterm, registration, and other key points when student data indicates that additional assistance may be needed.

Working closely with financial aid, the business office, student success, career services, and wellness resources, the advisors will help students address challenges before they become barriers to continued enrollment. The focused first-year model is expected to strengthen retention—particularly among first-generation and low-income students—and create a more connected, responsive student experience.

Modernizing Digital Infrastructure and Data Systems

Grant funding will support a major modernization of William Penn’s instructional network. Upgrades to switches, wireless access points, and related infrastructure will provide reliable, high-capacity connectivity for classroom instruction, digital course materials, online assessments, and the growing number of devices used across campus.

William Penn will also implement a data systems integration platform that brings information from separate University systems into a unified reporting and analytics environment. Coordinated with the university’s student information system transition, the platform will provide faculty and staff with more timely, actionable information to identify student needs, measure progress, and make informed decisions. Together, these improvements will create durable technology and data resources that support all areas of the initiative beyond the grant period.

Reducing Learning Costs and Building Workforce Readiness

To advance affordable learning, the grant will help faculty redesign selected high-enrollment and gateway courses using low-cost digital or open educational resources. The work will reduce the financial burden of required course materials while maintaining academic quality and accessibility.

The initiative will also strengthen work-based readiness by supporting required, credit-bearing experiences in selected majors aligned with in-demand Iowa workforce sectors. With guidance from Academic Affairs and Career Services, these experiences will include preparation, supervision, reflection, and assessment, helping students connect classroom learning with meaningful professional practice. Employer and community partnerships will provide additional opportunities for students to build skills, professional networks, and confidence before graduation.

Creating Lasting Impact

Implementation will occur in phases throughout the five-year grant period, allowing William Penn to build sustainable practices, positions, partnerships, and technology resources into the university’s ongoing operations. The initiative will strengthen students’ transition to college, improve access to academic and support services, expand data-informed decision-making, reduce educational costs, and help more graduates enter the workforce with relevant experience.

By coordinating these investments, William Penn University is positioning itself to improve student persistence and completion while preparing graduates to contribute to Iowa communities and an evolving workforce.

The total value of William Penn’s grant over the five-year period is $2,190,146, with $755,108 awarded in the first year.

“Securing this grant was a truly university-wide effort, and I am grateful to everyone whose collaboration made it possible,” said Ken Oliver, executive vice president for advancement. “The entire Penn family joins me in extending special thanks to Kristina Van Der Pol, Nicole Gragg, Matt Brown, Georgetta Myhlhousen-Leak, Marsha Riordan, the Advancement staff, and the President’s Cabinet for their dedication and support.”

Oskaloosa Drops Close Conference Battle vs Newton

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Indians volleyball team was back in action on Tuesday night in a conference match against the Newton Cardinals and came up short in a back-and-forth affair, 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 21-25).

The opening set saw the two teams trade points at a relatively even clip. Neither team held a lead greater than 4 points at any given time. Seniors Cylee Smith and Morgan Frehse were featured heavily on the outside by Oskaloosa and Newton, respectively, racking up early kills. Late in the set, the Indians trailed 22-21, and the Cardinals finished strong by earning 3 of the final 4 points to win 25-22.

The second set began much like the first, with the two teams battling back and forth. Around the midway point, they were tied 11-11 when Oskaloosa embarked on one of their best runs of the night, scoring 8 of the following 9 points to jump ahead 19-12. They would hold onto that lead for the rest of the set, winning 25-18 to tie the match at 1-1. The Indians benefitted significantly from the return of senior outside hitter Hannah Van Arkel during their best periods of play on Tuesday night, and junior Reagan Stream also made plenty of key plays in the middle.

In the third set, the Indians and Cardinals traded runs. Newton came out of the gates hot, staking a 13-7 lead before Oskaloosa rallied back, outscoring the Cardinals 12-3 to go up 19-16. However, that momentum was snatched back by the Cardinals late, as they went on a 6-point run to fuel a 25-22 set victory, giving them a 2-1 lead.

The Cardinals would maintain their strong play going into the fourth set, where it initially appeared as though the Indians had run out of gas. Newton shot out to a 15-5 lead, and they held a 20-11 advantage late in the set, but Oskaloosa dug deep as a group and mounted an impressive comeback effort. The Indians scored 8 of the following 9 points to draw within 2 points of the Cardinals at 21-19. The remaining points were scored on impressive efforts for both squads, but the Cardinals were able to successfully stave off the Indians’ comeback attempt and win 25-21, finishing the match with a 3-1 victory.

Oskaloosa (7-15) will host Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Thursday night for their next outing.

Christa Pike is awake after failed execution as her attorneys seek more information

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Death row inmate Christa Pike has regained consciousness after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her by lethal injection last week, and her attorneys are set to head to court Wednesday to seek more information about what went wrong.

Pike, 50, survived two doses of pentobarbital as executioners attempted to put her to death Sept. 30 for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. Pike is believed to be the only person to survive after lethal injection drugs were administered.

Pike’s attorneys are set to appear in court Wednesday as they are seeking more information from the Tennessee Department of Correction. Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles has scheduled a Wednesday morning status conference in Nashville in the case.

“Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care,” attorneys for Pike said in a statement. Pike’s prognosis remains unclear and, at a minimum, she faces a lengthy recovery, the attorneys said. They said Pike’s arms were burned and blistered after the attempted lethal injection and that she is handcuffed to the hospital bed.

Pike’s attorneys are seeking a court order to require the prison system to preserve information from the attempted execution including drug lot numbers, needles, execution logs and other information.

Attorneys with the Tennessee attorney general’s office wrote in a Tuesday court filing that the court order is unnecessary because the prison system is “obliged to maintain this evidence in other cases and must assure it is preserved.” They said state officials have taken “the necessary steps to obtain medical care for Pike and ascertain what occurred.”

Republican Gov. Bill Lee called what happened “deeply disturbing” and ordered a “comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred.” The governor postponed the state’s only other execution scheduled for this year.

Medical and lethal injection experts have focused on the possibility that a problem with the IV line caused the drug to pool in her tissue rather than entering her bloodstream. Pike’s attorneys wrote in their court filing that “apparently at no point did any member of the execution team realize that the IV lines were not correctly placed or that the veins had blown.”

The attempted execution got underway around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 when Pike was given a chance to make a final statement. About five minutes later, Pike raised her head and said her arm was hurting. At some point she appeared to lose consciousness, but she could be heard audibly breathing until media were escorted from the witness room at 8:53 p.m. An ambulance arrived at the prison at 9:14 p.m. to take Pike to a hospital.

First debate between candidates vying to be Iowa’s next governor

Posted on by Sam Parsons

Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

The two candidates for governor debated for the first time last (Tuesday) night and while they were asked about property taxes, economic issues, and Iowa’s high cancer rates, they spent much of the time sparring over campaign ads.

Republican Zach Lahn said it is “dispicable” for Democrat Rob Sand to run ads that focus on Lahn’s travel to Kansas. Sand responded that Lahn had voted in Kansas as recently as 2022. “You registered to vote in Iowa less than two years ago…There are 3.1 million people who live here and they need to have a full-time Iowan who is going to be their governor,” Sand said.

Lahn said: “It is just not true.”

Sand replied: “It is true.”

Lahn interjected: “You have no evidence of that and you cite things that are false.” Sand continued: “Your own words, you said: ‘I will be in Iowa as much as humanly possible.’”

Lahn said: “That was directly about my children. Any family that has a blended family knows what I’m talking about.”

Lahn flies to Kansas to see and pick up children from his previous marriage. “Rob has chose to make this issue the primary focus of his campaign…because if voters understand where Rob Sand stands, they’d understand he’s a radical liberal,” Lahn said.

Sand returned to the topic in his closing statement. “I think it’s time for change in Des Moines and I think what you’re seeing here in front of you here is a change candididate versus a change-of-address candidate,” Sand said. “This is a real issue.”

A question about schools prompted a debate about a different campaign ad, one from Lahn’s campaign. “I don’t think you’re going to be the biggest advocate for public school students over a guy who sends his kids there when you were running advertisements saying that marxists have hijacked the curriculum here in Iowa. Zach, I’m pretty sure that’s just more evidence that you don’t spend enough time here,” Sand said.

Lahn responded: “I’m happy to address that. You know, here’s the thing: this is about the next generation…I do believe and I have parents talk to me all the time that there are instances where political agendas are pushed in classrooms. It’s just true. You can go online and see it.” Lahn added that “most teachers are great people,” but he said there are educators who’ve talked about getting around curriculum restrictions that Iowa policymakers have adopted.

The first question of the evening was about the proposed steel mill in Lee County. Lahn called it a “transformational” project that will bring thousands of jobs to “an economically depressed area.” Sand said “if things fall into place,” the plant would be “great news for the state.”

When asked to share something they’d do on their first day as governor to lower costs, Lahn said he’d already done something by making a suggestion to Vice President Vance that wound up in President Trump’s executive order to allow tax-exempt off-road diesel to be used in vehicles on public highways. “And now, going into harvest we’ll see that gas prices are coming down — diesel prices are for farmers to the tune of 57 cents a gallon,” Lahn said. “This’ll save $100 per fill up when you’re talking about hauling grain.”

Sand said one of his day one priorities would be examining the fees utilitity companies are charging. “I think it’s important that we make sure that those fees are capped,” Sand said. “We don’t want to see folks tightening their own belt by using less electricity, but then have the utility companies come out and just say: ‘Well, we’re just going to increase your fees instead.’”

The candidates have agreed to three more debates this month. Last (Tuesday) night’s debate was hosted by KWQC TV in the Quad Cities.

City of Keota to Consider Overhaul of Water Treatment System

Posted on by Sam Parsons

KEOTA – The city of Keota could be nearing an overhaul of their water treatment system.

The city announced in a social media post that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has required the city to address chloride levels associated with its wastewater discharge. City officials say that chloride is difficult to remove once it enters the wastewater system, so it is necessary to look at where the chloride is coming from: one major source is the ion-exchange water softening used by the city, which requires approximately 8,000 pounds of salt every month.

Keota mayor Ryan Carr said that the city is currently working with engineers to evaluate their options, which include the construction of a new water treatment system, continuing to operate their current system with necessary improvements, and converting Keota to a rural water system.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the total cost of addressing the water system could reach $5 million. Construction would likely begin sometime in 2027 or 2028.

No official decisions have been made regarding the potential water treatment system overhaul, but Carr says that funding sources could include some combination of water rates, property taxes, grants, and low-interest financing.

Carr added that as engineering studies and cost estimates become more complete, the city intends to share that information with the public and provide opportunities for residents to ask questions and learn about alternative options.

Applications for the Lighted Christmas Parade are Now Open

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — The holiday season is quickly approaching and Oskaloosa is getting ready to shine! Oskaloosa Main Street is excited to announce that applications are now available for the annual Lighted Christmas Parade, taking place on Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m.

This year’s parade theme, “Winter Wonderland: Let It Glow – Making Memories That Shine Bright,” will transform downtown Oskaloosa into a festive winter wonderland filled with lights, holiday spirit, and community memories.

Businesses, organizations, groups, families, and community members are invited to join the celebration and help make this year’s parade one to remember. Whether you’re decorating a float, putting together a creative display, or simply bringing some holiday cheer, everyone is encouraged to be part of the festivities.

Parade applications are available on the Mahaska Chamber website or by emailing events@mahaskachamber.org to request an application.

Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, November 10.

For the latest parade updates, announcements, and information about all the ways Oskaloosa will transform into a Winter Wonderland, be sure to follow the official Facebook event by Oskaloosa Main Street “Lighted Christmas Parade”.

For more information, contact the Mahaska Chamber at 641-672-2591.

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