Slain National Guard Soldiers Families To Attend State Of The Union
(Des Moines, IA) — The families of two Iowa soldiers killed in Syria will be at Tuesday’s State of the Union. Staff Sergeants Edgar Torres-Tovar of Des Moines and Williams Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown were killed in action in December by a lone suspect believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State. The families of both Torres-Tovar and Howard will be part of the Iowa Congressional delegation during the address on Tuesday. Family members were also honored during the Condition of the State Address on January 13th at the State Capitol.
Iowa State Lawmaker Diagnosed With Tonsil Cancer
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa State Senator Dave Rowley is suffering from tonsil cancer. He announced his diagnosis on Monday, saying that he will be undergoing treatment over the next several weeks. He said he still intends to run for re-election. Rowley is the second state Senator to disclose a cancer diagnosis this session after Catelin Drey of Sioux City said in January she is fighting uterine cancer. Last year, two sitting senators died in office including Rocky DeWitte of Sioux City and Claire Celsi of West Des Moines.
Iowa Board Of Regents Considering Tuition Hike Despite Freeze Attempts
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Board of Regents is considering a three-percent tuition increase for 2027. The idea to raise tuition is being presented by the Board of Regents while two bills are working through the Iowa legislature that would freeze tuitions. Governor Kim Reynolds required the Iowa Board of Regents to study a possible tuition freeze at its universities. The study was released in November and showed similar programs have had mixed results in other states. The board claims tuition hikes motivate students to complete their degrees sooner.
Rainmaker Tech Founder Says Cloud Seeding Definitively Makes More Precipitation
(Ames, IA) — The founder of Rainmaker Technology Corporation says the process of cloud seeding definitively produces extra precipitation. Augustus Doricko says his company has performed between 60-to-70 missions this year that have generated hundreds of extra acre feet of water. The research is being conducted as the Iowa State Senate recently advanced a bill that would ban weather modification. Cloud seeding is a process that dates back to the 1940s that injects chemicals into clouds that cause water droplets to bond and form larger rain drops. Doricko and Iowa State Meteorology Professor Bill Gallus say the science behind the procedure continues to develop and could be useful to the western part of the state if a drought develops.
Iowa Man Arrested For Stealing Neighbor’s Tractor
(Winneshiek County, IA) — A man is facing charges for stealing his neighbor’s tractor, lawnmower and tools. The suspect was seen by sheriff’s deputies returning the tractor while the victim was providing a statement. When he realized deputies were there, he abandoned the tractor and tried to flee from the area. When he was caught, the suspect allegedly admitted to taking the tractor, lawnmower and tools to help pull his minivan out of a ditch. After he got the minivan out, he said he returned the tractor to a different neighbor’s house instead of the original owners. He is being charged with burglary and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
Iowa Researchers Develop New Portable Oxygen Canisters
(Iowa City, IA) — Two University of Iowa professors are developing a new way for patients to receive oxygen. During Covid, Dr. Syed Mubeen noticed his work was producing oxygen as a byproduct. He teamed up with Dr. Suresh M.L. Raghavan to capture the oxygen and bottle it into a portable concentrator more efficient than the standard heavy oxygen tanks that need to be pushed on wheels. The two developed a start-up company called Pranions and they are starting to see some success. The canisters provide 100 percent oxygen compared to the industry standard that provides just 80-percent oxygen.
