Latest news with #AbeStage
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DNR proposes deer hunting regulations for western Iowa
HINTON, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources presented new deer hunting regulations for western Iowa through a series of presentations. The goal is to provide hunters the opportunity to give feedback on the proposed regulations. The Iowa DNR said the vast majority of hunters are supporting the proposed regulations as they see less deer when hunting. The DNR added there are multiple reasons for the loss of deer population in western Iowa. 'We've certainly lost a lot of habitat in the last 20 years, mostly in the form of grasslands and timber being lost,' said Jace Elliott, the state deer biologist for the Iowa DNR. 'We've also had some sustained disease outbreaks like EHD and bluetongue have certainly had their bad years here, and the deer population is seeing its effects, and we've also had historically a lot of doe harvest in the past that may have not been sustainable.' Story continues below Top Story: 35th Saturday in the Park Main Stage, Abe Stage headliners announced Lights & Sirens: Family suing Sioux City over death of son Sports: Sydney Affolter rejoins Hawkeyes as Graduate Assistant Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here The DNR said, because of the reduced population, they need to reduce doe harvest in some way, and the regulations are the most efficient way. 'We're looking at proposing changes to the general any sex tag, as such, and maybe moving more towards a buck only category of tag which is so far been very popular with folks,' said Elliott. The next meeting will take place tomorrow in Sioux Center at the Sandy Hollow Lodge at 6:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
USDA secretary speaks about Nebraska changing food stamp guidelines
LINCOLN, Neb. (KCAU) — On Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture spoke out about Nebraska's waiver to ban soda and energy drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Secretary Brooke Rollins said she wants the states to be innovative when it comes to food stamps. On Monday, Nebraska became the first state to get a federal waiver to ban those drinks under food stamps. The state's ban begins on January 1 and is set to impact about 152,000 low-income people in Nebraska enrolled in SNAP. 'We should not be spending taxpayer dollars for lower income Americans on sugary drinks. That, if the taxpayers are going to fund a nutritional program, a Supplemental Nutritional Program, SNAP. That in fact, it should be healthy, nutritious foods to really focus on those at the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder,' said Rollins. Story continues below Top Story: 35th Saturday in the Park Main Stage, Abe Stage headliners announced Lights & Sirens: Family suing Sioux City over death of son Sports: Sydney Affolter rejoins Hawkeyes as Graduate Assistant Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here Six states, including Iowa, have also submitted requests for waivers that ban particular foods and drinks or expand access to hot foods. Rollins said Governor Reynolds submitted a 'great plan,'adding more announcements on the waivers are coming. Also, a Nebraska bill to impose a sales tax on soft drinks and candy failed in the first round of voting. Lawmakers voted 30 to 15, and the measure needed 33 to pass. The legislation is not expected to be discussed again in this legislative session. The bill would have placed a 5.5% state sales and use tax on almost two dozen currently exempt services. The measure would have funded an additional $100 million in property tax relief a year under the school district property tax relief act. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Blue Lake water levels suffering from dry conditions
ONAWA, Iowa (KCAU) — The docks at Blue Lake, outside of Onawa, are normally surrounded by water, but because of low water levels, they are sitting high and dry. 'The level of the lake is very, very, very low. This is a lake I've been around for 50 years, even though I now live in Omaha. Honestly, I've never seen it this low,' said Nebowa Christian Camp Pastor Jeff Hicks. With the upcoming holiday weekend, the lake would start to get busy with campers, boaters and fisherman, but because of dropping lake levels, not as many people are coming to the lake. 'You can look around the state campground here itself and it's empty. Four years ago, five years ago, it would have been covered full of campers. It's the middle of May, so it's camping season.' added Hicks. Story continues below Top Story: 35th Saturday in the Park Main Stage, Abe Stage headliners announced Lights & Sirens: Family suing Sioux City over death of son Sports: Sydney Affolter rejoins Hawkeyes as Graduate Assistant Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here Blue Lake is an oxbow lake that covers 275,000 surface acres. It has no direct connection to the nearby Missouri River and relies on groundwater to keep it full. It also relies on rain and snow – something we haven't had a lot of the last few years. 'If you look at last fall, like in October, we got a lot of rain, and levels kind of jumped back a little bit as well as groundwater levels did, and you rely on that snowpack and snow melt to infiltrate the ground and bring those levels back up. We didn't get much snow at all, at least no meaningful snow,' explained Fisheries Management Biologist Ben Wallace with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Jeff Hicks would like to see the DNR not rely on mother nature and pump water into the lake to fill it back up. 'The DNR needs to turn the well-pumps back on or the pumps. I think that needs to happen. It's not the whole answer, but that's definitely a step in the right direction, and I'm puzzled as to why they haven't done that.' Flood Mitigation: A step forward for McCook Lake residents According to the DNR, it's not that simple: 'We do have the ability to pump water into the lake, but I think it's important to understand a couple of things. That water that we would pump with that supplemental supply comes from the ground, and it's a groundwater issue we're having right now,' stated Wallace. There really is only one safe solution to get the lake levels back up. 'We need a lot of rain. We need snowfall. We need a couple of big rains; we need successive rains. We need to get back on track with precipitation. Each year, we go through a drought, which we're going on about year five now, that groundwater table drops a little more,' said Wallace. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Important work ahead': IA Ag. Secretary Naig announces reelection plans
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — On Tuesday, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced he is seeking reelection. Secretary Naig is looking to keep his position and is seeking reelection for the 2026 election, making the decision to steer away from the Gubernatorial race. 'I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Iowa as we work to advance an Iowa First agenda that puts farmers, families, and freedom at the center of our future,' said Naig. 'We have made tremendous progress over the past few years, but there remains important work ahead, and we're not done yet—building markets for Iowa products, defending our livestock industry, accelerating soil and water conservation efforts, and making sure rural Iowa thrives for future generations. I look forward to continuing to grow our state, fight for the hard-working men and women who feed and fuel the world, and keep Iowa as the greatest agricultural state in the country.' Story continues below Top Story: 35th Saturday in the Park Main Stage, Abe Stage headliners announced Lights & Sirens: Family suing Sioux City over death of son Sports: Sydney Affolter rejoins Hawkeyes as Graduate Assistant Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here Naig was elected to his position in 2018, and voters kept him in office again in 2022. He will launching a campaign in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sioux City Transit System offers Kids Ride Free Program for 19th year
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Sioux City Transit is offering the Kids Ride Free program for the 19th year. The Kids Ride Free program is coming back to Sioux City this summer. Starting in June, Sioux City Transit will be offering free rides to students ages five through 18. These free rides will include unlimited rides on City Transit's Fixed Route System. The program runs Monday through Friday (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Saturday (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Story continues below Top Story: 35th Saturday in the Park Main Stage, Abe Stage headliners announced Lights & Sirens: 4 more students expelled from Sioux City Community School District Sports: Sydney Affolter rejoins Hawkeyes as Graduate Assistant Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here This is the 19th year of the annual Kids Ride Free program. Students can take advantage of this program until August. A student or parent/guardian must show the driver their Kids Ride Free Pass. Parents are welcome to sign up for a Kids Ride Free Pass at five locations in Sioux City.1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Transportation Center Dispatch Office — 505 Nebraska Street2. Seaboard Triumph Foods Expo Center — 550 Expo Center Drive3. The Wilbur Aalfs Library (downtown) — 529 Pierce Street4. Perry Creek Branch Library — 2912 Hamilton Blvd. Suite 1015. Morningside Branch Library — 4005 Morningside Avenue Plus, while supplies last, those who sign up will receive a free Sioux City Transit System bus piggy bank. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
