May 2020

Originally broadcast 05/28/2020
Listen to the entire episode now!

Charlie Weber, with Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance, one of 16 nonprofit organizations that form the Story CountyAlliance for Philanthropy, makes a call for nominations of Story County people and entities worthy of an award for philanthropy during the past year. There will be an award ceremony for these people in November, including an honorary art work as a token of recognition, made by a local artist. Make your nomination at their web site.

We hear a Persian Song in Recognition of Iranian Health workers, which comes with a video showing Iranian health workers in the struggle against COVID -19. Iran became one of the first coronavirus hot spots outside of China in March. It is now being understood that the numbers are higher because Iranian doctors now are seeing a surge of patients with gastrointestinal problems rather than respiratory symptoms. This is a red flag for us as well.

Dr. Jim Roth, Presidential Chair in Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine and Director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health at ISU, explains why so many new diseases are being transmitted from animals to humans. He also discusses the food supply in the area of animals for consumption during the COVID19 crisis and the much bigger looming issue of food insecurity, as people have lose their jobs.

Susan Gwiasda gives an update on decisions made by the City of Ames regarding opening facilities. Furman Pool will remain closed. The Municipal pool will be opened as possible. Read a summary of municipal decisions .

Vanessa Baker Latimer, Housing Coordinator forthe City of Ames, reports that additional funds granted to the City of Ames through the Community Development Block Grant (under the CARES Act) will be used to provide relief for renters’ and homeowners.Additional funds granted to the City of Ames through the Community Development Block Grant (under the CARES Act) will be used to provide relief for renters’ and homeowners. The process for distributing funds is not in place yet but will be developed as quickly as possible in light of the end of the freeze on evections put in place by the state. Information is available and applications will be made available at the city’s housing web site. 

Originally broadcast 05/26/2020
Listen to the entire episode now!

Today's Local Talk included an interview by Cal Halliburton of Republican primary challenger Jeremy Taylor to Congressman Steve King’s District Four in Western Iowa. Erica Place with Story County Conservation Board talked about Covid 19 Response in Story County Parks. And Susan Gwiasda invited Ron Edwards with City of Ames Animal Control to talk about how our pets to Covid 19 respond to having people at home. And consequently what might change when people return to their jobs. 

Originally broadcast 05/22/2020
Listen to the entire episode now!

Local Talk 2020/05/22 included an interview by Tammy Jacobs ISU Extension Crisis Hotline concerning Covid19 Response. Pertinent telephone numbers were Iowa Concerned Hotline 515-447-1985, Teenline 800-443-8336, Mental Health Hotline 800-369-2229, and 800-262-3804. Susan Gwiasda invited Neil Weiss Assistant Director of Ames Water and Pollution Control. Pertinent websites included CityofAmes/Smart Water, COV/Smartwatershed and Facebook/Ames Water. 

Originally broadcast 05/13/2020
Listen to the entire episode now!

Carolyn Raffensperger and Pat Schlarbaum kicked off our show with a nature based discussion of education.  We continued with our virtual road trip to Perry where we spoke with City Administrator Sven Peterson about the response of Perry to the outbreak of COVID-19 at the Tyson meat packing plant.  Peterson reported the many things that organizations throughout the city are doing to support families of workers, as well as his visit to the plant to witness the safety precautions that are now in place.  Turning to Tyson workers who don't live in Perry, we learned about the many immigrant refugees  who commute from Des Moines to work in the Tyson plant.  Our contact in Des Moines was an organization called EMBARC, founded in 2011 to provide support for refugees through advocacy, education and community development.  Among the refugees served are those from Eritria, Myamar, and the Republic of the Congo.  EMABARC maintains help lines and weekly informational broadcasts in 10 languages (see EMBARC Crisis Response).  Ending on an entertaining way to cope with sheltering in place, Cheryl Clark, told us about "Al Takes a Bride," the virtual readers theatre production being live streamed by Ankeny Community Theatre on Sunday, May 17 (reservations due at midnight May 16).