May 2021

Originally broadcast 05/17/2021  Listen to the entire episode now!

Dennis Hart gives a summary of Iowa news.

Ames resident Jan Dreesman talks about issues often being experienced by voters with a disability. Voting has become more difficult for a person with a disability since Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed legislation imposing new restrictions on voting methods in Iowa. The Iowa Legislature sent new election procedure laws to Reynolds' desk in early March. The legislation was approved by every Republican present in the Iowa state House and Senate as part of a national wave of new election laws passed by Republican-led states, taking the lead from former President Donald Trump, who falsely claimed the election was stolen from him. Dreesman describes how aspects of the new voting laws will further restrict the voter with a disability and add to what is already a situation where people with disabilities are under-represented through voting. 

Laura Belin of the blog Bleeding Heartland and KHOI's Capitol Week (Mondays at 7 PM and Wednesdays at noon) further explains how the law will affect disabled and rural people, as well as other groups, like people living with domestic violence. 

Liz Zuercher, executive Executive of the Story County Community Foundation (SCCF); announces annual grants available as the  SCCF prepares to disperse around $100,000 this fall in grants to nonprofit service initiatives in Story County. She is joined by Jennifer Dieter, the Vice Chair of the SCCF board and also, the Chair of our Grant-making Committee. Letters of intent are due on July 31 for the Major Grant of $25,000 and letters of intent for the smaller Community Grants of $6,000 or less are due on September 30.

Originally broadcast 05/11/2021  Listen to the entire episode now!

As part of our Spring Fund-raising we, (Mike Meetz, Mike Murphy, and Pat Schlarbaum) asked our listeners to become supporters and donate to KHOI.

We broadcast shared impressions, memories, and excerpts of this past Sunday’s concert featuring music selections performed by Chad Elliot and Bo Ramsey, the keynote event kicking-off our spring fund drive.

Erica Place, Outreach Coordinator for Story County Conservation reviewed a variety of outdoor events and activities planned for the coming month.  We also visited about their photography competition, and described the program scheduled in October entitled “Wild Women of the Woods”.

Susan Qwiasda, City of Ames Public Relations Officer and Keith Abraham, Director of Ames Parks and Recreation.  Keith reviewed events and projects happening in the park system including,

Homewood Golf Course Clubhouse ribbon-cutting at noon on Monday, May 10th How did that go yesterday?

Emma McCarthy Lee Pedestrian Bridge ribbon cutting on May 19, Mayor’s Bike Ride, Furman Aquatic Center opening over Memorial Day weekend, and more!

Anna, Magnusson, KHOI’s Top Good News Banana is not with us today but is sharing her Heart 2Heart messages during our spring fund raising appearing in other programs beside her own this evening.

Originally broadcast 05/10/2021  Listen to the entire episode now!

Last March, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation that altered election laws in numerous ways. The new laws strip auditors of much of their discretion in running elections, prevent them from establishing satellite in-person early voting sites unless petitioned to do so by residents, and from mailing absentee ballot request forms to voters unless specifically requested. Republicans have criticized county auditors, claiming inappropriate behavior during the 2020 election. Auditors could now face fines of up to $10,000 for "technical infractions" of their duties.

Lucy Martin, Story County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, who was re-elected to her third full term in these offices in 2020, explains what these new laws mean and how it will possibly affect elections and voter perceptions.  

Keith Morgan, Story County EmergencyCoordinator, describes how their offices are preparing for the upcoming season of storms. using lessons learned from last summer’s derecho, they are connecting county communities more with Emergency Operations and developing training and response packages for city clerks, for tools to allow they to help each other out.

Originally broadcast 05/07/2021  Listen to the entire episode now!

Local Talk for Friday, May 7, 2021 had a news summary from Ames Tribune by Dennis Hart.  Dr. Jim Pease provided an update on Rose Prairie Addition to Ada Hayden Park. Also he included remarks about the necessity for clean water and how watershed management improves the quality of our lives. Further information at jlpease@iastate.edu. Rich Iverson, Fleet Manager for City of Ames, and Susan Gwiasda gave an update on environmentally favorable biodesiel fuels. Ames fleet was honored in top one hundred of thousands of public transit fleets in America.  Anna Banana featured Carole Pluckrose poetry from England and honored Mother's Day with poetry.