AS MANY AS 35-THOUSAND AFGHANS WHO SERVED AS INTERPRETERS OR OTHERWISE ASSISTED THE U.S. MILITARY COULD BE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES AS REFUGEES TO ESCAPE THE TALIBAN. DURING A RECENT APPEARANCE ON “FOX AND FRIENDS,” IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS OF TAKING IN THOSE WHO ARE FLEEING AS THE U.S. WITHDRAWS. LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS’ OFFICE NOTED THAT AT LEAST 94 PEOPLE WITH EITHER AFGHAN OR IRAQI SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS HAVE RESETTLED IN IOWA SINCE MID 2016.
AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, SOME CEDAR RAPIDS RESIDENTS WERE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR POWER TO BE RESTORED AFTER THE AUGUST 10TH DERECHO. WHILE THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN BACK ON FOR SOME TIME, THE RECOVERY CONTINUES. PASTOR JAYNE THOMPSON OF HOLY REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH TALKED TO OUR COVERAGE PARTNERS AT TV-9 ABOUT HOLDING A SUNDAY EVENT TO REMEMBER THE STORM. ORGANIZERS SAY SUNDAY’S GATHERING WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE COMMUNITY’S UNITY FOLLOWING THE STORM.
A YOUNG WOMAN FROM CEDAR FALLS WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE 2021 IOWA STATE FAIR. 21-YEAR-OLD LILY GAST WAS THE WINNER OF THE BILL RILEY TALENT SEARCH COMPETITION SENIOR DIVISION. THE SINGER CLAIMED A 10-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRIZE FOR HER PERFORMANCE.
IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR MANY IOWA STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO COLLEGE. BRIAN L’HEUREUX IS HEAD OF SCHOOLS AT VALLEY LUTHERAN IN CEDAR FALLS. HE RECENTLY TALKED WITH KXEL ABOUT BEING PREPARED FOR THE THIRD ACADEMIC YEAR AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS. LIKE OTHER SCHOOLS, L’HEUREUX SAYS VALLEY LUTHERAN IS MAKING MASKS OPTIONAL FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
STUDENTS FROM WATERLOO’S LOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE STILL IN TEMPORARY SPACE, BUT ANOTHER SIGN OF PROGRESS HAPPENS TONIGHT. THE WATERLOO SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONSIDER BIDS TO FURNISH AND EQUIP THE REBUILT SCHOOL. LOWELL’S ROOF FAILED AS THE RESULT OF A FEBRUARY 2019 STORM. THE SCHOOL WAS TORN DOWN, BUT A REBUILD IN THE SAME LOCATION ON WASHINGTON STREET IS APPROACHING COMPLETION.
GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IOWA TAKE IN AFGHAN REFUGEES WHO ASSISTED AMERICAN ARMED FORCES. REYNOLDS TOLD “FOX AND FRIENDS” THAT SHE HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE VETTING PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS. INITIAL STATESIDE DESTINATIONS FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES INCLUDE FORT MCCOY IN WISCONSIN, FORT BLISS IN TEXAS, AND FORT LEE IN VIRGINIA.
A WEEKEND STANDOFF HAD A MARION NEIGHBORHOOD ON EDGE. IT HAPPENED SATURDAY MORNING IN THE 48-HUNDRED BLOCK OF ARLINGTON DRIVE. MARION POLICE SAY THE INCIDENT STARTED AS A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN 51-YEAR-OLD BRUCE BIBBS AND A FORMER GIRLFRIEND. THE WOMAN REPORTEDLY HAD A NO-CONTACT ORDER AGAINST BIBBS. AUTHORITIES ALLEGE THAT HE HELD THE WOMAN AGAINST HER WILL IN THE HOME BEFORE SHE ESCAPED AND NOTIFIED POLICE. MORE THAN TWO HOURS AFTER ARRIVING AT THE SCENE, LAW ENFORCEMENT PEACEFULLY TOOK BIBBS INTO CUSTODY. HE IS CHARGED WITH SEVERAL COUNTS, INCLUDING DOMESTIC ASSAULT WHILE DISPLAYING A DANGEROUS WEAPON.
EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEARCHERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER IN WATERLOO LATER THIS WEEK. ON WEDNESDAY, IOWA WORKS WILL HOLD AN OPEN AIR CAREER FAIR AT RIVERFRONT STADIUM. EARLIER THIS SUMMER, A SIMILAR EVENT CONNECTED PEOPLE WITH COMPANIES AT THE NATIONAL CATTLE CONGRESS GROUND. KYLE CLABBY-KANE OF IOWA WORKS WAS A GUEST THIS MORNING DURING KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL AND TALKED ABOUT THE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES. WEDNESDAY’S OUTDOOR CAREER FAIR BEGINS AT 11 A.M. AND IS FREE TO BOTH WORKERS AND COMPANIES.
THE WATERLOO-CEDAR FALLS SYMPHONY IS CALLING OFF A SEPTEMBER PERFORMANCE DUE TO UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS DELTA VARIANT. THE SEPTEMBER 18TH PROGRAM DUBBED “OUT OF THIS WORLD” HAS BEEN INDEFINITELY POSTPONED. SYMPHONY LEADERS SAY THEY DO INTEND TO HOLD THE CONCERT BEFORE THEIR 2021/22 SEASON ENDS.
