KXEL Presents: The Jacobsen Group Podcast - January 21, 2023

Who used all the Wi-Fi?

Ah, apartment life.

Bad Wi-Fi, mystery laundry piles, and a roommate who says, I'll Venmo you.

Maybe 2027 deserves an upgrade.

Coming August 2027, Four Lakes Properties introduces the brand new Union Station Apartments, furnished in-unit washer and dryer.

Internet included a great central downtown location, one to five bedroom apartments, and no double occupancy fees.

That's less adulting and more actually enjoying where you live.

Union Station Apartments, now leasing from Four Lakes Properties.

Wait, we have a washer and dryer in the apartment?

apartment?

Hello, this is John Jacobson and welcome to this podcast of the Jacobson group We're on the radio on news talk 1540 K X EL each weekend and be sure to subscribe So you don't miss any of the podcasts of the program Prepare to be informed entertained and amazed right after this

who used all the Wi-Fi

apartment life bad Wi-Fi mystery laundry piles and a roommate who says I'll Venmo you maybe 20

Wait, we have a washer and dryer in the

apartment?

Well good Saturday morning and for those of you listening to the replay good Sunday afternoon You're listening to the Jacobson Group on KXEL John Jacobson here with Scott Corey and Mike Shane caroming across the Big Ten the Midwest on America's premier 50,000 Centenary 100 year clear channel broadcast

that emanated first from 1540 Waterloo AM.

And now on 100.5 out of our Cedar Rapids transmitter, KXEL, the Jacobson group.

Scott, we have such a fantastic program lined up today.

We're going to go all over the place with some political potpourri interviews.

We're going to highlight some Hawkeye sports.

We're going to talk about great Iowa business.

going to have a really fun show.

We sure are, John.

And enough can't be said about having the listeners letting us into their homes and vehicles today.

But also, thanks to Dr. Jeff Stein, you know, he's the one that makes the engine run around here.

Appreciate that.

Everything we do is to one of two things, John.

It's either to make him laugh or make him grimace.

I think today he's going to do a little bit of laughing.

And maybe we might even get a tip of the fedora from Dr. Stein.

You never know.

We might, you know, he's legendary.

His Iowa business report in Iowa, Almanac are playing in Nebraska, if you can believe it.

Yeah, I'm not surprised.

He's trying to find a way where he's going to actually export that to all 50 states here before too long.

And I told him if he can get it up into Canada, he's really got something going on.

If Bubba Sorensen can get a victory rock in all 99 counties, we can get Jeff Stein and across the fooded plane from Continental Divide East and West.

We'll get them in there.

You know, absolutely, John.

And like you mentioned, we have a lot of great interviews today.

We got an interview with Congressman Randy Feenstra, State Senator Annette Sweeney, her clerk, Lauren, talking about it.

The Iowa Legislature is back in session.

And it's going to be a tremendous week moving forward, too.

I think the Education Bill will probably come up Wednesday.

It looks like in the Iowa House.

Newsmaker line is going to be hopping, John.

Well, guys, without further ado, let's roll.

Oh,

Scotty and Mike, it's so exciting today, particularly with the report she's going to give us today.

The matriarch of commerce in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, our fan favorite, Barbara Hames,

Bryant of Hames Homes and Barbara you wear many hats and you are in the vaunted position of helping to ring in this inaugural governor

of Iowa ceremonial last week this official inauguration inaugural ball how exciting for you and you got to fill us in you were there with the ceremonial mace leading them into the ballroom and into the uh swearing in barber what was it like

oh john it was so amazing i got a chance to be on the inaugural committee

So I was able to sit near the front for the actual inauguration of Adam Gregg and then Kim Reynolds.

And I just couldn't be more proud to be in Iowa.

We're in good hands under good leadership.

It's a great day to be in Iowa.

I'm really proud that this Marion Hiawatha Cedar Rapids little girl that I knew from way back is

Become this huge important player of the the ceremonial ritual Scott.

There's something about America with its beautiful.

It is partly Marshall its ceremonial its ritual

But that formalities of investiture of office, it goes back to Eliakim and Shibna in the book of Isaiah.

There's this handing over the keys, so to speak, the ceremonial formality.

And it was done with great class.

We got to give Barbara great credit.

You know, absolutely.

And Barbara, you know, with something that I think a lot of our listeners don't realize is that how instrumental you have been is being not only the face of the inauguration,

so to speak in the committee, but also all the work that goes on behind the scenes and that we talk about the pomp and circumstance that the viewers and the listeners saw on Friday last Friday.

But there's also the community based efforts that went on, you know, working for the food banks and the pantries that the inaugural committee also worked with in the governor's committee.

Talk to us a little bit about that as well.

I don't think folks realize that the governor's inauguration is not paid for by one penny of taxpayer money.

It's all done by donations and everyone that attends helps to fund what you said, food pantries and other nonprofit organizations.

It's a great way to have fun and support a great cause at the same time.

Barbara talked to us just a little bit too because word on the straight that I saw was you basically stole the show and that some of our Representatives and senators were kind of a little jealous about how Everybody was making their way over to talk to you in and to kiss the ring a little bit talk

to us a little bit

about that

I Don't know who you talk

There's being talk it's all over social media now.

I'm not saying John and I put it there, but it's there

Oh, you guys are such kidders.

Barbara, it's, uh, it's such a testimony to the transition.

We always have this peaceful transition of power and, uh, there has been this marvelous transition intergenerationally at Hames homes.

I so admired the legacy that was built by your.

Late great father and mother Kurt and Norma Hames now you and your siblings carrying that torch so boldly and now That too is being up that light is passed on through the next generation or two What is it about the family business?

That just keeps you guys so motivated.

I know it's Reputational pride its legacy its service.

I mean providing people

with beautiful, aesthetic, comfortable, safe, sturdy, affordable homes.

I cannot think of a service.

that any human being can provide that is more important, Scott, is foundational, Scott.

You know, absolutely.

And we always talk about the American dream.

And at the cornerstone of the American dream is having an affordable home.

And Barbara, your community is affordable.

Talk to us a little bit about how people can go online.

Is there a phone number they could call to take a tour as well as see some of the amenities that you have in your facilities?

We are so proud of our manufactured homes and our manufactured home communities.

When my dad retired from the Army in 1969, Kurt and Norma Haynes founded Haynes Homes in Marion, Iowa, and what started out as just a small dealership is now a free-generational, multifaceted family business.

And we're very proud of that.

Our parents taught us well, provide people with good service, good homes, good quality, and life is what you make of it.

To reach us,

The best way is teamshomes.com or visit us seven days a week at the corner of Wilson Avenue and West Post Road Southwest in Cedar Rapids.

We'd love to have people come out and see how much manufactured homes.

have improved in the past 50 years.

Now is there a waiting list?

Do you have open inventory?

If somebody's looking right now they could maybe schedule a tour and see about some financing because interest rates are still on the rise.

Barbara, can they lock those interest rates in?

Good questions.

We have a great inventory of both new and pre-owned homes and we have still great interest rates on manufactured home loans for our customers.

Barbara, I just want you to know that

You're even famous on the western edge of the state.

Billionaire Pete Ricketts just transferred power to his hand-picked successor.

Jim Pillon, our new governor over on the Nebraska side, former Husker football player.

And there was that hot mic, open mic moment at the inauguration where they said, this is okay, but I wish we had Barbara Haymes.

You know, that's true because it was all over the radio stations in Omaha, John and so Barbara, you're kind of a legend, not only there, you're going across the Midwest.

And so we really hope we can keep you here because

You know, the Iowa caucuses are just right around the corner and you will be hand picking our next president, won't you Barbara?

You guys are getting sick around here, let me tell ya.

We're just trying to get this cavalcade build up for Haymes for office, you know, so someday.

You're very, you're very, very clever and I'm very, very flattered and what I really want to do is sell beautiful affordable housing to Eastern Iowa working families.

If you guys drive through these awesome neighborhoods,

You will be mesmerized.

It is Rockwellian America to see these beautiful safe neighborhoods, the lighting, the decor of American festive flags, the Christmas lights, the streets that are plowed, the lawns that are manicured.

Barbara, it's really, these are aesthetic.

just beautiful neighborhoods and your de facto mayor there with that beautiful office you're on site helping these folks with any issues that crop up.

That's right we're hands-on owner operators we're not out of state corporations making business calls from 2,000 miles away we know our neighbors we love our neighbors and we love the people who live in our neighborhoods.

Well, it was it was really a great coming full circle heading up that inaugural ball Your dad and mom would be so pleased Barbara.

It's a joy speaking with you.

We're gonna talk to you again next week with this resurgent Hawkeye basketball team

Go Hawks!

Go Hawks!

Barbara Hames!

Ladies and gentlemen, Hames Homes.

Take a look at these beautiful living communities.

We'll talk to Barbara next week.

Who used all the Wi-Fi?

Ah, apartment life.

Bad Wi-Fi, mystery laundry piles, and a roommate who says, I'll Venmo you.

Maybe 2027 deserves an upgrade.

Coming August 2027, Four Lakes Properties introduces the brand new Union Station apartments.

Furnished, in-unit washer and dryer.

Internet included.

A great central downtown location.

One to five bedroom apartments.

and no double occupancy fees.

That's less adulting and more actually enjoying where you live.

Union station apartments, now leasing from four lakes properties.

Wait, we have a washer and dryer in the apartment?

Well, Scott Corey, due diligence is the duty of the citizenry, whether in public office or in private.

And Scott?

As much as we love Iowa and think we're generally on the right track particularly with respect to Prizing our liberties and maintaining our rights as those beautifully embossed Language on our state flag do so indicate Scotty our Republican medical board is almost the left of Gavin Newsom's

medical ideology and governance in California.

There's a big disconnect there and it troubles me gravely and this is like a mongoose.

I'm not letting go of this.

You know

that's a great point John but you know whenever you know groups and boards or whatever have you pushes too far the citizen he rises up and we're joined with Dr. David Harsuch.

He has risen up but he's fighting back.

Dr. Harsuch thank you for joining us today.

Talk to us a little bit give us an update about your fight against the Iowa Medicine Board.

Oh great great to be here today.

Yes I've started a lawsuit against the Iowa Board of Medicine, the Board of Pharmacy.

Basically, those two have tagged teams of patients with a board of pharmacy preventing pharmacists from dispensing ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and other drugs in order to treat COVID-19.

And then the board of pharmacy went after their doctors to make sure that they didn't prescribe those medications in order to treat the disease.

This is a time when you have a serious life-threatening disease.

I see no reason why those

diseases should not be fought to the full extent that we're able

doc the evidence is out there now the evidence has come out the evidence that you're proclaiming all the time the efficacy of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine and how many lives were lost because we did not treat interdictively at the front end and doc here's the juxtaposition for me the conundrum for me we're in a state that has a republican trifecta

And we have a medical board that would be absolutely a comfortable fit for Gavin Newsom in California.

The disconnect to me is incredible.

I mean, we've had Republican governors appoint everybody on this board of medicine.

They essentially exist under the Department of Human Services or public safety, whichever one they're combining, both of those two departments right now that has

a director that was appointed by the governor of the state.

Frankly, how can this be?

They just appointed a new executive director who came on the heels of a very problematic prior executive director, and the new executive director comes from a radical leftist background.

How can this be going on in Iowa?

This disconnect is appalling.

But first of all, I don't think the governor appointed the new director.

That was appointed by the board.

But

the governors did appoint every member of the board.

They did appoint every member of the board, but you've got to realize that that board is there to rubber stamp whatever the executives underneath them do.

So

we've got this

we've got these unaccountable bureaucrats non-elected that are investigators that are running amok

What I think one of the biggest problems there is is that the governor does not have any control over the over this agency neither does the legislature as I can if I look at the code I think that the federal that the board of medicine is organized a lot like the Boy Scouts of America they were created by the by legislation

but there is no oversight either from the executive or the legislative branch.

Funny, funny.

I

called for oversight, but nobody seemed to take the bait on my entreaty to do some oversight of these folks.

Right oversight is the key here.

There has to be executive and legislative oversight.

And one of the things that I'm proposing is that the governor in conjunction with the attorney general be able to veto actions of the board.

Right now there's no that the governor really does not have authority

correct

to go in and and Stop with the board to do

that.

This is correct because as an Iowa law alum.

There's that great class of administrative law and 35 years ago I was scandalized by the tyrannical nature of these runaway administrative agencies now the governor

just issued an executive order, and I compliment her because her executive order actually was a Venn diagram overlap of the bill I proposed in the legislature several years ago to rein in the regulatory and rule promulgations and proliferations going on in Iowa Administrative Law.

I'm grateful that she has essentially embraced the Jacobson and the Mercatus Institute idea of trimming agency regulations and rules.

That's a good start.

Doc, so we've got this situation going on here.

The problem is some of our doctors that did the best job, ironically, are the ones getting punished.

Would it help do you believe if the new Attorney General of Iowa did what former Attorney General Doug Peterson did in Nebraska, lay out a legal memorandum or brief basically spelling out that these preventive, efficacious curative therapies are not to be penalized

and save lives like Doug Peterson did in Nebraska.

If the Iowa Attorney General did that, that probably would call off some of the dogs that are prowling against you guys, some of the wolves in these administrative agencies, don't you think?

I think it would really do well for us, for her to do that.

I do think it would help us doctors to have that kind of air cover.

However, the reality of it is that our board responds to the Federation of State Medical Boards.

They are taking their direction from an outside source,

and

this Federation is all of the other states, boards all get together, and they decide how we're going to regulate medicine.

And fortunately, Federation of State Medical Boards has made it a priority to prevent patients from being treated with these life-saving diseases.

treatment.

Scotty, this is just devastating

news,

really.

It's not too far off the mark to say that the boards are allowing people to die, to frighten others to be vaccinated.

Dr. Harsach, since you kind of mentioned a little bit about how it's oversight and everything like that here in the state of Iowa, where the governor, as well as the legislature, is kind of hamstrung,

What is our next remedy?

Is it lawsuits?

Is it the Iowa Supreme Court?

Is it the district courts?

Talk to us a little bit about your remedy for this so-called illness that's plaguing Iowa medicine.

Sure.

The big thing is, number one, I do believe that the solution is in the judicial branch.

I do think we need lawsuits.

But the lawsuits have to come from patients.

because patients have been the ones that have been harmed.

It's called legal standing.

You've got to have standing, exactly.

Correct.

These regulations against the doctors have been impairing the patient.

However, there was a legal case, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy versus the Virginia Citizens Consumer Coalition.

That was a very cute case because in that case, the Board of

the board of pharmacy put restrictions on pharmacists to prevent them from informing citizens about what the cost of medications was.

So much for

informed

consent, you know?

For informed consent.

That would be very similar in this case.

In that case, the Supreme Court held that a pharmacist's right to speak is a patient's right to hear.

In this

case...

Beautiful.

A physician's right to speak is also a patient's right to hear.

Yes.

And the first amendment guarantees not only the right to speak, but the right to hear.

Not only that doc, but as someone with a little bit of background in this area, I can tell you that for a state actor to interfere with any Americans right to free speech, a state actor doing such.

The victim has a 14th amendment right and there's a cause of action that is in legal parlance called the section 1983 action.

That actually the founding case, the landmark case nationwide is the Tinker versus Des Moines Public Schools landmark case on free speech.

We cherish free speech so much that it has now been codified in the United States code based on legislation.

if that free speech is violated by a state or federal government actor.

There's a section 1983 cause of action.

Damages include going personally, personal liability against the perpetrators, and that would include any officials acting under color of state law.

And the problem in Iowa, I could see taxpayers getting soaked for millions in these suits due to potential

bad decision-making by these public officials whose response is, well, they can't get my house in car because I'm indemnified by the state.

Precisely my point.

The taxpayer is going to get soaked.

Right.

And you mentioned

our Attorney General, whether she should put out a pronouncement.

I think she should for that reason.

I

do too.

That's what that's what

Doug Peterson did in Nebraska.

It transformed Nebraska overnight.

You've got doctors over there in Omaha that were dispensing freely ivermectin hydroxychloroquine and saving lives by the dozens by the scores by the hundreds by the thousands

Yes, that is right.

But what I'm saying is that the Attorney General has a responsibility to make sure that our taxpayers don't spend millions of dollars in in

because of lawsuits from First Amendment issues, like in thinker.

They're already facing that problem now with some of the school violations of free speech rights.

Iowa is going to have some issues on that if they're not careful.

What a great segment, Scotty.

We're going to outro here again with Aaron Copeland.

I always love having Dr. Hartsuch on.

He speaks truth to power.

Former Iowa State Senator and esteemed physician across the United States here.

You know, that's a great point too, John.

And we're so grateful to have leaders like this, Dr. Hartsuch.

not only in Iowa, but across the nation fighting back against some of the poor choices, maybe even malice choices that were made by these medical boards across this country.

And Dr. Harcich, I hope to hear from you as your lawsuit progresses and you can inform our audience what you can as we progress.

And God bless you for doing this.

Thanks a lot.

Who used all the Wi-Fi?

Ah, apartment life.

Bad Wi-Fi, mystery laundry piles, and a roommate who says, I'll Venmo you.

Maybe 2027 deserves an upgrade.

Coming August 2027, Four Lakes Properties introduces the brand new Union Station Apartments.

Furnished, in-unit washer and dryer.

Internet included a great central downtown location, one to five bedroom apartments, and no double occupancy fees.

That's less adulting and more actually enjoying where you live.

Union Station Apartments, now leasing from Four Lakes Properties.

Wait, we have a washer and dryer in the apartment?

David Hartstich, the honorable David Hartstich, MD.

Scotty, this is what makes me proud to be in Iowa.

These brave, courageous, heroic, competent, curative professionals.

They would make Hippocrates proud.

Going back to the ancient Greeks, he's truly a physician that heals.

You know, that's a great point too, John.

And we've talked a lot about it, not only on this show, but in previous episodes.

It's the so-called ordinary citizen, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way.

They're finally saying enough is enough.

And when they're pushing back, you're seeing that not only in our medical practices, you're seeing it on our school boards.

You're seeing it in parents getting involved in education.

You're seeing it across the country on so many issues.

And I'm grateful that we have people that are willing to stand up and say, there is a line that you will not cross.

And Scott, Talk Radio provides this outlet.

We're so much in debt to people like Rush Limbaugh and those who came before us because we know that Google and Facebook and Twitter were shutting down these voices that were prophetic voices that were telling the truth about COVID at the front end that got shut down.

and deterred our ability to save a lot more lives.

I'm grateful for Talk Radio and this opportunity to not be muffled, to not be squashed, to be able to get the truth out to the folks.

You know, that's a great point too, John.

And I want to say a huge shout out not only just because we're on your station, but Dr. Jeff Stein here on KXEL, they allow us to do that.

We're not a corporate

type organization where we're getting our marching orders out of, you know, Atlanta or DC or New York or LA.

It's the grassroots.

They're allowing us to connect live and local to

yes, we're local folks.

We're Iowans guys.

We bleed

black

and

gold.

Exactly.

And we pay trust me.

My property taxes have proved that I'm an Iowan.

But but you know, it's just one of those great things that the voices are out there.

And I'm very happy in a little

concerned about where this is going to go because I'm afraid as we keep shining the light, there's going to be a lot of mushrooms out there that have been allowed to grow and I'm worried about what we're going to uncover, John.

Well, the head of Pfizer and Davos was very, very nervous when being asked some questions on his walk in there to the Grand Puba Ball.

You know, that's a great point too.

And, you know, it was interesting.

I did catch a clip of Al Gore addressing the convention there at Davos too.

And, you know, he's doubling down.

he's saying the world's going to end on 2012.

So, you know, it's this 11 years shorter.

We're

looking for a massage parlor on the way in if times that short.

Boy, I don't even know where to go with that

one.

My shade,

but just going on past press,

you know, past behavior sometimes is predictive.

Exactly.

But it just, we're very grateful to our audience as well as our sponsors and KXEL for letting us bring out all these important issues.

And there's a lot of important issues, not only in DC, but

but here in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, Des Moines, Sioux City Council Bluffs.

There's a lot going on.

We're very bipartisan.

I mean, we're going to get Bobby Kennedy Jr.

on this show and you can hear it from him.

What a great trial lawyer he has been.

I've done some contacting with him and he's fighting on our side for this.

He's one of America's most accomplished trial attorneys.

He's got great courage.

He's written probably the greatest book.

on the corruption in public health in the united states so to my democratic friends this is the uh... son of what one of my heroes bobby kennedy senior and jack kennedy's nephew who's again truth to power he's talking truth to power scott

you know that's a great point to john because there is so much going out there and it's i believe it was bill marr that set up the other day uh... maybe a couple weeks ago now is that

The politicians are finally figuring out when you mess with people's kids and people's livelihoods, the American people rise up.

And you know, knowing Bill Maher, he said a little more colorfully than I did with some other language, but he's right.

And when you have- And he

from more of the left

vantage point than the right.

And when you have people like John Jacobson talking with Robert Kennedy Jr., I mean this is something that's going to transcend American politics.

I really believe it.

Well, it's all a great radio and we love being with you every minute.

And guys, we're going to transition to the next segment here.

Stay tuned for more great radio on the Jacobson group with John Jacobson, Scott Curry and Mike Shane.

The world comes to Cedar Rapids.

More from the Iowa Almanac in a moment.

Camp Courageous started 50 years ago with a simple idea to provide a place where individuals with special needs could enjoy activities like everyone else.

Now Camp Courageous serves 10,000 individuals every year from a base of 33 buildings on 400 acres of land near Monticello, Iowa and it does it all without government support.

Make a donation, volunteer your time and learn more at campcourageous.org.

It was chosen as the city to represent American life.

When ten visiting NATO parliamentary delegates embarked on a 31-day visit of the United States under the auspices of the State Department, Cedar Rapids was picked as the place they would stay the longest.

The delegates from seven countries arrived in Cedar Rapids on January 17, 1958, for a four-day stay.

According to one, they had already seen defense and politics, but came to Iowa to see grassroots.

Industrial tours were set up for day one, followed by agricultural visits and a day at co-college.

The tour members watched automatic packaging lines at Quaker Roads, described by news accounts as, a bunch of boys intrigued by an electric train.

They later toured the Cherry Burrell plant, watching the making of equipment for the dairy and bottling industries, as well as Square D, makers of electronic equipment, and the Iowa Manufacturing Company, to see manufacturing of rock crushers and road building equipment.

The visitors held positions in their own country similar to that of U.S.

Congressman.

Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, England and Iceland were represented.

Governor Herschel Loveless and members of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce launched with the NATO delegation at the Roosevelt Hotel downtown.

One member of the Danish parliament, A.C.

Norman, said he was impressed by the open-heartedness of Americans.

That was on display when 10 NATO delegates arrived for a four-day stay in Cedar Rapids, on this date, in 1958.

And that's Iowa Almanac for January 17th.

Follow us on Twitter at IowaAlmanac.

Until tomorrow, I'm Jeff Stein.

A special double treat for us today, our own intrepid Scott Corey with an exclusive interview with Iowa's 4th District U.S.

Congressman Randy Feenstra, Republican of Western Iowa.

Take it away Scott!

You know, one thing that kind of concerns a lot of folks too, not only in rural Iowa but in our small business community.

is that we're seeing nightly reports about 80-some thousand IRS agents being hired.

And I know there was a lot of consternation last week in the US House, especially during the Speaker's vote, about what to do with those IRS agents because it's viewed that they will be targeting the middle and lower income people because they can't afford lawyers like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to fight back the IRS.

Is there any way that the House Republicans are going to push back on that?

I tell you what, I'm glad you said this because this is the first bill that literally the first bill ever passed the rules package like yesterday.

The first bill we did was our commitment to America that pledged that we would defund President Biden's army of 87,000 U.S.

IRS agents.

And we did it last night.

And you hit it on the head, 90% of the audits that target American families who make less than 400,000.

And more importantly, low-income families who claim the earned income tax credit

times more likely to be audited than any other individual.

That's why we had to do this, and that's why we took the first step last night in passing a bill to defund those 87,000 new IRS agents.

Sadly, the Democrats have not joined us.

We want to get this done.

We're joined on our Newsmaker Line with Congressman Randy Feinsters of Iowa's 4th Congressional District.

Congressman, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule.

I know you have a lot of counties to go to.

Do you plan to be hosting any town hall events or tell-a-town halls in the upcoming future?

How is your plans to stay active and visible throughout the entire district?

Scott, it's a great question.

Again, it's we the people.

All 36 counties twice a year.

We do everything possible.

If somebody wants us down, we'll gladly come down.

Excellent interview, Scott with Iowa Congressman Randy Feinstra.

We're joined now with Senator Annette Sweeney on our Newsmaker line.

Senator Annette Sweeney represents the Senate District 27, which is all of Harding County, all of Grundy County.

Parts of Tema and Paushik County.

She also is chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources as well as international relations.

Senator Sweeney, thanks for joining the program again and talk to us a little bit about the upcoming bills that are in the works and legislature.

Right now the number one bill is Senate, excuse me, House Bill, start over Nick.

Talk to us a little bit about the new House Bill, House Study Bill number one, the governor's education proposal.

The governor's education proposal, she has laid out in her state of the state speech and we also have looked at it last year.

And so for me to be able to make a good decision, I've called a lot of my superintendents as for their interactions with that.

And it's amazing though, the emails have been about half and half.

So to make that.

a good decision on that.

I am also continuing conversations and look forward to seeing what the bill does.

Right now, the bill is scheduled for a public hearing last Tuesday, and it is in the House first.

Will the Senate have its own bill or they be taking up the Governor's bill, which comes through the House?

We had our own bill.

We had a subcommittee on it last Thursday, even before the governor's inauguration.

And the subcommittee was full and heard from both sides of the issues and concerns that our constituents have.

So to see which one comes across a finish line and compromises will be made, it'll be an interesting, but it'll be a good bill.

Talk to us a little bit about your district.

Your district, even though it has some larger cities such as Iowa Falls and Grinnell, with a university there, you're also a very rural district.

What are some of the feedback you're hearing from parents and citizens of the rural areas?

Uh, the individuals from our rural areas are concerned about, uh, the vouchers going out to private schools, but in our area, we have very few private schools, a couple, and they're doing a great job.

And so they're wanting to know, you know, how is this going to financially affect us?

Uh, within this bill, there are a lot of compromises at that are going to make sure that we are keyed in into our rural areas.

We're joined on our newsmaker line with Senator Net Sweeney, who represents in a district 27, which is hardened.

Rondi, parts of Poweshik and Tama County.

Senator Sweeney, you're also chair of the National Resources Committee in the Senate.

Talk to us a little bit about some of the legislation you're proposing through this session.

Well, it's really exciting.

This year is the 10th anniversary for the nutrient reduction strategy.

And I have traveled the state seeing and looking at our lakes and streams.

The most recent was up in the Okuboji to our Great Lakes area.

And the strategy is working up there.

The naturalists tell me that they have not seen Westlake Okuboji in this good a shape in probably 40 years.

So it's really exciting.

So we're going to have a presentation made there.

We also have some concern about our deer population and overgrowth of the deer and we're concerned about their health.

And so we're going to see what some individuals of the Senators

come up with ideas on to make sure that we are responsible and stewardship of our dear population.

We're joined now with Senator Net Sweeney of Hardin County.

Senator Sweeney, I noticed last week during the inauguration, this wearing in ceremony for current Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Nag, he has selected you to be the emcee of that event.

Talk to us a little bit about your relationship with Secretary Nag, as well as that tremendous

I was

completely just taken aback and really appreciated the acknowledgement that Secretary Nag has made because he and I have worked together for over 12 years on agriculture issues.

his office door is always open to anything that we see that needs to be handled or looked at within our agriculture communities.

I was very honored and blessed that I got to read a poem that Secretary Nag's dad has on his office wall and with that there wasn't a dry eye within the Nag family but it talks about farming and experiencing the sunrises and experiencing you know

failures but yet you rise above that and the accomplishments that happen just through sweat equity.

And that is, it was a great poem.

Senator Sweeney, talk to us just real briefly.

We've seen some tremendous overturn in the Executive Council of the Iowa government this year with former State Senator Robbie Smith defeating a 40-year incumbent as well as Brenna Byrd defeating Tom Miller for Attorney General who'd been there for 40 years.

Talk to us a little bit about your relationships with him and what's it like being a part of the so-called trifecta where Republicans control the governor's office as well as both chambers with supermajorities.

Exciting is just the way I can wrap that up because I have worked with all these individuals, whether it's in the Senate, whether helping Brenna with her previous run for AG and be able to work with these individuals in their new roles.

It's so exciting that I've got to know them all on a personal basis, whether it was Robbie Smith on the floor, Brenna Bird with her running for AG before I got to know her really well.

So it's taking a whole new perspective on individuals that I can go in and say, hey guys, I have an issue, or do you have something I can help you with?

That's what makes it all work, and that's what makes it really fun to be down here to represent my constituents.

Senator Netswini, talk to us real briefly about a few of the legislative proposals you're working on for your folks back home in Powyshek, Teima, Harden and Grundy counties.

Within my counties, we're looking at water quality.

How do we help with enhancing water quality?

Again, the nutrient reduction strategy, making sure that our farmers know about the edge of field practices that we can do.

Then also we have some nuisance animals and some problems on our farms in order to even be able to harvest things that management of those.

So those are just at the top of the list at right now at this point, but you know what?

Next week, it can all change.

Well, thank you very much for your time today, Senator Sweeney.

We appreciate everything and we look forward to catching up with you throughout the rest of the session.

And we're joined now on our Newsmaker line with Lauren Koldeberg.

She's a clerk for the Iowa Senate.

This year she's clerking for Senator Annette Sweeney of Senate District 27.

Lauren, talk to us a little bit about your daily activities that you do as a clerk, especially for someone that also chairs a couple subcommittees and committees.

Yeah, this is my second week here at the Capitol.

So I'm fresh and new to a lot of things, but I've enjoyed my last full week.

So my day to day, I would say I manage her schedule and make sure she's at everything that she's agreed to.

I also scan through her email preliminarily just to make sure that the most important emails get pinned to the top that are timely and other emails that maybe spam just

disappear before she gets to look at them.

I'm at her disposal for whatever she needs me to do.

I will do.

I also help.

We have an intern and I help him make sure he has tasks to do.

And then I'm also available throughout the day for additional meetings and taking notes and making sure she has everything she needs.

Now besides being a clerk in the Iowa Senate, you also take classes at Iowa State this year, talk to us a little bit about juggling that, and then how did you actually decide to become a clerk in the Iowa Senate, and how did you end up with Senator Annette Sweeney?

Yeah, so I'm a junior at Iowa State and I'm studying agriculture communications with minors in agronomy and political science I'm currently taking 15 credits, but I've worked jobs throughout the past year and managed my time to the best of my ability which has worked well I actually applied to be her intern and I heard about that through her past intern and

was mutual friends with her, applied for that, and then she found out that her, at that time, current clerk was going to study abroad, so she asked if I'd like this position.

I said yes, and here I am.

So talk to us just a little bit about, especially during committees, as well as when constituents join us here in the Capitol.

Again, we're talking with Lauren.

She is on our Newsmaker line talking about a day in a life of a clerk in the Iowa Senate.

Talk to us just a little bit more about dealing with constituents, making sure that the Senator stays on time, as well as the committee requirements.

And do you take notes during committees?

How does that work?

Yeah, Senator Sweeney is the chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee That requires me to take notes and roll call throughout the meeting later submitting online minutes and further information just so that way the capital staff have all the information I also have a planner that keeps me on schedule, which keeps her on schedule and I do my best to

politely stop conversation when she has a meeting.

But sometimes it's good conversation.

So we are a few minutes late from time to time.

Great.

Well, thank you very much for your time, Lauren.

I know it's kind of one of those thankless jobs that the clerk, but the clerk is also one of those most important people that keeps the state government running, especially during session.

Appreciate your time talking with us.

Back to you, John.

John Jacobson.

Back with you here, Mike Shane at the controls, Scott Corey co-hosting as always.

You know what they say, Scott?

Clay and Buck are the Jake and Scott.

of the national airways.

Well, I don't know who's paying or saying that, but I'll sure pay him to say it though.

I think we look a little bit better than those guys, too, though, John.

Definitely, definitely.

And what a signal, caroming throughout all the big 10 states, Scotty, we're on clear channel, America's clear channel, the first 50,000 watt clear channel to transmit across these fruited planes, 100 years.

I'll go the centenary of KXEL and that beautiful blowtorch clear signal, 1540 and 100.5 FM just in time, helping out Dr. Stein.

And today we are joined by, this guy's a great American patriot.

He's a veteran.

His name is Al Ruby.

He's well known in Western Iowa.

We're going to introduce him to the Eastern Iowa Phalanx here of the state, but he heads up this wonderful group, the Canesville Writers Honor Guard.

They do so many things, military funerals, PTSD and suicide prevention.

work.

Scotty bring on Al and let's have a little chat.

Sure.

Well, thanks for joining us this afternoon on Newsmaker Line Al.

Talk to us just a little bit about the Canesville Honor Guard and how people can get in touch with you folks and a little bit about your mission.

Well, our mission is to make sure that no veteran is buried without honors.

We started this group in 2013 and we've done well over 900 funerals since we started this at no cost to the veterans, the families, the funeral homes,

There's 45 members of our group and everybody in our group was all volunteers.

We have gone as far as Kansas City, Kansas to do a funeral all the way to the other side of Des Moines to Van Meter to do a funeral at the National Cemetery.

But we have made sure that no veteran has ever been buried without honors.

And we've got a lot of stuff going on right now.

We have the PTSD at no cost to the veterans and first-time responders.

We're doing an honor flight in October, which will be our third honor flight.

It'll be a three-day honor flight.

And then we also are doing a concert at West Bear, May 19th.

We're opening up for Shenandoah.

And it's going to be a great thing.

It's all free to veterans and families and the citizens.

And we want everybody to come out and enjoy it.

May 19th, we have a lot of sponsors that are going to be there.

We are going to be taking donations at the door of free will offering if they want to.

But once again, this is going to be a great thing for veterans and the money is going to go to the veterans.

for PTSD, for the honor flight towards the concert, and it's also going to go towards the King's Volana Guard to help buy more uniforms and do more funerals for veterans.

You know, I'll go through us one by one with each of the things you just mentioned.

Let's start out with the PTSD as well as trying to help those men and women who have suffered from that.

Talk to us a little bit about that program.

You're actually partnering with some of our doctors that we've had on the line before.

Talk to us just real briefly about that and let's talk more about your Honor Flight as well as the concert and when and where.

Okay, well, the PTSD

We are trying to hook up with Dr. Ted Fogarty, and we're trying to hook up with him for veterans.

And we also have our counselor, Lyle Berkeley, in Council Blush, who is also going to hook up with Dr. Ted Fogarty on a lot of things that's going on that the American people don't know about.

Our government is not putting it out.

We don't know why but they need to put this out because this is going to save veterans from suicide.

Every 22 minutes there's a veteran taking their lives.

This is also going to help with dementia.

It's also going to help with Alzheimer's and it's going to turn a lot of the things that are going on with people today.

It's going to turn their lives around and it's going to save lives instead of taking lives.

And veterans

Like I said, you know, every 22 minutes, we have a veteran taking their lives and these are young veterans.

Um, and it's just once too many.

Um, so, and that is at 3000 Avenue B. Um, and you can get a hold of.

And that's the council bluff sale.

You're on the other river.

Right.

Exactly.

Uh, right across from Omaha, Nebraska.

Right.

We got people on the Mississippi listening in.

So we want to make sure they know what river you're at there, Al.

Yeah, well we're on the on the on the west side of the Missouri River Actually on the east side, but on the west side of Omaha or east side of Omaha But this

is your say you're in council bluffs now

pretty much We've got a lot of things going and got a lot of things that we're doing right now And there's just so many things that's going on But if you want to get a hold of of of us you can call 402 301

1694 or 1695 and we can get you in touch with the counselor.

We do have Dr. Ted Fogarty's number.

We can get you in touch with him and give you all the information.

Like I said, this is this is for veterans and first time responders at no cost.

Whatever is said in the building stays in the building and it's going to be between you and the counselor and nobody else.

It's going to be a great thing.

and then getting to our concert at no cost to the citizens and the veterans.

It's gonna be at West Bear, May 19th.

And that's just on the outskirts of Council Bluffs right now.

Yep, Council Bluffs too.

And it's gonna be, Shenandoah's gonna be there.

Our factor's gonna be there and there'll be one more band there.

It's gonna be a great thing.

This is all has to do with veterans.

and what we need to do to take care of our veterans in the state of Iowa.

Al, we thank you so much for what you're doing.

You're doing it at no cost.

Once again, if there's someone listening in who needs help, what's a number that they can call?

They can call 402-301-1695 or 402-301-1694.

And I can also give you

the number right now I will give you a number here if you'll give me one second here real quick I will give you Lyle Berkeley's number and if he doesn't answer right away leave a message okay and that number is 402-670-0202 and he's also a certified PTSD counselor

So

I want you I want you to repeat those three numbers again very slowly and very loudly just in case we got someone listening here that wants to Get some immediate help three numbers.

Okay for Lyle Berkeley that number is 402 670 0202 and the other one is 402 301 1695 and

402-301-1694.

All

right guys, this is great.

We'll get you to where you need to be and who you need to talk to.

Al, thank you for what you're doing.

Three prongs, you know, the honor flight coming up, the concert, and the hyperbarics to help our veterans.

Wonderful work.

Al Ruby, thanks for what you and the Canesville Writers Honor Guard do to help all of our veterans.

Well, thank you, John.

We'll have Al back on again later.

What a patriot, Scott Corey.

He sure is, John,

and it's so...

heartwarming but at the same time kind of sad that we have to have groups like that out there do take care of our veterans but we're so grateful that we have people you not only here in Iowa but across the country that put their you know put their money where their mouth is they literally go out there on their own dime you make sure that there was proper representation at all these funeral's but at the same time they're also helping them with the PTSD you know John you and I have talked about on previous shows

That PTSD and stuff like that was not even addressed even five to six years ago Yeah, so we've come a long way with this and you know if you any of our listeners know anybody that is suffering from depression or PTSD Please reach out exactly

there's

so many people out there

You know things will

honor guard as well as the the national Hotline as well as the state hotline as well, too Be sure to get out there and get help because it just it's just a senseless senseless issue that we shouldn't have to go through but we do

Scott, it's been another super weekend of radio.

For the Jacobson group here on KXEL, Mike Shane always makes things work for us.

He's even got that classic ringtone that we have to hear at least once a show.

It's so iconic.

It's so Shane-esque.

It's our guarantee that Mike Shane comes back, unlike Brandon DeWild's Forlorn

Beckoning to Alan Ladd, this story is happily ever after.

Mike Shane always comes back.

He's got that ringtone ready for us.

Here it is.

Beautiful thing, isn't it, Scott?

It sure

is.

Well,

trumpet flutter coming up here.

Oh, you just have to love it.

And the best part about it is, is that whenever Mike actually calls her text, I know exactly who it is because I programmed this as his unique ringtone for it on my phone.

So, yep, Mike is a legend here.

He keeps the studio and the editing and everything running on time is salute to Mike Shane and hey, our Hawkeyes with some resurgence in hoops.

We love following our Hawkeyes here, Scotty.

And of course, you listen to us here every Saturday as well as every Sunday.

Sometimes if we're not on Sundays at three, we're on right after the UNI Panthers game.

You know, that's a great point, John.

And you know, enough cannot be said about Wade Fran McAfrey's team has rebounded lately.

They've gone through a lot, but I also want to give a quick shout out to Hawkeye Nation this week past the 30 year mark of loss of the Great Chris Street.

And even if you're not a Hawkeye fan, you're just an Iowan.

I really think you should go ahead and check out the Big Ten Network.

They did a tremendous, tremendous tribute to him as well as that game they showed the other night of when the fab five of Michigan.

and came into Carver Hawk Irene, the first home game after the loss of Chris Street.

And that crowd was electric, and you could see the emotion not only in the fans' eyes, but the street family.

And enough cannot be said, John, about the way Dr. Tom Davis held that team together.

And Dr. Tom Davis actually became

I think in a grandfatherly way, it helped Hawkeye Nation get through that loss, but it's hard to believe, John, it's been 30 years of the loss of Chris.

It is.

I remember it like yesterday, Scott, and of course, for those of our listeners who don't know, Chris Street, great Hawkeye basketball athlete, fine young man in the prime of his life, you know, 20 years old, essentially, in that blizzard killed tragically by a snow plow in blinding

conditions while he was in his car and an accident with the snowplow.

devastating to Hawkeye fans.

It's up there with a tragedy of losing an Isle Kinneck or a Brooke Beringer or a Jack Trice.

You know, three men in their prime that were seemingly nipped in the bud and Hawkeye Nation did rallies.

It always does.

They sure did.

And talk just real briefly about the production that the Big Ten Network did.

They brought in Jim Nance, who actually covered the Iowa Michigan game.

He was

a young looking

Jim

Nance the time in his 30s.

Exactly.

And CBS Sports carried that game.

It was a Super Bowl Sunday.

DePair phrased the quote from Jim Nance, at the end of the day, we all knew Iowa was going to win.

We just didn't know how the script was going to get us there.

And the emotion that even Jim Nance showed in that interview 30 years later.

But also I want to give a lot of credit and a shout out to Fred Hoyberg.

Fred Huyberg was an Iowa native as well.

He played

at Iowa State and Iowa State under Johnny Orr.

They had an honorary deal where the number 40 was always went to an Iowa player.

And Fred Huyberg talked a lot about that.

Kenyon Murray was there, AC Earl, just a lot of great, great interviews.

And I encourage everybody to do it.

I'm getting a little choked up.

I know.

The

Big Ten Network.

And you can find that on YouTube.

That's out on YouTube.

and great kudos to ESPN.

They also played that game this entirety on, I think, was last Wednesday night.

And so kudos to them.

It's always great to be a Hawkeye.

Guys, in the meantime, until we see you next week, be safe, be smart, be good, be strong.

Love Jesus Christ.

And God bless us, everyone.

Till next week.

Look us up on the podcast kxl.com slash Jacobson group.

Bye.

Bye Thanks for listening to this podcast of the Jacobson group as heard weekends on the radio on news talk 1540 K X EL

For more about the show, go to kxel.com slash Jacobson, J-A-C-O-B-S-E-N.

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Until next time, bye-bye.