SPM News

103119 304 Early findings show that the bridge that was burning yesterday under I-29 in Sioux City has sustained more than the black soot marks. Iowa Department of Transporation authorities say it's too early to speculate on the degree of damage the culvert bridge sustained after the encampment blaze, which is under investigation. The low-hanging Interstate 29 bridge near the Wesley Parkway overpass was only a year old when it was scorched by flames from a burning homeless encampment yesterday

Coming up on The Exchange, we hear from the two candidates for mayor and two candidates for the Sioux City Council, who spoke at a forum last Thursday. Also, we get an update on what Iowa Governor plans to do or not do about vaping in the state. Also, we talk with a physician from the Mayo Clinic about the dangers of vaping. And we speak with the host of the NPR program, The Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam The program marries science and storytelling. And we preview the upcoming Siouxland Coffee

103019 504 Traffic still being diverted on Interstate 29 near Wesley Parkway. A fire broke out this afternoon near an interchange and that caused the closure. Sioux City Fire Rescue is on the scene of the fire. The Iowa Department of Transportation says traffic is being diverted near the I-29 exits at mile markers 147 and 148 in Sioux City. An IDOT official says at 3:30 p.m. a fire took place under the primary northbound I-29 lane over Perry Creek. Members of the Iowa House and Senate met today

103019 404 Iowa and South Dakota students have tied for first place in the best ACT college board test scores in the nation. Both Iowa and South Dakota saw an average of 21.6 out of a percent score of 36. Two-thirds of students in Iowa who graduated from high school last spring took the ACT. Iowa was one of 24 states to test more than half of students. A U.S. District Judge today approved the settlement that says South Dakota won’t enforce current state laws that prohibit protected speech and

103019 304 U.S. agriculture officials say a rule that allows farmers to legally grow hemp will be finalized this week. It's a move that many states have awaited for months so they can begin widespread hemp production. It's a big step for Iowa farmers hoping to tap into a rapidly growing market for hemp-derived cannabidiol, commonly called CBD, used in everything from pet food to wine and creams that help relieve minor aches and pains. The $5 billion market is expected to grow to nearly $24

The South Dakota Highway Patrol responded to a deadly crash on Interstate 29 this morning involving several cars. The Argus Leader reports it happened north of the Beresford exit. A portion of the interstate was closed then reopened around 10:15. Authorities in Sioux County say two students were injured when their school bus collided with another vehicle wester of Orange City on Monday afternoon. The bus driver was cited for failing to yield. The driver of the other vehicle also went to the

102219 504 Corn growers and ethanol producers are concerned about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed fix for ethanol demand. The ethanol industry wants the federal government to account for dozens of ethanol exemption waivers it issued to small refineries. Iowa’s Republican elected officials say they are confident the President is on their side, though the EPA proposal disappointed many. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says intends to submit comments asking that the legally required

102219 404 Corn growers and ethanol producers are concerned about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed fix for ethanol demand. The comment period is still open. The ethanol industry wants the federal government to account for dozens of ethanol exemption waivers it issued to small refineries. Iowa’s Republican elected officials to say they are confident the President is on their side, though the EPA proposal disappointed many. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says intends to submit

102219 304 The struggling farm economy has Congress taking action aimed at preventing a mental health crisis. The Senate’s two farmers, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley and Montana Democrat Jon Tester, have introduced a bill to increase mental health services for farmers and ranchers. Grassley says the goal is to prevent suicide—something that exacerbated suffering during the 1980s farm crisis, and that is still a threat to farmers and ranchers. Grassley’s hopeful rural communities and farmers

The pit bull ban in Sioux City is one step closer to ending. The city council voted 3 to 2 yesterday to repeal the 11-year-old ban. At a public hearing yesterday, former city councilman Jim Rixner, who helped pass the ban, was one of only a couple to speak to keep it. “ And if someone is bit, not only will they sue the owner, they will probably find an attorney who said, ‘you had an effective ban on these dogs and you repealed it, therefore you’re liable’.” A third vote in a couple of weeks will