Government Websites Taken Down and Other News

Conservation groups are keeping a watchful eye on federal agency websites during the government shutdown according to a report by Suzanne Potter with the Illinois News Connection.

They say some pages have been taken down, at agencies that include the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service Planning and US Fish and Wildlife Service. The concern, says Taylor McKinnon at the Center for Biological Diversity, is that those sites are key to accessing information and ways for people to comment on environmental decisions.

“With this shutdown, the public has been blocked from accessing the information it needs to participate in the planning processes, and they are have pending comment deadlines,” McKinnon said.

McKinnon says his group also questions the motives behind taking down the web pages and has requested in writing that the administration extend the public-comment periods because of the government shutdown.

According to McKinnon, shutting down the websites and public-comment portals is not consistent with federal policy. He cites an Interior Department post that indicates employees shouldn’t be updating pages during a shutdown period, but states that websites should remain online.

“The standing policy for the Department of the Interior is that these websites are supposed to remain active during shutdowns. They have a policy that’s very clear. It suggests that there was a deliberate effort here to actually take these sites offline,” McKinnon said.

Groups are asking the administration to immediately reactivate the Interior Department’s portals and extend the dates for public-comment periods.

The Keokuk Public Library has announced they are trying a new program this coming year called the Patron’s Choice Awards.

Throughout the month of January, they encourage people to cast their vote for their favorite books, items and library services from 2018. Winners will be announced in February.

Ballots will be available at the library starting at Noon on Wednesday, Jan. 2. People will also be able to vote online through their website at www.keokuklibrary.org.

The library also announced it will be open from 9 AM to 12 PM on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year ’s Day before re-opening on Jan. 2, the same day the voting begins.

Reminder that the Lee County Leadership Program is requesting applications from nonprofit organizations throughout Lee County for community projects.

The eleven participants of this year’s Lee County Leadership Program will use their new skills and expanded network in leading three community projects proposed by Lee County community organizations. Applications for community projects are due Friday, Jan. 18.

Contact the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce or Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce to learn more and receive a project application.

Shelley Oltmans can be reached by phone at 319-524-5055 and by email at [email protected] while Savanna Collier can be contacted over the phone at 319-372-5471 or by email at [email protected]. Chosen projects will be announced Jan. 23.

In sports news, while in Tampa Bay getting ready for the Outback Bowl, the Iowa Hawkeyes participated in a Team Night with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tight end TJ Hockenson, quarterback Nate Stanley and defensive back Amani Hooker all participated against players from Mississippi State in a competition during one of the intermissions.

Hooker said that while hockey is not is main sports love, he really enjoyed the experience.

The Hawkeyes will play against the Bulldogs on New Year’s Day in their bowl game beginning at 11 AM.

Dave O’Hara with Radio Keokuk & Red Threads Card Co, host of Hawkeyed & more every Saturday at 10:00 AM on Z93.9, is proud to bring Iowa Football great, Marvin McNutt to the Tri-States for an Outback Bowl Viewing Party on Tuesday, Jan. 1 at Kinnick South in Fort Madison.

The Meet and greet, including autograph sessions for just $10 for the first item, $5 a piece after that, with Iowa’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns begins around 10:30 with game kickoff scheduled for 11:00, and will run throughout the game. Stay tuned to Radio Keokuk as more information becomes available.

Iowa men’s basketball will be in action on Saturday with a game at home against the Bryant Bears. Bryant is lead in scoring by Adam Grant who is averaging 15.8 points per game, but is shooting under 40% from the field.

Byron Hawkins and SaBastian Townes are also both averaging double figures this year at 14.3 and 13.9 points per game respectively. Townes is also the only player on the team making more than a third of his three point attempts at 44.4% on the season, but is taking just 1.8 shots from downtown per game.

The game will tip off at 7:05 PM.

The #16 Lady Hawkeyes will be on the road for a Top 25 matchup with #21 Michigan State on Sunday in East Lansing at 12 PM.

Jenna Allen leads the 10-1 Spartans with 16.2 points per game and is one of five players averaging double figures on the season, along with Shay Colley, Nia Clouden, Taryn McCutcheon and Sidney Cooks.

This will be the first Big Ten game of the season for Iowa and they come into the contest with a record of 9-2.

Finally, Iowa wrestling will be at the Midlands Championships in Hoffman Estates, IL this weekend. Session I and II will be at 9:30 AM and 7 PM respectively on Saturday while Session III will be Sunday at 12 PM and the Finals will follow at 7 PM.