tschram

tschram

  • Joined: August 30, 2022
  • Articles: 2369

Did you know?

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, news about the automotive industry focused largely on how consumers were not buying new cars and demand was way down, largely due to people staying home. However, over time, the big news on the automobile front was how semiconductor chip shortages were halting production lines and leading to unprecedented supply shortages - despite record demand. Semiconductor chips are found in laptops and other electronics, including vehicles. These industries have had to cut back on the number of items they produce as a result. In June 2022, Toyota announced it would be cutting its production quota in July by 50,000 units. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger now expects the semiconductor industry to be impacted by shortages until 2024 due to a lack of manufacturing equipment. Other factors affecting chip production are limited access to purified neon gas, as Ukraine supplies 25 to 35 percent of this gas, as well as a lack of palladium, which is largely supplied by Russia. In addition, air transport costs continue to go up. Semiconductor chips control functions of touchscreens, braking systems, backup cameras, and even airbag deployment systems. Automobiles may even have chips in engines.

Grassley receives President’s Award from National Corn Growers Association

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), president pro tempore emeritus of the U.S. Senate and family farmer, recently received the President’s Award for his leadership and commitment to advocating for Iowa’s corn growers and agriculture. This award is the highest and most prestigious recognition given by the National Corn Growers Association, an organization representing the interests of U.S. corn growers. The award was presented to Grassley during the NCGA’s Corn Congress events in Washington, D.C.

The student doctor; a complement to patient care

As a clinical professor at my state’s medical school, I frequently have medical students seeing patients with me in clinic. While the majority of patients are happy to allow student involvement, some decline. This makes me wonder what misconceptions lead patients to be averse to trainees participating at their clinic visits or hospital bedsides. In my experience, the presence of learners has a positive influence on our work in the clinic and hospital.

Schniker to head Reynolds’ School Safety Bureau

Less than one month after Governor Kim Reynolds launched a $100-million-dollar program designed to enhance school safety throughout Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Safety announced Special Agent In Charge (SAC) Don Schnitker to serve as the Chief of the Governor’s School Safety Bureau.

Attracting pollinators to your garden and landscape

The beauty and diversity of pollinators can be enjoyed within the home garden or landscape, if some basic steps are taken to assure their habitat. In a recent publication called “Gardening for Butterflies and Pollinators,” horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach explain the life and role of common pollinators, and actions Iowans can take to increase their numbers.

Food inflation stokes food insecurity

Q: Are you concerned about food insecurity in 2022 and beyond? A: During the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans experienced food insecurity as unemployment and empty store shelves produced uncertainty around kitchen tables in households across the country. Moms and Dads struggled to put food on the table and worried about sending their kids to bed hungry.

Titles to Tempt You

The library tries to continue to expand its offering of books with titles in a variety of genres. Here are the latest titles by which we hope to tempt you into our air-conditioned comfort at 1301 Main Street.

Badgers are tough, effective soild engineers

Badgers are tough. We’ve all probably heard of the African Honey Badger and how it doesn’t give a hoot. Well our American Badger is just as tough and probably doesn’t care much either! Badgers are found statewide in Iowa, mostly using open country. They can be found as far east as Ohio, but the core of their range are the Great Plains States like Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Like the beaver, badgers are one of nature’s engineers. I consider them like a bulldozer or backhoe. They can move a lot of soil quickly!