Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

10/05/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/05/2022 12:15

Iowa’s better when we welcome all! – Daily High Five

LOCAL 5 REPORTER NORA J.S. REICHARDT : Local 5 reporter Nora J.S. Reichardt recently came out as a transgender woman after one year being on air for Local 5. In this interview, Reichardt reintroduces herself to the community, discusses her life leading up to this moment and gives advice for anyone else in a similar situation. We're glad that Reichardt can share her journey with us and happy that viewers can see a role model that represents them on the news.

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And here's a look at the other news we're keeping an eye on:

2. KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE: The Des Moines Community School District School Board approved a policy allowing school nurses to have access to naloxone, a medication that can be administered to temporarily reverse the effects of opioids, preventing overdose deaths in many cases. This decision will save students' lives, as DMPS cites 11 incidents the prior year when naloxone could have been used.

3. JUSTICE JACKSON HAS ARRIVED: In her first oral arguments at the Supreme Court, Justice Jackson was vocal in her probing questions on cases related to federal wetlands and racial gerrymandering. Jackson, the first Black woman to be appointed to the Court, brought much needed historical insight relating to the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all people born in the United States, and the Voting Rights Act. Hopefully, her powerful insight can sway some of the other justices.

4. FOREVER CHEMICALS IN IA WATER: PFAs, or "forever chemicals", are cancer-causing chemicals that are unremovable from the environment, and southeast Iowa cities are again experiencing issues with PFAs in their water supply. Burlington and Davenport have found excessive amounts of PFAs in their water, supplied by the Mississippi River, multiple times since testing began in 2017. These chemicals are harmful to all living things, and the companies responsible for them need to be held accountable.

5. ROB SAND TO SPEAK AT CORN FEED: This is the week! The eighth annual Progress Iowa Corn Feed is almost here, but fear not! You still have time to register for this fun event with great speakers including Rob Sand and Jennifer Konfrst. Everyone is invited, so come to Newbo City Market in Cedar Rapids this Saturday, October 8. Be sure to RSVP for this wonderful, free event using this link. You can also purchase a lunch ticket and a supporter pack here. It's corntastic!

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Thanks for reading, and we'll get back with you tomorrow for another High Five!

- The Progress Iowa Team