Q: Of all the campaign ads going on right now, are the local TV stations making good money off all these ads? Is that why they keep running them?
A: TV stations make decent money from political ads. S&P Global, which provides marketplace intelligence and data, projected local TV stations will make more than $4 billion this year from political ad revenue. They do not run political ads for the purpose of making money. TV stations cannot refuse to air the ads due to federal telecommunications laws.Â
People are also reading…
Q: Was Jiminy Cricket actually a grasshopper? I’ve never seen a green cricket.
A: Considering Jiminy Cricket is a character in a story about a wooden toy coming to life, Walt Disney could have made him any color. But, yes, there are green crickets. In the U.S. there are tree crickets that look similar to katydids. There is a more vibrant green cricket that lives in Europe, around the Mediterranean and North Africa called a great green bush cricket.
Q: Is KWWL planning on hiring a full time meteorologist and getting rid of these off-site people?Â
A: There is a job listing for a meteorologist to fill former weatherman Brandon Libby’s spot. KWWL’s general manager previously told us that meteorologists from The Weather Channel and Rochester are used when local meteorologists are not available.Â
Q: Is there a Golden Corral close by in Iowa?
A: The only Golden Corral in Iowa is in Council Bluffs. The other closest ones are in Omaha or Rockford, Illinois.
Q: This is a Vietnam veteran that lives up in Denver and I am a victim of Agent Orange and I do get compensation for it. Now, I’m wondering why or how Josh Turek claims to be a victim of Agent Orange through his dad. I’ve never even heard of that happening. And if he is, I’d like to find out what kind of monetary compensation he gets from the government for that.
A: Children of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam or Korean wars can be born with birth defects. The most common birth defect from this is spina bifida, which is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord is not formed properly in the womb, causing the spinal cord and nerves to be exposed. Children of affected parents who have spina bifida may receive benefits such as monthly compensation and health care benefits. Turek said he receives his health care related to his disability from Veterans Affairs.
Q: I have a neighbor that will blow leaves or snow into the street. They have no trees in their yard and they will blow the leaves or the grass or the snow onto my property constantly. Who do I get in contact about this?
A: Try talking to your neighbor first before getting any officials involved. They may not realize it is bothering you.
Q: How much money is Donald Trump making off the sale of his $1 golden coin that is being advertised on TV?
A: The $1 coin is released by the U.S. Mint, not Trump himself. Revenue from collectors items go to the federal treasury. Yahoo Finance reported this week that U.S. Mint sales increased from $490 million to $1 billion in one year, thanks to commemorative items for America’s 250th birthday.Â
Call (319) 291-1550 to leave a voicemail or email newsroom@wcfcourier.com with your question.Â
Read a collection of Call the Courier columns answering reader questions.
