Grant is funding a study to find ways to best treat the issue of obesity. And one clinic in iowa is helping out. Abc9 News ReporterChristina Gri hallva has more in rural communities, like akron, iowa, nearly 20percent of the population live at a higher risk of obesity and obesity related illness. A new grant is allowing the akron Mercy Medical clinic to study the issue to help find a solution. Partly its gonnas be coaching, partly it is being counseling. So its gonna be a little bit of everything put together. We call it a pragmatic study. Its going to be looking at the way things really are in your life. 40 patients from the clinic have been chosen based on certain criteria. For the next 36 months theyll be following a plan set up by two of the clinics nurses. Well give them kind of the basic structure for each patient, but then well work from there depending on the patients goals and what they want because this is basically their program that their formulating for themselves. Even though its a patientcentered approach eekhoff says their main focus is the same. Motivation will be the key factor, but also helping them with resources that we dont normally get in our Office Setting right now. For patient, mary james, motivation is exactly why she is so excited to start the program. It is time to lose weight and get in a healthy regimen again and just, you know, be for healthy living. Dr. Wolfe hopes that by working with patients they can best in the long run. Were not looking at making people skinny, thats not the approach of this. This is a Lifestyle Health change. Lukas other states receiving the combined 10 Million Dollar grt include kansas, nebraska and wisconsin. Patients who are participating in the study will begin the process next week. Lukas with at least 50 confirmed cases of the zika virus in the united states. The white house has announced its asking congress for nearly 2 billion dollars to combat its spread. So how can you protect yourself . Consumer reports is reissuing its effective mosquito repellents. And abcs linzie janis has the details. This morning concern surrounding the zika virus at an all time high. The cdc raising their zika response to the highest level of activation assigning staff to work 24 7 on the response. Nats spraying brazil elsewhere around the world and while the world continues to spray pesticides to try to kill off the mosquitos what can you do to keep from being bitten . Matthew degenarro assistant professor, Florida International university deet is safe and effective. Consumer reports rereleasing ratings for mosquito repellents . Highlighting their results regarding the aedes egypti mosquito known for carrying and spreading zika Consumer Reports finding these three products to be the most effective sawyer fishermans formula picaridin, off deepwoods viii sue byrne Senior Editor for health and food, Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports test found agains the zika virus were the ones that contained either 25 deet or 20 picardin. Both protected for about 8 hours. The ratings also advising consumers to avoid products made of natural plant oils . Sue byrne Senior Editor for health and food, Consumer Reports some of those even failed our tests immediately and the mosquitos bit right through our testers arms those infected with zika may become ill with symptoms like fever, rash joint pain or red eyes and the virus has been linked to the a in colorado springs, where three people were killed in november, is set to reopen next week. Its been closed since black friday, when a Police Officer and two civilians were killed and nine people wounded in a shooting spree that lasted several hours. Schools and hospitals were locked down during the rampage. In december, a judge ordered a mental competency evaluation for 57yearold suspect robert lewis dear. He faces 179 felony counts, including murder and attempted said the clinic will reopen february 15th. The release also stated planned parenthood will have increased security at the clinic. Lukas a 38 year old rock valley woman has been sentenced on first degree theft charges. Heather blomendaal was charged back in july 2015, after her employer, stone soup cafe discovered missing bank deposits. A Police Investigation revealed that bloemendaal has taken nearly 20 thousand dollars between january and july of 2015. As part of a plea agreement. She faces a ten year suspended prison tm on 1st degree theft charges and was also placed on probation for four years. Blomendaal is required to stay at a Treatment Facility in sioux city, and pay full restitution. Lukas coming up. Ill bring you a special preview of our documentary that takes a look at the untold story of African Americans here in our country. A sneak peek is coming up scott well have. Youre watching abc9 news this and scott larson. This is abc9 news this morning. Me light snow pushing through the area from northwest to southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and wind south and east. The stormcast hd illustrates that we have some light snow that will wrap up early in the afternoon. Then weve got flurries tomorrow night into early friday with most of the accumulating snow missing north and east. Todays high is 25. The low is 9 with mostly cloudy skies. Tomorrows high is 24 with clouds and flurries. Heres your extended forecast. Jessica rae scott northwest to southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming are in the teens and 20s. We have a light wind south and east. The stormcast hd illustrates that we have some light snow that will wrap up early in the afternoon. Then weve got flurries tomorrow night into early friday with most of the accumulating snow missing north and east. Todays high is 25. The low is 9 with mostly cloudy skies. Tomorrows high is 24 with clouds and flurries. Heres your extended forecast. Jessica rae scott adlib lukas we are continuing our look this morning. At a piece of history you might not know existed it centers around small communities in florida before the civil rights movement. Its part of americas untold journey as we celebrate black history month. Narr Little Africa was a community of new freed blacks that settled in st. Augustine after the farmers, high rates of illiteracy would surely condemn them and their children to a life of hard poverty. Ending this, would require outside help. Sister Thomas Joseph mcgoldrick we came in 1866 at the request of Bishop Augustin verot. He asked for 8 sisters that would come. Father tom willis i wish you to understand and clearly that it is for the bdacks and for them alone that i have the sisters of your order come to my diocese. Sister Thomas Joseph mcgoldrick and he made it very clear that they were coming to teach the liberated slaves. That that would be their work here. Father tom willis when they arrived they knew no english so they had to learn the language, they had to learn the culture of st. Augustine as it existed in the years after the civil war. Sister Thomas Joseph mcgoldrick when they started to teach here they taught children, you know. And only boys came to school originally. But it wasnt too many weeks later that the little girls started to come too and the parents would send adults. Narr despite their good works, it wasnt long before the sisters were caught in the rising tide of racial segregation. Sister Thomas Joseph mcgoldrick 00 22 18 00 it was illegal to teach black people. 00 28 02 00 there was a lot of animosity about, you know, educating black people. Even after the civil war, even after they were free. 00 23 22 00 in 1916 three of our sisters were arrested and it was on Easter Sunday and they were arrested over at st. Benedicts. 00 28 51 00 the order to arrest them probably came from the governor, narr these noble sisters became revered by the people they were sent to help. Sister Thomas Joseph mcgoldrick 00 15 47 00 the first nun who died here, the black ladies from the cathedral parish. They took over the funeral. They said these women came for us, were gonna take care of this funeral. And they did. Lukas coming up. Fans of frozen wont be able to let this exiting news go. Stay tuned to find out what olaf, elsa and anna. Are up to next a number of oscar nominees are speaking out about the roles that got them nominated for the prized statue. Youll hear from them. To broadway. And its a battle of titans in hollywood. Star wars faces off with steven speilberg. Reporter david daniel has it all in minute. Singing let it go, let it go. Frozen is going to Broadway Disney has blockbuster will hit broadway in after an outof word yet where in the summer of 2017. The movies oscar winning songwriters are set to pen new songs for the stage version, along with the films familiar favorites. natstar wars how big is star wars . It even made Steven Spielberg blink episode eight, the followup to star wars the force awaken is scheduled to land in theaters december 15th, 2017. Thats the same date spielberg had staked out for ready player one, based on the best selling scifi novel. So spielberg and Warner Brothers are moving their movie back to march 30th, 2018 after the winter olympics, and before the world book . Yeah Kelly Clarkson is expecting her second child. And her first Childrens Book the American Idol champ and grammy winner has turned childrens author. Clarkson says river rose and the magical lullaby began as stories she jotted down about places she traveled with her 19month old daughter, who, in an amazing coincidence, is also named river rose look for the book, complete with an original lullaby written and performed by october. For hollywood minute, im david daniel. Lukas staying in hollywood. The oscars are coming up on february 28th. The oscars are coming up on february 28th. And you can watch them right here on abc9 now. A number of nominees are gearing up for their binight. Abcs Chris Connelly has more. Nats i need to hold my husband . In the danish girl, swedishborn Alicia Vikanders character brims with tenderness and understanding . In leighs daisy is no fragile flower . As she hopes to avoid a hanging . Each is oscar nominated for the first time in supporting actress. And at mondays nominess luncheon in beverly hills, each shared how the Academy Awards allure has been part of their lives since childhood. Alicia vikander i used towatch the oscars, but that was like watching cinderella on tv. It was very, very laugh distant. Jennifer all the pageantry and the beautiful clothes and the speeches and the tears. For best actress from room . Acclaim coming after 20 yrs of showbiz struggle youthful i had a dream last was hanging out with my sevenyear old self, and i said its gonna take 20 years before you get any sort of recognition for it. And i saw my seven yearold self go laughter . Nominated for mark ruffalo hailing the onsettone of ensemble acting set by director and co writer Tom Mccarthy Mark Ruffalo thats rare when, when actors kinda s sublimate their, laugh their own egos to serve. Its super rare. I think thats part of why i think the movie is, is exciting to, and while no one knows if Leonardo Dicaprio will win best actor for the revenant, he has a guaranteed treat in store . According to nominee sam smith, wholl sing live his song from spectre, writings on the wall. Sam, youre gonna be looking at ten rows of the best known actors im gonna sing Chris Connelly in the universe sam smith directly to leo . . laughter only leo. And before, im gonna unintel , this is for you, babe. laughter lukas scott lukas and scott are chatting about the oscars. Oscars. Lukas and scott are chatting about the oscars. Lukas and scott are chatting about the oscars. Scott good morning siouxland. We have lukas and scott are chatting about the oscars. Lukas and scott are chatting about the oscars. Lukas and scott are chatting about the oscars. Scott good morning siouxland. We have some light snow pushing through the area from northwest to southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s. We have a light wind south and east. s the planner where weve got scott northwest to southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s. We have light wind south and east. Heres the planner where weve got highs in the mid 20s. Scott heres a quick check outside on one of our iowa northwest to southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s. We have a light wind south and east. Heres the planner where weve got dot traffic cams here at. Many folks still waking up and starting their workday. Please drive safely everyone. Lukas thanks scott. Big changes are coming for twitter. The social media giant is taking steps to keep users safe from reena ninan have the details. In todays techbytes new warning about lithium ion baeries. They can be dangerous to ship. Linked to at least three airplane fires. Such batteries should be separated from ore flammable cargo. The faa has issued a similar warning. Twitter has formed a new trustafety council which aims to avoid cyber abe. Nowow might be the right time to get one of those Virtual Reality hesets. Tarting tomoow, you can order a person computer and oculuocul oculus rift combo. Have a great day, everybody. What if there was another way to look at relapsing multiple sclerosis . This is tecfidera. Tecfidera is not an injection. Its a pill for relapsing ms that has the power to cut relapses in half. Imagine what you could do wi fewer relapses. Tecfidera may cause serious side effects, ch as allergic reactions, pml, which is a rare brain infection that usually leads to death or severe disability, and decreases in your white blood cells. The most comn side effects e flushing and stomach problems. Tetell your doctor about any low white blood cell counts, infections, any other medical conditions, or if you are pregnant or plan to become egnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Learn more about the most prescribed pill for relapsing ms in the us, talk to your doctor about tecfidera, and take another look drinks for valentines day. All this week until february 14th, you can get. The molten cholate latte. The molten chocolate frappuccino. And the molten hot chocolate. The company also launched a valentinesday themed gif giver with starbucks animations to send to loved ones via email, text and social media. Lukas if you didnt know. Today is ash wednesday. And millions of people will be eating fish today. So howard has a recipe that is so good. It will make you feel like fish in the water. With today being ash wednesday, christians around the world are receiving ashes to recognize the beginning of lent. And beyond the many observances that take place during this time, many of you will be eating a lot more fish. So to help keep things exciting, we came up with a new fish dish off by cutting about a pound and a half of fish fillets into individual portions. Or even easier. You can buy them pre portioned from the freezer case. We lay them on a baking dish, and set them aside for a sec while we mix together some sour cream, parmesan cheese, paprika and a little salt and pepper. Now we spoon this over each fillet and finish them off with a bit of italian breadcrumbs. This is gonna add a ton of flavor. Right before popping these in the oven we drizzle on some melted butter and thats it. And if youre wondering whats the best fish to use, we like a mild white fish like, cod, haddock or farm raised catfish. When this comes out of the oven, piping hot, youll get the creaminess of the sour cream blended with the parmesan, which is one amazing combo. Its so good, i hope youll go online and get the recipe for our, sour cream crowned fish fillets so youll have a new way to keep things interesting. Im howard in the mr. Food test kitchen, where today we found a flavor packed way for you to say. Ooh its so good if you would like a recipe you can addressed stamped envelope here to abc 9 news. Our address is 625 douglas street. The zip. 51101. Be sure to write sour cream crowd fish fillets on your request. Or you can visit our website. Siouxlan d matters dot com. And click on the mr. Food logo. Lukas coming up. The results are in. And New Hampshire has its two primary winners. Were there any surprises . Well have a special report live from New Hampshire. Up next. Scott scott good morning siouxland. We have some light snow pushing through the area from southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and wind south and east. We have some light snow pushing through the area from northwest to southeast. Visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s. We have a light wind south and east. The stormcast hd illustrates that we have some light snow that will wrap up early in the afternoon. Then ve got flurries tomorrow night into early friday with most of the accumulating snow missing north and east. Todays high is 25. The low is 9 with mostly cloudy skies. Tomorrows high is 24 with clouds and flurries. Heres your extended forecast. Jessica rae Scott Scott Scott our first picture visibilities are low to the north where the snow is coming down. Temperatures are in the teens and 20s. We have a lightwind south and east. We have some light snow pushing through the area from northwe