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(Updated) 2 injured in Atlantic bar fight, 1 person arrested for OWI

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(In an update to our previous reports) Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson said Saturday (today), two people were injured during one of three separate altercations late Thursday night at a bar in Atlantic. One person suffered serious injuries and ended-up being flown from the Cass County Memorial Hospital to a trauma center.

The fight took place at the Fireside Lounge. Erickson said one person was arrested for OWI after they backed into a Police Cruiser while trying to leave the establishment.

He said also an investigation into the incident continues, and a full report isn’t expected to be issued for about five to seven-days. The investigation includes interviewing witnesses and video recordings from the scene.

Iowa bill would make it a crime not to call if danger cited

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teenager’s drowning death last year is prompting lawmakers in Iowa to consider making it a crime to fail to call emergency responders to report when someone appears to be in serious danger. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reported that the family of Noah Herring supports the bill. Herring was 15 when he drowned in April in Coralville Reservoir.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said three teens and an adult were present, but none placed a call to get help. Democratic State Sen. Kevin Kinney says the bill would make failing to call emergency responders an aggravated misdemeanor.

 

Iowa COVID-19 update for 2/20/21: Huge spike in positive test results; 14 day rate dips below 5%

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Saturday) implemented changes to the coronavirus.iowa.gov website. The state has changed how it reports positive COVID-19 cases. The health department now reports total positive cases instead of individuals positive. That has a caused a sharp increase in total positive cases overnight.

Additionally, the health department is no longer reporting 14-day positivity rates by county. This is a metric that schools used to determine if they could apply for a waiver to provide 100% online learning. A page that previously reported this data has been taken offline.

Due to the change in reporting, The IDPH on Saturday reported 27,335 new COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths, for a pandemic total of 358,957 positive cases and 5,336 deaths. Officials say 137,385 persons have recovered.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks is down to 21 from 24 on Friday. Officials say 601 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 397 have recovered. The state reports 2,139 care facility deaths.

The State data show hospitalizations were down again, from 241 Friday to 238, Saturday. COVID patients in an ICU decreased to 56 from 60. The State says 34 people with COVID symptoms were admitted to hospitals over the previous 24-hours, compared to 43 on Friday, and 24 patients were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 11 people are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, five people are in an ICU, one person was admitted over the past 24-hours, and two people are on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is at 4.3%, and the 7-day average is now 3.8%. Health department data shows 235,716 Iowans have been tested for the virus, while 1,294,698 tests have been administered.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

  • Cass, 1,310 cases; {+69}; 48 deaths
  • Adair, 904; {+117}; 26
  • Adams, 325 {+8}; 3
  • Audubon, 481 {+16}; 9
  • Guthrie, 1,152 {+78}; 28
  • Harrison County, 1,775; {+124}; 68
  • Madison County, 1,512; {+133}; 17
  • Mills County, 1,611; {+150}; 20
  • Montgomery, 1,033; {+75}; 36
  • Pottawattamie County, 10,634; {+971}; 140
  • Shelby County, 1,190; {+54}; 32
  • Union County,  1,254; {+77}; 31

Iowa lawmaker cited for having gun at airport

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa state senator faces an ordinance violation charge for allegedly having an undeclared handgun during a screening at Des Moines International Airport. KCCI-TV reports that Republican Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale was cited Friday afternoon. The Des Moines Police Department confirmed that the gun was found on Zaun during his screening.

Senator Brad Zaun, (R-IA)

Police say Zaun does have a permit to carry the weapon.

 

ISU program aims to help Iowans ‘Walk With Ease’

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who aren’t physically active who want to change course and start moving might consider a program called Walk With Ease, headquartered at Iowa State University. Alison Phillips, an I-S-U psychology professor, says the six-week self-directed program offers strategies to build stamina, manage pain and to develop a safe stride to limit injuries. “It’s a walking program designed for anyone who is new to exercise,” Phillips says. “It was originally developed for people who have arthritis but it’s been expanded to be really for anyone who would benefit from walking — which is pretty much everyone.”

Walking is a great way to increase physical activity and improve well-being she says, but it can be painful and difficult for some Iowans, especially those who have been sedentary for a long time or have a chronic health-related condition. That’s where Walk With Ease can help. Phillips says, “It includes six weeks of content to help people gain confidence in their ability to be physically active, to learn how to walk pain-free and even tips for staying active in the winter.”

Another important component, the program also includes weekly one-on-one online sessions with student health coaches. To those who are already physically active, walking may not sound like a big deal, but Phillips assures, it’s a powerful tool. “The research behind walking is that it has all of the benefits of other types of physical activity and sometimes even more, depending on what you’re talking about,” Phillips says. “It has mental health benefits, physical health benefits. It can give you more energy, reduce pain, improve mood. It even improves sleep.”

While the program is available to anyone, I-S-U researchers are looking to work closely with Iowans who meet certain criteria. “You are able to stand for 10 minutes without increasing pain,” Phillips says. “You have to have approval from a physician, and we would help you get that, and you have to be 60 years of age or older.”

For more information, visit: https://www.uturn.iastate.edu/project/walk-with-ease/

Deere reports 1st Q earnings

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is reporting spectacular first-quarter earnings. Quad Cities-based Deere and Company says net income for the quarter more than doubled from a year ago to more than one-point-two billion dollars, including a 23-percent gain in net sales. Deere officials credit the “successful execution of a new operating strategy.”

In a news release, chairman and CEO John May says the results were aided by improving conditions in the farm and construction sectors. The full-year earnings for fiscal 2021 were also increased to a range of four-point-six to five-billion dollars.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News, 2/20/21

News, Podcasts

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

One person seriously injured in Atlantic bar fight

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A fight at a bar in Atlantic Thursday night resulted in serious injuries to a person who was transported to the hospital before being flown to a trauma center. According to Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, details on the fight at the Fireside Lounge aren’t expected to be released for several days, while the incident remains under investigation. Erickson said it took officers a little more than an hour to sort out the details when they were on the scene.

Authorities are in the process of conducting interviews with witnesses and reviewing video recordings. On a side note, Erickson’s squad car sustained minimal damage when it was struck by a vehicle while the driver was backing out and attempting to leave the scene. Charges against the driver were pending.

Additional information about the incident is currently not available.

Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, Feb. 20 2021

News

February 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A mother and son from Iowa have been arrested on charges accusing them of committing crimes while participating in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. The FBI says Deborah Sandoval of Des Moines and her son Salvador Sandoval Jr. of Ankeny were arrested Friday on federal warrants charging them with several offenses. Criminal complaints and affidavits detailing the allegations against the two are sealed and unavailable for public review. Both are charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — More than 20 years after it was installed, the University of Northern Iowa plans to replace the UNI-Dome’s fabric roof. The Courier reports that the estimated $7 million to $8 million project was advanced by the Iowa Board of Regents’ property and facilities committee earlier this week. Regents are expected to approve the plan at a meeting Wednesday. Michael Hager with UNI told the committee that the project would replace only the fabric center portion of the roof. The rest of the roof is a plastic polymer that was installed in 2010 and is under warranty until 2040. The fabric portion, which was last replaced in 1999, was found to be deteriorating in 2019.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police say a suspect has been injured but is expected to recover following a shootout with a Davenport police officer. The Quad-City Times reports the incident began Thursday morning with a report of an armed robbery. Police developed a suspect in that crime, and just before 6 p.m., a Davenport officer reported that he had spotted a car being driven by the suspect in the earlier robbery. Several police cars converged on the suspect’s car, and police say the suspect rammed one of the police cars before becoming stuck in a snowbank. Police said that’s when the suspect and an officer exchanged gunfire, although police have not said who fired first in the shootout. Police identified the injured suspect as 30-year-old Clarence Washington of Davenport.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man who police say intentionally ran over and killed a local college instructor has been convicted of second-degree murder in the case. The Des Moines Register reports that a jury found 50-year-old Jason Sassman guilty on Tuesday. Sassman had been charged with first-degree murder in the April 5 death of 38-year-old Lauren Rice. Police have said Sassman was using meth when he intentionally ran over Rice as she walked her dog, which also died. Rice was an instructor at Des Moines Area Community. Police say Sassman told investigators he ran down Rice because he believed she was a criminal about to kill someone.

Western Iowa Networks Expanding Fiber Footprint in Mills County

News

February 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Breda, IA Feb 19, 2021) – Western Iowa Networks (WIN) has recently announced additional fiber optics construction projects in Mills County for 2021 & 2022. Customers began signing up for fiber optic services within the previously announced Glenwood CARES area for a few months now. The project was made possible by funds that were made available under the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program and the US Department of Treasury’s CARES Act, the goal of which is to bring reliable broadband to those areas deemed as unserved or underserved.

Company officials say a public/private partnership between WIN and Mills County is now making it possible to construct around 40 miles of fiber optics just to the north and east of Glenwood. The construction of this network will include Mineola and Silver City (and will follow the route outlined on the map shown).

This includes nearly 500 addresses in areas along 250th Street between Highway 34 and Mineola, Gaston Avenue between 245th Street & 248th Street, Barrus Road between Mineola & 287th Street and 287th Street between Gaston Avenue & Barrus Road. This will also include an area just to the east of Glenwood including addresses along parts of 245th Street, Ingrum Avenue, 250th Street, Kidd Road as well as all of Inglewood Lane.

Construction of the network is slated to begin in the summer of 2021 with installs in late 2021 into early 2022. WIN was also a recipient of a grant through the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program through the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) which will make it possible to construct a fiber optic network in an area within the Loess Hills outlined in the orange area on the map below.

WIN says that means fiber optic services will be available to nearly 350 additional homes and businesses. Construction of this network is slated to begin in late 2021/early 2022 with service installs beginning before the end of 2022. According to CEO Jeff Roiland, “WIN would like to bring reliable broadband service to as many people as we possibly can, especially in areas where they have little to no options. Since the COVID pandemic hit, there are more people than ever before trying to rely on slow internet speeds to earn a paycheck or a degree. Many are also relying on that same internet connection for entertainment such as streaming or gaming. We hear about the struggles folks are having with this every day.”

Roiland adds, “We will continue to aggressively seek out different avenues of funding that will make it possible to bring more fiber broadband to as many rural areas as we can.” Residents in the (outlined) areas can sign up for fiber optic services online at www.westianet.com or by calling 888-508-2946.

A discount and free installation is currently available for those who sign up now. For those not within an outlined area, they can fill out the Fiber Interest form on WIN’s website so that they can have it on file for future fiber construction projects.