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Survey: COVID Payments Will Help Many Iowans

News

December 31st, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service, DES MOINES, Iowa) — More than half of Iowans surveyed say new federal stimulus payments will provide immediate financial help. The Treasury Department is issuing the payments after President Donald Trump signed the latest COVID relief bill. As Congress debated the issue through the fall, nearly 3,000 people responded to a survey commissioned by the United Ways of Iowa. Fifty-one percent said a second stimulus payment would make “an important difference.” That number was 72% for those living in poverty.

Dennis Parker, executive director of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, said the results show the country has ignored the plight of marginalized workers for too long.  “We’re in this position now because we didn’t do it before,” Parker asserted. “And having seen it, it would be criminal not to take steps to make changes that end the prospect of these kinds of problems.” Parker thinks the changes should go beyond providing livable wages, since health-care access in the pandemic has revealed racial and economic disparities.

The Iowa survey, released this month, was conducted between late September and early November. Pro-business groups contend higher wage requirements would lead to fewer workers, especially in smaller companies. But Parker said paying workers more is feasible for a lot of businesses, and can produce a more stable workforce. When considering prosperity, he said the U.S. needs to move past the traditional measuring sticks. “The fact that the stock market is doing well is little consolation for people who are facing eviction, having trouble feeding their kids,” Parker argued.

A report from the Pew Research Center released just prior to the pandemic said upper-income households in the U.S. are seeing most of the income growth, as the middle class erodes.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, 12/31/2020

News

December 31st, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A winter storm moving across parts of Texas and Oklahoma could dump up to 18 inches of snow in places before moving eastward and possibly spawning tornadoes. The National Weather Service says 12 to 18 inches of snow in southwestern Texas is possible by Thursday. Some snow is also expected in northwest Arkansas. Forecasts say the storm then will move eastward, creating a threat of tornadoes across Louisiana and southern Mississippi on New Year’s Eve as the colder temperatures are met with moisture and warmer air. The storm produced what forecaster Jeremy Grams said was likely a brief tornado in Corsicana, Texas, on Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Majority Democrats in the U.S. House say they intend to allow an Iowa Republican to take office while they review her opponent’s contest claiming the six-vote race was wrongly decided. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “yes” when asked at a news conference whether Mariannette Miller-Meeks will be sworn in with other members of the House on Sunday. Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said later that Democrats “intend to provisionally seat” Miller-Meeks pending a review of the challenge filed by her Democratic opponent. Rita Hart asked the House to investigate and overturn the state-certified results. The House Administration Committee is reviewing the matter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Spread of the coronavirus may be increasing again in Iowa as the positivity rate ticked higher in recent days. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say the 7-day average of the positivity rate in Iowa has risen over the past two weeks from 35.38% on Dec. 15 to 36.21% on Dec. 29. The state reported about 1,600 new cases and 10 deaths on Wednesday. Hospitalizations fell slightly, though the number of people in intensive care was up.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 22-year-old Kalona man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for creating and storing child pornography. Federal prosecutors announced that Jackson Yaro Young was sentenced Tuesday. Officials said investigators found child pornography on his phone and evidence that he had coerced several minors into sexually explicit conduct. Young pleaded guilty in 2017 to third-degree sexual abuse for having sex with a child. He was placed on probation. He violated his probation in 2018. After serving his current sentence, Young will be on supervised release for 10 years.

Iowa man given 25 years for creating and storing child porn

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 22-year-old Kalona man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for creating and storing child pornography. Federal prosecutors announced that Jackson Yaro Young was sentenced Tuesday. Officials said investigators found child pornography on his phone and evidence that he had coerced several minors into sexually explicit conduct. Young pleaded guilty in 2017 to third-degree sexual abuse for having sex with a child. He was placed on probation. He violated his probation in 2018. After serving his current sentence, Young will be on supervised release for 10 years.

Atlantic Rotary donates to Washington Elem. Library

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Rotary Club recently donated $500 to the Washington Elementary Library and $500 to the Schuler Elementary Library, to help update the nonfiction section at each school. Atlantic Rotary is a long time supporter of local schools and supports education as one of their key pillars of community service.

Atlantic Rotary President Brian Harris presenting a check for $1000 to Atlantic Elementary Librarian Janice Dickerson. (Photo submitted)

Pelosi says Iowa Republican in contested race will be seated

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Majority Democrats in the U.S. House say they intend to allow an Iowa Republican to take office while they review her opponent’s contest claiming the six-vote race was wrongly decided. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “yes” when asked at a news conference whether Mariannette Miller-Meeks will be sworn in with other members of the House on Sunday.

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said later that Democrats “intend to provisionally seat” Miller-Meeks pending a review of the challenge filed by her Democratic opponent, Rita Hart. Hart asked the House to investigate and overturn the state-certified results. The House Administration Committee is reviewing the matter.

 

Road crews back out today

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State roadways are starting to improve as Departement of Transportation crews are out again cleaning up from the snowstorm. D-O-T Winter Operations Administrator, Craig Bargfrede, says they did some prep even before the storm hit.

Bargfrede says the pre-treatment helps keep the snow from sticking to the pavement — but in Tuesday’s storm, the biggest issue was the amount of snow. He says they are now working to scrape away what they didn’t get.

He says there were a lot of drivers who went into the ditch during the storm.

Snowfall ranged from four to 12 inches and Bargfrede says the day after involves making room along the roadways.

Bargfrede says one ally in the clean up is the sun heating up the pavement and melting snow.

A majority of the roadways were listed as partially covered with snow early this (Wednesday) morning — with a few completely covered. That situation has improved. For more information on the road conditions go to the Iowa D-O-T’s 5-1-1 travel information page.

Parents seek legislative action to improve children’s mental health services

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) Parents of children with mental health issues are pleading with Iowa lawmakers to take action and improve children’s mental health services in the state. Cayleen Mesecher of Ankeny says when she’s taken her child to the emergency room, she’s often told to go to a psychiatrist instead — and it can take months to get an appointment.

Mesecher and other parents spoke at a meeting of the state children’s behavioral health board this month about the challenges they’ve faced in trying to find the appropriate help for their kids. Sarah Nelson of Iowa City says her 12-year-old daughter was having a mental health crisis and had to spend six days waiting in an emergency room.

The board is asking state leaders to ensure funding for children’s services and find ways to address Iowa’s shortage of mental health professionals. The group also recommends universal screening of kids for mental health issues.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

Senate GOP Leader predicts legislature will consider tax changes for casinos

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says the 2021 Iowa legislature may debate tax changes for the 19 state-licensed casinos. It’s not a sure bet at this point, but Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Ankeny says legislators have begun discussing options.  “That’s an industry that has been hurt severely through the pandemic, as many others have as well,” Whitver says. “We want to make sure that those jobs are saved, that industry is still strong and so that’s something we would consider.”

Casinos were among the businesses Governor Reynolds ordered to close on March 17th. Casinos were allowed to reopen June 1st.  “There has been an increased push to look at some of the taxation regarding casinos,” Whitver says. The state-licensed casinos paid more than 230 million in taxes to the state in the last fiscal year. Those taxes are deposited in a “Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund” and used on a wide variety of projects. House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford says he and other House Republicans have not discussed tax changes. But Grassley says they’re keeping an eye on looming competition for Council Bluffs and Sioux City casinos from Nebraska, where voters just legalized casino-style gaming — because it may reduce the amount of casino tax money for infrastructure projects. “That could have long-term consequences,” Grassley says.

Nebraska voters have just legalized casinos within race tracks in their state and some developers have said they hope to open casinos in Omaha, Lincoln and South Sioux City by this time next year. “When it comes to the western part of the state and the pressure that’s going to come from the Nebraska gaming, the competition from across the river there,” Grassley says, “as we’re making those decisions when it comes to infrastructure, that’s definitely a part of the conversation.”

Grassley says the western Iowa casinos have been generating about a third of all the gambling taxes paid to the State of Iowa.

Iowa digging out from heavy snow

News, Weather

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa/KJAN) – The heavy snow came into the state as forecast and the amount made it hard for the plows to keep up and left a lot of people stuck in the streets that in many cases have yet been cleared. National Weather Service meteorologist, Kristy Carter, at the Johnston office says there was one total that will go in the books. “There was a record at the Des Moines Airport of nine-point six inches,” she says. Des Moines was the midpoint of the heavy snow band that started one side of the state and went border to border.

Carter says the snow went from the very southwest corner through central Iowa and then east. She says saw snows of nine inches to the south of Des Moines and five to six inches north and then nine to ten inches south and west of Des Moines. Here in Atlantic, at KJAN, we received just under six-inches of snow (5.7″). Other, area snowfall amounts include:

  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  5.4″
  • Massena  6″
  • Corning  6.6″
  • Audubon  5″
  • Greenfield 10″
  • Red Oak  8.2″
  • Carroll  3″
  • Avoca 4″
  • Creston  7″

The snow really got heavy as it hit eastern Iowa. “In more of east-central Iowa heading toward the Davenport area, they were more in the ten and 11-inch range,” Carter says. There were reports of 12 inches in Hiawatha and Fairfax in eastern Iowa. Carter says the predictions prior to the storm were accurate. “I think the forecast turned out pretty well for the totals that we saw — some areas may have certainly gotten a little more — but I think the general forecast worked out really well,” according to Carter.

Another storm is expected to move through Friday and Carter says it could bring snow or rain.

Update: Fire damages airport in Council Bluffs

News

December 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire that badly damaged the airport in Council Bluffs. KETV-TV reports that the multiple crews battled the blaze early Wednesday that sent thick black smoke pouring from the maintenance hangar. Fire Chief Justin James said it was unclear how many planes were damaged but no planes were in the hangar that suffered the worst of the fire. No injuries were reported.