712 Digital Group - top

KJAN News

KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa,  Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!

2020 Democrats shift strategies as leadoff caucus nears

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some 2020 candidates are trying out new strategies to appeal to voters just over four months until Iowa’s leadoff caucuses begin the process in which Democrats will select their presidential nominee.

Kamala Harris announced a substantive shift on Thursday, saying she would spend half of October in Iowa and add some 60 staffers there. Bernie Sanders is shuffling his early state staff, and Beto O’Rourke has turned his impassioned calls for gun control laws into a nationalized strategy that has led him to places far outside the early voting states.

The shifts signal that the race for the Democratic nomination is entering a new stage, with precious few months for candidates to change their fortunes before the first votes are cast.

Press freedom advocates troubled by suit against Iowa paper

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The former administrator of Iowa’s third-largest city is suing the area’s biggest newspaper, claiming that its coverage was unfair and cost him his job. Former Davenport city administrator Craig Malin’s lawsuit against the Quad-City Times is set to go to trial Monday. He argues that the paper published false stories and opinion pieces about his official actions, forcing him out after 14 years with the city.

The trial will not be a traditional libel case because a judge has ruled Malin did not meet the high bar for proving the newspaper defamed him. Instead, the case will be about whether the paper improperly interfered with Malin’s employment contract.

The newspaper’s reporting on Davenport’s handling of financial negotiations for a new casino prompted the mayor to call for Malin’s termination. The newspaper has defended its coverage as accurate watchdog journalism protected by the First Amendment.

Iowa top ag official proposes new companion animal rules

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Agriculture is proposing a new set of administrative rules that could significantly improve the lives of dogs, cats and other companion animals in a state long regarded as among the worst in the nation for animal protection. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says Wednesday he will submit the new set of rules to the state on Friday, beginning a process that requires a legislative panel review and public comment.

Animal rights groups celebrated it as a huge victory for pets in state-licensed commercial breeding facilities, animal shelters, pet dealers, rescue organizations and boarding kennels. The rules include increased access to water, larger cages and more stringent temperature, cleaning and sanitation requirements.

Iowa has 500 dog breeders, half licensed by the state and half by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in addition to boarding kennels, shelters and other pet care facilities. It was ranked 48th in the nation for animal protection last year by the nonprofit Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Bankers expect slow economic growth amid trade war

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states expect slow growth in the months ahead, but the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China is weighing on the economy.
The Rural Mainstreet survey’s overall index climbed into positive territory at 50.1 in September from August’s 46.5. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says bankers are less confident because of the ongoing trade disputes and the lack of approval for a new North American trade agreement.

The confidence index remained low at 42.9 in September — up slightly from August’s 42. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Shenandoah man arrested for OWI

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Wednesday, arrested 62-year old Jerry Lee Mutchler, of Shenandoah. He was taken into custody on a warrant for OWI/1st offense. Mutchler was arrested at the page County Sheriff’s Office, where he was being held on a $1,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Sheriff Lyle Palmer said also, 39-year old Phillip Jay McClish, of Clarinda, was arrested Monday on a Page County Warrant for Failure to Appear for a Pretrial Conference. The warrant stems from an original charge of Theft 2ndDegree which McClish had bonded on.

McClish was arrested at the Page County Courthouse. McClish was unable to post the $10,000.00 bond. He was transported to the Page County Jail where he is currently being held pending further court proceedings.

Mills County woman arrested on OWI & Child Endangerment charges

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Molly Beth Carr-Gross, of Silver City, was arrested Wednesday evening, following a traffic stop. Carr-Gross was charged with OWI/1st offense, and two-counts of Child Endangerment. Her bond was set at $5,000.

Montgomery County Auditor announces polling place changes

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke reports polling place changes will be in effect for the combined regular City and School Elections, effective the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. Burke says “The first-ever combined City/School Election has caused us to review our polling locations for this election. The new law establishing this combined election requires the General Election polling places to be used.

“The General Election polling place is where you normally would go to vote for the Governor and Presidential races. This law will affect some voters.” Burke said “The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office will be mailing out a postcard as a notice to households that have registered voters living there that will have a change of polling location. Watch for this notice in the mail in the near future.”

Because the City/School Election are combined this year, Burke says some school voters may not be voting at their traditional School Election polling location. Requesting an absentee ballot and voting early may be a good option for some voters. Voters wishing to receive a ballot by mail for this election will need to complete an absentee ballot request form and return it to the Auditor’s office by Friday, October 25.

You can vote in-person in the Auditor’s Office starting October 7th and up to the day before the election held on November 5. If you have moved, you need to fill out a new voter registration form. Remember to bring your driver’s license or required ID to the polls on Election Day! If you don’t have one of the approved IDs for election day, then contact the Auditor’s Office for a free Iowa Voter Identification Card.

If you have any questions, please contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127.

Judge cites doubts about jury in deciding to move trial

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A judge has decided that a man accused of killing two brothers in the Webster County city of Fort Dodge can’t get a fair trial there, so he’s moving the trial to Ames in Story County. The Messenger reports that Judge Kurt Stoebe ruled Tuesday that, after nearly two days of jury selection, it was unlikely an impartial jury could be assembled in Webster County to try 28-year-old Tanner King. He’s pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the October 2018 shootings of 37-year-old Marion and 34-year-old Eldominic Rhodes.

Stoebe also said he would be shocked if a significant number of jurors didn’t know of the defendant, the numerous witnesses to be called or the families affected by the slayings.
The questioning of potential jurors in Story County is scheduled to begin Nov. 12.

1 transported to the hospital following a dirt bike accident in Pott. County

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say one person was injured during an off-road motorcycle accident, Wednesday, between Oakland and Hancock. Authorities say 21-year old Ethan Rankin, of Carson, was riding a dirt bike on private property in the 4300 block of Juniper Road, a little after 5:30-p.m., when the accident took place. Rankin was transported to the UNMC in Omaha, by LifeNet. A report on his condition was not available.

Survey ranks Atlantic as one of the safest cities in Iowa

News

September 19th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A survey by SecurityBaron.com ranks Atlantic as one of the safest cities in Iowa. Coming in with a score of 75.57, Atlantic ranks 33rd among the 50 safest cities in the State. The analysis found that Atlantic (with a population of 6,588) had a rate of 3.49 violent crimes per 1,000 citizens. The city also has a citizen-to-officer ratio of 1.82 per 1,000 people and an average income of $39,702. Additionally, there are 3,283 households in Atlantic and a rate of 19.88 property crimes per 1,000 citizens.

It was also found that the safest city in Iowa is Sioux Center, with a safety score of 90.1 and an average income of $73,185. Sioux Center has a rate of only 0.26 violent crimes per 1,000 citizens and in fact, a citizen-to-officer ratio of 0.92 per 1,000 people. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be a victim of crime here! There are also 2,361 households in Sioux Center on average. The results were gleaned from FBI crime statistics.

By comparison, it was found that Storm Lake ranked last on the list, with a safety score of 68.3 and a median income of $48,382. The city in Buena Vista County has a rate of 6.58 violent crimes per 1,000 citizens, along with a citizen-to-officer ratio of 1.76 per 1,000 people.

For more information, go to: https://securitybaron.com/safe-cities/iowa/