United Group Insurance

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!

Nearly 8,000 ticketed after traffic camera is turned back on

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines officials say nearly 8,000 tickets have been issued to speeders in the first month of renewed operation of an Interstate 235 traffic camera. The Des Moines Register reports that the camera monitors eastbound lanes near Waveland Golf Course and was turned back on June 25. Citations hadn’t been issued since April 26 last year, upon an order from the Polk County District Court. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Muscatine took action to keep the cameras operating after the Iowa Transportation Department ordered some speed cameras turned off, saying the cameras didn’t make interstates safer.

This past April 27, however, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the department didn’t have authority over speed cameras. The Des Moines Police Department had reported an increase in speeding after the ticketing halted.

Western Iowa man pleads not guilty to animal neglect

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man who operated a western Iowa kennel and training facility where dog carcasses and dozens of malnourished dogs and puppies were found has pleaded not guilty. Pottawattamie County records say 35-year-old Dustin Young entered the written pleas Monday to four counts of serious misdemeanor animal neglect resulting in death. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 18. He also remains charged with 36 simple misdemeanor counts of animal neglect.

The dogs and carcasses were discovered in May at Young Gunz Kennel, about 2 miles southeast of Hancock. Officials said the inside of the business was covered in animal urine and feces, and there was no food or water for the dogs.

Cass County Supervisors sign-on to DOT letter opposing relocation of District 4 Office in Atlantic

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), gave County Engineer Charles Bechtold the authority to send a letter to the Chairperson of the Iowa Department of Transportation. In the letter, the Board states that it is unanimously opposed to the DOT’s proposal to move the District 4 Construction Office in Atlantic, to Council Bluffs. The proposed change would require legislative approval, and even then, wouldn’t result in the consolidation of offices until mid-2020, according to a DOT official. Bechtold said the letter, along with those from Regional Planning Authority 13, which covers Cass, Fremont, Montgomery and Page Counties, and ATURA Transportation Planning Affiliation (Covering Adair-Taylor-Union-Ringgold and Adams Counties, will be sent to DOT Chairperson Kathy Fehrman, in Des Moines. The current draft of the letter states, in-part:

“We (The Board of Supervisors) do not believe that such a move is truly in the best interests of the people in District 4 or the State of Iowa.” It also emphasized their “Serious concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of this change long before the legislature is asked to make an appropriation to accomplish this very expensive consolidation.”

The Board wants to point out also, that “Consolidating the current Atlantic offices with the Council Bluffs offices could make sense, if the new location were centrally located within the region it serves. However, Council Bluffs is on the most western edge of the District 4 region which includes a total of 17 counties in southwestern Iowa.” Atlantic is the central point for all those counties. Moving the office to Council Bluffs, officials say, would result in longer driving times and increased costs for those counties that utilize the services, and who are farther away. It would also have a negative economic impact in the Atlantic area.

Bechtold said about 40 families would be impacted by the move if it comes to fruition, and his office would face additional costs. Supervisors Steve Green and Steve Baier were in support of letting other State government officials know of the County’s displeasure in the potential move. Green said “I say send it, but c.c. The Governor and lets get that conversation started, because that’s where the power is ultimately gonna lie.” Baier agreed, and said the letter should also be sent to any state senators or representatives who reside in the District 4 region. He said he’s spoke with Representative Tom Moore, of Griswold, and Senator Tom Shipley, of Nodaway, both of whom are opposed to the move and understand the impact it would have.

Green pointed out that four of the DOT’s District Engineers are living in Nebraska now, and working in Council Bluffs. He says those engineers don’t have to pay Iowa taxes, and decision maker is living in Omaha. He said “He doesn’t mind building a multi-million dollar building for an office space, because his taxes aren’t paying for it.” And, Green said the Engineers, should be centrally located. The DOT, Bechtold said, would be renting the Omni-Center for $50,000 per year until a permanent building can be built.

Bluffs woman arrested following cemetery damage, and an assault

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A call about a disturbance in the Garner Cemetery in Council Bluffs at around 12:45-a.m. today (Tuesday), resulted in the arrest of a woman for damaging a headstone and on drug charges. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old Desiree Dawn Ladd, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for assault with injury, in connection with minor injuries to a 22-year old Council Bluffs woman, as well as charges of OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance (1.2 grams of marijuana, 2 full and 2 partial Alprazolam pills), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3 glass marijuana pipes), and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. The latter charge was with regard to $500 damage perpetrated on a headstone marking the grave of Ricky Albright.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 7/31/18

News, Podcasts

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Man says he wanted ‘three hots and a cot,’ so he set fire

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been scheduled for a Dubuque man who police say told officers he set his apartment ablaze so he could get arrested and have a bed and three meals a day while in custody. Dubuque County District Court records say 33-year-old Matthew Voseberg has pleaded not guilty to arson. His trial is set to begin Sept. 25th. Authorities say Voseberg was sitting on his apartment’s front porch when they arrived July 4. They say he told them he was in his apartment when he started thinking about where he could get “three hots and a cot.”

Another building resident told authorities that Voseberg warned her he’d set the fire and told her to get out. Authorities say the fire caused about $7,800 in damage.

2 arrested in Creston, Monday

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department report two arrests took place, Monday. Just before 3-p.m., 31-year old Christopher Colburn (whose address is unknown), was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on two Clarke County warrants for Probation Violation. Colburn was later transferred to the custody of Clarke County deputies. And, at around 5:15-p.m, Monday, 50-year old Jeffrey German, of Galesburg, IL., was arrested in the 800 block of W. Taylor Street, in Creston, for Indecent Exposure. German was later released from the jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 7/31/18

News, Podcasts

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Authorities search Carter Lake for possible submerged vehicle

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Omaha area television news outlets are reporting water rescue crews were called to Carter Lake early this morning, to search for a vehicle that may have entered the west side of the lake. Authorities report Omaha Police officers saw headlights suddenly vanish near the lake sometime around 4:30-a.m. When they approached the area off Carter Lake Shore Drive, police didn’t find a vehicle, but they did find tire tracks leading up to the lake. No one actually saw a vehicle actually go into the water, and it’s not clear if a vehicle is in the lake, but crews are searching the area as if that was the case.

More information will be released if it becomes available.

ICE, Border Patrol at Senate hearing on family separations

News

July 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee is demanding answers from federal immigration officials about the Trump administration’s separation of migrant children from their families and its struggle to reunite them, a fraught effort that’s drawn election-year criticism from both parties. But a hearing scheduled for today (Tuesday) on the topic, may have a wider focus after the committee’s bipartisan leaders asked federal investigators to probe reports of sexual and other abuse of immigrants at government detention facilities. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and top panel Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California asked late Monday for an examination of alleged sexual, physical and emotional mistreatment of immigrants held at agency facilities, saying the problems may have been occurring since 2014 or earlier. The AP reported last month that children held at an immigration detention facility in Roanoke, Virginia, said they were beaten while handcuffed, locked in solitary confinement and left nude and cold in concrete cells.

A civil rights lawsuit has been filed alleging mistreatment at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center from 2015 to 2018. The alleged victims, Hispanic youths held for months or years, have submitted sworn statements in the case. Lawyers for the facility have denied the alleged abuse. Many of the children have been accused by immigration officials of belonging to MS-13 and other violent gangs, an activity Trump has used to justify his “zero tolerance” policy of prosecuting immigrants caught entering the country without permission.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Waldman said agency officials perform their duties “professionally and humanely” and that the agency “is abiding by the intent and letter of law and maintains the highest standards care for individuals in our custody.”