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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, 5/17/2018

News, Podcasts

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

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Authorities: Officer shot driver suspected in hit-and-runs

News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an officer shot a driver who’d been trying to flee the scenes of several crashes in Davenport. Officers were dispatched around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday to check reports of two hit-and-run crashes. Authorities say the driver of vehicle that matched a description of the hit-and-run vehicle sped away through a residential yard after being spotted by officers and soon struck another vehicle.

Police say an officer fired two shots at a nearby intersection during an attempt to apprehend the driver. It’s unclear what led the officer to fire. The driver was taken to a local hospital and then flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The names of those involved haven’t been released.

Villisca man arrested Wed. following a complaint

News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, late Wednesday morning, arrested 26-year old Jesse A. Luft, of Villisca. Luft was arrested following a complaint he allegedly violated a Protective Order, and for Criminal Trespass. He was later released from custody on a $300 bond.

Iowa farmland cash rental rates rise for first time since 2013

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

An annual survey conducted by Iowa State University Extension shows rental rates for Iowa farmland have increased for the first time in five years. ISU Extension economist Ann Johanns says cash rents seem to be following land values instead of expected farm profitability. “I think it will surprise people that it’s gone up…with these lower grain prices,” Johanns said. “But, just because the survey went up doesn’t mean every rental agreement in the state went up.” A little more than half of the farmland in Iowa is rented. This year, the average statewide rental rate is $222 per acre, an increase of just 1.4 percent over last year. “The last six months to a year, land value prices have stabilized in other surveys and so we kind of expected rents to be stable to slightly lower. It did come out, statewide, to be just a few dollars higher. It was the first increase since 2013,” Johanns said.

The survey shows the highest average cash rent in Grundy County at $290 per acre. The lowest rental rate is in Clarke County at $126. “Grundy County has higher quality soils, higher yields, and a larger percentage of rented acres. Whereas, Clarke County…we don’t have as much rented acres in that south-central area,” Johanns said. Average rental rates increased in all regions of Iowa except the south-central and southeast regions. Statewide, Iowa farmland rental rates peaked in 2013 at $270 per acre. Since then, they’ve dropped by just under 18-percent. The survey notes, over the same time period, corn and soybean prices received by Iowa farmers declined by 52 and 37-percent, respectively.

On the web at: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/Product/1841

(Radio Iowa)

Des Moines must pay nearly $1M to company it blacklisted

News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines has been ordered to pay nearly $1 million in damages to a construction company it blacklisted. The jury ruling last week came in a lawsuit filed by Jenco Construction Inc., which is based in Des Moines. The city said Jenco didn’t finish a $3.3 million bridge reconstruction project on time or deliver quality work. As a result, the city barred Jenco in March 2015 from bidding on city projects for three years.

The Des Moines Register reports that Jenco sued the city in May 2015, challenging the city’s complaints. Jenco attorney Thomas Olson says the company encountered boulders, concrete, debris and tree stumps that nobody knew about. Des Moines City Attorney Jeff Lester says city officials will be discussing their next course of action.

2 arrests in Red Oak, Wednesday

News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Two people were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, at around 1:45-p.m., 59-year old Vicki Susan Huber, of Red Oak, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree, after allegedly taking a hanging flower basket from the Fareway Store in Red Oak, on Tuesday. Her bond was set at $300. And, just after 4-p.m., Wednesday, 37-year old Christopher Michael Lowrance, of Red Oak, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. His bond was also set at $300.

List of ‘drunkest cities in U.S.’ includes three Iowa cities

News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Three Iowa cities are among the “drunkest” in the country. That’s according to USA Today, which published a list based on factors such as number of bars per capita, binge drinking rates, and alcohol-related fatal crashes. Topping the list is Green Bay, Wisconsin. Iowa City is ranked 13th.

The article notes the home to the University of Iowa “boasts a high concentration of bars and restaurants,” with an estimated 387 places to drink in the area. Dubuque is just behind Iowa City at number-14. Ames is 19th on the list.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, May 17 2018

News

May 17th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

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

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A driver and passengers were hurt when their bus slammed into a train trestle in Council Bluffs, ripping off the back of the vehicle. Police say the crash happened about noon Wednesday when the driver of a small transit bus tried to pass beneath the trestle, which is only 8 feet 8 inches above the roadway. The impact tore off the back of the bus. The bus is owned by Notre Dame Housing, an assisted living center in Omaha, Neb. The driver and five passengers received non-life threatening injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s lowest-performing schools must do more than show improvement to get off a list of targeted schools under a plan approved by the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos informed Iowa that its school accountability plan was accepted Wednesday after revisions made by the Iowa Department of Education.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the woman whose body was found next to a burning car north of Burlington was the wife of the driver. The Des Moines County attorney’s office identified the woman Tuesday as 50-year-old Lisa Wischmeier. Her husband, 57-year-old Bradley Wischmeier, has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide and operating under the influence. His trial is scheduled to begin July 24.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 79-year-old West Des Moines woman accused of stealing more than $346,000 from her ailing sister has pleaded guilty. Polk County District Court records say the written plea from Jewell Davis was filed Monday to a charge of theft. Her sentencing is set for June 27.

Atlantic School Board approves 1 resignation & 6 contracts

News

May 16th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met this (Wednesday) afternoon, at the Middle School Media Center. During their brief meeting, the Board approved the resignation of Jade Walter, Industrial Tech Teacher.

They also approved contracts for the following:

  • Danielle Meek and Erin Ebling, MS ELA Teachers;
  • Jeff Ebling, MS Social Studies Teacher/Boys H.S. basketball Coach;
  • Michelle Blake, Interim Head VB Coach;
  • Faith McCunn, 7th Grade VB Coach, and
  • Derek Handel, Volunteer Softball Coach.

Creston woman injured during rollover accident, Wed.

News

May 16th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Union County suffered suspected minor injuries during a single-vehicle rollover accident at around 4-a.m. Wednesday (today). The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Chelsey Rae Kile, of Creston, was driving a 1998 Chevy Blazer northbound on S. Cherry Street Road, when the SUV slipped off the edge of the road.

Kile over-corrected, sending the vehicle into the east ditch, where it rolled over. The SUV sustained about $5,500 damage. Kile was cited for Driving Under Suspension.