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High winds cause northern Iowa grain bin to collapse

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 14th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

BRITT, Iowa (AP) — Officials in northern Iowa say high winds have blown the roof off a grain bin in Britt, causing the bin to collapse onto power lines and knocking out power to the area. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that no one was injured in the collapse Wednesday morning at Hancock County grain elevator. North Central Co-op site manager Tom Grant says 10,000 to 15,000 bushels of grain spilled onto the ground when the bin collapsed. Alliant Energy said power remained out Wednesday afternoon for a dozen customers in the Hutchins area west of Britt.

The National Weather Service says gusts in the area on Wednesday topped 50 mph.

ISU expert says federal tax bill likely won’t impact land values

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 14th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The man who conducts the annual Iowa State University Extension land value survey says he doesn’t see many things in the proposed federal tax reform that would impact land values. Economist Wendong Zhang says tax policy is one of the things he is keeping an eye on as an impact to land values next year. Zhang says he will be watching to tax polices and if the renegotiation of the NAFTA trade deal impacts trade. He says both could impact land values.

Zhang reported a a two percent increase in land values this year and says it was due mainly to the lack of available land that caused the increase. Zhang says the federal tax bill being discussed now doesn’t look to have any big impact.”Given what I’ve heard from the proposal, it seems that we are not getting rid of any of the tax provisions that affect agriculture,” Zhang says. He says tax issues involving depreciation aren’t changing, and that will give farmers little reason to sell their land right now. Zhang says that will likely give farmers more incentives to buy new equipment and could discourage the sale of land.

The increase in land values in this year’s survey was the first after three years of declines in value.

(Radio Iowa)

Traffic stop results in Fremont County arrest, Thursday

News

December 14th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a traffic stop today (Thursday) at around 2:50-a.m. in Sidney, resulted in the arrest of 29-year old Bianca Elizabeth Countryman. She was taken into custody for driving with a suspended license. Her bond at the Fremont County Jail was set at $435.

Iowa casinos aiming to land ‘sports book’ operations

News, Sports

December 14th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

If state policymakers legalize sports betting, Iowa casinos are aiming to get the business. Iowa Gaming Association executive director Wes Ehrecke says the federal “barrier” to sports betting may soon be removed. “In the past 25 years, only one state has been allowed to have sports betting and that’s been Nevada and New Jersey challenged the constitutionality of that and the Supreme Court heard arguments last Monday,” Ehrecke says. “…There’s a lot of people thinking they’re going to rule in favor of New Jersey and, if they do, that would allow all states to opt in.”

Iowa’s casino industry will propose legislation in 2018 that would legalize sports betting in Iowa at the 19 state-licensed casinos. “Like other gambling games, it would allow people to bet on sports within our casinos, regulated by our (Iowa) Racing and Gaming Commission,” Ehrecke says.

Ehrecke cites reports indicating Americans bet about 150 billion dollars a year on sporting events, but only five percent of that is done legally in the state of Nevada. “So it’s flourished in an illegal activity way,” Ehrecke says. “No age limits or anything like that.”

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett — a Republican candidate for governor — yesterday (Wednesday) called for legalizing sports betting in Iowa, but Corbett would prefer the Iowa Lottery manage the wagering on football, baseball and basketball games. That would create thousands of sites around the state for placing bets and Corbett says the Iowa Lottery is a “trusted brand” that could manage the betting volume.

Anticipating a 2018 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that would legalize sports betting beyond just the State of Nevada, Mississippi and Pennsylvania already have state laws to allow sports betting. This past year, legislation was introduced, but not enacted in 16 other states that would have legalized “sports book” operations.

(Radio Iowa)

GOP candidate Corbett calls for legalized sports betting in Iowa

News, Sports

December 14th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett — a Republican candidate for governor — says the state can raise millions in new taxes for the mental health system by legalizing sports betting. The move, though, depends on a pending U.S. Supreme Court opinion. “By most of the legal analysis…it looks like the court will rule in favor of states,” Corbett says, “and that will present an option or an opportunity for the State of Iowa to get into sports betting.”

Corbett says his preference would be for the Iowa Lottery to manage the bets on professional baseball, football, basketball games as well as college football and basketball, but Corbett says he’s open to the idea of having the state-licensed casinos do it. Corbett is buying 10-thousand dollars in internet ads to tout his campaign’s online survey on this topic.

“We’re going to ask people over the next several weeks as they’re checking the Bulls’ scores or their favorite sports team to take the survey,” Corbett says. “The first question in the survey is: Should Iowa legalize sports betting?”  The second question is: Should the Iowa Lottery or the casinos manage it? Whether the new tax revenue should be used on mental health or something else is the third question.

Corbett cites an estimate indicating the state could collect 24 million dollars in new gambling taxes for the system each year if the Lottery ran “sports book.” “I think that’s a very significant sum of money and will begin this process of providing the resources to help solve the mental health crisis,” Corbett says.

Corbett says he’s the first of any of the dozen or so candidates for governor who’ve proposed a way to pay for expanding access to mental health services in Iowa. He also rejects the idea it’s a risky political move for a Republican candidate “to talk about gambling” during the campaign. Corbett points to Republican Governor Terry Branstad, who signed into law every form of legalized gambling currently available in Iowa — from the lottery to casino slot machines.

“And I know for a fact that over the course of his time as governor he made bets on the outcome of Iowa football games with other governors,” Corbett says. “So if it’s o.k. for the governor to make a bet on a football game, I think it’s o.k. for the people of Iowa to make a bet on a football game.”

Corbett says Iowa Lottery retailers would be able to take sports bets from customers because the process is similar to buying a lottery ticket. “They stand in, sometimes it’s a line, depending on the jackpot but they pull their Lottery card off and they fill in the numbers like a Keno game, so they’re certainly equipped and set up to provide this service to the State of Iowa,” Corbett says.

Corbett is challenging Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ bid for a full, four-year term as governor. No word yet from Reynolds’ campaign about her stand on legalized sports betting.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, 12/14/17

News

December 14th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Jurors are deliberating the case of an Iowa woman charged in the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter. The Des Moines Register reports that lawyers gave closing arguments Monday in the trial of 43-year-old Nicole Finn, of West Des Moines. She has pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping and child endangerment in the October 2016 death of 16-year-old Natalie Finn, who weighed 85 pounds when she died.

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — Local and federal investigators are trying to determine why a fire erupted on a school bus in western Iowa, killing a student and the bus driver. The fire occurred Tuesday morning after the bus picked up a student at a farm southeast of Oakland, Iowa, about 35 miles east of Omaha, Nebraska.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants to give details on a proposal to cut taxes in Iowa during a key legislative speech early next year. Reynolds told reporters Wednesday she’d like to provide information about a tax plan during her Condition of the State address on Jan. 9. She says releasing those details are contingent on Congress passing its sweeping tax overhaul. The federal legislation is expected to make changes to how Iowa collects taxes.

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A school district in southeast Iowa has apologized after disciplining a student who is recovering from cancer treatment and violated the dress code by covering her head. The Hawk Eye reports that a 15-year-old student was disciplined last week at West Burlington High School for not following the school’s dress code regarding head wear. The district superintendent says their insensitive approach was an error in judgment and the district has taken action to prevent this from happening again.

Atlantic Superintendent offers thoughts on Riverside Bus Fire; Iowa School Report Card

News

December 13th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steven Barber, Wednesday night at the school board meeting, spoke about the Riverside School District fatal bus fire near Oakland that occurred earlier this week, and offered reassurances to parents of the District concerned about school bus safety.

Barber said “I want to share my thoughts and prayers with the Oakland-Riverside School District after that tragic event that took place yesterday [Tuesday]. I’m sure the communities, the families, the school districts are searching for answers and they’re trying to get that figured out. So, I extended my sympathies to Dr. [Tom] Mitchell (Superintendent at Riverside CSD), and asked him if there is anything they need we would help to support that if need be.”

Barber said also, “In light of that, our Transportation Director Dave Eckles is really involved at the State level in school bus safety, and just this afternoon he put a letter together for parents and staff about what’s required for our bus drivers, what’s required for buses, what do we do for evacuations in training, and the procedures that they do every day to ensure that our machines are ‘up to steam,’ as well as our staff, and also preparing our kids for an event such as the one that took place down there [near Oakland).”

In other business, Mr. Barber said the idea of a Regional Academy is still being discussed. Included among that is a pre-apprentice construction trades program and how Atlantic can develop a program to connect with some of the skills that are being taught here already. And, how to overcome the barriers that exist within trying to create this learning environment. A couple of more meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks to further discussion and future action.

And finally, Superintendent Barber said Iowa School Report Card (http://reports.educateiowa.gov/schoolreportcard) results came out Wednesday. The good news is that the Atlantic High School and Elementary School were ranked “Acceptable,” the Middle School was “High Performing,” and Schuler Elementary was “Commendable.” Barber said much of the results are based on the Iowa Assessment.

The area that needs attention is where the State Assessment data doesn’t quite match the Core Curriculum.That’s something many districts are struggling with.

NTSB official: Riverside Bus Fire Investigation could take a year

News

December 13th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — Local and federal investigators are trying to determine why a fire erupted on a school bus in western Iowa, killing a student and the bus driver. The fire occurred Tuesday morning after the bus picked up a student at a farm southeast of Oakland. Sixteen-year-old Megan Klindt and 74-year-old Donnie Hendricks died in the fire.

Fire investigators and representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board examined the charred remains of the bus Wednesday. John Reynolds, a chief deputy with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, says a timeline for the fire investigation hasn’t been determined.

NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway says the agency may issue its preliminary findings within 30 days, but its full investigation could take at least a year.

Reynolds says she wants to give details about tax cuts soon

News

December 13th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants to give details on a proposal to cut taxes in Iowa during a key legislative speech early next year. Reynolds told reporters Wednesday she’d like to provide information about a tax plan during her Condition of the State address on Jan. 9. She says releasing those details are contingent on Congress passing its sweeping tax overhaul. The federal legislation is expected to make changes to how Iowa collects taxes.

Reynolds’ remarks come days after a budget panel said Iowa’s incoming revenue remains below projections and mid-year cuts to government spending are possible. The Republican governor argues tax cuts will spur economic development. She hasn’t offered details about her tax plan, though she’s indicated an interest in lowering business taxes and income taxes.

Cancer patient who lost hair disciplined for wearing hat to school

News

December 13th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A southeast Iowa girl who lost her hair due to cancer treatments was repeatedly sent to the office last week for violating the school’s no-hats dress code. The West Burlington School District is now apologizing to the 15-year-old, identified only as Chloe, who is reportedly in remission after receiving chemotherapy for stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Superintendent Dave Schmitt released a statement Tuesday saying he’s spoken with the principals about being thorough about student discipline, but also looking at each case individually.

“And making sure that there isn’t more to the story,” Schmitt says. “Just to ensure that we administer policy in a fair way but also take student needs into consideration.” In the statement, Schmitt said the district “apologizes to Chloe for our insensitive approach to dealing with her hair loss,” calling it “an error in judgement on our part and we regret making this mistake.”

The girl said she’d previously worn a wig to school, but decided to switch to a grey, knit hat as it worked better for activities like gym class. The district prohibits the wearing of hats and Chloe was kept from entering her classrooms several times last week and was instead sent to the high school administration office. Schmitt says Chloe -will- be able to wear her hat during school. He says the school board will review the policy involving headgear.

(Radio Iowa/Thanks to Jason Parrott, Iowa Public Radio)