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)

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs are converting trips inside the opposing 20-yard line into touchdowns at one of the worst rates in the league. Those struggles in the red zone have hurt them, too, leading to a series of losses that have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says Miami has agreed to trade left fielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals, the third All-Star jettisoned by the Marlins in a payroll purge under new CEO Derek Jeter. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced and was subject to a physical. Miami traded second baseman Dee Gordon to Seattle and dealt right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning NL MVP, to the New York Yankees.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Zach Jackson scored 22 points, JT Gibson added a career-high 17, and Omaha held off Arkansas State to win its second game of the season, 77-74 and snap a three-game skid. ASU rallied from a 17-point deficit and Deven Simms’ layup tied it at 58 after a 12-0 run.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seven-time champions Penn State and Stanford join four-time champion Nebraska and perennial powerhouse Florida in the Division I volleyball Final Four. The Nittany Lions face the Huskers in the first semifinal and the Cardinal meet the Gators in the second Thursday night.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says Miami has agreed to trade left fielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals, the third All-Star jettisoned by the Marlins this month in an unrelenting payroll purge under new CEO Derek Jeter.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement had not been announced and was subject to a physical.

Miami traded second baseman Dee Gordon to Seattle last Thursday for three prospects and dealt right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning NL MVP, to the New York Yankees on Monday for second baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects. The Cardinals had a deal in place for Stanton last week, but he invoked his no-trade clause and blocked the move.

Center fielder Christian Yelich could be the next to exit the downsizing Marlins, bought by Bruce Sherman’s group on Oct. 2.

Miami had a $116 million payroll on Aug. 31, up from $81 million at the end of last year, and is intent on reducing obligations. Stanton was owed $295 million over the next decade, and Gordon $38 million through 2020.

The 27-year-old Ozuna is eligible for arbitration and likely will earn more than $10 million. He is eligible for free agency after the 2019 season.

A two-time All-Star, Ozuna set career highs last season by hitting .312 with 37 home runs and 124 RBIs.

Double Dual @ Audubon

South Central Calhoun 42, Audubon 30
East Sac County 54, Audubon 18
West Central Valley 66, Audubon 16

Double Dual @ Creston

Glenwood 42, Creston O-M 28
Glenwood 65, Underwood 17
Creston O-M 54, Underwood 23

Double Dual @ Nodaway Valley

Missouri Valley 82, Griswold 0
Missouri Valley 84, Nodaway Valley 0
Griswold 42, Nodaway Valley 12

Double Dual @ Red Oak

Logan-Magnolia 45, Red Oak 27
Logan-Magnolia 72, Clarinda Academy 12
Red Oak 66, Clarinda Academy 6

Double Dual @ St. Albert

AHSTW 48, St. Albert 9
AHSTW 45, Southwest Iowa 6
Southwest Iowa 39, St. Albert 24

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says he will support quarterback Jacob Park if he intends to transfer to another school. Campbell released a statement after the Des Moines Register quoted Park as saying he asked for a release from his scholarship. Park, a junior, was Iowa State’s starting quarterback until early October, when he went on an indefinite leave of absence.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters returned from his one-game suspension for a series of embarrassing incidents. But he was not available in the locker room and coach Andy Reid refused to discuss the situation. Still, his return should help a Chiefs defense that was improved last week but faces a big test in the Chargers on Saturday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN says former NFL players Donovan McNabb and Eric Davis will not appear on any of its networks while it investigates a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against NFL Network. A woman who worked as a wardrobe stylist at NFL Network accuses McNabb and Davis of various sexually inappropriate encounters. She also made accusations against former players Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor and Heath Evans, and former NFL Network executive Eric Weinberger. None of the men responded to messages from the AP.

BOYS

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Glenwood 64, Atlantic 31
Denison-Schleswig 60, Red Oak 35
Harlan 57, Creston 45
Lewis Central 77, Shenandoah 43
St. Albert 52, Clarinda 29

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 63, Underwood 50
IKM-Manning at Riverside – PPD
Logan-Magnolia 65, Missouri Valley 42
Treynor 79, Audubon 42
Tri-Center 71, Griswold 24

Rolling Valley Conference

Ar-We-Va 56, CAM, Anita 55
Boyer Valley 66, Woodbine 50
Exira-EHK 87, West Harrison 31
Paton-Churdan 69 Glidden-Ralston 61

Pride of Iowa Conference

Bedford 84, East Union 32
Central Decatur 55, Interstate 35 46
Mount Ayr 67, Southwest Valley 61
Nodaway Valley 46, Lenox 38
Martensdale-St. Marys 46, Pleasantville 23
Wayne at Southeast Warren

Corner Conference

Clarinda Academy 74, Heartland Christian 47
Sidney 53, East Mills 49  OT
Stanton 88, Essex 35

Missouri River Conference

Abraham Lincoln 62, Sioux City North 38
Sioux City West 81, Thomas Jefferson 54

Bluegrass Conference

Diagonal 72, Seymour 38
Iowa Christian Academy 40, Orient-Macksburg 26
Lamoni 74, Moulton-Udell 36
Mormon Trail 90, Melcher-Dallas 50
Murray 57, Twin Cedars 50

GIRLS

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Glenwood 56, Atlantic 40
Harlan 58, Creston 37
Lewis Central 48, Shenandoah 33
Red Oak 56, Denison-Schleswig 49

Western Iowa Conference

IKM-Manning at Riverside – PPD
Logan-Magnolia 69, Missouri Valley 30
Tri-Center 56, Griswold 44
Treynor 51, Audubon 14
Underwood 57, AHSTW 40

Rolling Valley Conference

Boyer Valley 64, Woodbine 40
CAM, Anita 59, Ar-We-Va 36
Exira/EHK at West Harrison
Glidden-Ralston 66, Paton-Churdan 59 OT

Pride of Iowa Conference

Central Decatur 69, Interstate 35 26
East Union 48, Bedford 32
Martensdale-St. Marys at Pleasantville
Mount Ayr 75, Southwest Valley 63
Nodaway Valley 63, Lenox 34
Southeast Warren 47, Wayne 39

Corner Conference

Fremont-Mills 47, South Page 35
Sidney 47, East Mills 14
Stanton 39, Essex 24

Missouri River Conference

Abraham Lincoln 73, Sioux City North 39
Thomas Jefferson 52, Sioux City West 40

Bluegrass Conference

Lamoni 43, Moulton-Udell 30
Mormon Trail 47, Melcher-Dallas 42
Murray 60, Twin Cedars 17
Orient-Macksburg 38, Iowa Christian Academy 30
Seymour at Diagonal

The Glenwood Rams put the clamps on the Atlantic Trojans early in a boys basketball game Tuesday night in Glenwood. The Rams raced out to 18-4 lead by the end of the first quarter, a quarter in which the Trojans failed to hit a field goal. Atlantic was able keep better pace in the second quarter but trailed 36-20 at the intermission. Glenwood then really put the game away by outscoring the Trojans 15-5 in the third quarter, eventually winning the game 64-31.

Glenwood got 17 points from Christian Stanislav who hit three triples on the night. Andrew Blum had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Rams. Nate Mohr also finished in double figures with 13 points on the night. Glenwood improves to 5-0 on the season.

Atlantic was lead by 12 points from Scott Leonard but he dealt with double teams all night long. Atlantic only had four players make a field goal in the game and turned the ball over 11 times on the night.  The Trojans fall to 2-3 with the loss and will next travel to Shenandoah on Friday night.

The Atlantic Trojans girls basketball team let another game slip away in the second half on Tuesday night with a 56-40 loss at Glenwood. It was a one point game at the end of the first quarter and Glenwood had a five point lead at halftime. The Rams were able to push the lead to 10 by the end of the third and outscored the Trojans 13-7 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Glenwood had shot just 28% from three point range coming into the game, but the Rams dropped in 8 treys on Tuesday night.  The Rams outscored the Trojans from outside the arc 24-9.

Atlantic struggled to consistently make shots and turned the ball over in a number of key moments in the game.  The Trojans got within 3 at one point of the third quarter but Glenwood ripped off a run to pull back away.

Glenwood had three players in double figures. Nicole Shuppan and Joslyn Lewis had 13 points each and Brielle Smith tallied 11.  Glenwood improved to 2-4 with the win.

Alyssa Ginther had 13 points for Atlantic. The Trojans fall to 1-5 on the year. They’ll next host Shenandoah on Friday.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports  the 2017 Iowa deer harvest is running less than 1 percent ahead of the 2016 totals. So far this fall, 76,204 deer have been reported, compared to 75,909 for the same period last year. Iowa’s second shotgun season ends Dec. 17. Iowa’s deer seasons conclude with the late muzzleloader season and archery season, both of which are Dec. 18-Jan. 10, 2018.

An expected 10,000 to 15,000 Iowa hunters will turn their attention to pursuing the state’s top predator after Jan. 10. That’s when most of Iowa’s hunting seasons close, and coyote hunting begins in earnest. Although its season never closes, coyotes are hunted most often during the winter. The number of Iowa coyote hunters and harvest has been at a record level for four of the past five years, thanks in part to predator hunting shows and because coyote fur has held its value as most other pelt prices have declined.

“Coyote pelts go for anywhere from $15-$30 per pelt depending on the quality and Iowa’s pelts are considered average. Last year’s average price was $17. The top pelts come from the Dakotas, Montana, and Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada,” said Vince Evelsizer, state furbearer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Coyote fur is used as trim for hoods and coats in foreign markets. Coyote population is distributed fairly well across the state with the highest population in western Iowa. Coyotes are habitat generalists and can be found near large brushpiles, timber and grass fields, and in particular, fields with switchgrass.

Hunters prefer a fresh layer of snow for tracking and the white background makes coyotes easier to see from a long distance. Wind is critical to coyote hunters because it impacts where and how they set up for calling and pursuing coyotes as coyotes have a keen nose and are naturally wary. Wearing snow colored camo is often effective to avoid detection. Hunters can use predator calls, hunt day or night, use rifles, may hunt over bait and use groups of hunters and or hounds to round them up. There is no bag limit and coyotes can be hunted on a hunting or furharvester license.

“We receive complaints from the public about coyotes’ impact on young deer, turkeys and rabbits; harass pets, and farmers’ loss of livestock. So in that respect, hunters provide an important service by hunting coyotes,” Evelsizer said. “That being said, they’re a very wary game animal worthy of respect. We don’t allow the use of artificial light for night hunting on purpose because we encourage fair chase and it could increase the incentive to misuse the technology to poach deer and other wildlife.”

Coyote trapping is allowed, but it must be done during the trapping season.