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!

Pottawattamie County Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Firearms Offenses

News

April 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on April 2, 2019, 43-year old David Dylan Wuerfele, II, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Wuerfele was sentenced to 27 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release for three years.

In May and June 2018, Wuerfele sold marijuana, cocaine and a firearm to law enforcement, which caused the Council Bluffs Police Department to obtain a warrant to search Wuerfele’s residence. Officers located firearms, marijuana and assorted other drug paraphernalia in Wuerfele’s home.

The matter was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, April 5 2019

News

April 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for having child pornography. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 68-year-old Salvatore Lawrence Bruno was sentenced Wednesday in Council Bluffs to 97 months in prison for a count of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors say a search of Bruno’s home and found a computer hard drive and memory card that contained over 5,700 images of child pornography.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several communities along the Missouri River continue to struggle to restore drinking water service weeks after massive flooding swept through the area. People who live in the affected Nebraska and Iowa towns have had to adjust to boiling water before drinking it or relying on bottled water while crews work to repair the damage. The challenges each town faces after last month’s flooding differs, but they share the goal of restoring safe drinking water service quickly.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is comparing the rhetoric used by President Donald Trump to describe immigrants to the rhetoric used in Nazi Germany. At a town hall in Iowa on Thursday, O’Rourke called out “the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals but as animals and an infestation.” O’Rourke says, “Now, I might expect someone to describe another human being as an infestation in the Third Reich.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Republican-led Iowa Senate committee has failed to advance a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for felons, killing one of GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds’ top proposals ahead of a legislative deadline. The resolution passed with bipartisan support in the House 95-2 last week. It had to win approval of the Senate this year and pass again in the Legislature in 2021 or 2022 before going to voters.

Senate Republicans kill governor’s felon vote bill

News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel has failed to pass a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for felons, killing one of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’s priorities for this year. In a statement, Reynolds expressed disappointment but said she remains committed to changing the law.

The House voted 95-2 last week to approve the resolution. It must be approved by the Senate and passed again by the Legislature in 2021 or 2022 before it would go to the voters.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Brad Zaun pulled the measure from the Thursday afternoon committee agenda, saying he didn’t have votes among his own Republican caucus. Some want to require total repayment of restitution and exclusion of those convicted of murder, rape, or child molestation.

Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen says it’s shameful that Zaun and other Republicans killed one of Reynolds’ priorities. People convicted of felonies now have voting rights revoked unless restored by the governor. Only Iowa and Kentucky have such strict requirements.

Glenwood Municipal Utilities lifts Conserve Water Advisory, Boil Order Still in Place

News

April 4th, 2019 by admin

Glenwood Municipal Utilities announced on Thursday afternoon that they are lifting the Conserve Water Advisory for their customers in order to speed up the process of turning over the water in the system and returning to a normal treatment process. However the BOIL ORDER IS STILL IN PLACE until further notice.

Officials said users may now do household chores using water once again such as laundry, showers, car washing, and anything else not for consumption. Hydrants will also be flushed in order to help the process.

Further information will be released once more advancements have been completed.

Assessment of flood damaged roads in SW Iowa continues

News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – April 4, 2019 –  There are very few quick fixes related to the flood-damaged roads in Southwest Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. An updated map is now available on https://floods2019.iowa.gov/ (and shown below), detailing where the Iowa DOT and its partners are in the process of assessing and repairing the damage to Interstates 29 and 680, U.S. 34, and Iowa 2.

As officials continue to assess damage and work on recovery, consideration is given to the impacts of future flooding potential. The Iowa DOT says it is working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to safely restore mobility not only for today but also to meet future needs.

click on this graphic to enlarge the image

Des Moines diocese issues list of 9 priests accused of abuse

News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Diocese of Des Moines has released the names of nine priests it says are credibly accused of sexually abusing children. The Des Moines Register reports that a diocesan committee, which included local clergy, a police chief and a judge, investigated the allegations of abuse that spanned from 1940 to 1997.

All but two of the priests named are dead, and seven had already been tied to abuse allegations — including Albert Wilwerding, John Ryan, and Richard Wagner, who were all defrocked in 2003 after allegations against them were found credible.

Des Moines Bishop Richard Pates says he shares “the anger and frustration” over recent reports of abuse by clergy, and that he hopes the release of the list today (Thursday) will facilitate healing.

Female juvenile arrested in Red Oak for drug paraphernalia, vaping device and more

News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police were called to the Red Oak High School a little after 10-a.m. today (Thursday),  following a report of a juvenile female with possible drug paraphernalia. Upon further investigation, officers found the juvenile was in possession of drug paraphernalia, and an electronic vaping device. Another tobacco product and a container with residue of a controlled substance was also found.

The female was arrested and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where she was issued a citation for Possession of an Electronic Vaping Device, and she received a Juvenile Court citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The girl was then released to the custody of her parents. Her name was not released.

Shelby County Road Embargo reactivated

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors Chair and County Engineer Brandon Burmeister have re-activated a 10-ton secondary granular road embargo. This means all granular surfaced roads within Shelby County are embargoed to 10-ton vehicles/loads until further notice. Shelby County Engineer Brandon Burmeister says the uncharacteristicly wet weather pattern has prompted the embargo.

Man gets 25 years for fatal crash that killed friend

News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — An Altoona man has been given 25 years in prison for crashing while driving drunk, killing a friend. Jasper County District Court records say 26-year-old Michael Roney was sentenced Tuesday in Newton. He’d been convicted March 19 on charges stemming from the Sept. 23, 2017, crash that killed 27-year-old Jeremy O’Connor, who lived in Colfax.

The records say surveillance video showed the two drinking at a Colfax bar before they left. The Iowa State Patrol says Roney’s vehicle ran off the pavement on Iowa Highway 117 south of Mingo and then rolled, ejecting O’Connor. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

FEMA Disaster Recovery office opens in Glenwood, Friday

News

April 4th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is opening a Disaster Recovery Office in Mills County tomorrow (Friday). William Lindsey, Jr., with FEMA External Affairs, says the office will be open from 8-a.m. until 6-p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1-to 5-p.m., Sunday. The services will be tied-in with a Business Recovery Center that opened in Glenwood on Wednesday for the flood rebuilding and recovery. Lindsey told KJAN News FEMA is the “Mother Ship” for all disaster recovery operations in the U-S. FEMA offers grants. The SBA offers low-interest loans for disaster relief. Officials want anyone whose homes or business was affected by flooding, to register with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

You can also register online at disasterassistance.gov. By registering with FEMA, Lindsey says you can look into recovery resources available on the website, or in-person at their office in Glenwood.) Recovery specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and other state and federal agencies will provide information on available services, explain assistance programs and help survivors complete or check the status of their applications at the center, which is located at 111 Lacey St., in Glenwood.

Another Disaster Recovery Center is already open in Sidney at the Fremont County Emergency Management Office (2014 290th Ave.), which is open during the same hours as the Glenwood Center. Iowa homeowners, renters and business owners in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Woodbury counties – which were included in the major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance – may apply for assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses due to severe storms and flooding from March 12 and continuing.

One-on-one assistance includes:

  • Help to register for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
  • Help completing paperwork and checking the status of your application.
  • Help applying for the SBA’s low-interest disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
  • Referrals to other state, federal and voluntary organizations offering information about additional disaster assistance.
  • Help understanding how to appeal FEMA eligibility decisions.
  • Accommodations to meet the needs of the entire community including people with disabilities. Centers are equipped with captioned phones, video remote interpreting and assistive listening devices. If you need an accommodation or assistance due to a disability, please notify FEMA staff at the time of registration or anytime during the assistance process.

Applicants for disaster assistance should have the following information on hand:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged primary residence
  • Description of the damage
  • Information about insurance coverage