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Nearly perfect Garza scores 41, No. 5 Iowa routs Southern

Sports

November 28th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Luka Garza scored 41 points, missing just one shot, and No. 5 Iowa beat Southern 103-76. Garza was 14 of 15 from the field, making all three of his 3-point attempts, and was 10 of 12 on free throws for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa center Luka Garza, center, drives to the basket between Southern University’s Andre Allen, left, and Samkelo Cele, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

He also had nine rebounds and three blocked shots in 29 minutes. It was 18th consecutive game of 20 or more points for Garza, the lone unanimous selection to the AP preseason All-America team. Garza had 36 of his points in the first half, making all 12 of his field-goal attempts, and Iowa led 58-35 at halftime. Garza’s perfect run ended when he missed a shot 28 seconds into the second half.

 

Man from Walnut injured in Shelby County crash, Friday

News

November 28th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

One person was injured during a collision Friday afternoon east of Harlan. The Iowa State Patrol reports 28-year-old Dyllan Hamlin, of Walnut, was transported by Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Memorial Hospital, following a rear-end collision involving his 2008 Ford F-250 pickup and a semi.

Authorities say a 2013 Mack truck driven by 57-year old Howard Lansman, of Harlan, was eastbound on Highway 44, attempting to turn north onto Redbud Road at around 4:25-p.m. A pickup was westbound on 44, and preparing to turn north onto Redbud.

Due to the oncoming traffic, the semi stopped on the road, while waiting to turn safely. Hamlin’s pickup failed to stop, and rear-ended the semi. The Patrol says Hamlin was not wearing a seat belt, and suffered serious injuries.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, Nov. 28 2020

News

November 28th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

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

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of streetlights still need to be repaired in the Cedar Rapids area months after they were broken when a derecho tore through Iowa. The Gazette reports that Mayuri Farlinger, the director of operations for Alliant Energy in the region, did not have an estimate as to how long it’ll take to repair the lights. The utility prioritized restoring power to homes and businesses after the Aug. 10 derecho. Streetlight repairs began at the end of October and crews have been out in “full force” to repair them, he said. The company’s crews and contractors have fixed hundreds of streetlights. Alliant says it has 12 two-person crews dedicated for streetlight repairs in every quadrant of the city.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa reported that 37 people died of the coronavirus in the past day. The state Department of Public Health said Friday the additional deaths bring the total who have died of COVID-19 in Iowa to 2,349. In the past 24 hours as of Friday morning, there were 1,266 new confirmed cases. Iowa has long had some of the nation’s highest coronavirus infection rates, but in the past week its numbers have improved slightly. The state now has the nation’s fourth-highest number of new cases per capita in the last 14 days. In the last week, one in every 145 people in Iowa was diagnosed with COVID-19.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are looking for the vehicle that hit a man and fled the scene in Des Moines, Iowa. Emergency responders found the pedestrian with critical injuries when they arrived at the scene at about 9:12 p.m. Thursday. The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release that he was transported to a local hospital where he later died of those injuries. Witnesses described the vehicle as a dark- colored, SUV-style vehicle. Evidence indicates it will have front-end damage, including a broken headlamp.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Bellevue, Nebraska, man is jailed after a lengthy chased that crossed back and forth across the Iowa-Nebraska line. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the 34-year-old suspect is accused of a long list of crimes. The chase began shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday when Council Bluff, Iowa, officers stopped a Chevrolet Silverado, but the driver took off on Interstate 480 and drove into Nebraska, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. The truck later crossed back into Iowa, then back to Nebraska again. In Omaha, troopers pulled in front of the truck and the driver got out and tried to run but was caught.

Hawkeyes’ defense comes up big in 26-20 win over Nebraska

Sports

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Tyler Goodson ran for 87 of his 111 yards in the second half and Zach VanValkenburg recovered Adrian Martinez’s late fumble to secure Iowa’s 26-20 win over Nebraska. The Hawkeyes extended their win streak to four games and have beaten the Cornhuskers six years in a row.

Iowa running back Tyler Goodson (15) is tackled by Nebraska linebacker Luke Reimer, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Iowa was looking to add to its six-point lead when Keith Duncan’s 51-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the cross bar with 2:02 left. The Cornhuskers then drove from their 32 to the Iowa 39 when Martinez fumbled under pressure and VanValkenburg recovered. Iowa ran out the last 1:18. Iowa improved to 4-2, the Huskers dropped to 1-4.

 

Hall’s late TD lifts No. 15 Iowa State over No. 20 Texas

Sports

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Breece Hall scored on a 3-yard run with 1:25 remaining, and No. 15 Iowa State held off last-minute drive by Sam Ehlinger and No. 20 Texas to remain in first place in the Big 12 with a 23-20 victory Friday.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall (28) celebrates the team’s win over Texas in an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

After Iowa State sacked Ehlinger on third down, Texas’ Cameron Dicker barely missed left with a 58-yard field goal attempt as time expired. The Cyclones (7-2, 7-1) have almost locked up a spot in the Big 12 championship game for the first time. Hall gained 91 yards on 20 carries, his first game under 100 this season, but had 30 on the final 69-yard touchdown drive.

 

Chiefs to help Missouri schools with purpose-based athletics

Sports

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(A-P) The Kansas City Chiefs are joining with the Missouri State High School Activities Association and the NFL Foundation to launch a state chapter of InsideOut, a national initiative that is designed to empower and equip school communities to implement purpose-based athletics. The InsideOut program has provided training for educational leaders, athletic administrators, coaches and others in the community since its inception in 2015. It supports schools in redefining and reframing sports as a platform for youth development.

 

2020 Celebrate Iowa Gala goes virtual, with video tour of iconic Iowa sites

News

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – This year’s “Celebrate Iowa Gala” will be held online December 11th and organizers plan to showcase performances staged at some Iowa landmarks.  “We thought it was really important to go ahead and host the gala this year because Iowans this year, more than ever, really need something to celebrate.” That’s Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs director Chris Kramer. A band called “The Holy Rocka Rollaz” will perform from the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. This is their rockabilly sound.

The Brazilian 2wins — touring brothers who’ve made Des Moines their home base for a decade — will perform with their violin and ukulele at the American Gothic House in Eldon. The Malvern Art Church will be the backdrop for a performance by guitarist Taylor Peek. There will be a video tour of the Haitian art collection at Waterloo’s Center for the Arts and Iowa native Tom Arnold will lead a tour of the “Hollywood in the Heartland” exhibit at the State Historical Museum.

“We’re going to really take people on a fun and celebratory trip across the state with lots of live performances and live interviews,” Kramer says, “just give them an evening to forget about everything that’s going on, relax and just enjoy learning about the state.” The Donna Reed Center for the Performing Arts in Denison will be another stop on the video tour. Reed is the late actress, an Academy Award winner for her role in “From Here to Eternity” who starred with Jimmy Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Her daughter Mary Ellen will be featured in the opening hour of next month’s Gala. Mary Ellen Reed be joined by a Broadway star who particpated in one of the annual workshops for writers, directors and performers that used to be held in Denison. Kramer says the 2020 Gala will give Iowans a virtual tour of the state’s cultural scene. “People can relax in the comfort of their home and being safe at home this year is so important,” Kramer says.

This will be the 9th annual Celebrate Iowa Gala, with ticket sales going to the State Historical Society. The program December 11th will start at 6 p.m., with some live performances from Denison. At 7 p.m., there will be what Kramer describes as a “showcase of Iowa culture.” At 8 p.m., there will be more live entertainment. An all-access pass for all hours of the Gala is $250. Tickets for hour-long segments of the evening range from 25 to one-hundred dollars each.

Police looking for vehicle which fled fatal hit-and-run

News

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are looking for the vehicle that hit a man and fled the scene in Des Moines, Iowa. Emergency responders found the pedestrian with critical injuries when they arrived at the scene at about 9:12 p.m. Thursday. The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release that he was transported to a local hospital where he later died of those injuries.

Witnesses described the vehicle as a dark- colored, SUV-style vehicle. Evidence indicates it will have front-end damage, including a broken headlamp.

 

Iowans should quit using passwords and stay safer with pass phrases

News

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A computer security expert suggests Iowans abandon using passwords in favor of pass phrases. Jesse La Grew says the old way of creating short, cryptic passwords that you change frequently is no longer practical for most of us.  “If we have to change our passwords every 30 days, what are we likely to do? We’re likely to write it down,” La Grew says. “We’re going to be putting them on Post-it notes or putting them under keyboards.” The longer a password, the more secure it should be from hackers.

Some computer systems require passwords that need to be between 16 and 20 characters, which is where using a pass phrase is handy. “So how do you get that length of password while still maintaining the complexity required so that a computer can’t easily break into it?” La Grew says. “That’s where the passphrase comes in, where we’re using multiple words strung together.” You can creating a pass phrase out of a series of words that are easy for you to remember — but hard to guess. It will make your account more secure from most attempts by hackers to force their way in.

“You can have a very long password with a series of five words that can be very difficult to guess and can take a computer an extremely long time to break into, based on the technology that we have today,” he says. La Grew says don’t reuse passwords on any service where you might have credit card or banking information saved.

More sports gambling companies taking interest in Iowa

Sports

November 27th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved five more agreements with sports betting companies and casinos during its meeting this month. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says those companies are looking ahead to a change in registration rules. “With the in-person registration requirement going away on January 1st, there has been some rekindled interest in this market. And so, there are a number of sports wagering companies trying to enter this market by reaching agreements with casinos,” Ohorilko says.

In January sports betters have the option to sign up on-line — or go into a casino and sign up to bet. Casinos can have agreements with up to three different sports betting providers — and he says more and more of those agreements are being finalized. “Whether it will be January 1st of February 1st — the market hear in this state will look very different in the next few months simply because of the high volume of new companies that we are going to see trying to compete for on-line sports,” Ohorilko says. The casinos benefit from their partnerships with on-line betting companies.

“Typically what we see when these relationships happen is there is an up-front one-time fee that the online sportsbook pays the casino to enter the market — and then there is a smaller percentage of an ongoing revenue share,” according to Ohorilko. “And in some cases there is a minimal annual fee that is paid by these sports books.” Requiring sports bettors to sign up at casinos gave a boost to attendance at the facilities when sports betting started in the state. Ohorilko says there was a concern that dropping the requirement would lead to a drop in revenue from fewer people going to the casinos — but he says that thinking has changed.

“Many people in the industry are starting to think that really one is not impacting the other in a negative way. And because of that, we might not see as much drop off as we initially thought,” Ohorilko says. He says casinos are still able to make revenue from sports betting through their online agreements, and the bigger concern has been a drop in attendance brought on by the pandemic restrictions.