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Rains change planned water releases into Missouri River

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The amount of water to be released into the lower Missouri River will change in the coming days to accommodate recent heavy rains in the Upper Plains.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release Friday that water releases from Gavins Point Dam on the Nebraska-South Dakota border will be reduced to 65,000 cubic feet per second on Saturday and down to 60,000 cubic feet per second on Sunday.

The Corps says that reduction will last no longer than three days before releases are incrementally increased by 5,000 cubic feet per second, per a day going up to 80,000 cubic feet per second.

The Corps says it hopes that briefly lowering releases may curtail possible flooding on the Missouri River between Sioux City, Iowa and Omaha.

Racing and Gaming Administrator finds no issues in first month of sports gambling

News, Sports

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Sunday marks one month since sports gambling was legalized in the state of Iowa, and the administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission says things seem to be running smoothly at the state’s casinos. Brian Ohorilko says the commission is happy with the way the casinos have handled things.

“There have been a few bugs here and there with regard to the online apps, things that are more cosmetic, nothing operationally, and so from that standpoint we’ve been very pleased,” Ohorilko says. He says casino operators have happy with the additional traffic they’re seeing with sports betting. “As we sit here today, things have appeared to go pretty smoothly,” He says, “I think the operators that have launched already are pleased with the numbers and the attendance. At least at this point, things seem to be going well.”

Ohorilko says people should be patient with their local casino as sports gambling is still in the early stages of being implemented in the state.  “I still caution people that we are early on in the process, and one of the reasons why it was beneficial to launch in mid-August for those companies that were ready was to try to work out some of the bugs prior to the busiest season for sports wagering, and that’s what started last weekend with N-F-L season,” according to Ohorilko. “And so we’ll start really getting a good handle as to what could be potential issues that come up.”

One of the big weekends for sports gambling in the state could be this weekend’s matchup between Iowa and Iowa State on the football field. Ohorilko says it is also one of the reason casinos wanted to try to have their sportsbook operations going in anticipation of some friendly wagers for this weekend’s game. ”N-F-L season is important, but this game this weekend, a lot of people are interested in it, and I think a lot of people just to have a legal, friendly wager on the game, I think there’s something that people are excited about. So we’ll see how the numbers go,” according to Ohorilko.”I will say that until the market has settled, and all 18 and of the casinos that have applied for a sports wagering license are up and running, I don’t think we’ll have the true numbers, that true feeling for what it will look like, but I do think that this weekend will likely be the busiest to this point in time for the state.”

Sports betting operations are open for business in 14 of the 19 state licensed casinos. The Diamond Jo Worth casino near Northwood opened their sportsbook operation two weeks ago, with plans to introduce their online and betting apps by the end of the year.

Second courthouse burglary reported by men doing security test

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A second county is now reporting its courthouse was burglarized by men hired to test the security of the court system. The spokesman for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the Polk County Courthouse was burglarized at midnight on Monday. The burglary is described as similar to the one reported by Dallas County Wednesday. Dallas County deputies arrested Justin Wynn, of Naples, Florida, and Gary Demercurio of Seattle, Washington inside the courthouse.

The two men said they had been hired to test the courthouse alarm system and security. The Iowa Judicial Branch confirmed the men had been hired to test the electronic court system’s vulnerability — but says they did not ask the men to break into courthouses. The Polk and Dallas County Sheriff departments are working together on the investigation.

Des Moines police shoot, injure man at homeless camp

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man at a Des Moines homeless encampment has been shot after trying to evade officers and then threatening one of them with a knife. The shooting happened early Friday afternoon near the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Bridge over the Raccoon River.

Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says officers were responding to complaints about the homeless camp when a 26-year-old man there refused to cooperate with officers, then jumped into the river. Police say he later emerged from the river, ran back to the camp and armed himself first with a shovel, then a machete-style knife.

Police say he advanced on an officer, refusing commands to drop the knife, and was shot in the upper torso. Police have not released the man’s name, but say he underwent surgery and is expected to survive. Police also have not released the names of the officers involved.

(Update): Some injuries reported in Des Moines house explosion

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating an explosion that destroyed a Des Moines house and damaged others early Friday, injuring some neighbors. The blast occurred at around 3:15 a.m. a few blocks northeast of Birdland Park. A few minor injuries have been reported at neighboring homes but no deaths, authorities said. Investigators have yet to report what caused the explosion and fire, but a natural gas buildup is suspected. MidAmerican Energy has cut off service to neighboring properties and conducted leak tests and inspected gas lines. The company said the system components checked are functioning normally.

Brandon Linn told station KCCI that the boom caused his window air-conditioning unit to fly across a room in his house. Teresa Trettin, 56, told The Des Moines Register that she heard a bang “loud enough to wake someone up in a deep sleep.” Debris landed in trees, the street and on nearby properties, and several windows in the neighborhood were shattered. “It’s going to be a mess to clean up, but it sure beats being in that house,” Trettin said. Neighbors reported that no one had been living in the house for at least a couple of years because the former residents had health problems.

Temporary lane closures at the I-35 and U.S. 30 interchange in Ames to help game day traffic flow smoothly

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa- Sept. 13, 2019 – The Iowa Department of Transportation has closed the right-hand lane of the new northbound Interstate 35 to westbound U.S. 30 flyover bridge to help heavier-than-normal pre-game and game day traffic merge smoothly with traffic entering U.S. 30 from southbound I-35. The temporary closure is in effect and will be in place through Saturday, Sept. 14 in an effort to increase safety and flow with the large volume of traffic expected for the Iowa State versus University of Iowa football game.

The right-hand lane of westbound U.S. 30 will also be closed that day before the merge point with I-35 traffic, in an effort to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Traveler tips for moving smoothly through the area:

  • Those traveling on southbound I-35 to the game are encouraged to take exit 113 to East 13th Street and follow the green signs to Jack Trice Stadium.
  • Those traveling westbound on U.S. 30 wishing to go to Dayton Avenue are encouraged to take the Duff Avenue exit, turn east onto S. 16th Street and back to Dayton Ave.
  • Those traveling northbound on I-35 who have missed the new flyover bridge to westbound U.S. 30 should continue to exit 113 to East 13th Street and follow the green signs to Jack Trice Stadium.

Another defendant imprisoned for Burlington slaying

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Another defendant has been imprisoned in the slaying of a 26-year-old man in southeast Iowa. Des Moines County District Court records say 44-year-old Derrick Parker was sentenced last week to 15 years. He’d pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and to willful injury.

Parker was one of five men charged with killing Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington. Andre Harris also has been sentenced to 15 years, and Antoine Spann was given 20 years. Caesar Davison and Emmanuel Spann have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Atlantic Police report several arrests took place from 8/26-9/12

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous arrests took place from August 26th through September 12th. Most recently, 42-year old James Almadarris, of Winettka, California, was arrested September 12th for Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Theft in the 2nd. On Sept. 7th, 18-year old Rachael Stanley, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft in the 5th degree, and, 47-year old Amy Rollins, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear.

On Sept. 1st, 20-year old Froilan Amaya, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. Amaya was arrested again on September 2nd for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana. On August 31st, 32-year old Justin Donaldson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Atlantic for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. On August 29th, 70-year old Stephen Tasto, of Missouri Valley, was arrested for 2nd Degree Theft, and 31-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in. Authorities say while he was in custody, Cooley was additionally charged with two counts of Burglary in the 3rd, three counts of Criminal Mischief in the 5th and Theft  in the 3rd Degrees.

And, on Aug. 26th, 28-year old Mario Lopez, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.

Each of those individuals were booked into the Cass County Jail.

City pays $250K to man who broke leg after officer’s force

News

September 13th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA FALLS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa city has agreed to pay $250,000 to a man who suffered a broken leg in 2017 after a police officer took him to the ground during an arrest. A settlement shows the city of Iowa Falls and its insurer agreed to the payment in July to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Aaron Bailey. Bailey was arrested for disorderly conduct and handcuffed outside his home by officer Joe Metz.

As Metz was walking Bailey to his squad car, the officer said Bailey was belligerent and appeared to try to head-butt him. The officer said he took Bailey to the ground and fell on him. Bailey’s lawsuit claimed Metz picked Bailey up and slammed him down after Bailey called the officer a homosexual slur. It claimed that Bailey suffered a compound leg fracture that resulted in permanent injuries.

The lawsuit also called the underlying arrest baseless. Bailey pleaded guilty to public intoxication and charges of interference with official acts and disorderly conduct were dropped.

Backyard and Beyond 09/13/2019

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

September 13th, 2019 by admin

LaVon Eblen speaks with Shayla Luke, Intern working with Produce in the Park, getting to know her and about Produce in the Park and the upcoming Harvest Market event.

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