The Iowa Democratic Party organized rallies in four of the state’s cities Sunday afternoon. The events were billed as a “first stand” against G-O-P efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Matt Tapscott of Decorah runs a child care business and Tapscott says he hadn’t been able to afford insurance until the law. “My elected representative said we’re working to ensure that you have access to health care,” Tapscott said during a rally in Des Moines. “It makes no difference that we have access if I can’t afford what I have access to. The Affordable Care Act made it possible that I could actually afford my health care.”

Rick Smith of Urbandale says the law hasn’t just helped people with pre-existing conditions, it bans insurance companies from setting a yearly limit on spending on covered benefits.  “We’ve got to remind all of our friends…that everybody has benefitted from this and will continue to benefit,” he said.

Rallies were held in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Sioux City. Both of Iowa’s Republican U.S. Senators and the three Republicans who serve in the U.S. House voted last week on legislation to start the process of repealing “ObamaCare.”

(Radio Iowa)

Slippery road conditions contributed to an accident that involved three vehicles in Creston, Sunday night, near the intersection of E. Irving and N. Birch Streets. The Creston Police Department says a 2007 Dodge pickup driven by 25-year old Cortney Sandeman, of Creston, was driving too fast for conditions at around 10:55-p.m., when he lost control and collided with a parked 2004 Ford pickup. His vehicle also struck a 2017 Chevy driven by 32-year old Elizabeth Loomis-Montoya, of Creston.

Loomis-Montoya’s car had slid into the north curb and was trying to get out, with three people trying to push the vehicle up hill at the time the accident occurred. No injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $1,900. No citations were issued.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Travel remains hazardous in parts of Iowa and Nebraska as ice storms move north and east through the states. Authorities say most roadways that have been treated in anticipation of sleet or freezing rain are safe for cautious navigation. But untreated sidewalks, streets and rural roads could be treacherous Monday.

Fears of widespread power outages Sunday and early Monday have not materialized. Major utilities in both states report that fewer than 20 customers don’t have electricity. Air travel is problematical. More than 20 Monday departures have been canceled at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and five at Des Moines International Airport.

National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Boustead says more rain is expected in both states Monday, but the temperature in most spots is hovering above the freezing mark.

A collision Saturday night between a Union Pacific train and a small SUV in Marshall County has resulted in the death of a Marshalltown man. The Iowa State Patrol says 62-year old Kyle Dean Quick died at a hospital in Des Moines after he was flown from the scene of the crash that happened at around 8-p.m Saturday, in Marshalltown.

Quick was driving a 1995 Geo Tracker northbound on 6th Street, when he went around the activated railroad crossing arms and was struck by the train. The accident remains under investigation.

The Shenandoah Police Department and law enforcement in southwest Iowa are searching for a woman wanted in connection with a burglary, theft of property and motor vehicle theft at the City of Shenandoah Cemetery garage. 34-year old Karly Jean Glidden (AKA Karly Parker),, of Shenandoah, has active, nationwide, arrest warrants for the crimes of Theft 1st Degree – a Class C Felony, Theft 2nd Degree – a Class D Felony, and Burglary 3rd Degree (Motor Vehicle) 2nd or Subsequent Offense – a Class D Felony.

If you see Glidden, call 911 immediately or the Shenandoah Police Department at 712-246-3512. Citizens are advised NOT to attempt to apprehend any individuals on their own.

Karly Jean Glidden (Shenandoah P-D photo)

Today (Monday) marks the halfway point between the purchase of a valuable lottery ticket in eastern Iowa and it’s expiration date. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says the $2 million winning Powerball ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Cedar Rapids for the drawing on July 16. After six months, no one has come forward with the ticke “It’s not very often that a prize of this size goes unclaimed for this long,” Neubauer says.

It’s possible the ticket was lost or even thrown away, but Neubauer says it’s not uncommon for frequent players of lottery games to leave the tickets unchecked for long periods of time. “People have said ‘oh yeah, I let them pile up on my dresser’ or one woman who contacted us said she kept her lottery tickets in a cookie jar and she would check the tickets after she got a lot of them in her cookie jar,” Neubauer said.

The $2 million winning ticket will expire at the close of business on July 17, if it isn’t claimed by then. “There are still six months for this particular ticket to go, but with every day that passes, it becomes a little more likely that maybe that ticket isn’t out there anymore,” Neubauer said. “So, we’re just trying to do all we can to get the word out.”

The ticket was purchased at the Hawkeye Convenience Store, 2330 Wiley Blvd. SW in Cedar Rapids. The ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball in the July 16 drawing to win a $1 million prize, but the person who bought the ticket also added the Power Play option to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million. The winning numbers in the July 16 Powerball drawing were: 11-17-40-50-62 and Powerball 26. The Power Play number was 2.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor has proposed cutting funding for needy kids as part of his plan to defund Planned Parenthood. It’s a rare step even as Republican-dominated states grapple with whether to sacrifice federal dollars to lessen the organization’s influence. Iowa receives more than $3 million in federal Medicaid funding that it must spend on family planning services, and some of that is tied to Planned Parenthood.

According to budget projections reviewed by The Associated Press, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has recommended taking $2.8 million previously given to child and family services so it can be redirected to create a roughly $3.3 million program that distributes family planning money to organizations that do not perform abortions.

Branstad is expected to resign soon to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

Due to inclement weather, the City of Council Bluffs Government offices will be closed Monday, January 17th, 2017. Only essential city personnel should report to work.
Regular business hours are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, January 18th, 2017. Officials will evaluate the situation and notify the public if those plans change.

For closing updates, please watch the City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/City-of-Council-Bluffs-Municipal-Government-211670489175832/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Students at two Council Bluffs elementary schools will have the chance to learn more about personal finance by working in bank branches at their schools. The Daily Nonpareil reports First National Bank and American National Bank both recently opened branches in elementary schools.

The Council Bluffs school district now has nine different bank branches open in its schools. The branches are part of a larger effort to teach students about money by giving them the chance to open a savings account and contribute to it.

Carter Lake Elementary Principal Doreen Knuth says opening an account early lets students to watch their savings grow and build good habits.