AMES, Iowa (AP) — Transportation officials say they plan to hire hundreds of more temporary workers to operate snow plows around Iowa this winter. The state Department of Transportation say they’re hiring nearly 600 snow plow operators for a period that runs between the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015. That’s a jump from the hiring of about 300 to 400 workers last winter, Des Moines television station KCCI reported.

The department posted openings recently on its website for jobs in cities across the state. The additional hires are aimed at helping workers who put in overtime hours to combat last winter’s severe weather, the station reported. Employment will run from Oct. 15 through April 15.

A new report puts a price tag on what Iowa might reap in tax revenues every year if the state legalized marijuana. The financial website NerdWallet-dot-com took the data from an anonymous health survey that found about four-percent of Iowans over age 25 said they’d smoked pot in the past month. Based on Iowa’s population, that’s about 84-thousand users.

From there, the report’s writers mirrored what Colorado has done and figured in a 15-percent excise tax on all marijuana sales. The final tally exceeded 24-million dollars which the website claims Iowa could generate in taxes each year by making pot legal. Nationwide, the figure exceeds three-billion.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Legal Aid’s Legal Hotline for Older Iowans and the Iowa Department on Aging are presenting a free Elder Law Seminar on October 23, 2014. The seminar will provide older Iowans and their caregivers with valuable information to protect their rights and limited resources. Pre-registration by October 17, 2014 is requested to ensure that everybody receives the written seminar
materials.

The seminar will teach people about Medicaid eligibility for paying nursing home expenses and the new protections and remedies for older adults provided by Iowa’s new Elder Abuse Act and the Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Participants will also learn about the rights retained by residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, including rights that protect residents from abuse, invasions of privacy, involuntary discharges and being denied visitors.

The seminar is funded in part with grants from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, the Iowa Lawyers Trust Account Commission and the U.S. Administration on Aging. The seminar will begin at 12:30 p.m. and end at 3:45 p.m. The seminar will be available as a webinar through your personal computer. It will also be broadcast over the Iowa Communications Network at 29 locations throughout Iowa including: Denison – Western Iowa Tech Community College, 11 North 35th Street, Room B-6.

A complete list of all locations and a registration form are available online at
www.connectionsaaa.org,  or by calling the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161.

The Union County Sheriff’s Department investigated a two vehicle accident Monday afternoon at the intersection of Cherry Street Road and County Road H-37. 17 year old Quintin Chumbley of Mount Ayr was travelling east on County Road H-37 following a semi tractor trailer which was causing a lot of dust and did not realize the vehicle had stopped at a stop sign. Chumbley rear-ended trailer of the semi trailer. The driver of the semi continued east and did not stop. Damage to the Chumbley vehicle listed at 45-hundred dollars. Chumbley was taken to Greater Regional Medical Center for treatment of unknown injuires as were passengers 17 year old Wesley Oliphant of Fort Walton Beach Florida and 35 year old Christina Dillinger of Creston. No citations were filed as a result of the accident.

The Atlantic Police Department investigated a two vehicle accident Monday afternoon at the corner of 14th Street and Bryn Mawr Blvd. A vehicle owned by Vaul Trust of Hunt Valley Maryland was legally parked front of 14-03 Bryn Mawr Blvd. Connie Beaty of Atlantic was turning off of East 14th Street and was heading south. Beaty Struck the Vaul Trust in the left rear corner causing her vehicle to roll onto its left side. Beaty was able to out of her vehicle thru the passenger window uninjured. Damage to the vehicles estimated at 14-thousand dollars.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Christie Christie is set to visit Iowa next month to appear at a fundraiser for Gov. Terry Branstad. The campaign for Branstad, who is running for his sixth non-consecutive term, announced Tuesday that Christie will attend Branstad’s annual birthday fundraiser on Oct. 25 in Clive.

Christie is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, a role that provides him with the opportunity to raise money and campaign for GOP candidates. He made a July visit to Iowa, sparking speculation about his presidential aspirations.

During Christie’s last trip to the kickoff voting state, he raised money for Republican candidates. He appears to have survived the lane-closing scandal that rocked his administration, though an investigation continues.

Recent polls have shown Branstad with a substantial lead against his Democratic opponent Jack Hatch.

The City of Atlantic Personnel and Finance committee will meet this evening at 6-15. The committee will meet to discuss a severance agreement and will meet Wednesday afternoon at 5-15 to discuss the hiring of an assistant park and recreation director.

The Creston Police Department arrested Heather Davis of Littleton at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for failure to appear on a child support matter. Davis was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on 4-thousand dollar bond.

Creston Police are also investigating an incident at the True-Value store who reported a tow-dolly was stolen with an estimated value of 3-thousand dollars.

A Harlan man was injured in an accidental shooting at Nishna Bend Park on Saturday in Shelby County. 38-year old Daniel J-Schumacher was camping at the county park with his family and was inside the camper with semi-automatic handgun when it accidently discharged striking him in the hand and thigh. Schumacher was transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital via private vehicle where he was treated and transferred to an Omaha Hospital for further treatment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad on Monday issued a disaster proclamation for two more Iowa counties affected by recent severe weather. The proclamation means state resources can be used to help Appanoose and Madison counties. They are recovering from severe weather and heavy rains that hit the area on Sept. 9.

The proclamation also activates an assistance program for Madison County. That provides up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The money can be used for things like car repairs, clothing, food and temporary housing.