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Branstad will sign education reform bill at school

News

June 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad will head to a Des Moines high school to sign an education reform bill into law. Branstad plans to sign the bill in the auditorium of Des Moines North High School on Monday morning. The education plan approved by the Legislature includes more basic school funding for the next two academic years, as well as increased money for districts that adopt a program to raise minimum teacher pay and offer leadership incentives. A task force will review teacher evaluations and some restrictions on home-schooling will be lifted.

Branstad made education reforms a priority of the legislative session, arguing that Iowa’s public school system has gradually fallen from among the best in the nation to middle of the pack due to years of complacency.

Coon Rapids woman dies in crash near Grand Junction

News

June 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A Coon Rapids woman is dead following a  collision between a car and a Union Pacific train Sunday night, in Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol says 52-year old Kristina Becker-Duroe was killed, when she failed to yield to the eastbound train as her 2000 Mercury Sable was traveling south on X Avenue, at around 9:53-p.m.  The accident, which occurred just north of Highway 30 and east of Grand Junction, remains under investigation. Authorities says Becker-Duroe was not wearing a seat belt.

Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., June 3rd 2013

News

June 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

VAN METER, Iowa (AP) — Republican David Young, who was U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s top aide, is running for Iowa’s other U.S. Senate seat in 2014. Young said yesterday that after talking with friends and family he decided to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring five-term Democratic Senator Tom Harkin. Young lives in Van Meter, Iowa, and says he’s looking forward to campaigning.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The drier weekend weather has helped ease flooding in Iowa, but rivers remain high in parts of the state and rain is in this week’s forecast. The greatest flood concerns yesterday were in eastern and southeastern Iowa because the rivers near Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Burlington all continued to flood.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man is charged with attempted murder after police found him holding a hammer near a man who was bleeding profusely. Authorities say the incident happened on a downtown pedestrian mall shortly before 6 a.m. yesterday. Police say that 61-year-old Richard Hoyt told officers that he hit the victim in the head several times because he mistook the other victim for someone he was quarreling with. He’s being held on $25,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Public Health is offering free help during June to people trying to stop smoking. For more information about the service, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go online to WWW DOT QuitLineIowa DOT org.

Iowa officials move ahead with health plan

News

June 2nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A legislative compromise has been struck on low-income health care, but now Iowa starts the complicated process of putting the plan in place. On Monday the state will kick off a series of public hearings to explain the proposed health care plan recently approved by lawmakers. The hearings are a step the state must go through to get federal approval.

But after the dramatic debate during the legislative session, these hearings are likely to stir up little controversy. State Sen. Jack Hatch, a Des Moines Democrat who advocated for Medicaid expansion, says he expects limited criticism. He says, “I think everybody is going to be supportive.” Under the plan, the state will seek federal funding offered to states that expand Medicaid to provide benefits to low-income residents.

Public Intox arrest in Red Oak

News

June 1st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Saturday evening, of 51-year old David Lawrence Howe, of Red Oak. Howe was taken into custody at around 7:40-p.m. near north 4th & Linden Streets, on a charge of Public Intoxication. He was being held Saturday night in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Branstad declares 17 new counties disaster areas

News

June 1st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and other state and federal agencies, are working closely with local emergency management agencies to assist communities in preparing for and responding to flooding. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Johnston has been activated to enable agencies to coordinate response activities. A Joint Information Center has been established at the SEOC. Today (Saturday, Governor Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for 17 additional counties in response to the recent storms and flooding. Included in the declaration is Crawford, Monona and Sac Counties.

In addition, the Governor activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for Cedar, Chickasaw, Davis, Decatur and Monroe counties. The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov. Applications must be received within 45 days of the date of proclamation. State, local and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials will begin conducting joint damage assessments on Monday. The damage assessments are expected to take several days to complete. The results will be used to determine if the amount of damage warrants Governor Branstad asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the most recent flooding and severe storms.

Probation violation arrest

News

June 1st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a Walnut man this (Saturday) morning. 36-year old Erik A. Appley was taken into custody at around 10-a.m. on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Appley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 cash bond.

ROAD WASHES OUT AT SPRINGBROOK PROMPTING CLOSING OF STATE PARK

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 1st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Saturday, that damage to the entrance road at Springbrook State Park near Guthrie Center, in Guthrie County, has led to closing of the facility. A hole in the asphalt near the entrance to the park was discovered Friday evening and, upon further inspection, it was discovered that a large cavity had developed under the road, likely due to the recent heavy rainfall. After consulting with the Iowa Department of Transportation, it was determined that the road was unsafe.

All of the campers were safely evacuated from the campground and the park entrance was closed. A full assessment of the damage will be done on Monday along with determining a plan for making the necessary repairs. The park will be closed until the repairs can be completed and travel on the road is safe.

New Market Man Arrested

News

June 1st, 2013 by admin

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Friday of 22-year old Cody Carlson of New Market. Carlson was stopped for a traffic violation and then arrested for driving under the influence and open container. His bond was set at $2,434.

Arrests made in connection with shooting on pedestrian bridge linking Omaha/Council Bluffs

News

June 1st, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Two Nebraska men were arrested Friday in connection with a fatal shooting incident that occurred early Wednesday morning on the Omaha side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River, which links Omaha and Council Bluffs. Authorities told the Omaha World-Herald that 23-year old Terrece R. Cox, of Omaha, was booked into the Douglas County, NE Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, three counts of using a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.

Omaha Police also arrested 27-year old Billy T. Kellogg, Omaha, on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. 26-year old Shamari Richards, of Omaha, was killed during the shooting, which happened at around 1:15-a.m., Wednesday. Two other men, 29-year old Kevin Jenkins, and 19-year old Jeremy Fejeran, also were shot, but have since been released from a hospital.