There are “help wanted” signs in the windows of many Iowa businesses lately as the year-end holidays approach. Many employers say there is a possibility those temporary jobs will become permanent after the Christmas rush is over, but Creighton University economist Ernie Goss is something of a Grinch on the topic. Goss predicts few employers will keep holiday workers on the payrolls very far into January.

“Not many, particularly with health care reform now staring down the face of many of the employers,” Goss says. “When the hours go above 30, they have to provide some sort of health care and that means they’re less likely to do that now than they have been in previous years.” Early indicators show this may be a weak holiday season for retailers in Iowa and across the Midwest. Goss says that doesn’t mean people aren’t spending money.

“One of the reasons we’re not seeing the growth in retail sales we’re normally seeing is, a lot of consumers are buying products we don’t include in retail sales,” Goss says. “That trip to Aruba, those vacations are not included in retail sales and a lot of consumers are spending that way.” On the job front, there are about two-million more people working nationwide now compared to a year ago but Goss says many of those jobs are part-time and most of those jobs are not in the Midwest.

(Radio Iowa)

A Council Bluffs woman who was struck by a car Sunday night, suffered from a fractured leg, ribs, lacerations and other, non-life threatening injuries. Bluffs Police said 64-year old Charlotte Meyer was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center following the accident that occurred at around 6:50-p.m., near the Pilot Truck Stop at 2647 S. 24th Street, in Council Bluffs.

The driver of the vehicle, 66-year old Cheryl Larson, of Omaha, told police
she was traveling North on South 24th Street, and had stopped at the traffic lights of South 24th and 27th Avenue. A male pedestrian and Meyer, were wearing dark clothing. That, along with the rain and limited visibility she said, made it difficult to see both pedestrians. Larson swerved to avoid hitting the unidentified male, but was unable to avoid hitting Meyer.

Following the collision, Larson remained at the scene until Police arrived and could interview her. Officers indicated in their report neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the accident. No charges have been filed.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several flood warnings have been issued in southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa after prolonged steady rain in the area. Heavy rain fell in the area where Nebraska and Iowa meet Saturday night. More than two inches of rain was recorded in some places between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa GovernorTerry Branstad — a graying little man who relies on Midwestern stick-to-itiveness rather than personal flair — is about to enter the political record books as the longest serving governor in American history, dating all the way back to colonial times. On December 14th, the six-term Republican will mark his 7,642nd day of service as governor.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A 21-year-old man who called police to report an attempted burglary wound up being arrested himself. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports the man called police to his apartment around 10:40 p.m. to report that someone had tried to break in. The officers who responded asked if they could look around for a suspect. While doing that, the officers saw marijuana stems and seeds in plain view and later found two grams of the drug.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Crews have begun mapping the bottom of the Cedar River as part of an effort to develop a $2.6 million whitewater park and kayak course near downtown Waterloo. The Courier reports a few people were out on the river Saturday in a boat equipped with expensive sonar equipment.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Several flood warnings have been issued in southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa after prolonged steady rain in the area. The National Weather Service issued the flood warnings for several areas around the Missouri River in southeast Nebraska and around the Nishnabotna River in western Iowa.

Heavy rain fell in the area where Nebraska and Iowa meet Saturday night. More than two inches of rain was recorded in some places between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday, and the rain was continuing. The Weather Service says moderate flooding is possible over the next couple days along those rivers.

A Marshalltown man suffered a self-inflicted injury to his hand from a shotgun slug while deer hunting Sunday in Palo Alto County. The Iowa DNR says 70-year old David William Clark was sitting on a log with his loaded shotgun when it discharged as he was changing position striking him in the hand at approximately 7:45 a.m. Sunday at Basswood Recreation Area approximately one mile west of Emmetsburg.

Clark was taken to Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg where he was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury. The incident remains under investigated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The Iowa DNR says a man from Worthington was injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while trapping Sunday in Delaware County. 51-year old Carey Ahlers, Jr., was attempting to load his .22 caliber handgun while checking traps when it discharged striking him in the leg.

He was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque where he was being treated for what is believed to be a non-life-threatening injury. The incident occurred at approximately 9 a.m. approximately four miles north of Hopkinton.

The incident remains under investigated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An Omaha man killed in a plane crash on Interstate 29 in western Iowa this week headed an Omaha, Nebraska, investment advisory firm and brokerage and was a longtime Iowa State University supporter. The Omaha World-Herald reports John Warren Rogers was president and CEO of Westchester Capital Management in Omaha.

Authorities say the 65-year-old Rogers was flying the plane that crashed Thursday morning shortly after taking off from Eppley Airfield in Omaha. Rogers’ flight plan listed Trinidad, Colorado, and Chandler Arizona, as destinations.

Rogers graduated from the Iowa State University’s School of Architecture and studied finance with the Securities Industry Institute and the Wharton School of Business. He was a governor of the Iowa State University Foundation, a lifetime title that indicates he was a university supporter.

Officials with the Southwest Iowa Nature Trails Project, Inc. and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, remind the public that the Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a Wildlife Refuge, and that Hunting is strictly prohibited, as well as the use of any unauthorized motor vehicles. Trespassers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you see any hunting, use of ATV’s, snowmobiles or other vehicles, and/or horses used in undesignated areas, make as many notes as possible and immediately contact the appropriate County Sheriff’s Department.

The 63-mile long rail-trail converted Wabash Trace Nature Trail runs from Council Bluffs through Blanchard, in southwest Iowa, and is accessible from the various towns through which is passes, including Mineola, Silver City, Malvern, Imogene, Shenandoah and Coin. Biking, hiking and cross-country skiing can all be enjoyed on the trail, where tunnels created by trees create a welcome sanctuary from the wind. The trail’s corridor provides a great habitat for deer, pheasants and other animals.

If you have any questions regarding regulations pertaining to the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, go to www.wabashtrace.org, or “like” the Wabash Trace Nature Trail on Facebook.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A judge is not deliberating whether an Iowa man accused of killing his mother is mentally fit enough to stand trial. The Sioux City Journal reports that attorneys on Friday presented findings of separate mental health evaluations to District Judge Steven Andreasen in the case of 45-year-old Jonathan Neunaber. The judge took the findings under advisement and will issue a ruling at a later date.

Neunaber, of Akron, Iowa, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in death of his mother, 80-year-old Esther Neunaber. Her body was found last July with the body of her husband Donald Neunaber. She was beaten to death, and he had died of natural causes.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a Bondurant man was injured by a gunshot wound while deer hunting Saturday in Guthrie County. 32-year old Shaymus Smith, of Bondurant, was struck in the right leg by a shotgun slug fired from another member of his hunting party. The incident happened shortly after 2:30 p.m., approximately four miles north of Stuart. The slug missed Smith’s bone and arteries. The injury was not considered life threatening.

Smith was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines for treatment. Officials say it’s believed Smith was hit by a shot fired at a running deer. Smith was out of sight from other members of his party due to dense cover. The incident remains under investigatation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.