Monday, January 31, 2011

Get Ready for Lousy Weather

A winter storm will sweep into Iowa beginning tonight and erase memories of a recent spell of warmer weather with an in-your-face brew of snow, wind and cold. The National Weather Service says temperatures will drop into the teens by nightfall. The brunt of the storm will hit tomorrow afternoon and evening as 6 to 10 inches of snow is dumped in central Iowa, temperatures drop to around zero and winds blow at 25 to 30 mph.

Cunningham Sentenced

Ramona Cunningham, a high school dropout who rose to lead central Iowa's best-known job training agency, will now spend at least six years working behind bars. The Des Moines Register reports Cunningham, former executive director of the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium, was sentenced to seven years in prison today for her role at the head of an alleged three-year conspiracy to misuse as much as $2.5 million in money intended for CIETC's job programs.

Branstad Proposes Economic Development Shakeup

Gov. Branstad's got a plan to replace the Iowa Department of Economic Development with a public-private entity he says would be more friendly to businesses. The new agency will be called the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress. Branstad says Debi Durham, the director of the Department of Economic Development, will lead the new agency.

Iowa State Football Player Suspended from Team

Iowa State University's suspended Matt Tau’fo’ou indefinitely from the football team for not complying with team expectations and policies. According to KCCI, University police Deputy Chief Rob Bowers said the 22-year-old was stopped by officers early Saturday and his blood tested out above the legal limit. Tau'fo'ou, a senior linebacker from California, was fined and assessed court costs of $250 total in fall 2009 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft.

Gay Marriage Hearing

Opponents and supporters of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage are expected to pack a public hearing at the Capitol tonight. the House Judiciary Committee's approved a resolution that would start the process of putting a same-sex marriage ban before the voters. The full house is expected to debate the proposal later this week. as of April 1, 2010, the state public health department says 2,020 same-sex couples had been married.

Branstad: Raise Taxes on Gaming

Gov. Branstad's proposed a big hike on the casino industry. He'd raise the tax on riverboat and racetrack casino's from the current 22 to 36%. the increased casino taxes would pay for a $200 million cut in Iowa's corporate taxes, which right now are 6% of state revenue. If approved, Iowa could have a gaming tax structure that closely resembling Illinois', which has one of the highest gaming tax rates in the country.

United Way meets goal

Wtih a big push at the end, the Salvation Army says its Red Kettle campaign in Des Moines has reached its annual goal. The fundraiser was left open for mailed donations through the end of January, past the original end on Jan. 14. The campaign total as of this week is $900,496, just over the goal of $900,000.

Apartment fire in West Des Moines causes big damage

A fire that happened Saturday caused major damage. Early damage estimates from the apartment building fire in West Des Moines are close to $1 million, fire officials said. No one was injured in the fire at 6699 Vista Drive, but about 100 people were displaced. The Red Cross has given gift cards to the victims to help them with essentials. Most of the residents are staying in the complex and are moving into their new units today.

Recent snow mobile accidents raise concern

Snow mobile dangers seem to be peaking right now. A snow mobiling accident late Friday in Spirit Lake claimed the life of one person. The driver struck a tree at Isthmus Park and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another snow mobiling accident happened last week when a snow mobile crashed through some ice and went into a river. 23-year old Shawn Berthel of Preston is still missing.

Same sex marriage hearing expected to draw a crowd

A resolution to amend the Iowa Constitution to ban same-sex marriage sits before Iowa lawmakers. The bill would also deny civil unions and domestic partnerships. There is a public hearing tonight at the Capitol building, and so far nearly 100 people have registered to speak. Same sex marriage in Iowa has been legal since a Supreme Court ruling in April of 2009.

Home sales dropped last year

Des Moines area home sales dropped about 10 percent last year, according to the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. The average sale price for the year increased about $3,200 to $160,605. Realtors say overall the market is pretty stable, since it never experienced a sharp decrease or increase in property values. Low interest rates and improved consumer confidence are the reasons 2011 will be a good one, realtors say.

Winter storm expected

A winter storm is expected to wreck havoc on much of the Midwest this week. We'll have a winter storm watch in effect tonight through Tuesday. Snow is expected to really intensify Tuesday afternoon, and should end by daybreak Wednesday. It's a widespread storm that will stretch across several states, with 10 to 16 inches possible in some areas. Not only will we have the snow, but the winds will make for blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibility.

Friday, January 28, 2011

DNR Soon Starts New Cabin/Campsite Reservation System

Iowa's DNR puts a new cabin and campsite reservation system in place February 17th. KCCI reports the new system will have more options, including online cancellations, enhanced search capabilities and expanded call center hours. It also would increase the number of campsites available for online reservations. The DNR also is looking at providing gift cards and incentive programs through the new site.

U of I Possible Medical Records Breach

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is looking into possibility someone violated the privacy of 13 football players by inappropriately accessing their medical records. Current federal law allows access to patient medical records by health care workers with a legitimate reasons to see them . The players and their families were notified of the possible violations today. The investigation's expected to take a couple of weeks.

1srt NWS Spring Flooding Outlook

the National Weather Service's issued its' first spring flooding outlook. It lists the biggest potential trouble spots as the basins along the Big Sioux and Floyd in western Iowa and the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa. The Des Moines and Skunk river basins in central Iowa are listed at normal to slightly above normal chances for flooding. That's good news for Des Moines, Ames and the rest of central Iowa. NWS says it's still early, and things could change.

Brandstad will likely hold closed interviews

Some are pushing for Governor Terry Branstad to interview the nine finalists for the Iowa Supreme Court in public. The interviews with the sixty applicants have been conducted live on the internet this week and there has been plenty of access. Branstad though says he will probably conduct his interviews privately. The nine finalists were selected last night by the judicial nominating commission. Branstad has thirty days to complete his interviews and select the three new justices.

School board member will have shoplifting charge dismissed

School Board memberJulie Walter was arrested November 30th at Valley West Mall after a store security officer saw her leave without paying for a $38 item. She previously explained she purchased nine other items totalling $565 and didn't know the other item ended up in her bag. Now the charge of shoplifting will be dismissed if Johnston completes a first-time offender class and 25 hours of community service by March 24th. School board president Tracy Orman has declined to comment, saying simply it's not a school board matter.

Police chase leads to arrest

A Des Moines man is in the Polk County Jail now after police say they chased him nearly twenty miles early yesterday. The chase started in Des Moines after a police officer attempted to pull over a Mediacom truck that had been reported stolen. The driver, 25-year-old Joshua Harlow, pulled over but refused to comply with the officer's instructions and then took off. Harlow was eventually captured after losing control of the vehicle and ending up in a ditch. He was booked on several charges, including first degree theft and assault on a police officer.

House Approves State Spending Website

The Iowa House has approved the creation of a free, online database that can be checked by people wanting to see how taxpayer dollars are spent. The database will include information on the recipients of state funds and which agency provides those funds. It will also include information on outcomes of past expenditures and the expected outcome of a current expenditure. The database will also include information on tax rates across the state. It may take 2 years to develop.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

State Supreme Court Openings

The State Judicial Nominating Commission's wrapped up the interviews of the 60 people who applied for the 3-open State Supreme Court positions. The commission's going to whittle down the list to 9 names, that will be forwarded to Gov. Branstad. He'll have a month from the time he gets them to name his 3 appointees. In November voters, booted 3 justices for a ruling legalizing same sex marriage.

School Dress Code Action

Iowa's Board of Education's rejected a dress code put in place by the Waterloo School District, saying it goes beyond the authority authorized by state law. schools are allowed to bar clothing but can't demand students dress a certain way. Lawmakers are considering letting districts require a dress code if it improves health, safety or positive educational environment for students and staff. Waterloo's already change their code so it only specifies what students can't wear.

Branstad Budget Proposal

Gov. Branstad's budget plan handed to lawmakers today calls for Casino's to pay higher state taxes, but property owners and corporations will pay lower taxes. his plan cuts 36 state programs. He also doesn’t want to spend money to cover union-negotiated pay raises over the next two fiscal years – which means department managers would probably have to lay off some workers in order to cover the pay raises required by contract for the rest.

Microsoft West Des Moines Data Center

Microsoft's new data center in West des Moines, should should be finished by summer. A company spokesperson tells KCCI their new North American Data Center will help them respond to the demand from regional consumers and businesses for online services availability, and reliability. The center's expected to create 25 new jobs at an average $31/ per hour, with the number climbing eventually to 75. It's also expected to make West Des Moines a hub to other tech-based businesses.

There's an app for that

Could you see this coming? The IRS now has an app for your smart phone that allows you to check on the status of your tax return. You do have to enter your social security number and other pertinent information, but they promise it is heavily encrypted. It's downloadable for iPhones and Droids, and it's free.

Lawmakers look to create jobs

Iowa Senate Democrats have offered an $8.4 million, four-point plan aimed at aiding small businesses and creating more jobs. The “Small Business Works” proposal would reduce employee health insurance costs, provide easier access to credit, slash red tape, and offer resources to revitalize run-down business districts. Democrats said they plan to unveil other employment creation plans in the weeks ahead.

A Lt. resigns

The commander of the Des Moines police traffic unit, Lt. John Scarpino, has resigned. No reason has been given for the resignation, although Police Sgt. Jeff Edwards said it was voluntary. Scarpino was the subject of an earlier investigation initiated by a local drug task force. Sgt. Edwards said it was an administrative investigation into possible violation of department policy. The resignation has ended the investigation.

Payday loans may be capped

Consumer advocates have formed a broad coalition that will push for interest rate limits on payday loans. Rates on those loans now can exceed 400 percent. More than a dozen groups announced Wednesday they have joined the coalition, including the Iowa Catholic Conference and the National Association of Social Workers. They say 16 senators have sponsored legislation requiring a 36 percent interest rate cap.


No Federal or State Charges Against IASB

The Iowa Association of School Boards will not face federal or state legal action related to its former boards actions. The IASB came under fire when it was revealed that officials within the board gave themselves raises in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Association officials told state lawmakers yesterday federal prosecutors reviewed the case and found nothing to prosecute. The Iowa Attorney General's office also said it's taking no action. The Polk County Attorney said his office is still investigating.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Hospitalized Iowa Football Players Getting Better

A University of Iowa spokesman says 13 football players are hospitalized with a muscle disorder following grueling off season workouts. A spokesperson says the players have rhabdomyolysis, a stress-induced muscle syndrome that can damage cells and cause kidney failure in severe cases. The cause hasn't been determined, but all the players had an intense workout before getting sick. All the players are "in safe and stable condition" and responding well to treatment.

Gay Marriage Procedural Test Tomorrow?

The first procedural test in the Iowa Senate on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage could come as soon as tomorrow. Republicans, who are in the minority in the senate say the Democrats are trying to change senate rules to block the amendment from coming to a vote. At issue is Rule 38, which says a bill coming to the Senate will be referred to a certain committee “unless otherwise ordered by the Senate.” The Des Moines Register reports democrats are trying to remove the 'unless otherwise ordered by the senate,' from the rule

Coalition Pushing for Cap on Pay Day Loan Interest

More than a dozen groups have joined a coalition that's again pushing the legislature to set limits on the interest rates charged on payday loans. KCCI TV reports the coalition says rate on some of those loans top 400%. Usually, a payday loan requires proof of income, then you give the lender a postdated check for the loan amount, plus a fee. The lender later cashes the check or gives the borrower another loan if they can't pay. 16 state senators have sponsored legislation setting a 36% cap on interest.

Big Cuts Expected in Branstad Budget Proposal

Aides say the budget Gov. Branstad presents the legislature tomorrow will cut at least $700-million and mean hundreds of state employees will be heading for the unemployment officer. The budget's expected to come in at about $5-billion. KCCI TV says Branstad spokesperson Tim Albrecht says no one should be surprised at the cuts, since the governor's said for months he would take dramatic action to deal with Iowa's money problems.

Iowa Association of School Boards in the Clear?

An Iowa Association of School Boards representative's told the legislature's government oversight committee the group will not be facing any action from either state or federal prosecutors. The association's use of public money was called into question after a Des Moines Register report on association salaries and spending. The spokesperson says the group will keep its' non profit status. But KCRG TV reports Polk County prosecutors are still reviewing the FBI report.

Des Moines PD Lieutenant Quits Under Cloud

A veteran Des Moines Police Lieutenant's quit the force. John Scarpino was under investigation over an administrative issue, but he handed in his resignation yesterday. WHO-TV reports that the investigation has ended. Scarpino had been on the Des Moines force for over 30-years, and had been a lieutenant for 6. Scarpino's troubles may not be over. He was also getting a once over from The Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and they haven't said anything about their investigation

Iowa football players hospitalized

Twelve Iowa football players have been hospitalized, but the University has not released their names or conditions. They did say the players are safe and in stable condition. Athletic Director Gary Barta said in a statement that officials need to determine what happened to avoid an episode like it in the future.

Weekday Farmer's Market possible

Kelly Foss, director of the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market, says the market might expand to weekdays. The Saturday market now includes about 200 vendors, and Foss says that wouldn't be duplicated. The weekday market would likely operate between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., somewhere downtown and include about 30 local vendors. A decision on whether or not the market would be feasible could be made by mid-February.

Unemployment rate down slightly

Iowa's unemployment rate has fallen a bit. December numbers show the rate at 6.3 percent, down three tenths of a point from November. That translates to nearly six thousand in Iowa finding jobs between November and December.

Vehcile traveled a long distance before crashing through a house

The SUV that killed a Des Moines woman in her home traveled at least the length of a football field after leaving the road before going over a retaining wall and into the house. Investigators haven't yet determined why the SUV was so far off course. A police report says that a breath test administered after the crash to Loren Bishop, the alleged driver, did not show alcohol. Tests that would show other drugs are not back yet. 73-year old Mary Miller was killed as she sat on her couch Saturday night.

Many watching the Supreme Court selection process online

For the past two days, candidates for the Iowa Supreme Court have been fielding questions about their ability to handle cases fairly, their trial experience and steps they would take to restore public trust in the bench. Hundreds have been following the process online as candidates are interviewed before the 15-member judicial nominating committee. There are even viewers from Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The process continues through Thursday.

UPS to Close DM Billing Center

UPS has confirmed that it will be closing a billing center in Des Moines. The closings here and at one other US billing center will eliminate a total of 190 part time and full time jobs in the two cities, 80 of those jobs will be from the Des Moines billing center, which UPS said the majority are part time jobs. The other center closing is located in Columbia, South Carolina. Workers in other parts of UPS operations are not affected.

DM School Taxes Could Go Up

Des Moines school board members say they want to explore raising property taxes and redirect district money currently aimed at reforms for low-performing schools and the adoption of state standards. Officials said they expect another tough financial year that will most likely lead to property tax increases and spending cuts. Gov. Terry Branstad is calling for state aid for schools remain flat for the next two years.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Branstad Office Protest

Plans to end programs like statewide preschool while pushing tax breaks for corporations got several hundred people to protest outside Gov. Branstad's office this morning. Mike McCarthy of Des Moines one of them. He's also part of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and tells the Des Moines Register “Governor Branstad calls for shared sacrifice to balance the budget but he balances his budget on the backs of everyday, hardworking Iowans while at the same time cutting corporate taxes and privatizing economic development, and that ain't right.”

West Des Moines Mathnasium

West Des Moines has a Mathnasium, a new math learning center at 160 S. 68th St. It's goal is tutoring students in math from grades 2 through high school. The Des Moines Register reports students will be individually assessed to see if they need to catch up, keep up, or want to get ahead. Students who enroll will have sessions up to 3 times a week. The center will open year 'round.

Plea Deal for Shoplifting Involving Johnston School Board Member

Shoplifting charges against Johnston school board member Julie Walter could be dismissed if she finishes a 1st time offender class and does 25 hours of community service by March 24th. The Des Moines Register reports she was arrested in November at a Valley West Mall store, after security reported she left without paying for $38 piece of clothing.

Iowa's Big in Global Pork Business

The Des Moines Business Record reported Iowa's annual pork exports topped $1 billion last year for the first time. KCCI-TV reports the numbers show for the first 11 months of 2010, Iowa companies exported just over $1-billion in pork products. Since 1998, Iowa's pork exports have increased fivefold and now account for about 24% of all U.S. pork production.

Old West Des Moines City Hall Renovation

It could be a photo finish on finishing the renovation of West Des Moines old city hall, and the 2011 National Main Streets Conference in the last week of May in Des Moines and West Des Moines. Local officials want to show off the building and hope it wins a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification. The LEED state grant comes with $500-thousand, or half the cost of the project, but the contractor managing the job is behind on paperwork to get that certification.

Child porn charges for two Des Moines men

Police and U.S. marshals arrested two Des Moines men yesterday on child porn charges. Bradley Harold Miller and Jesse Robert Fells were taken into custody after police and marshals executed separate search warrants in September and found pornographic images and videos of minors on both suspects’ computers. Both suspects were indicted after a federal grand jury hearing last week, and police have since turned the men over to U.S. marshals.

HP expected to expand

An expansion by Hewlett Packard could mean 150 new jobs in Des Moines. The City Council yesterday approved HP's plans to apply for $1.6 million in state economic development aid to help launch the $14 million expansion project at 3600 Army Post Road. HP's expansion plans would almost double the size of their current facility and would generate an extra $450,000 in property tax revenue after a three year abatement expires.

Insurance tax could be eliminated

State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would eliminate a small tax on insurance companies that decide to move their headquarters to Iowa. Right now, insurance companies that move into the state have to pay a $10,000 transfer tax. Sen. Swati Dandekar of Marion says this is just an effort to be welcoming. The bill was approved in a subcommittee meeting in the Iowa Senate yesterday.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Branstad Proposing No Growth School Budgets

The are reports Gov. Branstad's going to propose Thursday no budgetary growth for the next 2 years for Iowa public schools. The Des Moines Register says that would men no school district would be allowed to expand their budgets unless there's a big jump in enrollment. Inflation makes a no growth budget impossible for hundreds of districts, and education supporters say the only way for no growth to work, is for massive cuts.

Headaches Come With New Carry Permit Law

The new state law that makes it easier for Iowans to get carry permits has cities and counties statewide considering bans on weapons in courthouses and other buildings. The Des Moines Register says communities that have such bans are looking into reinforcing them, and in the past few weeks, some councils and boards have made their first declaration that no one, even permit holders, can bring a gun into certain government buildings.

Same Sex Marriage Ban Moves Forward

A House Judiciary Subcommittee's approved a bill that would end with voters getting the final say on banning same sex marriage. KCCI-TV reports the full committee's expected to do so as well. The proposal's expected to pass the full house but state Senate leaders promise to block it.

Branstad's Not Liking State Subsidies for New Amtrak Service

Gov. Branstad's got a problem with possible $3-million/year state subsidy for a proposed Amtrak line from Iowa City to Chicago. The Governor says the $310 million project, which involves Illinois, includes money to upgrade the Iowa Interstate Railroads tracks, and he says the railroad could be asked to help pay for part of it. If the Iowa doesn't provide matching funds, the state will lose $80 million in federal funds already committed.

JCPenney Closing One Des Moines Store

JCPenney's shutting down its' store in the Southridge Mall. According to an ABC5 report, the store's doors will close June 1st. There are 76-employees who'll be affected. A company spokesperson says the Southridge store wasn't meeting sales targets. JCPenney's also winding down its catalog business and outlet operations.

Job fair a success

About 200 people participated in the Hope at Work Ministry Job Fair at the Lutheran Church of Hope on Saturday. Brian Berry with the Palmer Group, one of 30 employers who participated in the job fair, told our news partners at KCCI they're seeing growth in companies of all sizes, and all of them seem to be hiring.

Gun permits easier to get, but guns can't be just anywhere

A new law took effect January 1st that requires county sheriffs to approve gun permit applications, without restrictions, in all but very narrow circumstances. That has led to a big spike in gun permit applications. And now it looks like it has counties and cities across the state to considering bans on weapons at courthouses and other government buildings. Many of these groups already had bans in place, but they're more prominent now. Councils and boards have declared that no one, even permit holders, may bring a gun into certain government buildings. Waterloo just passed a ban last week. Des Moines is debating it.

Dog house may have caused fire

Firefighters say a heated dog house may have caused a Saturday night fire at 1616 Porter Ave in South Des Moines. The fire originated on the home's deck, burning the siding and entering the attic. Firefighters got the flames out quickly, but not before the fire cause $75,000 in damage. A plastic doghouse with a heat lamp had been on the deck. There were no injuries.

Iowa Association of School Boards investigated

The Iowa Legislature's Government Oversight Committee held hearings last week after an investigation by the Des Moines Register turned up allegations of misspent taxpayer money and conflicts of interest by the Iowa Association of School Boards. The school board association disclosed during the hearing that it owes consultants more than $2 million, and that the Skills Iowa program double-billed taxpayers for $500,000 worth of expenses last year. The program helps Iowa schools with short-term borrowing, and could slow that process down this year.

Still time for a flu shot

The state says flu season is definitely here, but has not peaked yet. In fact the peak could still be three or four weeks away. Three different flu strains are circulating at once this year. The H1N1 virus is affecting primarily children this year. The A strain and B strains of the flu virus are also making the rounds. A flu shot covers all three. Those are widely available at most pharmacies.

Supreme Court search will narrow this week

The process begins this week to fill three seats on the Iowa Supreme Court. The state's judicial nominating commission is interviewing 60 applicants for the positions. Then the commission forwards 9 finalist names to Gov. Terry Branstad. The governor says he'll quiz the finalists about their legal experience and philosophy but won't ask about specific cases. Branstad says he just wants the judges to be fair-minded and credible. The Iowa Supreme Court hasn't had three seats open at once since 1962.

Clerk Bashes Wold-Be Robber with Hammer

Police said a convenience store clerk fought back during an attempted robbery early Sunday in Ankeny. The clerk said a man who was about 6 feet tall and who appeared to weigh about 250 pounds came into the store wearing overalls and a bandana on his face. The clerk said that when the man ordered him to open the cash register, he took a hammer from the counter and hit the robber on the side of the head. After being struck, the would-be robber left the store without getting any money.

Woman Charged in CHild Death

Des Moines police say a woman who disappeared after the death of her daughter has been arrested on a child endangerment charge after she was found in Indiana. Sgt. Jeff Edwards on Friday says Rachael Pippins moved to Indianapolis after her 17-year-daughter in March. Pippins was living in Indianapolis under an assumed name. She is awaiting extradition back to Iowa

Friday, January 21, 2011

More Ethanol Going into Gasoline

Almost 66% of cars on the road could have more corn-based ethanol in their fuel tanks under an EPA decision released today. KCCI Reports the agency's decided that a 15% ethanol blended with gasoline is safe for cars and light-duty trucks built between 2001 and 2006, expanding an October decision that the higher blend is safe for cars built since 2007. The maximum gasoline blend had been 10% ethanol.

Gov and AG Go Own Ways on Health Reform

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller's joined a group helping to file a federal appeals court brief to support the national health reform law. Earlier this week, Gov. Terry Branstad joined 25-other states challening the constitutionality of the requirement that everyone have health insurance by 2014 or face a fine or penalty. Miller's today joined eight other Democratic attorneys general in filing a “friend of the court” brief in a case to be heard by a federal appeals court in Cincinnati.

I-35 I-29 Snow Gate Work

Iowa's Transporation Department says parts of I-35 and I-29 will be closed next week for brief periods for work on snow gates. KCCI reports I-35 North will be closed overnight Jan. 26 starting at 1A.M., for work on the snow gate at U.S. 30. I-298 North will be closed from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Jan. 28 for snow gate work at U.S. 30 near Missouri Valley.

Bacon Fest

General admission tickets to the 4th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival sold out in just 4 minutes today. There are still General Admission Plus tickets available on line. The Blue Ribbon Bacon Fest is February 26th at Capital Square, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. KCCI TV says The Bacon Showcase is a chance to sample some of the nation’s best bacon brands. There's more on the festival at www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com.

Traffic technology to improve flow

Do you ever feel like you're been sitting at a traffic light way too long? Technology could change how long you have to wait. In fact, in some intersections in West Des Moines -- especially those near Jordan Creek Town Center -- a new program is being installed that will monitor backups. It's almost like having a cop on every corner, according to our news partners at KCCI.







Jim Dickinson is a West Des Moines traffic engineer who says when stop and go traffic is reduced, rear-end collisions can be prevented. West Des Moines is using federal grant money for the new technology.

Fight for preschool bill not over

The broad spending cut bill passed by the House Wednesday night may run into trouble in the Senate. Senate, Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said they've got the votes they need to kill the legislation. The bill would eliminate Iowa’s preschool program, cut money for family planning services, eliminate smoking cessation programs, cancel state university sabbaticals for 1 ½ years and cut off state money to help establish passenger rail service from Chicago to Iowa City.

Flood study shows rivers rising

A study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shows the Des Moines River is rising higher and more often, which means floods like those in 1993, 2008 and 2010 are more likely than previously estimated. The corps requested funding for the study after the 2008 floods. Iowa has asked Congress to include funding in the corps' budget for 2012 to study the reservoirs, which also include Coralville and Rathbun lakes.

Gas prices not going down

It appears $3 gas is here to stay. The U.S. Energy Information Agency predicted Thursday that retail gasoline prices would remain above $3 per gallon through summer driving season, and warned that the price might go even higher. Unleaded gasoline averaged $3.11 nationally, according to the AAA, and $3.10 in Iowa. The EIA said it expects unleaded gasoline to sell at retail for an average of $3.22 per gallon during the peak driving season of April through September.

IPERS Rebounding

Iowa's largest public pension fund is bouncing back. The Des Moines Register said the market value of assets held by the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System has reached a level not seen since the Wall Street meltdown of 2008 was unfolding. Assets are currently worth $22.3 billion. That's up from $19.5 billion since last June. 30. The retirement system pays out slightly more than $1 billion annually in pension checks to retired employees.

Election 2012 to Gear Up Soon

Don't look now, but the 2012 campaign is getting underway. Potential candidates are starting to test the waters, but political experts said there is not nearly the activity in Iowa as there was leading up to the 2008 presidential race. Candidates are starting to making trips to Iowa, but not yet organizing like in the past. The expectation is that candidates will stop testing and start organizing in Iowa within the next six to eight weeks.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Anti-Smoking Debate

Tobacco opponents are not pleased with a budget bill republicans passed in the state house yesterday that ends Quitline, and Just Eliminate Lies, a program that targets young people with an anti-smoking message. The Des Moines Register reports Lorene Mein, a nurse practitioner from Des Moines, says she routinely refers patients to Quitline, a state-sponsored telephone-counseling program that uses specially trained experts to help smokers kick the habit.

Time for the Porn Chat

Des Moines Debra heights Wesleyan Church will join 350-other churches Super Bowl Sunday, to talk about porn. KCCI reports the organizers of the event say generates more money porn than all combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises. Pornography accounts for $70 billion a year worldwide and $13 billion in the U.S. It's 23% of online retail sales. a spokesperson for xxxchurch.com says the down economy-lost jobs, divorce, and sexual dysfunction, is fueling a new porn generation.

Could Be More Floods More Often

An Army Corps of Engineers study says the Des Moines River's rising higher and more often. That means floods, like '93, '08, ands last year, are more like than they thought. The corps asked for funds for the study to look at the river at the Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock reservoirs after the 2008 floods. A spokesperson says the reservoirs were built using flow data that's pre 1960's. The current flow rate's up since 1993.

Lawmakers Move to Block Health Reform Mandate

Republicans in the Iowa House have gotten House File 2 out of a subcommittee. It would negate the federal health insurance mandate that's set to kick in under health care reform in 2014. The bill would give you the right to choose or decline private health coverage and says that no law shall impose a penalty, tax, fee or fine for people who decline to participate.

Tip Leads Cops to Suspected Meth Lab

A Des Moines police officer’s close relationship with neighborhood leaders on the east side led a resident from the ACCENT neighborhood to complain about a suspected meth lab. Sgt. Vince Valdez, checked out the house in the 3200 block of E University Ave, and noticed a strong chemical odor, like the one from a methamphetamine lab. Police raided the home this morning and arrested 4 people on narcotics charges.

Cuts the target of a new bill

The Iowa House voted to eliminate state-funded preschool for all 4-year-olds last night, which leaves the program's fate in the hands of the Senate. The bill would also cut money for family planning services, eliminate quit-smoking programs, and but off state money to help establish passenger rail service from Chicago to Iowa City. The bill would save about $500 million over three years. Democrats argue the cuts are at the expense of Iowa families.

Profits up at Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo posted a $3.4 billion profit in the fourth quarter of 2010. They're the largest bank in Iowa. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, whose headquarters are in West Des Moines, reported $128 billion in new and refinanced mortgages in the fourth quarter, which is a 27 percent increase over the third quarter of last year.

Two complexes sued over bed bugs

Lawyers for roughly 300 current and former residents of two Des Moines apartment buildings for the elderly and disabled are suing over bed bugs. Lawyers filed court papers Tuesday alleging that managers knew about a massive bedbug infestation for more than two years but refused to warn tenants or to properly treat it until they were sued. Lawyers want the judge to certify it as a class-action lawsuit to try to speed things along. The complexes are Elsie Mason Manor and Ligutti Towers.

Taco Johns donates to charity

Taco John’s popular Nachos Navidad promotion raised more than $44,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life during the past four Christmas holiday seasons. More than $11,000 was contributed by Taco John's customers in Des Moines this past season. Taco Johns representatives say fundraising and community service is a big part of what they do, and they're happy to assist.

A challenge for educators in the suburbs

Iowa has seen an increase in the number of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. More than 108,700 qualified in the 2009-2010 school year. That's up by more than 32,000 from five years ago. Suburban Des Moines districts saw some of the sharpest increases. That means more traffic at places like West Des Moines Human Services, and it has educators extra focused on keeping low-income children on pace with the rest of their peers.

More State Fair Acts Announced

Iowa State Fair officials are annoucning two more acts for the upcoming fair. Country music singer Reba is scheduled for Aug. 20 with special guest Jerrod Niemann. Fair officials said Sugarland is scheduled for Aug. 14. Last week, officials said Casting Crowns with special guest Sanctus Real would perform. This year's fair runs Aug. 11-21.

IA House Opens Budget debate

The House has opened debate on a plan to cut $500 million in state spending from a number of programs, but Democrats are focusing primarily on state-funded preschool. House Republicans said they expected to debate and approve the spending cuts Wednesday. The reductions would hit spending in a variety of areas over the next three years. Although the package likely will pass in the House, where Republicans hold a 20-seat majority, it could have trouble in the Senate, controlled by Democrats.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Ex-con Voting Rights

Gov. Terry Branstad’s getting some heat over his order ending ex convicts getting their right to vote restored as soon as they finished their sentences. Some Black community leaders tell the Des Moines Register that discriminates against black Iowans and resembles the “poll tax” of Jim Crow-era laws. Branstad’s office says voting rights need to be earned back by ex-offenders by completing their obligations, including serving their time, paying fines, court costs and restitution.

No Mental Health Cuts

Gov. Terry Branstad's said no to a proposal to cut staff and beds at the state's mental health institutions to save money. The proposal was made by former Gov Culver. KCCI reports the new Human Services Department director says the government's committed to current services at least for this fiscal year, and Chuck Palmer says they might ask for extra money to help keep operations at current levels.

Ankeny Pet Licenses

Ankeny residents who don't license their cats or dogs before March 31 could be fined. A new city ordinance that took effect January first, unlicensed pets will get the owner a $59 fine for the 1st offense, $100 for the 2nd. A current certificate of rabies vaccination is also required at time of application. The point of the pet license program is to make sure there's contact information if the animal's lost and to make sure the pets vaccinated for rabies.

Maplenol Barn

West Des Moines school district's offering land near the Bennett Schoolhouse where the Maplenol Dairy barn can be moved. That's their response to community reaction to plans to level the clay-tile-block barn for more green space at the Valley High School campus. An e-mail from the district says the barn will be torn down on or after May 2nd if no deal's reached for someone or some group to move the barn. The District say it's tried, unsuccessfully, for several months to sell or give the barn to someone who's be willing to move it.

Lawmakers Move Against Same Sex Marriage

House Republicans have introduced a joint resolution that would eliminate equal marriage rights for same-sex couples via a constitutional amendment. According to the Des Moines Register, House Joint Resolution 4 not only would invalidate same-sex marriage, it would also prohibit the recognition of civil unions. 56-of-60 Iowa House Republicans are listed as sponsors of the bill. No Democrats have signed on as sponsors.

More time for gun permit applications

Due to a high demand, the Polk County sheriff's office has extended office hours to submit applications for new firearms as well as applications to carry previously licensed firearms. Temporarily, office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Permit demand has tripled since January 1st.

Superintendent recommends a firing

Des Moines school board members will hold a hearing sometime in the next two weeks to decide whether to terminate a teacher, after unanimously accepting Superintendent Nancy Sebring's recommendation Tuesday to fire the instructor. The teacher hasn't been named, and a reason hasn't been given why the teacher might be fired. The teacher requested a closed hearing, and Iowa law grants it.

Barn not going down without a fight

Valley High School is considering whether or not to tear down a barn on school property, and just two weeks ago it seemed like a forgone conclusion after a demolition company was hired. But now there is a broader effort to save the barn, which according to one supporter, looks a whole lot like West Des Moines used to look and history should be preserved. The barn is over 100 years old. About 50 people attended a town hall meeting last night in support of saving the barn. District officials say they'll decide the barn's fate by March 1st.

Meeting today for flood victims

The City of Des Moines will host a public meeting today for the owners of 59 properties that sustained substantial damage in the August 2010 flooding in the Four Mile Creek flood plain. The meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Goodrell Middle School, 3300 East 29th Street in Des Moines. The affected 59 property owners have been notified of the public meeting, but anyone with input can attend.

Charter school opens

The first charter school in Des Moines is open now. It serves students who haven’t succeeded in a traditional classroom setting and are at risk for dropping out. It gives them small class sizes, individual education plans and lessons focused on hands-on learning. The new school opened Tuesday and holds 104 seventh and eighth graders. The school will add a grade level each year until it serves about 300 students in grades 7-12. It's set up a little differently than traditional schools. The school day runs from 9 to 5, and the school year ends in June and starts in July. Right now there is a waiting list of about a dozen students.

Good for farmers, but consumers may feel a pinch

Cattle prices jumped again this week on the Chicago Board of Trade. Prices are up more than 20 percent in the last two months, providing a boost for Iowa cattle traders. Those with a close watch on commodity futures say the higher prices will be reflected on grocery store shelves by the spring.

14-year old in custody

Earlier this week we learned a church had been broken into and the burners on the stove left on. Now police have a 14-year old suspect in custody after he admitted to breaking into Union Park Baptist Church. Police say there was some vandalism and some items were stolen. The boy has been charged with four counts of 3rd degree burglary, one count of attempted burglary and one count of 2nd degree arson.

Hundreds of Probationary State Employees Could Lose Jobs

Governor Branstad said Tuesday that hundreds of recently hired state workers may get the axe, as part of his effort to create a more stable, and predictable budget plan. The job cuts would primarily affect the more than 1,000-workers who are still in the six-month probationary stage of their employment. Branstad's plan though isn't sitting well with the union representing about 20,000 state workers. A union leader says the governor's plan to cut state jobs is part of a personal vendetta.

Whitver Wins

Voters chose Jack Whitver on Tuesday during an election to fill an Iowa state Senate seat. Whitver received 63.5 percent to John Calhoun's 36.4 percent of the vote. Almost 68-hundred votes were cast. The election was for the Iowa state Senate District 35 seat left open by Larry Noble, an Ankeny Republican, who has joined the Branstad administration as commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Iowa Joins Heath Care Lawsuit

Gov. Terry Branstad has joined 25 other states in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health care reform bill approved last year by Congress. The suit challenges the individual mandate of the health care reform law, as well as the expansion of Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people. A House vote is expected later today to repeal the whole health care law. It's expected to pass, but be blocked in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Run on Gun Permits

The Polk County Sheriff's Office says it's adjusting its' hours to keep up with the spike in demand for weapons permits since January 1st. The new hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Officials say that could also change. Since the beginning of the year, KCCI reports the Sheriff's office has accepted almost 1500 applications for carry and acquire permits. For all of January 2010, 467 applications for permit to carry or acquire.

Hundreds of State Workers to be Laid Off

Gov. Terry Branstad says spending cuts needed to balance the budget will force the layoffs of hundreds of state workers hired during former Gov. Chet Culver's single term in office. At a news conference, Branstad says he'll move quickly to craft a new state budget that will include deep cuts. He wouldn't specify how many jobs will be going, but a spokesperson says it will be in the hundreds.

No One Shows for West Des Moines School Meeting

The weather may have kept people away from last night's meeting to talk about what qualities West Des Moines next school superintendent should have. Noone showed up. There's another meeting on the same subject tonight at 7, at the Learning Resource Center, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway. Residents also can fill out a survey available on the district’s website through tomorrow.

Four Mile Creek Buyout Meeting

Des Moines officials will be at Goodrell Middle school tomorrow night at 6:30 to talk with residents interested in a voluntary buyout of their properties in the Four Mile Creek 100-year flood plain and other vulnerable areas. The city expecting grant money from FEMA for the buyouts. Record flooding in August renewed calls for more buyouts, especially along Four Mile Creek.

Bed Bug Suit Seeks Class Action Status

Lawyers for roughly 300 current and former residents of Elsie Mason Manor and Ligutti Towers, residences for the elderly and disabled, filed court papers today alleging managers knew the buildings had a bed bug infestation for over 2 years, but said nothing to tenants and didn't take steps to correct the problem until they were sued last march. The Des Moines Register reports the papers are aimed at getting the case certified as a class action and moving it closer to trial.

Teen Admits Church Burglaries

Des Moines police say they've charged a 14-year-old boy in a series of burglaries at Union Park Baptist Church at 821 Arthur Ave. There've been 4 reported since last March. KCCI reports the latest was Saturday, when someone did extensive damage to the church's interior doors, bathrooms, computers and other items. The burners to a kitchen stove were turned on but not lit. Police say the teen's admitted his involvement, and he's in juvenile detention, charged with burglary, attempted burglary and second-degree arson.



Accident victim a high school athlete

The victim of a fiery car crash early Sunday was Waukee High School football player Bryant Lashier. Lashier was a junior who also ran track and was a member his school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. He died when the car he was driving crashed on the ramp from westbound Interstate Highway 235 to northbound Interstate Highway 35/80 about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, according to West Des Moines police. He was alone in the vehicle.

Preschool money or cutbacks?

Lawmakers are expected to debate the preschool issue tomorrow, with a public hearing held tonight. At issue, is whether or not taxpayers should cover preschool for all 4-year olds, or just those from low-income families. Numerous studies link quality early education programs to fewer dropouts and less need for special education services. At the same time, lawmakers are faced with spending cuts. Universal preschool has cost Iowa taxpayers about $156 million since 2007.

Hampton teens convicted

Two teens in Hampton are facing charges after a mailbox bombing. An explosive device went off inside a mailbox January 7th. Ryan Huffman and Zachary Bale, both of Hampton, were arrested on suspicion of reckless use of fire or explosives. They each face up to a year in jail and fines of $1,500 if convicted.

Gambling industry picks up

As the economy overall picks up, Iowa's gambling industry makes headway too. Statewide casino revenues dropped for the first time since 1993 during the recession. Twelve of Iowa's 17 state-regulated casinos had higher revenues for the past six months than during the same July-December period in 2009. Statewide, casino revenues were up by a little less than 1 percent for the last six months compared with a year earlier, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. It's not a full recovery yet, but officials say at least they've hit bottom and are on the way back up.

Gamerz = Addicts? Study Indicates Maybe So

New research from Iowa State indicates excessive gaming is linked to depression, anxiety, social phobias and poor school performance. The study found that symptoms such as anxiety and depression worsened when people played enough video games to be addicted. Conversely, those symptoms eased when a child stopped being addicted.

Branstad Wants Sec. Of Education Duncan at State Ed Summit

Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday that he plans to invite U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to headline the education summit he mentioned during his inaugural last week. In a Des Moines Register interview, the new Republican governor said he hoped to hold the summit by this fall. The policy meeting will be aimed at furthering his administration's goal of lifting Iowa's student performance.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Altoona Water/Sewer Rates Up

Altoona residents will notice the charges have gone up for water service with their February water bills. Altoona's City Council agreed to an increase in water and sewer rates earlier this month. The Argus Leader reports water rates increased 23 cents from $5.78-to-$6.01 per 1,000 gallons of water used. The sewer rate's up 35 cents from $6.36 to-$6.71 per 1,000 gallons. An administrator says the hike was in part due to higher cost of treat water and capital improvements by the Waste Water Reclamation Authority.

State Senate Election Tomorrow

Tomorrow's election day for voters in Northern Polk County. They will be picking a replacement for former state senator Larry Noble, who stepped down to head the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Republican Jack Whitver and Democrat John Calhoun spent the weekend rallying supporters ahead of the vote..

Robinson Apologizes

Adam Robinson would like to get back on the Hawkeye football team. He sat down with the media yesterday and publicly apologized for the mistakes he's made, which climaxed with a pot possession bust at the end of the December, and his guilty plea to the charge last week. Robinson, a former Running Back, says he needed to apologize publicly for his mistakes. KCCI TV reports Robinson says he hasn't talked with coach Kirk Ferentz, but hopes he'll consider putting him back on the team.

Iowa Casino Revenue's Coming Back

Iowa casino revenue turned upward in the last six months of 2010. IN a year-end report, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission says casino revenue was up less than 1% over the last 6 months of 2010, compared to 2009. Revenues had been down for the first 6 months of last year, but the 2nd half of the year the state says 12 of the 17 casino's reported an increase compared to the same period of 2009.

Ottunmwa Video Surviellance Plan

The Ottumwa Courier reports their City Council's expected to consider approving a plan for the police enter contracts with business and building owners to put cameras on their buildings for a municipal video surveillance system.. The business or building owner would have to pay what's expected to be a minimal cost for electricity to run the cameras and transmit images back to the police station. The equipment and installation is funded through a grant.

Church break-in was also attempted arson

Police say somone entered Union Park Baptist Church Saturday by breaking through the glass portion of the main entrance door. The officer investigating the incident noticed a strong natural gas odor and called the fire department. Fire officials said the source of the odor was the kitchen stove, which had all of its burners turned on but not ignited. Des Moines police are investigating it as a burglary and attempted arson.



A few holiday closures today

The Iowa Bankers Association says with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday today, 51 percent of banks are closed. Other closures include Des Moines city offices, driver's license offices, and post offices. Ames and Iowa City buses are on limited schedules today, but everything else seems to be operating normally.

Student's death investigated

It's a death that's still a mystery. A student known on campus as "Nabby" was found dead earlier this month on the Luther College campus. Police say he made a 911 call shortly before his death. Investigators are reviewing the call now. The student's body was found Jan. 1 in the snow on the baseball diamond on campus. Police have not said how he died.



Robinson: I'm Sorry

Adam Robinson says he's sorry for the mistakes that ledt o him being charges with marijuana possession, and he hopes he can get back on the team. Robinson was ordered to go through a drug counseling program through the university. He will finish out the year on scholarship, and hopes that when he does so and meets a series of conditions, he can be reinstated.

Some Voters to the Polls Tomorrow

Voters in Northern Polk County will go to the polls on Tuesday to fill a vacant senate seat. Republican Jack Whitver and Democrat John Calhoun spent the weekend rallying supporters ahead of the vote. Former Senator Larry Noble is now Public Safety Commissioner.

Fatal Crash Sunday

One person is dead after a vehicle crash early Sunday in West Des Moines. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. West Des Moines police said they are withholding the victim’s name until next of kin can be notified. No one else was in the car. It happened early yesterday, forcing the closure of the University Avenue exit for a time.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Branstad Signs New Orders

Gov. Terry Branstad's signed a couple of executive orders afterr being sworn in today. One rescinds an order by former Gov. Chet Culver that mandated the use of project labor agreements for state projects totaling $25 million or more. The agreements gave preference to contractors who spelled out workers' pay and benefits. The 2nd rescind an order by former Gov. Tom Vilsack that automatically restored felons' voting rights after they served their sentences.

35th Election Tuesday

Voters in northern Polk County will go to the polls Tuesday to fill the Senate District 35 seat vacated by Larry Noble, who stepped down last month to become commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The Des Moines Register reports the Republican candidate is Jack Whitver of Ankeny. John Calhoun of Polk City is the Democratic nominee. Among the areas covered by the district: Ankeny, Polk City, Elkhart, along with rural locations in the townships of Saylor, Jefferson, and Crocker.

The Shellsburg Warrm Up

Heaters have been fired back up in the east-central Iowa town of Shellsburg, now that the gas is back on. KCCI TV laying pipe hit a natural gas main Thursday, tearing out a 3-foot section of pipe. Alliant Energy got its people out to patch it up, then went door to door dealing with pilot lights for about 2350-customers who lost natural; gas service. they finished a little after 9 this morning.

Branstad's Goals

Republican Terry Branstad's been sworn in to his 5th term as Iowa Governor, and during his inaugural speech, KCCI TV reports he called for radically changing and shrinking state and local government. Branstad says it's time to be "rid of the yoke of government," which he said taxes too much and over-regulates. Branstad was governor from 1983 to 1999.

Critelli Not off the Hook Yet

Des Moines landlord Mark Critelli avoiding appearing before the city's Housing Appeals Board this week, but he has to correct code violations at two other properties to stay off the board’s list next month. Work's needed at properties at 3439 University Avenue and 1517 23rd Street to get Critelli off the board's list. Critelli's the only of Des Moines’ roughly 10,000 landlords with habitual violator status.

Save Maplenol Barn Meeting

A group of West Des Moines residents who want to save the Maplenol Dairy Barn near Valley High School, are getting together Tuesday night at 7, at Faith Tabernacle Church, on 9th Street. The West Des Moines school district's planning to rip the barn down as part of a $60-million expansion and improvement project at the High School. The decision's been criticized by some residents, who gave the school board an earful last Monday.

Unruly passenger arrested

David William Allison was allegedly intoxicated on a city bus yesterday and being unruly in the back, so driver Ronald Bienfang told Allison to stop. Beinfang was training another driver at the time. Allison allegedly came to the front of the bus, bumped Bienfang with his chest, knocking Bienfang’s glasses off, and shoved him several times, according to a police report. Allison allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of .161, more than twice the legal threshold for drunken driving. He faces charges of simple assault and public intoxication now.

Snow blower thieves nabbed

Right around Christmas there were reports of snowblowers being stolen from garages and sheds. More recently, some residents saw two men trying to sell snowblowers door to door. Justin Luncsford and Jason Lathrop have both been arrested now. Police found them after someone reported a stolen vehicle Wednesday night. Several hours later police found Luncsford in the stolen vehicle, along with tools used for committing burglaries.

Supreme Court scaled down for now

The Iowa Supreme Court has three fewer judges since three were voted off the court in November. The interviews to fill the vacant seats happen later this month, and until then there are only four. Iowa Supreme Court Spokesman, Steve Davis, told our news partners at KCCI that the Supreme Court has worked with a smaller justice panel before.






Sixty-one people have applied to become Supreme Court Justices. After interviews, nine names will be submitted to Governor Terry Branstad.

Pertussis vaccines recommended

In addition to flu shots this year, health officials are recommending whooping cough boosters too, especially for those caring for infants. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, jumped 66 percent in Iowa last year with 651 confirmed cases. State medical director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says 90% of adults have no immunity to whopping cough. You may not realize you have it if the symptoms don't get severe, but you can still spread the germs.

Construciton Worker to Receive $21-Million After Paralyzing Fall

An Iowa construction worker who was hurt in a fall while building Qwest Center Omaha has been awarded $21 million for his injuries. Tim Bacon had filed a product liability lawsuit against the maker of a safety line that failed in his 2003 fall. A jury made the award this week. His attorney said Bacon fell 12 feet while working on second-floor fire escape and broke his back, making him a paraplegic.

Iowa Senate Race Heating Up

It's been a whirlwind for the two men campaigning to fill a vacant seat in the Iowa Senate. The seat belonged to Republican Larry Nobl,e who stepped down after he was appointed to head the Iowa Department of Public Safety. With the special election set for next Tuesday, Republican Jack Whitver and Democrat John Calhoun have had just a couple of weeks to campaign since receiving their party's nomination.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Robinsin Takes Plea Deal in Pot Case

Former Iowa running back Adam Robinson's entered an agreement with Polk County prosecutors, pleading guilty to marijuana possession. The 21-year old's been ordered to serve one years probation, pay a $315 fine, and undergo a substance abuse evaluation. In exchange, The Des Moines Register reports Robinson will get a deferred judgment that will eventually wipe the charge from his record. Robinson, was kicked off the Hawkeye team after the marijuana bust December 27th.

Felon Voting Rights

Secretary of State Matt Schultz has asked Gov.-elect Terry Branstad to cancel an order automatically restoring the rights of felons in Iowa to vote once they've served their sentenced. The Des Moines Register says Branstad promised to void the order during the campaign, and return to the having felons petition to have their voting rights restored.

Video Abortion Pill System OK

Iowa medical regulators won't take any action against a Planned Parenthood doctor in Des Moines for using a long-distance video system to provide abortion pills by remote control. The system, allows a doctor here to deliver the pills to patients in remote clinics around the state. Operation Rescue complained to Iowa regulators that the system broke state law, which says abortions may only be performed by a physician

Wells Fargo eliminates another 40 workers

Last July Wells Fargo said it would eliminate its consumer finance unit and merge those operations with Wells Fargo Mortgage and other Wells Fargo units. It looks complete now, and Wells Fargo didn't have to eliminate the full 1000 workers initially estimated. 850 were cut though, with the final 40 from Des Moines this week.

Snow removal has a price tag

The city of Des Moines has already spent 1.4 million dollars on snow and ice control this year. Just in this most recent storm, the city spent between 200 and 250 thousand dollars. The city has about 3 million dollars budgeted, so it will take a mild finish to the winter to stay below that. By the way, property owners have until 7am Friday to shovel snow from sidewalks.

Farmers see higher prices

The US Department of Agriculture says corn and soybeans from Iowa harvests are in tighter supply. That sent prices for corn up 30 cents per bushel, and soybeans up 66 cents. The report confirms a smaller corn harvest in 2010, which was feared after record rainfalls in Iowa in July damaged corn and it was too late for replanting. Together corn and soybeans pump about $12 billion into Iowa's economy.

Home sales up

Some good news for housing. Home sales were up 26 percent in December. That's for the Des Moines metro. The average home sale prcice was $3,033 more than a year earlier at $163,002, according to a report from the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. Group president les Sulgrove says this shows the housing market is stabilizing. Homes sold in December were on the market an average of 113 days.

Layoffs could be coming for mental health services

As a way to deal with budget cuts, the state may have to lay off 136 workers at mental health institutions and cut 45 beds for children at Independence Mental Health Institute. Another option is to shut down the substance abuse treatment program and lay off workers at Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute. There are several moving parts with various options, but it looks like final decisions will come in the next few days.

Four Mile Creek Study OK'd

Five metro communities have signed off on a study of the flood-prone Four Mile Creek area. Last August, heavy rain turned the creek into a river. It flooded a mobile home park and a number of other homes. Des Moines, Ankeny, Pleasant Hill and Polk City, have agreed to split the nearly $600 thousand cost to have a consulting firm look at ways to reduce flood risks. The city of Des Moines is already spending $7 million to buy-out flooded homes in the area.

Wed. Fire Challenging to Battle

A fire on the western edge of the metro challeneged crews forom several communities yesterday. Just after 9:00 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire in a rural area of West Des Moines on Booneville Road. Firefighters say the big problem was a lack of fire hydrants and water had to be hauled in. The house also sat back from the road, which made it difficult for firefighters to get to it. Two rooms of the house suffered extensive damage. No one was hurt. Cause is unknown so far.

Iowa Monks DOnate Casket for 9-Year old Tucson Victim

A group of Roman Catholic monks in Iowa has donated a hand-crafted casket to the family of a 9-year-old girl killed in last weekend's mass shooting in Arizona. The casket for Christina Taylor Green was made by Trappist Caskets, which is owned by the New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque. The casket was customized and blessed by the monks before it was shipped to Arizona. The child's funeral is Thursday in Tucson.

Police: Snow Ordinance Compliance Better This Time

Des Moines police issued hundreds of citations and warnings during the last snowstorm. Police said yesterday that they wrote 201 snow route citations Monday and Tuesday along with 25 snow ordinance citations and 237 snow ordinance warnings. During the previous snowstorm on Dec. 24, officers issued 106 snow route citations and 528 snow ordinance warnings. Police said the latest numbers show a significant increase in compliance with the snow ordinance neighborhoods.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Whooping Cough Shots

State health officials are making a push for adults, especially those dealing with infants, to get booster shots for whooping cough. There are already 651 confirmed of probable cases state wide according to KCCI. The infection can be deadly to infants. state medical director Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says about 90% of adults have no immunity to whooping cough, and often don't know they have it and go about their regular activities spreading the germs.

Bondurant Hunting

Bondurant's City Council's expected to take up a resolution allowing hunting inside city limits at their January 17th meeting. The council's tabled a resolution in December allowing a resident to hunt geese within city limits. City manager Mark Arentsen says if the council can do this with a resolution instead of an ordinance, it would save time and money. There are residents in Pleasant Hill who are already allowed to bow hunt deer for part of the year.

DHS Cuts

The state may have to lay off about 136 workers at mental health instutions as well as accept fgewer children and adults for care because of budget cuts. this is part of the $84 million in cuts state lawmakers mandated for this budget year across all agencies. DHS’s is $27.3 million, or 9% of its operating budget. Lawmakers set a deadline of Dec. 1 for figuring out how to make the $84 million in cuts, but the Culver administration didn’t tell the agencies how much money they’d lose until last week.

Egg Regulation Proposal

former Gov. Chet Culver's called for state egg regulations to make sure there's no repeat of last summer's salmonella outbreak. Legislation drafted by Iowa's Department of Inspections and Appeals would require egg farms to notify the state any time the producer finds salmonella contamination around the hen houses or in the eggs. That goes beyond new FDA regulations imposed shortly after last summers egg mess. Culver's proposal is in the hands of Gov. Terry Branstad. The Iowa Egg Council says it's, open to discussing the proposals.

Des Moines building officially a nuisance

Des Moines city council declared a vacant high-rise in downtown Des Moines a nuisance Monday, with a 7-0 vote. This authorized the city’s legal department to seek a court order to declare the Des Moines Building abandoned and award its title to the city, then the city can try to sell it. Costs to provide heat and maintain the buildng could run the city up to $150,000 over the next several months. They hope to recoup those costs when the building is sold.

Budget shortfall for Polk County

Polk County is facing a 3.3 million dollar budget shortfall for this fiscal year. County administrators say the decline in interest earnings has led to the deficit. Over the next month, county department heads will present their budgets to the supervisors, who are expected to certify the budget by March 8.

Sixty one want Supreme Court seats

When Chief Justices Marsha Ternus, Michael Streit, and David Baker saw their terms on the Iowa Supreme Court end December 31st, that created vacancies that a long list of folks now seek to fill. Sixty one have applied for those three openings. The list of seekers includes Polk County judges, former federal prosecutors, and Iowa Court of Appeals judge, and private attorneys. The state nominating commission will begin meeting the morning of January 24th to begin reviewing the applications.

Everson Trial Opens

The first witness took the stand Tuesday afternoon in the case of a former University of Iowa football player Cedric Everson charged with sexually assaulting a student in a university dorm room in 2007. The jury of nine men and six women was seated Tuesday after the prosecutor and defense lawyer spent more than a day questioning potential jurors about their views on race, alcohol and sexual abuse. Three will later be picked as alternates while the other 12 deliberate.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

State Supreme Court Applicants

Sixty-one people have applied for the three vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court. The list includes Polk County judges, former federal prosecutors, an Iowa Court of Appeals judge, private attorneys and a University of Iowa law professor. The state nominating commission will begin meeting the morning of January 24th in the Iowa Supreme Court Courtroom to interview the applicants, and the public's invited to observe.

Mom Charged with Domestic Violence

42-year old Mirzeta Terzic's of Urbandale's being held at the Polk County Jail for attempted murder and domestic abuse after police say she stabbed her husband Sunday night while he was sleeping. 62-year old Hajrudin Terzic was treated and released from Iowa Methodist Medical yesterday. According to the Des Moines Register, the couples 2 children were home, and their 11 year old daughter called 911 call. The Terzic's 14-year old son was restraining his mother when police arrived.

Winter Weather Injuries

Who says winter doesn't hurt. Lot's of injuries related to the weather kept doctors nurses and staff busy yesterday and today at Mercy Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center West Lakes and Mercy Children's Emergency Center. As of noon today, over 60-people had been seen, at least 15 of them hurt in traffic accidents. The Des Moines Register most of the injuries were from slips and falls--backs, ankles, legs, and shoulders. Another 27 people were treated by midday today at Iowas Methodist and Iowa Lutheran and Methodist West.

What to do about meth

About the meth problem, electronic systems meant to track sales of cold medicines may have backfired. A new industry has popped up where those seeing a profit buy over-the-counter pills and sell them to meth makers with a huge markup. Gary Boggs with the Drug Enforcement Administration says meth producers recruit friends, acquaintances, strangers and even their own children to buy pills. Investigators and lawmakers are contemplating their next step.

Film scandal update

Prosecutors filed felony charges Monday against three more people allegedly involved in Iowa's film scandal and upgraded charges against former film office chief Tom Wheeler. The scandal began in 2009 with rumors that two Hollywood producers had purchased luxury vehicles while making films, used the purchases to qualify for state tax credits and then drove the vehicles home. The whole thing led to the firings of a half-dozen people in the Iowa Department of Economic Development and it may have impacted Gov. Chet Culver in the governor's race against Terry Branstad. Investigators say the more they look, the more they find.

Accident risk with deer

If you've been in a car accident with a deer, you're not alone. Many in Iowa have. In fact your odds of hitting one are 1 in 67 according to State Farm's analysis of 2009 and 2010 crash data. That's worse than any other state except West Virginia. Biologists though claim the herds are being kept under control with hunting, and DNR biologist Tom Litchfield said the state's whitetail population has fallen markedly over the past five years. 136,000 deer were harvested last year.

BB Gun vandals are back

BB gun vandals were out again over the weekend. Police took 21 reports of broken windows in cars, trucks and vans. All of the reports came from the south side of Des Moines. No arrests have been made and police have no suspects. Detectives still are investigating 13 cases of BB gun damage to vehicles on the south side Jan. 3 and 4. They also are seeking suspects in BB gun vandalism on the east side of the city in the mid-December. Sixteen vehicles were damaged in that spree.

Snow blower thefts

At least four snow blowers were swiped over the weekend from the north side of Des Moines. Homeowners told police some locks had been pried open, and there were even some foot prints in the snow, but police have no suspects and have made no arrests.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Hawkeyes miss out on hospital grant

The University of Iowa learned recently that it missed out on a $100 million grant to build a children's hospital. The money was part of the federal health care overhaul, and went to Ohio State. Iowa still plans to build the hospital though -- on the same timeline even-- with the projected opening of 2015 or 2016. The estimated $270 million cost will be paid through hospital revenues, borrowing and private fundraising.

Deadly weekend accident

Two people died yesterday when their pickup truck crossed an Interstate Highway 80 median, collided with a semitrailer truck and caught fire, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Troopers said the crash was weather-related. The accident happened before 4 p.m. around mile marker 96, a few miles east of the Stuart exit. The eastbound interstate lanes were closed for almost four hours.

Library board's final request

The outgoing public library board has urged city leaders to look for ways to restore budget cuts. The library system has seen it's $7 million budget shrink by $935,000 and 0 full-time positions have been cut during that span. Shorter hours and fewer employees has presented a challenge, to say the least. The City Council sets the library budget, and it's up to the library board to decide where to cut or add.

Prestigious honor for Knapp

Iowa real estate mogul and philanthropist Bill Knapp has received the prestigious Iowa award. He's the founder of Knapp Properties and Iowa Realty. The Iowa award is the state's highest award for a citizen. Knapp is only the 21st person to receive it since it was established in 1948. Knapp vowed on Saturday to continue to work to earn his membership in this group of esteemed business and government dignitaries.

Stolen vehicle investigation underway

Des Moines police say a group of individuals crashed one stolen car early Saturday, then took off in another stolen vehicle. The incident happened around Fulton Drive and Motley Street. Apparently one person was injured and then dropped off at Mercy Medical Center. Police are still investigating the case.

Students know their Constitution

Two Johnston High School and Des Moines Central Academy students have been named finalists in the Iowa State Bar Association's "Know Your Constitution" project. Seniors Leah Bowman and Kyle Naig are among the 100 constitutional all-stars selected from more than 1,500 student entries across Iowa. They completed an exam and wrote an essay about a constitutional debate.

West Des Moines parking issues

According to a new study, the Valley Junction Business district needs more parking...867 spaces to be exact. West Des Moines city staff members say there are over 1100 parking spots between Fourth and Fifth streets from Railroad Avenue to Vine Street. They estimate the demand is almost twice that. The city already owns some land that would accomodate 484 spaces, but any more than that would probably require the city to buy houses and tear them down.

Legislature Convenes Today

The Iowa Legislature convenes today in a session focused on reducing state spending and reshaping government to fit the philosophy of a new Republican governor and more conservative lawmakers. In the first days, Republicans will debate a plan they claim would reduce spending by $500 million over three years. Among the reductions are forcing state employees to change health benefits achieved through bargaining to make them contribute to their coverage and a scaling back of state-paid preschool.

Rep. Boswell Reacts to Giffords Shooting

Suspected shooter Jared Loughner is set to be charged formally in the shootings in Tucson that killed 6 and injured 14 including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. On Saurday, Cong. Leonard Boswell spoke with our news partners at KCCI-TV:






Doctors say Giffords was able to respond to simple commands after surgery yesterday.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Adult Charges for HS Student with Gun

A 17-year-old Hoover High School student police say had a loaded handgun's facing prosecution as an adult. Des Moines Police say when school officials first tried to talk to the student yesterday, he ran and tossed his coat into another student's locker. A loaded semiautomatic handgun was found in the coat. His case has been sent to adult court, and he was taken to the Polk County Jail.

No Decision from GOP to Impeach State Supreme Court Judges

The Republican Majority Leader in the state house, Linda Upmeyer, says no decision's been made on impeaching the 4 remaining State Supreme Court justices over the courts decision allowing gay marriage. She tells KCCI the GOP caucus will meet after the legislative session starts next week to discuss what, if anything, they'll do. House Minority Leader, Democrat Kevin McCarthy says impeachment would be an abuse of power the party will oppose.

Iowa Could Lead in Economic Recovery

Iowa has regained only about a third - 19,600 - of the 57,300 jobs lost in the recession, data from Iowa Workforce Development show. And a forecast from Moody's Analytics shows that Iowa won't fully replace the remaining 37,700 jobs until the third quarter of 2012. Sunayana Mehra, a Moody's economist, says Iowa's positioned to recover ahead of the nation. Mehra says Iowa's weathered the financial and housing crisis better than many other states, especially those on the east and west coasts.


Experts say Wellmark Wants Too Much

reports from 2 experts say Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's request to raise health insurance premiums by 11% is excessive. The company, which insures 75% of Iowans who buy their own policies, raised premiums 18% last spring. The company said it wanted higher rates again last November to keep pace with higher prices and more people using medical care . The Des Moines Register reports Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss' decision isn't expected for a few weeks.

A little job progress

Iowa lost 57,300 jobs in the recession, and so far has gained back about 19,600, according to a report by Iowa Workforce Development. Officials there don't expect to have all of the lost jobs back until the fall of 2012.

City council expected to act on empty building

The vacant building at Sixth Avenue and Locust Street in Des Moines is expected to be declared a public nuisance at Monday's city council meeting. This would allow the city's legal department to seek a court order to declare the building abandoned, then the city would get the title and could sell it. A barbershop was the last business there, and that left in August. City officials have concerns over the utilities now, and would benefit in several ways from the sale of the building.

Board meetings...open or closed?

Superintendent of schools in Des Moines, Nancy Sebring, has considered closed door meetings for budget discussions. A new budget committee will meet five times before making recommendations to the superintendent and school board, and private meetings could keep school employees from discussing collective bargaining issues that affect the budget. But Sebring says because she wants the public to have confidence in the process, the meetings will likely remain open.

Shrinking packages common

Maybe you're paying the same amount of money, but have you noticed that some of the products on store shelves are shinking in size? One prominent orange juice maker used to sell 64 ounce cartons, and now the packaging looks similar, but if you read the fine print it's only 59 ounces. Leslie Ware with Consumer Reports says this is common.







Manufacturers attribute this to rising costs for ingredients and energy. Consumers call it frustrating. This happened in 2008 at the beginning part of the recession, and now again in 2011.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Broadway Northwest Madrid Drive

Work on Broadway Street/Northwest Madrid Drive in and near Polk City has shut down for the winter, but residents can expect to see the project continue starting April 1st. The Des Moines Register reports Polk City officials pushed County officials last month for details on where the project stands. Polk City leaders were involved in the planning and are paying some of the cost, but county officials are leading the project.

Emerald Ash Borer

Local governments in the Des Moines metro-area are part of a growing movement in Iowa to head off the emerald ash borer. The beetle kills off health ash trees. In some cases, they're cutting down healthy ash trees, perhaps years before the emerald ash borer spreads across Iowa from Allamakee County, in far northeast Iowa. The tree-eating beetles were found there last year.

Student Caught with Gun

A student at Des Moines Hoover High School was arrested after a hall monitor found a handgun in his possession. Principal Doug Wheeler tells KCCI-TV an upperclassman returning from an off-campus lunch was late, so a hall monitor stopped him to find out why. the student tossed his jacket in someone else's locker. They searched that locker and found a small handgun. The student, 17-year old Kimbron Paige, will be tried as an adult for possession of a firearm on school grounds.

New Goodwill set to open

A new Goodwill Outlet store will open in Des Moines tomorrow, and it will be something of a new concept with goods by the pound. There will be clothing, shoes, books, appliances, and toys sold by the pound. Anything less than 20 pounds costs $1.39 per pound. The cost drops to 99 cents a pound for 10 to 50 pounds and to 59 cents for more than 50 pounds. The grand opening begins at 9 a.m.tomorrow with a ribbon cutting by the South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. The store is on SE 14th Street near Army Post Road.

Bus driver falls ill

A DART bus heading east on Hubbell Avenue in Des Moines struck a stop sign yesterday when the driver suddenly became ill. The driver pulled the bus over the moment he felt dizzy, and by the time it hit the stop sign the bus was moving at a crawl. The incident caused minimal damage to the license plate of the bus and no one was injured.

Bachmann in 2012?

One of the next GOP candidates for President of the United States could be Iowa native Michele Bachmann. Chief of Staff Andy Parrish told the Associate Press yesterday that Bachmann plans to travel around the country over the next few months and campaign for the Republican party. No word on when Bachmann will decide for sure, but her administration says she won't be affected by the decisions of Minnesota Republican Tim Pawlenty or former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Demand up for gun permits

Demand for gun permits is high right now, with county sheriffs across the state reporting that they're getting 10 to 20 times the normal amount of weapons permit applications. A new law took effect Saturday that requires sheriffs under most circumstances to issue permits to carry concealed weapons. Sheriffs previously had greater discretion to deny or restrict the permits. In Polk County, 308 gun owners - or soon-to-be gun owners - appeared Monday to apply for permits or renewals. Clerks at the headquarters office said they typically had handed out about 300 applications in the entire month.


East Village Post Office

Sending out that last letter or Christmas card has been simple for folks in the East Village. But a sign on the door of the post office at East 4th and Walnut reminds people in the neighborhood that that's about to change. They aren't happey -- and there's even a Facebook page, a lot of Twitter activity, and an old staple, flyers. Some ask that hours at the postal window expand, rahter then the office being closed.

Food Bank Shows Increased '10 Demand

The total amount of food handed out by the Food Bank of Iowa grew by more than 15% in 2010, showing that there is still a great need, from people who have fallen on hard times. More than six million pounds of food passed in and out of their warehouse in 2010 alone. But the greatest increase came during the final two months of the year. In November and December alone, nearly 1.2 million pounds of food was distributed, more than 20% more than the same two month period in 2009.

Gas Prices: $4 Possible, $5 is a Stretch

Gas is back up to over $3 a gallon in Iowa. Experts say going over $4 isn't out of the question. Experts at the Iowa Office of Energy Independence expect prices to keep going up. Don Tormey with the Iowa Office of Energy Independence said increased sales in other countries, like China and India, are driving up prices here in the U.S. as well. Here's some good news: we have it a little easier in Iowa. Not only are we sitting a few cents below the national average of $3.08 a gallon; but we have more options. Ethanol blends tend to be a little cheaper.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

New Court Date for Robinson

Former Hawkeye running back Adam Robinson won't be in court until January 14th to deal with his arrest last month for marijuana possession. He was due in court today, but his attorney filed paperwork to postpone the hearing. Kirk Ferentz released a statement earlier this week saying
Robinson's no longer part of the Hawkeye football team.

School Principal Busted

A school principal's in hot water. 36-year old Amy Moore's been charged with theft from s West Des Moines Hy-Vee store December 29th. Moore Principal at Cowles Montessori School in Windsor Heights. The store manager's told police she filled a bag with a few items, then walked out the door without paying. Police say Moore told them she forgot to pay and would pay extra for the items.

Principal arrested

The principal of Cowles Montessori School in Windsor Heights has been accused of shoplifting groceries from a Hy-Vee in West Des Moines. 36-year old Amy Moore of Urbandale has been charged with fifth-degree theft. Greg Holliday, manager of the Hy-Vee on Jordan Creek Parkway, told police Moore filled her reusable shopping bag, looked around, stopped near the front of the store and left without paying. Moore told police she forgot to pay and is willing to pay more than the value of the items now. She claims it's all a big misunderstanding.

Des Moines firm loses big

The state women's prison in Mitchelville is being expanded and upgraded, and Walsh Construction of Chicago has won the $52 million contract to do it. Larson and Larson Construction of Des Moines submitted a bit for 48.9 million, but lost out on the contract because the Walsh bid came in at 46.9 million. Officials are going to check the paperwork to make sure it's all in order and then officially award the contract. That should be done in a few days.

Botanical Garden facelift in the works

A plan aimed at reviving the Des Moines Botanical Center is in the works. It would change the name to Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and expand the center, which could keep it from folding. The city is in no shape to operate the botanical center, according to city officials, so a new long-term lease is being pursued. A nonprofit group organized by business leaders and philanthropists could take over in early 2013. That's part of a $10 million plan that would close a section of Robert D Ray Drive in front of the center to create an outdoor botanical garden that would enhance the campus that stretches back 14 acres.

Bed bugs in Iowa

About a month ago there was a big national focus on the bed bug problem...well now the problem may have hit Iowa, at least in one motel in Cedar Rapids. A family complained to Linn County officials about bedbugs in the rooms at the Collins Inn and Suites New Year's Eve, and the owner was ordered to exterminate. The motel owner said the exterminator found bed bugs in only 2 of 36 rooms.

Iowa economy looks good

What recession....Iowa's economy has grown for 14 straight months now, with strength in seven out of eight areas tracked. Iowa's farm profits and factory hours worked are both strong categories. The only thing down some in Iowa was the demand for manufactured goods. Iowa is still below the national average when it comes to unemployment rate. Iowa's is 6.6 percent while the US rate is 9.8 percent.

More time for taxes

If you're on the ball and you're ready to file your tax return already....welll, you'll have to wait at least a few more days. The IRS is busy adjusting to the new tax code passed by the lame duck session of Congress, and they're not ready to accept itemized returns yet. It will only be a few more days, most likely. And thanks to a federal holiday in the District of Columbia this year on April 15th, the filing deadline will actually be April 18th.

Register Editor to Join Branstad Staff

Gov.-elect Terry Branstad on Tuesday announced that The Des Moines Register's editorial-page editor will leave the newspaper to help shape his education policy agenda. Linda Fandel will become Branstad's special assistant for education, an area she has scrutinized on newspaper pages in more than 30 years as a reporter and editorial writer.

Ernst Wins District 48 Special Election

A special election to fill an open Iowa Senate seat was won by Republican Joni Ernst. With all precincts reporting, the Iowa Secretary of State said unofficial results showing Ernst collecting 4,978 votes to 2,400 for Democrat Ruth Smith uin the 48th District. Both were running to succeed Republican Senator Kim Reynolds, who has resigned because she is the Lt. Gov-elect.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Dems Pick Candidate for 35th Special Election

Democrats have picked Polk City businessman John Calhoun as their candidate for the 35th State Senate District special election January 18th. Calhoun's director of the Polk City Community Foundation and Polk City Development Corporation. Calhoun's Republican opponent in the special election's Ankeny businessman Jack Whitver. The 35th district covers the northern half of Polk County.

Run on Gun Permits in Polk County

300-plus soon-to-be gun owners showed up at the Polk County Sheriff’s field headquarters yesterday to apply for or renew weapons permits. Staff had to work through lunch and many stayed until almost 7 last night getting through all the paperwork. The office says they took in over $17-thousand in fees. The Des Moines Register reports they normally hand out 300 gun permits a month, they easily topped that number yesterday.

Fandel Joins Branstad Team

the Des Moines Register’s editorial-page editor, Linda Fandel, is leaving the world of journalism for government service. Fandel's been picked by Gov-elect Terry Branstad as his special assistant for education. Fandel's been covering education for over 30-years as reporter and editorial writer. Fandel's ongoing project that looks at ways Iowa can have world-class schools captured awards and caught Branstad’s eye.