Cost to Counties of Missouri Flooding

Missouri River flooding cost six western Iowa counties near the river over $200-million in lost crop sales and other economic activity. According to the Des Moines Register, the report done for the Iowa Farm, Bureau, says there's not only the lost crop sales, but also income lost because there were no crops to harvest, and that the report says translates into a loss of economic activity for households in the region.

UNI Study Says Law or No Law, People Will Gamble On Line

A new study from the University of Northern Iowa says whether the legislature does anything about it or not next year, people gambling, with real money, on line are going to keep right on doing it. The Des Moines Register reports the study found about 5% of adults statewide say they've gambled on the web, 2% have done so in the past year. And among kids, 4% of 6th, 8th, and 11th graders say they've bet or gambled money or their own possessions in the past year on line.

Legidslature Leaders Open to Talking About Raising School Spending

The top republican and Democrat in the state legislature say Gov. Branstad's plan to increase school spending puts pressure on them after they cut spending to get the budget deficit under control. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal and House Speak Kraig Paulsen tell KCCI they're willing to consider raising education spending, seeing the increase in state tax revenue.

Top Lawmakers Willing to Look at Higher School Spending

The top republican and Democrat in the state legislature say Gov. Branstad's plan to increase school spending puts pressure on them after they cut spending to get the budget deficit under control. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal and House Speak Kraig Paulsen tell KCCI they're willing to consider raising education spending, seeing the increase in state tax revenue.

Mother, Son to be Sentenced

The former Adair, Iowa city clerk and a former Adair street department employee could get ten years each when they're sentenced next month. Did we mention they're mother and son? Sixty three year old Linda Nichols was the clerk and her 41 year old son Terry Nichols was the city employee and both pleaded guilty to first degree theft after an attorney general's investigation found funds had been misappropriated, not deposited correctly and disbursed without support. The restitution calls for the pair to pay back more than 89 thousand dollars plus a 75 hundred dollar fine.

Ankney Coucil to Bullet Proof City Hall

The Ankeny City Council is considering the public's safety when folks come to council chambers for meetings. City manager Carl Metzger said they'd likely spend the majority of 200 thousand dollars on renovations in their own chambers. That big picture would shrink, and be reinforced with bullet proof glass. The big desk where council sits for meetings would also get a round of bullet proof glass and, Metzger said, the doors to the chamber would be changed out.

Italian Jury Clears Amanda Knox of Murder

An Italian jury's cleared Amanda Knox of murder and other charges, almost four years after she was arrested and later convicted on charges she killed her roommate, Meredith Kercher. According to KCCI, Knox was 20 and Kercher was 21 years old, studying at Perugia's university for foreign students, when Kercher's body was found in the house they shared. She'd been raped and had her throat slashed.