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Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., May 4th 2015

News

May 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — At the center of the unresolved Iowa budget is a simple disagreement on how to count the money. On one side are Senate Democrats and Governor Terry Branstad, who support using some surplus budget dollars to balance the books. On the other side are House Republicans, who say the state should not spend more than the projected revenue for the fiscal year.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) —As another legislative session winds down with only a limited chance of action on a proposal to keep alcohol offenders out of jail with twice-daily sobriety testing, Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew is discouraged. “This should be a bipartisan issue,” Drew tells the Sioux City Journal.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Public health has been defined by the World Health Organization as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society.” The Press-Citizen reports starting in the fall of 2016, undergraduates at the University of Iowa will have the option of emphasizing either the art or science component as the UI College of Public Health begins two new bachelors’ programs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Since the 2008 floods, Iowa City has purchased and leveled more than 90 homes, but and now the city hopes to expand the effort after last year’s flooding. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the city wants to secure more $1 million in state and federal money to buy nine flood-prone properties along the Iowa River.

Cardinals win in extras again, beat Pirates 3-2 in 14

Sports

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kolten Wong homered in the 14th inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in extra innings for the third straight time, 3-2 on Sunday. The Cardinals posted three extra-inning wins in a row for the first time since July 2006, when they twice beat Houston before the All-Star break and then won at Dodger Stadium when play resumed.

Pedro Alvarez homered in the Pittsburgh 12th inning before the Cardinals tied it on a bases-loaded single by Peter Bourjos in the bottom half. St. Louis left the bases loaded in the 11th and again in the 12th. The finale of a three-game series that totaled 35 innings lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes.

Wong hit his second homer with one out, sending a pitch from Radhames Liz (1-2) into the home bullpen in right. Rookie Miguel Socolovich (1-0) worked a perfect 14th to earn his first career victory.

 

Cardinals’ Jordan Walden goes on 15-day disabled list

Sports

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Cardinals setup man Jordan Walden has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed right biceps. Reliever Sam Tuivailala was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Walden stopped warming up in the eighth inning Saturday. He’s 0-1 with an 0.87 ERA in 12 games with 12 strikeouts in 10 1-3 innings.

The Cardinals also said they would recall lefty Tyler Lyons from Memphis to start Tuesday against the Cubs. The 22-year-old Tuivailala has three saves and has not allowed an earned run in eight appearances covering nine innings at Memphis. The saves have come in his last three appearances.

Tuivailala was a third-round draft pick in 2010.

Atlantic woman suffers burns trying to put out a fire, Sunday

News

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A woman living in an apartment on West 6th Street in Atlantic suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns to her hand and leg while trying to put out a fire this (Sunday) morning. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees told KJAN News said they received word at around 9:45-a.m. there was a fire in an upstairs apartment at 304 W. 6th. IMG_20150503_100825709_HDR

Upon arrival, crews found the victim, 42-year old Angela Jo Hillhouse, and a lot of smoke in the apartment, but the fire was out. During an investigation, McNees observed several candles burning in the apartment, and Hillhouse told officials a candle started the blaze, but the exact cause remains under investigation. For now, the cause is listed as accidental.

Hillhouse was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, for treatment. Her 8-year old son was not injured. The apartment sustained some light smoke and carpet damage. The building houses four apartments, but none of those residences were damaged. The fire department ventilated the apartment and left the scene at around 10:25-a.m.

Hazardous Weather outlook for far west/sw IA 5/3/15

Weather

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-COUNTIES.
405 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015

TODAY AND TONIGHT: THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON…MAINLY ACROSS NORTHEAST NEBRASKA AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES INTO THE AREA. STORMS WILL THEN LIKELY EXPAND OR DEVELOP TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE REST OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA. SOME STORMS COULD BE SEVERE. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WOULD BE THE MAIN HAZARDS.

THE COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF STORMS SHOULD DECREASE AFTER
MIDNIGHT.

SPOTTERS: PLEASE PASS ANY REPORTS OF HAIL OR STRONG WIND ACTIVITY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

Difference over surplus money delays legislative adjournment

News

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – At the center of the unresolved Iowa budget is a simple disagreement on how to count the money. On one side are Senate Democrats and Gov. Terry Branstad, who support using some surplus budget dollars to balance the books. On the other side are House Republicans, who say the state should not spend more than the projected revenue for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The fiscal clash means lawmakers are at odds over how much to spend on individual departments, differing on key areas like education. While Friday marked the final day for lawmakers to receive daily expense payments, they cannot adjourn until they craft a budget deal. Branstad says he hopes they can reach a budget resolution in May.

(Updated) NWS Weather forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA

Weather

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

353 AM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015

EARLY THIS MORNING…WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 45 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS
80 PERCENT.
TODAY...PARTLY SUNNY. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MID MORNING. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.
TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING…THEN THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND EARLY MORNING. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EARLY IN THE MORNING. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH SHIFTING TO THE EAST 5 TO 10 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.

MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. COOLER. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. EAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.
MONDAY NIGHT…THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY. LOW IN THE MID 50S. EAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS 70 PERCENT.

TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF  THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.
WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
BREEZY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 70S.

Speeding in Council Bluffs will really hit your wallet

News

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Don’t speed. And definitely don’t speed in Council Bluffs. The Daily NonPareil reports a study by website NerdWallet.com ranked Council Bluffs as the most expensive Iowa city in which to receive a speeding ticket. The study estimated the “true cost” of a ticket for speeding 11-15 mph over the speed limit is $560.70.

Drivers in Iowa pay $168 in fines, fees and court costs for a speeding ticket, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The total reached by NerdWallet accounted for the average increase in insurance premiums after a citation – $130.90 – multiplied by three years.

Steve Cates, a Council Bluffs Allstate insurance agent, noted that the increased premium for a ticket generally last three years if a driver doesn’t receive another ticket afterward. Jeff Chu with NerdWallet said vehicular thefts, population density, driving record, marital status, employment status, age and gender are among the factors that determine a driver’s insurance rates.

On average, Iowa drivers pay $786 for car insurance yearly, NerdWallet said. After a single speeding ticket, annual car insurance premiums will increase by an average of $104.65, to $890.65 a year, according to the study. The average annual cost per driver in Council Bluffs is $921.60 and $1,052.50 after a ticket.

Cates said he believes rates in the area are higher because of a large number of crashes in Council Bluffs compared to other cities. Bettendorf has the second-highest “true cost” of a ticket, at $553.50, followed by Sioux City ($553.60), Des Moines ($531.81) and Davenport ($529.71). Pleasant Hill ($522.24), Urbandale ($518.25), Dubuque ($513.21), West Des Moines ($502.74) and Boone ($500.67) round out the Top 10.

Other findings in the study, according to NerdWallet:

• The average Iowa driver’s car insurance rate goes up 13.3 percent after a single speeding ticket.

• All Iowa drivers face the same speeding ticket fine of $168, but the true cost of a speeding ticket varies depending on location. Not all drivers face the same insurance increases. After three years, drivers in Council Bluffs will pay $124.83 more than those in Knoxville.

• Four of the top 10 most expensive places to get a speeding ticket – Des Moines, West Des Moines, Pleasant Hill and Urbandale – are in Polk County, the state’s most populous county.

Cards again beat Pirates 2-1 in extras, win in 11th Saturday

Sports

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Matt Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning Saturday and the St. Louis Cardinals once again beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 in extras. The Cardinals have won five in a row. They defeated the Pirates 2-1 Friday night on Matt Adams’ single in the 10th. They’ll close out their series with the Pirates today (Sunday). You can hear the action beginning at 12:20-p.m., on KJAN.

Pittsburgh left a season-high 18 runners on base, Saturday, and the Cardinals stranded just four. St. Louis has won 15 of its last 18 against the Pirates at Busch Stadium. Peter Bourjos doubled in the St. Louis 11th. He was trapped off second by Jared Hughes (0-1) and caught stealing third. Pete Kozma and Jon Jay singled and Carpenter hit a deep fly to left that easily scored the winning run. Carlos Villanueva (3-1), the seventh St. Louis pitcher, went one inning.

Pacific Coast League Baseball Scores (5/2) & Schedule (5/3)

Sports

May 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Saturday’s Games

Colorado Springs 4, Omaha 2

Oklahoma City 4, Iowa 1

Sunday’s Games

Oklahoma City at Iowa, 2:08 p.m.

Omaha at Colorado Springs, 3:35 p.m.