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Cards hit 3 HRs, top Reds, move closer to playoffs

Sports

September 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tony Cruz hit a three-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals connected three times, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Saturday night and moving closer to their fourth straight playoff berth. The Cardinals cut their magic number to one for clinching a postseason berth. The magic number is six for their second NL Central title in a row.

Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk also homered as St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games. Cincinnati has lost six in row and been outscored 30-8 in that stretch. Jason Motte (1-0) needed just three pitches and one out to earn the win. Mike Leake (11-13) took the loss.

Northern Iowa beats Northern Colorado 46-7

Sports

September 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Sawyer Kollmorgen threw for two touchdowns, David Johnson rushed for 173 yards and another as Northern Iowa beat Northern Colorado 49-7 on Saturday to earn its first win of the season.

The Panthers (1-2), with losses to Iowa and Hawaii, shook off the two-game losing streak quickly against Northern Colorado (1-2). The Bears tackled preseason All-American Johnson for a loss on the first play from scrimmage, but in a matter of seconds, Kollmorgen had Northern Iowa on the board after a 22-yard run and a 39-yard TD pass to Kevin Vereen, Junior.

Johnson, bottled up for 80 yards on 31 carries this season, had a breakout game with 109 yards by halftime. Darrian Miller caught one touchdown pass and ran for another. Michael Schmadeke kicked three field goals.

Branstad campaign sets more modest goals

News

September 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Back in 2010, Gov. Terry Branstad pledged to create jobs, boost incomes and reduce government spending as part of his bid to return to office. Four years later, his re-election campaign promises are far less ambitious.

The Republican governor — who holds a significant lead over Democrat Jack Hatch in recent polls — has released just a handful of policy proposals so far in his run for a sixth non-consecutive term. All are modest in nature, dealing with issues like college tuition and Internet access. Much of his campaign trail chat is about his recent achievements in office, including collaborating with the Legislature on a property tax cut and new education spending.

Branstad said the agenda he laid out in 2010 was always meant to take five years, so he’s still working to meet those targets. “In addition to those ambitious goals, we are also spelling out goals I want to accomplish in this coming term,” he said.

Hatch, a state lawmaker from Des Moines, said Branstad doesn’t want to create high expectations for another term. “He can’t even meet the promises he made four years ago,” Hatch said.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sun., Sept. 21st 2014

News

September 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Republican Governor Terry Branstad and Democratic challenger Jack Hatch offered competing ideas on job creation during their second debate. Branstad and Hatch faced off yesterday at a middle school in Burlington, in the southeastern part of the state. Branstad is running for an unprecedented sixth non-consecutive term.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque police officer attempting to arrest a woman suffered a serious knee injury earlier this week. The Dubuque Times Herald reports the injury occurred Wednesday when officers were called to a local hospital for a disturbance. Beck was treated at the hospital for the injury. Police say he will be unable to return to duty for several weeks.

ELDON, Iowa (AP) — Cardinal School District students in southern Iowa who take the bus now have something to look forward to on the ride to and from school. The small district in Wapello County has outfitted its buses with high-speed, wireless Internet, Des Moines television station KCCI reported Saturday. It’s also giving students in grades 6 through 12 tablet computers loaded with educational apps and games.

EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) — Tenants escaped injury after their Evansdale town house caught fire this weekend. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the fire was reported around 4:55 p.m. Friday after three people in the town house smelled smoke and fled with their pets.

This is Your Nishna Valley 09-19-2014

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September 20th, 2014 by admin

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Rice 2 TDs leads Drake over Marist 21-6

Sports

September 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Andy Rice threw one touchdown pass and ran for another to lead Drake to a 21-6 victory over Marist in the Pioneer League opener for both teams on Saturday. Rice connected with Neko Graf on an 8-yard touchdown strike with 35 seconds to play in the first half to give Drake a 7-3 halftime lead. The Bulldogs were up 14-6 early in the fourth quarter when Rice completed a key 11-yard pass to Eric Saubert on third down. The drive led to Rice’s 1-yard touchdown run and capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive.

Rice was 26 of 34 for 248 yards and had three interceptions. Conley Wilkins ran for a 3-yard touchdown for Drake (2-2, 1-0 Pioneer League). Mike Maccarone kicked field goals of 21 and 24 to lead Marist (0-4, 0-1). Zach Alder had his fourth interception in as many games for the Red Foxes.

Iowa woman pleads not guilty in baby’s death

News

September 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman accused in the death of her infant son has pleaded not guilty to child neglect and child endangerment resulting in death. Rebekah Williams-McCarthy, 24, entered the pleas Friday in Woodbury County District Court, the Sioux City Journal reported. Williams-McCarthy was formally charged Sept. 12. The charges stem from the April 29 death of her 2-month-old son, Leonard Williams. She is also charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent person in connection with her two other children.

Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings said an autopsy showed the baby died of malnutrition and dehydration. A bond review hearing for Williams-McCarthy has been set for 10 a.m. Monday.

Earlier court documents filed in the case say Williams-McCarthy failed to take the baby to doctor appointments and did not pick up vouchers for baby formula. The apartment in which she lived with her children was not safe for them, the documents said. Leonard’s father, Michael Williams, 26, has pleaded not guilty to neglect of a dependent person in connection to the death. He carried the baby into a hospital before the child was pronounced dead.

He is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 14.

Iowa rallies, knocks off unbeaten Pitt 24-20

Sports

September 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mark Weisman ran for 88 yards and two touchdowns, including a 1-yard plunge with 6:56 remaining as Iowa rallied for a 24-20 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Hawkeyes (3-1) trailed by 10 at the half but surged when C.J. Beathard replaced starting quarterback Jake Rudock in the third quarter.

Beathard hit Damond Powell for a 62-yard gain to jumpstart the comeback and Weisman followed with a 10-yard sprint into the end zone for his first score. His second score gave the Hawkeyes their first lead.

James Conner rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown but was held in check during the second half as the Panthers (3-1) failed to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2000. Chad Voytik passed for a career-high 250 yards but Pitt’s last-gasp drive ended with an interception.

Journal aims to stoke interest in Midwest history

News

September 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — When a group of historians gathered last spring in Omaha to discuss the revival of teaching Middle America’s history, among their plans had been to start an online Midwest history journal. Instead, this week they saw the University of Nebraska Press send out the inaugural print editions of the Middle West Review, an academic journal devoted to the history of the Midwest and Plains.

The 180-page issue features eight peer-reviewed articles, 18 book reviews and an interview with a 94-year-old former University of Wisconsin-Madison history professor it deemed “the last prairie historian.”

University of Iowa graduate student Paul Mokrzycki, the journal’s editor-in-chief, says it will help preserve the region’s history and provide a place for historians to publish their work, helping them get college tenure, grant funding and book deals.

Bluffs man arrested after high-speed central IA chase Friday

News

September 20th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A man from Pottawattamie County was arrested Friday afternoon, following a 50-mile chase during which speeds topped 120-miles per hour. KCCI-TV reports 31-year old Ace Ivan James Leonard, of Council Bluffs, was defiant even after authorities took him into custody in West Des Moines. Leonard stopped the Scion he was driving on Interstate 80 near the Jordan Creek Parkway, only after it ran over stop-sticks, which punctured the tires, and after officers used a pit maneuver to knock the car onto the shoulder. State Patrol Sgt. Scott Bright said Leonard was barred from driving and had warrants out for his arrest, which is why they believe he refused to stop.

The chase began near Ames on Interstate 35 at around 11:40-a.m., Friday. The pursuit continued southbound on I-35 and entered Des Moines from the east mix-master and onto Interstate 235 just before noon. Leonard and law enforcement vehicles in pursuit of him traveled south near the downtown area and then continued west into West Des Moines and onto Interstate 80. The chase finally ended at around 12:10-p.m. Sgt. Bright said at one point speeds during the chase reached nearly 130 mph, with Leonard driving erratically, including onto the shoulders of the road, and weaving in-and-out of traffic.

As officers were leading the handcuffed man to their squad car, Leonard was seen struggling with them.