DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Dog racing could end in Iowa under bills being considered by House and Senate lawmakers. The House State Government Committee and a Senate state government subcommittee approved similar legislation Wednesday to phase out dog racing at Iowa’s two racetracks, in Council Bluffs and Dubuque. But lawmakers say the bill on the Senate side could be changed to allow the possibility of dog racing elsewhere.

The bills would create a fund to offset financial losses for greyhound racers, breeders and other groups. In both Dubuque and Council Bluffs, casino profits pay for money-losing dog racing. Casino operators say they want out of the industry, but members of the Iowa Greyhound Association hope for a deal to keep racing alive. Democratic Sen. Jeff Danielson says discussion on the matter will continue.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Regulators will hold the first public meeting on the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant since it restarted late last year. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to hold the meeting in Blair, NE., on Feb. 27th.  Fort Calhoun, which sits across from Iowa on the Missouri River about 20 miles north of Omaha, had been offline from April 2011 until last December.

Fort Calhoun initially shut down for routine maintenance, but significant flooding in 2011, a small fire and a series of safety violations forced it to remain closed for more than two years. The meeting will be held from 6-9 p.m. next Thursday at the Midland University campus in Blair.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have appointed an interim Director of Mental Health and General Assistance.

Deb Schuler

Debbie Schuler was named to the position, and has accepted the job. Schuler will serve as the MH/GA Director and Central Point Coordinator (CPC), following last week’s termination of long-time director Teresa Kanning for what was termed “Work related items.” Schuler, who has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, has worked in various capacities for 25-years in the Cass County Mental Health system, and built the day program for the chronically mentally ill at Partnership for Progress. She started in the Cass County Courthouse in 2009.

The Board also took action on the vacating of certain roads. Last week, they heard concerns from Guthrie County REC line crew foreman Elden Wolfe, with regard to how the REC’s easement would be affected on the portion of 700th St between Sec 2 & 3, Benton Township. Action was tabled on the matter last week, but during today’s (Wednesday’s) meeting, the Board voted to vacate that section of road, after receiving necessary information and discussing the County’s role in an easement agreement.

A hearing was also held on the vacating of a portion of 740th St. lying between sections 4 & 5, Lincoln Township. After much discussion, the Board voted to leave the road open, but reclassify it as a Class C road, which the County will maintain or repair as needed.

A hearing took place on the closure of a portion of 540th Lane lying between section 30-76-37, Cass County and section 25-76-38, in Pottawattamie County (referred to as Juniper Road). Since a portion of the road is in Pottawattamie County (referred to as Juniper Lane), a conference call was held with the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. The Cass County Supervisors voted to close the road, and while the Pott. County Board was not opposed to it, they could not vote to approve it because action to do so was not on their agenda. They are expected to approve it at their next meeting.

During a public hearing on the vacating of a portion of Liberty Lane lying in section 34, Washington Township, Cass County Supervisors received a request to place a “Private Drive” sign near the end of the road nearest public access, and voted to approve the sign before agreeing to vacate the road. In other action, the Supervisors voted to leave that portion of 756th Lane lying in section 3, Grant Township as is (A Class B road), after receiving both written and oral comment opposed to the closure.  And, that opted to leave that portion of Quebec Lane lying in section 27, Massena Township, as is. The move followed both written and oral objections to closing Quebec Lane.

The County looks at roads best suited for vacating every 5-years, or as requests are received. Vacating certain, little used roads saves the County money by not having to maintain them, but it can also affect property owners who have a stake in getting to their crops, various structures and/or pasture land.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals says a man who fell on an icy sidewalk outside the Shenandoah Medical Center in 2010 is entitled to some compensation for the pain he suffered.  A jury last year had awarded Zachary Robinson just over $4,300 for his medical bills but nothing for pain. He appealed.

The appeals court found the jury’s verdict inconsistent because it identified an injury and pain caused by the fall which it found the hospital partially liable for but failed to compensate Robinson for the pain stemming from the injury.

The court says the case should be sent back to Page County district court for a new determination of damages that includes compensation for pain.