712 Digital Group - top

SW IA Iowa store owner loses jobless pay case over preachiness

News

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

TABOR, Iowa (AP) – A businessman who laced lectures to an employee with biblical references has been ordered to pay her unemployment benefits.  The Des Moines Register says a state judge has ruled against Tyler Stille, owner of Tabor Market & Deli in southwest Iowa.

Sherri Chafin says she quit in January 2012 after he preached to her about the wisdom of King Solomon and questioned her lifestyle. She filed for unemployment pay.  Stille says his employees all knew before they were hired that faith is an integral part of his business.

Administrative Law Judge Julie Elder sided with Chafin, finding that Stille’s conduct was, at best, “inappropriate, unacceptable and unprofessional” and had created an intolerable work environment.

Cut in SNAP benefits is expected to put more strain on food pantries

News

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

One of the region’s largest food banks is bracing for higher demand after federal benefits were cut earlier this month to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Susan Ogborn, president of the Food Bank for the Heartland, says some 420-thousand Iowans receive SNAP benefits which have been trimmed back to 2009 levels.  “When people can’t stretch their food stamps and their personal budgets out across the entire month, they use pantries as support,” Ogborn says.

SNAP benefits were increased by 13-percent about four years ago due to the recession. That extension was only temporary and now SNAP cash cards are being cut by about 11-dollars a month, per person.  “What we believe is, they will use pantries more quickly and more often now as they notice the changes in their food stamp benefits.”

Statewide, the federal government is now sending about 43-million fewer dollars to Iowa for food assistance. Ogborn expects a serious strain on food banks. “That will be on top of the fact that October was our largest distribution month ever,” Ogborn says. “We are starting from a very high level of need and unfortunately, it looks as though it will be going higher.”

The Omaha-based Food Bank for the Heartland helps stock the shelves at 285 pantries, shelters and soup kitchens in Nebraska and western Iowa. In Iowa, about 13-percent of the population receives SNAP benefits.

(Radio Iowa)

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Wed., Nov. 13 2013

Podcasts, Weather

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic, from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

SW IA & NE authorities warn (again) of Microsoft phone scam

News

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in western Iowa and Nebraska are repeating a warning issued earlier, about phone scams involving so-called Microsoft technicians. The Fremont County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office says it’s received several reports from citizens about calls from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support. The caller asked for the potential victims’ account information, but none of the persons receiving those calls complied with the request.

Authorities say if you give the caller your personal information, they can access remotely your information on the computer, including passwords and banking information. The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office Tuesday, also issued and alert to citizens about the same scam. A.G. John Bruning said his office had received six complaints over the past 30-days about Microsoft Technician phone scammers.

The scam works when someone posing as a Microsoft or other legitimate support group (Such as Dell, McAfee or Norton) claim an imminent security threat exists on your computer. Callers may directed the consumer to the utility areas of their computers (such as the system log), to demonstrate how the computer is “Infected.” They will then request to “verify” your information so they can help correct the problem. They sometimes also offer software for downloading to update your current system. The unknowing consumer may then be routed to a dummy website which allows scammers to remotely access your computer, and gain access to your accounts.

Tickets to Iowa bacon festival on sale in December

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tickets to a popular bacon festival in Des Moines will go on sale next month. Organizers of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival will sell tickets online Dec. 12 beginning at 12:12 p.m., at precisely 13 seconds past the minute. The Feb. 1st festival at the Iowa State Fairgrounds will have a Las Vegas theme that pays homage to Elvis Presley. There will also be a bacon-themed chapel for couples looking to get married at the event.

The festival is entering its seventh year and expanding its space at the fairgrounds. Organizers plan to admit 12,000 visitors, a jump from 9,500 last year.

Event to consider extreme weather impacts in Iowa

News, Weather

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Government leaders in Iowa will gather in Des Moines next month to consider the costs and implications of the extreme weather swings that have increasingly hit Iowa. The University of Iowa Public Policy Center is among the hosts of the symposium on Dec. 11 at Hy-Vee Hall. Top Iowa leaders in the fields of transportation, agriculture, higher education, natural resources and insurance are among those expected to attend.

The goals of the event are to better understand the challenges facing Iowa due to extreme weather such as floods and droughts; the cost of the impacts to different sectors of Iowa’s economy; and how to adapt to the change. Organizers say that specific policy proposals could come out of the discussions at the symposium.

Authorities detonate pipe bomb in Woodbury County

News

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ANTHON, Iowa (AP) — The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says a suspected pipe bomb was found near a water tower in the western Iowa city of Anthon. The Sioux City Journal reports someone found the bomb Tuesday afternoon and brought it to Anthon City Hall. Sheriff’s office Maj. Greg Stallman says after the person brought the pipe bomb to City Hall, authorities established a perimeter around the building.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also were called. Stallman says authorities used a fire marshal’s device to move the explosive to a secluded area, where it was “disrupted.” Stallman says it sounded like a shotgun blast when the pipe bomb was detonated.

Authorities continue to investigate the matter. Anthon is about 25 miles east of Sioux City.

 

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Nov. 13 2013

News

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CUSHING, Iowa (AP) — A tie in the race for the mayor of Cushing has been broken by pulling a name from a hat. The Sioux City Journal reports Supervisor David Tripp pulled the name of incumbent Mayor Gary Merkel from a hat Tuesday. The selection broke a tie with challenger Donald Joy Jr. and means Merkel can serve another two-year term as mayor of Cushing. The men had tied with each receiving 22 votes.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Le Mars-based ice cream maker Wells Enterprises says it’s eliminating 58 jobs. The Sioux City Journal reports the maker of Blue Bunny ice cream says the job cuts were needed “in the midst of a challenging economic environment.” Company spokesman Dave Smetter says 38 positions will come from the corporate offices in Le Mars and 20 will come from field staff.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Tickets to a popular bacon festival in Des Moines will go on sale next month. Organizers of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival will sell tickets online Dec. 12 beginning at 12:12 p.m., at precisely 13 seconds past the minute. The Feb. 1 festival at the Iowa State Fairgrounds will have a Las Vegas theme that pays homage to Elvis Presley. There also will be a bacon-themed chapel for couples looking to get married at the event.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Government leaders in Iowa will gather in Des Moines next month to consider the costs and implications of the extreme weather swings that have increasingly hit Iowa. The University of Iowa Public Policy Center is among the hosts of the symposium on Dec. 11 at Hy-Vee Hall. Top Iowa leaders in the fields of transportation, agriculture, higher education, natural resources and insurance are among those expected to attend.

Iowa cattlemen raising funds for blizzard victims in South Dakota

Ag/Outdoor

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association has launched an effort to help cattle ranchers in South Dakota who are trying to recover from a natural disaster. The untimely blizzard that hit western South Dakota in early October killed anywhere from 20-to-30-thousand (20,000 to 30,000) cattle, according to government estimates. Matt Deppe is CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, which is calling on its members to donate toward the relief efforts in South Dakota. Deppe is hoping $2,000 will come from each Iowa county.

“That’s about the value of a bred heifer right now,” Deppe says. The storm that struck the Black Hills on October 4 packed 70 mile per hour winds and left behind snow drifts that were up to 10 feet high. The collection of Iowa donations from cattle producers is being coordinated by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. Deppe says the foundation will send 100-percent of the Iowa dollars to the South Dakota Rancher Relief Fund.

“We’d like to get our donations in by the middle of December and turn around and send right up to the South Dakota crew,” Deppe says. Payments from individuals, businesses and county groups should be made out to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation with a notation that the money is for the South Dakota ranchers. Those donations can be mailed to: Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, 2055 Ironwood Ct., Ames, IA 50014. Deppe is asking donations be made prior to Iowa Cattle Industry Convention in Altoona, December 9-11.

(Radio Iowa)

NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area

Weather

November 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

314 AM CST WED NOV 13 2013

EARLY THIS MORNING…CLEAR. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY…BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 50. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 30. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AFTER MIDNIGHT. NOT AS COOL. LOW IN THE LOWER 40S.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. HIGH IN THE MID 50S.

SATURDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. LOW IN THE MID 40S.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGH IN THE MID 50S.