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NWS forecast for the KJAN listening area: Wed., Aug. 14th 2013

Weather

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South southeast wind 3 to 8 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84.

Posted in Weather |

Crop conditions worsen without water

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The latest U-S-D-A crop report was released Tuesday, and shows that under half of the corn crop statewide is in either good (39%) or excellent (10%) condition. The same is true for soybeans with 39-percent in good condition and only 9-percent in excellent condition. Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey says there was not enough rain to go around. “Other than a few spots that got some rain, some spotty heavy rains, everybody else needs rain,” Northey says. “I guess it’s August in Iowa and we almost always need rain in August in Iowa.”

Northey has been at the Iowa State Fair and talking with farmers about their crops. “Most places have crops that don’t look too bad, but could really benefit from rain. Others are saying if they don’t get rain pretty soon, that their crops are really going to be suffering hard,” Northey says. The Ag Secretary farms near Spirit Lake.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, Weather |

Farm production costs continue to rise in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The costs associated with being a farmer in Iowa rose by double-digits, percentage-wise, last year.  A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service shows $26.84 billion was spent in Iowa on agricultural production in 2012. That marks an 11-percent increase over 2011. Only farmers in the state of California spent more last year, $31 billion, according to the report.

In 2012, Iowa farmers dealt with the worst drought in five decades, which cut crop yields and hurt livestock production. The biggest cost for Iowa farmers last year was feed, at $4.43 billion. Iowa is the nation’s top producer of corn, soybeans, and pork. Nationally, farmers spent a record $351.8 billion on ag production in 2012.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Judge from Harlan applies for IA Court of Appeals opening

News

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

22 apply to be new judge on Iowa Court of Appeals

A woman from Harlan is one of 22 Iowans who have applied for the opening on the Iowa Court of Appeals.
Larry Eisenhauer — the chief judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals — plans to retire this fall. The state Judicial Nominating Commission will meet Wednesday and Thursday of next week to interview the 22 applicants for the court. Among those seeking the appointment is 51-year Susan Christensen, from Harlan, a district associate judge appointed in 2007 in Iowa’s Fourth Judicial District.

Other applicants include former U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth of Robins, former state Representative George Eichhorn, of Stratford and Jeanie Kunkle Vaudt, of West Des Moines, an assistant attorney general. Her husband, former State Auditor David Vaudt, resigned in May to chair the Government Accounting Standards Board in Connecticut.

Five district court judges and the Muscatine County attorney have submitted their applications for the slot on the appeals court as well. The Judicial Nominating Commission will submit three names to Governor Branstad, who will select one of the three for the opening on the Court of Appeals.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Families honored for Century and Heritage farms

Ag/Outdoor

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey handed out certificates Tuesday at the Iowa State Fari to honor those who have had a farm in their family for 100 years. Northey says the number of farms meeting the mark has stayed pretty steady. “The last few years somewhere between 300 and 400, this year 365 century farm awards were recognized. Amazing to see that many farms recognized,” Northey says. “We have over 17-thousand century farms that have been recognized since the mid 1970’s when this program started.”

Northey also recognized heritage farms today too. “Which are farms that have been in the same family for 150 years. And again, about the same number as last year, we’ll have 67 farms that we’ll recognize that are heritage farm awards this year. That means that they have been in the same family since the Civil War or before,” Northey says. The recognition stirs up a lot of emotion for the families.

“There’s a lot of very happy people and people that think of others that came before them. Some damp eyes in celebration as well,” Northey explains. You can find out more about the century and heritage farm programs on the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s website at: www.iowagriculture.gov.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Special teams feeling special again in Kansas City

Sports

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Special teams haven’t been all that special for the Kansas City Chiefs the last few years, at least, when it comes to the punt and kickoff return teams. The Chiefs haven’t brought a punt back for a touchdown in more than two years, and they haven’t had a kick return touchdown in nearly four. They aim to change all that under the guise of Dave Toub.

He was hired by new Chiefs coach Andy Reid after a successful run in Chicago, where Toub helped to turn Devin Hester into one of the most dangerous return men in the game. The special teams overhaul paid off in the preseason opener. Dexter McCluster had a 55-yard punt return and Knile Davis returned a kickoff 79 yards on a banner day for them.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News headlines: Wed., Aug. 14th 2013

News

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa company is dropping plans to slaughter horses in the wake of a federal judge’s ruling that temporarily banned the practice. The president of Responsible Transportation, Keaton Walker, says that he couldn’t afford to wait for more court deliberations. His company was given federal approval to slaughter horses at the company’s Iowa plant starting Aug. 1st. But a judge issued a temporary restraining order after animal-welfare groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, sued.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered an October trial in a lawsuit that alleges doctors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics conducted an experimental brain stimulation therapy that left a patient’s face paralyzed and then failed to get her proper treatment. Judge Marsha Bergan last week rejected the hospital’s request to dismiss Tamara Stellmach’s medical malpractice lawsuit. Stellmach contends she was injured by a procedure that involves stimulating the brain using pulses of magnetic energy through the scalp. Hospital lawyers deny that.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has again lowered its estimate of this year’s corn and soybean harvest. The move comes after assess the impact of the wet spring in many states that delayed planting and damaged some crops. Early wet weather worries have rapidly shifted to concerns about the return of drought in portions of the dry western corn belt.

ERIE, Ill. (AP) — Federal officials and a Texas company are investigating a pipeline explosion in western Illinois that sent flames hundreds of feet in the air and left a 15-foot-deep crater in a cornfield. The blast occurred around 11:15 p.m. Monday near the town of Erie, about 27 miles northeast of Davenport, Iowa. There were no injuries, but dozens of residents were evacuated for several hours. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said that an inspector was en route to the site.

Posted in News |

Cardinals beat Pirates 4-3 in 14 innings

Sports

August 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adron Chambers singled home the winning run in the 14th inning as the St. Louis Cardinals outlasted the Pittsburgh Pirates and cut into their NL Central lead with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night. Sam Freeman (1-0) allowed a walk in a scoreless 14th for the Cardinals, who saddled the Pirates with their fourth straight loss and pulled within two games of them with a win in the 4-hour, 55-minute game.

Pittsburgh had four hits the first time through the order against Adam Wainwright and led 3-0 after two innings on homers by Andrew McCutchen and Jordy Mercer. They had six hits the rest of the way. Both teams had chances in extra innings before the Cardinals, who had dropped four of five, cashed in.

Jon Jay singled off Jared Hughes (2-3) with one out in the 14th with his fourth hit. Jay stole second and then raced home and beat left fielder Starling Marte’s throw.

Posted in Sports |

Red Oak woman charged with arson

News

August 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

An incident at a group home in Red Oak Tuesday evening has resulted in a Red Oak woman being charged with arson. According to Red Oak Police Lt. John Bruce, officers were called to the Nishna Productions Home located in the 100 block of East Oak Street at around 5:35-p.m., Tuesday, after receiving a report a resident was setting items on fire in her room.

Officers located several burned pieces of paper and noted there was a mild smoke condition within the residents’ room. 18-year old Melody Marie Bentley, of Red Oak, was taken into custody without incident and charged with Arson in the 1st degree. She was transported to Montgomery County Corrections and held on $25,000 bond.

Posted in News |

Beltran in Cardinals lineup vs. Pirates

Sports

August 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Carlos Beltran was in the St. Louis Cardinals for the opener of their series against NL Central-leading Pittsburgh, making a quick recovery from a bruised right foot. Beltran was taken out in the sixth inning Sunday after fouling a ball off the foot. The Cardinals had a day off Monday and Beltran and the team had been hopeful he could return.

Beltran was batting .305 with a team-leading 20 home runs and 62 RBIs. The switch-hitter was hurt batting right-handed and he was batting left-handed against the Pirates’ Charlie Morton, lessening the chance of aggravating the bruise with another foul ball.

The Cardinals added a hitter to the bench, recalling infielder Jermaine Curtis from Triple-A Memphis and demoting right-handed reliever Michael Blazek.

Posted in Sports |