With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…
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A podcast of the 7-a.m. News with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson…
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Greenfield Republican Rep. Clel Baudler says he’s proud to be named among the “Worst State Legislators of 2013” by a group working to legalize marijuana use. Baudler laughed Friday when The Des Moines Register told him he had made a list of eight legislators that the Marijuana Policy Project considers among the nation’s worst.
In announcing the list, the group referred to comments Baudler made in opposing a medical marijuana bill in the Iowa Legislature. Baudler argued that passing the bill would be “one or two or three of the stupidest bills that’s ever been passed” by the Legislature.
The bill failed. Baudler says he accepts the designation “with pride.”
Police in Red Oak report the arrest Friday night of a man on an assault charge. 22-year old James Leroy Christensen, Jr., was arrested at around 8-p.m. on a charge of Simple Domestic Assault. He was taken into custody in the 200 block of 1st Avenue in Red Oak and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where Christensen was being held without bond.
The drought is worsening again in Iowa as heavy rains are causing devastation just to the south. Parts of Missouri got ten inches of rain overnight (Thursday into Friday), bringing flash-flooding, evacuations and at least two deaths. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service, says there’s a powerful front between bone-dry Iowa and water-logged Missouri. “It’s brought in a lot of dry, cool air here to the state of Iowa whereas down to the south, there’s been an area of low pressure swinging through and it’s not quite reaching us,” Kotenberg says. “The low pressure and dry air is pushing that low to our south, serving as a shield, preventing that moisture and energy from reaching the state up here.”
While areas of southern Missouri have seen 15-inches of rain in the past two days, parts of Iowa haven’t seen more than an inch of rain in weeks, and there’s little hope in the forecast — for either state’s misery.
“We should be dry Saturday, Sunday, maybe a little bit of a chance (of rain) as we head into Monday, but otherwise, it’s looking dry up here,” Kotenberg says. “Down to the south, Missouri will probably be getting more rain this afternoon into Saturday, so unfortunately, it does not look like they are out of the woods quite yet.” A report released this week shows the drought situation worsening in Iowa.
“A good majority of the state is at least abnormally dry,” Kotenberg says. “Basically the only part that’s above average or near average is the far northeastern portions of Iowa. Interestingly enough, Des Moines is now almost one inch below normal on the year, while the Waterloo area is about ten inches above normal for 2013 on precipitation.” A week ago, only 0.02% of Iowa was in drought. Now, about 16% of the state is seeing drought conditions, mostly in the west and southwest.
(Radio Iowa)
A massive facility that will attract gun enthusiasts in northwest Iowa is scheduled to open next summer. Officials broke ground on the five-million dollar project this week just across the Missouri River from Iowa in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The business is called Calibra8 (pronounced calibrate) and president Jason Rainboth says it’ll be the first of its kind in the region. “We’re going to have a 24 lane indoor gun range. We’ll also have an 8-lane archery range indoors, which will have a second tier shot, which is something you never see in an archery range,” Rainboth said. “We’re also going to have a full service pro shop and armory. We’ll sell guns, ammunition, and all the accessories that go along with that, but we’ll also be renting guns.”
The 90,000 square foot facility will also house a 24 hour gym and cross-fit training center, as well as banquet halls and meeting rooms. Rainboth believes the area will eventually host regional and national competitions. “For both the archery and the shooting ranges, we are looking to host IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) events…all the shooting circuits that are out there, we would like to be able to host those on a regional or national level,” Rainboth said. The company will also serve as a firearms training facility for local law enforcement and military personnel, as well as the public. That’s something Dakota County (Nebraska) Sheriff Chris Kleinberg says is an area need.
“Especially in the last year, the handgun purchase permits have been crazy. People want firearms, but the lack of training – with such – is a little nerve-racking to law enforcement,” Kleinberg said. “This facility will actually help with that, which is a good thing. I think every citizen should be armed.” Calibra8 will initially employ around 40 people, but Rainboth said they may eventually need 100 workers.
(Radio Iowa)
After Iowa farmland values hit a record high late in 2012, a new report from the U-S Department of Agriculture shows farmland values nationwide took another big jump this year. The U-S-D-A’s chief economist Joe Glauber says there was an especially big jump in cropland prices on the agency’s new report versus last year. “Farm real estate value this year was estimated to be $2900 an acre as compared to $2650 an acre, that’s up 9.4%,” Glauber says. “If you look at just cropland, the average per acre is $4000, up from $3540, that’s up 13%.” Iowa’s average farmland values last year were more than double that figure. Glauber says the highest prices for farmland in the latest report are in the Corn Belt where the average acre is worth 64-hundred dollars, also up 13-percent. He says there is a ceiling, somewhere.
“Certainly, the idea that we’ll continue to see 10% increases per year, I think, is unlikely,” Glauber says. Farmland values have risen 50-percent in the last four years and Glauber says the reasons include low interest rates and good, strong income prospects. As for 2014, Glauber says the values may not go up quite as rapidly. “People are looking for income levels to moderate a bit after the strong growth we’ve seen and the fact that we may see slightly higher interest rates,” he says. “Both of those would have negative effects at least on the growth rates of land values. I’m not saying that land values necessarily would decline, but the 10% growth that we’ve seen, certainly that’s unlikely to continue.” The annual survey released by Iowa State University last December showed a record average cost of Iowa farmland at $8,296 an acre. The I-S-U survey showed farmland values increased almost 24-percent over the previous year.
(Radio Iowa)
EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLEAR. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. LOW IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. NORTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 60. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Anthony Rizzo had a two-run single, Chris Rusin pitched around seven hits in six innings, and the Chicago Cubs recorded their first shutout in St. Louis in 16 years with a 3-0 victory over the Cardinals on Friday night. Rusin (2-1) twice worked out of bases-loaded jams and only set the Cardinals down in order in the first. He struck out a season-high five and issued two intentional walks.
Kevin Gregg recorded his 24th save to complete the Cubs’ first shutout in St. Louis since Jeremi Gonzalez tossed one on June 23, 1997. Lance Lynn (13-6), attempting to become the National League’s first 14-game winner, labored over 6 2-3 innings despite giving up just three hits. He threw 115 pitches and was charged with all three runs.
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