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About 17,000 “English Language Learners” in Iowa’s K-12 schools

News

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows a small percentage of students in Iowa’s K-through-12 schools are classified as “English Language Learners.”  More than 476-thousand students were enrolled in Iowa’s public schools last year. According to the latest Census data, about 49-thousand Latino students are enrolled in Iowa schools this year — and about 17-thousand students are “English Language Learners.”

That means about three-and-a-half percent of Iowa K-through-12 students are learning English. On July 1st of 2012, the Census reports almost 14 percent of Iowa’s Latino population was under the age of five. More preschoolers in Iowa are Latino than any other race, including Caucasian.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

AHST & Walnut enter into Whole Grade Sharing negotiations

News

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the two area school districts have announced their intentions to enter into  Whole Grade Sharing negotiations. The Walnut Community School District Board of Education voted unanimously during their meeting on Monday, Sept. 16th, to approve a resolution of intent to enter into a Whole Grade Sharing agreement with the AHST Community School District, in Avoca. On Wednesday, the AHST School Board approved a similar resolution.

Currently, AHST and Walnut share all activities for grades seven through 12, and they have a partial academic sharing agreement for grades nine through 12. Walnut High School students currently take a portion of their classes at AHST.

By law, there will be a public hearing 30-days prior to final approval of the Whole Grade Sharing Agreement. The agreement will need to be given final approval by both districts, no later than February 1st, 2014. If approved, the agreement could take effect for the 2014-2015 school year.

Persons with questions about the Whole Grade Sharing process may directed them to the AHST and Walnut Community School District shared Superintendent Jesse Ulrich, at 712-343-6364.

Posted in News |

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Adams & Taylor Counties

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

338 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…

ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

NORTHWESTERN TAYLOR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

* UNTIL 430 PM CDT

* AT 336 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR VILLISCA…

AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…EXPECT DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

CORNING…LENOX…NODAWAY…CARBON AND PRESCOTT.

Posted in Weather |

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for: Montgomery, Mills, Fremont & Page Counties

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

314 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

SOUTHEASTERN MILLS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

PAGE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

EASTERN FREMONT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

* UNTIL 400 PM CDT

* AT 312 PM CDT…SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE

EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COIN TO SHENANDOAH TO 9 MILES

NORTHWEST OF ESSEX…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND NICKEL SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…EXPECT DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

RED OAK…CLARINDA…SHENANDOAH…VILLISCA…ESSEX…STANTON…

COIN…COLLEGE SPRINGS…SHAMBAUGH…BRADDYVILLE…GRANT…

YORKTOWN…IMOGENE…NORTHBORO…COBURG…BLANCHARD…HEPBURN…

PIERCE RECREATION AREA AND VIKING LAKE STATE PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A

BUILDING.

Posted in Weather |

Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Adair & Guthrie Counties

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

GUTHRIE IA-ADAIR IA-

257 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN ADAIR

AND SOUTHEASTERN GUTHRIE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT…

AT 252 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR STUART…AND

MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

HAZARD…QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO

ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHEASTERN GUTHRIE COUNTY.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 79 AND 96.

Posted in Weather |

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Mills, Page & Fremont Counties

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

250 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…

SOUTHEASTERN MILLS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

WESTERN PAGE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

FREMONT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

EASTERN OTOE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA…

NORTHERN NEMAHA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA…

* UNTIL 315 PM CDT

* AT 245 PM CDT…SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE

EXTENDING FROM NEBRASKA CITY TO 9 MILES EAST OF LORTON TO PERU…

MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARD…QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO

ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

NEBRASKA CITY…SHENANDOAH…HAMBURG…SIDNEY…PERU…ESSEX…

FARRAGUT…RIVERTON…COIN…RANDOLPH…IMOGENE…NORTHBORO…

BLANCHARD…CAMP CATRON…WAUBONSIE STATE PARK AND PIERCE

RECREATION AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A

BUILDING.

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE

SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER…INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM

WINDOWS.

Posted in Weather |

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: NW Adams & Cass Counties

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

244 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…NORTHWESTERN ADAMS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…CASS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…

* UNTIL 330 PM CDT

* AT 243 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ELLIOTT…AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. HAZARD…QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS. SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…

ATLANTIC…LEWIS…ATLANTIC AIRPORT…CUMBERLAND…MASSENA…WIOTA AND ANITA.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 59 AND 72.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING. LARGE HAIL…DAMAGING WINDS AND CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. LIGHTNING KILLS. REMEMBER…IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER…YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Posted in Weather |

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8-pm 9/19/13

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK

245 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 530 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT

FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS. IOWA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE:

ADAIR ADAMS APPANOOSE CASS CLARKE DALLAS DAVIS DECATUR FREMONT GUTHRIE JASPER LUCAS MADISON MAHASKA MARION MONROE MONTGOMERY PAGE POLK POWESHIEK RINGGOLD TAYLOR UNION WAPELLO WARREN WAYNE

Posted in Weather |

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Adair & Guthrie Counties

Weather

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

237 PM CDT THU SEP 19 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…NORTHERN ADAIR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST IOWA…SOUTHERN GUTHRIE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA… UNTIL 330 PM CDT

* AT 234 PM CDT…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GUTHRIE CENTER…AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

HAZARD…QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS…SIDING AND TREES.* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE…STUART…PANORA…CASEY AND MENLO. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 74 AND 96.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING. LARGE HAIL…DAMAGING WINDS AND CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. LIGHTNING KILLS. REMEMBER…IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER…YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Posted in Weather |

Autopsy results released in connection with Lenox woman’s death

News

September 19th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office have released autopsy results in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in a Taylor County cornfield on August 3rd, 2013. The resulted determined 31 year-old Maggie Weaver, who was found outside of Lenox, died from an accidental overdose caused by acute methamphetamine intoxication.  Since there were no indications  of foul play the investigation into her death is complete.

Weaver was last seen on July 31st at approximately 10:30 PM when she was waiting at a residence for a ride from a friend.  The friend arrived approximately 2 ½ hours later and  Weaver was nowhere to be found.  Her body was eventually found by friends on August 3rd.

Posted in News |