United Group Insurance

NWS Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Tue., March 5th 2013

Weather

March 5th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Today: A chance of snow showers between 9am and 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 32. Windy, with a northwest wind 18 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values as low as 5. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 8 to 13 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values as low as 5. North northwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Wind chill values as low as 5. Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Posted in Weather |

Boys State Basketball Schedule: Tue., March 5th 2013

Sports

March 5th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Class 2-A Quarterfinals:

  • 10:30 am – #2 Nodaway Valley (23-1) vs. #7 Kuemper Catholic (16-8)
  • 12:15 pm – #3 Sheldon (22-3) vs. #6 Pella Christian (20-4)

Class 3-A Quarterfinals:

  • 2:00 pm – #4 Grinnell (20-4) vs. #5 MOC-Floyd Valley (20-4)
  • 3:45 pm – #1 Vinton-Shellsburg vs. #8 Harlan (18-6)
  • 6:35 pm – #2 Dallas Center-Grimes (22-2) vs. #7 Davenport Assumption (18-6)
  • 8:15 pm – #3 Waverly-Shell Rock (20-4) vs. #6 Mt. Pleasant (19-5)

Posted in Sports |

Boys State Basketball Scores: Mon., March 4th 2013

Sports

March 5th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

1-A State Tournament
First Round
  • Boyden-Hull 58, Lone Tree 54
  • Danville 78, Wapsie Valley46
  • North Tama 47, Ankeny Christian Academy 45
  • St. Mary’s Storm Lake 73, Riverside 51

Kennedy Drey scored 33 points and Luke Lenhart added 28 as third ranked Storm Lake St. Marys pulled away in the third quarter in a 73-51 victory over eighth ranked Riverside. Drey also hauled down 14 rebounds as the Panthers earned their third straight trip to the 1-A semifinals. Ricky Williams scored 21 points and added 17 rebounds as Riverside closed the season with a record of 24-2.

2-A State Tournament
First Round
  • MFL-Mar-Mac 67, North Cedar 64
  • West Fork 45, Dike-New Hartford 36

*Winners advance to the Semi-finals on Thursday

Thursday’s Semi-final pairings:

Class 1-A:

  • 10:30 am – Danville vs. Storm Lake St. Mary’s
  • 12:15 pm – Boyden Hull vs. North Tama

Class 2-A:

  • 2:00 pm – Sheffield vs. M-F-L/MarMac
  • 3:45 pm – Winners of Tuesday’s games in Class 2-A (TBA)

Posted in Sports |

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 5th 2013

News

March 5th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says his health care proposal for some low-income Iowans will not provide the same benefits as an expanded Medicaid. But, the governor has called his approach more fiscally responsible. Branstad wants to get federal approval to set up Healthy Iowa instead of pursing a Medicaid expansion permitted under President Obama’s health care overhaul. He says his approach will better shield Iowa from federal fiscal changes.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Voters in Linn County will decide today whether to support a plan to build a casino in downtown Cedar Rapids. If approved, casino supporters would seek to persuade the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to approve the first new casino license since 2010.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A proposal to legalize marijuana for medical use likely is dead for this legislative session. A Senate subcommittee approved the bill yesterday. But, panel chairman, Iowa City Sen. Joe Bolkcom, says the proposal likely won’t go further because there isn’t support for it in a full committee. A House subcommittee has rejected a similar bill.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Snow and freezing drizzle from a winter storm could affect the morning commute for Iowa drivers. The state Department of Transportation says moderate to heavy snowfall from a winter storm will hit northeast and east central Iowa into this morning. The National Weather Service says between 6 to 10 inches of snow is possible.

Posted in News |

Chiefs make sweeping move to keep 3 on roster

Sports

March 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Kansas City Chiefs retained three significant free agents Monday, signing punter Dustin Colquitt to a five-year deal, placing the franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert and reportedly agreeing to a long-term contract with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs had until Monday afternoon to decide whether to place the franchise tag on one of their pending free agents. They did it with Albert, who will make $9,828,000 next season. The decision was made easier by reaching long-term deals with Bowe and Colquitt.

Bowe was the recipient of the franchise tag last year, and despite poor quarterback play and some nagging injuries, still managed to catch 59 passes for 801 yards and three touchdowns. Colquitt earned a trip to the Pro Bowl as the Chiefs’ punter this season.

Posted in Sports |

Lynn struggles with slider as Cards lose to Twins

Sports

March 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Lance Lynn allowed four hits in a three-run first inning and Jason Motte gave up a two-run homer in his second straight outing as the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Minnesota Twins 7-0 Monday. Working on his slider instead of throwing fastballs and trying to induce fly balls into the wind, Lynn gave up three runs — two earned — and five hits in 2 1-3 innings.

Aaron Hicks and Brian Dozier started with singles, and Trevor Plouffe hit a sacrifice fly. Singles by Chris Parmalee and Joe Benson brought in another run, and Lynn threw wildly on Wilkin Ramirez’s grounder for an error that allowed the third run in.

Posted in Sports |

Illinois faces Iowa team looking to build resume

Sports

March 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — During any other season, an early March matchup between the Big Ten’s sixth- and eighth-place teams might mean little. But not this season. When sixth-place Illinois (21-9, 8-8 Big Ten) heads to Iowa (18-11, 7-9), both know they could make it to the NCAA Tournament.

Illinois coach John Groce said Monday that Iowa will be a contrast to Illinois’ last opponent. The Hawkeyes can play 10 players, while Nebraska played just seven last Saturday at Illinois. The Illini won that game only after coming from behind after the Cornhuskers ran out of steam.

Groce said he hopes three of his younger players can build on strong games against Nebraska. Point guard Tracy Abrams, center Nnanna Egwu and forward Myke Henry were all key pieces in Illinois’ win.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa Boys State Basketball Scores from Mon., March 4th 2013

Sports

March 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Class 1A Quarterfinals

Danville 78, Wapsie Valley/Fairbank 46

Storm Lake/St. Mary’s 73, Oakland/Riverside 51

 

Posted in Sports |

Republicans move forward with Branstad tax plan

News

March 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A commercial property tax proposal from Gov. Terry Branstad is moving forward in the Republican-majority Iowa House, while a very different plan has support in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Republicans in a House ways and means subcommittee on Monday approved legislation from Branstad that would gradually reduce taxable assessments for commercial property owners by 20 percent. Branstad’s plan, which is estimated to cost $350 million, would also slow the growth of residential and agricultural assessments.

Senate Democrats have given committee-level approval to a plan that would gradually provide commercial property owners with a tax credit equivalent to a roughly 40 percent tax cut on their first $324,000 in assessed property value. Democrats say their $250 million plan would help small businesses more than Branstad’s plan.

Posted in News |

I-80 bridge at the Casey exit damaged during accident Mon. morning

News

March 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A bridge on Interstate 80 in Adair County sustained extensive damage early this (Monday) morning, when it was hit by the box section of a dump truck.

Photo Courtesy Bob Younie, State Maintenance Engineer (Iowa Dept. of Transportation)

I-80 westbound bridge underpass from Antique Country Drive (Exit 83/Adair County Road N-77) Ric Hanson photo.

I-80 westbound bridge underpass from Antique Country Drive (Exit 83/Adair County Road N-77) Ric Hanson photo.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, 62-year old Duane Nelson, of Casey, forgot to lower the box on a 1991 Mack dump truck registered to Schildberg Construction, in Greenfield. As the vehicle was traveling southbound on Antique Country Drive, south of Casey, the truck box hit the westbound I-80 bridge support beam. The impact tore the box section off of the truck, but it became wedged against the support beam at the point of impact.

The accident happened at around 5:40-a.m. The Patrol cited Nelson for driving a vehicle with excessive height. No injuries were reported. A DOT crewman on the scene told KJAN News traffic was rerouted off of I-80 westbound for about two-hours until the bridge could be inspected. Crews have put a protective “bib” or tarp in-place to prevent debris from falling on motorists traveling beneath the bridge until the beam can be repaired or replaced.

Posted in News |