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Bluffs man denied appeal in his murder conviction

News

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Omaha-World Herald reports the Iowa Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of a Council Bluffs man convicted of murder. The appeals court ruled there was ample evidence to prove malice on the part of 22-year old Terrance Burnett, who was convicted of 2nd degree murder in connection with the January 2011 death of 23-year-old Dustin Jones, who was stabbed during an early morning party in December, 2009. Burnett had initially been charged with first-degree murder. Felony Second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of 50 years in prison. Burnett will have to service at least 35-years in jail before he is eligible for parole.

Posted in News |

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Thu., March 15 2012

Podcasts, Weather

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here’s the forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area from Freese-Notis Meteorologist Dan Hicks, and the weather stats for Atlantic (including yesterday’s record-setting High temperature), from News Director Ric Hanson….

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Posted in Podcasts, Weather |

EUGENE FIGGINS, 76, of Atlantic (Private Family Services)

Obituaries

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

EUGENE FIGGINS, 76, of Atlantic, died Wed., March 14th, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, NE.  An open visitation is underway today (Friday, March 16th) until 5-p.m. at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Visitation forEUGENE FIGGINS will also be held Saturday and Sunday, from 9-am until Noon, at the funeral home, where a private family gathering was held at this (Friday) morning.

Eugene Figgins is survived by:

His sisters – Betty (Tom) Pope, of Lewis; Arlene (Dale) Roush, of Avoca; Eilene Toland, of Lewis; & Elaine (Leo) Garside, of Atlantic.

His brothers – Ed (Lois) Figgins, of Atlantic; Robert (Barb) Figgins, of Brayton; also Jim, and Jack Figgins, both of Atlantic.

Posted in Obituaries |

Update: Juvenile faces multiple charges in connection with stolen vehicle

News

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

In an update to a story told you about Wednesday here on KJAN.com, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says a juvenile was arrested on multiple charges, following the chase of a vehicle allegedly stolen out of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. The unnamed male suspect was transported to the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Council Blufs, to be held on charges of 1st degree theft; Felony Eluding; 3rd degree theft; Carrying a Concealed Weapon; Reckless driving; and Failure to have a valid driver’s license.

Danker says the incident began at about 4:40-a.m. Wednesday, when the Washington and Douglas County, NE Sheriff’s Offices and Nebraska State Patrol released a broadcast notifying area law enforcement they were in pursuit of a Ford Escape allegedly stolen in Nebraska. The chase was along Interstate 680 eastbound heading towards Iowa. When the stolen vehicle crossed the State line, Nebraska authorities terminated their pursuit. Danker says his deputies were able to set a perimeter from Hamlet Lane on River Road, north to 130th Street. The suspect was seen by units in the area as he drove across fields and began to follow a fence line south on River Road. He continued south on River Road to the Council Bluffs City limits, in excess of 80-miles per hour.

As the vehicle was being pursued, the suspect drove around a set of spike strips deployed by Council Bluffs Police, by turning west into a field and onto an abandoned set of railroad tracks. The SUV went out of control and slid down an embankment, into a tree, which pinned the driver’s door shut. The suspect was apprehended without injury. No law enforcement officers were injured as a result of the chase.

Danker says a search of the vehicle recovered personal identification items not belonging to the suspect, along with a small caliber handgun and three rounds of ammunition. The gun had not been reported stolen. Items located in the SUV were reported to have been stolen during a burglary which occurred sometime Wednesday morning. Also located in the vehicle was a “Things to do before 3/11/12” list. The list included check boxes, some of which had been marked. Among items on the check list was “survival-type gear,” “checking the pistol,”  and, “finding places to go.”

Posted in News |

NWS Forecast for Cass & areas Counties in Iowa: Thu., March 15 2012

Weather

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Today…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. High in the lower 80s. South wind near 10 mph.

Tonight…Partly cloudy. Warmer. Low in the mid 50s. South wind around 5 mph.

Friday…Mostly sunny. High in the upper 70s. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to around 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night…Partly cloudy through midnight then becoming mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Low in the lower 60s. South wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Breezy. High in the upper 70s. South wind 10 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

Saturday Night…Mostly cloudy. Low around 60.

Sunday And Sunday Night…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Breezy. High in the mid 70s. Low in the upper 50s.

Monday…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. High in the lower 70s.

Posted in Weather |

Drake Beats North Dakota 70-64 Wednesday in CIT 1st Round

Sports

March 15th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa–Junior Ben Simons scored a game-high 24 points and sophomore Rayvonte Rice added 19, all in the second half, to propel the Drake Bulldogs to a 70-64 win over North Dakota Wednesday in the first round of the CollgeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) at the Knapp Center. It was Drake’s first win in a postseason tournament beyond a conference tournament since 1975, and improved the Bulldogs’ record to 18-15. It is the highest win total for Drake under head coach Mark Phelps, and best since the 2007-08 team won 28 games. Drake will now play at Rice in the second round of the CIT on Saturday, March 17, at 7 p.m. (CT).

(Courtesy Drake Athletics)

Posted in Sports |

UConn Latest on Iowa State’s List of Grueling Foes

Sports

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Iowa State has already knocked off Kansas, Baylor and Kansas State. So forgive the Cyclones if they’re not all that fazed at facing defending national champion Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA tournament. True, UConn has three national titles and a roster full of future NBA stars. But as Scott Christopherson said Wednesday, “Kemba Walker’s not coming back, is he?” Fact is, it’s the Cyclones (22-10) who are the higher seed going into Thursday’s game, a No. 8 to UConn’s No. 9. And it was the Huskies (20-13) who struggled down the stretch in the regular season, dropping nine of their last 13 going into the Big East tournament.

Posted in Sports |

Cards’ Lynn Strong in 1st Start in Loss to Astros

Sports

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis starter Lance Lynn retired the final eight batters he faced in the Cardinals’ 4-3 loss to Houston on Wednesday. Lynn was destined for the bullpen when spring training opened. But the Cardinals said this week Lynn would be treated like a starter until Chris Carpenter shows he can return to the rotation. A 24-year-old right-hander, Lynn made his major league debut in 2011, going 1-1 in 18 appearances (two starts) with a 3.12 ERA. He appeared in 10 postseason games and was 2-0. His two spring appearances before Wednesday came in relief. Lynn allowed a pair of one-out singles in the first Wednesday before striking out Jack Cust and inducing a lazy fly ball from Jimmy Paredes. He cruised through his final two innings without allowing a base runner.

Posted in Sports |

Chiefs Sign Free-Agent RB Peyton Hillis

Sports

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed running back Peyton Hillis, giving the team a formidable duo in the ground game with Jamaal Charles. Hillis had a drama- and injury-filled second season in Cleveland after rushing for 1,177 yards in 2010. Terms of the deal weren’t immediately disclosed. He won a nationwide fan vote to be the cover figure for “Madden NFL 12,” but then rushed for just 587 yards last season. Hillis sat out last Sept. 25 against Miami with a bout of strep throat, an incident that didn’t sit well with some teammates. He also missed a treatment for his ailing hamstring when he left during a work week to get married. Hillis, a seventh-round pick out of Arkansas in 2008, also played two seasons with Denver.

Posted in Sports |

Northern Iowa Tops Saint Joseph’s 67-65 in NIT

Sports

March 14th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Seth Tuttle sank two free throws with 1.3 seconds left and finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead Northern Iowa to a 67-65 win over Saint Joseph’s on Wednesday night in the opening round of the NIT. Marc Sonnen scored 15 points for the Panthers (20-13), who play at Drexel in the second round. The Dragons advanced with an 81-56 win over Central Florida. Ronald Roberts Jr. tied the game for the Hawks (20-14) on a thunderous dunk with 7 seconds left to bring them back after they trailed most of the second half. But Roberts fouled Tuttle with the game tied at 65. Hawks coach Phil Martelli pounded the scorer’s table in frustration. Tuttle made the first and appeared to try and miss the second on purpose, but the ball rattled around and in for a 67-65 lead. The Hawks turned the ball over on their last possession. Carl Jones scored 24 points and C.J. Aiken had 16 for the Hawks. Halil Kanacevic grabbed 12 rebounds.

Posted in Sports |