Nat’l. Weather Service Forecast for Cass & surrounding Counties: 2-28-12

February 28th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

352 AM CST TUE FEB 28 2012

TODAY…BREEZY. RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN LIKELY THROUGH MID MORNING…THEN RAIN IN THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. NO ICE ACCUMULATION. HIGH IN THE MID 40S. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NEAR 100 PERCENT.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL EARLY MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. BREEZY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST 20 TO 25 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 80 PERCENT.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY THROUGH MID MORNING THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. WINDY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. WEST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH BECOMING SOUTHWEST UP TO 5 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN A CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. COLDER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 40S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 40 PERCENT.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa News Headlines: Tue., Feb. 28 2012

News

February 28th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — With yesterday’s hasty vote, the Iowa Board of Regents will close a public school long tied to University of Northern Iowa’s teacher training program. Malcolm Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls will close before June 30, a move that infuriated local politicians and school supporters. The regents said it was too expensive to operate. The school is known for its small class sizes and research into cutting-edge practices.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Iowa State University on Thursday to speak about creating manufacturing jobs. The visit further solidifies Iowa’s importance as a swing state in the upcoming presidential election.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has ordered the University of Iowa to release a resignation agreement with a former medical employee who is trying to keep the document and his identity a secret. District Judge Thomas Reidel agreed with The Associated Press that the settlement was a public record under Iowa law and said the public has a right to know the details, including a $100,000 bonus offered if he left the university’s employment before a specific date.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa will not to invite the University of North Dakota to an April track meet because of the school’s Fighting Sioux nickname. Policy prohibits Iowa’s athletic department from scheduling competitions with schools using Native American mascots, unless those mascots are approved by the NCAA.

Posted in News |

Public Hearing in Atlantic Wednesday, over loan agreement & bond purchase

News

February 28th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council Wednesday, will hold public hearings on loan agreements amounting to $4.95-million, followed by action from the Council on a resolution expressing the City’s intent to enter into a General Obligation Corporate Purchase and Refunding Loan Agreement, and approval of a bond purchase agreement with Ruan Securities. The hearings and action will come during a Special Council Meeting that begins 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall.

City Administrator Doug Harris says the bonds will help to cover nearly $4.9-million altogether, in Capital Improvement Projects (for Streets, Storm Water, Park and Building Improvements as well as Equipment Acquisition), and, the refunding of 2007 General Obligation Bonds. Harris says refunding the 2007 G-O Bonds will save the City $45,845 in interest, over the next 5-years.

The Council will consider a resolution authorizing the issuance of 2012 G-O Bonds during its meeting on March 7th. In other matters, the Council this Wednesday, will enter into a closed session to discuss collective bargaining strategy, following the conclusion of regular business.

Posted in News |

Atlantic School Board to hold work session tonight (Tuesday)

News

February 28th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet tonight, in the High School Media Center. During the 7:30-p.m. work session, the Board will hear from and/or discuss the Building Leadership Team (BLT), and hold discussion on the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget. No action will be taken during the work session.

Posted in News |

Iowa hires Greg Davis as offensive coordinator

Sports

February 28th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis has found a new home at Iowa after a year out of the game. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz announced Monday that Davis will be his new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Davis replaces Ken O’Keefe, who left the Hawkeyes after 13 seasons to become the wide receivers coach with the Miami Dolphins. The 60-year-old Davis has spent 33 years as a college coach, including a stint as the head coach at Tulane from 1988-91. But he’s perhaps best known for the 13 years he spent working for Texas coach Mack Brown. Davis resigned shortly after the 2010 season, when the Longhorns finished 5-7.

Though his stint with the Longhorns ended poorly, the program boasted some of its best offenses in under Davis. He coached the likes of Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and quarterbacks Vince Young and Colt McCoy, both Heisman finalists, and had five players earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. Texas won a pair of Big 12 championships and the 2005 BCS national championship with Davis on its staff, and Davis was named the Frank Broyles assistant coach of the year after the Longhorns beat USC for the national title. Davis graduated from McNeese State in 1973 and, after a short stint coaching high school ball in Texas, became the quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M. Davis also made stops at Arkansas, Georgia and North Carolina before landing in Austin with Brown. The hiring of Brown concludes a rather chaotic offseason for the Iowa coaching staff, which saw by far its most upheaval in 13 years under Ferentz.

The Hawkeyes promoted defensive backs coach Phil Parker to replace retired defensive coordinator Norm Parker (no relation), moved offensive line coach Reese Morgan to the defensive line and hired Brian Ferentz, Kirk’s son, away from the New England Patriots to coach the offensive linemen.

Posted in Sports |

Iowa’s Gatens Earns Big Ten Honor

Sports

February 27th, 2012 by Jim Field

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Matt Gatens is the Big Ten’s co-Player of the Week, the first such honor for the senior from Iowa City.

Gatens scored a career-high 33 points in last Thursday’s 67-66 win over Wisconsin. Gatens then scored 22 points in a 65-54 loss at Illinois on Sunday, his fourth straight game with at least 20 points.

Gatens, who shares the player of the week honor with Purdue’s Robbie Hummel, is the first Iowa player to earn the award since Jake Kelly on March 9, 2009.

The Hawkeyes (15-14, 7-9 Big Ten) close out their road schedule at Nebraska on Wednesday.

Posted in Sports |

Pujols Impacting Angels on, off Field

Sports

February 27th, 2012 by Jim Field

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Albert Pujols hasn’t connected for his first homer and he’s already having a powerful impact on the Los Angeles Angels.

The superstar slugger, who signed a $240 million free agent contract with the club in December, has impressed his new teammates with an unparalleled work ethic so far in spring training. Pujols has been one of the first players to report each morning and one of the last to leave. Following the Angels’ first full-squad workout of camp Monday, when Pujols hit laser-beam line drives during batting practice, outfielder Torii Hunter said he gets “a great vibe” just being around the All-Star first baseman.

Hunter said he can learn how to become a better hitter just by watching Pujols swing in the batting cage.

Posted in Sports |

Understated Christopherson Shines for Iowa State

Sports

February 27th, 2012 by Jim Field

AMES, Iowa (AP) — It isn’t easy to overlook Iowa State guard Scott Christopherson anymore.

Christopherson, a 6-foot-3 senior from LaCrosse, Wis., scored a season-high 29 points to lead Iowa State over host Kansas State 65-61 on Saturday. The victory might have clinched the program’s first NCAA tournament berth in seven years.

Christopherson makes 47.9 percent of his 3-pointers, best in the Big 12, and he has hit 22 of his last 34 attempts. He is also second in the Big 12 in free-throw shooting at 89.7 percent.

Christopherson and the Cyclones play at No. 7 Missouri on Wednesday and finish the regular season at home against No. 9 Baylor on Saturday.

Posted in Sports |

ISU’s Poppens Big 12 Player of the Week For Third Time

Sports

February 27th, 2012 by Jim Field

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State junior forward Chelsea Poppens has been recognized as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, as selected by a media voting panel for games Feb. 20-26. Poppens was recognized for the third time this season and fourth occasion in her career.

Poppens averaged 22 points and 16.5 rebounds last week in Iowa State’s overtime win over Missouri and loss at Oklahoma State. She finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds and four steals against the Tigers. The junior forward shot 15-of-24 from the free-throw line – an Iowa State record and a Big 12 league game record for free-throw attempts.

Poppens followed that performance with 19 points and a season-high tying 17 rebounds at OSU. It was her 14th double-double of the season. She has seven games this season with 15-plus rebounds and also seven with 20-plus points. Poppens is the only player in the Big 12 averaging a double-double with 15.2 points and 11.3 rebounds. Her eight double-doubles in conference play leads all Big 12 players.

Oklahoma State’s Liz Donohoe was named freshman of the week.

Posted in Sports |