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AP source: Texas, Oklahoma Officials Talk Big 12

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     A person with knowledge of the situation says Texas and Oklahoma officials met over the weekend amid speculation that the Sooners are considering leaving the Big 12.
     Texas President William Powers Jr., athletic director DeLoss Dodds and women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky were among a group of Texas officials who went to Oklahoma on Sunday, according to a person at a Big 12 school who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the
meeting.  The person also said Oklahoma president David Boren was present.  Oklahoma officials are reportedly considering leaving the Big 12 after Texas A&M’s recent decision to leave the conference with hopes of joining the Southeastern Conference.  The meeting was first reported by the Austin American-Statesman.

Iowa State Now Must Build Off Iowa Win

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State’s stunning victory over Iowa has added to the task facing the Cyclones as they prepare for Friday night’s game at Connecticut.  Now they have to try to build off a marquee win and that hasn’t been easy the last couple of years.   After winning at Nebraska two years ago, Iowa State was routed by Texas A&M and Oklahoma State in its next two games. Last year, after the Cyclones beat Texas for the first time ever, they came out flat against a struggling Kansas team and trailed 9-7 at
halftime before rallying for a 28-16 victory.  After beating Iowa 44-41 in three overtimes on Saturday, coach Paul Rhoads says refocusing mentally is just as important as what happens on the practice field this week.

AP source: Chiefs Safety Eric Berry Gone for the Year

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A person familiar with the situation says Chiefs safety Eric Berry has a torn ACL in his left knee and is done for the year.  Berry was hurt in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to Buffalo during a block by Bills receiver Steve Johnson, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Chiefs have
not disclosed details of the injury.  The second-year strong safety made the Pro Bowl last year and was being counted on heavily by the defending AFC West champions,
who were hammered 41-7 at home by Buffalo in the opener.  Berry, a former Tennessee star, made 72 tackles and four interceptions last season, returning one of them for a touchdown.  He was the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft and he started every game his rookie season.

Man dies after hit by semi on I-80 in Pottawattamie County

News

September 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person is dead after being hit by a semitrailer this afternoon, on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs. The accident happened about 1 p.m. , in the eastbound lane near the Lake Manawa exit. Eastbound traffic was being diverted while Council Bluffs police and the Iowa State Patrol investigated. Authorities aren’t sure why the person was on the interstate. No other details, including the person’s name, were immediately released.

Chargers Kicker Kaeding Out for Season with Knee Injury

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     SAN DIEGO (AP) – Chargers coach Norv Turner says kicker Nate Kaeding is out for the year after injuring his left knee during the season’s opening kickoff.  Kaeding, a former Iowa Hawkeye star, entered the season as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, having made 86.5 percent of his field goal attempts in the previous seven seasons.  Minnesota’s Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown. The Chargers rallied to beat the Vikings 24-17.  Punter Mike Scifres took over placekicking duties and made his
first NFL field goal, a 40-yarder.  Turner says the Chargers have a list of possible replacements for Kaeding.

Doctor Says Kill Improving, Could Coach This Week

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

     MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota’s team physician says coach Jerry Kill is “doing very well” as he recovers from a seizure suffered late in the game against New Mexico State on Saturday.  Doctor Pat Smith held a news conference on Tuesday. Smith says Kill is alert, eating and all tests have come back normal. He wouldn’t put a timetable on Kill’s return, but says his gut feeling is the coach “absolutely” will be on the sidelines this weekend against Miami of Ohio.  Kill collapsed on the sidelines in the closing seconds of the loss to the Aggies. It’s the third time in his coaching career he has had a seizure on game day.  Smith says team trainers will work harder to keep him hydrated
to try and avoid a recurrence.

Jantz Named Big 12 Player of Week

Sports

September 12th, 2011 by Jim Field

(AMES) – Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz is the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Cyclones on four consecutive touchdown drives, three in overtime to lead Cyclones to a dramatic 44-41 three-overtime win over archrival Iowa Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

Jantz made four critical third-down conversions late – including a third-and-15 and third-and-20. He rushed for 2 yards on a fourth-and-1, all on a 59-yard, 12-play drive to tie the game with 1:04 left in regulation. Jantz, in just his second collegiate start, hit on 25-of-37 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.  He also rushed for 42 yards to compile 321 total yards. Iowa State’s 44 points are its most against Iowa since the teams met for the first time in 1894.  Iowa State’s 473 total yards are Iowa State’s best offensive output since tallying 512 vs. Kansas in 2009. Jantz’ single game QB rating was 166.58.

(ISU Press Release)

Accident lands Red Oak teacher in jail

News

September 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A minor traffic accident Sunday evening has resulted in a Red Oak High School Science teacher landing in Jail. According to Red Oak Police, 57-year old Dennis Redel was arrested for OWI and given a warning for Unsafe Backing, after the pickup he was driving backed into a car as he was pulling out of a parking spot in downtown Red Oak. The incident happened at around 9:15-p.m., Sunday.

Officials say Redel’s pickup hit a car driven by 58-year-old Steven Roby of Red Oak. A back seat passenger in Roby’s vehicle, 32-year-old Doris Ellison, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Another passenger in the car, Patrick Ellison was not injured. Redel was also uninjured. He was taken to the Montgomery County jail and held on $1,000 bond.

Redel relinquished his softball coaching duties this past Summer, but had continued to teach high school science. Red Oak High School Principal Jedd Sherman has said a statement will be released later today with regard to the incident, from Superintendent Terry Schmidt.

Inspection team checking out Neb. nuclear plant

News

September 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) – A special team of federal inspectors is at the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant looking for the cause of a small fire at the plant in June. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said today (Monday) that the three inspectors will make sure the problems that caused the fire have been fixed before the plant is allowed to restart. The electrical fire briefly knocked out the cooling system for used fuel. Temperatures at the plant never exceeded safe levels and power was quickly restored.

The Omaha Public Power District plant has been shut down since April. Initially the plant was shut down for refueling maintenance, and later flooding along the Missouri River forced Fort Calhoun to remain dormant because floodwaters surrounded the plant. Fort Calhoun is about 20 miles north of Omaha.

Mental Health System redesign workgroup sessions planned

News

September 12th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Iowans with mental health, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, their families, and other interested persons, are being invited to share their views regarding Iowa’s Mental Health and Disability Services (MH/DS) Redesign, at one of five meetings being held around the state in the next few weeks. The meetings are sponsored by advocacy groups, and according to Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Chuck Palmer, are “Important to make sure that policy makers are aware of the needs of those with disabilities.”

Legislation approved last Spring, directs the DHS to recommend a complete redesign of Iowa’s current system of delivering mental health care to those eligible for government services. Workgroups have been appointed to address core services and delivery systems. The groups’ recommendations will be delivered to the legislature, in December.

In western Iowa, meetings on the MH/DS redesign will take place September 30th in Sioux City, and October 7th, in Council Bluffs. For more information on the time and place, go to www.dhs.state.ia.us/partners/mhdsredesign.html on the web.