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Authorities release name of Sioux City stabbing victim

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who was stabbed to death in Sioux City. Police say 40-year-old Guled Nur was fatally injured early Sunday morning during an altercation with his roommate, 38-year-old Abdiqadar Sharif. Woodbury County court records say Sharif’s been charged with first-degree murder. Sharif’s next court date is scheduled for Nov. 8.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 10/31/2018

News, Podcasts

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & Funeral report, 10/31/2018

News, Podcasts

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Man pleads guilty to stealing from grandparents

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

GARNER, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa man has pleaded guilty to stealing from his grandparents. Station KIMT reports that Anthony Schoneman, of Garner, entered the plea to one count of burglary.
Authorities say more than $10,000 in cash, collector coins, a gun, ammunition and prescription pills were missing from the home in May last year when the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office began its investigation. Investigators say the burglar or burglars knew where the valuables were situated, including money hidden in a bag of clothes.

Harlan school district calls for referendum on school proposals

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Community School District Board of Education voted last week ,to request a special election on Dec. 11th for a referendum on a $28.5 million bond issue proposal and other school measures.  All five members present voted in favor.  The bond issue proposal is to issue a general obligation bond to finance renovations and updates at the district’s four school buildings. It would mean a property tax increase of $13.75 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home and $3.97 a year per acre of agricultural land.
The bond issue is one of four items district residents will be asked to vote on in the election. The other three are: Increasing the school levy from $3.25 to $4.05 per $1,000 of taxable valuation.  Renewing the instructional support levy, which expires in 2022, for an additional 10 years  Renewing the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy for another 10 years.  So far, the district has kept tax rates reasonable, with one of the lowest school levies in the state.
The three main areas of the bond issue project would be Updating security at all four schools, updating or replacing the HVAC, plumbing, electrical and technology systems, and creating educational spaces for 21st Century learning.  Secure entrances would be created at all buildings, and all visitors would be screened by a receptionist or other staff member before admission. The biggest share of the work would be complete renovation of the high school and intermediate school facilities, the district’s oldest school buildings, which date from 1970 and 1965, respectively. Those two schools contain 55 percent of the square footage in the district’s facilities. The middle school was built in the 1980s, and the primary school was new in 2010.
High school work would include renovation of all classrooms, the auditorium, fine arts area, science lab and career and technical education area. The intermediate school, which serves students in third through fifth grades, would get a small addition where classes displaced by the project could meet. That would then become an area for hands-on learning. Existing space in the intermediate school would be renovated.  Classrooms in both buildings would be arranged to facilitate 21st Century learning.
(KNOD)

Two Harlan men charged with drug delivery among other charges

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Two Shelby County men have been charged with drug delivery.  38-year old Matthew Tamms, of Harlan, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and prohibited acts.  Tamms is accused of having meth, a scale and baggies during a traffic stop on October 8th.  A December 11th trial date has been set for Tamms.  If found guilty of the charges, Tamms could face a sentence of 12 years in jail with fines totaling $12,500.

22-year old Alexander Lamarr, of Harlan, has been accused of having methamphetamine with a scale and packaging after a traffic stop in Harlan on October 8th.  He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of  a controlled substance – marijuana – third offense and possession of stolen property.  Lamarr is also accused of having marijuana in  his possession as well as two stolen tvs, removed from his bedroom at his address on October 8th.  Lamarr also has a December 11th trial date and if found guilty, he faces a sentence of 14 years in jail and fines of up to $15,000.

Charges upgraded for Kenkel after second person dies

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Officials have upgraded charges against an Iowa man after a second person has died following a collision on Nebraska Highway 36 two weeks ago.  According to our sister station KNOD, 28-year old Tony Kenkel, of Earling, is now charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide. Kenkel waived his preliminary hearing and will stand trial in the case. The man had posted $10,000, or 10 percent of $100,000 bond to be released from jail on Oct. 17th. Last Friday, prosecutor Ryan Lindberg asked that Kenkel’s bail amount be increased to $250,000, but Douglas County, NE. Judge Sheryl Lohaus decided to keep it at $100,000.

Authorities have said Kenkel had a blood-alcohol level of .091 at the scene of the collision near Lake Cunningham Park Road. Two and a half hours later, his blood-alcohol level tested at .08, the legal limit. Kenkel was driving a 2017 Chevy Silverado east on Highway 36 when the pickup crossed the center line and entered westbound traffic, officials said. Kenkel struck a 1995 Mitsubishi 3000 GT head on — killing the driver, 21 year old Joseph Daniels, of Council Bluffs, at the scene.  21 year old Thomas Greise, a passenger, had been in a medically induced coma until he was taken off life support on Monday. Kenkel has no prior criminal record other than speeding tickets. He’s part of the 24/7 sobriety program that requires check-ins in Omaha twice a day. Kenkel does that by commuting an hour each way from Earling.

Authorities say man died when farm machine backed over him

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DORCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died when a farm machine ran over him in northeast Iowa’s Allamakee County. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office says first responders were called Tuesday to a farm field northwest of Dorchester. The sheriff’s office says a combine had backed up over the man when it was being maneuvered to unload corn. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are withholding his name until his relatives have been notified about his death. He lived in Minnesota.

Biden says America is better than current political climate

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Former Vice President Joe Biden urged a crowd of more than a thousand in Cedar Rapids last (Tuesday) night to help reset the country’s moral compass and choose candidates this November who will “dial down the temperature” in politics. “Before we are Democrats and Republicans and independents, we are Americans — for real,” Biden said, to cheers. “Folks, America is so much better than this.” Without directly mentioning President Trump, Biden argued Americans are seeking more “authentic” political leaders. “They’re looking for someone who never belittles the other guy, who treats everyone — like my dad did — with dignity and respect,” Biden said, to cheers. “They’re looking for people to tell the truth. They really are.”

Biden spent part of his speech praising the two Iowa Democrats who shared the rally stage with him last (Tuesday) night. Both had a chance to make their own case to the crowd. Democratic candidate for governor Fred Hubbell criticized a string of G-O-P priorities Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has enacted, like “defunding” Planned Parenthood. “It’s time to work across the aisle for the benefit of all Iowans,” Hubbell said, to cheers from crowd. Abby Finkenauer is the Democrat challenging Republican Congressman Rod Blum in the first district. She urged the crowd to keep the “pedal to the floor” until November 6th. “One week to make sure that Washington hears from all the Iowans they have forgotten,” Finkenauer said, to cheers.

Finkenauer worked on Biden’s 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign and his return to Iowa last (Tuesday) night showcased the message he might present voters if he runs for president a third time. Retired educator Steve Regan of Cedar Rapids says the anger and hostility in politics today is worrisome. “I would be a Biden supporter for 2020 today,” Regan says. “I just don’t see any other candidates who could pull it off.” Regan says he believes Biden is the only Democrat right now who could win the party’s nomination and beat Trump in 2020. Biden is headed to Missouri today (Wednesday), part of a tour to campaign for dozens of 2018 candidates around the country.

Around 350 Iowa National Guard soldiers coming home

News

October 31st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Events are planned at the end of the week in four cities to welcome back Iowa National Guard soldiers from their overseas deployment. Guard spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Wunn. He says about 350 members of the 248th Aviation Support Battalion will be recognized. He says they have been gone for one year. “The 248th is comprised of aircraft maintainers, test pilots and logistical support personnel. They were part of a larger unit that was in the Central Command Theatre of Operations,” Wunn says.

The Central Command is comprised of 20 nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries. Wunn says the Iowa National Guard has been called on many times in the last decade or more. “Since 9-11 we’ve had almost 19-thousand Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen who have deployed in support of overseas contingency operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places,” according to Wunn. “So, the Iowa National Guard has been very busy supporting those types of operations. And of course we’ve been supporting things here at home as well.”

The return cuts the number of Iowa guard soldiers who are deployed by more than half. “This is actually our largest single unit deployment since 2010 and 2011,” Wunn says, “so right now with these soldiers returning we have probably about 200 soldiers with the Iowa Army National Guard who are still deployed.” Wunn says the ceremonies are open to the public. “The homecoming ceremonies are some of the funnest things that we get to do in the Iowa National Guard. When we get to reunite our soldiers with their families, it’s really a special day. It’s an opportunity to say thank you and to honor their service,” Wunn says.

The soldiers of the Headquarters Support Company and Detachment 4, Company B will be honored at a 1 p-m. ceremony in the Davenport Army Aviation Support Facility. Soldiers of Company A and Detachment 3, Company B will be honored at a 1 p-m ceremony at the Waterloo Army Aviation Support Facility. The events are all Friday (Nov. 2nd). Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company A will be honored at a 5 p-m ceremony in the Iowa National Guard Readiness Center in Muscatine. And soldiers from Detachment 1, Headquarters Support Company and Company B will be honored at a 5 p-m ceremony in the Boone High School gym.