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The Department of Justice Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against the Owner and Manager of Rental Properties in Davenport, Iowa

News

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Justice Department announced today (Tuesday), that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that the owner and manager of rental properties in Davenport, Iowa violated the Fair Housing Act by subjecting a female tenant to sexual harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, alleges that Juan Goitia, the manager of multiple residential rental units in Davenport, sexually harassed a female tenant from March 2018 until August 2018. According to the complaint, Goitia made repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, touched the tenant’s body without her consent on multiple occasions, and retaliated against the tenant for filing a fair housing complaint. The United States also named 908 Bridge Cooperative, the corporate owner of the rental property where the harassment occurred, as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit arose from a complaint about Goitia’s conduct that the former tenant filed with the Davenport Commission on Civil Rights (DCRC) and HUD. After DCRC and HUD investigated the complaints, HUD issued a charge of discrimination and the matter was referred to the Department of Justice. Today’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate the victim and a court order barring future discrimination. The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct; the allegations must be proven in court.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Juan Goitia or 908 Bridge Cooperative, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line, at 1-800-896-7743, and select option number 91 to leave a message.

Individuals can also report sexual harassment and other forms of housing discrimination by visiting civilrights.justice.gov.

Posted in News |

Iowa State’s Herrera, Holthaus named to All-Big 12 Preseason Team

Sports

June 30th, 2020 by admin

Candelaria Herrera

Eleanor Holthaus

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior middle blocker Candelaria Herrera and junior right side Eleanor Holthaus have been named to the 2020 All-Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team, the conference announced Monday afternoon.

Both Herrera and Holthaus are first-time Preseason honorees. Despite not being on the Preseason Team in 2019, the duo were both able to elevate themselves onto the All-Big 12 First Team at the end of the season. Holthaus was a unanimous selection for the 2020 Preseason Team, one of eight in the league.

Herrera, from San Juan, Argentina and a 2019 AVCA All-Midwest Region and All-Big 12 First Team honoree, had a terrific two-way season for the Cyclones in 2019. In attack, she averaged 2.22 kills per set at a team-high .314 hitting percentage, an efficiency that ranks fourth in the Big 12. On defense, Herrera is second on ISU with 0.94 blocks per set, a number which rose to 1.18 per set against league opponents. She had 101 total blocks on the year, her second-straight season over 100 blocks. Following the season, Herrera returned to South America and helped her native Argentina qualify for the now-delayed 2020 Olympic Games.

Holthaus, from Richmond, Minnesota and also an AVCA All-Midwest Region and All-Big 12 First Team honoree, was the Cyclones’ leading attacker throughout the 2019 season. The right-side led ISU with 3.18 kills per set, sixth in the Big 12, which she got at .254 hitting. Her 16 matches with at least 10 kills led ISU, while she also had four double-doubles on the year, posting 2.34 digs per frame. Holthaus earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after recording 19 kills against Oklahoma on Nov. 15.

The 2020 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll will be announced tomorrow.

2020 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Awards

Preseason Player of the Year: Yossiana Pressley, Baylor, OH, Sr.
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Caroline Crawford, Kansas, MB

2020 All-Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team

Name, School                                  Pos.       Ht.          Cl.          Hometown

Yossiana Pressley, Baylor#            OH         6-0         Sr.          Cypress, Texas
Hannah Sedwick, Baylor#             S             6-1         Sr.          Des Moines, Iowa
Marieke van der Mark, Baylor      OPP        6-6         Jr.           Papendrecht, The Netherlands
Candelaria Herrera, Iowa State     MB         6-1         Sr.          San Juan, Argentina
Eleanor Holthaus, Iowa State#     RS           6-1         Jr.           Richmond, Minnesota
Keyton Kinley, Oklahoma#           DS          5-5         Jr.           Lexington, Kentucky
Sarah Sanders, Oklahoma            OH         6-4         Jr.           Plano, Texas
Katie Clark, TCU#                          MB         6-3         Jr.           Arlington, Texas
Brionne Butler, Texas#                  MB         6-4         Jr.           Kendleton, Texas
Logan Eggleston, Texas#             OH         6-2         Jr.           Brentwood, Tennessee
Skylar Fields, Texas#                    OPP        6-2         So.         Missouri City, Texas
Brooke Kanas, Texas Tech            OH/RS   6-2         Jr.           New Braunfels, Texas
Brianna Lynch, West Virginia       MB         6-2         Sr.          Johns Creek, Georgia
# – unanimous selection

Posted in Sports |

Mississippi transfer Blake Hinson signs with Iowa State

Sports

June 30th, 2020 by admin

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State men’s basketball program and head coach Steve Prohm announced Monday the signing of Mississippi transfer Blake Hinson. Hinson, a 6-7 guard/forward, has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

In two seasons at Mississippi, Hinson averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds. He connected on 91 3-pointers at a 33.3 percent clip. He started 58 of the 60 games he played for Mississippi, reaching double figures 23 times.

“We are really excited to add to our program an experienced perimeter player that started for two years in the SEC,” Prohm said. “Blake brings great energy, a great personality and adds really good skill level to our program. He’s a great addition to our team and to the Iowa State community.”

In 2019-20, Hinson appeared in 28 games while making 27 starts for the Rebels. The Deltona, Florida native averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists, ranking third on the team in scoring and fourth in rebounding.

Hinson reached double figures in 14 games as a sophomore, including a season-high 23 points against CSU Bakersfield. He recorded a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds at Florida.

Hinson’s career high of 26 points came in a road win against No. 14 Mississippi State during his freshman season. He scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds in 30 minutes in a loss to Iowa State in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Hinson was a four-star prospect out of high school after spending his senior season at basketball powerhouse Sunrise Christian Academy. He was the top-ranked player in Kansas according to 247Sports.

Hinson is the third transfer to sign with the Cyclones this summer, joining graduate transfer Jalen Coleman-Lands and junior Tyler Harris.

Posted in Sports |

Union County Sheriff: Woman arrested on a warrant for FTA on a burglary charge

News

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday evening, of a woman from Ringgold County. 37-year old Nichole Jean Ott, from Diagonal, was arrested on a Union County warrant for failure to appear on a charge of burglary in the 3rd Degree. Ott was transported from Black Hawk County and was being held on $5,000 bond for Union County, in the Adams County Jail.

Posted in News |

Iowa program targets seat belt safety for pregnant and postpartum women

News

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa departments of Public Health and Transportation today (Tuesday) announced a coordinated, statewide plan to help encourage pregnant and postpartum women to buckle up to prevent death and reduce serious injuries due to vehicle crashes. The most recent Maternal Mortality Review found that 18 percent of Iowa’s maternal deaths were from motor vehicle crashes; 71 percent of the pregnant or postpartum women who died were not wearing a seat belt.

Buckling up through all stages of your pregnancy is the single most effective action you can take to protect yourself and your unborn child in a crash. If you’re involved in a crash during pregnancy, even a minor impact could have major implications. To encourage seat belt use in soon-to-be and new mothers, the Iowa Department of Public Health and its statewide perinatal quality care work group, the Iowa Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, is partnering with the Department of Transportation, Zero Fatalities, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and Safe Kids Iowa to launch a statewide social media campaign that reminds pregnant and postpartum women that seat belts are safe for mom and for baby. The campaign will run July 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2020.

All Iowans are reminded to always use seat belts when driving or riding in a vehicle.

Posted in News |

Proposed improvements at the Interstate 80/U.S. 169 interchange at De Soto in Dallas County

News

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – June 30, 2020 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for proposed improvements at the I-80 interchange with U.S. Highway 169 at De Soto, in Dallas County. The proposed improvements include installation of traffic signals at the I-80 ramp terminals along with turn lanes to improve traffic operations at the interchange. Traffic would be maintained via staging at all times throughout the project. It is anticipated that lane closures would be limited to non-peak travel hours.

For general information regarding the proposed improvements please view the information online at www.iowadot.gov/pim or contact Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, in Atlantic. Phone 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368, email: scott.suhr@iowadot.us. If you do not have access to the internet, please feel free to contact Scott regarding this project.

Posted in News |

High school baseball and softball scoreboard 06/29/2020

Sports

June 30th, 2020 by admin

SOFTBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

  • Atlantic 2, Harlan 1 (8 innings) (Olivia Engler allowed no base runners an a homerun. She hit a big double in the 8th that Jada Jensen followed with an RBI single to bring home the go-ahead run.)
  • Denison-Schleswig 6, Lewis Central 3
  • Glenwood 4, Shenandoah 3
  • Red Oak 5, Clarinda 2
  • St. Albert 11, Kuemper Catholic 8

Western Iowa Conference 

  • Audubon 7, AHSTW 0
  • Riverside 9, Missouri Valley 3
  • Logan-Magnolia 13, Tri-Center 1
  • Underwood 16, IKM-Manning 0

Rolling Valley Conference 

  • CAM 10, Boyer Valley 1
  • Glidden-Ralston 23, Whiting 3
  • West Harrison 9, Coon Rapids-Bayard 0
  • Woodbine 13, Ar-We-Va 9

Corner Conference

  • Griswold 7, Fremont-Mills 5
  • Stanton 18, East Mills 5
  • Sidney 14, Essex 6

Pride of Iowa Conference 

  • Lenox 6, Lamoni 1
  • Martensdale-St. Marys 14, Southwest Valley 7
  • Mount Ayr 11, Nodaway Valley 1

BASEBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

  • Harlan 10, Atlantic 2
  • Clarinda 13, Red Oak 2
  • Glenwood 7, Shenandoah 0
  • Lewis Central 10, Denison-Schleswig 2
  • Kuemper Catholic 3, St. Albert 0 (Game 1)
  • St. Albert 14, Kuemper Catholic 13 (Game 2)

Western Iowa Conference 

  • Audubon 5, AHSTW 3
  • Logan-Magnolia 2, Tri-Center 1 (14 innings)
  • Missouri Valley 12, Riverside 1

Rolling Valley Conference 

  • CAM 17, Boyer Valley 0
  • Glidden-Ralston 5, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 4
  • West Harrison 13, Coon Rapids-Bayard 6
  • Woodbine 17, Ar-We-Va 3

Corner Conference 

  • Fremont-Mills 15, Griswold 5
  • East Mills 9, Stanton 4
  • Sidney 20, Essex 2

Pride of Iowa Conference 

  • Martensdale-St. Marys 17, Southwest Valley 2
  • Mount Ayr 14, Nodaway Valley 1

Other Scores:

  • CB Abraham Lincoln 14, Treynor 1
  • Lenox 11, Lamoni 2

Posted in Sports |

Short, special meeting for the Audubon School Board Tue. morning

News

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon School Board held a short, special meeting this (Tuesday) morning, via Zoom, and in the High School Board Room. Superintendent Eric Trager told KJAN News the meeting which lasted about 10-minutes, included approval of the End of Fiscal Year Expenditures – approving the year end bills, approval of an extension of their copier lease, and they approved the hiring of Summer Wulf as Head Boys Golf Coach, along with an Associate.

Trager said he went through with the Board on where they were with their facility design and renovations, as well as the asbestos abatement, which begins Wednesday. Their next, regular meeting is 7-p.m. July 27th.

Posted in News |

IBC survey shows optimism

News

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Business Council’s second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey for 2020 shows some improvement in what the managers of the states’ largest businesses expect in the coming months. I-B-C executive director Joe Murphy says it’s a modest improvement. He says the overall score in overall economic outlook index rose to 41point-two-five — which is an increase of three-point-seven-five points from the first quarter. That first quarter mark was the lowest point of the survey since 2009. Murphy says this projection is a step in the right direction. “We’re optimistic that we’re seeing some sort of ascendency in our numbers as we project out the next six months. However, anything below 50 represents negative economic sentiment — so clearly we are still in that negative sentiment zone,” Murphy says. “But again, I think there are some reasons for some cautious optimism as we look ahead.”

The survey measures members’ expectations for sales, capital spending, and employment. He says the one thing that is known right now is there still remains a lot of things that are unknown about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on business. “Businesses, whether you are a small, medium or large business, you need certainty in the markets and the economy in order to make decisions and project forward a better platform to hire and invest and to do the business that you want to do,” according to Murphy.

Murphy says Iowa’s economy was doing well before the pandemic hit — and that has helped the optimism that the state will recover. “When you look at our unemployment rate — while it is quite high, particularly for Iowa — it’s still within the top five or so lowest unemployment rates in the country,” Murphy says. “Obviously that is not to say that we are happy with where we are at. But my point is that we are able to weather economic strife better than other states. That was the case in the Great Recession, and that is the case right now.”

Most members site the unfavorable business climate due to COVID-19 and other regulatory challenges coupled with an unfavorable domestic economy as their primary challenges to business. Half of the respondents noted layoffs or furloughs as a result of COVID-19. Of those employers, 80 percent expect to rehire some or nearly all of that workforce. Sixty-percent expects to make these rehire in the coming seven to nine months with an unknown rehire date for the remaining 40 percent.

Posted in News |

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 6/30/20

News, Podcasts

June 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

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

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Posted in News, Podcasts |