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KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say the Omaha veterans hospital was rated in the top 10 percent nationwide after a surprise inspection. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System achieved a top five-star rating. That’s up from a three-star rating in 2015. A newly released report says the system was among the 10 best in two categories: speedy access to specialty care and low rate of readmission for the same problem within 30 days. It trailed other VA hospitals and systems in the turnover rate of registered nurses and mental health coverage in rural areas.
The audit didn’t cover unauthorized waiting lists for psychotherapy treatments at the Omaha hospital or for certain eye exams, which were discovered by Nebraska-Western Iowa VA officials last year.
It may be a rollercoaster week ahead where Iowans use both the heaters and air conditioners in their homes and cars. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines, says flurries were still flying this (Monday) morning after Sunday’s snowstorm that dropped between six and eight inches of snow in northern Iowa. “We even had a report from Clear Lake, just south of Mason City, that came in with nine inches of snowfall,” Kotenberg says. “It’s pretty widespread, six to seven to eight inches up in our north, all the way from Estherville to just north of the Waterloo area.”
While we’re 20 days into spring, it hasn’t felt like it in Iowa, with multiple snowfalls and temperatures some 30-degrees below normal. Kotenberg says spring-like weather will be arriving very soon, but it likely won’t last long. “We’re going to go from six to seven to eight inches of snowfall in northern Iowa on Sunday to 70s possible by Wednesday, 70s looking even more likely by Thursday and Friday,” Kotenberg says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if even 80s start creeping up in northern Missouri here.”
While many Iowans will welcome the warmth, the forecast calls for it to be gone by Saturday. “We’re dropping back down into the 30s and 40s and we cannot rule out another bit of snowfall for next weekend, especially for northern Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “There’s a lot of time between now and then, but we’re definitely going to be on a rollercoaster this week, in terms of weather.”
Thunderstorms and severe weather are possible on Friday, he says, as the arriving cold front collides with the warm air.
(Radio Iowa)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa transportation officials plan to make a near record $779 million of statewide road improvements for the upcoming construction season. The Des Moines Register reports that the largest project involves widening a 40-mile, two-lane section of U.S. Highway 20 in northwest Iowa to four lanes. The $286 million project is expected to be completed this fall. The Des Moines area, Ames, Council Bluffs, the Quad Cities and Waterloo are among the areas that will also see road work.
Stuart Anderson is the director of the state Department of Transportation’s Planning, Programming and Modal Division. He says a dime-per-gallon state tax increase on gasoline and diesel fuel that took effect in 2015 has generated an additional $200 million annually for Iowa road projects.
OSAGE, Iowa (AP) — A man has pleaded not guilty to supplying alcohol to a woman who authorities say was driving drunk when her vehicle hit a tree in northern Iowa, killing her. Mitchell County District Court records say the plea was entered last month for 22-year-old Justin Slaichert, of St. Ansgar. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 24. The charge: supply alcohol to an underage person, resulting in the person’s death.
Authorities say Slaichert’s girlfriend, 19-year-old Hanna Pfeifer, died when her vehicle rammed a tree Jan. 6 in St. Ansgar. Tests showed her blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
Court documents say Slaichert told officers he’d bought three beers for Pfeifer.
Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports three people were arrested Sunday. Just before 10-a.m., Deputies arrested 31-year old Joshua Michael Putney, of Tigard, OR, on an Multnomah County Oregon Circuit Court warrant, for Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony Robbery in the Second Degree. Putney was arrested at the Clarinda Correctional Facility in Clarinda, and transported to the Page County Jail where he is currently awaiting extradition proceedings and extradition to Oregon.
And, at around 1:40-a.m. Sunday, Page County Deputies arrested 27-year old Jasmine Jade Wilcoxson, and 29-year old Dallas Levi Head, both of Clarinda. They were taken into custody on Page County Warrants for Violation of a mediation agreement (failure to cause minor child to go to school), which is a Simple Misdemeanor. Wilcoxson and Head were transported to the Page County Jail, where they posted bond and were released pending further court proceedings.
Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports four arrests took place over the period covering March 31st through April 4th. On March 31st, 37-year old Corey Lee Irvin, of Bridgewater, was arrested on a Polk County warrant. Irvin was being held in the Adair County Jail. That same day, 54-year old David Jon Bergan, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested by Adair Counties Deputies, following a traffic stop on I-80, at Exit 104. Bergan was charged with OWI/1st offense. He was later released that evening on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.
On April 4th, 26-year old Jeffrey Scott Schaefer, of Orient, was arrested on an warrant out of Union County, and transferred to the custody of Union County Deputies. And, on April 7th, 33-year old Ronice Elizabeth Steeve, of Greenfield, was arrested on a felony warrant out of Adams County, and was transferred to the custody of Adams County Deputies.
Sheriff Vandewater reports also, 45-year old Jodi Lea Griffith, of Fontanelle, was arrested April 2nd in the vicinity of Old Milll Road and Highway 92. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop, and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug (which she claimed was her brother’s, who is deceased), and for Possession of Marijuana. Griffith was cited for the offense, and then released at the scene.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Wintry weather has made travel dangerous over the northern half of Iowa. Several schools announced delayed openings Monday, and snow and freezing drizzle are in the forecasts. As much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow are expected in northwest Iowa, and gusting winds could cause whiteouts.
The icy conditions were blamed for a Sunday night accident that killed an 18-year-old in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol says a driver lost control of his sport utility vehicle while on an Iowa Highway 5 bridge over Iowa Highway 28. The patrol says the SUV rolled, killing Malik Rucker and injuring another passenger.
The Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations presented grants amounting to more than $117,590 each, to various non-profit agencies in their respective Counties, last Friday, who had submitted their application in-time for the Feb. 1st deadline.
Included among the grant recipients in Cass County, was:
Altogether, the Cass County Community Foundation provided $117,595 in direct grants to Cass County Non-profit Agencies. The Audubon County Community Foundation provided $117, 594 in direct grants to non-profit agencies in Audubon County. The recepients include:
Both Community Foundations work with individuals, families, businesses and organizatins, to create permanent funds that address changing, vital community needs. By donating to either Foundation, you’ll be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal Tax benefits for which you may qualify.
For more information about donating or establishing an individual foundation or fund, contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 1-800-794-3458.
The Creston Police Department reports four people have been arrested on drug-related charges. Saturday night, 18-year old’s Dylan Linch, Madison McCaulley, Sydney Martin and Garrett Abel, all of Creston, were arrested in the 700 block of S. Walnut Street, in Creston. Abel and Martin were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. McCaulley and Linch were arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Abel and Martin were released on $1,000 bond, each. McCaulley and Linch were cited at the scene and released.
Creston Police report also, 24-year old Thompson Jones, of Creston, was arrested Friday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. He was later released on a $300 bond.
The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson
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