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5 states announce new suits over prescription opioids

News

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CHARLESTON, West Virginia (AP) — Five state attorneys general have announced new lawsuits against the maker of OxyContin as they seek to hold the drug industry responsible for an opioid crisis. Filings were announced Thursday by officials in Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, West Virginia and Wisconsin. With the suits, 45 states are now taking legal action against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, asserting that the company downplayed the addiction risks of its powerful prescription drug.

Several states are also other drugmakers or distributors. Pennsylvania’s attorney general also announced a suit this week against Purdue, saying the company was not working in good faith on a settlement agreement. Purdue disputes that. The company had a legal win this month when a North Dakota judge dismissed that state’s claim against the company.

Powerball ticket worth $2M bought in Des Moines suburb

News

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a Powerball ticket worth $2 million was bought at a convenience store in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale. The ticket bought at a Kum & Go on 156th Street matched the first five numbers drawn Wednesday night but missed the Powerball number and a chance of winning the $250.3 million jackpot. The ticket buyer has yet to step forward.

Iowa Lottery says the buyer also purchased the Power Play option, which multiplied the normal $1 million prize to $2 million. No one won the jackpot, so it’s expected to climb to around $270 million for Saturday’s drawing. Wednesday’s winning numbers were 7, 17, 33, 61, 68 and Powerball 4.

THURSDAY, MAY 16th

Trading Post

May 16th, 2019 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  Big rear tine tiller, asking $300.  Call 243-2361. SOLD!

FOR SALE:  2003 Harley-Davidson Anniversary Fat Boy, just 13,770 miles with extras.  Asking $10,500 or best offer.  Call 243-1166.

8-year-old dies after being hit crossing Marshalltown street

News

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an 8-year-old boy died at a Des Moines hospital after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in Marshalltown. Police say officers and medics were dispatched to the accident site around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The injured boy was taken to a Marshalltown hospital before being flown to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Police say he died there later.

Police say the boy was crossing West Main Street on his way home from Franklin Elementary School when he was hit by a vehicle that was turning onto West Main from South 13th Street. His name hasn’t been released. The vehicle driver has been identified as 71-year-old Marilyn Diggins, of Marshalltown.

Turn off the furnace and switch on the AC, low 90s forecast for parts of Iowa

News, Weather

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Near-record heat is in today’s (Thursday) forecast, with 80s expected across northern Iowa and low 90s for Iowa’s southern half. With the hot, humid air comes the greater risk of severe weather. Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, at the National Weather Service in metro Des Moines, says some areas may see summer-like temperatures 20-degrees hotter than usual. “While we’ve been cooler-than-normal for most of May so far, it’s a pretty big change here, especially today, the warmest day in our seven-day forecast,” Hagenhoff says. “It’s really due to the increased southerly flow which is allowing warmer air to come up across the Southern United States and into Iowa.”

With the dramatic change as we shift from cooler to much warmer weather, there’s always the risk of rough weather, including powerful thunderstorms. “For today, we’re looking at a risk over mainly central and northern Iowa and the main threat with that is going to be hail and possibly damaging winds,” Hagenhoff says. “That will be mostly confined to this evening and tonight.” Many Iowans are rarely very far from their smart phones, which can be set up to provide you with potentially-life-saving weather data. “We know that with the warmer weather, after the cool start to spring, a lot of people are antsy to get outside,” Hagenhoff says. “It’s important that whether you have outdoor plans or not that you have ways while you’re outside to receive severe weather warnings and information, just so you’re prepared.”

The weather should cool a bit Friday and Saturday, she says, with highs by Sunday only creeping into the 60s. On the subject of severe weather, Iowa saw 69 tornadoes touch down last year. So far this year, there hasn’t been a single twister reported statewide.

Iowa City man gets 25 years for beating to death his father

News

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man has been given 25 years in prison for beating to death his father. Johnson County District Court records say 31-year-old Flannery Kennedy-Meier was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to attempted murder. Prosecutors had reduced the charge from first-degree murder in exchange for Kennedy-Meier’s plea.

Kennedy-Meier was arrested Nov. 13, 2017, after police were called to an Iowa City residence and found the injured Meier. Officers say Kennedy-Meier had hit his father in the head with a weapon, causing a skull fracture and brain bleeding.

Meier died of his injuries on Dec. 4, 2017, and an autopsy blamed the November beating.

Proposed improvements to I-80 in Dallas County to be discussed June 4 in De Soto

News

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting Tuesday, June 4th to discuss the proposed improvements to the I-80 bridges over the South Raccoon and North Raccoon Rivers and the Old Portland Road bridge in Dallas County. Traffic north of I-80 would be detoured during construction using 323rd Place and U.S. 169. Traffic south of I-80 would be detoured using 347th Street and U.S. 169.

All interested persons are invited to attend this meeting anytime between 4:30 and 6 p.m. at the De Soto Intermediate School, 317 Spruce Street, in De Soto. The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvements. No formal presentation will be made. The meeting space is accessible for persons with disabilities. However, if you require special accommodations at the meeting, please notify Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office in Atlantic, by calling 712-243-3355, 1-800-289-4368, (or by email scott.suhr@iowadot.us), by no later than May 31st.

Pott. County Sheriff’s report (5/16)

News

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 48-year old Patrick John Shea turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday. Shea was found to have had a warrant out of Council Bluffs, for Assault with intent to inflict serious injury. He was placed under arrest and transported to the jail. An inmate at the Pott. County Jail, 38-year old Jason Joseph Nichols, of Council Bluffs, was presented with a warrant, Wednesday, for Domestic Abuse Assault/Strangulation, and Harassment in the 1st degree/threaten forcible felony. Nichols was returned to the custody of corrections staff.

Another jail inmate, 28-year old Ryan Patrick Mickey, of Carter Lake, was presented with a warrant for Violation of Probation, Wednesday. He was also returned to the custody of jail staff. And, 39-year old Shannon Rae Cotnoir, was transported from a jail in Kansas City, KS, to the Pott. County Jail, Wednesday. Cotnoir was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 5/16/19

News, Podcasts

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

ROBERT LEE MEIER, 77, of Irwin (Svcs. 5/20/19)

Obituaries

May 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT LEE MEIER, 77, of Irwin, died Wed., May 15th, at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center. Funeral services for ROBERT MEIER will be held 10-a.m. Monday, May 20th, at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, May 19th, from 5-until 8-p.m.

Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Irwin.

ROBERT MEIER is survived by:

His wife – Janet [Best] Meier, of Irwin.

His son – David Meier, of Irwin.

His daughters – Kathy (Kevin Lingle) Freese, and Jenni (Derrick) Clouse, all of Manilla.

His sisters – Rogena Schmidt, of Griswold, and Deanna (Marvin) Huebner, of Persia.

8 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and his sisters- and brother- in laws.