(Radio Iowa) — Grocers and convenience stores, restaurants and the state’s horsing racing industry are competing with casinos for a piece of sports betting action. The debate played out this week in House and Senate committees reviewing bills to make bets on college and professional sports legal in Iowa — through a variety of venues. Iowa Lottery vice president Mary Neubauer briefed lawmakers on Delaware’s experience with a sports lottery AND sports book operations at casinos. “Real world examples show that different types of sports gaming products can co-exist within a state,” Neubauer said.

Doug Beach of Casey’s General Stores says basic bets on games could easily be placed through lottery terminals in convenience stores. “We think it’s important when you consider this type of legislation that you make it easy for Iowans to participate and that includes Iowans in all 99 counties and small-town Iowa,” Beach said. And Representatives for Iowa restaurants and grocery stores told legislators there would be an increase in foot traffic in stores in all 99 counties rather than just the 19 state-licensed casinos if their industries get to offer a sports lottery. Wes Ehrecke is president of the Iowa Gaming Association, representing the state’s commercial casinos, and he argued against the lottery’s involvement. “We do question having them involved with the sports betting aspect,” Ehrecke told lawmakers. “There’s a lot of risk and volatility.”

Ehrecke argued the casinos are best equipped to manage that risk. For the past six years Iowa’s horse racing industry has the contract for taking bets, in Iowa, on the Kentucky Derby and other horse races around the country. Representatives of the group are asking legislators to give THEM the only contract to manage sports betting within the state’s borders.

(Radio Iowa) — Clear Lake police are asking for the public’s help in finding heirlooms from fallen rocker Ritchie Valens’ family reporting missing after the Winter Dance Party festivities last week. The Clear Lake Police Department on Sunday responded to the theft report of two picture collages and one movie poster belonging to the Valens family. The items were reportedly taken from the Best Western Motor Lodge in Clear Lake on Saturday from a conference room during a family luncheon.

The return of the items is a primary concern for the family, saying they are precious heirlooms, with the actual value still being determined. If anyone has any information about this case, they are asked to contact the Clear Lake Police Department

The Atlantic Fire Department was called at around 8:10-a.m., to assist firefighters from Brayton, who are battling a residential structure fire. The blaze was at 3144 Goldfinch Place, northwest of Brayton. No other details are currently available.

LITTLETON, Iowa (AP) — A project that will remove a dam from the Wapsipinicon River in eastern Iowa may create hazardous ice conditions for snowmobilers and ice anglers upstream. The Iowa Natural Resources Department says work is expected to begin Monday on the Littleton Dam in Buchanan County. Rock rapids are being emplaced so the water will pool to about the same level provided by the low-head dam.

Officials say water under the ice upstream will drop as the dam is removed, leaving several feet of empty space beneath. What appears to be stable ice could collapse unpredictably. The low-head dam presented a danger over the years. Nine people have died near the dam since it was built in 1934.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report the arrest Thursday night, of 29-year old Jennifer Ann Self. The Creston woman was arrested on a charge of Theft in the 2nd Degree, and was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. Authorities said also, a Creston woman residing in the 300 block of N. Sycamore Street reported Thursday morning, that sometime between 3:40-and 5-p.m. Wednesday, someone took a wedding ring out of her vehicle while she was at work. The loss was estimated at $100.

(7-a.m. News)