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1 seriously hurt in Harrison County crash

News

August 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

One person was seriously injured during a crash Saturday afternoon, in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 67-year old Jessie Hill, of Sioux Falls, SD, was trapped in a 1996 Dodge van and had to be extricated by mechanical means. He suffered moderate injuries and was transported by helicopter following the crash, to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The accident happened on Interstate 29 southbound at around 3-p.m., about a mile north of the Little Sioux exit.

Authorities say Hill was a passenger in the van driven by 65-year old Jennie Brown, of Sioux Falls. The pair were traveling south at about the 96-mile marker, at the same time a 2014 Ford F-550 tow truck driven by 30-year old Jacob M. Stewart, of Sioux Falls, SD, was traveling south, en route to assist a motorist whose vehicle had broken down.

Stewart activated his truck’s emergency lights and signaled to pull in front of the broken down vehicle. When a non-contact vehicle directly behind him started to slow down, Brown slammed on the brakes in order to avoid running into the back of the non-contact vehicle. Brown’s van veered toward the inside lane and ran into the back of Stewart’s truck. Neither Brown nor Stewart were hurt in the crash.

After rough budget, is Iowa Capitol getting more combative?

News

August 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa elected officials pride themselves on working in a politically divided government that still gets things done. But after a combative budget process, capped with several vetoes by Gov. Terry Branstad, some are questioning how well the system is working. Simply put, is Iowa politics becoming more like Washington?

Branstad has spent weeks defending his decision to veto several budget compromises negotiated by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-majority House. The governor says he’s not concerned about his relationships with lawmakers or ability to get legislation passed in the future.

Branstad says officials dealt with worse situations during the farm crisis of the 1980s. But Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says relations between Branstad and lawmakers are near “an all-time low.”

Iowa early News Headlines: Sun., Aug. 2nd 2015

News

August 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday set to coincide with back-to-school shopping also brings Nebraskans looking for bargains across the Missouri River. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that Iowa’s sales tax holiday this year is being held August 7th through 8th. Nebraska doesn’t have a sales tax holiday, although the idea has been discussed from time to time by Nebraska lawmakers.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Public school officials in northern Iowa say a shortage of special education teachers have left districts struggling to fill those teaching positions. The Globe Gazette reports that enrollment numbers last school year show the Clear Lake school district had 136 students receiving special education services, while Mason City had 508.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A Coralville man has been arrested and charged with stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a pizza restaurant he managed. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that 32-year-old Samuel Rainey is charged with first-degree theft. Police say Rainey was a night manager at Domino’s Pizza, where he was responsible for making night deposits.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police are looking for a Black Hawk County man who failed to return to a work release facility. Authorities say Nicholas Toles was transferred to work release after his parole on a robbery conviction was revoked last month. The Iowa Department of Corrections says in a written release that Toles was absence from the facility on Friday.

Iowa sales tax holiday set for next weekend

News

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday set to coincide with back-to-school shopping also brings Nebraskans looking for bargains across the Missouri River. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that Iowa’s sales tax holiday this year is being held Aug. 7-8. Nebraska doesn’t have a sales tax holiday, although the idea has been kicked around from time to time by Nebraska lawmakers.

The Iowa holiday allows shoppers to buy select clothing and footwear priced at less than $100 without paying sales tax or local option taxes. The two days are usually among the best of the year for Iowa retailers. Although the sales tax holiday falls during the back-to-school shopping season, the tax exemption applies to merchandise for adults, too.

(Update) Monona County motorcycle crash

News

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

In an update to our story that posted Friday afternoon, officials say it was an Omaha man who died and whose wife was critically injured, during a motorcycle crash in Monona County. The Sioux City Journal reports that 81-year-old Willard Crowl was killed and 78-year-old Sonya Crowl was injured in the Thursday morning crash near Onawa on Interstate 29.

The Iowa State Patrol says the motorcycle was northbound when it began to drift into the right lane, then switched back to the left lane and crashed into the median. Investigators say Willard Crowl died at the scene. Sonya Crowl was taken to an Onawa hospital, then transported to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

It is not known who was driving the motorcycle at the time. The investigation into the crash continues.

Ames police warning of phone scam targeting ISU students

News

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Ames are warning of a phone scam targeting Iowa State University students. The Des Moines Register reports that multiple Iowa State students have received calls demanding money. Police say the callers threaten to take a student’s diploma, issue an arrest warrant or cause problems with a visa. Often, the callers mask their phone numbers through caller ID, posing as police departments.

Police are asking on-campus residents who have given money to the callers or who think they have received a call from a scammer to contact ISU Police. Off-campus students are asked to report incidents to the Ames Police Department. All are urged to contact the Federal Trade Commission through the commission’s website.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 8/1/2015

News, Podcasts

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

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

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning News & funeral report, Sat., 8/1/2015

News, Podcasts

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Traffic stop in Red Oak Sat. morning results in man arrested on drug charge

News

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak conducted a traffic stop early this (Saturday) morning, and ended up arresting  a man on a drug charge. 19-year old Todd Michael Rensch II, of Red Oak, faces a serious misdemeanor charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, following the traffic stop at 12:15-a.m.  Rensch was also cited for Failure to Provide proof of Insurance. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash bond.

And, at around 12:30 this (Saturday) morning, 41-year old James Reed Mitroff, II, of Red Oak, was arrested for Public Intoxication, after Red Oak Police responded to a report of a man causing a disturbance in the 300 block of E. Washington Street. Mitroff was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Red Oak woman arrested for allegedly taking money from salon

News

August 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak report an investigation into the theft of $400 from Tangles Salon in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 59-year old Sheryl Lynne Franzen, of Red Oak. The woman was taken into custody Friday evening on a charge of Theft in the 4th Degree. The money was recovered by the businesses employees. Franzen was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash bond.