A delegation from Iowa’s largest city is in Nebraska’s largest city today (Friday) for the N-C double-A men’s basketball tournament, but they’re not at the CenturyLink Center just to watch the games. Deb Ward, with the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau, says it’s a learning experience for everyone involved in putting on the Big Dance. “We’ve got a contingency from Des Moines coming in,” Ward says. “Des Moines is going to host this thing next year. They’ve never done that before so they’re sort of looking to Omaha for some expertice. Same thing with Wichita. We’ve had a contingency from Wichita. They’re hosting it in a couple of years.”

Omaha has hosted several big sporting events in recent years, including the U-S Olympic swimming trials in 2012. With huge crowds expected this weekend, Ward says it’s an opportunity for the Omaha-Council Bluffs area to shine — and to enjoy an economic boost.  “Back in 2012, we saw a 31% increase in hotel demand over the year prior,” Ward says. “I can imagine it’s going to be that and more.” Ward says most of the 93-hundred hotel rooms in Douglas County, Nebraska, are booked this weekend and those in surrounding areas are filling up. She says area businesses are preparing for large crowds.

“The beauty of this is, of course, there’s things to do between the games and there’s the Saturday off day when we’ll have a lot of visitors looking for things to do,” Ward says. “They’ll be out exploring the bars and restaurants and shops and attractions which is a bonus.” The Henry Doorly Zoo and the Durham Museum are expecting an increase in visitors, along with Omaha’s Old Market area, and the casinos on the Iowa side of the river.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 25-year-old Sioux City woman has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment that resulted in serious injury. Kara Jackson entered a written plea Wednesday. Her trial starting date has not been set. She’s accused of causing her 5-month-old son’s skull fracture.

Last week prosecutors dropped their case against the boy’s father, 23-year-old Aaron Tucker. Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings says it’s unclear whether Tucker was at fault. Jennings says the case can be refiled if more evidence surfaces. In court documents Tucker and Jackson accused one another of dropping the child on several occasions.

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Child care providers working in Harrison, Monona, and Shelby counties are invited to a professional development day on Saturday, May 16 at Willow Lake Recreation Area near Woodbine. The event starts at 8:00-a.m., with registration.

Two workshops are being offered:

8:30-am-to 12:30-p.m. –  MyPlate for My Child Care: 4 Easy Steps
Research suggests the groundwork for lifelong dietary habits may be laid down during the preschool years. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate provide four recommendations that can be implemented in the childcare setting. Participants will assist in preparing some new exciting recipes for a light lunch.

1:00-p.m to 4:00-p.m. –  Nature Explore: Wonder-Filled Beginnings
Part of the Nature Explore series from the Arbor Day Foundation, participants in this workshop will gain engaging strategies for documenting infant and toddler learning, and tips for choosing natural materials that meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers. The class will be going outside if possible so appropriate dress is suggested.

Providers may choose one or both workshops for up to a total of 7 hours of licensing credit. Providers are to sign up for each workshop via the Training Registry at https://ccmis.dhs.state.ia.us/TrainingRegistry and submit payment before May 11.

Each workshop is taught by approved ISU Extension and Outreach specialists. Due to generous funding from Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood Area, the event is low-cost to providers serving these counties. Support is also provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach offices in corresponding counties, and Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral. Priority is given to Harrison, Monona, and Shelby county providers but other providers may also register.

For more information, contact the Shelby County extension office at 712-755-3104.

Two people were hurt during a collision early this (Friday) morning, here in Atlantic. The crash between a van and a pickup happened at around 7:35-a.m. at the intersection of 6th and Maple Streets. The injured were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, by Medivac Ambulance.

Ric Hanson/photo

No other details are immediately available.

The Creston Police Department reports a resident told authorities someone slit a tire on his vehicle while it was parked near his home. The incident, which took place sometime between 8-p.m. Wednesday and 5-p.m. Thursday, resulted in a loss of about $85.

Authorities also report 33-year old Troy Williams, of Creston, was arrested Thursday evening and charged with Driving While Suspended. Williams was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a wrong-way driver who died after a collision on U.S. Highway 20 in northwest Iowa. Sioux City police identified the woman as 84-year-old Katherine Siler, of Sioux City. The accident occurred a little before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on the westbound lanes on the bridge over Interstate 29 in Sioux City. Sioux City police say Siler was driving alone when she entered the wrong lanes in South Sioux City, Nebraska, and headed east.

Her truck struck a van driven by 33-year-old Melanie Albenesius, of South Sioux City. Albenesius and her passenger, her 3-year-old daughter, were taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Authorities say Siler died at the scene.

AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD COUNTIES…518 AM CDT FRI MAR 20 2015

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING.

* VISIBILITY…VISIBILITY WILL BE BELOW A QUARTER MILE TO NEAR
ZERO IN AREAS OF DENSER FOG.

* IMPACTS…VERY LOW VISIBILITY WILL MAKE DRIVING HAZARDOUS.
PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY.

Some Iowa farmers may welcome the news but consumers won’t be thrilled — or surprised — to hear predictions that food prices will be rising in 2015, according to a report from the U-S-D-A. Agency economist Annemarie Kuhns says overall supermarket prices rose about two-and-a-half percent last year and we can expect more of the same in the year ahead. “In 2015, we’re expecting grocery store prices to rise two to three percent,” Kuhns says. The U-S-D-A’s Food Inflation Forecast details how beef prices are up about 19-percent from a year ago and those prices will likely continue to climb still-higher.

“We are forecasting beef and veal prices to rise five to six percent,” Kuhns says. The report predicts pork prices and dairy prices will also rise two-to-three percent, along with fresh vegetables, too. Kuhns says, “It’s going to be a lot of the items around the perimeter of the store, some of the meats, produce, that will see slightly higher-than-average inflation than a lot of the goods within the center aisles, the non-perishable goods, cereals, bakery products, sugars and sweets and non-alcoholic beverages.”

Look for changes on the menu at your favorite eatery, as well. The survey predicts restaurant prices will be rising an average of three-percent over last year.

(Radio Iowa)