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Iowa officials slow to implement medical marijuana oil law

News

January 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials have been moving slowly to implement a law allowing for an extract of marijuana to be used for medical treatment, and advocates say they’ll keep pressing for more access to the drug. The Quad-City Times reports the state Department of Public Health has yet to issue a single marijuana use card that’s required under the law that passed last year.

Des Moines mom Maria La France says she remains too nervous about being arrested to regularly obtain marijuana oil for her son’s chronic epilepsy. So she’ll keep pressing for more access. Logan Edwards says the lack of access to medical marijuana in Iowa is why he left the state last year. The U.S. Marine from Davenport says he uses the drug to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Liability concerns prompt some cities to limit sledding

News

January 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Part of the fun of sledding is the risk that comes with flying down a steep hill. But that risk leaves cities open to potential bills from sledding injuries, and some have opted to close hills rather than risk large liability claims.

No one tracks how many cities have banned or limited sledding, but the list grows every year. One of the latest is in Dubuque, Iowa, where officials are moving ahead with a plan to ban sledding in all but two of its 50 parks. Parks manager Marie Ware says Dubuque is hilly and the risk is too prevalent.

In meetings leading up to the ban, City Council members lamented the move but say it’s the only responsible choice given liability concerns and demands from Dubuque’s insurance carrier.

(Podcast) Sunday morning News, 1/4/2015

News, Podcasts

January 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The latest area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Updated 6-a.m.: Wind Chill Advisories in effect this (Sunday) morning, 1/14/15

News, Weather

January 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until Noon today for: Audubon, Adair, Adams, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor & Union; Wind Chill Advisory in effect until 9-a.m. today for: Carroll, Crawford & Sac Counties; Wind Chill Advisory in effect until 11-a.m. today for: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…SNOW IS COMING TO AN END EARLY THIS MORNING. TRAVEL CONTINUES MAY BE IMPACTED IN RURAL AREAS DUE TO STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW.

* WINDS…NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES/WIND CHILL VALUES…BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED FOR TODAY WITH WIND CHILL VALUES RANGING FROM 15 TO 20 BELOW DURING THE PERIOD.

* IMPACTS…VERY LOW VISIBILITY…STRONG WINDS…AND SLICK ROADS  WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS. DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS ARE ALSO EXPECTED THROUGH THE DAYTIME HOURS TODAY OVER MUCH OF THE REGION. ACROSS THE NORTH DANGEROUS WIND CHILL VALUES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.  IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

Snow Emergency Declaration in Prescott

News

January 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Officials in the Adams County community of Prescott have issued a “Snow Emergency.” The snow emergency is in effect from 6-am today (Sunday) through 11:59-p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5th. While the civil order is in effect, no vehicles are to park on the streets of Prescott until after 11:59-p.m. Jan. 5th.

All vehicles should be moved off the streets. Any vehicles remaining on the streets until the Snow Emergency ends will be subject to towing at the owner’s expense.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sun., 1/4/2014

News

January 4th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Nebraska and Iowa are among those states preparing for another blast of wintry weather this weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of eastern Nebraska and most of Iowa through Sunday morning. Temperatures are expected to drop to near zero by midnight today and through Sunday morning, with wind chills possibly falling to 20-below zero.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — At least one Iowa state lawmaker plans to push legislation this session that would provide direct funding for food banks in Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Senator Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Waterloo, is drafting such a bill for the 2015 session. Republican Governor Terry Branstad is supporting a state plan already in place that allows for up to $1 million in state money as matching funds for private donations to food banks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An old Danish windmill is the pride of Elk Horn, but decades after it was moved from Denmark, Iowa residents are struggling to pay for repairs to get the structure’s blades turning again. Windmill manager Lisa Riggs noticed last spring that something was wrong with the 168-year-old windmill, dismantled in Denmark and reassembled in 1975. Despite its popularity, Riggs says it’s tough for a little town to raise the $25,000 to $100,000 needed for repairs.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman and her two dogs are safe after escaping a house fire. Sioux City firefighters responded to a report of the fire around 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Flu sees Iowa hospitals tighten visitation rules

News

January 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa hospitals have tightened visitation rules in the wake of a widespread flu outbreak that has claimed the lives of three children in recent months, including that of a 3-year-old Elk Horn girl. The Des Moines Register reports that 3-year-old Ayzlee McCarthy died on Monday from complications from the flu. Her mother says that only three days earlier, Ayzlee appeared healthy and active.

Iowa Department of Public Health reports show that for the week ending Dec. 27, 161 Iowans were hospitalized with the flu at a set of hospitals the department monitors. That has prompted Des Moines medical centers to ban any would-be visitors who show any flu symptoms, and anyone visiting flu-infected patients must wear a surgical mask over his or her nose and mouth.

Officials: Iowa inmate placed on escape status

News

January 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa inmate in Sioux City has been placed on escape status after failing to return from his work release detail on New Year’s Day. The Sioux City Journal reports that 29-year-old Timothy Raymond Denney was staying at the Department Corrections Work Release facility in Sioux City following a conviction for second-degree robbery and going armed with intent.

People in work-release can leave the facility for a certain amount of time for jobs. Denney was transferred to work release on Oct. 8. His sentence was for 15 years. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 712-279-6960.

Iowa senator drafting bill for food bank donations

News

January 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — At least one Iowa state lawmaker plans to push legislation this session that would provide direct funding for food banks in Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, is drafting such a bill for the 2015 session.

Others, including Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, support a state plan already in place that allows for up to $1 million in state money as matching funds for private donations to food banks. Branstad has pointed to the $150,000 in state funding last year that matched the $150,000 donated by CN Railroad to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo.

The food bank’s director, Barb Prather, says the $300,000 was used to buy better quality food for the charitable food bank, like canned chicken, tuna and fruit.

Iowa woman, 2 dogs escape house fire uninjured

News

January 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman and her two dogs are safe after escaping a house fire. Sioux City firefighters responded to a report of the fire around 7:30 p.m. Friday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the house.

Sioux City Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Brad Robinson says the woman was able to round up her two dogs and get out of the house shortly after seeing the flames. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured. Robinson said the American Red Cross is helping the woman find shelter and clothing.