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Iowa Republicans announce agreement on how to cut taxes

News

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have announced in a late Friday email that they’ve reached an agreement to overhaul the state’s tax system and cut taxes. Gov. Kim Reynolds says in a press release sent after 5 p.m. that she and other top Republican lawmakers made a “historic” deal that would include cutting individual income taxes and some corporate taxes.

Reynolds’ office says a bill is not available for the public to review because it is still being finalized. Republicans with control of the statehouse have been working behind closed doors to finalize a tax plan along with the next state budget. The press release sent Friday does not provide enough information on the plan’s full cost.

Bears take Iowa C Daniels, Memphis WR Miller in 2nd round

Sports

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Bears went back to building their offense on the second day of the draft. Chicago took Iowa center James Daniels and Memphis receiver Anthony Miller on Friday night, giving prized quarterback Mitchell Trubisky more protection and another target.

The Bears took Daniels with the 39th overall pick. They then traded back into the second round with New England to take Miller at No. 51. In exchange, the Bears sent the Patriots a fourth-round pick this year (105) and a second-rounder in 2019.

Daniels’ selection could signal a full-time move to guard for Cody Whitehair, who has bounced between that position and center in two seasons. The Bears needed help at guard with Josh Sitton gone and with Kyle Long recovering from ankle, shoulder and neck surgeries.

The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Daniels played three seasons at Iowa and was honorable-mention, all-Big Ten last year. He is looking forward to playing with Trubisky after getting shredded by him in an Ohio regional playoff game in high school. Trubisky threw for five touchdowns and ran for one to lead Mentor over Warren G. Harding in 2012.

Simpson shatters US mark in 2-mile at Drake Relays

Sports

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Native Iowan Jenny Simpson broke the U.S. record in the two-mile race to highlight Friday’s session of the Drake Relays. Simpson shattered the American mark in the somewhat obscure event by finishing in 9 minutes, 16.78 seconds. The record had been set in 2014 by Shannon Rowbury at 9:20.25.

Simpson’s time was the eighth fastest ever recorded in the two-mile, a race she teamed up with meet director Blake Bolden to bring to Drake in an effort to give fans a marquee race on Friday, since most of Drake’s elite events scheduled for Saturday.
With a near-packed house cheering her on, Simpson clinched the mark with a final lap of 63.1 seconds.

Simpson, who was born in Webster City, improved to 11-0 in Drake Relays events.

Secondary first: Packers take Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson

Sports

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers prioritized the secondary first in the NFL draft. Josh Jackson is joining a revamped cornerback group after the Packers took the Iowa junior with the 45th overall pick in the second round on Friday night. Jackson led the nation with eight interceptions last season.

At 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, the Packers like Jackson’s physical ability. He turned into a ball-hawk in his only year as starter in college. Jackson made an impression in Wisconsin after returning two interceptions for touchdowns in Iowa’s loss to the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium in November. On the season, Jackson had 18 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.

“A whole bunch of film study, a whole bunch of hard work and just preparing yourself for your opponent,” Jackson said about his prolific production. His football instincts make up for any perceived lack of speed, Dotson said. Jackson was timed at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. “It goes back to his awareness and IQ for the game,” Dotson said. “The speed never really worried us because he’s just so smart and he’s always in the right position to play the ball.”

Jackson said he was hoping to get drafted by the Packers “because I just feel like they need some corners,” This was the team I was kind of hoping I went to. I’m just glad they picked me.”

LARRY HARDISTY, 71, of Corning (Svcs. 5/1/18)

Obituaries

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

LARRY HARDISTY, 71, of Corning, died Thursday, April 26, 2018, at his home in rural Corning. Funeral Services for LARRY HARDISTY will be 11:30-a.m. Tuesday, May 1st, at the Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, in Corning,

Open Visitation will be Monday, April 30, 2018 from 2:00 PM -8:00 PM, with family
receiving friends 5:00 – 7:00 PM, at the funeral home.

A private family interment will be held Wednesday, May 02, 2018 in the Iowa Veterans
Cemetery, Adel, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department; The Corning Volunteer Fire Department; and/or Matura – of Corning.

On-line condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com

Red Flag Warning in place for part of KJAN listening area

Weather

April 27th, 2018 by admin

Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass-Adair-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold
242 PM CDT Fri Apr 27 2018

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR
EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS....

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Red Flag
Warning FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS, which is in effect until
7 PM CDT this evening.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS...Extreme fire conditions are expected to
  continue this afternoon into the early evening hours.

* WIND...West to northwest at 25 to 30 mph gusting to 40 mph.

* Relative Humidity...Around 15 to 25 percent.

* FUEL...Very dry grasses, nearly 100 percent cured.

* Impacts...Open burning is discouraged and any fires could
  spread quickly and grow out of control due to the extreme fire
  conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Giant inflatable duck blows down street in Des Moines

News

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Motorists encounter all sorts of obstacles on the road, but a giant, bouncing inflatable rubber duck might be a first. Drivers and pedestrians in a two-block stretch near Des Moines’ East Village got a glimpse of just that Thursday evening when a 20-foot inflatable duck bounded along a street.

The duck, dubbed Quacky, is owned by the Youth Emergency Shelter and Services and is part of a promotional for the 92-bed youth shelter’s annual Duck Derby fundraiser, set for May 5.

Shelter director Stephen Quirk says Quacky “went a-fowl” after one of its tethers broke in high winds. Quirk says the 11-year-old giant inflatable duck “is back in his nest” getting some repairs so it can be ready to again display for the derby.

Iowa governor rejects calls for broader harassment inquiry

News

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds rejected calls Friday for a broader investigation into problems at a state agency where the director allegedly sexually harassed female employees for years without consequence. In a brief interview with reporters at the state Capitol, Reynolds said the culture of inappropriate behavior at the Iowa Finance Authority was caused by “one individual and I fired him,” referring to former director Dave Jamison. She acknowledged other employees witnessed or experienced some of Jamison’s problematic behavior but indicated she had no plans to hold them accountable for failing to report it.

Reynolds also dismissed criticism that the current sexual harassment training in state government — which Jamison took — doesn’t work if someone commits misconduct. She said it’s about making sure employees know there’s a process for reporting abuse. “We’ll continue to look at any situation and if we can improve it, then fine,” she said about existing policies. “I can’t, you can’t dictate behavior. You can’t dictate treating people with respect. But you can lead, and you can lead by example.”

Reynolds fired Jamison last month, a day after two employees told the governor’s office that he had been sexually harassing them. Reynolds released a complaint from one of the women Thursday that alleged Jamison made unwanted sexual advances, comments about her breasts and constant crude sexual remarks and gestures.

The woman wrote that a male agency lawyer often told Jamison “that he needs to stop it or be quiet,” and that a male agency administrator had reprimanded Jamison for inappropriate comments. Reynolds said she understood that they may have feared retaliation if they stepped forward to complain, but said she hopes other state employees who witness improper behavior will do so in the future through several available avenues.

The woman said she reported the behavior to the governor because she worried Jamison would be cleared or she would be fired if she contacted a separate, existing state agency that reviews human resources issues for state employees. Democratic lawmakers have called for an independent investigation, saying it’s important to know the details of any prior complaints against Jamison and how they were handled.

Interim IFA Director Carolann Jensen said Thursday that there is no pending investigation at the agency and that the governor’s office hasn’t reached out about launching one.

Sidney Iowa Couple Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

News

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Friday, a southwest Iowa couple were sentenced Wednesday in Council Bluffs, to prison, for their role in the distribution of methamphetamine. 30-year old Christopher Leroy Jordan and his spouse, 26-year old Randi Marie Jordan, both from Sidney, Iowa, were sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner.

Christopher Jordan was sentenced to 168 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Randi Jordan was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

In early November 2016, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation of Christopher and Randi Jordan for the distribution of methamphetamine. A search warrant was executed on January 31, 2017, at the Jordan’s house, resulting in the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana plants, and related evidence, as well as the arrests of both defendants.

The investigation was conducted by Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Federal Prisoner Sentenced for Contraband in Pottawattamie County Jail

News

April 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States District Court Senior Judge James E. Gritzner. Wednesday, sentenced 32-year old Ivan Antonio Cervantes to 18 months in prison,   for possession of contraband by a federal prisoner. Cervantes was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release to follow his prison term. The sentence is to be served consecutively to a prior 70 month sentence for a felony drug offense prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Cervantes and others distributed a synthetic cannabinoid while incarcerated at the Pottawattamie County Jail. On May 17, 2017, jail staff seized a substance from Cervantes’ cell with the use of a drug-detecting dog. Lab reports confirmed the substance found hidden in Cervantes’ cell tested positive for a synthetic cannabinoid. Further investigation revealed another individual brought the substance to the jail, then distributed the substance to other inmates.

The case was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.