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Iowa early News Headlines: Tuesday, 2/20/18

News

February 20th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CST

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man accused of attacking two people during the commission of several crimes was sentenced to 40 years in prison. The Sioux City Journal reports 36-year-old Eric Bishop was sentenced Monday for first-degree burglary and willful injury. As part of a plea deal last month, prosecutors dropped 10 other felony charges against Bishop.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — When asked whether she supports further restrictions to Iowa’s gun laws, Gov. Kim Reynolds said the federal government needs to take responsibility in discussing gun legislation. Reynolds told reporters Monday “the federal government has to play a role” in deciding possible firearm restrictions. That includes examining background check requirements. She declined to comment more specifically on Iowa’s gun laws, calling them reasonable and responsible.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa City elementary students are urging the school district to recognize Muslim holidays, and board members say they’re willing to consider the request. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports several students proposed the idea at a school board meeting last week. They suggested the district schedule days off for the holidays of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. Board member Ruthina Malone says the board can consider accommodating major holidays celebrated by Jewish and Muslim students.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of high school students have left their Iowa City classrooms to send a message: School shootings must stop. Students from at least three schools walked Monday to a gathering spot in downtown Iowa City. Speaking through a megaphone, a student speaker read the names of the 17 victims of last week’s Parkland, Florida, shooting. The other students repeated the names in unison.

Playoff Basketball Scoreboard Monday 02/19/2018

Sports

February 19th, 2018 by admin

Girls Regional Finals

Class 1A Region 7
Exira-EHK 66, Boyer Valley 41 (Spartans reach 4th straight State Tourney)

Class 1A Region 8
Newell-Fonda 66, West Monona 57

Class 2A Region 6
Panorama 36, Des Moines Christian 33

Class 2A Region 7
Treynor 76, Mount Ayr 42

Class 2A Region 8
IKM-Manning vs. West Sioux @ Mapleton PPD to Wednesday, Feb 21st at 7:00pm

Boys Class 3A Substate Quarterfinals

3A Substate 7

Winterset 70, Nevada 50

3A Substate 8

Atlantic 68, Denison-Schleswig 51
Glenwood 92, ADM 36
Creston vs. Carroll (@ Harlan) PPD to Tuesday, Feb 20th at 6:00pm
Perry @ Harlan PPD to Tuesday, Feb 20th at 7:30pm

Boys Class 4A Substate Quarterfinals

4A Substate 1

Sioux City North @ Lewis Central PPD to Wednesday, Feb 21st at 6:00pm
CB Thomas Jefferson @ Sioux City West PPD to Tuesday, Feb 20th at 7:00pm

Reilly picks up Trojans early, Alexander finishes strong in District win over Denison

Sports

February 19th, 2018 by admin

The Atlantic Trojans started a bit sluggish on Monday night but were able to dial in as the game moved along and pick up a Class 3A District Semifinal win over Denison-Schleswig 68-51 in Glenwood. The Trojans found themselves behind for a large portion of the first quarter but Logan Reilly stepped up in a huge way with 8 early points to help force a 17-all tie after one quarter. Reilly had 13 by the end of the first half and 16 for the game. Atlantic Head Coach Alan Jenkins said they knew he could be an effective part of the game plan.

Austin Alexander caught fire from outside in the third quarter, dropping in three triples in the period. Alexander led all scorers with 25 points on the night and after the game he said the team settled in to their game in the second quarter.

Grant Podhajsky also had a nice night with 8 points and 13 rebounds. Coach Jenkins said he likes the balance and output he has seen from his team down the stretch run.

Atlantic improves to 14-8 with the win and they will now face Glenwood in the District Final on Thursday night at 7:00pm. The Rams were 92-36 winners over ADM in the nightcap on Monday night. The Trojans and Rams split during the regular season with each winning on their home floor. We’ll have coverage of the game on Thursday night on KJAN with pregame at 6:50pm.

Denison was led by 13 points from Charlie Wiebers and 12 from Goanar Biliew. The Monarchs season ends with a 9-13 record.

Fatal accident in northwest Iowa’s Ida County

News

February 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A woman from Odebolt died from injuries she suffered during a collision Sunday evening, in northwest Iowa’s Ida County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 22-year old Destiny Rain Gritten died after being transported from the scene by helicopter to a hospital. The accident happened at around 5:30-p.m., when a 2004 Chevy truck driven by Gritten, failed to stop at the intersection with County Road L-51.

Her truck was struck by an eastbound 2017 Freightliner semi, driven by 40-year old Daniel Anderson, of Firth, ID. Anderson was not injured in the crash. Both vehicles came to rest east of the intersection.

Ex-Cass County 911 Director faces Possession of Child Pornography charge

News

February 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Court records show former Cass County 9-1-1 Director Rob Koppert is tentatively scheduled to appear in U-S District Court in Council Bluffs on April 9th, with regard to an alleged Child Pornography charge. Robert “Rob” D. Koppert was charged with Possession of Child Pornography, after agents with the FBI visited his home on Plum Street July 24th, and executed a search warrant. Koppert tendered his resignation that same day.

Court Records for U-S District Court in the Southern District of Iowa, allege Koppert, knowingly possessed one or more matters which contained visual depictions that had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, by any means including by a computer, the producing of such visual depictions having involved the use of a minor, i.e., any person under the age of eighteen years, engaging in sexually explicit conduct and said visual depictions of such conduct, and involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained the age of 12 years of age.

Koppert had served as the Cass County 9-1-1 Director since the mid-1990’s.

Reynolds says feds, not state should discuss gun laws

News

February 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — When asked whether she supports further restrictions to Iowa’s gun laws, Gov. Kim Reynolds said the federal government needs to take responsibility in discussing gun legislation.

Reynolds told reporters Monday “the federal government has to play a role” in deciding possible firearm restrictions. She says that includes examining background check requirements. She declined to comment more specifically on Iowa’s gun laws, calling them reasonable and responsible.

Reynolds announced a suspicious activity reporting campaign at the state Capitol press conference following last week’s school shooting in Florida. Iowa public safety agencies will partner with the federal government to promote the campaign.

Reynolds says preventing mass shootings cannot be only about guns and should happen in “a holistic manner,” including reporting suspicious activity and improving mental health care.

Iowa students leave classes, rally against school shootings

News

February 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Dozens of high school students left their Iowa City classrooms, Monday, to send a message: School shootings must stop. Students from at least three schools — City High, West High and South East Junior High — walked Monday to a gathering spot in downtown Iowa City. By 11:45 a.m., an estimated 200 students were chanting in front of the Old Capitol building. Some carried signs decrying gun violence.

Speaking through a megaphone, a student speaker read the names of the 17 victims of last week’s Parkland, Florida, shooting. The other students repeated the names in unison.

Over 160 Vehicles in Central Iowa Mega-Crashes

News

February 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa State Patrol has some helpful tips for motorists with icy weather moving across much of the state over the next couple of days:

  • Reduce your speed to the condition of the road;
  • Increase your following distance;
  • Use extra caution in the areas accelerating/decelerating (on ramps, off ramps, intersections);
  • Anticipate – look up the road when traveling;
  • Speed limit(s) are designed for ideal conditions: Traveling 70 mph on dry pavement, requires an overall stopping distance of around 350ft.; Travelling 50 mph on dry pavement, requires an overall stopping distance of around 198ft.

Accident info.: Feb 5th pile-up near Ames involved 70 vehicles.; Feb 12th pile-up south of Huxley involved over 90 vehicles.

4 arrests in Atlantic

News

February 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson is reporting four recent arrests. On Friday, officers arrested 23-year old Samantha Jensen, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. And, 23-year old Justin Patton, of Liberal KS., was arrested on two counts of  Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving Under Suspension.

On Friday, Atlantic Police arrested 24-year old Jacob Sweeney, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for probation violation. And, 46-year old Jennifer Heath, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. All subjects were brought to the Cass County Jail, and booked-in.

(12-p.m. News)

Exira-EHK faces Boyer Valley with state trip on the line

Sports

February 19th, 2018 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans will take on the Boyer Valley Bulldogs tonight in Avoca with a trip to the State Tournament on the line. The two squads will meet in the Class 1A Region 7 Final at AHSTW High School at 6:00pm. The game time was moved up an hour with the anticipation of more freezing rain affecting the area again tonight.

This will be the rubber-match with both teams winning at home in the regular season battles. Boyer Valley won 47-46 on January 2nd in Dunlap. Ella Meyer and Cathryn Klein had 11 points each in that Bulldog win. The Spartans were able to avenge that loss a month later with a 67-43 win on February 2nd. Sophia Peppers had 21 points and Kealey Nelson dropped in 17 in that second meeting.

After the Spartans picked up the semifinal win on Friday night over CAM, Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen was asked about the prospects of facing Boyer Valley again. “We know it’s going to be tough. It’s gonna be a fight for 32 minutes. It’s going to take all 13 of us including coaches to be on the same page to get the win.”

The Spartans will be trying to get back to the State Tournament after reaching the Semifinals and falling in overtime to Turkey Valley last season.

We’ll have coverage tonight on KJAN. Our game coverage will start on KJANTV with an audio only broadcast. We will then join the game on the air at the conclusion of the Class 3A Boys game between Atlantic and Denison-Schleswig that starts at 5:30pm.