United Group Insurance

3 in ambulance that flipped on way to Iowa City hospital

News

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two crew members were injured when their ambulance flipped while taking a patient to Iowa City. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 80 near West Branch in Cedar County. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver likely lost control of the vehicle on the icy roadway. All three occupants were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the two crew members already have been released. No names have been released.

Legislation would force companies to file bankruptcy where they did business

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

An eastern Iowa lawyer is applauding a bill now before the U-S Senate which aims to make it harder for companies to file bankruptcy in states other than where they do business. Attorney Joe Pieffer represented farmers who invested in VeraSun Energy, a company that filed bankruptcy in 2008. Pieffer says investors need protection and the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2018 would help. “Who knows when we’re going to have another ethanol company file bankruptcy, but we all remember the VeraSun bankruptcy that affected the whole Midwest,” Pieffer says. “They had 23 plants in six Midwestern states and they filed in Delaware. Farmers ought to be able to go to court close to where they do business with the company and not be stuck going to Delaware where there aren’t any ethanol plants.”

Pieffer says companies that file for Chapter 11 protection shouldn’t be allowed to seek court venues other than where their investors are located.  “We ought to have access to justice and easy access to justice,” Pieffer says. “Instead of letting companies make it difficult for the people they’ve done business with to participate in the bankruptcy, it works a lot better if we can make them file bankruptcy either where their primary assets are or where their headquarters are.”  Peiffer says the Commercial Law League of America did a study of bankruptcies filed in Delaware. “From 2003 to 2016, 735 bankruptcies were filed in Delaware where the companies weren’t doing any business there,” Pieffer says. “Maybe they had an affiliate that was incorporated there and everybody else followed suit. We’ve got companies out in California filing bankruptcy in Delaware.”

That practice makes it difficult for practically everyone who will be impacted by the bankruptcy. “You’ve got the retirees who might have their pensions affected having to trek out to Delaware to deal with things,” he says, “or you’ve got farmers who were involved with a company like VeraSun was going to Delaware.”  VeraSun had Iowa facilities in Albert City, Charles City, Dyersville, Fort Dodge and Hartley. Peiffer works for Ag and Business Legal Strategies based in Hiawatha, near Cedar Rapids.

(Radio Iowa)

Annual state MLK celebration set

News

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Human Rights is hosting the annual state Martin Luther King Junior celebration today (Monday). Kim Cheeks of the Department’s Office on the Status of African Americans says the celebration begins at 10:45 at the Des Moines Botantical Center. “It will be our 29th annual celebration commemorating the life and legacy of Doctor Martin Luther King. We will have opening remarks by Governor Kim Reynolds.” Cheeks says the keynote speech will be delivered by Izaah Knox, Executive Director of Urban Dreams. She says the entertainment will feature Julius Brooks, a jazz musician and poet Emmett Phillips.

Cheeks says everyone is invited to attend the event honoring the slain Civil Rights leader. “To remember his values, to remind people of his principles of non-violence and to celebrate the holiday,” Cheeks says. Governor Reynolds will sign a proclamation designating it Martin Luther King Junior Day, and the period of January 14-20th as Martin Luther King Junior Week.

(Radio Iowa)

Shots fired in Council Bluffs Sunday night, 2 arrested – 1 released

News

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs, Sunday night, responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 1800 block of 28th Ave. They were dispatched to the scene at around 10:15-p.m. A caller told authorities two males parked the vehicle and walked west. Officers arrived on scene and while they were checking on the vehicle they heard two shots fired close by. A short time later two males were seen running back toward the suspicious vehicle. Officers took both parties into custody and transported them both to the Criminal Investigations Division for questioning.

One male was questioned and released. The second male is juvenile and his name was not  released. Officers located a stolen semi-automatic pistol on the juvenile, who was charged with trafficking in stolen weapons, unauthorized possession of a weapon, obtaining weapon without a permit, and reckless use of a firearm. The juvenile was being held at the Southwest Iowa Juvenile detention center.

Iowa wrestlers beat Oklahoma State

Sports

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The seventh ranked Iowa wrestling team won six of ten bouts to top third ranked Oklahoma State 20-12 in Iowa City. Iowa coach Tom Brands said it was a good win for his 9-0 Hawkeyes but a lot of improvement is needed. 184-pounder Mitch Bowman provided the Hawkeyes a big lift with a 10-6 win over Keegan Moore.

Drake women roll past Evansville

Sports

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Drake women blitzed Evansville by scoring 38 first quarter points in a 107-66 win in the Knapp Center as the Bulldogs improve to 6-0 in the Missouri Valley. Becca Hitner had 23 points and Sara Rhine added 22 and the Bulldogs dished out 32 assists in the game.

Skyscan Forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 1/15/18

Weather

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

**WIND CHILL ADVISORY until Noon Tuesday**

Today: Partly cloudy, windy & cold. High nearly steady in the single digits. NW @ 15-30. Wind chill as low as -20.

Tonight: P/Cldy. Low -12. NW @ 5-10, w/gusts to around 20. Wind chill -5. WC as low as -30.

Tomorrow: Mo. Sunny. High 8. NW @ 10-15. WC as low as -30.

Wednesday: P/Cldy. High 25.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High 36.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 28. Our Low this morning was 1 degree. We received 1.4 inches of snow Sunday night, which melted into .06″liquid precipitation. Last year on this date our High was 35 and the Low was 28. The all-time record High in Atlantic on this date was 61 in 1990, and the Low was -23 in 1905.

VERA LEONA SCHUNING, 102, of Avoca (Svcs. 1/17/18)

Obituaries

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

VERA LEONA SCHUNING, 102, of Avoca, died Saturday, Jan. 13th, at Myrtue Medical Center, in Harlan. Funeral services for VERA SCHUNING will be held 10:30-a.m. Wed., Jan. 17th, at the Pauley-Jones Funeral Home, in Avoca.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, Jan. 16th, from 5-until 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.

VERA LEONA SCHUNING is survived by:

Her daughters – Renee Sowers, of Avoca, & Rita (Bob) Koraleski, of Papillion, NE.

Her son – Ronnie Schuning, of Avoca.

and 1 grandson.

Wind Chill Advisory continues until 12-p.m. Tuesday

Weather

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NWS DSM, 345 AM CST Mon Jan 15 2018

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TUESDAY…

* WHAT…Very cold wind chills expected. The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin. Expect wind chills to range from 5 below zero to 30 below zero.

* WHEN…Now to noon Tuesday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the strong winds will combine to create low wind chills. Frost bite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves.

Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, Jan. 15th 2018

News

January 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds highlighted multiple policy priorities in her Condition of the State speech, but recent history shows plans can change. Republicans have indicated strong support for several proposals in the Jan. 9 speech, like reducing taxes and expanding workforce opportunities. But issues not discussed such as the death penalty and immigration, or only briefly mentioned like abortion and school choice, could surface to the top of lawmakers’ agenda.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa is seeing the annual return of bald eagles, attracting area residents and tourists alike. The raptors hunt over open water. So, as other rivers ice over, the eagles return to open waters along the Mississippi River in the Davenport area, an annual event that also draws countless bird watchers. The Quad-City Times reports that LeClaire offers a prime spot to view bald eagles.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new facility in the Omaha area will help food businesses get started. The 2,500-square-foot Kitchen Council plans to open in early February. Its commercial kitchen and business development experts will help entrepreneurs launch food-related businesses. The Kitchen Council’s director Holly Benson Muller says the facility is designed to make it easier for food businesses to get started.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northeastern Iowa have released the names of three people from Waterloo killed in a crash that also seriously injured three others. Police say 20-year-old Elijah James Showalter, 21-year-old Daniel James Delagardelle and 16-year-old Brady Hagenstein died in the Friday evening in Cedar Falls. Police say the three were traveling in a speeding westbound car on Viking Road that crossed the center line and hit an eastbound SUV head-on.