w/ Kate Olson.
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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say an 18-year-old Des Moines man has been arrested and charged after officials determined he had beaten his 5-month-old son for weeks, causing severe injuries to the baby. The Des Moines Register reports that Dominick Joseph Clausi was charged Tuesday with multiple counts of child endangerment after his infant son was sent to a hospital with life-threatening injuries that include skull fractures, a brain bleed and bruising.
Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says investigators believe Clausi beat and shook the baby, forced his face into a pillow and, at one point, bit the infant. Police were notified of the allegations Dec. 7. Clausi remained in the Polk County Jail on Wednesday.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will be among four Republican governors who meet with the vice president on Thursday. Reynolds says they’ll discuss “the importance” of the North American Free Trade Agreement. “We’re o.k. with modernizing the language with NAFTA,” Reynolds says. “It’s a 25 year agreement. We believe in fair and free trade, but that’s our number one and two trading partners. It would have a tremendous impact if we were to withdraw from NAFTA.”
President Trump has called NAFTA “a disaster” and U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue has warned the negotiations with Mexico and Canada are a “bumpy ride.” Governor Reynolds says ending the agreement could “devastate” Iowa farmers. “With farm prices and commodity prices where they are today, we need to do everything we can…to make sure that we can maintain the existing footprint that we have for our trading partners,” Reynolds says, “and look for opportunities to expand that.”
According to federal records, Iowa has a trade surplus with both Canada and Mexico. Last year, Iowa exported three-point-three BILLION dollars worth of goods to Canada. Exports to Mexico topped two-point-three BILLION. Half of all Iowa corn exports go to Mexico.
(Radio Iowa)
The new survey by the Iowa State University Extension department shows a slight increase in the average farmland value after three straight years of declines. Iowa State University economist Wendong Zhang says a limited supply of available farmland is the main reason for the two percent increase in land values as the farm economy remains sluggish. “I would not rush into the conclusion that the market has fundamentally improved. Likely we are still in a trajectory of the stabilization in the next one or two years,” he says.
The average statewide value of an acre of farmland is estimated at seven-thousand-326 dollars ($7,326), or 143 dollars more for an acre compared to last year. Commodity prices remain low and Zhang says a full recovery of the ag economy will take some time. “The farm income likely will still stabilize, the interest rate likely will rise again. So I would interpret as the stabilization or temporary break for us to assess where we are,” Zhang says.
Scott and Decatur counties reported the highest and lowest farmland values for the fifth straight year. Decatur County reported land valued 34-hundred-80 dollars ($3,480) — while Scott County reported a value of 10-thousand-497 dollars ($10,497). Just four of Iowa’s 99 counties –Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, and Page –reported a drop in land values this year. Each of those counties reported a decline in value of three-tenths of a percent.
(Radio Iowa)
Today: WIND ADVISORY 10-a.m. to 6-p.m.; P/Cldy to Cldy w/sprinkles. High 50 w/falling afternoon temps. SW-NW @ 20-40.
Tonight: P/Cldy to cldy w/flurries. Low 18. NW @ 20-40 diminishing late..
Tomorrow: Mostly Cloudy. High 35. NW @ 10-15.
Friday: P/Cldy. High 37.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High 52.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 37. Our Low 11. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 22 and the low was 5. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 65 in 1921. The Record Low for this date was -20 in 1961.
Pornographic photographs have shown up in the clothing of at least two retail outlets in Atlantic, and Police are trying to figure out who placed them in coat pockets and gloves being sold for women and children. According to Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, a customer at the Orscheln Farm and Home Store was trying on a pair of gloves last Friday, when she found a picture of man’s genitals inside the gloves. Officers arrived on scene found other such pictures hidden only in women and children’s gloves and coat pockets.
Other images were found in clothing at the Walmart in Atlantic. Altogether, more than 20 images have been found so far. Authorities and Walmart officials are searching through images from nearly 60 surveillance cameras in hopes of finding the person responsible. There are no security camera’s at Orscheln’s with recording capability.
If identified and caught, the perpetrator faces dissemination of pornographic material charges.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from 9-a.m. to 5-p.m. today for Pottawattamie, Montgomery, Mills, Monona, Shelby, Fremont and Page Counties, and from 10-a.m. to 6-p.m. today for Cass and other area Counties.
* TIMING…Winds will strengthen by late morning and persist through the afternoon.
* WINDS…Northwest winds should reach sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph likely.
* IMPACTS…Winds of this magnitude may blow loose objects such as Christmas decorations and make travel for high profile vehicles difficult. Fire weather conditions will also be elevated in areas that do not receive sufficient precipitation. Any fires may spread quickly.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Wind Advisory means that sustained winds of 30 mph or wind gusts of 45 mph or greater are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says he will support quarterback Jacob Park if he intends to transfer to another school. Campbell released a statement after the Des Moines Register quoted Park as saying he asked for a release from his scholarship. Park, a junior, was Iowa State’s starting quarterback until early October, when he went on an indefinite leave of absence.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters returned from his one-game suspension for a series of embarrassing incidents. But he was not available in the locker room and coach Andy Reid refused to discuss the situation. Still, his return should help a Chiefs defense that was improved last week but faces a big test in the Chargers on Saturday night.
NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN says former NFL players Donovan McNabb and Eric Davis will not appear on any of its networks while it investigates a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against NFL Network. A woman who worked as a wardrobe stylist at NFL Network accuses McNabb and Davis of various sexually inappropriate encounters. She also made accusations against former players Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor and Heath Evans, and former NFL Network executive Eric Weinberger. None of the men responded to messages from the AP.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST
OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the 16-year-old student and the bus driver who were killed when a school bus caught fire in western Iowa. Investigators say no one else was on the bus when the fire erupted around 7 a.m. Tuesday southeast of Oakland. Investigators say the bus caught fire after it backed out of a farm driveway and into a ditch. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday said she would keep U.S. Rep. Steve King involved in her gubernatorial campaign while condemning a comment he made on Twitter that criticized diversity. Reynolds made her comments after Iowa Democrats called on her to drop King as a state co-chair in her campaign after he tweeted Friday, “Diversity is not our strength.” Reynolds said Tuesday she can disagree with the Republican congressman from Iowa even while he remains involved in her campaign.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former administrative clerk in the Poweshiek County sheriff’s office has been charged with theft after a state audit found nearly $7,000 in missing money. State criminal investigators announced the charges against Megan Lynne Strong on Tuesday, hours after State Auditor Mary Mosiman released a report showing missing deposits mostly from gun permits.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police say they have charged a 30-year-old man with first-degree murder in a fatal attack last month on his father. The Press-Citizen reports that Flannery Huston Kennedy-Meier was arrested Nov. 13 after police were called to a residence and found 63-year-old Mark Meier injured. Officers say Kennedy-Meier, of Iowa City, had hit his father in the head with a weapon, causing a skull fracture and brain bleed. Meier died of his injuries on Dec. 4.
PRISCILLA MAXINE ELLIOTT MAUGLE, 94, of Essex, died Tuesday, Dec. 12th. Memorial services for PRISCILLA ELLIOTT will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16th, at the Oakland United Methodist Church. Rieken-Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of the arrangements.
Interment will be at a later date.
PRISCILLA ELLIOTT is survived by:
Her sons: Ron (Jan) Elliott; John (Ann) Elliott; Paul (Debbie) Elliott
Her daughters: Boydena Keller and friend Rick Alley; Patricia (Bill) Glasgo, and Willadeen Rehfeldt.
Her sister: Dorothy Mitchell.
18 grandchildren; 6 step grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; 12 step great-grandchildren; 18 great-great grandchildren; 17 step great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.