More snow has fallen on Iowa in the region’s third large winter storm in three weeks, prompting farmers and others to wonder what impact the snowpack will have on the long-running drought. Climatologist Al Dutcher says there are signs the weather pattern is starting to return to normal, but he says just getting average snowfall or rainfall won’t put a dent in the drought deficits. “To double that precipitation is only going to knock off four or five inches of these accumulated deficits,” Dutcher says. “The hydrological drought is here for a while. It would take an average of at least an inch of moisture every single week through this entire growing season for us to substantially impact the drought.”

He says more of these late winter snowstorms could help the region regain some of its lost moisture. Dutcher, a climatologist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says the region needs more precipitation or spring planting will be a trial and the growing season ahead could be a disaster. “If the moisture doesn’t materialize these next two months, then it’s going to be exceptionally difficult if not virtually impossible for us to hold off the drought from getting much more intense as we get through this season compared to last season,” Dutcher says. “We won’t have any significant moisture in the profile. Most of it will to be right at the surface and it will not carry the crop.”

Ideally, he says the region needs to see a return to a normal rain pattern with temperatures low enough to keep vegetation from robbing a needed build-up of subsoil moisture. Parts of northeast Iowa are expecting up to ten inches of snow in this latest winter blast, another big help in overcoming the drought that began last year, the worst in more than a half century.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill designed to deter businesses from hiring illegal immigrants appears dead after a House panel opted not to vote on the proposal.  Members of a House labor subcommittee decided to take no action Monday on the bill, which established punishments for businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The measure had been sponsored by 27 Republican lawmakers.

Under the proposal, an employer in violation could have lost its business license and been forced to fire all illegal immigrant workers. Iowa contractors and businesses would have joined 27 other states that run employee documents through a federal electronic verification system. Subcommittee chairman Rep. Greg Forristall, of Macedonia, declined to hold a vote on the measure, saying he feared it would be costly for state and local governments to enforce.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Early this (Tuesday) morning, 39-year old James Donald Uhlmann, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana. Ulhmann, Jr. was taken into custody at around 12:30-a.m. A few minutes later, 26-year old Jennifer Rose Nelson, of Red Oak, was arrested for Gathering where controlled substances are used. Both suspects were transported to the Montgomery County Corrections facility, where they were being held on $1,000 bond each. Officers with the Red Oak Police Department assisted in conducting the arrests.

And, Monday afternoon, 30-year old George Allen Alfred Wesbrook the 3rd, of Red Oak, was arrested in the east 100 block of Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. Wesbrook was charged with being in violation of a No Contact Order. Wesbrook was arrested again later that same evening by Red Oak Police, for Driving While Suspended in the vicinity of North 7th and east Reed Streets, in Red Oak. He was subsequently released on a citation bond amounting to $566.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A commercial property tax proposal from Gov. Terry Branstad is moving forward in the Republican-majority Iowa House, while a very different plan has support in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Republicans in a House ways and means subcommittee on Monday approved legislation from Branstad that would gradually reduce taxable assessments for commercial property owners by 20 percent. Branstad’s plan, which is estimated to cost $350 million, would also slow the growth of residential and agricultural assessments.

Senate Democrats have given committee-level approval to a plan that would gradually provide commercial property owners with a tax credit equivalent to a roughly 40 percent tax cut on their first $324,000 in assessed property value. Democrats say their $250 million plan would help small businesses more than Branstad’s plan.

A bridge on Interstate 80 in Adair County sustained extensive damage early this (Monday) morning, when it was hit by the box section of a dump truck.

Photo Courtesy Bob Younie, State Maintenance Engineer (Iowa Dept. of Transportation)

I-80 westbound bridge underpass from Antique Country Drive (Exit 83/Adair County Road N-77) Ric Hanson photo.

I-80 westbound bridge underpass from Antique Country Drive (Exit 83/Adair County Road N-77) Ric Hanson photo.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, 62-year old Duane Nelson, of Casey, forgot to lower the box on a 1991 Mack dump truck registered to Schildberg Construction, in Greenfield. As the vehicle was traveling southbound on Antique Country Drive, south of Casey, the truck box hit the westbound I-80 bridge support beam. The impact tore the box section off of the truck, but it became wedged against the support beam at the point of impact.

The accident happened at around 5:40-a.m. The Patrol cited Nelson for driving a vehicle with excessive height. No injuries were reported. A DOT crewman on the scene told KJAN News traffic was rerouted off of I-80 westbound for about two-hours until the bridge could be inspected. Crews have put a protective “bib” or tarp in-place to prevent debris from falling on motorists traveling beneath the bridge until the beam can be repaired or replaced.

Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County report two people were arrested on drug charges following separate investigations. The latest arrest took place on Sunday, March 3rd. Authorities say 22-year old Michael Stein, of Harlan, was arrested following the search of a residence at 908 Spring Street, where several items, including a substance believed to be marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, were seized. Stein faces felony charges of Delivery of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. Stein also faces Misdemeanor charges of Prohibited acts, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Shelby County Jail on $20,000 bond.

The other arrest took place February 24th, after a deputy purchased a controlled substance believed to be methamphetamine, from 29-year old Sean Gifford, of Avoca. Gifford was arrested during a traffic stop in Harlan. He faces felony charges on two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Gifford was being held in the Shelby County Jail on $50,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says his health care proposal for some low-income Iowans will not provide the same benefits as an expanded Medicaid, but called his approach more fiscally responsible.  Branstad on Monday unveiled Healthy Iowa, a revamped version of IowaCare, a state and federally funded program which provides limited benefits to about 70,000 low-income adults. The new plan would adjust eligibility rules and offer some additional coverage, including service in more locations.

Branstad wants to get federal approval to set up Healthy Iowa instead of pursing a Medicaid expansion permitted under President Obama’s health care overhaul. He says his approach will better shield Iowa from federal fiscal changes. Democrats in the state Senate say the plan would provide people with fewer benefits at a higher cost to the state.

A Page County man was arrested Friday night on an assault charge, following an investigation into a domestic disturbance in Coin. Officials say 47-year old Carl Allen Race, of Coin, was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, for allegedly assaulting his wife at Race’ residence in Coin. Race was brought to the Page County Jail, appeared before a magistrate and was being held on an undisclosed bond in the jail.

The Page County Sheriff’s Department reports a Shenandoah woman was cited following a single-vehicle accident over the weekend. 35-year old Shannon Buick was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to maintain control, following an investigation into a crash that happened at around 2:50-a.m., Saturday.Officials say a 1996 Oldsmobile Aurora was found abandoned and on its side in the ditch off of Highway 48, south of Essex. The vehicle sustained $2,500 damage.