The Iowa House has given final legislative approval to an emergency allotment of one-point-three million dollars ($1.3 million) that will cover tuition costs for Iowa National Guard soldiers who’ve enrolled in college courses. Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, has heard from a number of soldiers in his district who saw their individual benefits cut by 13-hundred dollars for this semester. “During the first week of the legislature, I know that I received emails from several of our Guardsmen from the 185th Air Refueling Wing,” Hall says. 

The Iowa Senate approved the bill last week, but Republicans delayed action in the Iowa House to ensure the Guard indeed needed that much money to fulfill its tuition grant promises. Representative Royd Chambers, a Republican from Sheldon who is a member of the Iowa Air National Guard, says Republicans were just going their “due dilligence” in checking the numbers. “We are, of course, all in support of supporting our National Guard members,” Chambers says. “But we also must remember that we are responsible for spending our tax dollars wisely and efficiently.” 

Legislators set aside the money for the program last year, before about three-thousand Iowa National Guard soldiers came back to Iowa after active duty in Afghanistan. The Guard announced in December that Education Assistance grants to its soldiers would be cut because there wasn’t enough money set aside to cover the tuition grants for the 14-hundred Iowa National Guard soldiers who’re enrolled in college. Governor Branstad has indicated he’ll sign the legislation. In other action this morning, the Iowa House approved spending three-million dollars in state money to help restore the U-S-S Iowa, a World War II era battleship that will be docked in Los Angeles as a floating museum. The Iowa Senate approved that level of spending on the project last week.

(Radio Iowa)

The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued the first hydrologic, or flood outlook for this coming Spring. The outlook covers a period from early February through late April. In general, the Weather Service says the risk of flooding from late Winter into Spring is near or below normal for all locations in their coverage area. Officials caution, however, that a considerable amount of the Winter season remains, and people with interests near river basins need to continue to monitor both weather and river conditions, as well as future Spring Flood outlooks.

The Weather Service says as far as the East Nishnabotna River near Atlantic is concerned, there is only a 10-percent chance the river will reach 16.8-feet. Flood stage along the East Nish near Atlantic, is 17-feet.   The East Fork of the 102 River near Bedford has a 10-percent chance of reaching 18.8-feet.  The flood stage for that body of water is 21-feet. There is a 90-percent chance in the current outlook, that the East Fork River will reach 13.7-feet in the next 90-days, which is still well below flood stage.

The numbers in the outlook were calculated using multiple Spring Season scenarious from 30-or more-years of climatological data. They also take into account current river conditions, snow cover and soil moisture. The next Flood Outlook will be issued by the Weather Service, on February 16th.

The Shenandoah Police Department reports two men were arrested Wednesday, on unrelated charges. 28-year old Lyle Stogdill, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody Wednesday night on a charge of burglary in the 3rd degree. Stogdill was also cited for Public Intoxication. His arrest stems from an incident which occurred in the 500 block of Harrison Street in Shenandoah. Stogdill was being held at the Page County Jail in Clarinda, on $2,000 bond. 

A couple of hours later, Shenandoah Police officers arrested Todd Pederson, of Essex, on a Nodaway County, MO. warrant for 1st degree burglary and parental kidnapping. Pederson posted a $10,000 bond, and was released from custody.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Including Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Carroll, Crawford, Guthrie, Sac & Taylor Counties…

Dense Fog has reduced visibilities to between 3-and 5-miles northwest of a line from Waterloo-to-Des Moines-and Creston. Road temperatures over locations north of I-80 and west of I-35 are near or below freezing, and there is a potential for frost or ice to form from the fog. This would make roads slick in spots, for your morning commute.

Drive with caution!

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year old Andrew Olson, of Corning, was arrested at around 2:30 this (Thursday) morning, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Officials say he was taken into to custody after allegedly trying to hide from law enforcement approaching him on foot. The Sheriff’s Office says Olson also became loud and belligerent and refused to follow deputies’ commands.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a Stanton man was arrested at around 2:45 this (Thursday) morning on OWI and other charges. 24-year old Lucas J. Bogart was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on Corning Street in Red Oak. The stop was initiated after authorities received word several, allegedly intoxicated persons were seen traveling in a vehicle matching the one being driven by Bogart. A sheriff’s deputy observed the vehicle cross the centerline of the road and make an improper turn. Bogart failed a Field Sobriety Test and was brought to the Montgomery County Jail on the OWI charge. In addition, he was cited for Failure to have a valid driver’s license and issued a warning for driving Left of Center. Bogart was being held in the jail on a $1,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office also reports 22-year old Sara A. Billie, of Clarinda, was arrested Wednesday, on a warrant for violating her probation, in association with an original charge of 5th degree theft. The woman was located by authorities in Clarinda, and transported to Montgomery County, where she was being held on an $850 cash only bond.

And, 28-year old David M. Wright, of Villisca, was arrested Tuesday, on a Simple Misdemeanor charge of Obstruction of Emergency Communications, after the Montgomery County Comm Center received a call from a residence in Villisca. While on the line, Wright allegedly interferred with the alleged victim on numerous occasions, by securing the phones in the home, as well as physically damaging them to prevent calls from going out or coming in. Wright was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and later released on $300 bond.

A Harlan woman who died January 13th when her vehicle crossed the median of Interstate 80 and was hit broadside by a semi near Avoca, was apparently texting her boyfriend just moments before the crash. Investigators with the Iowa State Patrol say texting and driving was likely the major contributing factor in a crash that killed 22-year-old Nikki Johnston.

The woman’s family told authorities she had texted her boyfriend at 12:53 p.m., asking him what she wore on their first date. Minutes later, her boyfriend texted her a picture from their first date. Johnston received that text at the same time as the first 911 call from the scene of the crash near Avoca. That call came from the driver of a vehicle which was directly behind Johnston.

Investigators said Johnston lost control of her car and went through a grass median before a semi-truck heading east broadsided her at about 70 mph.Johnston died on impact. Family members said she was on her way to work at Tac Air in Omaha at the time of the crash.Her phone was found intact.Investigators said they conducted several tests and ruled out a mechanical malfunction as an explanation for the crash. They said texting was likely the major contributing factor.

Johnston’s family told Omaha television station KETV, they don’t want to believe texting caused the crash that killed their oldest daughter, and they think there’s more to the crash than distracted driving.

Officials with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) say 88 dogs living in deplorable conditions were removed from a property near Kiron, in Sac County, Wednesday.

Cocker Spaniel w/matted hair before being treated (Courtesy ARL)

 The conditions caused the dogs, most of which were Cocker Spaniels, to suffer from severely matted hair and other health problems. The animals have since been moved to ARL shelters in Des Moines, Carroll, Boone, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City.

Officials say six of the dogs may be pregnant. A total of 18 will remain with the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines to undergo veterinary care and grooming, officials said. Once healthy, the dogs will be put up for adoption. League officials say donations of money and dry dog and puppy food will help cover veterinary expenses.

Same dog, after hair trimmed and cleaned up (Courtesy ARL of IA)