Some employees at the Post Office in Council Bluffs are steamed over their working conditions. They contend building officials were purposely turning off the air conditioning during the hottest part of the day, but building maintenance officials say that’s not the case.

Cindy Martinez, acting Postmaster for Council Bluffs says the heating and cooling system in the facility…located at 8 South 6^th Street…is at least 50-years old, and is in need of a major repair or replacement. Building maintenance official James Califf told the Omaha World-Herald there were a couple of incidences when it got uncomfortably humid, but those problems were corrected within 24-hours. Another reason the building could be hot, according to owner Michael Kim, in Seattle, is that the dock area remains open to the heat during the day.

Califf said the air conditioning is turned-off in the evening, and not restarted until the first crews arrive at 2-a.m. The recent heat and humidity wave he says, means the building takes longer to cool after the system is turned-off. Workers say they don’t like entering the hot and humid environment.

One worker said it becomes noticeably hot and humid in the building between 3-and 3:30-p.m.. Other workers say patrons of the Post Office have also mentioned the uncomfortable conditions they encounter, in the lobby.

A heating and cooling contract associated with the building, says it is to be cooled to the mid-70’s. Califf says daily records show the warmest it has been inside the facility, is 80-degrees.

w/ Ric Hanson

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MOVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of two Iowa brothers who were injured in a “tough truck” competition at the Woodbury County Fair in Moville.

Authorities say the men were in a truck that flew off a jump and landed on its nose. It took 20 minutes to free the two men after the accident Thursday night.

The men were identified as 28-year-old Matthew Andresen, of Hornick, and his brother, 24-year-old Michael Andresen, of Ute.

The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office says both men were conscious and breathing as they were taken to a hospital. Their conditions aren’t available yet.

(DES MOINES) -Governor Branstad was notified late yesterday (Thursday) by Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate ,that Iowa’s request for activation of the Federal Individual Assistance Program for Fremont, Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie, and Woodbury Counties has been denied.

“Obviously I am disappointed for the citizens in the impacted counties that my request was denied,” said Gov. Branstad. “However, I intend to appeal this issue with FEMA based on the simple facts that the flood is still occurring and as the waters slowly recede, new damages will be revealed which will have further impacts to Iowans already fighting through this unprecedented flooding event.”

The appeal of the decision by FEMA will be coordinated by the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD). HSEMD Administrator Brigadier General Derek Hill indicated that the Division will be working closely with the local emergency management agencies to determine additional damages and impacts caused by the ongoing flood.

“It is incredibly important to the citizens along the Missouri River that we are successful in this appeal,” said Hill. “The aid provided in the Individual Assistance program is a major piece of the puzzle that is needed to help Iowans recover from this flood.”

The FEMA Individual Assistance Program is made available to homeowners, renters and businesses and can include grants and low interest loans to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs.

w/ Ric Hanson

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The low-fare, high-tech intercity bus service Megabus will add two daily trips to Omaha, Neb. and increase its service to Iowa City and Chicago to four round trips daily. Megabus announced its plans Thursday to add the routes beginning Aug. 17th. The service features a limited number of seats on each bus for as little as $1. It began in the Northeast in 2006 and in Des Moines 16 months ago.

Besides its low fares, Megabus’ main attraction is accommodations that include train-style seats with individual power outlets and Wi-Fi service.

State emergency management division officials say the water being released into the Missouri River from the Gavins Point Dam will be gradually reduced beginning on August 17th. The chief of the division’s Readiness Bureau, Joyce Flinn, says sonar soundings are scheduled to begin before the water goes down to try and identify damage. Flinn says they’ll be looking at bases of towers or bridge abutments. The U-S Geological survey is helping with the soundings and it will help them be prepared to start repairs once they can get to the structures.

She says they are working to identify some critical infrastructure and they will work with the U-S-G-S will work with other federal partners and the counties to do the soundings while the water is coming down. Flinn says the water releases will drop from 150-thousand cubic-feet-per-second (CFPS) now to 90-thousand C-F-P-S by the end of August.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday gives Iowans a chance do some back-to-school shopping without paying state sales tax. The special days this year are today (Friday) and Saturday.

Qualifying items that cost less than $100 will be exempt from the tax. Those items include clothing and footwear for everyday use, including shirts, pants, socks and shoes.

Items that aren’t tax exempt are computers, backpacks, school supplies, jewelry, and special clothing or footwear designed for sports.

More information on taxable and nontaxable items is available at the Iowa Department of Revenue’s website, www.iowa.gov/tax/educate/holiday1.html .

A North Dakota woman was injured Thursday evening, when the motorcycle she was riding on went out of control and crashed into a ditch. The accident happened at around 6:10-p.m. in Monona County, on Interstate 29, southbound.

The Iowa State Patrol says 62-year old Terri Lundberg,of Westhope, ND, was injured when a 1999 Honda motorcycle driven by her 63-year old husband Lee, went out of control after the rear tire went flat. The cycle and a small, two-wheeled trailer it was pulling, left the road and entered the west ditch, where it overturned.

Lundberg was transported to Burgess Memorial Hospital, in Onawa. There was no report available on her condition.

A state ban on the sale or possession of both the herb Salvia (sal-vee-uh) and so-called “bath salts” will soon take effect and Iowans in possession of such substances are being asked to turn them over now to law enforcement. Salvia is smoked, while “bath salts” – sold under names like “Ivory Wave” and “White Lightning” – can be snorted.

Both products, along with so-called synthetic marijuana, have been under scrutiny nationwide as they can cause hallucinations, paranoia and rapid heart rates. Kevin Frampton, director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, says a collection and disposal program will run from next Monday (August 8) through August 26.

“Individuals who are in possession of (Salvia or bath salts) or retailers who are selling the stuff can anonymously drop those items off at (Iowa State Patrol district offices), no questions asked,” Frampton said. Salvia and “bath salts” will become illegal substances on August 28. Frampton says anyone caught selling or possessing the items will be given a “warning” for the first month the new ban is in place.

Criminal penalties will be enforced beginning September 27. The charge for possession of such “designer drugs” will be a serious misdemeanor under Iowa law. A person who manufactures, delivers or intends to deliver the substances would face an aggravated misdemeanor.

A ban on synthetic marijuana, sold under brand names like K2 and Spice, took effect July 29 as a temporary ban by the Iowa Pharmacy Board was set to expire. In June of 2010, an 18-year-old Indianola boy shot and killed himself after smoking K2.

(Radio Iowa)