United Group Insurance

Corning man arrested in Montgomery County on Adams County warrant

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 38-year old Damyn Carl Stacy, of Corning, was arrested at around 9:30-a.m. today (Thursday), on a warrant out of Adams County, for Failure to Appear in court. Stacy was turned over to Adams County Deputies. His bond was set at $1,000.

Atlantic woman injured during Wed. afternoon collision

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

One person complained of injuries and was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, Wednesday afternoon, following a collision at the intersection of 3rd and Maple Streets, in Atlantic. The Atlantic Police Department reports Tamera Sheard, of Atlantic, was injured in the collision that happened at around 1:35-p.m., when Sheard failed to Yield from a stop sign, and struck a vehicle driven by Ricky Lary, of Griswold. Damage from the accident amounted to $8,000. Sheard was cited for Failure to Yield, and for Driving While License Suspended.

Atlantic man arrested on theft & drug charges

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports three arrests over the past week. On Wednesday,24-year old Carley Seddon, of Atlantic, turned herself-in to authorities on  a charge of Harassment in the 2nd Degree. On Jan. 28th, 35-year old Steven Pedersen, of Atlantic, turned himself-in to authorities on warrants for Violation of Probation and Failure to serve jail time.  And, on Jan. 27th, 27-year old Cameron Misner, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Theft in the 5th Degree and Failure to Appear on a Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana, charge. All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

FDA: Listeria in Blue Bell product traced to Iowa supplier

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

BRENHAM, Texas (AP) – Federal inspectors have confirmed that listeria found in a brand of Blue Bell ice cream, prompting another recall of its products, originated with a third-party supplier to the company. The Houston Chronicle reports that the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter last month to Iowa-based Aspen Hills detailing the company’s failures in preventing contamination. A recall in October was traced to chocolate chip cookie dough produced by Aspen Hills.

Blue Bell credited its testing program with identifying the presence of listeria in the dough. Blue Bell at the time was regaining some of its market share following a debilitating recall the year before resulting from 10 listeria cases in four states, including three deaths in Kansas.

Aspen Hills ceased production at the end of December.

AP Source: Cardinals, RHP Martinez agree to $51M extension

Sports

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Carlos Martinez have agreed to a $51 million, five-year contract extension that buys out his arbitration years and includes two team options, according a person direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because terms have not been released.

The contract breaks the record for a pitcher reaching arbitration for the first time. The Indians signed Corey Kluber to a $38.5 million, five-year deal in 2015. The 25-year-old Martinez made 31 starts a year ago, posting a 3.04 ERA and assuming the role of staff ace. That lowered his career ERA to 3.32 over parts of four seasons in St. Louis.

Pitcher Michael Wacha is the Cardinals’ only remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible player.

Court tosses whistleblower suit filed by laid-off Iowa judge

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former high-ranking Iowa judge who was laid off in 2013 after he opposed efforts to make his job a political appointment. Judge Michael Huppert’s ruling last month didn’t address the merits of claims made by Joe Walsh, former chief Administrative Law Judge in Iowa Workforce Development.

Instead, Huppert ruled that Walsh failed to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit, saying he should’ve pursued his complaint through the Public Employment Relations Board. Walsh is expected to appeal.

Then-Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert changed Walsh’s job into an at-will political appointment in 2013. After Walsh complained that the change violated federal law, Wahlert reversed the decision but then eliminated Walsh’s job, citing budgetary reasons. Walsh contends that was a pretext and he was fired for opposing Wahlert’s efforts to pressure judges to favor employers in unemployment benefits disputes.

Backyard & Beyond 2-2-2017

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

February 2nd, 2017 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Pippa White about her program on the Orphan Trains in Elk Horn tonight.

Play

Iowa lawmakers may not be paying enough for health insurance

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An analysis by The Des Moines Register shows more than two-thirds of Iowa legislators are paying hundreds of dollars less a month than appropriate for their health insurance, a potential violation of state law. Data analyzed by the newspaper shows that more than 90 of nearly 150 Iowa legislators pay as little as $20 a month in health insurance premiums, rather than the $142 to $334 a month those plans call for. Another nearly 40 lawmakers pay up to $344 a month for coverage plans, rather than as much as $446 their plans call for.

The newspaper found the total underpayments are costing taxpayers more than $29,000 a month, about $350,000 a year. The state Department of Administrative Services provided the data, but declined the newspaper’s request for comment. The Attorney General’s Office also declined to comment.

Iowa GOP lawmakers prepare to defund Planned Parenthood

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate is preparing to vote on a bill that would pass up millions in federal dollars in order to stop contributing a small amount of state funding toward Planned Parenthood. The Senate debate today (Thursday) could stretch for hours. Republicans who hold a majority will likely approve the bill, sending it to the GOP-led House. Gov. Terry Branstad, also a Republican, supports the measure.

The bill proposes Iowa give up nearly $3 million in Medicaid money to create a state-run family planning program that excludes funding for organizations that perform abortions. No family planning money now funds abortions.

Iowa contributes about $480,000 under the federal setup, so the bill shifts all expenses to the state. To offset that, Branstad proposes using separate federal funding that currently helps at-risk youth.

Senate Republicans consider education funding bill

News

February 2nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Senate Republicans are considering an education funding bill that Democrats and some educators say is inadequate and will hurt schools. The GOP-controlled chamber is expected to vote on the legislation today (Thursday). It has support in the Republican-led House, where a vote is scheduled Monday.

The bill would add about $40 million to the roughly $3 billion K-12 education budget that goes into effect in July. It would add $73 to what’s spent on each Iowa student, which is currently just below $6,600. Republicans say the amount is all the state can responsibly afford amid budget constraints. Gov. Terry Branstad has recommended more education spending.

Democrats say Republicans are not prioritizing students. Some educators say the proposal doesn’t account for increased operating costs at school districts, and would result in cuts.