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Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., 7/26/16

News

July 26th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

CLARION, Iowa (AP) — Wright County officials approved a zoning change that will allow a North Carolina company to build a $240 million hog processing plant that will create about 900 jobs initially and hundreds more after completion of a second phase. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports the Wright County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously approved the zoning change needed for Clinton, North Carolina, based Prestage Farms to build the plant near Eagle Grove.

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) — Police charged a pickup truck driver with hitting and seriously injuring a Florida bicyclist who was camping after riding in Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports 55-year-old Danny Cardin, of Homer, Louisiana, was charged with serious injury by vehicle and leaving the scene of a serious injury accident after police were called to a campground in Shenandoah late Sunday. The Iowa State Patrol says Cardin’s pickup struck a tent, dragging 67-year-old James Foley. He’d joined in an Iowa bike event.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state lawyer is arguing that Iowa athletic director Gary Barta isn’t a public official. Assistant attorney general George Carroll has asked a judge to dismiss former senior associate athletic director Jane Meyer’s request for an injunction blocking her layoff. Carroll says the state’s whistleblower act doesn’t apply to Barta.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic lawmakers have released a survey that says some health care providers aren’t being paid properly under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The survey released Monday says 90 percent of more than 400 health care providers who responded report administrative costs increased since the program switched to private management April 1. The survey indicates nearly eight in 10 of those providers say they haven’t been paid on time. A spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad calls the survey partisan.

State Baseball Tournament Scores from Monday, 7/25/16

Sports

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CLASS 2A STATE TOURNAMENT
Monday’s quarterfinals (7/25)

Clear Lake 10, Denver 5
Hinton 9, Van Buren 1
Pleasantville 3, Beckman Catholic 1
Kuemper Catholic 3, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter 2 (8-innings)

Thursday’s semifinals (7/28)
5 p.m. — Clear Lake (29-7) vs. Hinton (24-5)

7:30 p.m. — Pleasantville (29-9) vs. Kuemper-Catholic (25-11)

Tuesday’s Schedule

CLASS 3A STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS
11 a.m. — Harlan (27-5) vs. Bishop Heelan Catholic (27-15)
1:30 p.m. — Wahlert (29-14) vs. Solon (21-20)
5 p.m. — Carlisle (31-6) vs. Central DeWitt (32-11)
7:30 p.m. — Pella (30-8) vs. Humboldt (25-7)

Mets and Cardinals rained out, doubleheader Tuesday

Sports

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

NEW YORK (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals’ game at the New York Mets on Monday night was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader Tuesday starting at 3:10 p.m. (Central Time)

Showers started just before batting practice was scheduled to start, and the rainout was announced just before the scheduled 6:10 p.m. (Central) start.

New York’s Noah Syndergaard (9-4) and the Cardinals’ Carlos Martinez (9-6) were pushed back a day and still start the opener. The Mets’ Bartolo Colon (8-5) and St. Louis’ Jaime Garcia (7-6), who had been scheduled to pitch Tuesday, will start the second game.

Because of the rainout, both teams will have to scramble to find starters on Saturday, when New York hosts Colorado and St. Louis is at Miami. The Cardinals also played a doubleheader against San Diego last Wednesday because of a rainout the previous day.

Cardinals arrive in New York at 8:30 am after flight delay

Sports

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

NEW YORK (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals did not arrive at their hotel in New York until 8:30 a.m. Monday after a flight delay that followed a nationally televised night game. St. Louis’ 9-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sunday night’s ESPN game lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes, and ended shortly before 11 p.m. CDT. The plane taking the Cardinals to New York did not land in St. Louis on time because of weather, causing the team to remain in its clubhouse for several hours.

“I didn’t hear the guys barking and complaining, which could have been easy to do,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “So it was impressive. Just you do what you do and show up and get ready to do it again.” More delays were ahead: A late-afternoon storm meant the Cardinals’ game at the Mets was unlikely to start as scheduled at 7:10 p.m.

When St. Louis first landed, Matheny thought briefly about heading straight to Citi Field. “We had to come right by,” he said.

Truckers hurt in Pott. County crash

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Two truck drivers were injured during an accident Monday morning on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says a semi driven by 62-year old Larry Swanson, of East Peoria, IL, was merging onto westbound I-80 from the shoulder of the road near the I-680 split at around 10:10-a.m., when the  2017 Peterbilt he was driving came into contact with a 2016 Kenworth driven by 50-year old Balwir Kondola, of Sacremento, CA. Both men were wearing their seat belts.

Photo's from the Minden Fire & Rescue Department's Facebook page.

Photo’s from the Minden Fire & Rescue Department’s Facebook page.

Minden2The patrol says the men suffered minor injuries and were transported by Minden Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, where they were treated and released. Neola Fire and Rescue was also on the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

The State Patrol says also, an Onawa man was injured during an accident in Monona County this afternoon. 86-year old Neil Leapley was transported to Burgess Mercy Hospital by Minden Rescue, after the scooter he was driving was struck by a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by 61-year old Joy Ohl, of Norfolk, NE. The accident happened in Onawa, at around 12:50-p.m., as the Jeep was traveling east on highway 175 (Iowa Avenue). Ohl had the green light on the 4 lane road with two lanes in each direction. Leapley was cutting across Iowa Avenue traveling southbound. The traffic in the left lane was stopped due to a vehicle waiting to turn north onto 10th Street. The Patrol says Leapley was not using the crossing area and cut between the two vehicles, when he was struck.

Clarinda woman arrested Monday afternoon

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police arrested a woman this (Monday) afternoon, on a valid warrant. 27-year old Sara Ann Billie, of Clarinda, was taken into custody at around 1:10-p.m. on a Montgomery County warrant for Contempt of Court/Failure to Appear – Violation of Probation. Billie was being held at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,500 cash bond.

Non-injury accident in Atlantic

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Police say no injuries were reported following an accident Friday morning on  7th Street. Officials say a vehicle driven by Sarah Masker, of Waverly, was traveling north on 7th Street/Highway 6, approaching 911 s.w. 7th, and attempted to turn into the Casey’s west store, when her vehicle was struck by a southbound car driven by Marie Rourick, of Wiota. The accident happened at around 9:10-a.m.  Masker was issued a warning for Failure to Yield while making a left turn, and having no valid driver’s license. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,500.

6 arrests in Atlantic

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports six recent arrests. Sunday, 45-year old Beverly Carroll, of Atlantic, was arrested on three counts of Simple Assault. And, 20-year old Matthew Paulsen, of Adair, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana. He was also cited for Driving While Suspended.

Saturday, Atlantic Police arrested 53-year old Jon Misner, of Atlantic, on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear in court on a Public Intoxication charge. 30-year old Albert Johnson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. 38-year old Justin Henson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. And, 36-year old Richard Keasey, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

And, on Friday, Atlantic Police arrested 26-year old Devin Register, of Atlantic, for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree.  All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Democrats release Medicaid survey showing payment problems

News

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic lawmakers have released a survey that says some health care providers are not being paid properly under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The survey released Monday says 90 percent of more than 400 health care providers who responded have seen administrative costs increase since the program switched to private management April 1. The survey indicates nearly eight in 10 of those providers say they haven’t been paid on time.

There are more than 20,000 providers in the Medicaid program, which offers health care to poor and disabled residents. Staff for the Democratic-controlled Senate says the survey was posted on social media and health care associations were contacted.

Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, says the survey is partisan and unscientific. Lawmakers will discuss the program’s transition Tuesday.

Iowa athletic director not a ‘public official,’ state argues

News, Sports

July 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state lawyer says Iowa athletic director Gary Barta isn’t a public official. Assistant attorney general George Carroll made that claim in a filing last week. He’s asking a judge to dismiss former senior associate athletic director Jane Meyer’s request for an injunction blocking her layoff.

Meyer has been informed that her university job is being eliminated in September. She argues she’s being punished for complaining to Barta about gender discrimination. Barta reassigned Meyer outside of athletics in 2014, noting her partner, former field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum, was planning to sue Barta over her firing.

Meyer is seeking to stop her layoff under Iowa’s Whistleblower Act, which protects employees who disclose wrongdoing to public officials. Carroll says Barta isn’t a public official since he reports to the university president.