United Group Insurance

Injury accident in Pott. County Mon. evening

News

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A passenger in a semi was injured during a rollover accident Monday evening, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 32-year old Daniel Therrier, of Montreal, Quebec, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by Underwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. The accident happened at around 8:25-p.m. on Interstate 80, near mile marker 14.

The Patrol says a 2015 Volvo semi driven by a 37-year old man from St. Laurent, Quebec, was westbound on I-80 when the rig drifted to the right and left the road. The driver tried to maneuver the semi back onto the road, but the vehicle rolled onto its passenger side.

Mayor pushing minimum $15-an-hour wage for city workers

News

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Des Moines mayor says full-time workers for the city deserve a minimum wage of $15 an hour. The Des Moines Register reports Mayor Frank Cownie and the City Council told city staffers Monday to evaluate city job descriptions and functions in developing an ordinance that would guarantee a livable wage. City officials will be reviewing labor contracts as part of the process.

City personnel director James Wells says only a few full-time city positions offer a starting salary range below $15 an hour. Iowa’s state minimum wage is $7.25. Johnson County has been raising its minimum wage for all employers and will top out at $10.10 an hour on Jan. 1. Polk County and Linn County supervisors are expected to consider local wage hikes this fall.

Changes by CME Group questioned by Iowa Cattlemen’s Association

Ag/Outdoor

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) is concerned with changes the CME Group is making to cattle futures contracts. One of those changes is the addition of a seasonal discount of $1.50 per hundredweight on cattle delivered to the Worthing, South Dakota delivery point. The discount will be effective with the October 2017 contract, which will be listed on August 22. I-C-A C-E-O Matt Deppe says that action will create a “marketing disadvantage” for Iowa cattle feeders.

“Especially FOR our northwest Iowa feeders who utilize the Worthing delivery point as a marketing tool, as well as the cattle futures contract,” Deppe says. The decision, according to Deppe, “feels like a mandate” on how and when people should feed cattle for market. Deppe also believes the move may decrease cash negotiated trade in the upper Midwest.feedlot-cattle

“There could be high likelihood that feeders in not only northwest Iowa, but also northeast Nebraska, don’t utilize that contract, which would limit the volume,” Deppe says, “and we all know that the most deliveries, in terms of a percentage of deliveries, take place in Worthing as an individual point.”

A news release from CME said the discount will better align delivery values with cash market prices and result in little or no impact on local cash cattle prices. In the same release, CME said it will also consider moving to a cash settled live cattle futures contract if price discovery and cash negotiated trade in the cattle industry do not increase.

(Brownfield Ag News)

Iowa veterans encouraged to take part in VA study

News

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Iowa veterans are being encouraged to take part in a national voluntary research program on veterans who get their care in the Veterans Administration Healthcare System. Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs executive director, Robert King, says it’s called the Million Veteran Program. “It was initiated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in 2012 to gain a database of genetics looking at military exposure, an individual’s lifestyle and various health information so that they can do studies,” King explains.

He says the studies are an important part of helping veterans. “They’d like to be able to use the study information to determine some of the health programs in the future. See how genes affect such things as the development of P-T-S-D in combat exposed veterans,” King says.IA Dept of Veterans Affairs “There’s another study that has to do with the influence on the development of Gulf War Illness for those Gulf War era people. There’s another one that has to due with examining the genetic risk factors for the chronic use of alcohol, tobacco and opiates.”

He says they are seeking Iowa veterans to take part to help them reach their sign up goal. “The program has been going since 2012 and they have enrolled about 500-thousand people as of two months ago. They’d like to get to one million,” King says. The V-A in Iowa City is one of the 60 centers where veterans can take part. He says Iowa City was chosen as one of the locations because it is one of the top ten research locations in the U-S in the V-A research program. King says you need to make an appointment to come in and take part in the research.

“It only takes about 20 minutes as I understand it, they fill out some surveys about health and health related behaviors, provide a blood sample,” according to King. If you are a user of the V-A health care system, you can enroll by calling toll-free 1-866-441-6075 to schedule your appointment.

(Radio Iowa)

Power remains centered in Big Ten East Division

Sports

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

UNDATED (AP) – The big change in the Big Ten this coming football season is the move to a 9-game conference schedule. What doesn’t figure to change is the dominance of the East Division.  Ohio State, Michigan and defending champion Michigan State all are positioned to make runs at being national top-10 teams, if not College Football Playoff contenders.

Last season, Michigan State went to the playoff and was joined by fellow East members Ohio State and Michigan among the top 12 teams in the final Top 25. Iowa, at No. 9, was the only West team among the top dozen. Commissioner Jim Delany says shuffling the divisions is not in the plans. He terms the East’s recent dominance of the conference a “little cyclical.” Iowa is the favorite heading into the season to win the conference’s eastern division.

Nebraska had five losses by five points or less, but a bowl win over UCLA left the Cornhuskers with a positive vibe coming out of a 6-7 first season under Mike Riley. If the Huskers can split back-to-back road games against Wisconsin and Ohio State, their Nov. 25 game at Iowa might decide the West.

ESTHER DEA, 99, of Avoca (Svcs. 8/12/16)

Obituaries

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ESTHER DEA, 99, of Avoca, died Monday, August 8th. A Mass of Christian Burial for ESTHER DEA will be held 10-a.m. Friday, August 12th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Avoca. Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Friends may call at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Thursday, from 4-until 8-p.m., with a Prayer service at 5:30-p.m., Thursday.

Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery at Avoca.

ESTHER DEA is survived by:

Her daughters -Donna Dea, and Kathleen (Thomas) Pattee, all of Avoca

Her son – Bill (Sondra) Dea, of Avoca.

8 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, other relatives, her sisters-in-law, and good friends.

In Sioux City, Pence touts Trump’s economic plan

News

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Indiana Governor Mike Pence — the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee — spoke to a crowd of about four-hundred in Sioux City late (Monday) afternoon. Pence touted the tax plan Donald Trump rolled out in Detroit Monday morning. “To streamline deductions, to lower taxes across the board, to lower marginal income tax rates, reduce income taxes dramatically, make child care fully deductible and end death taxes once and for all for every American,” Pence said, to cheers.

Trump’s economic plan calls for lowering the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, something Pence emphasized in his Sioux City appearance. “So that businesses large and small, start-up businesses can compete here in Iowa, compete here in America and compete with the world,” Pence said. Pence established a moratorium on new state regulations in Indiana when he became that state’s governor in 2013 and Pence says Trump will do the same at the federal level.

“When he becomes president on day one he will sign a moratorium on new federal red tape and work to roll back the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, the Waters of the United States rule and end the ‘war on coal’ once and for all,” Pence said, to applause. Pence promises that Trump will invite Trans Canada to reapply for permits to build the X-L Pipeline.

Pence also campaigned last (Monday) night in Council Bluffs. Pence served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He’s been governor of Indiana since early 2013. Pence withdrew his bid for reelection as governor when he became Trump’s running mate. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to be in Des Moines Wednesday, to discuss her economic plan.

(Radio Iowa)

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA: (3:20-a.m., 8/9/16)

Weather

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. PATCHY FOG THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 70. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HOT AND HUMID. HIGH IN THE LOWER 90S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 105 IN THE AFTERNOON.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 70S. SOUTH WIND AROUND 10 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 103 THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 90S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. HIGHEST HEAT INDEX READINGS 100 TO 102 IN THE AFTERNOON.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE LOWER 80S.

Molina’s RBI caps rally as Cardinals stun Reds 5-4

Sports

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yadier Molina started and ended a five-run rally in the ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals stunned the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Monday night. Molina singled to start the inning and was hit by a pitch from Ross Ohlendorf with the bases loaded to drive home the winning run. In between, Matt Carpenter drove in two runs with a single and Brandon Moss tied it when he walked with the bases loaded.

The comeback erased what had been a night of offensive futility for St. Louis through the first eight innings, as the Cardinals entered the last inning 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Seth Maness (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth to earn the win.

The Card’s and Red are at it again this (Tuesday) evening at Busch Stadium. Pre-game coverage on KJAN is at 6:20, with the 1st pitch at 7:15.

 

Dodgers’ Puig posts videos partying with Triple-A teammates

Sports

August 9th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Yasiel Puig has found the party in the Pacific Coast League. Days after a demotion to the minors, the unpredictable Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder posted videos to his Snapchat account Monday night of him partying with his new Triple-A teammates. The series of videos followed Oklahoma City’s 3-2 loss at the Iowa Cubs.

Puig began by posting a video of him shirtless in the team’s locker room, smiling and saying: “It’s so funny. We lose today, and everybody’s happy.” Videos posted later showed Puig and his teammates dancing, singing and chanting, often using profanity. A banner on one of the videos reads, “I Love this Team.”

Puig was optioned to Oklahoma City last week after the Dodgers could not find a taker for him before the non-waiver trade deadline. He went 2 for 4 in his first game with Oklahoma City on Sunday and was 0 for 3 on Monday. A major league All-Star in 2014, the 25-year-old Puig has been physically limited this season and largely inconsistent when healthy, batting .260 with seven homers in 81 big league games. The Cuban slugger signed a $42 million, seven-year contract in June 2012.