712 Digital Group - top

Money saver: Holding school board and municipal elections on the same day

News

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa House has passed a bill that calls for holding school board elections in November, on the same day as city elections. Representative Guy Vander Linden, a Republican from Oskaloosa, says it will increase the number of voters choosing local school board members. “Currently across the state, on average, school board election turn-out is seven percent. In municipal elections, on average, it’s 20 percent,” Vander Linden says. “Approval of this bill will, in essence, triple turn-out for school board elections.”

The bill easily passed the House on a 61-to-36 vote and the majority leader in the state senate says he and his fellow Democrats have supported similar legislation in the past. But some House Democrats warn it will be too difficult for poll workers to figure out which ballot to hand a voter, since school district boundaries may be different from city council wards. Representative Mary Gaskill, a Democrat from Ottumwa, is the former Wapello County Auditor and she ran local elections.

“As we know, school districts and cities have different boundary lines,” Gaskill says. “…I cannot guarantee that people will be able to go to the precinct that they normally go to.” Vander Linden says it will require some work for county election officials. “The auditors who, by the way, have already been involved in writing this bill tell us that it can be done without a great deal of over-work on their part and they agree that it is well worth tripling turnout,” Vander Linden says.

The move will also save the costs of paying poll workers to conduct school board elections in September as well as municipal elections in November. Education groups oppose the move to consolidate school board elections with elections for mayors and city council spots.

(Radio Iowa)

Calls increasing to problem gambling hotline in Iowa

News

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The manager of the Iowa Gambling Treatment and Prevention Program is warning that 1 out of every 10 adult Iowans is “at risk” of becoming a problem gambler. Eric Preuss delivered a presentation Thursday before the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission meeting in Altoona. “Although it’s estimated that 1.2 percent, or about 29,000, adult Iowans have a gambling disorder, it’s also estimated that 12.6 percent, or almost 295,000, are classified as at risk for developing a gambling disorder,” Preuss said.

Governor Branstad is due to sign a proclamation today (Friday) recognizing March as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Iowa. Preuss notes the percentage of Iowans with a gambling disorder is low, but their behavior has a wide reaching impact. “Almost 1 out of 7 adult Iowans, that’s 15-percent, have said they have been negatively affected by the gambling behavior of someone they know,” Preuss said.Casino

The Iowa Gambling Treatment Program operates the 1-800-BETS-OFF hotline. There were over 6,300 calls placed to the hotline in fiscal year 2015 — the most calls since 2009. More than 600 Iowans a year enter an Iowa Gambling Treatment program. “The primary wagering method for folks who come into services is slots, with table games at number two, and lottery games is number three at 15-percent,” Preuss said.

March was selected as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month because of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The FBI estimates that more than $2.5 billion is wagered illegally each year on “March Madness.”

(Radio Iowa)

Skyscan forecast & weather data for Atlantic: 3/4/16

Weather

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Today: Patchy fog before 9am, Otherwise mostly cloudy & breezy. High near 52. SE winds becoming S/SW @ 10-20.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low around 25. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sat.: P/Cldy. High near 50. N/NE winds @ 5-10 becoming E/SE during the afternoon.
Sat. Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Sunday: Mo. Cloudy & breezy. High around 60. S/SE @15-25.
Sun. Night: Mo. Cldy w/a slight chance of showers after midnight. Low around 52.
Monday: Mo. Cldy w/a slight chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 64.
Sunday: P/Cldy to Cldy & breezy. High near 60.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 42. The 24-hour Low ending at 7-a.m. today was 26. Last year on this date, our High in Atlantic was 33, and the low was -2. The All-time Record High in Atlantic on this date was 78 in 1921. The Record Low was -17 in 1978.

Death investigation follows house fire in Council Bluffs Friday morning

News

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs say the body of a woman was found during a search of a home that was on fire there early this (Friday) morning. Council Bluffs Police and Fire crews were called to 2404 S. 11th Street at around 2:25-a.m., with regard to a house fire. While en route, officers were advised there was possibly someone still inside. Upon arrival, officers reported the house to be fully involved and they were unable to make entry. Council Bluffs Fire arrived on scene and took over the scene. While clearing the house, a deceased female was located in the southeast corner of the residence.

The woman’s name was being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The Council Bluffs Fire Investigator and the Criminal Investigations Division are investigating the incident.

Posted County Grain Prices: 3/4/16

Ag/Outdoor

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Cass County: Corn $3.25, Beans $8.01
Adair County: Corn $3.22, Beans $8.04
Adams County: Corn $3.22, Beans $8.00
Audubon County: Corn $3.24, Beans $8.03
East Pottawattamie County: Corn $3.28, Beans $8.01
Guthrie County: Corn $3.27, Beans $8.05
Montgomery County: Corn $3.27, Beans $8.03
Shelby County: Corn $3.28, Beans $8.01

Oats $1.72 (always the same in all counties)

(Information from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency offices)

Teen cited Thu. night in Red Oak for assault & criminal mischief

News

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Red Oak Police cited a teen late Thursday night on assault and other charges. Officials report 17-year old Siera Ann Bissell-Abraham, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11:45-p.m. for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. Bissell-Abraham was cited into juvenile court and then released to her parents.

KJAN listening area forecast: Fri., 3/4/16

Weather

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG. EAST WIND AROUND 5 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. WARMER. PATCHY FOG THROUGH MID MORNING. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 5  TO 10 MPH.

SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON.

SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE MID 30S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. BREEZY…WARMER. LOW IN THE LOWER 50S.

MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 60S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

 

Girls State Basketball Scores from 3/3/16 & schedule for 3/4/16

Sports

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Class 1A State Tournament
State Semifinal
Springville 59, Newell-Fonda 52
Turkey Valley, Jackson Junction 79, Notre Dame, Burlington 67
Class 2A State Tournament
State Semifinal
Western Christian, Hull 70, Okoboji, Milford 41
Unity Christian, Orange City 53, Regina, Iowa City 45
Class 3A State Tournament
State Semifinal
Nevada 47, Center Point-Urbana 41
PAC-LM 102, Cherokee, Washington 91

Schedule for today (Fri. March 4th)

Class 4A Semi-finals
10:00-a.m. Mason City vs. Keokuk
11:45-a.m.  Pella vs. Marion

Class 5A Semi-finals
1:30-p.m. Linn-Mar vs. Johnston
3:15-p.m. Ankeny Centennial vs. Cedar Falls

Class 1A Championship Game
6:00-p.m. Turkey Valley vs. Springville

Class 2A Championship Game
8:00-p.m. Western Christian vs. Unity Christian

Missouri St. beats Drake 69-67 in MVC tourney opener

Sports

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chris Kendrix hit five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, and Ryan Kreklow hit a late 3 to help seventh-seeded Missouri State beat No. 10 seed Drake 69-67 Thursday night in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Bears will play second-seeded Evansville (23-8) in the quarterfinals Friday.

Kreklow scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half, and Dequon Miller had 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Missouri State. Drake (7-23) scored five-straight points to take a 66-64 lead with 1:48 to play and Kreklow answered with a 3-pointer 17 seconds later. After the Bulldogs committed turnovers on back-to-back possessions, Loomis Gerring made a pair of foul shots to make it 69-66 with 11 seconds to go and Missouri State (12-18) held on from there.

Dominik Olejniczak led Drake with 18 points, on 9-of-13 shooting, and eight rebounds. Casey Schlatter had a career-high 11 assists.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, March 4th 2016

News

March 4th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge plans to seek the Democratic nomination to run against U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. Democrats in Iowa and Washington with knowledge of her plans but not authorized to discuss them say she’ll announce as early as Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An advocacy coalition in Iowa says it delivered thousands of petitions to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to protest his recent comments about the selection of a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. A coalition of organizations says it delivered 36,000 petition signatures Thursday to Grassley’s six regional offices around Iowa. They also delivered excerpts from the U.S. Constitution.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo man accused in the killing of his former girlfriend, whose body was found in Linn County, has pleaded guilty. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 38-year-old Shaun Hogan pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of second-degree murder for the July 2014 death of 29-year-old Crystal Gaffney. Hogan had been scheduled to go on trial next week and faced a first-degree murder charge.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chris Kendrix hit five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, and Ryan Kreklow hit a late 3 to help seventh-seeded Missouri State beat Number 10 seed Drake 69-67 Thursday night in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Dominik Olejniczak led Drake with 18 points, on 9-of-13 shooting, and eight rebounds. Casey Schlatter had a career-high 11 assists in St. Louis.