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U. Iowa leader denounces racist vandalism in campus building

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa’s new president is condemning a racist remark that was carved into a bathroom door inside a campus building. Bruce Harreld said Monday evening the school was trying to determine who left the message in Spence Laboratories, the building that houses the university’s department of psychological and brain sciences.

Harreld says the act “is offensive to our community and will not be tolerated,” adding that the door was immediately sanded down to remove the comment. Interim UI public safety director David Visin says the remark was “a racial slur” that didn’t include any additional threatening language. He says he’s not releasing specifics in order to protect the integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Visin says he is asking the public for help solving the crime.

 

Chiefs LB Justin Houston has knee strain, outlook unclear

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston appears to have a strained ligament in his left knee, though the team is still awaiting MRI exam results to determine the severity of the injury. Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Houston would be examined later in the day. He was hurt during the first half of Sunday’s 30-22 victory over Buffalo when he tripped over a teammate.

Houston sustained a similar injury a playoff loss to Indianapolis two years ago. The All-Pro pass rusher had 22 sacks last season, which earned him a six-year, $101 million contract this past offseason. He has 7 1/2 sacks through 11 games. Kansas City (6-5) has won five straight heading into Sunday’s game in Oakland.

 

Big 10 Defense Awards: Iowa’s King wins D-back of the year

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Penn State’s Carl Nassib is the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year in a vote of coaches and media. Nassib leads the nation with 15 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles. The 6-foot-7, 272-pound senior from West Chester, Pennsylvania, started his career at Penn State as a walk-on.

Other award winners: Joey Bosa, Ohio State, defensive lineman of the year; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, linebacker of the year; Desmond King, Iowa, defensive back of the year; Griffin Oakes, Indiana, kicker of the year; Sam Foltz, Nebraska, punter of the year; Will Likely, Maryland, return specialist of the year; Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, freshman of the year.

The Big Ten announced only its defensive honorees Monday. The offensive award winners will be announced today (Tuesday).

 

Northern Iowa cruises against North Texas, 93-70

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Koch scored 18 points, including 8 of 10 at the free throw line, to help lead Northern Iowa to a 93-70 win over North Texas on Monday night. Matt Bohannon scored 16 points, Jeremy Morgan had 15 and eight boards, and Wes Washpun added 12 and seven assists for the Panthers (5-1).

Northern Iowa has won five straight by an average of 20.6 points after an opening night loss to Colorado State. North Texas led 43-41 after a back-and-forth first half. But a pair of free throws by Klint Carlson followed by a Koch dunk gave Northern Iowa a 52-49 lead four minutes into the second half, a lead which they did not relinquish.

The Panthers pieced together a 27-9 scoring run over 10 minute stretch which extended their lead to 22 (84-62) and put the game away. J-Mychal Reese led North Texas (2-4) with 19 points.

 

Pena agrees to $5M, 2-year deal as Molina’s backup on Cards

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Free agent catcher Brayan Pena has agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he will be the backup for All-Star Yadier Molina. The 33-year-old switch-hitter receives $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons.

Pena led Reds catchers with 86 games last season while batting .273 with a career-best .344 on-base percentage. His led the NL with a .999 fielding percentage, making one error in 715 chances.

Pena has a .260 career average, with 23 homers and 164 RBIs in 629 games over 11 big league seasons. He spent the last two years with the Reds and has played for Detroit, Kansas City and Atlanta. Tony Cruz had been Molina’s backup in recent seasons.

 

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA, 12/1/15

Weather

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

339 AM CST TUE DEC 1 2015
EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.
TODAY…CLOUDY. OCCASIONAL VERY LIGHT SNOW BEFORE NOON. ISOLATED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON…THEN SCATTERED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.
TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN SCATTERED FLURRIES AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.

WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED FLURRIES IN THE MORNING. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY…SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 40. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.
FRIDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 40S.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., 12/1/2015

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say two people have been found dead in a house west of downtown but two children in the home weren’t injured. Sgt. Paul Parizek told the Des Moines Register police received a report of a shooting just before 3 p.m. Monday. Two unidentified adults were found dead in the home. An infant and toddler in the house weren’t harmed.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A fire at a Clear Lake warehouse caused significant damage to the structure and sent a plume of smoke high above the northern Iowa city. About two dozen firefighters from Clear Lake and Ventura were called to the fire at NTI Limited. The company sells axles, tires and wheels for trailers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is boosting the amount of corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels in the U.S. gasoline supply. That’s despite sustained opposition by an unusual alliance of oil companies, environmentalists and some GOP presidential candidates. The Environmental Protection Agency announced a rule to increase production of ethanol to be blended with gasoline through 2016, a decision that could reverberate in Iowa’s crucial presidential caucuses.

LARCHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — The small towns of Larchwood and Lester in northwest Iowa are exploring whether to establish their own municipal gas utilities. The Sioux City Journal reports voters approved the idea this month after people in both communities were hit by high propane prices.

High School Basketball Scores from 11/30/15

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

Bedford 68, Essex 52
Mount Ayr 46, Lamoni 36

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

A-H-S-T-W, Avoca vs. CAM, Anita, ppd.
Southwest Valley vs. Griswold, ccd.
Tri-Center, Neola vs. Adair-Casey, ppd.
Westwood, Sloan vs. Logan-Magnolia, ppd. to Dec 5.
Whiting vs. Woodbine, ppd.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Creston 55, Winterset 31

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

A-H-S-T-W, Avoca vs. CAM, Anita, ppd.
Southwest Valley vs. Griswold, ccd.
Treynor vs. Iowa School for the Deaf, ppd.
Tri-Center, Neola vs. Adair-Casey, ppd.
Westwood, Sloan vs. Logan-Magnolia, ppd.
Whiting vs. Woodbine, ppd.

MATTHEW RACHAL, 89, of Manilla (Formerly of Louisiana) (Svcs. 12-07-2015)

Obituaries

November 30th, 2015 by Jim Field

MATTHEW RACHAL, 89, of Manilla (Formerly of Louisiana) died Monday, November 30th at the Manilla Manor.  Funeral Services for MATTHEW RACHAL will be held Monday, December 7th at 2:30pm at Ohde Funeral Home in Manilla.

Friends may call after 1:30pm on Monday, December 7th at the funeral home prior to services.

MATTHEW RACHAL is survived by:

Daughter: Paula Ewald of Manilla.

2 Atlantic residents arrested on drug charges

News

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Two people were arrested Saturday on drug charges, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 30-year old Benjamin Daniel Jobe, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of OWI 2nd Offense, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense, and Driving While Revoked. Jobe was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. And, 19-year old Selena Marie Hansen, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear and charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on $1,300 bond.

In an unrelated incident, 31-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, was arrested Saturday on two counts of Violation of a No Contact Order. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released Sunday on his own recognizance. And, 21-year old Keith Anthony Stinson, of Aurora, CO, was arrested Sunday on a charge of Carrying Weapons (Aggravated). Stinson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Monday on $2,000 bond.