A light dusting of snow and freezing road surfaces contributed to numerous, minor accidents Tuesday evening along Interstate 80 in Cass and Pottawattamie Counties. The accident reports starting coming in to the Cass County Communications Center in Atlantic, at around 5:50-p.m. Within minutes, two separate accidents were reported. Other accidents included a semi that tipped over near on or about exit 54 (The Elk Horn exit). Despite the various mishaps, no injuries were reported. Cass County Sheriff’s deputies transported some of the motorists whose vehicle became stuck, to “The Valley,” at exit 71, where they obtained lodging or were able to seek other assistance.

Snowfall in Atlantic amounted to two-tenths of an inch late Tuesday afternoon and evening. That melted into just One one-hundredth of an inch of liquid precipitation.

Iowa cities and counties would not be allowed to ban firearms in government-owned buildings if a bill gun rights advocates are pushing for becomes law. The legislation would establish a fine of as much as five-thousand dollars for city and county officials who would let such gun restrictions stand. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, says he’s aware of at least 13 localities in Iowa that have some type of ban on firearms in public places. “A lot of people think that if we put restrictions on firearms that all of a sudden that’s going to make our city streets safer. Really? There’s criminals out there that don’t abide by the law right now,” Windschitl says. The bill cleared an initial, three-person panel Tuesday and now awaits action in a House committee.

Kate Carlucci, of the Iowa League of Cities, says communities should be able to decide whether public places should be weapons-free zones, as many businesses are making that call. “A city should have the power to exercise that same right as a private business owner,” Carlucci says. Windschitl also would like to let gun owners bring their weapons inside the statehouse.   “I’m appalled that they’re not allowed to, and that’s actually an administrative rule and I’ve looked at trying to change that for years,” Windschitl says. “But I know in the current climate there’s people that wouldn’t want to see that changed.”

After the 9/11 attacks metal detectors and security guards were stationed at the public entrances to the statehouse.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Patrons of the Oakland-Riverside Community School District apparently were not convinced the district needed to replace three separate, aging buildings, with one brand new building south of Oakland, that would house all of the districts students. For the second time in less than a year, a bond issue referendum that would have helped to pay for the $21.6-million project, has failed.

Unofficial results from the Pottawattamie County Auditor’s Office indicate the $13.3 million dollar bond issue received roughly 54 percent of the vote–925 “yes” votes to 758 “no” votes. A 60-percent super majority was necessary in order for the measure to pass. A similar, previous referendum failed last April, when it received only 53 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, patrons of the Glenwood and Sidney Community School District have overwhelmingly approved the renewal of a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS). Unofficial results showed the referendum garnered 406 “Yes” votes to 54 “No” votes, in Glenwood, and 91 “Yes” and zero “No” votes, in Sidney. A simple majority was needed for the measure to pass in both districts.

Officials in the Project Recovery Iowa office are trying to ensure that those who were hit by the Missouri River flooding have been able to get all the state and federal recovery aid they’re due. Spokesperson Karen Hyatt says you don’t have to do it all yourself. She says there are staff in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Pottawattamie County to help you out. “Staff can make sure that they have applied for everything that they are eligible for, they can offer resources, referrals, guidance, stress management and emotional support if that’s needed,” Hyatt says. The P-R-I staff have been on the ground since the flooding began, but Hyatt says they still haven’t reached everyone that might need some help.

“We are finding people who didn’t apply for federal funding because they didn’t think they met the requirements,” Hyatt says. “The Missouri River flooding was a little different this time, because a lot of people evacuated, but they didn’t have flooding to their homes. There are resources available to people who fit into that category, and that’s not typical, so we want to be sure that people explore all opportunities while the window is still open.” Anyone who lives or lived in the counties hit by the flooding can check with the Project Recovery Iowa office by calling the Iowa Concerns Hotline. That line is open 24-hours-a-day.She says just call 800-447-1985 and asked to be connected with Project Recovery Iowa staff. You can also go on-line to; www.projectrecoveryiowa.com, or search for the P-R-I page on Facebook. Hyatt says the Missouri River flooding was unlike any other recent disasters because of how long the water remained before the recovery efforts started.

Hyatt says, “It went on for months, and people are still recovering from that, financially, emotionally, physically. And so we certainly want people to realize that it’s normal at this point, even though it’s been months since the flooding started in the summer, there are still reasons that people may need to connect with services.” Hyatt says if you work in Iowa but live in Nebraska, they can direct you to the appropriate help in Nebraska if you call the Iowa Concerns Hotline.

(Dar Danielson/Radio Iowa)

552 PM CST TUE FEB 7 2012

…ROADS MAY BRIEFLY BECOME ICY THIS EVENING…

LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION. PRECIPITATION WILL GENERALLY BE A MIX OF DRIZZLE AND LIGHT SNOW. WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING TO NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING THROUGHOUT THE EVENING…WET SURFACES MAY BECOME SLICK AT TIMES…INCLUDING SIDEWALKS AND ROADWAYS…ESPECIALLY ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. MOTORISTS SHOULD USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING…WITH DETERIORATING DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SLICK ROADS.

Between 5:50- and 6:00pm, there were reports of 2 vehicle spinning off I-80 in Cass County. No injuries.

Pictured: Breanna Kixmiller, Amy Loverin, Mr. Brian Nichols, Maddie Hamilton, Jolene Jensen, Hana Holtz, Connor Hansen & Ben Ehlers

The science program at the Walnut Community School has been awarded a Walnut Communications Growing Communities Grant totally $1,000. The grant was given to Mr. Brian Nichols and his science students in grades K-12. The money will assist in purchasing several items needed for the science lab to assist in learning and also help to support student science projects for the Iowa Science Fair.

Mr. Nichols has a broader goal to expose students the sciences and possibly develop career intentions in science related fields. Letters of support for the ‘project’ were received from members of the city council, school board and school staff. The Walnut Communications Growing Communities Grant program was started several years ago to give back to the communities Walnut Communications serves (including McClelland, Underwood, Neola, Persia, Minden, Shelby, Avoca and Walnut).

Each year the grant program can award up to $10,000 total across the communities.

More than a dozen tenants of the Council Bluffs apartment complex who were displaced by a fire early Monday morning, have received assistance in the form of food, clothing and shelter, from the American Red Cross. The Fire at 215 South 10th Street happened at around 1:15-a.m., Monday.  The blaze destroyed 7 units and displacing 17 residents.The cause remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

Residents of the apartment complex were provided with the necessities, along with comfort and care, based on need. A team of five volunteers from the Red Cross Metro Disaster Action Team responded to the fire to assist the affected families.

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of Omaha metro residents to respond to its neighbors who are affected by home fires. Officials say you can help the Red Cross continue to be ready to respond and help fire victims by making a financial contribution to Nebraska/SW Iowa Region today.

To make a financial donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 712.322.4017, or mail a check to 705 N. 16th St. Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501.

COUNTIES: STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK- CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-

341 PM CST TUE FEB 7 2012

…ROADS MAY BRIEFLY BECOME ICY THIS EVENING…

AIR TEMPERATURES WERE HOVERING AROUND THE FREEZING MARK LATE THIS AFTERNOON…BUT ROAD SURFACE TEMPERATURES REMAINED ABOVE FREEZING FROM HIGHWAY 20 TO THE MISSOURI BORDER THANKS TO SEASONAL DAYTIME HEATING…CLOUDS AND MOISTURE. THESE CONDITIONS…WITH JUST WET ROADS AND MAINLY DRIZZLE…SHOULD PERSIST INTO THE EVENING COMMUTE. HOWEVER SHORTLY AFTER THAT TIME…FROM 600 PM UNTIL LATER THIS EVENING WHEN THE DRIZZLE AND FREEZING DRIZZLE END…SCATTERED SLICK SPOTS MAY DEVELOP. MOTORISTS PLANNING TRAVEL LATER THIS EVENING SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF SEVERAL HOURS WITH DETERIORATING DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SLICK ROADS.

 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An American Airlines flight to Dallas had to return to Omaha shortly after takeoff because of a mechanical problem with the right engine.  American Airlines flight 1349 landed safely in Omaha Tuesday morning shortly after it took off from Eppley Airfield around 8:20 a.m. 
 
American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle says 123 passengers and five crew members were aboard the MD-80. The passengers are being rebooked on other flights, so they can reach their destinations.  Martelle says the plane has been taken out of service until the problem can be identified and repairs made.