United Group Insurance

KJAN News

KJAN News can be heard at five minutes after every hour right after Fox News 24 hours a day!
Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa,  Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Sept. 19th 2018

News

September 19th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Celia Barquin Arozamena was a top amateur golfer from Spain who was finishing her degree at Iowa State University. Collin Daniel Richards was a former inmate from small-town Iowa with a history of violence. Investigators say their contrasting lives intersected in the most violent way when Richards allegedly attacked and stabbed Barquin to death at a golf course on Monday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge in North Dakota has handed Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds a victory in temporarily halting enforcement of a Barack Obama administration clean water rule in the state. The Waters of the United States rule is disliked by conservative groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Farm Bureau Federation which claim it’s classic government overregulation but supported by environmental groups.

UNDATED (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court will determine whether the police practice of using minor infractions as a pretext for stopping drivers they suspect of more serious crimes violates the Iowa Constitution in a case civil liberty groups say has implications for police racial profiling. The state’s high court heard arguments Tuesday in the case of Scottize Brown, of Waterloo.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Finance Authority Board voted Tuesday to allow an attorney investigating the conduct of the state agency’s fired director to interview a lawyer who once worked for there but is now in private practice. The board approved a resolution Tuesday to allow James Smith to discuss factual matters involving the investigation of fired IFA Director Dave Jamison.

Statewide Park Clean-up Day is this Sat. at Lake Anita & elsewhere

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Statewide Park Volunteer Day is this Saturday, Sept. 22. Iowans can help out at more than 40 state parks with activities that may include litter pick-up, staining or painting buildings, planting trees, clearing trails and more. Locally, volunteers are needed at Lake Anita State Park from 7-until 9-a.m., Saturday.

You’ll meet at the Primitive campground and pick up branches and rocks around the campground, and trash along the shoreline. Plan to stay aftward for a Dutch Oven cooking and sampling session from 9:00 – noon in the primitive campground.

Bring water bottle. Trash bags and gloves provided. Stay afterward for a Dutch oven cooking session and breakfast! For more info., contact: Anne Riordan at 641-295-6028 or anne.riordan@dnr.iowa.gov.

Volunteers are also needed at Prairie Rose State Park, near Harlan, Springbrook Park near Guthrie Center, Viking Lake near Stanton, and Waubonsie Park in Hamburg. Details including meeting times, locations and activities for each participating state park can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/volunteer .

Clean-up efforts are partly in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the Iowa state park system, which takes place in 2020. The DNR is working with several organizations to create park improvements and plan activities for the centennial event. Volunteers for the Sept. 22 clean-up day are encouraged to share their activities on social media with #iowastateparks.

Cruise company seeks docking facilities in Dubuque

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Swiss cruise company wants to bring ships to Dubuque if the city builds a dock along the Mississippi River. David Simmons of Viking River Cruises discussed the company’s potential plans at a City Council work session on Monday, The Telegraph Herald reported . The company hopes to build a cruise route with eight stops from St. Louis to St. Paul, Minnesota, with a potential stop in Dubuque if the city had the docking facilities, Simmons said.

The company’s brand involves pulling up to a port and allowing passengers to walk off the ship and explore a downtown area, he said. “(Dubuque is) currently in the schedule, you’re currently on the brochure, but we have to be certain we can deliver on that product,” Simmons said.

City Council members agreed last month to prioritize building a $4 million dock for the coming year. Officials still need to formally approve such a project. Viking is willing to partner with the city to build the dock, Simmons said. Council Member David Resnick said he was glad Simmons expressed cost-sharing ideas, but he said he wants to see a more formal commitment from the company.

The Mississippi River and vessels that travel on it are a critical part of Dubuque’s tourism, said Keith Rahe, president and CEO of Travel Dubuque. “(Viking) would be another tremendous asset to add to our inventory,” he said. “Any time you get a company like that, it is another avenue to get more people into Dubuque and showcase what we have here.”

Iowa high court hears arguments in police stop case

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court will determine whether the police practice of using minor infractions as a pretext for stopping drivers they suspect of more serious crimes violates the Iowa Constitution in a case that civil liberty groups say has implications for police racial profiling.

The state’s high court heard arguments Tuesday in the case of Scottize Brown, of Waterloo. Brown, who is black, was stopped in 2015 on suspicion of driving through a yellow light and having a burned-out license plate light. The officer later acknowledged that he used those reasons to pull over the vehicle after learning the vehicle’s owner had gang connections. Brown, who was driving, was arrested and later convicted of a second offense of driving while intoxicated.

In her appeal, Brown argues that the conviction be vacated and dismissed because the officer’s pretext for stopping her violates the state’s constitutional prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure.

Special parking restrictions for the Band Jamboree in Clarinda

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda that no parking is allowed on the following streets from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, 2018 for the annual Band Day Jamboree Parade.

The 100 through 800 block of W. Main Street

The 100 block of E. Main Street

The100 block of N. 15th St.

The 100 block of E. Washington Street

The 100 block through 300 block of W. Washington Street

24th Street (Cardinal Drive) from Garfield Street to State Street (*SCHOOL BUS PARKING*)

The police department appreciates the cooperation of all citizens in removing their vehicles from the parade route. Vehicles that are not removed from the parade route by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2018 will be towed at the expense of the vehicle’s registered owner(s).

If a citizen has any questions concerning this, please contact the Clarinda Police Department Office of the Chief of Police at 712-542-2194 extension 201.

Iowa agency approves attorney interview in harassment probe

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Finance Authority Board voted Tuesday to allow an attorney investigating the conduct of the state agency’s fired director to interview a lawyer who once worked there but is now in private practice. The board approved a resolution Tuesday to allow James Smith to discuss the behavior of fired IFA Director Dave Jamison. Female employees who worked for Jamison say he talked about sex and often made lewd and suggestive comments to women in the workplace.

Prominent white-collar attorney Mark Weinhardt is leading an investigation into Jamison’s actions and the agency’s response. Weinhardt requested an interview with Smith, now a partner in a Des Moines law firm.
Jamison, a long-time political ally of Gov. Kim Reynolds was fired by her in March after women complained to her office. IFA Interim Executive Director Carolann Jensen says Weinardt is expected to file the final report on his investigation by the end of this month.

An audit of the agency ordered by the Iowa Legislature going back to the beginning of Jamison’s tenure in 2011 is expected to be completed by mid-November.

Man pleads not guilty in northern Iowa shooting death

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

LU VERNE, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of killing another man at a northern Iowa home has pleaded not guilty. Kossuth County court records say Jeffrey Winters, of Livermore, entered the plea last week to a charge of first-degree murder. The records don’t show that a trial has been scheduled. He’s suspected of killing 54-year-old Randy Page, who authorities say died before deputies reached the Lu Verne home on Aug. 27. His wife had called to report that he was on the garage floor and unresponsive.

A criminal complaint says four 9 mm bullet casings were found near the body, but no gun was found.

Griswold School Board to change activity tickets costs next year; Students offered crop share opportunity

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Griswold School Board Monday night elected Aaron Houser as President, and Don Smith as Vice-President. Smith was V-P last year, also. They also voted to keep their meeting schedule the same as this past year. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said the District is taking a cue from other districts, and will make changes for the 2019-2020 School Year with regard to activity tickets. He says the bottom line is, next year they will not charge Griswold students to attend Griswold events.

And, the district’s students have an excellent opportunity to experience the green thumb of growing vegetables. Henrichs says FFA Advisor Kevin Blair recently came into contact with an individual who owns about five-acres of land. That person lives out-of-state, and the land is currently being rented. The person currently renting the land feels the land is too small for their equipment, therefore the school and FFA have the opportunity to assume the rental agreement. The rent will be on a crop share basis, with two-thirds to the school, and one-third to the owners. The school hopes to get donors for the seed and equipment. Students will plan, plant and harvest the crops, which will be in a test plot for different varieties. Henrichs says it’s a way for kids to extend their learning outside the classroom.

Suspect in golfer’s slaying has history of violence

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A homeless man charged in Iowa with killing a top amateur golfer from Spain has a history of violence and drug use dating to his teenage years. Court records show that since 2014, 22-year-old Collin Daniel Richards has been charged with abusing a former girlfriend, using a baseball bat to smash a vehicle window and burglarizing a gas station. He’s now charged with first-degree murder in the death of Celia Barquin Arozamena. He was ordered jailed Tuesday on a $5 million, cash-only bond.

In one case, Richards allegedly threatened to shoot clerks at a convenience store after they caught him shoplifting. In another, Richards admitted he stole a man’s pickup truck while high on drugs. In a third, the Iowa State Patrol seized a long knife from him during a traffic stop. The records also show Richards left prison earlier this year, once lived in a halfway house in Ames, and was arrested in June after being found passed out near a liquor store.

Second Minnehaha County escaped inmate arrested in Iowa

News

September 18th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say they’ve caught up with an inmate who escaped from the Minnehaha County Correctional Center in South Dakota, last month. The Sioux Falls Area Joint Fugitive Task Force says it received information Monday night that led to the capture of Lowell Calkins in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Calkins is awaiting extradition back to Minnehaha County. He was serving time for damage to property and burglary. Calkins escaped with Roy Hampton on Aug. 8. Hampton was arrested in Altoona, Iowa days after the escape.