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Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, Dec. 25th. 2017- Christmas Day

News

December 25th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

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

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa county plans to explore options for keeping food waste out of the landfill, a category that amounts for about 20 percent of residential trash. Waste Commission Director Kathy Morris says Scott County will consider collecting food waste for composting, rather than sending it to the landfill. The Quad-City Times reports that Morris plans to recommend in March that they outsource a study into food waste collection, composting options and community impact.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There appears to be consensus among Democrats and Republicans in the Iowa Legislature that there are problem with the state’s privatized Medicaid program, but there is less agreement over what, if anything, legislators should do about it when they return to the Capitol. There are a range of opinions on whether lawmakers should enact legislation to respond to ongoing issues, or if change should come administratively through a state agency.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An elusive goat is in custody, but only after a lengthy police chase through the streets of Des Moines. A resident called police Saturday night after seeing a goat on the loose. The Des Moines Register reports that it had a leg cut requiring a veterinarian’s attention. It took officers 20 minutes to finally capture the goat. It will be put up for adoption unless an owner comes forward.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One person is dead and another seriously injured after the stolen SUV they were in crashed during a police pursuit in central Nebraska. WOWT-TV reports that 25-year-old Autumn Stadley of Omaha died at the scene of the crash Friday night, and 26-year-old Luis Elias was airlifted to a hospital. Authorities say a deputy began pursuit of a Dodge Durango when the SUV failed to stop after a traffic violation.

Ringgold County man arrested on drug, child endangerment & other charges

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Ringgold County Sheriff Mike Sobotka reports the arrest of 38-year old Chad Michael Mastin, of Mt. Ayr. Mastin was arrested at around 1:10-p.m. Sunday on a Ringgold County warrant for Theft in the 2nd degree; Child Endangerment; and, Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense.

He was taken into custody without incident and was being held Sunday in the Ringgold County Jail without bond, while awaiting to see the magistrate. Anyone with information of this or other crimes in Ringgold County should call the Sheriff’s Office at 641-464-3921.

Pickup hits DOT snowplow in Council Bluffs – alcohol a likely factor

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

No injuries were reported after a pickup struck an Iowa DOT snowplow early this (Sunday) morning on Interstate 29 in Council Bluffs. According to Bluffs Police, the accident happened at around 2:40-a.m. on I-29 southbound near mile-marker 53.

Their investigation determined the snow plow driver had pulled to the right side shoulder and off the road before exiting the truck to remove debris from the roadway. As the driver was removing the debris he was forced to run out of the way of a silver 2011 Dodge Ram truck driven by 24 year old Steven Clark of Belton, MO.

Clark drove into the rear end of the parked snow plow which still had its flashing yellow hazard lights on. Clark was arrested for Driving While Revoked and Resisting Arrest. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash and additional charges are pending.

The Council Bluffs Police Department would like to remind drivers to slow down and give road crews plenty of room to work.

Iowa county to consider composting food waste

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa county plans to explore options for keeping food waste out of the landfill, a category that amounts for about 20 percent of residential trash. Waste Commission Director Kathy Morris says Scott County will consider collecting food waste for composting, rather than sending it to the landfill.

Morris told the Quad-City Times that she plans to recommend in March that they outsource a study into food waste collection, composting options and community impact. She anticipates the study to cost between $20,000 to $40,000. It could be complete by the fall.

The study would also assess whether the Davenport Compost Facility has the capacity to accept the county’s food waste. Iowa’s 1987 Ground Water Protection Act prompted efforts to divert items away from landfills.

Escaped goat proves a tough capture for police

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An elusive goat is in custody, but only after a lengthy police chase through the streets of Des Moines. A resident called police Saturday night after seeing a goat on the loose. The Des Moines Register reports that no one knew where the goat came from but it had a cut on a front leg that needed a veterinarian’s attention.

Catching the wayward goat provided difficult — the animal was surprisingly fast despite the leg injury and evaded officers for 20 minutes over five blocks. Finally, officers corralled the goat behind an elementary school and the Animal Rescue League soon arrived.

After a veterinarian cares for the leg injury, the goat will be put up for adoption unless its owner comes forward.

Unclear if Iowa lawmakers will touch privatized Medicaid

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There appears to be consensus among Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature that there are problems with Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program, but there is less agreement over what, if anything, legislators should do about it when they return to the Capitol in a few weeks.

Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled statehouse are expected to address a range of issues when they gather in January, including taxes and water quality. But Medicaid, the massive health care program for poor and disabled people in Iowa, is less certain to be on their to-do list.

That’s because there are a range of opinions about whether lawmakers should enact legislation to respond to ongoing issues, or if change should come administratively through the state agency that contracts with private insurance companies now running the program.

Pilot dies in small plane crash near Oskaloosa

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a fatal plane crash in south-central Iowa. Authorities believe the small plane crashed Saturday afternoon after striking a power line near the town of Oskaloosa. The pilot was killed, but authorities have not disclosed the pilot’s name. No one else was on the plane.

Authorities have not said why the plane was flying so low to the ground.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, 12/24/17

News

December 24th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:00 a.m. CST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One person is dead and another seriously injured after the stolen SUV they were in crashed during a police pursuit in central Nebraska. WOWT-TV reports that 25-year-old Autumn Stadley of Omaha died at the scene of the crash Friday night, and 26-year-old Luis Elias was airlifted to a hospital. Authorities say a deputy began pursuit of a Dodge Durango stolen from IOWA, when the SUV failed to stop after a traffic violation.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — An extensive restoration of a historic one-room school in an eastern Iowa city now includes power. But lighting and outlets have been hidden to ensure the structure appears as it did in 1923, when there was no electricity. The Quad-City Times reports that the Forest Grove School in Bettendorf was built in 1873 and closed in 1957. The building is being restored through a community effort to return the structure to its 1923 condition. It will open as a museum and interpretive center.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A visit by Santa Claus to a Muscatine City Council meeting ended with police escorting him from the room after he gave council members and the city administrator lumps of coal. The Muscatine Journal reports Muscatine resident Max Kauffman dressed as Santa to deliver the gifts Thursday. Kaufman has been a critic of the council’s efforts to remove Mayor Diana Broderson from office. After giving Broderson candy, Kauffman gave coal to the others before the police chief escorted him from the room.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Insurers for the city of Des Moines paid $2.1 million to a lawyer who alleged he suffered head injuries when he was hit by a falling garbage can. The city this week released a copy of its November settlement with Jaysen McCleary in response to open records requests. McCleary alleged that he was struck in January 2014 by a solid waste container that fell from a city truck collecting it outside his home

2 injured in Council Bluffs crash Saturday afternoon

News

December 23rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A 17-year old female and a 20-year old male were injured during a collision at around 1:40-p.m. Saturday, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say the unidentified teenage female driver was operating a 2002 Nissan Altima eastbound on 9th Avenue, when the car entered the intersection on a red light.

A 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 60-year old Steven Hovey, of Avoca, had exited Interstate 80 northbound to 9th Avenue and entered the same intersection on a green light, when the pickup struck the car on its passenger side. A back seat passenger in the car, 20-year old Cody Mabbitt, of Carter Lake, was ejected from the car an suffered minor, non-life threatening injuries.

The 17-year old and Mabbitt were transported to the UNMC by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue, for treatment of minor, non-life threatening injuries. Hovey was not injured. The 17-year old female was cited for Operating While Disqualified, Obedience to Stop Signs and Signals, and No Proof of Insurance.

1 dead, 1 badly hurt when police pursuit ends in crash

News

December 23rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — One person is dead and another seriously injured after the stolen SUV they were in crashed during a police pursuit in central Nebraska.

WOWT-TV reports that 25-year-old Autumn Stadley of Omaha died at the scene of the crash Friday night, and 26-year-old Luis Elias was airlifted to a hospital in Lincoln.

Authorities say a Merrick County deputy began pursuit of a Dodge Durango when the SUV failed to stop after a traffic violation in Central City. The SUV crashed and rolled near the town of Osceola in Polk County. Both Stadley and Elias were thrown from the vehicle.

Police say the Durango had been stolen in Iowa. Authorities are trying to determine who was driving the SUV.