SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City’s new downtown casino and hotel is now open for business. The Sioux City Journal reports that about 1,000 people turned out Friday night to celebrate the opening Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City.

The 30,000-square-foot casino floor boasts 839 slot machines and 25 table games, including jackpot and roulette. An oversized guitar, with wood and metal accents, flashes over the floor, which is also illuminated with decorative light fixtures bearing purple drum sticks.

The casino opens after a bruising legal fight by the owners of the nearby Argosy riverboat casino, which has been ordered to close.

Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will visit three communities in southwest Iowa this coming week. Her visits to Creston, Lenox and Mt. Ayr take place on Tuesday, Aug. 5th. Her first stop, at 9:30-a.m., is at the Creston Chamber of Commerce, where Reynolds will attend a “Connect Every Iowa” event.

At 11-a.m., Reynolds will tour Dalton Ag Products in Lenox, and at 1-p.m. Tuesday, she’ll tour Podium Ink, Inc., in Mt. Ayr.

College students in Iowa are being urged to consider pursuing an emerging field in the health care industry. Colleen Campbell is a certified genetic counselor at the University of Iowa. She organized an information session on the UI campus Friday, to talk to students about genetic counseling. She says it’s part of the “personalized medicine” movement, as genetic counselors focus on patient education and advocacy. “You used to have genetics if you had a genetic disease and you were seen in a genetics clinic. But now, genetics is being integrated into all forms of medicine; cardiology, cancer, prenatal, OBGYN, everywhere,” Campbell said. “So, really getting it integrated, we need more genetic counselors as part of those health care teams…to help not only educate the patients, but also keep the health care team up to speed on things.”

Genetic counselors work with patients on health issues specific to their genetic profile. They also serve as an advocate for the patient by communicating with their doctor.  “Doctors are really good at their jobs, but they also have a very short amount of time they’re allowed to spend with patients,” Campbell said. “The counselor is a person the patient can call if they see something on news or they read something and they have a question. The counseling appointments are typically longer, so you spend that time really answering patients’ questions and really helping them.”

In Iowa, there are currently only 12 certified genetic counselors. The University of Iowa offers a Genetic Counseling Internship for undergraduate students interested in a career in genetic counseling.

Learn more at http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/humangenetics/

With KJAN Director Ric Hanson.

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With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa deer hunters will notice fewer seasons and changes in certain seasons this year. Officials with the Iowa DNR say the January antlerless deer season has been eliminated, the number of antlerless deer tags has been reduced and hunters in 27 northwest counties are allowed only antlered deer during the first shotgun and early muzzleloader seasons. Crossbows were allowed as a legal method of take for resident Iowa hunters during the late muzzleloader season.

Iowa waterfowl hunters have an experimental September teal only season from Sept. 6-21 in all three waterfowl zones. The remaining waterfowl seasons will be set during the August 14 meeting of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Natural Resource Commission after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues their season requirements to the states.

Iowa Hunting and Trapping Seasons

Deer Seasons

Youth: Sept. 20-Oct. 5

Disabled Hunter: Sept. 20-Oct. 5

Archery: Oct. 1-Dec. 5 AND Dec. 22-Jan. 10

Early Muzzleloader: Oct. 11-19

Late Muzzleloader: Dec. 22-Jan. 10

First Shotgun: Dec. 6-10

Second Shotgun: Dec. 13-21

Nonresident Holiday: Dec. 24-Jan. 2

 Small Game and Upland Seasons

Youth Rooster Pheasant: Oct. 18-19

Rooster Pheasant: Oct. 25-Jan. 10

Bobwhite Quail: Oct. 25-Jan. 31

Gray Partridge: Oct. 11-Jan. 31

Ruffed Grouse: Oct. 4-Jan. 31

Cottontail Rabbit: Aug. 30-Feb. 28

Fox and Gray Squirrel: Aug. 30-Jan. 31

Crow: Oct. 15-Nov. 30 AND Jan. 14-March 31

Pigeon: Continuous Open Season

Migratory Game Bird Seasons

Mourning Dove: Sept. 1-Nov. 9

September Teal Season: Sept. 6-21 in all three zones. Additional regulations apply.

Furbearer Hunting Seasons

Raccoon: Nov. 1-Jan. 31

Opossum: Nov. 1-Jan. 31

Red and Gray Fox: Nov. 1-Jan. 31

Bobcat: Nov. 1-Jan. 31 Additional regulations apply.

Coyote: Continuous Open Season

Groundhog: Continuous Open Season

Trapping Seasons

Raccoon: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Muskrat: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Red and Gray Fox: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Coyote: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Badger: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Mink: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Weasel: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Opossum: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Striped Skunk: Nov.1-Jan. 31

Beaver: Nov. 1-April 15

Otter: Nov.1-Jan. 31 Additional regulations apply.

Bobcat: Nov.1-Jan. 31 Additional regulations apply.

The Red Oak Police Department reports one person was arrested for Disorderly Conduct Friday night. 40-year old Eric Michael Huffstutlear, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:50-p.m. at 401 w. Washington Street. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo business’ decision to briefly replace the American flag with an Irish flag atop a downtown building has drawn criticism from residents. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the owner of the Black’s Building replaced a U.S. flag with the Republic of Ireland’s flag to honor Waterloo’s Irish Fest, which runs Friday through Sunday. When people noticed the change Friday morning, Nelson says the company began getting complaints.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state auditor’s report shows that when it comes to revenue, all performances at the Iowa State Fair’s Grandstand aren’t equal. The Des Moines Register reports nine of the fair’s 53 acts since 2008 have cost more to bring in than they’ve earned in ticket sales. Fair officials are hopeful this year’s Grandstand acts will sell more tickets.

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — A motorcyclist from Missouri has died in a northeast Iowa crash involving two sport utility vehicles, including one that drove away from the scene. The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened yesterday morning as two motorcyclists were northbound on U.S. Highway 63, just north of New Hampton.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Chase Elliott is in the midst of one of the best rookie seasons in NASCAR Nationwide series history. Today’s race at the Iowa Speedway could go a long way in determining whether Elliott ends such a promising year with a title.

Persons interested in bow hunting deer in Atlantic are advised to pick up their instruction packet from the Atlantic Police Department. The information packets are available Monday through Friday, from 8-a.m. to 4-p.m. Once the packet is filled-out by the hunter, it must be signed by Police Chief Steve Green. If you are already qualified to hunt, you won’t have any further issues to contend with.
It’s the third year the City is making bow hunting available within the City limits. Lt. Dave Erickson with the A-PD says the number of deer harvested each year continues to grow, with last year being very successful. Erickson says bow hunting is made available to the public, with certain exceptions and requirements.

New hunters not previously qualified may still pick up their packet, but they must also make an appointment to shoot with Lt. Erickson at the P-D. The packet explains the rules and City Ordinance. He says the hunting seasons mirror those established by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Hunters must be 18-years of age or older and have a State of Iowa hunting license. They also must have a deer tag or tags issued by the DNR.

Erickson says the one thing they are requesting is that anyone who wants the public to hunt deer on their property, please call the police department Monday through Friday and submit their name. The list of property owners’ names who will allow hunting will then be made available for hunters to contact and provide information as to when they would like to request permission to do so.
Anterless tags will be available.

Hunters must take a doe first before being allowed to hunt a buck within the City limits. If you wish to continue hunting Does – antlerless – the City will reimburse for the tag you purchased through the DNR. You will need to call the Police Department at 712-243-3512 when you harvest a deer. The police will verify that it was taken within the city limits. The hunter then brings the tag to City Hall, where they will be reimbursed for the doe tag. The maximum reimbursement is $28.50. Up to six doe tags per person are allowed for reimbursement.

There are restrictions are where bow hunting will be allowed. For instance, No hunting on City parks of City property. Among the things to note this year: Hunting will not be allowed if your paperwork is not filled out and copies are on file at the Police Department; All hunters must respect the property lines of the land they are hunting on, and be courteous to residents of adjoining properties; Hunters must carry a cell phone with them in case a law enforcement officer needs to contact them with regard to any complaints; Hunter should use safety harnesses while hunting from an elevated stand; Field dressings must be done outside the City limits of Atlantic.

Persons needing to qualify for the in-City hunt will be required to pass a verbal and skill test conducted by the A-PD and Atlantic Archers. The applicant must be able to shoot at 3-d targets up to a maximum of 30-yards from an elevated stand, and successfully hit with 3 out of 5 arrows.

Two people were injured during a 4-wheel off road vehicle accident Friday night, near Marne. According to dispatch reports, 47-year old Trisha Bell was seriously injured, while a 5-year old female suffered a gash to her head. The accident happened just west of Marne along Highway 83, at around 9:13-p.m.
Atlantic and Marne Fire and Rescue along with Medivac Ambulance responded to the scene.

LifeNet transported Bell from the Cass County Memorial Hospital to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The five-year-old was transported by Medivac ambulance to CCMH with non-life threatening injuries.