Dog owners in Iowa are warned to be on the lookout for signs of C-I-V, or canine influenza virus. Outbreaks are reported in the Midwest, including in the neighboring states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Dr. Beth Streeter, a veterinarian with the Iowa Veterinary Referral Center in Des Moines, says the so-called dog flu is a concern, but there are -no- outbreaks in Iowa as yet and very few reported cases statewide.

“It’s something to be aware of and to watch pets for,” Dr. Streeter says. “It’s a little bit early to get too worried about it, other than in a proactive fashion, meaning, watching their pets for any signs of influenza and for veterinarians, being aware of the potential precautions to take with any pets exhibiting signs of influenza.”

Iowans who own dogs are advised to be vigilant for signs of illness in their pets. “A lot of people, with they hear flu, think of the (gastro intestinal) flu, and that’s actually not what’s most commonly seen,” Streeter says. “This is a respiratory virus so you’re looking for signs of cough, nasal discharge, fever and just generally not feeling well.”

More than a thousand dog flu cases are reported in four states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. Much like with the human version of the flu, C-I-V can worsen if left untreated and become life-threatening. “There are reports of dogs in Chicago succumbing to the illness and it can be quite serious in some pets,” Streeter says. “It’s also very contagious so we have to be very careful, if dogs do have signs of the flu, to keep them isolated and make sure they’re not exposing other pets.”

She says there is a vaccine for C-I-V but there are reports of complications with it. Also, this strain of dog flu may not have been included in the vaccine’s cocktail, so dogs that are vaccinated may still not be protected. Streeter suggests dog owners avoid contact with other pets they don’t know if they’re traveling in states where there are outbreaks, while limiting visits to dog parks and boarding facilities.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City wants to keep operating five traffic cameras while appealing a state order to remove them. The city filed Thursday for a judge’s order to protect the cameras’ operation, and a hearing on the request is scheduled on Tuesday. Assistant City Attorney Justin Vondrak said in the filing that city officials think the cameras improve safety on Interstate 29 and other locations.

The city intends to file an appeal by Friday that will ask the Iowa Transportation Department to reconsider its order to turn off the cameras. Vondrak says the cameras likely will be turned off Friday, but the city hopes to gain the injunction Tuesday and turn the cameras back on. The city’s six other traffic cameras are on city streets and not subject to the department guidelines.

A former candidate to fill the Iowa Senate seat vacated by Joni Ernst has been sentenced to jail. The Daily NonPareil reports 69-year old Donald Brantz, of Glenwood, was sentenced Thursday to serve five days in jail for disturbing the peace in Sarpy County, Neb. He was given one day for time served.

Brantz was originally charged with third-degree sexual assault, third-degree assault, disturbing the peace and interfering with a public service company. After he pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace, Sarpy County prosecutors dropped the other charges.

According to court records, the charges against Brantz stemmed from an incident on Oct. 10, 2014, near 36th and Emiline streets in Bellevue, Neb. Prosecutors alleged that Brantz inappropriately touched an adult victim and threatened to choke her. When the victim called 911, prosecutors said, Brantz disconnected the phone line.

Brantz, a Libertarian and former Mills County Board member, was on the ballot in a special election Dec. 30 against two other candidates to fill Ernst’s District 12 seat.

(8-am News)

Later this (Friday) morning, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will present retired Iowa State Patrol Trooper Mark Domino with the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery by Attorney General Eric Holder. The event will take place at 10:30-a.m., during the DPS Promotional Ceremony being held at the State Historical Building.

Trooper Mark Domino (IA State Patrol – Ret.) DPS Photo.

On October 30th, 2012, the Maynard Savings Bank was robbed by two heavily armed men. Following the robbery, the subjects fired shots at numerous law enforcement officers, disabling several emergency vehicles and wounding an officer. Trooper Domino located the suspect vehicle and began a solo pursuit, during which he was fired upon multiple times. A gun battle ensued and Trooper Domino was shot in the right bicep.

The Trooper continued the pursuit despite his injury, and returned fire. The suspects crashed into a ditch and fled on foot to a heavily wooded area.  Officers from local, county, state and federal agencies were able to locate the subjects and take them into custody without further incident or injury.

The Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act of 2008 established the Congressional Badge of Bravery to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, county, local and tribal law enforcement officers. For more information about the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery, visit
https://badgeofbravery.ncjrs.gov/index.aspx.

The Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City agreed to a five-thousand dollar fine Thursday, from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for its second gambling violation in as many months. Iowa Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the violation involved a person who had agreed to a self ban. “An individual that had signed up on the statewide list in 2007, that individual was able to obtain a player’s club card at the Hard Rock facility, so that was the triggering factor for the violation,” Ohorilko explained.

The fine was based on the casino’s history of violations. “The violation was one that was self-reported by Hard Rock. It is their second violation of this nature within the past 365 days, which past precedent called for a five-thousand dollar fine. That’s what the parties agreed to, and the commission did approve that stipulation,” Ohorilko says. The violation comes just one month after the casino was fined three-thousand dollars at the commission’s March meeting.

“The first incident occurred a few months prior to this, and the parties — Hard Rock and commission staff — entered into a stipulated agreement at that time,” Ohorilko says. The casino has only been open since August of last year. Ohorilko says management has been doing some retraining of staff following the violations.

“They’ve implemented additional procedures and controls to help prevent this,” Ohorilko says. “They do have a number of new employees at the new facility, however it doesn’t change our expectations and Hard Rock management recognizes that and has indicated that they are going to try to address it.”

The person in the first violation was able to gamble and was not caught until he tried to cash in the jackpot and his name turned up on the banned list.

(Radio Iowa)