United Group Insurance

Republican lawmaker says deep cuts needed for Iowa budget

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House Republican leader says Iowa lawmakers will need to make deep cuts to the budget next year, but he did not elaborate. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Grassley, of New Hartford, says Wednesday that Republicans will base their budget priorities for the fiscal year beginning in July on roughly $7.35 billion in current revenue projections estimated by state experts. He says that’s about $175 million in new revenue.

Grassley says his data show Iowa is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in expected new costs, so “tough decisions” will be needed. He says he can’t elaborate on potential cuts until a final revenue projection is issued. Lawmakers are expected to debate again over supplemental aid for K-12 schools. Grassley says Republicans are still meeting over what amount to support.

Pursuit in Council Bluffs Wed. morning leads to crash & arrest

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a 25-year old man following an attempted traffic stop, pursuit and crash, Wednesday morning. Officials say Ryan M. Knight, of Council Bluffs, faces charges that include Theft in the 2nd degree, felony eluding, reckless driving, speeding, no driver’s license and no registration. The vehicle he was driving was later reported to have been stolen from the Ameristar Casino.

Ryan Knight

Ryan Knight

The incident leading to Knight’s arrest began at around 9:23-a.m., when a Council Bluffs Police Officer observed a green Honda Accord near the area of I-29 and North 25th street. The vehicle entered I-29 SB at an extremely high rate of speed. The officer was able to catch up to the Accord, checking its speed on radar at 95 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and the vehicle failed to stop, while passing a car on the right shoulder.

The vehicle entered I-480 westbound toward Omaha and the officer shut down his emergency equipment and discontinued the pursuit. The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed and as the officer was exiting at 10th street, he witnessed the vehicle crash into the guardrail west of the 10th street exit. As the officer approached the area of the crash, the suspect (Knight) ran from the vehicle on foot. He crossed the EB lanes of I-480, ran down the on ramp to the area of 8th and Douglas Street where he was taken into custody by the Council Bluffs Officer.

Omaha police responded and arrested Knight.

Tuesday Wrestling results

Sports

December 2nd, 2015 by admin

High School Wrestling results from Tuesday, December 1st, 2015

Double Dual at West Harrison

Audubon 48, Griswold 12
Griswold 30, West Harrison 18
Audubon 48, West Harrison 0

Quad at Winterset

Creston O-M 51, Interstate-35 20
Creston O-M 78, Nodaway Valley 6
Winterset 72, Nodaway Valley 3
Winterset 39, Interstate-35 36

Double Dual at Westwood

Westwood 51, Denison-Schleswig 21
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 52, Denison-Schleswig 28
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 52, Westwood 18

Double Dual at Woodbine

Treynor 75, SWI 0
Treynor 57, Woodbine 24
Woodbine 69, SWI 12

IFA awards $6.3-million+ to Local Housing Trust Funds to advance affordable housing priorities

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today (Wednesday), approved a total of more than $6.3 million in grants to 27 Local Housing Trust Funds to support local affordable housing initiatives which will assist 2,469 Iowa families. The funding is provided from the State Housing Trust Fund’s Local Housing Trust Fund program.

IFA logoThe grant funds will be used for initiatives such as preserving aging housing stock, subsidizing local down payment assistance programs, providing low-interest loans or grants to assist Iowans in home rehabilitation, financing construction of new single-family housing for low-income Iowans and supporting housing for persons with disabilities and homeless assistance programs.

Among the grant recipients is:

  • the Council Bluffs Housing Trust Fund, Inc., which received $152,788.
  • CDG Housing, Inc., which serves Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie and Sac Counties, received a grant for $243,339.
  • the Southern Iowa COG Housing Trust Fund, Inc., serving Adair, Adams, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and Clarke Counties, received a $236,394 grant.
  • the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund, Inc. – serving Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Shelby and Pottawattamie Counties (excludng the City of Council Bluffs), received a grant amounting to $301,439.

IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison says “The partnership between the Iowa Finance Authority and Local Housing Trust Funds is one that pays dividends to affordable housing in Iowa. The grants announced today are leveraging an additional $2.7 million in local contributions, which is a testament to the shared commitment to meeting these vital housing needs.”

The State Housing Trust Fund was created by the Iowa Legislature in 2003. Since its inception, the program has provided $50.1 million in affordable housing assistance that has benefited more than 17,600 Iowa families. This funding has leveraged another $151.2 million in other funds or $2.68 for every dollar of State Housing Trust Fund investment.

Royals acquire catcher Cruz from Cardinals for minor leaguer

Sports

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals have acquired backup catcher Tony Cruz from the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league infielder Jose Martinez while designating catcher Francisco Pena for assignment. The teams announced the trade Wednesday.

Cruz hit .204 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 9 games for the Cardinals. The 29-year-old, who can also play third base, could compete with Drew Butera for the backup catcher job behind Sal Perez. Butera is eligible for arbitration after arriving in Kansas City in a trade this past season. Cruz also is arbitration eligible.

The 19-year-old Martinez spent most of last season at rookie-level Burlington, hitting .243 with four doubles, a homer and 24 RBIs in 57 games.

Report say Iowa public pension fund has $5 billion shortfall

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A report says Iowa’s largest public employees’ pension fund has a long-term shortfall of about $5 billion. The Des Moines Register reports that Gov. Terry Branstad was briefed Tuesday on the status of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS), which has 346,000 members. The report says the pension fund’s assets total about $28 billion and is nearly 84 percent funded, slightly up from a year ago.

The system serves current, former and retired employees of state government, cities, counties and school districts. The contribution rate by local government and state public employees to the main pension fund has increased in recent years to almost 15 percent of an employee’s earnings.

Donna Mueller, the fund’s chief executive officer, says the report shows progress and stability. Mueller said the system’s $5 billion in unfunded liabilities could be paid off in 23 years.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2nd

Trading Post

December 2nd, 2015 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  Six foot tall Christmas tree, $10.  Assorted Christmas lights, $2/box.  Several electric portable heaters and snow shovels.  Call 243-7792.

FREE TO A GOOD HOME: 3 eight week old kittens. Black with white feet.  Love to play. Can deliver them to Atlantic.  Call 712-268-2739.

FOR SALE: Variety of Christmas items. Trees, Lights, Lighted Deer.  Located in Atlantic and will work with you on price for what you want.  Call 712-254-3473.

Rollover accident in Union County

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a woman and a child suffered unknown, possible injuries during a single-vehicle, rollover accident this (Wednesday) morning. 27-year old Lindsey Weber, of Kent, was traveling north on Clover Avenue at around 8-a.m., when the 2008 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup she was driving went out of control on the slick road. The pickup slid sideways before entering the east ditch and rolling once, coming to rest on the driver’s side. Weber, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. A passenger in the truck, 6-year old Karleen Kruse, of Lenox, also suffered possible/unknown injuries and was transported to the hospital, by ambulance.

Damage to the pickup the was estimated at $10,000.

Harlan Police report: 3 arrests, 1 accident

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Police Department today (Wednesday), released a report on recent arrests and an accident. Officials say 19-year old Gage Johnston, of Harlan, was arrested Nov. 24th on an active warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. Johnston was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

Also arrested Nov. 24th, was 32-year old Malcolm McDonald, of Harlan, who was taken into custody following a traffic stop. McDonald was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while suspended. And, on Nov. 27th, Harlan Police arrested 34-year old Michael Wiser, of Harlan, following a traffic stop. Wiser was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while suspended. Wiser was also cited for failure to wear a seat belt.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Nov. 23rd, in Harlan. Authorities say a 2008 Ford driven by Ruth Weaver, of Harlan, was hit by a 2000 VW, driven by Rufino Martinez, also of Harlan. The accident happened when Martinez turned right out of a trailer court driveway at 3002 12th Street. In doing so, police he he failed to yield to Weaver, who was traveling north on 12th Street. Damage from the collision amounted to $3,500. No citations were issued.

Former Sioux City coach gets probation in student sex case

News

December 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former Sioux City high school soccer coach has gotten three years of probation and a suspended five-year prison term for having sex with a student. Thirty-year-old Erick DeLeon was sentenced on Tuesday after being convicted in October of sexual exploitation by a school employee.

DeLeon was in charge of the iJAG program, a nonprofit program that works with at-risk students at West high School. He also coached soccer at the school. Prosecutors say DeLeon, of Sioux City, exchanged inappropriate text messages with one of his 16-year-old iJAG students and had sex with her at her home in October and November last year.