w/Kate Olson.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Physical Plant and Equipment (PPEL – “Peppel) levies were approved Tuesday, by voters in both the Creston and East Union Community School Districts. Unofficial results from the Union and Adams County Auditor’s offices show in Creston, the PPEL passed 527-to-146 — or 78.3% to 21.%. East Union voters voted 122-to-70 to extend the levy.
PPEL funds may be used for facilities projects and maintenance, technology purchases, transportation vehicles and other expenses.
Voters in the Lenox Community School District have approved a $9.9-million bond issue, which will pay for several improvements to district facilities, including replacement of the Elementary School roof and installation of energy efficent windows in the Lenox High School, most of which are over 50-years old. Additional classroom space is also covered under the bond issue.
Unofficial results from the Adams, Ringgold, Union and Taylor County Auditor’s offices show the bond issue passed by a vote of 332-to 198 (62.6% yes, 57.4% no). A 60% super majority was needed in order for the measure to pass.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say Iowa’s high school graduation rate climbed to a record high of 91.6% in the 2018-19 school year. The Iowa Education Department says the class of 2019 figure was up two-tenths of a percentage point from the 91.4% in the class of 2018. Since 2011, Iowa’s four-year graduation rate has increased 3.3 percentage points overall, with gains in nearly every student demographic group. For example, graduation rates for Hispanic students have climbed by 9.3 percentage points and the rates for African American students have gone up 8.4 percentage points.
Iowa’s rates typically are among the nation’s highest high school graduation rates.
(Radio Iowa) — A bill passed in the Iowa Senate would require a portion of the state’s Medicaid recipients to work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week to keep government benefits. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, says it fits with President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” motto. “Part of that is to get people off of the system and back into work and self-sufficiency,” Schultz said. “It’s where humans thrive when they’re taking care of themselves.” The bill’s work requirements would apply to people who live just above the poverty line and qualify for Medicaid under a program expansion approved in 2014. The parents of young children, people over the age of 65 and disabled Iowans would not be required to work to qualify for Medicaid or for food stamps.
The bill passed with the support of 31 Republicans. The 18 Democrats in the Senate voted against it. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, says it’s time to target businesses that pay so little their workers qualify for government assistance. “We ought to get employers who are freeloading on Iowa taxpayers involved in this conversation,” Bolkcom says.
Senator Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Hiawatha, says the bill will create new obstacles for struggling families. “But it’s obvious there aren’t enough people in this room that understand that,” Mathis said. Senator Amanda Ragan, a Democrat from Mason City, says some Iowans who work would lose their benefits through no fault of their own. “These enrollees that we’re talking about in Medicaid work in industries in which both the employment and the hours are volatile,” Ragan says.
Schultz, the Republican who guided the bill through the senate, says government food assistance and health care coverage are not meant to last a lifetime. “Able-bodied adults are who we’re talking about,” Schultz says.”…When we do things that incentivize people to go ahead, get a job, get off the program their lives are better, the lives of their children are better, the state is stronger, the nation is stronger.” Schultz says the proposal is popular in his western Iowa district. “Folks understand that if they’re working to pay the bill that somebody should be asked to work to receive it, if they are able,” Schultz said, “and I don’t think that’s wrong.” Schultz says government assistance should be a springboard back to self-sufficiency.
Today: Partly cloudy. High 55. NW @ 10-15 mph this morning, becoming SW this afternoon.
Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 36. SW @ 10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 48. NW @ 15-25.
Friday: P/Cldy. High 50.
Saturday: P/Cldy, windy & mild. High 66.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 57. Our Low this morning, 26. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 16 and the Low was -12. The Record High for March 4th in Atlantic, was 78 in 1921. The Record Low was -17 in 1978.
Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Eric Hunter Jr., scored a career-high 19 points, and Evan Boudreaux had 14 points and 14 rebounds to help Purdue beat No. 18 Iowa 77-68 on Tuesday night. The Boilermakers (16-14, 9-10 Big Ten) swept the two games against the Hawkeyes this season. Luka Garza led Iowa (20-10, 11-8) with 26 points and 12 rebounds, his 15th double-double of the season. It was the 15th consecutive Big Ten game of 20 or more points for Garza, the longest streak by a player in the conference in 20 years.
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Derek Culver and Miles McBride scored 17 points apiece and West Virginia outlasted Iowa State for a 77-71 victory. McBride hit four free throws in the final 16 seconds left to help quell the Cyclones’ last -gasp rally. Iowa State’s Rasir Bolton scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas State football players are facing marijuana possession charges. Nineteen-year-old safety Wayne Jones and 21-year-old linebacker Daniel Green were arrested Monday night. They both posted $1,000 bond. The arrests come after three other Kansas State players were arrested over the weekend. Freshman running back Jacardia Wright was arrested for an outstanding warrant for failing to show proof of insurance. Linebackers DeMarrquese Hayes and Nick Allen were arrested separately on suspicion of DUI. Kansas State says coach Chris Klieman will handle any internal discipline. Klieman says he is extremely disappointed.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Saint Louis Cardinals pitcher Andrew Miller will be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time as he tries to regain the feel for his pitches. The two-time All-Star and 2016 ALCS MVP with Cleveland struggles to describe the feeling he experiences when releasing the ball. He says there’s no pain, it simply doesn’t feel right. Miller says the issue dates back to last season, his first with St. Louis, and contributed to his disappointing 5-6 record and 4.45 ERA.
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Houston ace Justin Verlander says the groin tightness that has slowed him this spring is no longer worrisome. Verlander made his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday, throwing 2 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. He threw 53 pitches, hitting 97 on the scoreboard radar gun. Houston manager Dusty Baker says Verlander’s velocity was better than expected. Verlander wasn’t as pleased with the location of his pitches, particularly struggling with the command of his slider. He developed a better feel for the pitch as the game progressed, throwing two impressive sliders in a strikeout of Yadier Molina.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Felons would be required to repay restitution to victims before they could get their voting right restored under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate. Earlier Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds for the first time indicated support for the measure. Iowa is the only state that automatically takes felon voting rights away. Felons must apply to the governor who requires that they have at least a payment plan for court ordered financial obligations. Senate Republicans insisted on complete restitution repayment before they would consider a constitutional amendment automatically restoring voting rights upon the completion of a felony sentence.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Public Health issued a travel notice telling Iowans returning from any country with COVID-19 cases to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return. The countries meeting that description include China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea.. Dr. Caitlin Pedati, an epidemiologist serving as Iowa’s public health medical director, says Tuesday those who become ill should call their doctor’s office and inform them of their recent travel. There are no confirmed cases of the virus in Iowa but experts expect infections are likely. Gov. Kim Reynolds says the state is now doing its own COVID-19 testing at a state laboratory in Iowa City.
LEON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 35-year-old Davis City man has been arrested in the vandalism of a southern Iowa cemetery some six months ago. The Des Moines Register reports that Travis Duane Toney has been charged with third-degree criminal mischief for the veterans memorial and headstones vandalized in August in Leon Cemetery. Police say Toney was linked to the Leon Cemetery vandalism after his DNA was found at the cemetery a week after the incident and that Leon later confessed. Five headstones, benches and a gazebo recognizing veterans were damaged. Leon is about 70 miles south of Des Moines.
GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) — Two central Iowa schools were locked down Tuesday after someone reported spotting a suspicious person near one of them. Superintendent Janet Stutz of the Grinnell district says the district office was notified around 8:40 a.m. that the person was seen outside the high school, not far from a K-2 elementary school. Both schools locked the doors, and students and teachers were told to remain in their classrooms. Stutz says it took until around 9:30 a.m. before the person was found somewhere other than inside the school. It’s unclear where. A written statement from Grinnell Police Chief Dennis Reilly confirmed Stutz’s description of events.
Class 4A Substate 1
Ankeny 73, Sioux City, East 67
Class 4A Substate 2
Davenport, North 50, Dubuque, Senior 48
Class 4A Substate 3
North Scott, Eldridge 41, Waterloo, West 40
Class 4A Substate 4
Cedar Falls 53, Dubuque, Hempstead 44
Class 4A Substate 5
Iowa City West 55, Pleasant Valley 36
Class 4A Substate 6
Ankeny Centennial 58, Johnston 42
Class 4A Substate 7
Waukee 59, Valley, West Des Moines 55
Class 4A Substate 8
Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines 58, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 35
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Felons would be required to repay restitution to victims before they could get their voting right restored under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate. Earlier Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds for the first time indicated support for the measure. Iowa is the only state that automatically takes felon voting rights away.
Felons must apply to the governor who requires that they have at least a payment plan for court ordered financial obligations. Senate Republicans insisted on complete restitution repayment before they would consider a constitutional amendment automatically restoring voting rights upon the completion of a felony sentence.