The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.7MB)
Subscribe: RSS
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An electric scooter rental program will resume this spring in Cedar Rapids with more scooters to share. The Gazette reports that the plan is station 80 scooters around the city — up from 30 — and hold steady on bikes at 150. The devices cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute for renting over a smartphone app. Last fall city officials weighed whether to continue with the scooters after hearing reports of improper use. A city planner has justified the scooters’ return because of their popularity, new safety controls and a tightly run program.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Opening statements are expected today (Wednesday), in the trial of a man charged with killing a high school girl in Iowa more than 40 years ago. Jury selection was completed Tuesday for the trial of 66-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko on Dec. 19, 1979, in Cedar Rapids. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall. The trial was moved to Scott County District Court in Davenport because of pretrial publicity in Cedar Rapids. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
The National Weather Service has extended the coverage area for a WIND CHILL ADVISORY to include the entire KJAN listening area. The WIND CHILL ADVISORY remains in effect from 12-a.m. until Noon Thursday, for Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor and Ringgold Counties, and from 10-p.m. tonight until 9-a.m. Thursday, for Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page Counties.
Temperatures will plummet and it is possible that wet or slushy roads could flash freeze, creating icy spots on roadways Wednesday evening. Wind Chills as low as -20 to -30 can be expected overnight tonight into mid-day Thursday. The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Winter Weather & Wind Chill Advisories are in effect for those counties along and north of Highway 30. (See https://www.weather.gov/dmx/) for details.
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an inmate attacked a guard at the Iowa Medical Classification Center in Coralville. The Iowa Corrections Department says the inmate approached the guard around 10:25 a.m. Tuesday and began punching him. Other guards quickly responded and subdued the inmate. The guard was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics to be assessed for facial injuries. The department said the inmate didn’t suffer serious injuries. The names of those involved haven’t been released.
(Radio Iowa) — The National Weather Service is predicting a polar plunge for temperatures later today (Wednesday). Meteorologist Cory Martin says it’ll be a big swing by the time you are heading home from work. “We’re going to see a strong cold front move through the state, probably during the afternoon and evening hours,” Martin says. “So the day is probably going to start out not too bad — but then when the front comes through we’re going to see temperatures dropping very quickly — with brisk northwest winds.”
Those brisk winds are really going to have an impact. “Our windchill temperatures overnight Wednesday will possibly be 20 to 30 below zero by the time you wake up Thursday morning,” he says. Martin says we shouldn’t have to deal with the extreme cold for very long. “By Friday we should start to see a steady rebound, and by the time we get into the weekend we’re looking at high temperatures across the area back in the 30’s and 40s,” according to Martin.
He says these types of quick cold fronts happen this time of year and it could bring some issues for people who have to be on the road. “It’s typical for this time of year, just rolling though. We may see some light snow with it as well that could lead to some areas of slick travel and reduced visibility — especially given how fast the temperatures are looking to fall as the front moves through,” Martin says. “So, that is something to keep in mind as well if you have travel plans over the second half of the day on Wednesday.”
He advises you to keep up with the latest weather forecasts and road conditions if you plan on being out.
Today: Increasingly cloudy w/a chance of rain this afternoon. High 40. S winds @ 10-20 this morning shifting to the NW this afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly Cloudy w/light snow or flurries (<.5″ expected). Low -5. NW @ 20-35 mph. **Wind Chill Advisory from 12-a.m. until Noon Thursday**
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High 12. NW @ 15-30. Wind Chill around -25.
Friday: P/Cldy & breezy. High 23.
Saturday: P/Cldy. High 35.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 39. Our Low was 21. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 24 and the Low was 1. The record High for February 12th in Atlantic, was 72 in 1990. The Record Low was -24 in 1986 & 1988.
328 AM CST Wed Feb 12 2020
…Blowing Snow and Dangerous Cold Ahead…
A strong Arctic cold front will pass through the state this afternoon and evening. Strong northwest winds and light snow immediately behind the front may lead to areas of blowing snow over northern Iowa, including the potential for near-blizzard conditions in northwest Iowa where recent snowfall has occurred. Rapidly falling temperatures will also accompany the front, which could lead to a flash freeze if local roads are wet or slushy.
Bitter cold temperatures and breezy winds combine to drop wind chill values to dangerously cold levels late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Area Counties: Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold…WIND CHILL ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT ON THURSDAY FROM 12-A.M UNTIL NOON.
* WHAT…Very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero.
* IMPACTS…The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Temperatures will plummet and it is possible that wet or slushy roads could flash freeze, creating icy spots on roadways Wednesday evening.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
UNDATED (AP) — Iceland might not be a basketball hotbed. The small island nation in the North Atlantic has still produced three players at Division I colleges in the United States this season. Thorir Thorbjarnarson is at Nebraska. Jon Axel Gudmundsson of Davidson was the Atlantic 10 player of the year last season. Hakon Hjalmarsson is a freshman at Binghamton. The three are in contact almost every day and they follow each other online. The three say they take pride in representing their country.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Darius Days scored seven of his 20 points in the final five minutes as No. 25 LSU rallied to beat Missouri 82-78. LSU trailed by eight points midway through the second half before taking the lead for good at 72-69 on Days’ 3-pointer with 4:43 remaining. With LSU leading 76-73, Days made a short shot following an offensive rebound with 25 seconds left. After Missouri again got within three points on Xavier Pinson’s basket, Days made two free throws with 11 seconds left. Dru Smith led Missouri with 20 points. Reed Nikko matched his career high with 13 points.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Jalen Smith had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Eric Ayala scored 16 and No. 9 Maryland edged Nebraska 72-70 to extend its winning streak to seven games and remain alone atop the Big Ten. Maryland let a 14-point lead dwindle to 71-70 before Smith swatted away a shot in the final seconds to preserve the victory. Haanif Cheatham scored 20 and Thorir Thorbjarnarson added 15 for Nebraska, which has lost nine straight and is 0-9 on the road.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Yor Anei scored 15 and had seven rebounds, Lindy Waters III added 12 points and Oklahoma State beat Kansas State 64-59. Jonathan Laurent had 11 points and Cameron McGriff provided 10 as the Cowboyspicked up their first win against Kansas State since 2017 and now sit in a tie for ninth place in the conference with the Wildcats. Mike McGuirl led Kansas State with a season-high 16 points. It was the first conference road win of the season for Oklahoma State.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Items from what became known as “The Pine Tar Game” between the Royals and Yankees will be sold by Heritage Auctions later this month. The highlight will be the jersey worn by George Brett that is expected to fetch more than $100,000. The bat, which now resides at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.