WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded more than $550,000 to help organizations in Nebraska and Iowa develop or expand local programs. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Central Community College in Nebraska will get about $175,000 to help harness local assets and resources and the Nebraska Enterprise Fund will get almost $125,000 to support two microenterprise programs.

The Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development Center (RC&D) will get some $83,000 to offer training on sustainable food production in southwest parts of Iowa and Nebraska, while Regional Development Inc. in Iowa will get about $175,000 to develop leaders for regional food systems.

The funding is part of the USDA’s Rural Community Development Initiative Program.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A survey of nine Midwestern and Plains suggests that higher energy prices and supply problems are slowing economic growth. A report released today (Friday), says the Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region dropped in June, to 54.9 from 60.2 in May.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says higher energy prices and supply problems stemming from the Japanese tsunami and Midwest and Plains flooding have slowed economic growth. The survey of supply managers and executives and the report use a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100.

Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the next three to six months, while a score below 50 suggests a contracting economy. States in the survey are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

A judge has set the bail for one of five men charged in the killing of another man in Omaha, at 10-million dollars. The order came as 37-year old Omar A. Martinez appeared in court Thursday.

Martinez is charged with second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony, in connection with the death June 23^rd death of 31-year old Blaise D. Benscoter. The incident occurred after Benscoter’s girlfriend, Sarah Krisor called Martinez to say she and Benscoter had been fighting.

Martinez, along with Krisor’s father, 48-year old Donald Krisor and 20-year old Sean Collins, allegedly went to the couple’s home, kicked-in the door and fought with Benscoter. When they left the home, Sarah Krisor went into the bedroom and saw Benscoter had been shot.

Martinez was later apprehended in a Council Bluffs hotel. Krisor was arrested in Kansas, and is awaiting extradition to Nebraska. 29-year old Jessica L. Katz has been charged as an accessory to the crime, while Martinez’ roommate, 38-year old Donald G. Bridgeford, was being held on suspicion of second-degree murder and accessory to a crime. Bridgeford is alleged to have loaned Martinez his car so he could drive to Benscoter’s home.

Starting this morning (Friday), anyone caught texting while driving in Iowa will face a fine. The state’s “Distracted Driving Law” took effect last July 1st, mandating that only warnings be issued for the first year. When court costs are added to the 30-dollar fine, the full bill could be a hundred dollars. Senior Trooper Mark Domino of the Iowa State Patrol’s Mason City Post says people need to understand it’s dangerous to text while driving.

He says people know wearing a seat belt can save someone’s life in a crash and they need to realize texting while driving is as bad as driving drunk. He recommends if you need to use your cell phone that you pull over to the side of the road. Domino says he was responding to an accident earlier this week and came across a driver en route who clearly was texting while driving.

He says he had his lights and siren on and he encountered a guy who was in the left lane, with his head down, obviously texting while driving and oblivious to his surroundings on the road. “Use your brain and don’t use your phone,” he says. Domino says you should let your front-seat passenger worry about all the stuff that’s not happening on the road.

He says the term “riding shotgun” means a lot more now, since the front-seat passenger should be the one dealing with things like cell phones, the radio and controlling other passengers in the vehicle. “When you’re driving, drive, and that’s your job,” he says.

Domino admits enforcing the law is going to be the tough part, since it’s classified as a secondary law. That means an officer can’t pull you over just on the suspicion of texting while driving.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

Iowans affected by flooding along the Missouri River are being offered free campsites at Iowa State Parks. Kevin Szcodronski, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says the offer is available to those who’ve been ordered to evacuate their homes.

“Camping in a state park for an extended period of time isn’t for everybody, but for some people, it might just suit their needs if they have the right equipment, the right frame of mind and they’re outdoors people,” Szcodronski said. “Those sites do have electricity and running hot water.”

Nearly a dozen people flooded out of their homes have spent the last month camping at Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County. A campsite with electricity and water costs $16 a day. “That’s a little over $100 a week. So, that’s a pretty good savings,” Szcodronski said. “The people staying at Waubonsie, before we put the free camping on, they were looking at $400 or so to stay there for the month.”

The free camping offer is retroactive, so Szcodronski says the flood victims at Waubonsie are getting a refund for their first month. The DNR is also waiving the usual limit of 14 consecutive days of camping for flood victims. Szcodronski says state park officials are working with local emergency management personnel to identify campers who’ve been forced from their homes.

“They have provided us with a list of the streets and address ranges of the places that have officially been evacuated. When the campers show, we simply ask for their driver’s license and verify their address,” Szcodronski said.

Camping spots that are not part of the DNR’s reservation system are open to people evacuated from their homes on a first come, first serve basis. Evacuees are encouraged to call the DNR at 515-281-8004 to check on availability of campsites available for long-term use.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The Iowa State Patrol says a Sioux City man died following a crash Thursday afternoon in western Iowa’s Monona County. 27-year old Craig Jacob Aasen was pronounced dead at Burgess Hospital in Onawa.

Officials say Aasen was traveling north on Interstate 29 just before 3-p-m., when the 2001 Ford F-350 pickup he was driving went out of control a few miles north of the Onawa exit. The pickup crossed the median and came to rest on its side in the west ditch of southbound I-29.

Aasen was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. The Patrol’s report did not indicate if he was wearing a seatbelt.

With a little over eight hours to spare, the Iowa legislature took final action on the last piece of a nearly six-billion dollar state budget plan on Thursday afternoon. The new state budgeting year started just after midnight. House Republican Leader Linda Upmeyer of Garner made this declaration seconds after the House adjourned for the year:

“I have to say it’s so much better to adjourn at 3:30 in the afternoon than at 3:30 in the morning.” The Senate concluded two minutes later. The final drama of the final day came when a deal was struck on abortion policy. It allows Republicans to tout a move to give women getting a taxpayer-financed abortion at the University of Iowa Hospitals the option of viewing an ultrasound beforehand. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, was involved in the negotiations.

“No, it’s not as far as what I’d like to go,” he says. “I mean, we all know my personal convictions, that life is a gift from God and that I don’t believe in abortion, but this is our attempt to find that middle ground.” Senator Jack Hatch of Des Moines was the lead negotiator for Democrats on the issue.  “We believe it’s crafted in a way that provides new assurances,” Hatch says, “and also allows and maintains the same level of care to women.” Lawmakers began the 2011 legislative session in January with a to-do list that included property tax reform, but that issue was tabled this week as the final details of the state budget plan were settled. During Thursday’s closing moments, House Speaker Kraig Paulsen called it a “unique” session.

“It’s obviously going to be recorded as one of the longest lasting,” Paulen said, “if I am told correctly, the third-longest session in the history of Iowa.” Paulsen, who is from Hiawatha, is the top-ranking Republican in the legislature. “The people of Iowa chose to elect a Republican governor, a Republican House and a Democrat Senate and typically in divided government, things take a little longer to process,” Paulsen said. “While I would not have predicted, nor do I ever care to live through another 172-day session, and I think this is healthy and I think it serves the people of Iowa extremely well.”

The top Democrat in the Senate decided to speed toward final adjournment rather than read his speech for the occasion. In his written remarks, Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal said it had been a “difficult session” and finding agreement had “not been easy.” Gronstal said he still “didn’t understand why” Republicans fought so hard to roll state spending back to 2008 levels when the state ended the fiscal year with a 400-million dollar surplus and another 600-million dollars in emergency cash reserves. Republicans say they were responding to voters who’ve demanded a leaner state government.

In action on Thursday, the House and Senate approved two final bills. One assures that the governor has the authority keep state government operating through the month of July as he and his staff review the pages upon pages of budget detail outlined in almost a dozen different bills. Branstad says he needs that extra time.

“Normally the legislature would have completed its work well in advance of 30 days before the end of the fiscal year,” Branstad says. “In this case, since the bills were passed on the last day of the fiscal year, we won’t even get a lot of these bills until after the new fiscal year begins.” Branstad praised legislators for “cleaning up” some of the financial shenangans of the past, and drafting what he called an “honest” budget.

(O.Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Interstate 29 Exit Ramp 72 Closed. – Issued 6:20 PM

Current road closures/restrictions as of 5-p.m. CDT
·         I-29 Hamilton Boulevard interchange in Woodbury County: The southbound
I-29 interchange ramps at Hamilton Boulevard in Sioux City are closed. An
alternative ramp has been constructed from southbound I-29 to Wesley Parkway/U.S.
77. 
·         I-29 in Pottawattamie County: The south- and northbound lanes of I-29
between milepost 54B (North 35th Street interchange in Council Bluffs) and the
I-29/680 interchange at milepost 71 (near Loveland) are closed. This is expected to
be a longer-term closure.
·         UPDATE: I-29 from exit 24 (near Bartlett, Iowa) south across the
Iowa/Missouri state line to the U.S. 136 interchange in Missouri (Mo. 110 exit, near
Rock Port): The north- and southbound lanes are closed. This is expected to be a
longer-term closure.
·         I-680 in Omaha area: I-680 is closed from the I-29/680 interchange (exit
61 near Crescent) in Iowa to North 30th Street in Omaha, Neb. (exit 13). This
closure includes the Mormon Bridge across the Missouri River. This is expected to be
a longer-term closure.
·         UPDATE: U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley, including the Blair, Neb. Bridge
across the Missouri River: This road is closed temporarily to permit installation of
flood barrier walls. For further information about this closure and future temporary
closures along this roadway, visit:
http://www.news.iowadot.gov/newsandinfo/2011/06/status-of-flood-mitigation-work-on-us-30-west-of-missouri-valley-moriver.html
·         Iowa 2 in Fremont County: Iowa 2 is closed from I-29 in Iowa to Nebraska
City. Both east- and westbound lanes are closed. This is expected to be a
longer-term closure.
·         UPDATE: Iowa 175 between I-29 (near Onawa) and Decatur, Neb.: The road is
closed because of serious erosion of the embankment near the east abutment of the
Decatur Bridge. For information about the emergency repair project, visit:
http://www.news.iowadot.gov/newsandinfo/2011/06/iowa-dot-to-hold-emergency-letting-for-iowa-175-flood-repair-project-moriver.html
·         Iowa 333 in Hamburg: Iowa 333 is closed from I-29 into Hamburg. Access to
Hamburg is currently available via U.S. 275 in Iowa. 
·         Iowa 376 northbound (U.S. 75 Business-Lewis Boulevard): The exit ramp to
westbound Gordon Drive is closed. 

Highway segments at higher risk of being closed due to flooding
·         I-29 (north of Missouri Valley, between mileposts 77-78): Flood barrier
walls have been installed in this area. 
·         I-29 (north of Modale, between mileposts 85-88): This is a levee-protected
area. However, if a breach were to occur, the roadway could be inundated with
several feet of flood water. 
·         UPDATE: I-29 (south of Blencoe, between mileposts 103-105): Flood waters
are spreading across the drainage area nearby. A flood-mitigation strategy for this
area is currently being evaluated. 
·         I-29 (north of Blencoe, near mileposts 107 and 109): Flood barrier walls
are being installed in this area to reduce the risk of flooding. There is a
temporary detour in place for I-29 northbound travelers, which is allowing the
barriers to be installed. Follow the detour signs. 
·         I-29 (north of Whiting, near milepost 121): This area is threatened due to
a connection between the Missouri River and a stream that flows under Berry Avenue
and through the Badger Lake State Wildlife Management Area.   
·         I-29/I-680 interchange: This interchange near Loveland was previously
closed due to flooding. Mitigation work, including use of sandbags, barrier wall and
pumps, allowed the roadway to reopen. Because this area remains vulnerable to
increased water levels, additional mitigation measures will be taken, including
contract work to install large drainage pipes.  
·         U.S. 34, between I-29 in Iowa and Plattsmouth, Neb.: This roadway is
protected by a levee system, but remains at risk from a levee breach or overtopping.
U.S. 34 remains open to travel. 

Being monitored 
·         I-29, northbound off-ramp to Dace Avenue in Sioux City (exit 147B or
commonly known as the Downtown/Tyson Events Center): Flood mitigation efforts will
be deployed to try to keep this ramp open.
·         I-29, southbound exit ramp to Nebraska Street (exit 147B) in Sioux City:
This area is dike protected, but would be inundated if the dike is breached or
overtopped.  
·         I-29, northbound and southbound lanes in Sioux City at the U.S. 77/Wesley
Parkway underpass (between exits 148 and 149): Flood mitigation efforts will be
deployed to try to prevent this low area from being flooded. 
·         UPDATE: I-29, from the Bellevue, Neb., interchange (exit 42) to the
Bartlett interchange (exit 24): This area is at a lesser risk, but would be
inundated if a levee is breached or overtopped.
·         I-29 exit and entrance ramps at the Bartlett interchange, exit 24: Ground
water has been rising nearby. Flood waters have closed I-29 south of the
interchange.    
·         Iowa 127 near Mondamin: The Iowa DOT is monitoring areas east and west of
Mondamin, near mileposts 0.8 and 1.5, but the risk of flooding is lower because the
road is protected somewhat by a high ridge. 
·         NEW: Iowa 370 west of I-29, including the Bellevue, Neb. Missouri River
crossing: This area is levee protected. Levee reinforcement work was performed this
week on an area just south of Iowa 370.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued a report on recent consent orders the department has voluntarily entered into with other parties, with regard to environmental violations. The consent order is legally enforceable.

The DNR says Titan Machinery, Incorporated, in Shelby County, has agreed to pay a $3,500 penalty for illegal disposal, including the illegal open burning of solid waste from the company’s Avoca dealership.

And, the DNR says a consent amendment has been issued with regard to a Council Bluffs church for water supply violations. The amendment to a 2010 Administrative Order resolves an earlier appeal of the order. Officials say the Eastern Hills Baptist Church is required to pay a $1,250 penalty and $125 in fees.

A consent amendment is issued in settlement of a previous administrative order, to amend a pre-existing consent order. A consent amendment indicates that the DNR has voluntarily entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other party.