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IL woman injured in jet ski collision Sunday on Coralville Reservoir

News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY – An Illinois woman was injured Sunday when two jet skis collided on Coralville Reservoir shortly after 2 p.m. The Iowa DNR says the collision occurred when a jet ski operated by 22-year old Matthew Radueshel, of North Liberty was following a jet ski being operated by 30-year old Cory Bettis, of Shaumburg, Ill. The two jet skis collided as they were beginning to turn.

27-year old Kristin Tuma,  of Crystal Lake, Ill., was a passenger on the jet ski being operated by Bettis and was injured in the collision. She was taken by ambulance to University of Iowa Hospitals where she was being treated to an injury to her hip.

Radueshel received a citation for failure to maintain a safe distance. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

NE man injured Sunday evening after being thrown from boat in Harrison County

News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – An Omaha, Neb. man was injured after being thrown from a boat Sunday evening on the Missouri River in Harrison County. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Monday, 23-year old Nathan Case was a passenger sitting in the front of an open bow boat when the vessel hit the wake from another boat causing him to fall out of the front shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday approximately four miles south of the Little Sioux boat ramp. The boat Case fell out of went over the top of him and he was hit by the propeller.

Case was airlifted to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha in serious condition. He was not wearing a life jacket when he fell into the water. Other passengers on-board were able to get him back to the boat. The boat that Case was aboard was operated by 32-year old Brett Feder, of Omaha. Feder was charged with failure to having a throwable flotation device on board and for having an expired boat trailer registration.

The incident was investigated by law enforcement officers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Chiefs’ Charles ‘a stretch’ to play in opener vs Chargers

Sports

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid says running back Jamaal Charles is “a stretch” to play in their season opener against the San Diego Chargers following surgery last season to repair the ACL in his right knee. Reid acknowledged Monday that the four-time Pro Bowl selection is still not ready for game action, even though he’s been practicing for several weeks. Charles did not play in any of the preseason games.

The Chiefs kept Knile Davis as their third running back behind Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware over the weekend, giving them insurance if Charles is unavailable. The trio filled in quite admirably when Charles was hurt in a Week 5 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Cedar Rapids man is VP nominee of New Independent Party

News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A semi-retired Cedar Rapids businessman is the vice presidential nominee of the New Independent Party. It’s one of the so-called “third parties” with candidates on Iowa’s 2016 General Election ballot. Sixty-year-old Jay Stolba says the two-party system isn’t working. “What we need is to get more people with independent views and that are willing to compromise in Washington and, for that matter, at the state level,” Stolba says. The New Independent Party’s platform offers what Stolba describes as a “coherent plan” to dramatically transform the federal government.

“Either eliminate or redirect over a trillion dollars by eliminating programs within the government that have never produced,” Stolba says. “The problem with that is every congressional district has a stake in keeping these programs alive if it brings money to their state and we need to start getting some of those eliminated and direct the money toward where we need it. We also need a lot less directed towards the military. We’re supplying the military for the world and I really don’t think we need to be doing that.”

The gridlock and stalemate in Washington are created by the two-party system, according to Stolba.  “The problem is we’re down to two choices and quite honestly neither one’s very good,” Stolba says. “It’s very polarizing and there’s no compromise left in government anymore and I think if you introduce more people that are willing to compromise into the system, rather than creating a closed system where there’s this animosity and malice, we’d have a much better government for the people.” Stolba says the gerrymandering of congressional districts needs to end and the “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision needs to be overturned so campaign contribution limits can be enforced.

“What’s happening now is we’ve got a system that just absolutely does not work in Washington,” Stolba says. “The only thing that works is money.” Stolba was drafted to be the vice presidential running mate of his long-time friend Lynn Kahn, the New Independent Party’s presidential nominee.

“She’s been in government for 30-plus years,” he Stolba says. “She worked with the FAA as a psychologist. She worked on reinventing government with Al Gore.” Stolba says. Stolba says his current business interests are in real estate. In 2009 he sold Iowa Discount Shippers after owning and operating the company for 17 years.

(Radio Iowa)

Checking in on Iowa’s dairy industry

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Iowa ranks among the top 12 states for milk and cheese production, but the state’s dairy industry often misses out on the spotlight due to Iowa’s role as a national leader in corn, soybean, beef, and pork production. Sue Ann Claudon, executive director of the Iowa Dairy Association, says there are currently around 1,260 dairy farms in Iowa — with each farm having anywhere between 50 and 5,000 cows. She’d like to see those numbers grow.

“We have a lot of dairy farmers in other states who would love to come to Iowa because we are a dairy friendly state,” Claudon says. “We have the feed stuff available and we have the resources — we have the businesses who serve the dairy (producers) already here.” California and Wisconsin are the top two milk producing states. Claudon says Iowa needs to expand its processing capacity before the state can significantly boost its production.

“We are working with the state and looking at how we can expand that processing capacity and compete against the other states, especially Wisconsin and South Dakota,” Claudon said. “One of the challenges with that, though, is those two states give incentives to businesses to come into their state.” The dairy industry is struggling in Iowa and across the country as dairy prices have gone down about 35 percent in the last two years.

The USDA announced in late August it would help out farmers by buying 11 million pounds of cheese out of private inventories. The cheese will be donated to food banks and pantries.

(Radio Iowa)

Quail harvest expected to be good again

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources expects another good year for quail hunters after a dramatic increase in the number of birds taken last year. The D-N-R’s Todd Bogenschutz says the estimated 28-thousand-400 quail taken were a 165 percent increase compared to 2014. This year’s roadside indicates the trend could continue.

He says there was a slight upward trend in numbers and he says the statewide count of quail is the highest it has been in 27 years. Bogenschutz says quail numbers had suffered from the weather just like pheasants.  “I think we do have a small suite of folks who just go out to find quail. Of course those numbers have declined with our lower numbers over the last 20 or 30 years — but I think we still have a small group of dedication quail hunters that when they go out the door that’s basically what they’ve focused on,” he says.

Bogenschutz says there are also hunters who will take what they see. He says in southern Iowa, which is the best quail range, hunters will take pheasants or quails, depending on what they run into. Bogenschutz says the recent mild winters have helped all upland game improve their numbers.

(Radio Iowa)

1 dead, several injured in Clive event center shooting

News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — An overnight shooting at an event center in Clive has killed one person and injured several others. Clive police say they were called to the 7 Flags Event Center shortly before 2 a.m. Monday on a report for gunshots fired. Officers say they found a male victim in the parking lot with a gunshot wound in his torso, followed by another shooting victim who was already dead.

Authorities say at least another two gunshot victims were driven to hospitals in private vehicles. Clive Chief Michael Venema says the people involved in the shooting knew each other. Venema says the shooting was the result of a personal dispute, and the public is not in danger.

Authorities say the center had been hosting an event, and security staff had removed several people.

Grant hosts Labor Day country music jam

News

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Grant, Ia. – From 2-6 p.m. today (Mon., Sept. 5th), Jim Wymore and Grant Community Preservationists (GCP) will host a Labor Day country music festival in the Grant Park.   The festival honors the memory of Teddy and Donna Weston, both founding members and former presidents of GCP as well as regular country music players.

In addition to the music, GCP will open the concession stand and serve Sloppy Joes & hot dogs, chips, desserts, floats, coffee, soda and tea. Concession sales benefit Grant Community Preservationists and their work. Admission to the event is a $7 Gate Fee that benefits the Grant Park Opry.

Area musicians are encouraged to come play music on the park’s unique stage on the banks of the Nodaway River. Fans of live music are welcome to listen and dance. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy an afternoon of great performances.

The Grant Community Preservationists was formed to help maintain Grant and its unique historic character. Designated in October 2003, the Grant Commercial Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 9/5/2016

News, Podcasts

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Podcast) KJAN Morning Sports report, 9/5/2016

Podcasts, Sports

September 5th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Chris Parks.

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