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Bluffs man to stand trial in March on assault & child endangerment charges

News

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A trial date has been set for a Council Bluffs man who faces several felony counts of assault and child endangerment after allegedly physically abusing a baby. The Daily NonPareil reports 23-year old Rodney Weatherwax was taken into custody Dec. 19th on suspicion of child endangerment and assault causing injuries, at least 20 fractures, to a 5-month-old child. The baby was born on July 26. Weatherwax’s trial date has been set for March 8th.

According to the arrest affidavit, the injuries allegedly took place between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30. On Nov. 30, the victim was admitted into Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital for failing to thrive. After the victim’s mother told doctors the suspect allegedly punched the child in the face, doctors did X-rays and found multiple fractures. The infant was then sent to Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.

On Dec. 16th, Weatherwax spoke with police and, according to the arrest affidavit, the suspect told police that marijuana, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly used by people watching the child. He admitted to falling while holding the infant on Nov. 27th.

Weatherwax has been officially charged with two counts of assault causing willful injury, a Class C felony; one count of abandonment of a dependent person, a Class C felony; and one count of child endangerment, a Class B felony. A Class B felony carries up to 25 years in prison upon conviction, while a Class C felony has a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Weatherwax remains in custody at Pottawattamie County Jail with bond set at $200,000.

Newspaper: Iowa’s body camera rules fall short of standards

News

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A newspaper reports that policies governing Iowa police and sheriff’s departments’ use of body cameras don’t meet nationally recommended standards. The Des Moines Register lists several of the standards, including public involvement and awareness. The newspaper says its review shows that, in general, the public hasn’t been involved in drafting the policies and officers aren’t telling people they’ve being recorded.

Just two of the eight agencies that provided policies to the newspaper post the documents on their websites. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids police chiefs said policies will be shared with community groups after the final drafts are completed. Iowa agency leaders interviewed by the Register said they don’t require officers to inform people they’re being recorded because Iowa law allows recordings in public without second-party consent.

ONE MONTH to go before Iowa Caucuses

News

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

It’s January 1st — so that means there’s just ONE MONTH LEFT in the Iowa Caucus campaign. The first presidential candidate scheduled to hit the state in 2016 is…Mike Huckabee. His first event is Saturday morning at the Northside Cafe, in Winterset, from 9:15-to 10:45.

Martin O’Malley will be here on Saturday, too, starting in the afternoon with a Cass County Democrats fundraiser at the Cass County Community Center, beginning at around 2:15-p.m. O’Malley will also be in Council Bluffs Sunday at the Council Bluffs Public Library, where he’s scheduled to speak at 3:45-p.m.

On Monday, Ted Cruz starts a big, week-long bus tour of the state.At 12:45-p.m., he’s scheduled to speak at the Carrollton Inn, in Carroll, followed by a visit to Guthrie Center, where he’ll speak from 3:30-to 4:45 at the Prime Time Restaurant (217 State St.). From there Cruz moves on to hold stops in Winterset at 6-p.m., and then to Missouri Valley for a campaign pitch at 10:45-p.m.

Also Monday, Hillary Clinton will start a “river-to-river” tour with stops in six cities, starting in Davenport and ending in Council Bluffs, on Tuesday. Prior to her stop in Council Bluffs, Mrs. Clinton will hold a campaign event at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, beginning at 2:45. Her stop in Council Bluffs is set for 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, in the Student Center at Iowa Western Community College ( 2700 College Road).

John Kasich has one public campaign event in West Des Moines, on Monday. Rand Paul re-enters the state Thursday, with a 10:30-a.m. stop in Council Bluffs, at the city library. Among his events will be a discussion about eminent domain, in Boone, where some landowners are objecting to a proposed pipeline.

(Radio Iowa)

Rose Bowl Game Day is here

Sports

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The New Year begins with the Iowa Hawkeye’s first appearance in the Rose Bowl in 25 years. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and the rest of the team have been in California since Christmas Eve preparing for this game. He was asked this week about the long drought since the Hawkeyes have played in this game. He says it is a bit of a factor, but says the team has played in a lot of big games, especially this season.

Thousands of Hawkeye fans started pouring in around midweek, and there’s expected to be a healthy amount of black and gold in the stadium. Ferentz says the atmosphere could be similar to what they saw in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game. “We anticipate a really enthusiastic following here, our fans have been tremendous historically,” Ferentz says.

Stanford was in back-to-back Rose Bowls in 2013 and 2014, but Coach David Shaw says that doesn’t diminish the excitement of playing in this one. He got a laugh after saying he expects there will be a few Stanford fans at the game. Shaw says being in the game more recently than Iowa won’t be any big advantage today, as it will be the same atmosphere. “There’s an energy in the air, there’s an excitement in the air. There’s clear lines of delineation based on the apparel of which side is for which team, and both sides are energetic and passionate,” Shaw says. “I’ve run out on the field in a couple of big games before — there’s still nothing like running out on the field in the Rose Bowl.”

He says it will be the same for the players, they will feel the emotion of the stadium and the moment. “There’s nothing that’s old hat — so whether you’ve been here once or you’ve been here three times — you feel how special it is on that game day,” Shaw says. Former Iowa quarterback and now Big Ten Network analyst, Chuck Long knows what it will be like when Iowa’s C.J. Beathard goes under center to take a snap for the first time in the Rose Bowl.

“It’s an adrenalin rush, he’s going to feel that adrenaline rush, he’ll feel it in pre-game warmup, that’s when you start to feel it with the crowd coming in, and just the scene from the Rose Bowl floor is not like any other nationally,” Long says. “He’s a first year starting quarterback going to a big bowl game, not like my case where I started off with the Peach Bowl…and then the Gator Bowl and the Rose Bowl.” But Long expects Beathard to handle that initial adrenaline rush and play well.

“Just being around him, he’s going to handle it well. He’s got great demeanor, he’s been around football all his life,” according to Long. Former Hawkeye and now radio analyst Ed Podolack, is expecting a rugged game. He says it will be similar to the game with Michigan State where both teams will try to make the other give up. “There’s not going to be too much in the way of fancy football, it’s going to be who wants it, who has trained the best. So, I think it ends up being an exciting type of football for me to watch, because it is blocking and tackling,” Podolack says. He say his one big concern is the return game of Stanford.

“At times I think we have been inefficient at punting the ball this year. I don’t think that you can punt the ball to their team and not expect to get hurt,” Poldolack says, He says the coaches have probably addressed that and will likely punt the ball toward the sidelines. Fifth ranked Stanford will be looking for their 12 win against two loses. While the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes are looking for their 13th win against one loss. Kickoff is at 4:10 p-m Iowa time. Pregame coverage on KJAN begins at 2-p.m.

(Radio Iowa)

Thousands attend USS Iowa pep rally

Sports

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Thousands of Iowans traveled to Long Beach, California Thursday for a pep rally on board the U-S-S Iowa. Many kids toured the ships with their parents, including ten-year old Zander Schuett. “It’s very cool to see all the cannons and everything,” Zander says. Brother Nile Shuett says it’s a piece of history. He says it’s amazing that the ship is in the same shape that it was in when it was used in World War Two. Their father Clay Schuett had much the same reaction.

“I think it is fantastic to see the size of the 16 inch guns, it’s just amazing, just very impressive, very cool. Great to see the crowd out here too, see all the Hawkeye fans,” Clay Schuett says. Jim from the Quad Cities was walking along the deck with some friends. “Oh it’s really neat, it was worth the trip alone,” he says. Cory Kusick of North Liberty brought her kids to California for the game, and said they had to see the battleship too. “It’s amazing, it’s massive, amazing, the whole thing has been a really neat experience,” Kusick says. Her son Ben Kusick was also impressed.

He says he can’t imagine being on the ship for the amount of time sailors were aboard. Zack Kusick says the size of the ship stood out. Battleship Larry is a tour guide aboard the U-S-S Iowa. He got his name from his service on another battleship. “I served on the Missouri, so that kind of drew me to the ship,” he says. People who tour the ship can learn all about its history. He says you can see the 16 inch guns, and see where the three presidents who were carried on the ship stayed, as well as a list of all the crew members who served on board the ship through 1990. He says the Iowa was a first of its kind.

“This is the prototype of the Iowa class, this is the Iowa class that started the other ships, the Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin,” according to Larry. The Iowans enjoyed food and music along with the tours of the ship, and got to witness the firing of one of the smaller guns on the ship. The State of Iowa help save its namesake battleship from the scrap heap and the U-S-S Iowa is open free to Iowa residents throughout the year.

(Radio Iowa)

National Sports Headlines: 1/1/16

Sports

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Top-ranked Clemson has worked its way into the CFP title game by dominating the second half of a 37-17 win over No. 4 Oklahoma. Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson ran for a touchdown and threw for another while rolling up 332 total yards. He completed 16 of his 31 throws for 187 yards, and also ran for 145 yards on 24 carries as part of Clemson’s 312-yard ground attack.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Tide have moved into the CFP championship game by posting a 38-0 pounding of Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. Jake Coker completed 25 of his 30 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry had a pair of TD runs while carrying 20 times for 75 yards.

HOUSTON (AP) — Klay Thompson poured in 38 points and the Golden State Warriors bounced back from Wednesday’s blowout loss in Dallas by downing the Houston Rockets 114-110. Thompson nailed six 3-pointers to lead the Warriors’ long-range shootouts while NBA scoring leader Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry missed his second straight game with a sore left lower leg. Draymond Green had 10 points and a career-high 16 assists as the Warriors improved to a league-best 30-2.

UNDATED (AP) — A pair of top-10 men’s basketball teams were knocked off by ranked squads on New Year’s Eve. Rodney Bullock scored a career-high 25 points and Kris Dunn contributed 20, seven rebounds and nine assists as 12th-ranked Providence topped No. 9 Butler 81-73. Ryan Arcidiacono (ahr-chee-dee-ah-KAH’-noh) hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 27 points as No. 16 Villanova beat sixth-ranked Xavier 95-64.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have cooled off the NHL’s hottest team, stopping Washington’s nine-game winning streak by downing the Capitals 4-2. Eric Staal snapped a 1-1 tie 51 seconds into the third period before Jeff Skinner tallied 4:25 later. Staal also had an assist and Eddie Lack stopped 30 shots in the Hurricanes’ third victory in four games.

 

Hamburg man arrested on drug charge New Year’s morning

News

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

An investigation in Fremont County led to an arrest early this (Friday) morning, following a brief pursuit. Deputy Zac Buttercase with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports at around 1:30-a.m., deputies conducted an investigation into the distribution of narcotics. During the investigation, the suspect, 21-year old Jason Vance, of Hamburg, tried to flee the scene when he was contacted.

Vance was apprehended a short time later and brought to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, where he was being held on a $100,000 cash bond, for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) with the Intent to Deliver.

KJAN listening area forecast from the NWS: 1/1/2016

Weather

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

342 AM CST FRI JAN 1 2016

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLEAR. WEST WIND AROUND 10 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

TONIGHT…CLEAR. LOW AROUND 10. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. WEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT…CLEAR. LOW 10 TO 15. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

SUNDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

MONDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 20S.

TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Fri., Jan. 1st 2016

News

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged a Davenport man with illegally selling a pistol to a man who used it to shoot up his estranged wife’s workplace and then kill himself. Forty-four-year-old Lonnie Long turned himself into authorities Thursday, three days after Bettendorf police obtained a warrant for his arrest. Long told police he sold a pistol to 40-year-old Robert Mayes II in October without asking if Mayes had a permit. Days later, Mayes fired shots in his wife’s workplace before fatally shooting himself.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A New Jersey woman is suing Embassy Suites and the Hilton hotel chain for negligence alleging she was raped in her Des Moines hotel room in April 2014 after staff gave a key to her room to a man she didn’t know. The woman’s lawsuit was transferred this week to federal court in Des Moines. She reported the attack to Des Moines police. Christopher LaPointe later pleaded guilty to sex abuse and burglary charges.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — A Cedar Rapids-bound flight has made an emergency landing at a Tennessee airport. Chattanooga Airport spokesman Albert Waterhouse says Allegiant Air Flight 760 landed safely Thursday morning after reporting an engine problem. No injuries were reported. The plane was headed from Orlando, Florida, to Cedar Rapids.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Falls’ top administrator will get a big payout as he ends 40 years with the city. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports City Administrator Dick McAlister will get more than $94,000 after taxes in unused sick leave to apply toward health care expenses. Over his four decades, McAlister accumulated more than 440 sick days.

Manure spill in Taylor County Thu. afternoon

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 1st, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say a manure overflow at a small hog finishing farm about three miles southwest of Lenox was being investigated Thursday evening. A passerby noticed that the pit at the facility appeared to be overflowing and alerted the DNR on Thursday afternoon. The buildings at the site have shallow under-building pits.

When the pits are full, they are drained into an outdoor concrete tank. It is believed that employees emptied the shallow under-building pits at the facility on Wednesday, December 30th, causing manure to overflow from the tank. The tank was not overflowing on Thursday afternoon, but a path where manure had flowed was still visible and field tests indicated slightly elevated levels of ammonia in water flowing into an unnamed tributary of the East Fork of the One Hundred and Two River.

The operator contacted a commercial manure hauler to land apply manure from the tank in order to prevent further overflows. The DNR is continuing to investigate the incident and will consider appropriate enforcement action.