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Survey gives yet another sign of Midwest economic slowdown

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Figures have plunged in a fourth straight monthly survey of supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states, providing more evidence of a slowdown in the region’s economy. A report issued Tuesday says the overall Mid-American Business Conditions Index dropped to 40.7 last month from 41.9 in October, 47.7 in September and 49.6 in August.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he again cites the strong U.S. dollar among the reasons for the region’s economic slide. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Posted in News |

Red Oak man arrested on assault charge

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak, Monday night, arrested 43-year old Christopher Dean Vannausdle, of Red Oak, on an assault charge. Vannausdle was taken into custody at around just before 10-p.m. in the 100 block of E. Prospect Street for Domestic Abuse Assault. The man was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center .

Posted in News |

Bluffs Police search for missing teen

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a missing teenager. 16-year old Alicia Keasling was reported missing to the Council Bluffs Police Department on Nov. 24th.teen1 Alicia was last seen wearing a grey Gap sweatshirt and blue plaid pajama pants. If you have information about her location, call the Council Bluffs P-D at 712-328-4701.

Posted in News |

Body found in Missouri River identified as Iowa woman

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A woman who was found dead in the Missouri River near Nebraska City has been identified as a missing Iowa resident. The Nebraska State Patrol said Monday that 40-year-old Jennifer Giles of Council Bluffs was identified through dental records. A trapper found her body on Nov. 23 in an area north of an Omaha Public Power District power plant in southeast Nebraska.

Family members reported Giles’ disappearance to Council Bluffs police on Oct. 28. Authorities say autopsy results are pending. The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting Council Bluffs police with its investigation.

 

Posted in News |

U. Iowa leader denounces racist vandalism in campus building

News

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa’s new president is condemning a racist remark that was carved into a bathroom door inside a campus building. Bruce Harreld said Monday evening the school was trying to determine who left the message in Spence Laboratories, the building that houses the university’s department of psychological and brain sciences.

Harreld says the act “is offensive to our community and will not be tolerated,” adding that the door was immediately sanded down to remove the comment. Interim UI public safety director David Visin says the remark was “a racial slur” that didn’t include any additional threatening language. He says he’s not releasing specifics in order to protect the integrity of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Visin says he is asking the public for help solving the crime.

 

Posted in News |

Chiefs LB Justin Houston has knee strain, outlook unclear

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston appears to have a strained ligament in his left knee, though the team is still awaiting MRI exam results to determine the severity of the injury. Coach Andy Reid said Monday that Houston would be examined later in the day. He was hurt during the first half of Sunday’s 30-22 victory over Buffalo when he tripped over a teammate.

Houston sustained a similar injury a playoff loss to Indianapolis two years ago. The All-Pro pass rusher had 22 sacks last season, which earned him a six-year, $101 million contract this past offseason. He has 7 1/2 sacks through 11 games. Kansas City (6-5) has won five straight heading into Sunday’s game in Oakland.

 

Posted in Sports |

Big 10 Defense Awards: Iowa’s King wins D-back of the year

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Penn State’s Carl Nassib is the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year in a vote of coaches and media. Nassib leads the nation with 15 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles. The 6-foot-7, 272-pound senior from West Chester, Pennsylvania, started his career at Penn State as a walk-on.

Other award winners: Joey Bosa, Ohio State, defensive lineman of the year; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin, linebacker of the year; Desmond King, Iowa, defensive back of the year; Griffin Oakes, Indiana, kicker of the year; Sam Foltz, Nebraska, punter of the year; Will Likely, Maryland, return specialist of the year; Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, freshman of the year.

The Big Ten announced only its defensive honorees Monday. The offensive award winners will be announced today (Tuesday).

 

Posted in Sports |

Northern Iowa cruises against North Texas, 93-70

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Koch scored 18 points, including 8 of 10 at the free throw line, to help lead Northern Iowa to a 93-70 win over North Texas on Monday night. Matt Bohannon scored 16 points, Jeremy Morgan had 15 and eight boards, and Wes Washpun added 12 and seven assists for the Panthers (5-1).

Northern Iowa has won five straight by an average of 20.6 points after an opening night loss to Colorado State. North Texas led 43-41 after a back-and-forth first half. But a pair of free throws by Klint Carlson followed by a Koch dunk gave Northern Iowa a 52-49 lead four minutes into the second half, a lead which they did not relinquish.

The Panthers pieced together a 27-9 scoring run over 10 minute stretch which extended their lead to 22 (84-62) and put the game away. J-Mychal Reese led North Texas (2-4) with 19 points.

 

Posted in Sports |

Pena agrees to $5M, 2-year deal as Molina’s backup on Cards

Sports

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Free agent catcher Brayan Pena has agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he will be the backup for All-Star Yadier Molina. The 33-year-old switch-hitter receives $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons.

Pena led Reds catchers with 86 games last season while batting .273 with a career-best .344 on-base percentage. His led the NL with a .999 fielding percentage, making one error in 715 chances.

Pena has a .260 career average, with 23 homers and 164 RBIs in 629 games over 11 big league seasons. He spent the last two years with the Reds and has played for Detroit, Kansas City and Atlanta. Tony Cruz had been Molina’s backup in recent seasons.

 

Posted in Sports |

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties in IA, 12/1/15

Weather

December 1st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

339 AM CST TUE DEC 1 2015
EARLY THIS MORNING…CLOUDY. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.
TODAY…CLOUDY. OCCASIONAL VERY LIGHT SNOW BEFORE NOON. ISOLATED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON…THEN SCATTERED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.
TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN SCATTERED FLURRIES AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH. CHANCE OF SNOW 30 PERCENT.

WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED FLURRIES IN THE MORNING. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
THURSDAY…SUNNY. HIGH AROUND 40. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.
FRIDAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 40S.

Posted in Weather |