The administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reiterated today (Thursday) that the sports betting scandal among athletes at Iowa State and the University of Iowa has not turned up any attempts to fix games. Brian Ohorilko talked about the issue at the Commission meeting in Sioux City today (Thursday)

Ohorilko says they don’t believe the integrity of sports betting has been compromised.

The charges that were brought against the college athletes all involved underage sports betting or trying to hide underage betting. While college sports betting put the industry in the spotlight, Ohorilko says overall the industry has matured.

Ohorilko says it was expected after the big early push to get people signed up and all the promotions involved that things would settle in.

Sports betting began in the state in August of 2019.

October 5, 2023 (DES MOINES) – At today’s (Thursday’s) meeting, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded $430,000 in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to a library in Waverly and a splash pad in Webster City.

Details for the projects receiving CAT grants follow:

Project Name: Make Room for Renewal, Waverly
Total Project Cost: $2,760,132
Amount Awarded: $375,000
Project Description: This expansion and renovation of the Waverly Public Library will include the extension of the footprint for the children’s area, the installation of a “story tree” art sculpture, the addition of approximately 1,200 square feet for a dedicated teen room, the renovation of conference space and surrounding area, and the complete renovation of the library interior to better fit the current needs of the community.

Project Name: Webster City East Twin Park Splash Pad, Webster City
Total Project Cost: $423,511
Amount Awarded: $55,000
Project Description: The project will construct a zero-depth, ADA-accessible splash pad with several zones consisting of 20 water features that cater to different age groups. Also included in the project are sidewalk paths to connect to the existing park and a new park shelter.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 130 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $43,260,023. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for November 2, 2023.

(Radio Iowa) – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Leigh Bair, program development director at the Domestic Sexual Assault Outreach Center in Fort Dodge, says they’ve seen a steady increase in demand from the 15 Iowa counties they serve. Bair says victims need to know they’re not alone.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month is important just because it raises awareness for what we’re doing and why we’re doing what we do and why it’s so important,” Bair says. “It does also let people know that there are services available to those that need help that might not know that there’s help for them.” Bair says the center’s client list is continually growing. “Some quick stats,” Bair says. “We’ve served over 900 clients in the last year, over 6,000 nights in our shelter, and almost 400 crisis calls within the last six months.”

Bair says there many factors that may impact domestic violence cases. “I believe the economy, I believe COVID kind of had people in their house and then that got over and so people were wanting to get out,” Bair says. “There’s just a lot of things that we don’t know, but the numbers show an uptick.”

Bair says a ceremony will be held later this month in Fort Dodge to remember the victims of domestic violence.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report one person was transported to the hospital following a collision Wednesday evening at the intersection of Howard and Sumner Streets. Authorities say a Creston Police Officer witnessed the crash that happened at around 5:22-p.m.

According to the report, Officer Dorsey was stopped at the intersection with his vehicle facing westbound. An SUV with its turn signal on was stopped in the inside lane facing southbound, waiting to turn east onto Howard Street. A 2007 Chevy Tahoe driven by 36-year-old Stephanie Lynn Baucom, of Creston, was stopped behind the SUV in the traveled portion of the road.

A 2017 Dodge Durango driven by 23-year-old Kayleann Marie Buchanan, of Creston, was traveling south on Sumner Street, when she changed from the outside lane to the inside lane. Buchanan said she thought the Tahoe came to an abrupt stop, and that she did not have time to avoid the collision.

Baucom stated that she was being tailgated by Buchanan from the intersection of Townline Road and Sumner. When Baucom came to a stop, she looked in her mirror and saw that Buchanan was not slowing down. Baucom hit her vehicle’s horn to get Buchanan’s attention, just before the SUV struck the Tahoe from behind at a high rate of speed.

The Officer said he did not hear any tires squeal from Buchanan’s SUV moments before the impact, and there were no skid marks on the road, showing she had tried to stop. Following the crash, Baucom was transported by Medic 1 to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. Her vehicle sustained $2,500 damage. Damage to Buchanan’s Durango was estimated at $15,000.

Neither driver was cited.