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Iowa regents approve ‘historic’ 3rd tuition freeze

News

December 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of students at Iowa’s three public universities could graduate without seeing their tuition increase once. The Iowa Board of Regents voted Wednesday to freeze tuition for resident undergraduate students for the third straight year, provided that lawmakers approve a funding increase for the universities next spring. Governor Terry Branstad says that would be a “historic” achievement.

Regent Larry McKibben said a third straight freeze will help families who are struggling to afford higher education. If the freeze sticks, in-state students who graduate in May 2016 will have paid the same base tuition all four years: $6,678 at University of Iowa and $6,648 at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

The board raised tuition by 1.75 percent for nonresidents and students in graduate and professional programs.

Parents of children with mental illness rally for more state support

News

December 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Parents of children suffering from mental illness rallied at the Statehouse Wednesday. Tammy Nyden,  of Iowa City, is chairperson of a statewide children’s mental health committee of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “There are so many services that do not exist in Iowa and without them, our children are not safe to themselves and sometimes to others,” Nyden said. State legislators last year approved $6 million for the Iowa Department of Human Services to help some 9,000 Iowans with mental and physical disabilities who are on waiting lists for services. Nyden said while she’s grateful for the funding, it’s made little difference.

“It was honestly too little, too late,” Nyden said. “The year before, $8.7 million was vetoed and neither of those amounts would have paid down the waiting list. The $6 million…we have found out, halfway in to this fiscal year, very little, if any of it has been applied. If it were fully applied to the waiting list, it would only be reduced some 20-percent.” A spokesperson for the DHS said the agency will be ramping up their efforts soon the speed up access to services for Iowans with mental illnesses. Nyden has a 12-year-old son who has been on a waiting list for services for two years. One problem with improving services, according to Nyden, is the general public’s lack of understanding of mental illnesses. She said many people are afraid to speak with her about the subject or blame parents for the child’s condition.

Many of these children do have mental illness from trauma, but many of them were simply born with a brain disorder, like my son,” Nyden said. “You’re born with Tourette’s syndrome, he didn’t do anything to deserve what he has to live through every day.” Around 30 people gathered for Wednesday’s rally at the Statehouse in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

ARC/PLC decisions meeting in Shelby County 12/16

Ag/Outdoor

December 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Harlan, IA – Farmers and landowners will learn about the new programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (commonly referred to as the Farm Bill) at an informational meeting conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and local USDA Farm Service Agency staff members. A meeting will be held on December 16th at Harlan High School Auditorium.
The Farm Bill – Program Overview meetings will focus on the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) that will be administered by USDA Farm Service Agency, and the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) administered by USDA Risk Management Agency through federal crop insurance providers.

“We are prepared to discuss decisions farmers and landowners will need to make in the coming months as they consider all their options,” said NAME, farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We’ll cover the timeline for when decisions need to be made along with information about our online Farm Bill decision tools.”

The main topics that will be covered during the meetings are:
· Base reallocation
· Yield updating
· Price Loss Coverage (PLC)
· Ag Risk Coverage (ARC)
· Implications of PLC and ARC on participation in the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO)
· Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP)
· Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

Attend a local meeting December 16, 2014 at 6:30-8:00p.m, Harlan High School Auditorium, in Harlan, IA. Pre-Register 48 hours in advance is required. Call the Shelby County Extension and Outreach Office. No registration fee.  To register, please contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104 or email Oloff@iastate.edu

Farm Bill meetings for the fall and winter months continue to be added to the ISU Extension and Outreach Statewide Calendar. For the other meeting locations and dates visit the Ag Decision Maker Farm Bill website at www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/farmbill.html or contact your county extension office. The Ag Decision Maker website also contains useful links and resources related to Farm Bill decision making.

Cardinals GM not opposed to improving Lackey deal

Sports

December 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have John Lackey at a bargain price next season, but may be willing to sweeten the deal. General manager John Mozeliak said Wednesday he’d meet with the agent for the 36-year-old right-hander at the winter meetings next week. “I wouldn’t rule anything out there,” Mozeliak said.

Lackey’s contract calls for a $500,000 salary next season, the major league minimum, because he missed the 2012 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. The right-hander just completed an $82.5 million, five-year contract he signed with Boston. Lackey was traded from the Red Sox to St. Louis last July. He went a combined 14-10 with a 3.83 ERA and was 1-0 in two postseason starts for the NL Central champion Cardinals.

Mozeliak also said former Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter would not return to the front office after serving one season after his retirement. “I think in Carp’s case, he wasn’t ready to truly commit to the job,” Mozeliak said. “For all of you who know Chris Carpenter, it’s all-in or he prefers to be all-out.”

Iowa upsets No. 12 North Carolina, 60-55

Sports

December 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Mike Gesell hit a driving layup through contact for the go-ahead three-point play with 1:16 left, helping Iowa upset No. 12 North Carolina 60-55 on Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Gesell finished with 16 points for the Hawkeyes (6-2), who outfought the Tar Heels (5-2) on a night when both teams struggled to shoot straight.

Gesell’s basket was the team’s first after a 4-minute drought, but it ended up providing the winning margin on a night when the Hawkeyes won despite shooting 33 percent and going 3 for 20 from 3-point range. After UNC’s Marcus Paige missed a 3-pointer for the tie, Gesell hit two free throws with 1 second left to seal a win that had Hawkeyes players running onto the court to celebrate at the horn.

Kennedy Meeks had 15 points and 12 rebounds for UNC, which shot just 28 percent and never found any type of offensive rhythm.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., 12/4/14

News

December 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Party leaders are pledging to remain neutral in the 2016 presidential caucuses. Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said yesterday that all the State Central Committee members have signed a pledge not to publicly endorse a candidate. He says this sends a message to potential candidates that Iowa will be a fair playing ground.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has scheduled a special election for the House District 4 seat left open after Saturday’s death of state Representative Dwayne Alons. Branstad said yesterday that a special election will be held on January 6th. The district includes the cities of Sioux Center, Orange City, Rock Valley, Hull, Hawarden, Alton, Maurice, Granville, Ireton and Chatsworth.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) —Governor Terry Branstad is brushing off entertainer Cher’s criticism about hog crates. Cher posted a message on Twitter Tuesday asking why Iowa farmers “torture pigs” in narrow gestation crates, and calling New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie a “bully” for his stance on the issue. Christie recently vetoed legislation outlawing gestation crates in New Jersey.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old in Muscatine has been accused of posting nude photos of minors on Twitter. Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren says Briar Jared Todd was arrested yesterday. He faces five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Todd is scheduled to appear in court on December 15th.

RITCHIE GRANT RIHNER, 78, of Shelby (Svcs. 12/8/14)

Obituaries

December 3rd, 2014 by admin

RITCHIE GRANT RIHNER, 78, of Shelby, died Monday, Dec. 1st, in Omaha. Memorial services for RITCHIE RIHNER will be held 11-am Monday, Dec. 8th, at the United Lutheran Church in Shelby. Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends Monday between 10 and 11am, at the United Lutheran Church in Shelby.

Ritchie Rihner is survived by:

His wife – Sheila Rihner, of Shelby
His son – Christopher (Shannon) Rihner, of Santa Margarita, CA
His Step-sons: Mark Thornton, of San Diego, CA; Dale Thornton of Creston. His Step-daughter – Dena (Dan) Karcher of Monroe, MI

2 grandchildren and 1 great grandson.

Creston Accident

News

December 3rd, 2014 by admin

The Creston Police Department investigated a two vehicle non injury accident on Highway 34 Tuesday afternoon in Creston. Both Robert Spare of Afton and Zachary Steffen of  Creston were traveling east on Highway 34 with Spare in the right hand eastbound lane and Steffen was in the left eastbound lane; he failed to yield to the vehicle on the right and attempted to turn right from the left hand lane causing the accident. The vehicles made contact with the Spare vehicle sustaining functional damage and was towed from the scene. Steffen was cited for failure to yield right of way.

Beware of phone scam targeting utility customers in Council Bluffs, western Iowa

News

December 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MidAmerican Energy Company is warning business owners and the public of a phone scam targeting utility customers in Council Bluffs and western Iowa. Criminals posing as utility customer service agents are trying to get money from customers by threatening service disconnection. The scam is occurring nationwide, but in recent days, several businesses across the state have reported receiving calls from people identifying themselves as representatives of MidAmerican Energy.

The criminals are using sophisticated deceptive tactics that make it appear to Caller ID systems that the scam call is coming from the utility when it is not. If customers receive such a call demanding
immediate payment to avoid disconnection of service, hang up and instead call MidAmerican Energy at 1-888-427-5632 to verify the call’s origins.

Some business owners noted that even though they found the circumstances suspicious, they went ahead and made the payments because the caller was very insistent and persuasive. It was only after the fact, when they contacted MidAmerican Energy directly, that they realized they had been scammed.

In order to help customers recognize the fraudulent calls, in general, the scam works like this:
Scammers call residential or business customers demanding payment for overdue bills. Sometimes, the caller tells the intended victim that they owe a specific amount of money. The thief advises the customer to make a payment in one of two ways: either immediately on the phone via credit card, or by going to a local store to purchase a pre-paid card and calling back a special toll-free number, made to resemble MidAmerican Energy’s phone response system, and providing the pre-paid card’s code
to the phony “agent.”

MidAmerican Energy wants customers to be aware that this is a scam and not a legitimate request. MidAmerican Energy does not use these methods. If such a call is received, hang up and call 1-888-427-5632 to inquire about the call with MidAmerican Energy.

Some tips to help customers recognize a scam call:

* The caller is threatening immediate disconnection. Sometimes the caller will
claim a crew is already en route to the business to disconnect service. If you
receive such a call, hang up immediately and call MidAmerican Energy customer
service. MidAmerican Energy makes several attempts to contact customers regarding
overdue bills; disconnection is a last resort, not a first step in the process.
* The caller insists on a prepaid debit card (often a Green Dot card) as the
only acceptable form of payment. MidAmerican Energy accepts several different
forms of payment; a company customer service representative can go over your
options with you.
* The caller asks you for credit card numbers, account numbers, balances or
other personal information. MidAmerican Energy representatives will not ask you
for this information over the phone.

Iowa governor brushes off Cher comments on hogs

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is brushing off entertainer Cher’s criticism about hog crates. Cher posted a message on Twitter Tuesday asking why Iowa farmers “torture pigs” in narrow gestation crates, and calling New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie a “bully” for his stance on the issue.

Christie recently vetoed legislation outlawing gestation crates in New Jersey. New Jersey has few hogs, but some argue that Christie is influenced by the early voting status of Iowa, a state that raises more than 20 million hogs annually. Christie is weighing a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Branstad has dismissed that characterization. On Wednesday he responded to Cher, saying, “They know a lot about pig production out there in Hollywood.”