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Dissolved Iowa school district to begin settling liabilities

News

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

FARRAGUT, Iowa (AP) – A southwest Iowa school district that was dissolved now has to close its books, settle its liabilities and dispose of property such as desks and buildings. The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs reports that Lane Plugge, a former Iowa City schools superintendent, is overseeing the process.

Plugge is charged with oversight as part of his role as the chief administrator of the Green Hills Area Education Agency. State law gives him the authority to approve financial and personnel decisions, taking the power away from the local school board.

The Iowa Board of Education voted to close the Farragut School District earlier this month after officials said it was operating with a negative financial balance and sub-minimal education standards.

Weather Warning/Advisory update (4:30-a.m. 11/30)

News, Weather

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A WINTER STORM WARNING remains in effect until 6-p.m. today (Monday) for Cass-Adair-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Crawford-Carroll-Pottawattamie-and Mills Counties, and until midnight for Monona-Harrison and Shelby Counties.

11301In the immediate KJAN listening area, widespread freezing rain this morning is expected to transition to snow by early this afternoon and then back to rain. Total snow accumulations of 1-3″ can be expected, with ice accumulating to two- to three- tenths of an inch. This may lead to hazardous travel conditions, especially this morning. The heavy, wet snow will also be difficult to remove. 2-to 5 inches of snow is possible in counties west/northwest of Cass.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY remains in effect until 6-pm today for Adams-Madison-Union-Taylor and Ringgold Counties, where freezing rain and drizzle is expected, with up to 1/10th of an inch possible.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the area, 11/30/15

Weather

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

**Winter Storm Warning until 6-p.m. today (Monday)**

Early this morning: A chance of freezing rain before 4am, then a chance of rain between 4am and 5am, then freezing rain after 5am. Steady temperature around 33. East wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch possible.
Today: Snow and freezing rain, possibly mixed with rain before 2pm, then rain, possibly mixed with snow between 2pm and 4pm, then rain likely after 4pm. High near 35. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch possible. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight: Rain and freezing rain likely, possibly mixed with snow before 10pm, then snow likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain between 10pm and 11pm, then snow likely after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 6 to 15 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

‘Surging’ Cruz on campaign swing through Iowa

News

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is making a three-day campaign lap around the state, with stops in 10 cities this weekend and three more today (Monday). “I just want to say thank you all for being here. Thank you for standing up. I’m here asking for your support, asking for your help. We are building a grassroots army.” That was Cruz, speaking at the Windrow restaurant in Creston on Saturday afternoon. Wally Miller of Creston was there to show his support for Cruz.

“He’s the only one that makes sense,” Miller says, adding he has a screening test for candidates. “When I look at someone, would I trust them with my grandkids or my chores? And I would.” Scott McLain of Creston compared Cruz’s positioning in the race to a NASCAR move. “He’s drafting right behind the leader at just the right time and right before the Iowa Caucuses then he will go right by the leader on the last lap,” McLain says. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found Cruz’s support in Iowa has doubled in the past month, to 23 percent — just behind Donald Trump’s 25 percent. Union County Republican chairman Joe Owens sees similar movement.

“A couple of months ago it was real strong for Trump and, believe it or not, Huckabee had some strong following — people from ’08, but Ted’s really making a surge,” Owens says. A month and a half ago Roger Burger of Lenox signed up to be a volunteer for Cruz. “I told them I wanted yard signs right now,” Burger says, “and everything else.” Burger was in the crowd of two dozen who gathered at the Tiger Den restaurant in Lenox to hear Cruz Saturday afternoon. Burger asked Cruz about “ObamaCare” and Cruz revealed his own family’s policy is being cancelled and he has to get new health insurance.

“Now I’m not unique in that situation,” Cruz said, adding the policy cancellation was news to his own campaign manager. “There are millions of Americans who get their policy cancelled…This is a disaster.” Cruz is promising to make the 2016 election a “referendum” on the repeal of “ObamaCare”. Cruz may have spent more time at the Tiger Den than originally scheduled. Someone on the campaign team locked the keys in the S-U-V Cruz was riding in and the Taylor County Sheriff was called to open the vehicle.

(Radio Iowa)

Toledo’s Matt Campbell to be named Iowa State coach

Sports

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa State has announced Matt Campbell as the next Cyclones football coach. Campbell agreed to a six-year contract with a first-year salary of $2 million. The Des Moines Register reports Campbell will be officially introduced at a news conference in Ames at noon, today (Monday). At Iowa State, Campbell will replace Paul Rhoads.

The anticipated announcement would come on Campbell’s 36th birthday, making him one of the youngest head coaches in FBS. In four seasons with the Rockets, he is 35-15. Toledo athletic director Mike O’Brien told the AP on Saturday the school had offered Campbell a contract that would make him the highest-paid coach in the Mid-American Conference.

According to USA Today’s salary database, Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck’s salary is $800,000 this season, highest in the MAC. At Iowa State, Rhoads made $2.2 million this year.

Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., Nov. 30th 2015

News

November 30th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and watches for a large part of southern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota and western Iowa ahead of a strengthening storm system. The snow is expected to start falling early Monday in southwestern Minnesota and nearby parts of South Dakota and Iowa, then spread north and east through Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating a shooting that killed one man and injured another in downtown Des Moines. Police say 21-year-old Edmanuel Perez died and 23-year-old Andrew Hurley-Boyd was hospitalized in the shooting. Officers responded to the incident around 1:10 a.m. Sunday in the city’s popular Court Avenue district.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Voters in Waterloo will pick a new mayor and city council member in a runoff election. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Quentin Hart and Tim Hurley are both running for mayor. The candidates have waged a civil campaign and agree on many issues, but they say voters have a distinct choice when they head to the polls for Tuesday’s runoff elections.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A person briefed on the decision tells The Associated Press that Toledo coach Matt Campbell will be Iowa State’s new football coach. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement was still in the works, though one was expected Sunday. At Iowa State, the 36-year-old Campbell will replace Paul Rhoads.

Iowa wrestlers beat Iowa State 33-6

Sports

November 29th, 2015 by admin

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Second-ranked Iowa thumped Iowa State 33-6 in wrestling Sunday for its 12th straight win in the series.

The Hawkeyes won eight of 10 matches in dominating the annual rivalry matchup.

Sammy Brooks and Sam Stoll had pins to lead the Hawkeyes, and Alex Meyer won at 174 pounds.

Thomas Gilman’s major decision over Kyle Larson at 125 pounds sealed the 27-point victory for the Hawkeyes.

Dante Rodriguez and Tanner Weatherman had wins for the Cyclones.

 

(Update 3:45-p.m.) Winter Storm Warning for Cass & area Counties

Weather

November 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CASS-ADAIR-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS Counties: Winter Storm Warning in effect from Midnight Sunday until 6-p.m. Monday.  Look for ice accumulations of one-to two-tenths of an inch and snowfall from one-to three-inches.

ADAMS-MADISON, UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD COUNTIES: Winter Weather Advisory in effect from Midnight Sunday until 6-p.m. Monday.

(Update 3:34-p.m.) Winter Storm Warning replaces watch for far western IA

Weather

November 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY: Winter Storm Warning in effect from Midnight Sunday until 6-p.m. Monday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect. Expect up to one-tenth of an inch of ice and 2-to 4-inches of snow.

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY COUNTIES: Winter Storm Warning in effect from 3-a.m. Monday until Midnight, Monday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect. Expect up to one-tenth of an inch of ice and 3-to 5-inches of snow.

MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT AND PAGE COUNTIES: Winter Weather Advisory from 9-p.m. Sunday until 6-p.m. Monday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect. Expected up to one-tenth of an inch of ice and 1-2″ of snow.

Chiefs hold off Bills 30-22 for 5th straight win

Sports

November 29th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Alex Smith threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, Spencer Ware ran for 114 yards and a score, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 30-22 on Sunday in a matchup of teams in the AFC wildcard race.

Jeremy Maclin had nine receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown, and Cairo Santos hit three field goals for the Chiefs (6-5), who have won five straight after a five-game skid. Tyrod Taylor had 291 yards passing and three touchdowns for Buffalo (5-6), but he was mostly held in check in the second half. So was Sammie Watkins, who had all six catches for 158 yards and his two touchdowns over the first 30 minutes.

The Bills had a chance for a tying touchdown when they took over at their own 10 with 3:25 left, but the Chiefs stopped them on fourth-and-9 with 2:16 to go to seal it.