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Accident on I-80 in Dallas County blocks traffic early this (Wed.) morning

News

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports Interstate 80 westbound in Dallas County is completely blocked between Exit 106 (County Roads F90 and P58) and Exit 110 (US 169/US 6),  near De Soto.  All lanes are blocked due to an accident involving a semi trailer.

(DOT update from 511ia.org at 3:40-a.m.)

Drake Relays moves marquee events to Friday night

Sports

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Drake Relays is moving under the lights. Meet officials announced Tuesday that a number of invitational races and field events will be staged on a Friday night rather than its traditional Saturday afternoon setup. Drake organizers previously announced in November that the 104th annual meet, set for April 24-28, will offer more than $500,000 in prize money in 2013 for a series of rematches from the London Olympics.

Meet organizers say they’ll offer a $50,000 purse for invitational races and $25,000 for field events — each the biggest such prize in the U.S. — after landing a new title sponsor, supermarket chain Hy-Vee. Drake also says 22 medalists from the recent London Olympics have committed to the meet so far.

B10 approves Neb-Iowa day-after-Thanksgiving game

Sports

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Big Ten has approved the request from Nebraska and Iowa to move their 2013 football game to the day after Thanksgiving in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska and Iowa met on the day after Thanksgiving in both 2011 and 2012, Nebraska’s first two years in the Big Ten. The 2013 game will mark the 24th straight season Nebraska has played on the day after Thanksgiving.

Approval came from the league’s Conference Administrators Council. Time and television information for the Nov. 29 game will be announced later. The original Big Ten schedule had the teams playing the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Big 12 admits officiating errors in Kansas win

Sports

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DALLAS (AP) — The Big 12 says officiating errors were made at the end of regulation before No. 6 Kansas outlasted Iowa State in overtime on Monday night. The league said Tuesday that “appropriate measures will be taken” against the two officials involved, including an adjustment of “the number of future assignments.” The Big 12 did not identify the officials or the plays in question.

Kansas’s Elijah Johnson drove into the lane and got tangled up with Iowa State’s Georges Niang with less than 10 seconds left. No foul was called, and Niang was then whistled for fouling Johnson on the floor. Johnson sank two free throws to force OT with 4.9 seconds left. Kansas won the game 108-96.

Iowa state troopers group head seeks more funding

News

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of the Iowa State Troopers Association says budget cuts have thinned ranks so much that many counties don’t have a trooper on duty overnight. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa State Troopers Association President Darin Snedden met with legislators and staffers from the governor’s office Tuesday, asking the state to allocate funding to hire an additional 87 troopers.

Snedden says the Iowa State Patrol has 363 troopers, down from 455 in 2000 before repeated budget cuts. He wants the state to hire 29 more troopers a year, for three years. The cost of adding 29 troopers is $4.3 million in the first year and $2.9 million in subsequent years. Branstad’s budget does not include any funding for more troopers.

DNR to hold Listening Session on fall hunting and trapping regulations

Ag/Outdoor, Sports

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it will host public meetings over the Iowa Communications Network on March 7th from 6- to 9- p.m., to listen to the public’s thoughts on the hunting and trapping regulations for this fall. The meetings are part of the new process instituted for making rules in state government. Dr. Dale Garner, chief of the wildlife bureau, says “Any rule changes must be discussed with Iowa’s citizens who might be impacted by the changes before the rule changes are proposed. The new process helps ensure that rule changes serve the public’s wishes and do not impact Iowa’s economy.”

At each meeting DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn’t, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for this fall. The discussions along with the data that the wildlife bureau collects on harvest and population numbers will be used to develop recommendations for any rule changes this fall. Any changes must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and then go back to the public for further comment before taking effect next fall.

Meetings will be held in several communities, including: Council Bluffs, Creston, and Sac City. Complete ICN locations are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.

Winter Storm Warning Continues until Noon today (Wednesday) for some area counties

Weather

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES:DALLAS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD 134 AM CST WED FEB 27 2013

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY…

* SHORT TERM TRENDS...BANDS OF LIGHT SNOW WILL REMAIN THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT THOUGH THERE WILL BE PERIODS THE SNOW WILL BECOME MODERATE AT TIMES. EXPECT ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES THROUGH 6 AM. ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF WEDNESDAY WITH ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS LIKELY.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 11 INCHES BY NOON WEDNESDAY.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY...NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH WILL CAUSE MINOR BLOWING SNOW SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO TWO MILES WITHIN THE SNOW BANDS.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL REMAIN DIFFICULT DUE TO SNOW COVERED AND VERY SLICK ROADS THROUGH THE MORNING COMMUTE. PERSONS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION DURING THE WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUTE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD …AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Winter Weather Advisory Continues until Noon today (Wed,) for some area counties

Weather

February 27th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS 134 AM CST WED FEB 27 2013

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY…

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…PERIODS OF LIGHT TO LOCALLY MODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH EARLY MORNING. NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE AREA WILL HAVE MUCH LIGHTER SNOW.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF FROM 4 TO 7 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED BY WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS OVER THE SOUTHEAST. THERE WILL BE A SHARP NORTHWEST EDGE TO THE SNOW WHERE AN INCH OR LESS IS EXPECTED.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…NORTH WINDS AT 10 TO 15 MPH WILL CAUSE MINOR BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL REMAIN DIFFICULT DUE TO SNOW COVERED AND VERY SLICK ROADS THROUGH THE MORNING COMMUTE. PERSONS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION DURING THE WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUTE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT TRAVEL WILL BE IMPACTED DUE TO SNOW COVERED AND SLICK ROADS. USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING…ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS AND DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE.

Two Vehicle Collison in Montgomery County

News

February 26th, 2013 by admin

No injuries were reported following a two-vehicle collision late Tuesday morning, in Red Oak. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Red Oak Police were dispatched to the intersection of north 2nd Street and east Maple Street in Montgomery County. Upon arrival, officers discovered an SUV driven by 26-year old Juan Eugenio Rodriguez-Lopez, of Red Oak, had been traveling Westbound on Maple Street and was crossing the intersection when it was struck by a car, driven by 42-year old John Jimmie Herren of Red Oak. No citations were issued.

Theft Reported in Red Oak

News

February 26th, 2013 by admin

Police in Red Oak are investigating an incident of attempted burglary and theft, which was reported early Tuesday morning. Officials say Regena Schuster, of Red Oak, informed authorities that as she was leaving for work, she noticed someone had been in her car. Schuster said the center console in her vehicle was up, and items had been moved inside the vehicle. Two strands of electrical wire valued at about $150, were reported missing. It was unclear at the time of the report if any other items were missing, either from the car or Schuster’s garage.