United Group Insurance

Emerald ash borers detected at 2 spots in Polk County

Ag/Outdoor, News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials have found emerald ash borders in Polk County, home of the state capitol in Des Moines. A news release from the Iowa Agriculture Department said Friday that the tree-killing pests were found in Urbandale and West Des Moines. The department says the confirmation brings to 22 the number of Iowa counties where the insects have been found.

The larva of an emerald ash borer cuts off an ash tree’s flow of nutrients when deposited below the bark. Once infected, trees typically die within five years. The insects are native to Asia and were first spotted in the U.S. in 2002, when they showed up in the Detroit area. They devastated ash trees in Michigan and have spread to at least 21 other states.

Flood Statement: Missouri River update

Weather

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

956 AM CDT FRI MAY 8 2015

…The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following river…

Missouri River at Plattsmouth affecting Mills County (IA) and Cass County (NE).

…The Flood Warning continues for the following river…

Missouri River At Nebraska City affecting Fremont County (IA) and Otoe County (NE).

Police: Brother of infant found in dumpster still missing

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say they have not found the 5-year-old son of a woman whose body was found in southeast Omaha and whose infant brother was found alive in a dumpster near a suburban Omaha apartment complex. Omaha police Lt. Darci Tierney said Friday that officers are still looking for Josue Ramirez-Marinero, who was the subject of an Amber alert issued Thursday. The vehicle he was believed to be traveling in was found Thursday afternoon in Omaha.

Josue’s little brother, 11-month-old Angel Ramirez-Marinero, was wearing only a diaper when he was found around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police say the body of his mother, 45-year-old Jesus Ismenia Marinero, was found Wednesday night. Her death has been ruled a homicide, but police have not released any details or reported any arrests.

Police were questioning a man who turned himself-in in connection with the case. Jusue Ramirez-Marinero’s father, Jose Ramirez, was taken into custody prior to Jusue’s disappearance, for being an illegal immigrant.

Threat of severe weather is statewide on Sunday

News, Weather

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Mother Nature may be very busy on Mother’s Day. After a full week of stormy weather, forecasters say Iowans see a brief break from the clouds today (Friday), while the rains will return tomorrow. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service, says it appears likely much of the state may see severe weather on Sunday.

“It will probably start to get potentially bad early afternoon especially through the early evening,” Kotenberg says. “One of the things we’ll be working on today is to narrow it down to a more specific area. The southern part of the state has a little better chance than northern Iowa for severe weather, but we’re looking at a statewide threat, as of right now.”

While many Iowans may be traveling this weekend to celebrate the holiday, they may need to keep an umbrella handy, while some Iowans may need to retreat to the basement. “We could be looking at all modes of severe weather here in Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “We could see some hail, some damaging winds and maybe even a few tornadoes across the state. Stay tuned to the forecast the next couple of days as we try to pin it down a little more but it looks like it could be a pretty widespread severe weather threat for Sunday.”

Parts of Nebraska had tornadoes and severe flooding this week, while that state’s weekend forecast calls for up to eight inches of snow in the higher elevations of the Panhandle.  “It looks like we’ll get to miss out on the cold weather here in Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “It’ll be cooler, certainly. We’ll probably see temperatures drop down to the 40s and high temperatures in the 60s, maybe even the 50s, but no snow in the forecast here in Iowa. It’ll be cooler, but snow-free.”

The skies may start to clear on Monday, as the forecast calls for a return to calmer, more seasonable weather.

(Radio Iowa)

AAA: 37.2 Million Americans to Kick Off Summer with a Memorial Day Getaway

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Official with AAA Travel are projecting 37.2 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 4.7 percent increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled last year and the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years. Kicking off the summer driving season, 33 million travelers will be driving to their destinations. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 21 to Monday, May 25.images

Highlights from 2015 Memorial Day Travel Forecast: 

  • The 2015 Memorial Day forecast is expected to mark the highest travel volume for the holiday in 10 years, since 2005.
  • The 4.7 percent increase over Memorial Day 2014 is the highest forecast growth rate for any of the holidays tracked by AAA since Independence Day 2012.
  • More than 88 percent of travelers (33 million) will travel by automobile, an increase of 5.3 percent over last Memorial Day.
  • Holiday air travel is expected to increase 2.5 percent to 2.6 million leisure travelers.
  • Travel by other modes of transportation including cruises, trains and buses, is expected to decrease 3.6 percent this Memorial Day, to 1.64 million.
  • Travelers will encounter higher average daily car rental and lodging costs this year, while airfares are down slightly compared to Memorial Day 2014.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Colorado-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2015 Memorial Day Travel Forecast can be found here.

Glenwood man arrested Thursday for assault

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Glenwood report just one arrest, Thursday. 31-year old Justin Mierau, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse assault. Mierau was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond, until an appearance before the magistrate.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 5/8/2015

News, Podcasts

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Heartbeat Today 05-08-2015

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

May 8th, 2015 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Griswold Junior Jessica Marshall and Congressman David Young about a prestigious art award that Jessica won.

Here is Jessica's work.  It is a pencil sketch of a photograph.  The sketch is made by using several written words.

Here is Jessica’s work. It is a pencil sketch of a photograph. The sketch is made by using several written words.

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Union County man arrested for assault; Pharmacy break-in investigated

News

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Police in Creston say a Union County man was arrested Thursday at the Union County Jail, on a warrant for Assault with Serious Injury. 59-year old Michael Cihack, of Afton, was later released on a $5,000 cash bond.

And, Creston Police investigated a break-in,  and a dog bite, Thursday. Medicap Pharmacy, in Creston reported that sometime between 6-pm Wednesday and 7-a.m. Thursday, someone broke the glass front door of the business, and the building had been entered. Numerous pills were stolen. The damage and loss amounted to an estimated $17,100.

A resident on Vine Street in Creston told police a dog had bitten a child at his residence at around 6:20-p.m., Thursday. The owner of the animal, Betsy Bozwell, of Creston, was cited for allowing an animal to run at-large. The dog was quarantined by Animal Control.

(Podcast) KJAN Sports report, 5/8/2015

Podcasts, Sports

May 8th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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