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AP Men’s College Basketball Top 25 11/26/2018

Sports

November 26th, 2018 by admin

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 25, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

Record Pts Prv
1. Gonzaga (32) 6-0 1590 3
2. Kansas (31) 5-0 1584 2
3. Duke (1) 5-1 1486 1
4. Virginia (1) 6-0 1396 4
5. Nevada 6-0 1329 6
6. Tennessee 4-1 1284 5
7. Michigan 6-0 1213 9
8. Auburn 5-1 1129 8
9. Michigan St. 5-1 1111 11
10. Kentucky 5-1 1022 10
11. North Carolina 6-1 943 7
12. Kansas St. 6-0 936 12
13. Virginia Tech 5-0 921 13
14. Iowa 5-0 599 20
15. Florida St. 5-1 581 14
16. Ohio St. 6-0 511 23
17. Texas 5-1 486
18. Oregon 4-1 439 21
19. Purdue 5-1 387 24
20. Texas Tech 6-0 380
21. Buffalo 5-0 351 22
22. Wisconsin 5-1 253 25
23. Villanova 5-2 217
24. Maryland 6-0 170
25. Mississippi St. 4-1 161 15

Others receiving votes: Arizona St. 156, Clemson 135, Furman 72, Creighton 65, LSU 41, Indiana 35, UCLA 30, Iowa St. 22, St. John’s 19, Minnesota 17, Miami 10, Syracuse 8, TCU 8, Arkansas 6, Nebraska 6, Notre Dame 4, UConn 4, Florida 3, UCF 3, Davidson 1, Houston 1.

AP Women’s College Basketball Top 25 11/26/2018

Sports

November 26th, 2018 by admin

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ women’s college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Nov. 25, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

Record Pts Prv
1. Notre Dame (31) 6-0 775 1
2. UConn 5-0 735 2
3. Oregon 6-0 705 3
4. Baylor 6-0 674 4
5. Louisville 5-0 660 5
6. Mississippi St. 6-0 606 6
7. Maryland 6-0 576 7
8. Stanford 6-0 567 8
9. Oregon St. 5-1 523 9
10. Texas 6-0 494 10
11. Tennessee 5-0 476 11
12. Syracuse 6-1 422 14
13. NC State 6-0 410 15
14. Iowa 5-1 323 12
15. California 6-0 287 18
16. DePaul 3-2 285 16
17. Texas A&M 4-1 221 20
18. South Carolina 3-3 212 13
19. Arizona St. 3-2 178 19
20. Minnesota 5-0 170 23
21. Miami 6-1 148 24
22. Marquette 4-1 137 22
23. Iowa St. 5-0 93
24. Drake 6-1 73
25. Kentucky 7-0 68

Others receiving votes: West Virginia 59, Northwestern 59, Missouri 59, Georgia 18, South Florida 17, Virginia Tech 13, Michigan 10, Utah 6, North Carolina 5, Southern Cal 4, Florida St. 3, Boise St. 2, LSU 2.

Mills County Sheriff’s report (11/26)

News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old Faith Leeann Clemmons, of Emerson, was arrested at the Mills County Courthouse Monday morning. Clemmons was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original, Possession of a Controlled Substance, charge, and on a warrant for Failure to Appear on Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree, Trespass and Assault charges. Her bond was set at $7,000.

At around 2-a.m. Friday, 21-year old Ariana Mersaydeze Parker, of LaVista, NE, was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 29, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, Child Endangerment, and Speeding. Her bond was set at $3,000. And, at around 12:05-a.m. Friday, 22-year old Hawa Mabior Akur, of St. Joseph, MO., was arrested on I-29 for Driving Under Suspension, of Failure to show proof of insurance. Bond was set at $300.

Late Thursday night, 26-year old Dylan Michael Betts, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29, and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $1,000. At around 2:30-a.m. Thursday, 24-year old Brett Michael Zeski, of Glenwood, was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

And, on Nov. 21st, 28-year old Aaron James Smith, of Pacific Junction, was arrested in Mills County for Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was also set at $1,000.

Iowa, ISU, UNI presidents outline requests for state funding increases

News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The leaders of Iowa’s three public universities made their budget pitches to Governor Kim Reynolds, Monday. University of Iowa president Bruce Harreld is asking lawmakers to approve seven million dollars in additional financial aid for undergrads who are Iowa residents. “I’m aware, very aware, that I must sound like a broken record as I’m consistently commenting on the need to increase resources to the university,” Harreld said. “…We cannot cut our way to quality.”

University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook says enrollment at the Cedar Falls school is down, but Nook says tuition and fees average about 25-hundred dollars ABOVE universities around the country that are like U-N-I.  “We don’t have the resources and scholarships and things to compete on the same level with Iowa and Iowa State, so it is impacting our enrollment in a pretty significant way,” Nook says. Nook is asking lawmakers for a four million dollar budget boost for U-N-I in each of the next five years.

Iowa State University president Wendy Winterstein says her staff has combed through this year’s budget and reallocated 12 million in spending. “Iowa State is proud to be recognized for our lean organizational structure, but we can’t continue to deliver excellence on efficiencies alone,” Winterstein says. “New resources are needed to be able to assure that we can continue to fulfill our land grant mission and serve the state.”

Winterstein is also asking the governor and the legislature to send I-S-U seven MILLION more state tax dollars for student financial aid. The president of the board that governs the three universities says ensuring tuition is affordable makes a college degree accessible for more Iowans.

Audit: Iowa Medicaid savings barely half what was projected

News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa saved $126 million this year from privatizing its Medicaid system, barely half what former Gov. Terry Branstad projected when he forced the change in 2016, according to an audit released Monday. The report by Auditor Mary Mosiman also found officials and lawmakers have failed to file quarterly financial reports as required by state law.

She said they “should have worked together to establish a method to estimate the program cost savings” when moving from state-managed Medicaid to a system managed by for-profit health care companies. When Branstad’s administration changed the system for overseeing health care for more than 600,000 poor and disabled Iowans, he projected it would produce $232 million in savings.

His successor, Gov. Kim Reynolds, and the Department of Human Services provided a wide range of new savings estimates last year, spanning from $47 million to $234 million. Mosiman found both of those were inaccurate. A $141 million estimate released this past May was the most accurate measure, the audit said, and recommended that method of calculation be used going forward. She updated that figure to $126 million on Nov. 7.

Democratic Sen. Pam Jochum, who called for the audit, says Mosiman’s report is incomplete and doesn’t include millions of dollars the managed care organizations running the program owe doctors, hospitals and mental health care providers. “The partial review of the Medicaid privatization disaster by the departing state auditor is a big pile of excuses with no good answers for Iowa taxpayers who are being ripped off,” Jochum said in a statement.

Mosiman, a Republican lost her bid for re-election to Rob Sand, a Democrat and a former Iowa assistant attorney general who promised a full investigation into the Medicaid finances. “I was elected to provide truth, integrity, and accountability to Iowans, and they deserve more answers,” Sand said. “I will continue to dig into this issue when I assume office in January, as I promised voters.”

Democratic critics and some health care providers have questioned whether the Medicaid change really is producing any savings. DHS has poured more money into Medicaid because insurance providers claimed they were sustaining losses. Iowa officials said in August they were giving Amerigroup and UnitedHealthcare, the two companies that manage the program, an additional $103 million over last year’s funding. Jochum and others have complained Medicaid recipient care has deteriorated under the privatized system. Hospitals, doctors and mental health care providers have said they’re not paid in a timely manner and must often fight to get paid. Jochum called on Reynolds to return Iowa to a publicly managed system.

Reynolds’ Democratic opponent, Fred Hubbell, said he’d return the program to state management, but he was defeated by Reynolds in this month’s general election. Reynolds’ spokeswoman, Brenna Smith, said Iowa like 39 other states adopted privatized managed care because Medicaid was growing at an unsustainable rate. “Our state is now on a path to sustainability, and the governor is working to ensure Iowa has a program that better helps improve patient health,” she said. “The governor has already made positive changes to the program since taking office and will continue to do so.”

DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven said in a statement he hopes the audit can put to rest the question of whether privatization generates savings. “We will continue to focus on providing the needed services to Iowa’s Medicaid members and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Iowa’s Medicaid program,” he said.

USDA says most of Iowa’s corn and soybean harvest complete

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Most of the state’s corn and soybean crop have been harvested ahead of a snowstorm that blanketed much of southern and eastern Iowa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Monday that 96 percent of Iowa’s corn crop had been harvested as of Sunday. While the percentage is even higher in northwest, north-central and central Iowa, 13 percent of corn remained to be harvested in southwest Iowa.

That statewide percentage is four days behind the five-year average. Iowa’s soybean harvest was 98 percent complete. That’s 12 days behind the five-year average.

Man charged with killing Iowa State golfer get new attorney

News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with murder in the death of an Iowa State University golfer has been granted a new attorney over the objections of his current lawyer. The Des Moines Register reports Story County District Court Judge Bethany Currie granted a request Monday by 22-year-old Collin Richards for a different attorney. He cited a “communication issue.”

Richards’ current attorney, public defender Paul Rounds, objected to the request, saying there weren’t grounds for the change. Currie granted the request. She says she’ll appoint an attorney from the state public defender’s Marshalltown office.

Richards is charged with first-degree murder in the death of student Celia Barquin Arozamena. She was killed Sept. 17 while she was playing a round at a public course in Ames, near the university campus. Richards has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for April 30, 2019.

Two arrests reported in Red Oak Monday

News

November 26th, 2018 by admin

The Red Oak Police Department reports two arrests during the day on Monday.

At 11:30am Officers arrested 31-year-old Nikkele Marie Peterson of Sioux City for Child Endangerment. Peterson was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

At 1:00pm Red Oak Police arrested 35-year-old David Ray Sturgis of Red Oak for Simple Domestic Assault. Sturgis was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond pending appearance before a magistrate.

2 leave Iowa labor agency after hostile workplace complaints

News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An investigation that found a hostile environment at Iowa’s labor department prompted the state to remove two administrators, including the longtime chief regulator for workplace deaths and injuries, records show. The case has also produced a whistleblower complaint alleging that Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro and his deputy run the office “like a high school clique,” where friends receive favoritism and others are ridiculed and verbally threatened. So far, they have kept their jobs.

State agencies have tried to keep the months-long investigation and upheaval inside the department confidential. But The Associated Press obtained records that paint an unflattering picture of the department that is supposed to protect workers from harm. The case is a test for Mauro, 70, who has long survived as one of the few high-ranking Democrats in Iowa’s Republican-dominated state government. A former Iowa secretary of state, Mauro was confirmed by the Senate last year for a second six-year appointment that runs until April 2023 and pays $112,000 annually.

Facing pressure from the executive branch, Mauro fired Iowa Occupational Health and Safety Administration director Jens Nissen and accepted the resignation of OSHA supervisor Deborah Babb on Oct. 12. Both were longtime state workers. Nissen, 55, investigated serious workplace injuries and deaths and routinely wrote reports that cited employers for safety violations. Babb, 60, supervised about a dozen workplace safety and health regulators.

The action came after the Department of Administrative Services investigated allegations that Babb verbally threatened and intimidated subordinates while Nissen was aware of complaints and failed to effectively intervene. Earlier this month, Nissen filed a complaint that defended Babb and alleged that it was Mauro who failed to take the workers’ concerns seriously. In a “summary of events” unsealed by the Public Employment Relations Board in response to an AP request, Nissen alleged that he was fired after speaking out about the department’s work environment.

Reached by phone, Mauro said Nissen’s complaint would be investigated by an outside agency but that he couldn’t discuss any details since it is a “personnel matter.” He said he has named veteran Iowa OSHA administrator Luther Don Peddy to lead the office on an interim basis. The case dates to July, when Nissen said he received verbal complaints from two Babb subordinates alleging that she had routinely threatened and intimidated them. He said he believed the conduct they described violated Iowa’s violence-free workplace policy and that he had witnessed similar behavior in the past.

Nissen said he reported the complaints to Mauro days later and added his own observations, including that she allegedly favored some employees by giving them a more permissive use of their state vehicles. He said Mauro told him he was aware of Babb’s tendencies, that he had spoken with Babb and everything would be fine. But at least one employee complained to the Department of Administrative Services, and that agency opened its own investigation. Mauro expressed displeasure with Nissen after learning of the probe in August and falsely accused him of disclosing information from management meetings to subordinates, Nissen alleged.

Nissen wrote that he further angered Mauro and deputy commissioner Pam Conner during a September meeting when he raised his hand after Babb asked if anyone believed the department had a hostile environment. Nissen said he was given the option to resign in October and he refused, adding that no reason was given for his termination. “The work environment at the Division of Labor is not what any reasonable person would expect in a professional setting,” Nissen wrote. “The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner operate the department like a high school clique. If you are not ‘in’ you are in dire straits.”

He said that Mauro, Conner and Babb regularly talk abusively about subordinates, calling them dumb and ridiculing them for “trivial idiosyncrasies.” Conner called two minority employees “stupid” and used a curse word to refer to a third, Nissen alleges.

Man accused of tossing dog and kennel away pleads not guilty

News

November 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man accused of throwing into a dumpster a kennel with an emaciated dog trapped inside has pleaded not guilty. Polk County court records say the pleas were filed electronically Saturday for 35-year-old Derrick Peterson. The charges: animal neglect and abandonment of cats and dogs. A pretrial conference is scheduled Dec. 18. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says a passer-by found the Chihuahua Nov. 2 in a dumpster in Des Moines’ River Bend neighborhood and took the starving dog to Animal Rescue League.

League veterinarians say the dog, dubbed “Oscar,” weighed just 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) and was suffering from a loss of muscle mass and fur as well as intestinal parasites. His fur was stained from being caged in his own filth for a long period.