Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, 7/22/18

July 22nd, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:15 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The proliferation of digital tools that can make text and email messages vanish may be welcome to Americans seeking to guard their privacy, but open government advocates fear they are being misused by public officials. Some are using them to conduct business in secret and evade transparency laws. Whether communications on those platforms should be part of the public record is a growing but unsettled debate in states across the country.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Workplace safety officials are investigating the fatal injury of a man at a manufacturing plant in north-central Iowa’s Fort Dodge. The Messenger reports that the man died after being hit by and pinned under a steel beam Thursday evening. Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Deborah Babb says the beam was being erected as part of a construction project at CJ Bio American in Fort Dodge when the accident happened. Babb declined to release the victim’s name.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Businesses and volunteers are pitching in to provide more than cleanup in the wake of the destructive tornadoes that swept through three cities in central Iowa earlier this week. Organizations were helping and housing injured pets and a meatpacking plant was providing hot meals to residents in need Saturday in Marshalltown. The city of 27,000 people suffered the most damage during the Thursday storms, which surprised residents and weather forecasters.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A newspaper’s analysis shows Iowa has spent nearly $500 million in public money in the past decade to support private schools and home-school programs. The Des Moines Register found that state money goes toward supporting private-school operations through busing assistance, textbook purchases, special education funding and scholarship support. The state also offers a tax credit for those who pay private-school tuition.

Posted in News |

Carpenter homers in 6th straight, Cards top Cubs for doubleheader split

July 21st, 2018 by admin

CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Carpenter homered for the sixth consecutive game and Paul DeJong hit a tiebreaking double in St. Louis’ three-run ninth inning, helping the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 on Saturday to split their day-night doubleheader.

Carpenter entered as a defensive replacement in the sixth and hit a solo drive in the seventh for his fifth homer in the past two days. He also had a solo shot in the opener after he went 5 for 5 with three homers and seven RBIs while playing just six innings in St. Louis’ 18-5 victory on Friday.

Carpenter became the first player in Cardinals history to homer in six consecutive games during one season. He matched the club record held by Mark McGwire, who connected in six straight games over two years.

The Cardinals trailed 3-2 before Yairo Munoz hit a tying single with two outs in the eighth. DeJong came up with runners on first and second in the ninth and doubled to left field against Steve Cishek.

Tommy Pham added a two-run double as St. Louis improved to 7-5 against NL Central-leading Chicago this season. Sam Tuivailala (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and Bud Norris got three outs for his 18th save on a blustery day at Wrigley Field.

It was one sweet swing for DeJong, who committed a costly error in Chicago’s three-run sixth. He also bounced into a critical double play during St. Louis’ 7-2 loss in the opener.

Anthony Rizzo had four hits from the leadoff spot and Mike Montgomery pitched six effective innings, but the Cubs’ bullpen was unable to close it out. Justin Wilson (3-3) took the loss after walking the first two batters in the ninth.

Rizzo also reached four times in Game 1, including three walks and a leadoff triple. The big first baseman is batting .542 (13 for 24) in seven games since manager Joe Maddon put him in the leadoff spot to try to jolt him out of a slump.

The Cubs grabbed the opener behind Tyler Chatwood (4-5), who pitched into the sixth inning for his first win since May 11. Ben Zobrist went 4 for 4, Javier Baez had three hits and two RBIs, and Tommy La Stella also drove in two runs in the makeup of an April 16 rainout.

UP NEXT

Mikolas (10-3, 2.79 ERA) and Quintana (8-6, 3.96 ERA) pitch in the finale of the five-game set. Mikolas is 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in three July starts. Quintana is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in six career starts against St. Louis.

Posted in Sports |

State Baseball Scores from Saturday, 7/21

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CLASS 1A Quarterfinals @ Principal Park in Des Moines:

Lisbon 2, Don Bosco 1

North Linn/Troy Mills 6, Remsen/St. Mary’s 3

1A Semifinals on Thursday, 7/26 @ Principal Park in Des Moines:

11-a.m. Mason City/Newman Catholic vs. Martensdale-St. Marys

1:30-p.m. Lisbon vs. North Linn/Troy Mills.

CLASS 2A Quarterfinals, Monday (7/23) @ Principal Park in Des Moines:

11-a.m. Iowa City/Regina vs. Treynor

1:30-p.m. Van Meter vs. Alta/Aurelia

5-p.m. Estherville/Lincoln Central vs. Centerville

7:30-p.m. Wilton vs. Denver

The Class 3A and 4A Quarterfinals will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, also at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Posted in Sports |

Cubs win game 1 of a double header over Cardinals Saturday, 7-2

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Tyler Chatwood picked up his first victory in two months by working into the sixth inning of the Cubs’ 7-2 decision over the Cardinals in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Chatwood hit a batter and issued six walks, but he allowed just one hit over 5 1/3 innings. Ben Zobrist went 4-for-4 and scored twice for Chicago, while Javier Baez had three hits and two RBIs.

The Cardinals placed right-hander Carlos Martinez on the 10-day disabled list with a right oblique strain. St. Louis also activated right-hander Miles Mikolas from the paternity list and recalled reliever John Brebbia from Triple-A Memphis. Right-hander Luke Weaver was added to the roster as the 26th man for Saturday’s day-night doubleheader at Wrigley Field.

Posted in Sports |

Federal safety officials investigating death at Iowa plant

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Workplace safety officials are investigating the fatal injury of a man at a manufacturing plant in north-central Iowa’s Fort Dodge. The Messenger reports that the man died after being hit by and pinned under a steel beam Thursday evening.

Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Deborah Babb says the beam was being erected as part of a construction project at CJ Bio American in Fort Dodge when the accident happened. Babb declined to release the victim’s name, but said he was an employee of a contractor at the site.

Babb says agency officers were on the scene Friday morning. She declined to comment further. CJ Bio American produces the amino acid lysine, which is added to feed for poultry and swine. A $51 million expansion project is underway to allow the plant to make another amino acid, L-Threonine.

Posted in News |

1 seriously hurt in Ringgold County motorcycle vs. golf cart crash

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A man on a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle was seriously injured during a collision with a golf cart Saturday afternoon, in Ringgold County. The Iowa State Patrol reports an EZ Go golf cart driven by 30-year old Brett W. Cannon, of Mt. Ayr, was turning left from U-S Highway 169 in Mt. Ayr onto E. Monroe Street, when the motorcycle, driven by 54-year old Dewayne A. Clark of Mt. Ayr, passed the Cannon on the left.

Neither Cannon nor his passenger were hurt. Clark, who was not wearing a helmet, was injured and transported by Mercy Air Care to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. The accident, which happened at around 1-p.m. Saturday, remains under investigation.

Posted in News |

Newspaper: Iowa used public funds for private schools

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has spent nearly $500 million in public money in the past decade to support private schools and home school programs, according to a newspaper’s analysis.

The Des Moines Register found that state money goes toward supporting private-school operations through busing assistance, textbook purchases, special education funding and scholarship support. The state also offers a tax credit for those who pay private-school tuition.

The state’s annual spending on nonpublic education grew from about $34 million in 2008 to roughly $53 million in 2018, according to figures from the Legislative Services Agency reviewed by the newspaper.

Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa teachers union, said public schools are hurt when private education gets state money. “Any increase they receive would come out of the coffers that would be set aside for public schools. We don’t understand why you would be taking money” away from public schools, he said.

Republican Rep. Walt Rogers, chairman of the Iowa House Education Committee, said there’s a growing trend to support people who choose different options. “I would say that that’s a good thing,” he said. “We want to give as many options for parents and students as we possibly can.”

The state has also provided funds to home-school assistance programs, which pair families with a teacher who provides instructional supervision. The programs can also provide field trips and other resources.

Posted in News |

Former, current Winnebago Tribe members plead guilty

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In a story July 21 about current and former members of a Nebraska-based tribe pleading guilty to misusing federal money, The Associated Press erroneously reported their tribal affiliation. Former councilman Amen Sheridan and current member Jeff Miller are members of the Omaha Tribe, not the Winnebago Tribe.

A corrected version of the story is below:

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A current and a former member of the Omaha Tribal Council’s governing council have pleaded guilty to misusing federal money to pay themselves bonuses. The Sioux City Journal reports that former councilman Amen Sheridan entered his plea Friday in Omaha’s federal court. Current member Jeff Miller pleaded guilty to the same charge on Thursday. As part of agreements that both signed with prosecutors, Sheridan and Miller are both expected to be sentenced to five years of probation on Oct. 19. Miller must repay $40,213, and Sheridan must repay $13,404. The two are part of a group of nine former council members charged with giving themselves bonuses out of $388,972 in federal money intended to provide health care to tribal members. The Omaha Indian Reservation is located in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Posted in News |

Volunteers provide food, care also in wake of Iowa tornadoes

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Update 2:45-p.m.) MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Businesses and volunteers are pitching in to provide more than cleanup in the wake of the destructive tornadoes that swept through three cities in central Iowa late this past week. A meatpacking plant provided hot meals to those in need Saturday, in Marshalltown, a city of 27,000 people that was hardest hit, the Times-Republican reported . The Animal Rescue League joined with local emergency management officials and a veterinary clinic to care for animals hurt or displaced.

The tornado that hit the city was among a flurry of unexpected twisters on Thursday that injured at least 17 people and flattened buildings in Marshalltown, Pella and Bondurant. Residents and weather forecasters were surprised by the storms, which left gaping holes in the sides of factories and homes. Vehicles were buried under topped buildings. Among the buildings hit in Mashalltown was the city’s historic, 132-year-old courthouse. The Marshalltown Historical Society said Saturday that despite the exterior damage, “there was miraculously little damage to our collection.” The organization will temporarily move its headquarters to a nearby location.

The JBS pork processing plant in Marshalltown also suffered extensive damage. Trailers and railcars were flipped and a static freezer that held 24 million pounds of pork was heavily damaged. General Manager Todd Carl said “We will probably lose all of this product,” but added that he expects production to resume next week. Alliant Energy said it hopes to have power in Marshalltown fully restored by mid-week. About 4,000 customers remained without power as of midday, Saturday.

Posted in News |

Iowa work release inmate sought after not returning from job

July 21st, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Iowa authorities are looking for a work-release inmate who failed to return to a Dubuque center. The Iowa Department of Corrections says 32-year-old Sylvester Paul Hubbard did not return to the Dubuque Residential Center on Friday night from his job. His escape comes a week after he was admitted to the facility.

Hubbard is serving a sentence for convictions of domestic abuse assault and other counts.

Sylvester Hubbard

Posted in News |

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