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Iowa to see no impact from ruling on teenager life terms

News

January 26th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes retroactive a 2012 ruling striking down automatic life prison terms for people sentenced as teenagers is not expected to have much impact in Iowa since the state’s Supreme Court already extended the federal court ruling.

The federal court justices on Monday voted 6-3 to extend the 2012 decision to previous cases involving teenage killers. Now, even those who were convicted long ago must be considered for parole or given a new sentence.

Iowa’s high court in the 2013 appeal of Jeffrey Ragland had already concluded the federal court’s 2012 ruling applies retroactively to teenagers previously sentenced to life. The Iowa Attorney General’s office says the ruling affected 39 Iowa juvenile life offenders and most of them have already been resentenced.

No. 14 Iowa State beats No. 4 Kansas 85-72

Sports

January 26th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Monte Morris scored 21 points, Georges Niang had 19 and No. 14 Iowa State blew past Kansas 85-72 on Monday night for its fourth straight win. Abdel Nader added 17 points for the Cyclones (16-4, 5-3 Big 12), who have beaten three of the top four teams in this week’s Top 25. Iowa State overcame a sluggish start with a 24-7 run midway through the second half, and Niang’s three-point play made it 80-67 with 2 minutes left.

Perry Ellis had 23 points and Frank Mason III scored 16 to lead Kansas (16-4, 5-3), which lost its third straight road game. The Jayhawks have lost four of their last five against the Cyclones, a first for a Bill Self-coached team against a Big 12 opponent.

Weather forces cancellations/postponements of area basketball games, 1/25/16

Sports

January 26th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Woodbine vs. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, ppd.
Westwood, Sloan vs. Missouri Valley, ppd.
Southwest Valley vs. Red Oak, ppd.
East Mills vs. Shenandoah, ppd.
Bedford vs. Fremont Mills, Tabor, ppd.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Woodbine vs. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, ppd.
North Nodaway, Mo. vs. South Page, College Springs, ppd.
Creston vs. Essex, ppd.
Southwest Valley vs. Red Oak, ppd.
Atlantic vs. Treynor, ppd.
Missouri Valley vs. Westwood, Sloan, ppd.

Iowa lawmakers seek clarity on early literacy initiatives

News

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of Iowa lawmakers say they want more clarity from education officials on the implementation of early literacy initiatives in the state. Members of the Senate Education Committee told officials from the Iowa Department of Education on Monday that they want more data on how some state dollars are being used to improve reading proficiency for students between kindergarten and third grade.

A 2012 state law aimed at improving literacy for young students includes monitoring, programming and testing. It also requires a summer reading program for third-graders, though education groups have expressed concern about how it will be funded and implemented.

Some lawmakers suggested state officials give school districts more guidance on programming for students. A department spokeswoman says the agency appreciated the meeting and will provide follow-up information.

Iowa House panel OKs bill to remove age limit on handgun use

News

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel in the Iowa Legislature has given initial approval of a bill that would remove the age limit for children to use a handgun under the supervision of a parent. A House Judiciary subcommittee agreed Monday to send the legislation forward to its full committee. A similar measure last session had little support in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The bill would allow a child of any age to possess a pistol or revolver under direct supervision of a parent or guardian. Current law requires the child to be at least 14 years old. State law has no age limit for a minor to possess a rifle or shotgun if there is consent from a parent or guardian. Several bills in the House this session propose expanding gun rights.

Medicaid official: Iowa is ready for privatization in March

News

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s Medicaid program says she’s “very confident” the $4.2 billion system will be ready for private management on March 1, though some lawmakers expressed lingering concerns. Mikki Stier from the Iowa Department of Human Services told lawmakers Monday her confidence comes from more signups of Medicaid health providers and better communication to Medicaid recipients about the switch.

The state’s Medicaid program provides care to some low-income people, children and disabled individuals. Three private companies are scheduled to take over the program amid growing criticism from some lawmakers that the new setup needs better state oversight.

Stier told lawmakers about 45 percent of Medicaid service providers have signed up with all three private insurers. Some lawmakers on the Senate Human Resources Committee said the number should be higher.

Iowa House votes on growth rate for basic aid to schools

News

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The debate over K-12 education spending in the Iowa Legislature has begun to take shape with a set of procedural votes.The Republican-controlled House voted Monday for legislation that would set a new growth rate for basic aid to schools in the fiscal year that begins in July. The bill now heads to the Democratic-majority Senate, where lawmakers have indicated the proposed increase is not adequate to properly support school districts.

The chambers are expected to go back and forth with procedural votes before the issue is debated through special legislative meetings. K-12 education takes up about $3 billion of the state’s roughly $7 billion budget. Gov. Terry Branstad has proposed a growth rate that is lower than what Democrats want, but also higher than what is supported by Republicans.

Tim Meadows impersonates Ben Carson at Iowa State game

Sports

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Former “Saturday Night Live” actor Tim Meadows made a surprise appearance before Iowa State’s basketball game against Kansas — playing Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson. Meadows showed up at half court roughly 90 minutes before tip-off in Ames, Iowa. The public address announcer introduced him as Carson, and Meadows proceeded to sing the national anthem in the neurosurgeon’s voice.

The only fans in the building were in the student section — and they had no idea Meadows would be making an appearance. But by the end of “The Star Spangled Banner” many of them were singing along. Meadows told The Associated Press that he was shooting a comedy sketch for the Funny Or Die website, adding that he planned to film additional segments Tuesday.

Winter Weather Advisory expanded to include Adair, Adams & Union Counties

Weather

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-POLK COUNTIES…

329 PM CST MON JAN 25 2016

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE AND SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…FREEZING DRIZZLE AND LIGHT SNOW WILL PERSIST INTO THIS EVENING. ROADS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY ICY THROUGH 6 PM AS PRECIPITATION CONTINUES…SO BE PREPARED FOR A SLOW COMMUTE HOME IF TRAVELING. PRECIPITATION WILL SWITCH TO ALL SNOW BEFORE ENDING WITH UP TO AN INCH OF NEW SNOWFALL.

All counties in purple are under a Winter Weather Advisory.

All counties in purple are under a Winter Weather Advisory.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…ANY ICE AMOUNTS SHOULD ONLY BE A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH. SNOW AMOUNTS OF UP TO ONE INCH.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 15 TO 25 MPH WHICH MAY LOWER VISIBILITIES IN RURAL AREAS THIS EVENING FROM BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS…ROADWAYS AND WALKWAYS WILL BECOME SLICK…ESPECIALLY ON UNTREATED AND ELEVATED SURFACES… CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. ROAD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AS SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW PERSIST INTO THE EVENING.

 

Winter Weather Advisory continued until 6-pm for west/n.w. Counties

Weather

January 25th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE COUNTIESTHE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THAT WAS SET TO EXPIRE AT 3-P.M. IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM

* SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON…ENDING BY EARLY THIS EVENING.

* SNOWFALL OF UP TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED…WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS NEAR THE INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDOR IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR:SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS AND CASS COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.