January 28, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / Archives for February 2009

Nine rookie Republicans tout wide-ranging bill

February 26, 2009 By

The nine rookie Republicans in the Iowa House joined today in introducing a bill which includes a wide array of proposals they say would help grow the state’s economy.

Representative Chris Hagenow of Windsor Heights is among the Republicans who are rookies in the 2009 legislature and he’s touting ideas like a property tax freeze and a new tax deduction for young adults who’re paying back student loans. "This is a positive set of proposals that is a positive, forward-looking approach to growing Iowa’s economy," Hagenow says.

Representative Annette Sweeney, a Republican from Alden, runs a business out of her home and she’s touting a tax credit for telecommuters like herself. "With this legislation that we’re proposing, our goal is to inspire Iowans to be proactive," she said. "Proactive not only just conversing, but proactive in every sense of the word, in getting people back to work, in establishing businesses and also expanding businesses."

Sweeney said she and the eight other rookie Republicans held a news conference at the statehouse today to show Republicans aren’t just the party of opposition, they’re the part of action, too. But Democrats, not Republicans, control the debate agenda in the House and Representative Erik Helland of Grimes concedes he and the other rookie Republicans need Democrats to support the bill to get it to pass. "We think it’s pretty solid policy and we’d invite anyone to pile on board on the bill and start pushing it along through the legislative process," Helland says.

 

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Waterloo man convicted on two counts of 1st degree murder

February 26, 2009 By

A Black Hawk County jury has convicted a Waterloo man on two counts of first-degree murder. The jury rendered the verdict against Martaves Keys Thursday morning, finding the Waterloo man guilty of both murder counts in the November 2007 shooting deaths of Ronald Scullark Junior and Anissa Schroeder.

The jury got the case Wednesday afternoon and deliberated for about three hours. Jurors returned to the courthouse to resume deliberations Thursday morning and presented their verdict around 10:30 A.M. During the trial, which lasted nearly three weeks, prosecutors accused Keys of killing Scullark and Schroeder while trying to steal drugs.

The victims were both shot in the head from close range in an S-U-V that crashed into a fence in front of a Waterloo home. The verdict means Keys will spend the rest of his life in prison with no possibility for parole.  

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Senate approves bill allowing release of some 9-1-1 info

February 26, 2009 By

A measure approved by the Iowa Senate today would ease the confidentiality of 9-1-1 calls. Under the bill, a telephone company customer could sign up for a service that alerts a designated person if the customer calls 9-1-1. Senator Brian Schoenjahn, a Democrat from Arlington, says a new technology makes the service possible.

"If you upon your authorization, if one of your family members or relatives makes a 9-1-1 call, that you would be notified that a call was made," Scheonjahn says. Schoenjahn says the content of the call would remain confidential. Under current law, only those providing 9-1-1 service have access to information about callers.

Scheonjahn says, "The company will not tell you the contents of the call but will simply notify you that a call has been made. This is a very good idea." The Senate approved the bill unanimously and sent it on the House. Law enforcement agencies lobbied for the bill. 

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters Tagged With:

DMACC women forfeit 10 games over "administrative error"

February 26, 2009 By

Des Moines Area Community College will be forfeiting several women’s basketball game after it was determined the program used an ineligible player. Head coach Steve Krafcisin says the move will prevent the team from playing in the region tournament.

Krafcisin says they have to forfeit the games they won that she was in, including 9 conference games and one non-conference games. The means the team will be 4-14 instead of  13-5.

Krafcisin says he feels bad for the players. "It was a rough day yesterday, I’m gonna be honest with you, but we dealt with it," Krafcisin says. He says the motto he uses all the time is "blame none, expect nothing and do something."

DMACC athletic director Orv Salmon says player was ineligible because of a class that started five days late. They appealed, the decision and did not win, and had to forfeit the games.

Salmon called it an administrative oversight. He says it was an "adult administrative error, misinterpretation of the rule."

The Bears have a game scheduled for tonight at Iowa Western. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

It’s senior night for the Iowa women

February 26, 2009 By

It’s senior night in Iowa City as the Iowa Hawkeye women host Illinois. Five seniors will be honored but it may not be their final game in Carver-Hawkeye. The school will host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and at 18-9 overall the Hawks have a good shot at landing a spot in the field.

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder says it will be tough to say goodbye to the seniors, but she says it’s helpful to know they will likely be back in Carver for a few more games.

The Hawkeyes have won four straight and stand 11-5 in the Big Ten while the Illini are 4-12 in conference play. Bluder says two of those wins in conference are against Indiana, a team Iowa has split with. She says they will do the senior ceremony after the game to keep the team focused.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

About INS Superior Student Program

February 26, 2009 By

The INS Superior Student program is a companion program to their Athlete of the Week program and recognizes students who excel in any of several areas, including: academic; community involvement; arts, music and theater; church; social organizations and clubs; as well as student entrepreneurs. Kristi Arp, the marketing manager for Iowa Network Services, explains:

Listen/Download MP3

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Council Bluffs teen faces terrorism charge after alleged threat

February 26, 2009 By

A 17-year-old from Council Bluffs faces a terrorism charge after allegedly threatening other students on the school bus. Council Bluffs Public School District spokeswoman Diane Ostrowski says the boy was on the bus between Carter Lake and Council Bluffs when other passengers heard the threat.

It was reported this student mentioned a gun and indicated he would use the gun on students, she says. Ostrowski says one of the passengers told a parent about the threat. The parent then called the school to report it, and that is when the school took action. She says, "The school became aware of the incident because of a parent sharing that information with us so that we would investigate it and involve the Carter Lake Police."

Ostrowski says the boy was confronted and questioned and then taken into custody. He is also out of school while the investigation is underway. "Absolutely, we take every report of a threat like this extremely seriously, take all measures to follow through in determining what exactly happened." The teen was arrested Monday. He was attending Thomas Jefferson High School. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »