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Democrats propose $100 million for disaster response, preparation

March 11, 2009 By

The Democrats on the House Rebuild Iowa Committee are proposing a $100 million spending package that would address some issues related to the 2008 flooding in Iowa. But Representative Tom Schueller of Maqueketa says it will, more importantly, prepare the state for future floods.

"I believe that we…have a responsibility to provide for future emergencies by providing for programs and projects designed to be utilized immediately upon a disaster," Schueller says.

The package would set aside $20 million for flood prevention projects and $6 million for soil conservation and water retention efforts. It would address the plight of 2008 flood victims by setting aside $12.5 million of state funding for home buyouts.

Representative Todd Taylor, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, will formally present the bill to the House Rebuild Iowa Committee this evening. "And we’ll be trying to again put into legislative action the lessons we’ve learned from committee work earlier the last seven weeks," Taylor says. "…This committee is a little bit different. It was created this year…obviously in response to the horrible disasters that we’ve had."

Republicans on the committee are unhappy they weren’t consulted or asked to contribute ideas for the package. House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha questioned the timing. "This seems to be more about the press release than it does about the bill, which is disappointing," Paulsen says. "But, you know, we’ll do our job."

Earlier this year the legislature passed a $56-million flood relief package which the governor signed into law. That money came from the state’s emergency reserves and Paulsen says it makes sense to dip into that account again for the $100 million outlined in the Democrats’ proposal since that account is for emergencies.  Democrats say they’re unsure whether the money will come from that account or be part of the $750 million dollar borrowing package Governor Culver inends to unveil tomorrow.

Click on the audio link below to listen to the news conference held this morning by Democrats on the House Rebuild Iowa Committee.

AUDIO: Democrats news conference. 15:00 MP3

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government, Weather Tagged With: , ,

Most Congressional disaster aid remains to be distributed

March 11, 2009 By

Most of the 6 billion dollars in disaster aid Congress approved last fall remains to be distributed. Iowa has received about $125-million in grants while Cedar Rapids has gotten just under $40-million. Cedar Rapids city manager Jim Prosser says the money isn’t coming fast enough.

"It’s just wrong for the federal government to be sitting on their hands and sitting on these funds," Prosser says. "These funds have been approved by Congress and there’s no reason that they shouldn’t be given out to us. It’s causing our people, our residents, our businesses it’s causing them more damage and more pain."

While the funds were approved about six months ago, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has only released about two-billion out of the 6 billion. HUD is in charge of giving out the money in the form of Community Development Block Grants, which help with buyouts and rebuilding homes and city buildings. HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan Friday says the agency is still analyzing all of last year’s disasters.

Sullivan Friday says, "We are keenly aware that we’ve got to get this money to where it’s needed most, but I will tell you that the state of Iowa has millions of dollars available to it, so, the only question left to answer is how much more of the money will go to Iowa." He doesn’t know when HUD will release the remaining funds.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has a different take on the situation, indicating it’s the governmental leaders back in Iowa who need to get their paperwork finished. Grassley says, "There’s a lot of money laying there and most of it is just waiting for the cities and counties and state governments to make use of it."

Sullivan Friday, at HUD, says with more than 70 presidentially-declared disasters last year, it’s a lengthy process to release the funds. 

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Unemployed in Iowa tops 80,000 first time since 1987

March 11, 2009 By

Iowa’s unemployment rate jumped from 4.4% in December to 4.8% in January. Kerry Koonce is a spokesperson for Iowa Workforce Development, which keeps track of the state’s jobless numbers.

She says the unemployment stood at 3.9% one year ago. In January, more Iowans were without a job, roughly 80,600, than anytime in over two decades. "It’s the first time, unfortunately, that we’ve surpassed the 80,000 mark since September of 1987," Koonce said.

It’s possible that the February report will show Iowa’s unemployment rate topping 5%.  That hasn’t happened since the end of the farm crisis 21 years ago. "A lot of people are comparing this recession to the 1980s, but for Iowa, we had an unemployment rate of over 8% back then and we’re certainly not at that kind of a level (now)," Koonce said.

Over the past year, Iowa’s biggest job losses have come in the manufacturing sector – most notably at companies such as Deere and Company, Rockwell Collins and Winnebago Industries.

Koonce says Iowa lost nearly 12,000 manufacturing jobs between January 2008 and January 2009. That accounted for most of the 17,500 total job cuts in the state. The professional and business services sector trimmed 9,000 positions over the year, while construction cut 2,900 jobs.

Iowa did experience some areas of job growth. "Education and health services, predominantly health services, gained almost 4,000 jobs over the year. So, that helped offset some of those losses," Koonce said. Trade, transportation and utilities also added 1,500 jobs. From December to January, construction was one of the hardest hit sectors of Iowa’s economy.

The state lost 900 construction jobs over the month. "But, since Spring is coming, hopefully that (sector) will start to rebound," Koonce said. Iowa is receiving $2.1 billion from the federal stimulus package, which Koonce believes could help replace a large percentage of the job losses in both construction and manufacturing. 

Filed Under: Business Tagged With:

Cedar Falls man takes own life after standoff

March 11, 2009 By

A Cedar Falls man is dead following an overnight standoff with police. Officers were called to the Country Terrace mobile home park late last night on a report of a distraught man inside a residence with a gun.

Upon their arrival, police learned a woman and two children were also inside the trailer home. The Cedar Falls police tactical team was called in to negotiate with the man, who released the woman and children about an hour after the standoff began.

Authorities say the standoff ended after about 3 1/2 hours when the man shot and killed himself.

Authorities haven’t yet released the name of the victim. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Culver vows to "help where I can" on labor bills

March 11, 2009 By

Governor Chet Culver says he supports allowing workers to choose their doctor. Late last night a House committee endorsed a bill which would let workers designate a doctor of their choice for treatment of injuries they sustain on the job.

"I think it’s a fundamental fairness issue. I think it’s a right that Iowa workers should have," Culver says. "Most of us do — more than 80 percent of us can choose our own doctor, so I hope that we can fight for those who don’t have that choice."

It’s unclear whether there are 51 votes in the House to pass the bill. Another labor-related bill that would have required a prevailing wage be paid to those working on taxpayer-funded construction projects failed in the Iowa House last month by one vote — and Culver, a Democrat, tried to help round up that last vote among six Democrats who voted against that measure. The governor vows to talk with reluctant Democrats about this "choice of doctor" issue as well. "Like a lot of issues here at the capitol, I’m engaged and try to help where I can, so I’ll be talking to a few key legislators and trying to encourage them to vote for this," Culver says.

Culver calls the bill which emerged from the House Labor Committee last night a good compromise. "I’ve always said that we need to try to find common ground on some of these tough labor-management issues and whether it’s fair share, choice of doctor, prevailing wage or collective bargaining — I really think that we’re making a concerted effort to be pragmatic and practical about what, ultimately, gets to my desk," Culver says. "And I think this session we’ve really done a good job of having a fair balance between business interests and labor and workers interests."

Last year, Culver vetoed a bill which would have expanded the subjects which may be discussed when union workers in government agencies enter contract talks. Culver has been meeting with legislative leaders to try to craft a compromise on that proposal as well. "I’ve made it very clear including last year when I vetoed some legislation that that’s my goal — let’s try to meet in the middle here," Culver says.

 

 

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

West Des Moines police arrest 13 in prostitution sting

March 11, 2009 By

West Des Moines police released details of a prostitution sting today that involved the arrest of 13 men from several different cities. Lieutenant Jeff Miller says they started the investigation after a call from an apartment complex. He says the managers of the complex contacted them and said there was a lot of foot traffic in an out of one room.

Miller says police investigated and found a woman who admitted she was using the room for prostitution, and the woman then agreed to help police and they set up the sting. Miller says the woman was advertising through an on-line dating service, and that is how she lined up so many customers.

Miller says the technology and computer age makes it easier for people to contact one another. Miller says this many arrests for prostitution is unusual for West Des Moines. Miller says in his 30 years they’ve arrested "a few men and just only a few women" for prostitution. He says they will continue to monitor the dating services to make sure if this is happening, they will investigate it.

Miller says the woman was an adult, but they are not releasing her name or other details as she is considered a confidential informant. The men were all arrested in February and charged with prostitution.

They men are: 52-year-old Wesley Taylor of Fort Dodge; 60-year-old Danny Malloy 60 Montezuma; 49-year-old Rody Bennett of Russell; 50-year-old Brent Rippentrop of Waukee; 51-year-old David Vestal of Clive; 47-yeard-olc Robert Kerzman South Elgin, Illinois; 61-year-old Armando Villareal of Des Moines; 52-yeard-old Mark Rasmussen of Jefferson; 57-year-old Michael McClure of Dallas Center; 64-yeard-old Kenneth Krueger of Iowa Falls; 52-year-old Ted Sage of Ames; 43-year-old Earl Ogden of Huxley; 70-year-old Kenneth Denger of Perry.

The men were all processed and released on a citation to appear in court at a later date.  

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Corallville woman’s trial delayed

March 11, 2009 By

The trial of a Coralville woman, who’s accused of killing her son and attempting to kill another, has been delayed. Thirty-five-year-old Michelle Kehoe’s trial had been scheduled to start next Wednesday, March 18th, but a defense motion asking for a continuance was granted during a pretrial conference on Tuesday.

Kehoe is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and child endangerment. She was found on October 26th of last year in a rural area of Buchanan County with her 2-year-old son, Seth, and 7-year-old son, Sean. All three had cuts across their throats. Seth Kehoe died from his injuries.

Court documents show investigators recovered a knife from a nearby pond and Sean told them his mother caused his injuries and killed his younger brother. A new trial date has not been set. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts
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