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Bomb destroys pop machine in Cedar Rapids

March 30, 2009 By

The Cedar Rapids police bomb squad is investigating an explosion that heavily damaged a pop machine this morning around six o’clock. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Cristy Hamblin, says the machine was at an apartment complex on the Kirkwood Community College campus.

Hamblin says the machine was located between two buildings of the apartment complex and the device was place right inside the area of the machine where you would receive the pop. Kids sometimes make bombs out of pop bottles, but Hamblin says this device packed much more punch.

She says it was "quite and explosion" that scattered debris over 100 feet. Hamblin says they don’t have any suspects yet. Hamblin says they don’t have any suspects, but are looking over the evidence, including three vehicles that were damaged. They are also asking for the publics help in finding the culprit.

Hamblin says there are two possibilities for a reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case. The first is from Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CR-CRIME. Callers remain anonymous. The second is the Arson Hotline at 1-800-532-1459. There is there is a $15,000 reward fund throught he Arson Hotline.

Hamblin says you can also call the Cedar Fire Department with information at 319-286-5241 and still be eligible for the reward.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Cedar Rapids police officer seriously injured investigating robbery

March 30, 2009 By

A Cedar Rapids police officer was seriously injured early this morning while investigating a robbery. Cedar Rapids police say officer Tim Davis and partner Tracy Brumbaugh were working in a neighborhood in an unmarked car and plain clothes when they got a call reporting someone had been robbed at gunpoint by three men.

The officers responded to the call and arrived in the area to find three black males matching the description of the alleged robbers. They identified themselves as police officers and two of the men took off running. Officer Brumbaugh chased the two men, who eventually split up and lost her. Police then received a report of a man who was out of breath and sitting on a porch in the area. Officers then arrived found officer Davis at his car and unconscious.

Davis was taken to a Cedar Rapids hospital and then flown to Iowa City where he was to undergo surgery for a head injury. Police later identified Robert Lee Watkins the third as the man spotted in the area and arrested him and charge him with first-degree robbery and interference with official acts causing serious injury.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the other two men. Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham released this statement:

"Our department will not stop searching until we find these individuals responsible for Officer Davis’ injuries. It is going to be in their best interest to turn themselves into us, because we will not stop. "I ask that any citizen that knows anything about this, please come forward. If this was your son or brother or husband, you would want them held accountable, just as we do. This is a crime not only against Officer Davis, but against our community, as that is what Officer Davis was doing, protecting our community."

 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

White Senator apologizes for using the "N word"

March 30, 2009 By

(This story updated at 1:33 p.m.)

A white state senator who made a racially-charged comment last week emailed an apology to his colleagues this morning and spoke publicly about the incident early this afternoon. 

Senator Jack Hatch, who is white, used the "N" word to describe how he thought he was being treated by legislative leaders. Hatch made the comment to Representative Ako Abdul-Samad, who is black.

Hatch suggested he and Abdul-Samad were being treated as "slaves" by the "masters" at the statehouse.  Hatch, who is a Democrat from Des Moines, has sent an email to not only his fellow legislators, but to all staff members in the Iowa House and Senate.

In the email, Hatch told his colleagues he had made "an inappropriate reference" that was "wrong and inexcusable." He promised it would not happen again. Hatch’s racially-charged statements were made in reference to a bill which would expand the state program that provides health care coverage to kids who aren’t currently covered.

Hatch had shepherded the bill through the senate and he was expressing outrage over changes a House committee is making to the bill.

Shortly after the senate convened today, Hatch spoke publicly about the incident.  You may listen to his remarks by clicking on the audio link at the bottom of the page.

Read Hatch’s email below.

Dear colleagues and legislative staff,

I am writing to apologize for a comment I made last week. As legislators, our comments reflect on everyone, and last Wednesday I made an inappropriate reference. It was wrong and inexcusable. We are to reflect Iowa values, and Iowans are a tolerant group. Our values embrace diversity and legislators need to reflect our highest standards. Last Wednesday, I failed that standard and for that, I am sorry. It will never happen again.

If you want to discuss this with me, please seek me out.

Jack
___________________________________________________________________________________________

AUDIO: Hatch offers apology (mp3 runs 3 min)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Audit reviews $5 billion in federal funds spent by State of Iowa

March 30, 2009 By

A state audit reviewing how state officials spent over $5 billion in federal money has concluded all but one of the 570 programs which are financed by federal funds spent the money appropriately.

State Auditor Dave Vaudt says an "amazing" amount of federal money is distributed by state agencies. "We talk about our $6.5 billion budget at the state level from state tax dollars, but federal money coming back through is over $5 billion on top of that," Vaudt says, "so almost doubling up as far as taxpayer dollars go."

The review covers the 12-month state budgeting period that ended June 30th of 2008. It includes federal research money being spent at the state universities, unemployment checks sent to Iowans and federal highway money. The single largest chunk of federal money — about $1.7 billion — was spent providing health care coverage to poor and disabled Iowans who qualify for Medicaid.

Of the 570 different programs that were reviewed by the audit, problems were identified in just one — the "Family Investment Program" or welfare program. Vaudt says those Family Investment Program dollars were going to families or individuals who had qualified for other federal assistance because of an adoption or because the family had taken in a foster child.

"In 344 cases that we looked at, we found 70 cases where individuals were receiving not only Family Investment Program monies but also foster care payments at the same time for an additional one-to-five months which shouldn’t happen and we also found some dollars in the subsidized adoption and the Family Investment Program," Vaudt says. "Total dollar amounts that we’re talking about $17,000 related to foster care extra payments and a little over $5300 related to subsidized adoption."

That means of the roughly $5 billion in federal money that flowed through state agencies in the last budgeting year, Vaudt and his staff identified a little over $23,000 in questionable spending. Vaudt did, however, recommend some additional internal controls in a handful of state agencies to better track how money is spent.

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

Report says Iowa war memorial in disrepair

March 30, 2009 By

A memorial to some of Iowa’s most-decorated war heroes has fallen into disrepair. The state of Iowa owns an acre of land near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where each state has a monument to its Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.

Iowa Senator Dennis Black, a Democrat from Grinnell, says the state got a letter from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society with what he calls "shameful" news about the site.

"It states that the Medal of Honor Monument for the great state of Iowa is in crucial need of restoration and maintenance." Up until now, Black says no one in Iowa has been charged with maintaining the memorial. The Iowa Senate passed a bill to study what’s needed to restore or replace the monument. Black did some research on the state’s Medal of Honor recipients.

Black says, "To receive a letter that relates to the award for those heroes who receive it for the highest level of intrepidity and valor, to me, is kind of shameful." Starting with the Civil War, 108 Iowans have received the medal for unusual valor in battle.

Black says some Iowans’ names are missing from the monument, including the state’s only female recipient, Civil War surgeon Mary Edwards Walker, and Vernon Baker, the only African-American recipient of the award from World War Two.  

Filed Under: Military, Politics & Government

Looks like heavy snow will miss Iowa

March 30, 2009 By

It now appears that extreme northwest Iowa will escape the winter weather that was issued for later tonight and into Tuesday. National Weather Service forecaster Miles Schumacher says that part of Iowa should be spared the heavy snow that was predicted.

Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O’Brien, Plymouth and Cherokee counties were under the watch but the watch was canceled this morning by the Weather Service. Schumacher said parts of eastern Iowa had their share of snow over the weekend.

Schumacher said Iowa will experience rain and thunderstorms tonight and Tuesday as March is going out like a lion. There is still a chance for some light snow in the northern counties tonight. 

Filed Under: Weather

Effort underway to cut the word "retard"

March 30, 2009 By

Iowans are being encouraged to join an effort to refrain from using the word "retard." Mark Reed, president of Special Olympics Iowa, says people with intellectual disabilities view the word as a cruel and offensive slur.

"What we’re trying to do is educate people and raise their awareness about individuals with intellectual disabilities and how the ‘R’ word is very offensive to them and their families," Reed said. "We’re trying to encourage people to speak out and say ‘that’s not acceptable anymore.’ We should each hold ourselves accountable for not using that word."

The "R" word campaign rose from discussions at a youth summitt in February at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. "The youth decided that their goal was spread the word to end the word, promote awareness and initiate change," Reed said. Five athletes from Iowa competed in the Special Olympics World Winter Games. Reed says a number of community and school based activities are planned around Iowa Tuesday as part of the national effort to eliminate use of the "R" word.

"One example, at Western Dubuque High School, they’re reporting that a group of students are putting forth an effort in educating students and staff about the derogatory use of the ‘R’ word both in and out of school," Reed said. "They’re planning a week of activities."

Actor John C. McGinley, of the TV show "Scrubs," is helping with the national campaign by making media appearances. Organizers say they hope to collect 100,000 online pledges at www.r-word.org .

 

Filed Under: Human Interest
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