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State health survey says fewer kids smoking and drinking

May 29, 2009 By

A new survey shows fewer Iowa teenagers are drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Kathy Stone, with the Iowa Department of Public Health, says the Iowa Youth Survey involved nearly 98,000 students at schools around the state.

The survey was conducted in October of last year and the results were released on Friday. Stone says 81% of the students surveyed said they had not consumed alcohol in the past 30 days, while 94% said they had not used marijuana. The survey is taken by 6th, 8th and 11th graders. It shows 37% of 11th graders had at least one alcoholic drink in the previous 30 days.

That marked a dip from 41-percent in 2005 and 48% in 1999. Eighteen-percent of 11th graders reported smoking at least one cigarette in the last 30 days. That down from 20% in 2005 and 41% in 1999. Stone says the survey also asks students about bullying, gambling and their attitudes and beliefs.

"We asked students if they’ve any thoughts or plans of suicide in the past year. Nine-percent of all the students that responded answered yes, while 15-percent of 11th grade girls said yes, they had considered suicide in the past year," Stone said. "That’s very concerning to us."

Marijuana smoking and misuse of prescription drugs remains unchanged from the 2005 survey. Thirteen-percent of 11th graders said they had smoked pot in the past 30 days, while eight-percent said they had abused prescription drugs.

"We know that substance abuse prevention messaging does matter," Stone said. "Kids do pay attention to that, even though it may not seem like that to parents and schools. We know that when parents, schools and communities work together they can improve teen alcohol and drug use." The Iowa Youth Survey has been conducted every three years since 1975.

The 2008 report is 118 pages long and is available on-line here .

 

Filed Under: Health & Medicine Tagged With: ,

Des Moines man charged with attempted murder in mother’s stabbing

May 29, 2009 By

A Des Moines man is charged with assault and attempted murder after police say he repeatedly stabbed his 40-year-old mother early this morning. Sergeant Lori Lavorato says officers were called to the mother’s home at 2:30 a.m. and found 22-year-old Deshawn Davis outside the back door.

"The officer said he had a very distant look in his eyes," Lavorato said. Davis was ordered to the ground and placed in handcuffs before officers entered the home and found Davis’ mother. Her name is not being released. She told police that her son first attacked her with a knife just before midnight.

"They had been having some issues and she’d been hiding from him under a table," Lavorato said. "Each time she would try to get out from under the table, he would assault her and stab her. Somehow she got to a phone and called a family member." The mother is being treated for multiple stab wounds to the back, hands and arms. Lavorato says the injuries are not considered life-threatening. Investigators found three bloody knives in the home.  

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

West Burlington G.E. plant laying off workers

May 29, 2009 By

Several people are now out of a job in West Burlington. About one fifth of the employees at the G.E. plant in West Burlington will lose their jobs. According to officials at the G.E. Consumer and Industrial’s plant, roughly 60 hourly positions are getting the ax.

Plant Manager Jim Lowell cited the continued decline in orders from customers for the changes. He did say many of the reductions will be special early retirement options, which will reduce the effect on other employees.

The G.E. plant manufactures low-voltage switchgear. A little more than 310 people are currently employed at the facility.

 

Filed Under: Business Tagged With:

Deadline approaching to sign up Century and Heritage farms

May 29, 2009 By

The deadline to sign up to recognize farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more is coming up. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. Northey says applications need to be postmarked by June 1st to be recognized this year at the state fair.

Century farms that have been in the same family for 100 years will be recognized, as will Heritage Farms, which have been in the same family for 150 years or more.

Northey says the ag department asks some questions to verify the farms fit the requirements. Northey says there are different ways to document that the farms have been in the family, and generally it is not hard, although finding 150-year-old records can sometimes be hard. Northey says there are still several farms every year that are added to the honor list.

He says last year they had 67 heritage farms and 344 century farms, and he says there are people who are very proud of the designations. The 2009 Century Farms Program ceremony will be held at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday, August 18th, and the Heritage Farms Program ceremony will be held Thursday, August 20th.

You can find out information about registering your farm on-line at the Iowa ag department website . 

Filed Under: Agriculture

Culver wants tax cut for "middle class Iowans"

May 29, 2009 By

Governor Chet Culver says if he finds public support for the idea, he’d like to give “middle class Iowans” a tax cut next year. A significant income tax change failed to pass the 2009 legislature before it adjourned last month, but Culver chalks that up to poorly executed public relations.

“There’s been a lot of partisan bantering about, a lot of misinformation,” Culver says. “Most people don’t know, for example, that the last proposal on the table included a $50 million tax cut where 80 percent of Iowans would get a tax cut or no change in their taxes.”

Culver suggests there was nothing really wrong with the tax package that failed to clear the 2009 legislature as it met his objectives.

“I’ve said all along the only type of tax reform I’m in favor of is one that gives the majority of Iowans, especially hardworking Iowans, a tax cut,” the governor says.

Culver says he plans to travel the state over the next few months to talk with Iowans and get their ideas on tax reform.

“The last plan that we had proposed on the table…had 80 percent of Iowans getting a tax cut or no change. It was a net tax cut of $50 million for hardworking folks,” Culver says. “Whether or not we can get something like that passed next session has yet to be seen, but Democrats are in favor of a tax cut.”

Culver rejects predictions from Republicans who charge Culver and his fellow Democrats who control the legislature have overspent and will be forced to raise taxes next year. Culver, in particular, pointed to remarks the Republican state auditor made during an appearance on the IPTV program “Iowa Press.”

“Republican Auditor David Vaudt was on this show a year ago predicting gloom and doom. He said that there’s no way during the 2009 session that we can balance the budget without major tax increases or major layoffs — and he was wrong, and here they go again,” Culver says. “You’re hearing the same partisan rhetoric from the Republicans whether it’s their chairman or the Republican leaders. It’s doom. It’s gloom. It’s despair. The Democrats are the party of hope and opportunity.”

Culver is the guest on this evening’s “Iowa Press” program which airs at 7:30. 

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

Penalty increases for illegal use of diesel fuel

May 29, 2009 By

Farmers and others would face higher penalties for illegal diesel fuel purchases under legislation the governor signed into law this week. Taxes aren’t charged on diesel for off-road use — in tractors and construction equipment, for example.

But Victoria Daniels of the Iowa Department of Revenue says some people buy the tax-free fuel and then use it for vehicles they drive on the state’s roads. Daniels says the department asked for the higher penalties when fuel prices were extra high.

“We start working on our legislative package early in the year and about the time we were working on this we were seeing fuel prices at $4 a gallon and above and that just kind of sparked the idea that maybe this was something we needed to take a look at,” she says. Diesel fuel that’s not taxed is to be used for industrial and agricultural vehicles that do not traverse the state’s roads and streets.

“It’s always a problem. There are always people (who) want to circumvent the system,” she says. “But it was the anticipation that the higher costs could lead to increased noncompliance and fraud.” The bill also enhances penalties for trying to impede inspectors from checking for improper use of the fuel.

Diesel reserved for off-road use is dyed red. The diesel fuel used in school buses isn’t taxed either. According to the latest information from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, diesel fuel for on-the-road vehicles was selling for an average price of $2.18 a gallon in the middle of May.

The state tax on a gallon of diesel is 22.5 cents. Those caught using red-dyed diesel in an on-the-road vehicle used to face a $200 fine for a first violation. That penalty will now be $500. The penalty for a second violation doubled to $1,000.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Man dies in O’Brien County accident

May 29, 2009 By

A Paullina man was killed in a traffic accident in O’Brien County Thursday. The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Jordan Clarence Fiddelke. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Fiddelke was driving north on an O’Brien County road about two and a half miles south of Sandborn when he lost control.

The car went into the east ditch and vaulted over a field driveway, came back down in the ditch, then crossed the roadway and entered the west ditch. The vehicle came to rest in the west fence line and started on fire. The accident happened shortly before 7 p.m. last night.

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters
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