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Clayton county releases report on shooting

November 24, 2009 By

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Department has released some information on an early morning shooting last month in Luana that involved a deputy. The sheriff’s department says a high-speed chase with an unidentified deputy led to an altercation between 35-year-old Waylin Buerger of Luana.

Both men were taken to the Elkader hospital where they were treated and released for minor injuries. Buerger was charged with assaulting a peace officer, eluding an officer, O-W-I, a stop sign violation, speeding and driving on the wrong side of the highway. The sheriff did not release details of the actual shooting, including who fired the shot and if either of the men were wounded by the weapon.

The sheriff employed the Pairie Du Chien, Wisconsin police department to conduct an independent review of the incident. That review concluded that the officer’s actions were in accordance with the policies and procedures set by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department.

Contributed by Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Suspect arrested in Council Bluffs fire

November 24, 2009 By

Officials say a “potential suspect” is in custody in connection with a weekend fire near Council Bluffs. There was a fire at a small apartment complex south of Council Bluffs on Saturday.

State Fire Marshall John Ticer says a “person of interest” is being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on unrelated charges. “It was definitely an arson fire,” Ticer says. “Somebody had poured a flammable liquid around the building, particularly around the exit doors.” Ticer says attempted murder charges may be filed in the case, in addition to an arson charge.

All four apartments were occupied at the time of the fire, although no one was injured.

Contributed Kristan Gray, KMA, Shenandoah

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

A “D” & an “R” debate, Lincoln-Douglas style

November 24, 2009 By

A Democrat and a Republican plan to travel the state next month to hold 90-minute-long debates focused on key issues.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Rants of Sioux City and former Des Moines School Board member Jonathan Narcisse, a Democrat, will face-off six times in December to debate issues like tax reform, public safety and reducing the size of government at all levels.  Rants says he’s willing to accept the risk that he may say things that aren’t “universally accepted” by Iowans.

“Despite the fact that Iowa is facing a number of serious challenges, what’s happening in the gubernatorial debate right now — it’s become an issue-less debate,” Rants says.  “It’s more about who has the best name I.D. or personalities and it’s not really about ideas. It’s not really about solutions.”

Rants says the potential rewards outweigh the risks, as he may reach Iowans who he wouldn’t see at traditional Republican gatherings.

“I don’t believe in campaigns that are just soundbites and 30-second ads. I believe campaigns have to be about ideas and if the other Republican candidates won’t engage in that kind of debate, I’ll take it where I can get it,” Rants says.  “And when Jon made the offer, I thought about it and thought, ‘You know what?  There is more upside to this than there is downside.’”

Narcisse says the events are in the tradition of the historic “Lincoln-Douglas” debates.

“Iowans are hungry for solutions,” Narcisse says. “…The negativity, the sniping, the pandering, the platitudes have grown tiresome.  Iowans are hurting and Iowans want answers.”

Narcisse and Rants have set up a website — http://www.iowasolutionsdebate2010.com — where you can learn more about the debates.  The six debates will be held in Bettendorf, Ankeny, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Waterloo.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Legislation would extend deadline for flood tax breaks

November 24, 2009 By

Disaster victims across the Midwest would have more time to apply for tax breaks to help them repair or replace their devastated homes under legislation being introduced by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. He notes there are dozens of Iowans who lost their homes in the record 2008 flooding who are still waiting on government buy-outs.

“A house is ruined in a few minutes when the flood hits,” Grassley says, “but banks and governments can take what seems to be an eternity when it comes to recovery.” Due to delays in federal funding, Grassley says many homeowners in Iowa and elsewhere won’t be able to meet the deadlines for the tax relief intended to help with recovery.

Grassley says, “The tax relief that would be extended in what I just introduced will make sure families and individuals get tax relief they’re entitled to, even if they need more time to get permanent housing or are waiting to have their damaged homes purchased by local governments.”

Grassley’s earlier bill, the Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008, was signed into law in October last year, granting temporary tax relief to Midwesterners who were hit by the floods and tornadoes. He says the tax relief is very similar to what Congress offered people who were struck by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“It is pretty much the same thing and I did get it passed last year but it expires at the end of one year and so that’s why it has to be reauthorized,” Grassley says. “We do this for Hurricane Katrina victims, even five years afterwards.” Key tax provisions from last year’s disaster tax relief bill expire on January 1st of 2010. The new legislation will extend the benefits for a full year.

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

Cedar Rapids parking ramps give priority to green cars

November 24, 2009 By

Motorists who drive eco-friendly cars will have access to the best parking spots in downtown Cedar Rapids parking ramps. Two ramps, located on Third and Fourth Avenue, were damaged in last year’s flood. Sandy Pumphrey, with the Cedar Rapids Public Works Department, says city leaders wanted the renovations to include more sustainable features.

“One of the ways we’ve done that is just an inexpensive way…giving preferential parking to fuel-efficient vehicles,” Pumphrey said. The special parking designation signs will put in place soon. Pumphrey says the parking spaces will be located near exits. However, the new policy will not be enforced.

“It will simply be a kind of social pressure we’re looking to have here,” Pumphrey said. “If you have a huge truck that gets five-miles-per-gallon parking in a space like that, when you get back to your vehicle, you might get some looks from people around you or that kind of thing.” Cedar Rapids also plans to install charging stations in the ramps for electric cars.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With:

Newton-based Iowa Telecom sold to Arkansas company

November 24, 2009 By

Newton based communications company, Iowa Telecom, announced today it is being purchased by Windstream Corporation of Arkansas in a deal valued at $1.1 billion. Iowa Telecom director of corporate communications, Julie White, says the sale will allow the company to continue to compete in the highly competitive broadband market.

“As a public company it’s obviously our responsibility to create opportunities that are in the best long-term interest of our shareholders, for our customers, and we just determined that a transaction with Windstream really advanced our objectives in the longterm by providing a sufficient scale to compete, giving some stability in a highly competitive environment and really access to a broader market and a larger network for our customers,” White says.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Tagged With: ,

Texas pulls away from Iowa in the second half

November 24, 2009 By

Third ranked Texas broke away from a 38-38 halftime tie with a 17-0 run enroute to an 85-60 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the semifinals of the CBE Classic in Kansas City.

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter says they kept the Longhorns to 7 offensive rebounds, but had stretches where they had run outs and then couldn’t score. He says they were things they couldn’t overcome against the third-ranked team in the nation.

The Hawks outscored the Longhorns 25-12 to close out the opening half. Lickliter says Texas then came right at them to start the second half and they couldn’t counter. Iowa returns to action tonight against Wichita State in the consolation game.

Lickliter says it has been a demanding tournament, and hopefully it will help them to grow.

Iowa is 1-3.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,
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