February 9, 2012

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Buckle-up requirement for teens in backseat

February 2, 2010 By

Teenagers would have to buckle-up in the back seat if a bill that cleared the Senate Transportation Committee becomes law. 

Under current state law, all front seat passengers must wear a seatbelt and anyone under the age of ten must wear a seatbelt whether they’re in the front or back of the vehicle.  Senator Daryl Beall, a Democrat from Fort Dodge, says accident data shows kids over the age of 11 and most teenagers under the age of 18 are not wearing seat belts.

“Sixty-eight percent were unbelted compared to 32 percent who were belted,” Beall says, “(with) two times as much chance of going to the hospital and requiring hospitalization and subsequent care.”

Senator Bill Heckroth, a Democrat from Waverly, says the move may save lives and prevent catastrophic injuries among backseat passengers.

“Many times it’s head injuries, brain injuries because they hit the top of the car or the windows in front so they may not be a casualty from that stand point but they certainly have their lives changed,” Heckroth says.  “I think when it comes to protecting the young people and protecting ourselves, actually, this is a bill that is probably long overdue.”

But what if your car doesn’t have enough seat belts for all the kids?  Beall has an answer. ”There is a waiver that if you have four children in the back seat and only three seat belts, I guess mom and dad have to choose which children they love the most,” Beall says.  “….There won’t be a ticket issued for not having all four (children buckled up).” 

The measure now goes to the full senate for debate.  

Motorists caught violating the existing state law on seat belt usage are fined $25 and Beall’s bill would extend that fine to those who don’t have all the kids and teens in the car buckled up.

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

House endorses early out package for state workers

February 2, 2010 By

The Iowa House has endorsed a package of incentives designed to get several hundred long-time state workers to retire early. A bonus of up to $25,000 for workers who’ve been on the state payroll for 25 years or more is among the incentives, along with state-paid health care coverage for five more years.  

“I do think this is a well-thought-out bill,” Representative Marcella Frevert, a Democrat from Emmetsburg, said during House debate.  “It provides that bridge between being able to take early retirement and that time when people are able to go on Medicare.” 

[Read more...]

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

Iowa coach says team shows signs of progress

February 2, 2010 By

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter wants to see a more consistent effort from the Hawkeyes. After showing signs of progress over a two week span the Hawks were dominated from start to finish in a 60-46 at Michigan and now take a 2-7 Big Ten record into tomorrow night’s game at home against Illinois.

Likcliter says it was frustrating as its his responsibility to establish constant habits and to insist upon their commitment to them, and they weren’t able to do that Saturday.

Lickliter says fatigue may have been an issue on Sunday. It was Iowa’s third game in a week. He says playing a Sunday to a Saturday with a road game that was emotional, you don’t get a break and are constantly preparing. Lickliter says he can see where the team would be flat. He says he can’t accept that as a coach, but can understand it.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Drake looks for different result in second meeting with Bradley

February 2, 2010 By

Drake is on the road in Missouri Valley Conference play this evening to take on Bradley. These teams met back in late December in Des Moines and the Braves posted a 67-59 win.

Drake coach Mark Phelps says they did not do well in the first game against an athletic Bradley team.

Drake comes into this game having won six of the last seven games. He says they are now a different team that is playing better.

Bradley coach Jim Les says the Bulldogs are a much better team than the one they beat in December and have changed the lineup a little to play three guards, which changed their look.

He says seeing three players score 20 points is a concern and they will have to play well. Drake is 6-5 in the Valley. Bradley is 5-6.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Luster Heights Correction Facility may get a reprieve from closing

February 2, 2010 By

There’s been a possible reprieve for a prison camp that sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Last night, the Senate debated a wide-ranging state government reorganization bill that originally called for closing the Luster Heights Correction Facility.

There are 52 prisoners in the minimum-security camp today, most of whom are parole violators or men who’ve been serving time in the Anamosa state prison and are nearing the end of their sentences. Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm, a Democrat from Cresco, told her fellow senators that the economic health of her district would be damaged if the camp is closed.

“The offenders at Luster Heights are low-risk and living at Luster Heights prepares them for life back in their communities. The offenders have jobs that help the state cover the costs of their incarceration. They work for the surrounding communities, cleaning the roadways and doing multiple jobs,” Wilhelm said. “This helps all Iowans, not just northeast Iowa.” Luster Heights is close to Harpers Ferry and about six miles northeast of Marquette.

Most prisoners are there for a four-month stay in which they agree to participate in a substance abuse treatment program. “If these low-risk offenders are put into the facilities with hard-core offenders, then it is likely that they will not be properly prepared to go back into their communities,” Wilhelm said. “And then it is likely they will reoffend and come back into the prison system, thus increasing our prison population.”

During last night’s debate, 38 senators — including Wilhelm — voted to keep the Luster Heights prison camp open. The debate about the future of the camp will resume Wednesday in the House State Government Committee when that panel begins its review of the entire state government reorganization plan.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Rain gardens, rain barrels part of Cedar Rapids flood control discussion

February 2, 2010 By

Cedar Rapids lawmaker pressing for a comprehensive flood prevention bill says legislative remedies won’t be enough to prevent future flood damage in Iowa. Senator Rob Hogg is urging Iowans to join the “million gallon challenge” to help divert rain water this spring. He says planting rain gardens or using rain barrels to collecting the runoff from downspouts can help prevent flooding.

“The legislature has its role, there’s legislation to be passed but we really need all Iowans to participate or else we face more catastrophic flooding in the future,” Hogg says. “And if we don’t change after 2008 I’m not sure what’s going to get us to change.” Officials with the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids recently launched the rain barrel campaign.

Capturing a million gallons of rainwater in barrels wouldn’t have prevented the floods of 2008, but Nature Center officials say it may have prevented last year’s flooding that destroyed two bike trails on the east side of Cedar Rapids. Hogg is helping with the drive to sell a thousand rain barrels in the Cedar Rapids area.

“And so if we can get a thousand people doing this in the Indian Creek watershed and thousands of Iowans across the state participating in one of these ways, we can reduce the peak flood damage and save Iowans thousands if not millions of dollars,” Hogg says.

According to an estimate from the staff at the Indian Creek Nature Center, a thousand rain barrels would keep 65,000 gallons of rain out of waterways during a single rainstorm and, in a “typical” spring or summer, a thousand rain barrels in Iowa would reduce runoff by one million gallons.

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters Tagged With:

Ames police catch robber delayed by train

February 2, 2010 By

Police in Ames caught a suspected bank robber who’s getaway was delayed by a train. Officers were called to the U.S. Bank branch on Main Street in Ames at 9:45 Monday morning. They were told a woman had handed the tellers a note and left with a bag of cash. Ames Police Commander Mike Brennan says the woman left on foot shortly before a train came through the area – sealing everything off south of downtown.

“Once the train cleared, one of our investigators spotted an individual who matched the description and by the time he got his car turned around and got out of the car to confront the individual, (the suspect) took off running,” Brennan said. The suspect was captured after a short chase and officers found a small bag containing cash from the bank. Brennan says the train definitely played a role in the suspect’s apprehension.

“We’re sure she was delayed a little bit by the train,” Brennan said. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Cindy Ann Davis of Ames, is charged with 2nd Degree Robbery.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts
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