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Northwest Iowa couple accused of video taping nude tanners

March 17, 2010 By

A rural Storm Lake couple faces 58 counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly secretly taping their naked clients. Buena Vista County Sheriff Gary Launderville says the residence of Darwin and Janelle Zoch at 5257 100th Avenue was searched on February first, with several video tapes seized, along with a video camera, video taping equipment, computer equipment and four firearms.

Launderville says examination of the videos showed 25 victims — both male and female — had been taped while nude, using sun-tanning equipment at a business owned by the Zochs without the victims’ knowledge. The Zochs operated a hair salon and tanning business in Albert City between May of 2006 and last September.

Both were charged Tuesday with 58 counts of invasion of privacy, a serious misdemeanor. The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible.

By Joel Hermann, KAYL, Storm Lake

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Iowa woman part of Washington food safety rally

March 17, 2010 By

An Iowa woman, whose teenage daughter died from a foodborne illness, is heading to Washington D.C. today  to join others for a rally outside the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dana Boner and her husband Rick do not expect to ever know exactly what killed their 14-year-old daughter Kayla in November 2007.

But, Dana says the U.S.D.A. could prevent further deaths and illnesses by putting new regulations in place to identify dangerous pathogens that contaminate food products. “If your child is killed by a gun or by a person, we look for a killer – but when it’s meat or food poisoning, it’s done,” Boner told Radio Iowa.

“You have no answers what happened, why it happened, how could it happen…there’s nothing you can do.” Currently, the U.S.D.A. requires testing for one strain of E. coli – O157. The national food safety group Safe Tables Our Priority, or S.T.O.P., is asking the federal government to test for six other strains of E. coli.

The Boners believe their daughter contracted E. coli from eating tainted meat, but Dana says there’s no way to trace it back to a particular product. Kayla had the E. coli strain O111, which is currently not tested for in food products. Dana will meet with members of S.T.O.P. in Washington today  before taking part in a demonstration outside the U.S.D.A. offices on Thursday.

Dana says she’s becoming more comfortable in her role as a food safety advocate. “I’ve actually, just this last year, become more active,” Boner said. “I think I’ve come to grips with the shock or reality of everything where I can handle myself to do a little bit more. If it saves one person’s life or one less person gets sick, it’s worth it.”

Boner views her efforts as a way to keep Kayla’s memory alive. “She wanted to go to the University of Iowa, play basketball and become a pediatrician. Those were her goals in life…at least this way, I can save somebody’s life in a different way.” Dana and Rick Boner live in Monroe in south-central Iowa.

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

Bettendorf council meeting goes high tech

March 17, 2010 By

It’s not uncommon for traveling aldermen to take part in city council meetings by phone from their hotel rooms. But last night’s Bettendorf City Council meeting was a bit more high tech than that. The mayor, city administrator and two aldermen in Washington, D.C., used the Internet technology Skype to communicate with two aldermen back home in the council chambers.

Thanks to a couple of inexpensive cameras, both sides could see and hear other — and the call was free. The city officials in Washington are there for the National League of Cities Congressional Conference.

By Phil Roberts, Davenport

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Irish politician speaks to Iowa legislators

March 17, 2010 By
Ned O'Sullivan

Ned O'Sullivan

An Irish politician and his wife who are the honored guests at Emmetsburg’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were at the statehouse earlier this morning to say a few words in the Iowa House and Senate. Senator Ned O’Sullivan is a member of the Irish parliament.

“I’m speaking first in Irish or Gaelic, as you would know it, because Madelyn and I come from County Kerry which is one of the few remaining counties in Ireland where the Irish language is spoken fluently by all and where, in some of the remote areas, it’s still the first language of choice,” O’Sullivan said during remarks in the Iowa House.

[Read more...]

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

UNI wants more than a one and done NCAA trip

March 17, 2010 By

The UNI Panthers aren’t satisfied just to make the NCAA Tournament, they would like to advance to the second round. The Panthers are making their fifth appearance in the tournament in the last seven years and the four previous trips ended with five point losses in the opening round, including last season’s 61-56 loss to Purdue.

They hope to snap that streak on Thursday night when the meet UNLV in the first round of the Midwest regional in Oklahoma City. Junior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe says they had the attitude after they won the conference tournament that they have some more things to do now. A victory over the Runnin’ Rebels would set up a likely meeting with top ranked Kansas in the second round. Senior forward Adam Koch says they are thinking about that just yet.

Koch says they have a tough game right away and you have to get past that one. good start would help. Last year against Purdue the Panthers fell behind early and senior guard Ali Farokhmanesh that experience will help them avoid a similar fate on Thursday. He says there are a lot of new people this year too, but he says getting a good start is important.

UNI is 28-4. UNLV is 25-8.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,

Several traffic fines would go up under Senate bill

March 17, 2010 By

Iowans who are stopped for speeding or not wearing a seat belt would face a bigger penalty under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate Tuesday. The measure would raise dozens of traffic fines and court fees. Democrats say the extra $8 million will help pay for public safety programs and keep courtrooms open in a tight budget year.

Republicans, like Randy Feenstra of Hull, call it a tax increase and say Iowans can’t afford to pay more when they’re caught violating a traffic law. “Frankly, if I were a police officer, I’d be ashamed to fine someone $145 for a seat belt ticket,” Feenstra said. “Democrats are floundering to find more revenue because they’ve overspent the last three years. Now ,they have no problem sticking it to the residents of Iowa.”

Democrats argue the new fees are in line with what other states charge and should make Iowa roadways safer. Feenstra calls the higher traffic fines “regressive.” “A single parent, if they get a seat belt ticket, it’s going to cost them $145. A young girl will pay $100 for a speeding ticket and an elderly woman, it’s going to cost 145 dollars to go through a stop sign,” Feenstra said.

The increases are included in a budget bill funding the state’s prisons. The bill passed on a strict party-line vote. It now goes to the House.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With:

Free help study help available for college entrance exams

March 17, 2010 By

Iowa high school students preparing for the upcoming college entrance exams can get some free help on-line. John Gilman with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission says the information is easy to access. He says it’s free test prep for the A.C.T., S.A.T. and G.R.E. tests that was added to the “I-Have-a-Plan-Iowa.gov” website when that site was upgraded last year. Gilman says there’s a variety of different tests on the site.

Gilman says it will help strengthen your knowledge in English, Math, Reading and Science for the A.C.T., and to build and refresh skills for the advanced verbal and math sections of the S.A.T. He says you can test your abilities in verbal, quantitative, and analytical reasoning for the G.R.E., along with help in building your wordpower. Gilman says preparing and doing well on these tests can have a big impact on your college plans.

Gilman says many colleges base their first admissions on the A.C.T. or S.A.T., and some offer financial aid based on the scores on those standardized tests. Gilman says many services charge a fee to help you prepare for these tests.

The next test dates for the A.C.T. are April 10 and June 12. The next test dates for the S.A.T. are May 1st, and June 5th. The G.R.E. can be taken on-line on multiple dates.

Filed Under: Education
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