May 22, 2012

You are here: Home / 2010 / April / Archives for 2nd

FBI tells governor to be on alert for threatening letter

April 2, 2010 By

The F.B.I. has advised more than 30 governors, including Iowa’s, to be on alert after a group called the “Guardians for the Free Republics” sent a threatening letter to the governors. The “Guardians of the Free Republics” wrote Iowa Governor Chet Culver and the other governors, saying they should leave office within three days or the governors would be removed.

The group’s website says it is forming grand juries to dismantle parts of government. According to the F.B.I., members of the “Guardians of the Free Republics” believe they are free from the duties of a U.S. citizen, like paying taxes or obtaining a state-issued drivers license.

Federal authorities say they’re concerned the group’s anti-government message could prompt some to act violently. The state of Nevada has installed metal detectors and other security measures at the capitol in Carson City this week. After the September 11th attacks, the statehouse in Des Moines was equipped with metal detectors and security guards are stationed at entrances to screen visitors and incoming packages.

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

House leader expects to see less gambling related issues next session

April 2, 2010 By

A key Democrat in the Iowa legislature predicts lawmakers will get less pressure next year to deal with gambling-related topics. This past week the 2010 legislative session concluded, without action on proposals casinos wanted, like the ability to conduct poker tournaments in convention centers located next to a state-licensed casino.

But House Democratic Leader Kevin McCarthy says the casino’s big push this past year was to get legislators to change the process of voter authorization for casinos. Under current law, a referendum must be held once every eight years in counties that are host to a casino and many of those referendums will be held this fall.

“Next year it’s probably less likely that we will have another gambling debae because that pressure of the referendum will not be there,” McCarthy says. “That referendum will not happen for another eight years.” One idea legislators considered this year was to let casinos operating in counties which have approved at least two gambling referendums to pay the state a fee. In return, those casinos would only face a referendum if voters in the area collected enough petition signatures to place the issue of the casino’s future on the ballot.

“The casino that’s already proven themselves wouldn’t have to do it over and over again,” McCarthy says, “spending needless dollars on public relations campaigns.” But that proposal got wedded to other controversial ideas, like allowing on-line wagering and McCarthy says that doomed prospects for gambling-related legislation. McCarthy is a Democrat from Polk County which is home to the Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino in Altoona.

A referendum will be held in Polk County this fall to determine whether gaming can continue at Prairie Meadows.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Manchester man sentenced in child porn case

April 2, 2010 By

A Manchester man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for producing child pornography. Twenty-five-year old Kyle Kirby had pled guilty in federal court last month to one count of producing child porn. According to court records, Kirby used false accounts on Facebook and other on-line social networks to solicit minors.

Kirby posed as a minor female and persuaded 14 and 15 year-olds to send him sexually explicit pictures of themselves. Kirby also sent sexually explicit images to children to persuade them to generate and send images to him. He was sentenced in federal court to 240 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.

By Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Former western Iowa teacher arrested in Nebraska

April 2, 2010 By

A former western Iowa high school music instructor was arrested in Nebraska for allegedly videotaping female students while they were undressing. Thirty-year old Adam Martin was arrested at his home Wednesday, following an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol. Officials with the Central City, Nebraska School District notified the Patrol Wednesday, about an incident reported on Monday.

Several female students rehearsing for a musical competition were changing clothes in the school’s choir room, when one of the girls noticed a video camera on a cabinet. The students turned the camera over to Martin, told handed the camera over to school administrators the following day.

While Martin initially claimed there was nothing recorded on the device, but school officials said otherwise, and he was placed on administrative leave while the Patrol conducted an investigation. Martin was subsequently arrested on a charge of unlawful intrusion. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

He posted bond Thursday night and was released from custody. Prior to being employed with the Central City Schools, Martin was a music instructor for the Griswold Iowa School District. He’d been let go last year, during a round of budget cuts.

By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Barnstormers back at top level of Arena Football

April 2, 2010 By

The Iowa Barnstormers open their new season Friday in a sort of throwback situation for the indoor football team. The Barnstormers have been playing the Arena-2 league, but marketing director Greg Boyd says they’re stepping up to the top level.

Boyd says the league has been restructured over the past year with a lot of new ownership groups. He says they combined some of the better teams in AF-2 with some of the stable teams from the Arena League for a 15-team league that will put Des Moines up against larger cities such as Orlando and Phoenix.

Boyd says they are back on the level of the glory days when players like Kurt Warner suited up. He says it puts them back on the top level very similar to the first Barnstormers teams that played in the ArenaBowl. Boyd says there are some familiar names on this team.

Boyd says Tim Dodge is back with the team, the former University of Iowa player was also on the original Barnstormers. Former Iowa State University wide receiver Todd Blythe is also on the roster. The new Arena League will have several games on television nationally, including tonight’s on the NFL Network.

Boyd says they are the first game that’s on national TV and there will be a nationally televised game on Fridays. He says Iowa will be on five times, including four home games. Boyd says they chose the Barnstormers for the first game because of the fans and the atmosphere they create. He says tickets are available.

He says you can go on-line at “The IowaBarnstormers.com”, or you can call 515-633-2255. You can also get the tickets at the box office, or at Des Moines Dahls stores. The Barnstormers open up tonight against the Chicago Rush, with kickoff at seven p.m. in Wells Fargo arena.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With:

Grenades create a scare at Mason City treasure hunt

April 2, 2010 By

Antiques don’t usually provide issues for local authorities, but the Mason City Fire Department had to deal with a couple of live grenades. Someone brought a box of military memorabilia to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow at the Holiday Inn right around 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon.

Fire Captain Jack Odegaard says there were at least two live grenades inside the box with the pins still in place. The box was taken outside of the hotel and the state fire marshal’s office was called in to properly dispose of the items. No one was hurt in the incident.

By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

New conservation license plates now on sale

April 2, 2010 By
Deer plate

Deer plate

Two new specialty license plates that help benefit natural resources in the state are now available for Iowans to purchase and place on their vehicles.

The two plates, one featuring a buck deer and the other a brook trout, are expected to generate an additional one-million dollars a year for two Department of Natural Resources’ programs.

Since 1996, D.N.R. plate sales and renewals have totaled about $12 million. Ross Harrison, with the Iowa D.N.R., says the plates benefit the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program.

“The plates also help the DNR’s Wildlife Diversity program which is aimed at about 1,000 species of wildlife that aren’t considered sport or game species, like chickadees and eagles,” Harrison said.

Three current plates dedicated to the effort feature a goldfinch perched on a wild rose, a pheasant and a bald eagle. Motorists who already have a natural resources specialty plate can trade it in for one of the new designs for just $5. First time buyers will pay a bit more.

Trout plate

Trout plate

“It’ll cost $45 for the plates and then every year after that there’s a renewal price of $25,” Harrison said. The two new plates were designed by Cedar Rapids artist Greg Bordignon, who also created the pheasant and eagle plates.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With:
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »