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Cedar Rapids creates task force to deal with gang violence

April 22, 2010 By

The federal government and law enforcement agencies in Linn County are working together to stop the spread of violent crimes. There was a drop in overall crime in Cedar Rapids last year, but there was an uptick in the number of violent crimes related to gangs and guns.

 That prompted the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a handful of other law enforcement agencies to put together a safe streets task force. Northern District U.S. Attorney , Stephanie Rose, says gang violence is not as bad in Iowa as it is in other states. However, Rose says the special task force is still needed to prevent violence from spreading.

“What often happens is people come into a community and they are sort of classified as gang wanna-be’s and then they become gang-really be’s, and eventually they become the source for all the gang members who are really truly violent gang members back in their home cities to come here and start over in our new communities,” Rose explains.

The F.B.I. created the Safe Streets program about twenty years ago to help local law enforcement root out gang and gun violence. Cedar Rapids Police Chief, Greg Graham, says the number of violent crimes increased last year and that’s why the Safe Streets program was launched in Linn County.

Graham says,” We’re being very strategic, working with the community and with each other to try to get the right people off the streets and I’m very pleased with where we’re at today however I’m not satisfied that we’re done. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.” F.B.I. Special Agent, Weysan Dunn, says Safe Streets has been used in Iowa before but Linn County has the only active program. Dunn says gang violence is unique in Iowa because the majority of problems come from other states.

“Most of our most serious gang problems emanate from individuals who have come here from other, larger metropolitan areas and established roots to some degree, ” Dunn says. He says there has been an overall rise in gang and gun violence throughout the country. The collaboration with the F.B.I. allows federal funding to be used for overtime, equipment, and transportation costs.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Severe weather a possibility heading into weekend

April 22, 2010 By

Much of Iowa can expect some rain and possibly severe storms over the next few days. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brad Small says the chance for storms runs tonight through Saturday. “The biggest threat for severe weather looks to be tomorrow as the system approaches the Missouri Valley with main threat over southwest Iowa and into Kansas and Missouri,” Small said.

If the forecast holds up, Small says Iowans could be spending much of their weekend indoors. “The severe weather threat mainly should be around Friday and possibly early Saturday with more general showers through the remainder of the weekend,” Small said. The storms could include flash flooding, large hail, high winds and tornadoes. Iowa has yet to record a single tornado this year.

“The tornado threat is somewhat conditional,” Small said. “If the conditions are such that stronger storms develop, then tornadoes would be a possibility.” State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says Iowa in recent years is averaging about 48 tornadoes per year. Last year, only 25 tornadoes were recorded. In 2008, Iowa had 105 tornadoes.

Filed Under: Weather

Plans underway to sell Iowa State Fair tickets at Iowa Lottery terminals

April 22, 2010 By

The Iowa Lottery Board has given the approval for the Iowa Lottery to move ahead with a plan to sell tickets for the Iowa State Fair. Lottery C.E.O. Terry Rich says it’s an idea that would help both organizations.

Rich says they are looking at a joint effort that would allow them to pre-sell tickets for the fair at the lottery terminals across the state at a reduced price. The Iowa State Fair currently has their own tickets printed, but this arrangement would print the tickets at the lottery terminals.

Rich says there would be a $1 handling fee, but the fair tickets would still be discounted compared to buying them at the fair gate.

Rich says the tickets would look a lot like a Powerball ticket with the same paper and coding, but would be for the fair. Rich says the plan would save the State Fair money, and would expand their reach with over 2,000 terminals where people can buy tickets.

He says they are trying to find ways to help other agencies in these tough economic times. Rich says if the State Fair plan works, they could look at selling things like fishing licenses at lottery terminals too, and save other agencies some money. He says it would also be more convenient for state residents as the lottery terminals are in all 99 counties.

Rich says it would also help the lottery by giving them more exposure to those who buy State Fair tickets at the lottery terminals. Rich expects to make an announcement of the plan to move ahead with the idea in July.

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With: ,

Iowa Farmer honored for environmental stewardship

April 22, 2010 By

On this 40th annual Earth Day, a central Iowa farmer and rancher is being honored as the 2010 Iowa Environmental Stewardship Award winner by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Bill Couser runs the Couser Cattle Company, a second and third-generation feedlot operation in Story County.

“We call our farm the full circle,” Couser says. “From the seed production to the commercial corn to the feed lot and the co-products to taking the manure back out to the farms and replenishing the land, we see ourselves as a full circle entity here.” His operation encompasses about 3,500 head of cattle and 5,000 acres in seed corn and soybeans.

“When we look at Iowa agriculture, whether it be the Iowa farmers, the livestock industry, whatever it is, every day is Earth Day for us out here,” Couser says. “What we plan to do here is give this land to the next generation better than we received it.” Couser started raising beef cattle as a teenage 4-H member.

After college, he started raising cattle and hogs with his parents and launched his own operation in 1977. He says he views the land as his livelihood and his legacy as he uses science-based land management practices on his cattle feed lot to protect our natural resources.

“It’s one of the recyclers of the world,” Couser says. “We can take a lot of the biomasses that come off these fields and use that in our rations and our feedstuffs to be able to economically support and feed these animals throughout the year. When we look at these places that we do not farm that are basically there for livestock and grazing, it’s just a great way to utilize all these areas in the state.”

Iowa leads the nation in the number of acres set aside for conservation on private farmlands, reducing soil erosion, protecting water quality and stabilizing stream banks. Couser says Iowa’s ethanol producers strive to minimize impact on the environment and maximize resources.

“We look at the ethanol industry and we look at the co-products coming out of the ethanol industry, it’s just huge what Iowa agriculture has done for this industry,” Couser says. “When we look at feeding and fueling the world, we can do that here, with all of us together and working together.”

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation

State breaking ground today in Fort Madison for new prison

April 22, 2010 By
Artist rendition of new prison.

Artist rendition of new prison.

Iowa Department of Corrections officials will break ground on a new maximum security prison in Fort Madison this morning.

Corrections Department Director John Baldwin says the new maximum security prison carries a price tag of roughly $130 million.

The facility is expected to be ready to house prisoners sometime in 2013. The existing prison has 550 beds while the new building will hold 800 inmates.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government
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