ALERT :
- 6/18/13; West Hancock vs. Corwith Wesley Luverne Baseball will play varsity first at 5:45 p.m. No JV. :
Iowa News
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The latest Census figures show that Iowa had a net loss of more than 4,000 residents due to migration in 2011. The Gazette reports the latest American Community Survey shows that 74,516 people left Iowa in 2011 and 70,405 people moved to the state from elsewhere. That means that Iowa had a net loss of 4,111 residents in 2011. Nebraska was the most popular place for Iowans to move to with 9,575 people moving west. The second most popular destination was Illinois where 8,490 Iowans moved. But 13,725 Illinois residents also moved to Iowa, so that state was the biggest source of Iowa’s population gain. The Census says 13,345 residents of foreign countries moved to Iowa.
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY MidAmerican adds pollution controls at coal plants (Information in the following story is from: Sioux City Journal, http://www.siouxcityjournal.com) SALIX, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy has begun installing $180 million worth of new pollution control systems at its coal power plants in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports the upgrades will allow MidAmerican’s power plants to comply with new Environmental Protection Agency rules that take effect in 2015. They will reduce emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide and other particulates. One of the power plants should be done next fall. The second plant will be done in the spring of 2014. The work at both power plants will provide a boost to the economy around Sioux City because as many as 350 construction workers will be working on the project at a time. Des Moines-based MidAmerican is owned by Warren Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate.
UI EDUCATION COLLEGE Faculty member appointed to lead education college (Information in the following story is from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, http://www.press-citizen.com/) IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A longtime faculty member will serve as interim dean of the University of Iowa’s College of Education following the resignation of the former dean. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that Nicholas Colangelo was named to the position Friday. He replaces Margaret Crocco, who resigned Monday after faculty and staff complained about her performance and how administrators handled those complaints. The 65-year-old Colangelo has worked at the College of Education for 36 years. He’s a professor of counselor education and directs the Connie Belin and Jacqueline Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. University Executive Vice President and Provost P. Barry Butler made the appointment Friday, calling Colangelo a proven leader who is committed to the college’s success.
HOG CRATES-BUSES Des Moines bus gets anti-hog crate message (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines bus will carry a message against confining some hogs in small crates. The Des Moines Area Transit Authority bus will be wrapped in the advertisement for six month. The Des Moines Register reports the Humane Society of the United States paid $14,810 for the ad, which shows hogs behind metal bars. It’s part of the group’s efforts against use of the crates, in which some hogs are kept when pregnant. A similar ad will be placed on a bus in Washington D.C. The National Pork Producers Council has offices in both cities. Iowa Pork Producers Association spokesman Ron Birkenholz says he doubts the ads will hurt pork sales. Producers say the crates protect sows but animal advocates say the small crates are cruel.
LOCKED IN BASEMENT Trial set for Iowans accused of locking up 2 teens ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – A trial date has been set for a suburban Des Moines couple accused of keeping two teenage children locked in the basement when not at school. At a hearing Friday, a judge set February 13th as the trial date for 45-year-old Paul Drake and 44-year-old JoAnn Drake. They face charges of false imprisonment and neglect. The Iowa Human Services Department has removed the adopted 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy from the home after one of the children told school officials they were being locked up when not in school. The Des Moines Register reports that police were called to the Drake home in Ankeny at least 25 times between February and November on reports that the two children had run away or had hurt their parents or a family member.
HUNTER’S BODY Authorities ID hunter found in eastern Iowa woods (Information in the following story is from: Muscatine Journal, http://www.muscatinejournal.com) MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have identified a hunter found dead in a wooded area near Muscatine in eastern Iowa earlier this week. The Muscatine County Sheriff’s office says the body was Larry Weggen, of Muscatine. The body of the 63-year-old Weggen was found Wednesday night after a three-hour search for a missing hunter. Authorities did not release a cause of death, but they said it appears that Weggen died of natural causes.
LAWYER LIABLE Iowa man wins $50,000 judgment against lawyer (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man who says he was harassed and defamed by a lawyer has won a $50,000 verdict. The Des Moines Register reports that a Polk County jury ruled in Stanley Chase Burn’s favor in his lawsuit against James Sinclair. Burn, who is dating Sinclair’s ex-wife, was pleased with the verdict. His lawyer, Benjamin Bergmann, says his client didn’t deserve to be treated the way he was. Burn was living in an apartment owned by Sinclair when the dispute began. He says Sinclair broke into his apartment twice and harassed him at work. Sinclair’s attorney, Fred Anderson, says his client was glad the jury awarded minimal damages. Sinclair hasn’t yet decided whether to appeal the judgment against him.
DRAKE-IOWA ST Ejim lifts Iowa State past Drake 86-77 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Junior Melvin Ejim notched his 11th career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds as Iowa State beat Drake 86-77 Saturday in a contest marred by fouls. Ejim returned to the starting lineup after one game off the bench and responded with his fourth double-double of the season to lead the Cyclones (8-3). Drake (4-5) was down six with 3:13 left when Iowa State’s Will Clyburn stole a pass under the Bulldogs basket for a decisive dunk and three-point play. Clyburn finished with 17 points and 10 boards in Des Moines. Seth VanDeest had 18 points to lead the Bulldogs, who committed four straight turnovers down the stretch and had 31 of the game’s astounding 52 fouls. N IOWA-IOWA Marble scores 30, Iowa beats Northern Iowa 80-73
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Devyn Marble scored a season-high 30 points as Iowa beat Northern Iowa 80-73 Saturday in the inaugural Big Four Classic. Freshman Mike Gesell added a career-best 23 points for the Hawkeyes (9-2), who have won four in a row after a brief two-game skid in late November. Iowa buried a season-high nine 3-pointers in the first half in Des Moines, jumping ahead 40-32. The Panthers stayed within a few possessions for much of the second half but couldn’t quite erase Iowa’s lead. Deon Mitchell had 23 points to lead Northern Iowa (6-4), whose losses have come against Louisville, Stanford, Memphis and the Hawkeyes.