Iowa News

WHOOPING COUGH-BOOSTERS        Iowa requires whooping cough boosters for school        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials are making a one-time booster shot for whooping cough a requirement for school enrollment.        The state Department of Public Health says the requirement for students enrolling in seventh grade in the fall becomes effective Wednesday. Officials say it will reduce whooping cough cases, which surges every few years.        Children usually receive the bacterial vaccine when they’re toddlers. They’re recommended to get a booster dose around 11 or 12 years old. The booster shot also includes vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria.        The change will require the vaccine be given to students enrolling in grades seven and up if born on or after September 15th, 2000.        The National Immunization Survey says about 74 percent of Iowa teenagers have received the Tdap vaccine. The national average is about 78 percent.

HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTION        Iowa House GOP backs plan to rebate taxes        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – House Republicans are proposing to divert money into a fund that would be returned to Iowa taxpayers.        Most Republicans signed onto a measure assigned Wednesday to the Ways and Means Committee. The proposal would increase government allocations to a so-called Taxpayer Trust Fund.        State law now requires 10 percent of a budget surplus to go toward cash reserve and emergency funds.        The new proposal would direct any additional money into the trust fund, which could be credited back to taxpayers.        House Speaker Kraig Paulsen says the measure shows that Republicans want any “overpayment of tax dollars” to be returned to residents.        The measure could pass the House, where Republicans hold a majority, but likely would face problems in the Senate, controlled by Democrats.

HUCKABEE-IOWA        Mike Huckabee to attend Iowa GOP event in February        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is scheduled to headline an Iowa Republican Party fundraiser in Iowa next month.        Huckabee is to be the keynote speaker at the February 23rd event, called “Celebrate Life,” to be held at Point of Grace church in Waukee.        The event is aimed at promoting restrictions on abortion, a top priority for social conservatives in the Iowa Republican base.        Huckabee is a popular figure in this segment of the party. He won the 2008 Republican presidential caucuses on the strength of support from evangelical Christians.        Huckabee, an author and popular program host on the Fox News Channel, has visited Iowa several times since his 2008 campaign. He headlined similar social conservative forums in Iowa during the 2012 GOP caucus campaign.

WOMAN BURNED        Iowa woman burned from smoking on oxygen tank        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Fire officials say a Des Moines woman severely burned herself after she lit a cigarette while using a home oxygen tank.        The Des Moines Register reports the woman suffered second-degree burns Wednesday in a downtown apartment. She was later transported to a burn treatment center in Iowa City.        Officials say smoking while using an oxygen tank is strongly discouraged. Des Moines Fire Department Capt. Steve Brown says the mix can cause a flash fire that can engulf a smoker’s head and cause burns to the throat and lungs.

CEDAR RAPIDS HOMICIDE        Iowa man pleads not guilty in mother’s slaying        (Information in the following story is from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/)        CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Cedar Rapids man accused of killing his mother with a crowbar has pleaded not guilty.        Edward Cusic pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a written arraignment filed in Linn County District Court.        Cusic is charged with first-degree murder in the December death of 68-year-old Anita Cusic-Labkon. Police say she died of blunt force trauma.        Court documents say Cusic told a 911 worker that he killed his mother with a crowbar after she threatened him with a knife inside the house they shared.        Cusic remains in jail under a $1 million bond. He told the newspaper that he was acting in self-defense.        BODY FOUND        Des Moines police charge man with murder

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines police have arrested a man in the death of a woman whose body was found in her apartment.        Police arrested 42-year-old Lavelle McKinley on a material witness warrant Wednesday morning, and then charged him with first-degree murder in the death of Cynthia Rouse. Police say McKinley didn’t have a known address but was living in the Des Moines area.        Rouse’s body was discovered Monday morning.        Police haven’t released the cause of Rouse’s death or other details about the case.

IOWA ST-LYNN        Former ISU track coach Lynn dies at age 61        AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State says former Cyclones track coach Steve Lynn has died after falling in his home last week.        The school says the 61-year-old Lynn died Wednesday at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames due to injuries sustained in a fall five days ago.        Lynn, an Oskaloosa native, began a 30-year career with Iowa State as an assistant in 1977. Lynn spent 14 years as the head of the track program, and his sprinters and hurdlers combined to earn 56 All-America nods.        Lynn also coached his daughter Erica and son Scott at Iowa State.        Lynn had served as the executive director of the Iowa Senior Olympics since 2009.        Iowa State says funeral arrangements are pending

WEST VIRGINIA-IOWA ST        Iowa State holds off West Virginia 69-67        AMES, Iowa (AP) – Freshman Georges Niang hit a layup with 2.5 seconds left and Iowa State beat West Virginia 69-67 Wednesday night despite blowing an 18-point lead.        Melvin Ejim had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Cyclones (12-4, 2-1 Big 12), who survived an unexpectedly wild finish for their second straight win.        Iowa State opened the second half with an 18-4 run and led by as much as 56-38. The Mountaineers (8-8, 1-3) tied it at 67 on 3 by Jabarie Hinds with 11.6 seconds left, but Niang got wide open for the game-winner underneath the basket.        Hinds had 20 points for West Virginia. Juwan Staten, the Mountaineers second-leading scorer, had seven points and seven assists after being benched by coach Bob Huggins for the previous three halves.        West Virginia missed its first 12 3-point attempts before hitting nine of its last 12.

EVANSVILLE-DRAKE        Hines leads Drake over Evansville 83-69        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Chris Hines had 21 points and made five 3-pointers to lead four Drake players scoring in double figures in an 83-69 victory against Evansville on Wednesday night.        Ben Simons added 18 points, Richard Carter 13 and Seth VanDeest 11 for the Bulldogs (8-9, 2-4 Missouri Valley) in Des Moines.        Colt Ryan had 25 points with eight rebounds and went 16 for 16 at the free-throw line for the Purple Aces (11-7, 4-2). D.J. Balentine added 13 points and Ned Cox 12.        Drake, which shot 50.9 percent (29 of 57) from the floor, including 11 of 20 from 3-point range, took permanent control with a 20-4 run over an 8:07 stretch of the second half. Simons had seven points and Hines had two 3-pointers during the surge.        The Purple Aces, who defeated then-Number 23 Wichita State on Sunday, had a four-game winning streak snapped.

DRAKE-DANIELS        Drake says BC transfer Daniels to join team        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Boston College point guard Jordan Daniels is transferring to Drake.        The Bulldogs say Daniels will be eligible at the end of the fall semester next season. Daniels will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.        The 5-foot-9 Daniels averaged 6.4 points and 2.6 assists for the Eagles in 2011 to 2012 while starting 25 games. Daniels, a native of Fontana, California set a career high with 21 points in an upset of Florida State last season.        Drake coach Mark Phelps says Daniels is a quick, composed and poised point guard who is also an outstanding 3-point shooter.

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