Iowa News
WINTER WEATHER Iowa roads slick after freezing precipitation AMES, Iowa (AP) – Road conditions remain slippery across northern Iowa after freezing rain fell across much of the state. The Iowa Department of Transportation said conditions were starting to improve after the storm system left the state Sunday afternoon, but roads may be slippery through overnight hours. A section of northbound Interstate 35 between Des Moines and Mason City was closed for several hours Sunday because a semitrailer truck blocked the roadway. Butler County was one of the hardest-hit areas after receiving over half an inch of precipitation that froze quickly after hitting the ground. Areas of dense fog, mist and frost may form overnight, and precipitation may refreeze on roadways. The latest information about road conditions is available online at www.511ia.org or by calling 511 in Iowa.
BOIL ADVISORY-ATTICA Residents of Iowa town ordered to boil water ATTICA, Iowa (AP) – Iowa environmental officials have ordered residents of Attica to boil their water before using it because of a water main break. The city’s water system lost pressure on Saturday, so there is a possibility of bacterial contamination. Tests will be done to determine if there is bacteria in the water. Officials say residents should boil water for one minute before drinking it or using it to cook as a precaution. Attica is about 45 miles southeast of Des Moines.
IOWA CAPITOL FOCUS Iowa lags behind in electing women to top jobs DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – When Iowa lawmakers started their legislative session this month, 35 women were among those reporting to the Capitol. That matches the state’s record for women in the 150-member General Assembly. But despite increasing their numbers in in Des Moines over the years, women in Iowa continue to struggle with a political glass ceiling. The state has never elected a women governor and is one of just four states to never send a woman to Congress. Insiders cite many likely reasons for why Iowa politics remains a boys club. Among them are the lack of term limits in the governor’s office and the low turnover of the state’s congressional seats. Women’s groups are working to recruit more candidates to run for office.
IOWA US SENATE Rep. Braley may run for Harkin’s Senate seat WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Rep. Bruce Braley says he is considering running for Tom Harkin’s U.S. Senate seat in 2014. Harkin announced Saturday that he won’t run for a sixth term in the Senate, which the Democrat was elected to in 1984. Braley says he has heard from Iowans all over the state since Harkin’s announcement. Braley says he’s overwhelmed with the encouragement to run. Braley is a 55-year-old Waterloo attorney who was first elected to represent northeast Iowa in 2006. Braley says he will carefully consider running for the Senate. He says the state deserves a senator who will continue standing up for Iowans who don’t have a voice just as Harkin did.
DRAKE-MISSOURI ST Missouri State tops Drake 78-72 SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – Anthony Downing scored 26 points to lead Missouri State to a 78-72 victory over Drake on Sunday. Keith Pickens added 19 points and seven rebounds for the Bears (6-15, 4-5 Missouri Valley), who completed the regular-season sweep of the Bulldogs. Missouri State also won 77-65 at Des Moines, Iowa on January 5th. Marcus Marshall scored 12 points for Missouri State. The Bears, who shot 56 percent in the game, trailed by 10 early in the second half but took the lead for good at 58-57 on Downing’s basket with 6:52 to play. Ben Simons led Drake (9-11, 3-6) with 19 points. Micah Mason scored 17 and Seth VanDeest added 12 points for the Bulldogs, who were coming off a 74-69 home win over No. 17 Creighton on Wednesday. The Bears are 21-1 all-time against Drake in Springfield, Missouri.
IOWA-PURDUE Purdue defeats Iowa 65-62 in overtime WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Terone Johnson had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Ronnie Johnson scored 15 to lead Purdue to a 65-62 victory over Iowa on Sunday. Donnie Hale had 12 points and five rebounds and D.J. Byrd had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Boilermakers (11-9, 4-3 Big Ten), who have won four of their last five. Mike Gesell had 18 points to lead the Hawkeyes. Roy Devyn Marble, Aaron White and Melsahn Basabe each scored 12 points for Iowa (13-7, 2-5). Basabe also had eight rebounds. Purdue never trailed in overtime. Ronnie Johnson scored the go-ahead basket with 1:27 left in overtime to give Purdue a 61-59 lead. The Hawkeyes missed two free throws and two field goals and Byrd extended the lead with two free throws with 30 seconds left to make it 63-59. The two teams meet again on February 27th in Iowa City.
T25-IOWA-MICHIGAN Doolittle, Iowa women down No. 23 Michigan 63-57 ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Bethany Doolittle tallied 19 points as Iowa avenged a January 6th loss to Number 23 Michigan with a 63-57 victory Sunday. Iowa (16-5, 5-1 Big 10 Conference) trailed 32-30 at halftime, and after briefly leading by three points on Samantha Logic’s jumper with 11:28 left, trailed 52-50 with 6:09 to play. Jamie Printy made it 53-52 with a 3-pointer with 5:52 left, and after two Kate Thompson free throws for Michigan, Doolittle hit a go-ahead jumper that put the Hawkeyes ahead for good with 5:20 to play. The jumper sparked an 8-1 Iowa run, with Doolittle accounting for all eight points via jump shots. Doolittle hit 9 of 15 from the floor as Iowa drained 46 percent (23 of 50) of its shots. Printy pitched in 14 points. Jenny Ryan led Michigan (16-4, 5-2) with 20 points and four assists. The Wolverines had won the teams’ first matchup 68-64.