Iowa News

GUN RECORDS-IOWA        House panel OKs bill keeping gun records private        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gun permit records would be kept private under a bill that has cleared a state House committee.        The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved the measure, which would make the name, address and other personal information on gun permit records private.        The records of people seeking to buy or carry guns now are currently public in Iowa.        The issue came up after a suburban New York City newspaper published an interactive online map listing the names and addresses of thousands of permit holders.        Republican Representative Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, says the bill would protect Iowans who don’t own guns from criminals who could seek the information and then target them.

RED LIGHT CAMERAS        Bill to regulate traffic cameras dies in House        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers have decided not to change state law dealing with traffic cameras that ticket motorists for speeding or running red lights.        The chairman of the House transportation committee Wednesday decided against allowing a vote on a measure introduced by Republican Representative Walt Rogers of Cedar Falls.        The proposal would have required cities and counties to get a permit from the Department of Transportation before installing new traffic cameras. Local governments also would have needed to justify existing cameras by submitting traffic data to the department.        The transportation committee chairman, Representative Joshua Byrnes of Osage says he killed the bill because it lacked input from city leaders and support in the Senate.        Steve Gent, the transportation department’s director of traffic and safety, expressed disappointment, saying the bill followed agency guidelines.

UNION CONTRACTS        Change to union benefits could impact lawmakers        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – If a pending arbitration award for state workers includes Governor Terry Branstad’s proposal that workers pay part of their health insurance costs for the first time, it could prompt similar benefit changes for state lawmakers.        Like state workers, legislators have access to health plans that don’t require a monthly contribution. Some lawmakers say they will review their benefits after the award is announced Thursday.        Democratic Senate President Pam Jochum says lawmakers “don’t put ourselves above other state workers.”        Branstad wants union members in Iowa Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to start paying a portion of their health care costs. The union is seeking to maintain current health benefits and 3 percent raises over the life of the two-year contract.

MEREDITH-TIME WARNER        Meredith confirms talks over with Time Warner        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation is confirming the company held discussions with Time Warner about combining their magazines, but the deal has fallen apart.        Instead, Time Warner announced Wednesday it would split off its magazine unit into a separate, publicly traded company by the end of the year.        CEO Jeff Bewkes says the decision to split off the magazine company behind publications such as Time, Sports Illustrated and People will give the parent company “strategic clarity” and enable it to focus on its TV networks, movies and TV production businesses.        Meredith, which had been talking with Time Warner about combining their magazines into one company, says it respected Time Warner’s decision.        Meredith owns magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies’ Home Journal as well as local television stations.

CAR CRASH-PEDESTRIAN        Police: Iowa man hit man with SUV after argument        (Information in the following story is from: Telegraph Herald, http://www.thonline.com)        MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) – Police say an eastern Iowa man deliberately hit another man with his vehicle following an argument.        The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Charles Wright of Manchester faces an attempted murder charge in connection with the Friday incident.        A criminal complaint says Wright and the man were in an altercation at a bar. The man then left on foot and Wright followed him in his sport utility vehicle. Police say Wright steered his SUV onto a sidewalk and hit the man, before fleeing the scene.        The man was knocked into the street. His injuries were not life-threatening.        Wright was arrested Saturday and released Tuesday. A message left for his attorney Wednesday was not immediately returned.

SQUAD CAR ACCIDENT-LIABILITY        Jury: Waterloo to pay victim of squad car accident        (Information in the following story is from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, http://www.wcfcourier.com)        WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The city of Waterloo has been found liable of a 2008 squad car accident that left a man paralyzed.        A Black Hawk County jury returned a verdict Wednesday in favor of 22-year-old Jarvis Boggs of Waterloo. He was awarded more than $13 million, and will get just over $10 million after the jury ruled he was partially at fault for the crash.        The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the verdict includes money for past and future medical expenses for Boggs, who was paralyzed for life.        Waterloo Officer Dustin Yates’ squad car collided with Boggs’ vehicle in December 2008. Yates was traveling to a call without lights or sirens.        Both Yates and Boggs say they had a green light.

NORTHERN IOWA-EDUCATION        $15M gift boosts U. Northern Iowa teacher training        IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – University of Northern Iowa officials say a $15 million donation from Des Moines businessman Richard O. Jacobson will bolster the school’s teacher preparation program and provide better-trained teachers for classrooms across Iowa.        The donation announced Wednesday is the largest in school history. It will be used to recruit top professors for reading and science education, to conduct research on education reform and for scholarships to encourage high-performing students to become educators.        College of Education Dean Dwight Watson says the gift will allow the university to aspire to lofty goals, such as seeking to ensure all Iowa children can read by third grade and are exposed to more hands-on science learning in elementary school.        UNI President Ben Allen says the gift will enhance the university’s already well-regarded education training programs.

T25-OKLAHOMA ST-IOWA ST        Iowa State beats No. 13 Oklahoma State 87-76        AMES, Iowa (AP) – Senior Will Clyburn scored 20 points and Iowa State beat Number 13 Oklahoma State 87-76 on Wednesday night to bolster its NCAA tournament hopes.        Georges Niang added 18 points for the Cyclones (20-10, 10-7 Big 12), who notched just their second victory over a ranked opponent.        Oklahoma State trailed by as many as 15 points, but Marcus Smart’s reverse dunk made it 70-68 with 4:28 left. Clyburn answered with a 3 and Tyrus McGee’s 3 a minute later put the Cyclones ahead 78-68.        Smart was brilliant for Oklahoma State (22-7, 12-5), scoring 24 points with eight rebounds and five steals. But it wasn’t enough as the Cowboys lost in Ames.

 

Admin Log In