Home News Friday Afternoon News, February 17th

Friday Afternoon News, February 17th

Meteorologist Says Today’s Temps Are No Indicator Of Temps For Late Spring and Summer

(Le Mars) — Calling the weather forecast for the next 30 to 90 days as a “typical spring” National Weather Services meteorologist Todd Heitkamp of Sioux Falls says the warmer than normal temperatures now occurring in February are
likely to continue into March, but it does not mean we are likely to have hotter than normal temperatures later this spring and summer.

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As for long-term precipitation levels, Heitkamp says we could see a wetter than normal April and May.

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Heitkamp says although it is unusual to have 60 plus degree temperatures in February, he says we have had these kinds of temperatures in the past, and he doesn’t believe too many high records will be broken during this warm spell.

Since northwest Iowa and the entire region have enjoyed warmer than normal temperatures, the question than becomes, “are we done with winter”?

 

Ernst And Grassley Share Concern  About Russia, North Korea, and Iran

(Washington) — Saying “Russia is NOT a friend,” U-S Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa told reporters during a media news conference on Thursday that she has concerns about the posturing positions that Russian leader, Vladimir Putin has shown in recent weeks. Ernst, a former colonel with the Iowa National Guard, and who
chairs the Senate Arms Services sub-committee on emerging threats, says she, and other U-S Senators, have written a letter urging President Trump to have a tough stance against the Russian aggression.

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Senator Ernst goes on to mention other concerns she has with Russia.

The Iowa Republican Senator told reporters that she is deeply concerned about Russia having a spy ship trolling just off the east coast of the United States.

Iowa’s other U-S Senator Chuck Grassley, says he is not as concerned about the Russian spy ship, but he is more concerned about North Korea and Iran shooting a test missiles.

 

Grassley Defends President Trump Despite Criticism

(Washington) — With cabinet nominees being fired, and others dropping out, and several noted incidences when President Trump’s spokespeople have had to backtrack on comments made during media appearances, several people have made the
accusation that the Trump administration is incompetent and not able to handle the duties of the president. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa is defending the Trump administration saying he hasn’t been in office even a month.
Grassley told reporters during a news conference held Thursday that President Trump has been the most aggressive president he has seen since Grassley was first elected a Senator more than 36 years ago.

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Grassley told reporters he would award President Trump with a grade of “B+” for the job he is doing during his first month of office.

 

Sioux City Council To Raise Fees On Stormwater

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The City Council is raising the stormwater fee by 50 percent but lowering the Sioux City property tax rate at the same time.
The council voted Thursday for the revenue adjustment.
The city finance staff is still calculating what the impact. The tax levy is being lowered but a state-mandated increase is scheduled in the percentage of the assessed valuation subject to taxation.
Finance director Donna Forker told the council that residential and commercial property owners will save more on their property taxes than they’ll pay on the stormwater fee. Forker says that’s because the stormwater fee base is broader than the property tax base.
Religious organizations, charities and other nonprofits are exempted from property taxes but must pay the stormwater drainage fee.

 

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit On U of I President Search

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has dismissed an open meetings lawsuit challenging the University of Iowa presidential search following the death of the retired professor who filed it.
Judge Ian Thornhill blocked a request by Harold Hammond’s estate to assign the case to a new plantiff, retired professor John Menninger.
The ruling cancels a trial scheduled for next month and avoids a decision about the merits of claims that search committee members violated the law by meeting outside Iowa and holding improperly closed sessions.
A second lawsuit over the 2015 search continues. That case alleges Board of Regents members violated the law when they met privately with their eventual choice, Bruce Harreld.
Thornhill says Hammond’s attorney waited too long to take action following Hammond’s death last June. He says allowing the case to proceed would be “prejudicial” to the defendants.
Hammond successfully brought a similar suit after the previous search.