Le Mars City Council Approves K-N-S Addition
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council held a special meeting at noon on Thursday to decide the fate of the proposed K-N-S Addition which is to be located along 6th Avenue S.W. from 13th Street to 15th Street. In a 4-0 vote, with Councilwoman Delana Ihrke absent, the city council offered their approval for the new sub-division development. The council granted the investors Bruce Kellen, Mark Nuebel, and Scott Sitzmann the approval they were seeking to convert the once zoned rural land now to be considered as residential property. The property will consist of three different culdasacs.
Penn National Challenging Iowa Gaming and Racing Commission’s Decision
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The owner of the Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino is petitioning Iowa gaming regulators for awarding another company a license to build a land-based casino.
Penn National Gaming Co. says the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission ignored deficiencies and improprieties in the Sioux City Entertainment’s application to build a Hard Rock-branded casino.
Penn said in a Wednesday news release that it is exercising its right under state law to ask astate regulatory body to reconsider an action.
Commission administrator Brian Ohorilko says gaming officials are reviewing Penn’s letter, and are still determining their next step.
The commission selected the Hard Rock casino in a 3-2 vote on April 18. Penn submitted two proposals and Ho-Chunk Inc. also put in a bid.
Judge Close To Deciding Case Against Mother Drowning Son
ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – An Onawa mother will learn next week whether she’s been convicted of murdering her 15-month-old son.
Judge Jeffrey Neary said Thursday that’ll announced his verdict May 17 in the case against 25-year-old Ashley Cameron. She was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment in the
death of Markis Dahms. Neary heard the case during a nonjury trial last month.
Investigators testified that Cameron told them Markis had vomited in the bathtub and that she held his head under a running faucet to clean him, repeating that process as he vomited four or
five more times.
Cameron testified that she’d left him in the tub to get some items and found him face down in the water when she returned. Her attorney suggested that Markis may have had a seizure.
Iowa Nearing Record For Time Without A Reported Tornado
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is close to breaking a state record for the longest stretch without a reported tornado.
The National Weather Service says as of Wednesday, it’s been 349 days since a tornado touched down in the state. The last recorded tornado was on May 24, 2012, in Fayette County.
The current state record is 355 days, set between May 5, 1955, and April 26, 1956. The record would be tied on Tuesday and broken on Wednesday.
Officials call the streak impressive because digital technology and spotter networks today are so comprehensive. There was a greater likelihood back in the 1950s for a tornado to occur without
being reported.
Officials say the threat of severe weather appears minimal through early Tuesday. There is a chance of thunderstorms late Tuesday.
Senate Democrats Modify Medicaid Expansions
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Senate Democrats are offering some modifications to a Medicaid expansion proposal in the hopes of winning support from House Republicans.
Democrats continue to support the Medicaid expansion permitted under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. But on Thursday they said they would waive doctor co-pays for patients who
get annual physicals and choose healthy behaviors.
Democrats say the shift would bring the plan closer to the proposal from Gov. Terry Branstad and House Republicans. Branstad opposes expanding Medicaid and has pushed to instead modify an
existing program for low-income residents using state and federal funds. Branstad’s plan includes premiums that could be reduced through healthy behaviors.
Republican Rep. Walt Rogers, of Cedar Falls, calls the changes tweaks. Lawmakers will meet on the issue next week.
Dandekar Remains On Utilities Board While Considering A Run For Congress
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Utilities Board says one of its members will continue to be “actively involved” with matters before the board but won’t participate in substantive decisions on
contested matters while she explores whether to run for Congress.
Swati Dandekar announced Thursday she had formed an exploratory committee to consider seeking the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley has opted not to seek re-election to the seat so he can run for U.S. Senate.
The board says in a news release that Dandekar will limit her role and that the organization has contingency plans the enable it to perform its duties while she makes her decision about a
congressional run.
Republican Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Dandekar, of Marion, to serve on the utilities board in 2011.
