Head-on Collision Sends Two People To Hospital
(Le Mars) — A head-on collison of two vehicles happen on Business highway 75 this afternoon south of the 18th Street intersection. The accident happened at about 12:45 p.m. The accident remains under investigation by the Le Mars Police Department, but apparently a passenger vehicle was traveling southbound on Business 75 when it lost control and initially left the road entering the west ditch and momentarily driving on the recreational bike trail. The car then re-entered the roadway, but crossed over the center line striking a minivan traveling northbound. The drivers of each vehicle were the only victims, and both were transported to Floyd Valley Hospital. Additional details will be made available after the police department issues an accident report.
Rock Valley Says They “Will” Host RAGBRAI
(Rock Valley) — There has been some discussion as to whether or not Rock Valley would be hosting the annual RAGBRAI bicycle ride since the community was inundated with flood waters last week. Officials in Rock Valley say they will continue with plans to host this summer’s big bike ride, despite the recent flooding. Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo says it was not a decision that was taken lightly and any money generated by the RAGBRAI (RAG-bry) stop will have a distinct purpose — to help residents who were displaced and to repair damaged property.
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Funds have been set up at the three local banks. The Rock River crested last week at Rock Valley some 11 feet over flood stage, breaking records set in the Flood of 1993. At least 150 homes in the town were damaged. The Rock Valley RAGBRAI Committee will make arrangements for housing in the coming weeks, as some of the people who were hosting bicycle riders have seen damage to their properties. Van Otterloo says the recovery is going well, but it’s slow.
Listen to
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RAGBRAI kicks off in Rock Valley on Saturday, July 19, with riders leaving to head towards Okoboji on Sunday the 20th.
Former Administrative Services Official Testifies On “Secret Settlements”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former attorney for the Iowa Department of Administrative Services says he and Gov. Terry Branstad’s top lawyer discussed settlement agreements with state employees that included confidentiality clauses. Ryan Lamb, who left the agency earlier this year, testified Wednesday before the Senate Government Oversight Committee that he discussed agreements with legal counsel Brenna Findley. Lamb says Findley was aware money was offered in agreements, but he didn’t know if she knew payments were made in exchange for silence. Lamb says former Department of Administrative Services director Mike Carroll knew about settlement agreement payments prior to his testimony before the committee. Branstad fired Carroll in April after he testified no money was paid for silence. Documents later surfaced showing such payments had been negotiated by Lamb. Carroll also will testify Wednesday.
Appeals Court Says School Districts Cannot Unilaterly Cut Salaries
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An appeals court says Iowa school districts cannot unilaterally cut employees’ severance pay and must instead bargain any changes with unions.The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday against the Fort Dodge school district, which proposed a plan in 2012 to eliminate severance pay to save money. Teachers who had been with the district more than 10 years, for instance, had been eligible for pay based on their unused sick days. Unions representing district employees argued that severance pay provisions in their contracts were mandatory topics of collective bargaining. The Public Employment Relations Board agreed, ruling that severance is “supplemental pay” and therefore must be bargained. The appeals court says the board has the express authority to interpret Iowa’s collective bargaining law, and it cited “sufficient authority” for its decision.
