Home News Sunday News, September 21

Sunday News, September 21

Argosy Casino May Not Be Gone Before Deadline

 SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City officials say the old Argosy riverboat casino might not be removed before the deadline.
     Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott tells the Sioux City Journal (https://bit.ly/1obsCAc ) he’s concerned the old casino won’t be gone by the Sept. 28 deadline.
     The old Argosy Sioux City casino closed July 30 after losing a lengthy court fight to remain open. It remains moored on Larsen Park Road.
     Penn National gaming spokeswoman Karen Bailey says the company is working on removing the old casino, but she declined to discuss specific plans.
     City Manager Bob Padmore says the area will likely be converted to a green space after the casino is gone. The area could be used for something else once ongoing construction on Interstate 29 nearby is complete.
 
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Sioux City Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Baby’s Death

 SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City woman accused in the death of her infant son has pleaded not guilty to child neglect and child endangerment resulting in death.
     Twenty-four-year-old Rebekah Williams-McCarthy entered the pleas Friday in Woodbury County District Court.
     Williams-McCarthy was formally charged September 12th. The charges stem from the April 29th death of her 2-month-old son, Leonard Williams. She is also charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent person in connection with her two other children. 
     A bond review hearing for Williams-McCarthy has been set for 10 a.m. Monday.
     Leonard’s father, 26-year-old Michael Williams, has pleaded not guilty to neglect of a dependent person in connection to the death. He carried the baby into a hospital before the child was pronounced dead.

 

Branstad And Hatch Face Off In Second Governor Debate

 BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Republican Governor Terry Branstad and Democratic challenger Jack Hatch offered competing ideas on job creation during their second debate.
     Branstad and Hatch faced off Saturday at a middle school in Burlington, in the southeastern part of the state.
     Branstad is running for an unprecedented sixth non-consecutive term. He said job creation has boomed under his watch, an accomplishment he said he’s “really proud of.”
     But Hatch, a longtime state lawmaker from Des Moines, argued that Branstad is exaggerating jobs numbers. He said “even a fifth-grader knows you have to subtract what you’ve lost.”
     Several recent polls have showed Branstad with a commanding lead in the race.
 

 

Branstad Has Modest Goals For Campaign

 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Back in 2010, Gov. Terry Branstad pledged to create jobs, boost incomes and reduce government spending as part of his bid to return to office. Four years later, his re-election campaign promises are far less ambitious.
     The Republican governor – who holds a significant lead over Democrat Jack Hatch in recent polls – has released just a handful of policy proposals so far in his run for a sixth non-consecutive term. All are modest in nature, dealing with issues like college tuition and Internet access. Much of his campaign trail chat is about his recent achievements in office, including collaborating with the Legislature on a property tax cut and new education spending.
     Branstad said the agenda he laid out in 2010 was always meant to take five years, so he’s still working to meet those targets.
     “In addition to those ambitious goals, we are also spelling out goals I want to accomplish in this coming term,” he said.
     Hatch, a state lawmaker from Des Moines, said Branstad doesn’t want to create high expectations for another term. 
     “He can’t even meet the promises he made four years ago,” Hatch said.