KWIT Local
(2010-02-09)
SIOUX CITY, IA
(kwit) -
In Iowa...
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A House committee has approved a measure
setting the wage paid to workers on some public projects, but
cities, counties and schools could opt out of the effort.
The topic, known as the prevailing wage, is a top priority of
organized labor and sparked a bitter fight in last year's session,
when lawmakers narrowly defeated a measure. The proposal remains
controversial, although supporters say the exemptions they've
carved out should make it more popular.
Critics have argued that prevailing wage laws increase costs of
public projects by requiring higher wages. Backers say it ensures
that workers are paid a living wage and prevents out-of-state
contractors from hiring low-wage workers who drive down pay for
everyone.
A subcommittee approved the measure Monday, then the full Labor
Committee narrowly approved it in the afternoon.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Criminal charges have been filed against
two filmmakers, their companies and the former manager of the Iowa
Film Office in connection with the alleged mishandling of tax
incentives.
The Iowa attorney general's office filed first-degree theft
charges Monday against Wendy Runge of St. Louis Park, Minn., and
Matthias Saunders of Minneapolis. A charge of nonfelonious
misconduct was filed against former film office manager Thomas
Wheeler of Indianola.
Runge is part owner of Polynation Pictures LLC, and Saunders
owns Maximum Productions LLC. They are accused of unlawfully
inflating values on applications for tax credits totaling more than
$10,000. Runge and Saunders also created The Scientist as an Iowa
company to make a film that would use Iowa film tax credits.
Gov. Chet Culver fired Wheeler last September. He's accused of
failing to verify eligibility of applicants for tax credits.
Wheeler's attorney, Gordon Fischer, says the charges against
Wheeler aren't supported by facts or state law.
In Nebraska...
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska lawmaker wants to put wind in
the sails of high-performing teachers.
A bill (LB1014) before lawmakers during a hearing on Monday
would create a fund with money from wind-energy leases on land
owned by the Board of Educational Lands and Funds.
The money would help increase the pay of teachers who were
performing well.
Money from solar-energy leases and carbon sequestration could
also be put in the fund.
Under the bill from Sen. Ken Haar of Lincoln, money would begin
to be distributed to teachers in 2016.
Representatives of the Nebraska Board of Education and Nebraska
Association of School Boards spoke in favor of the bill on Monday.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Emergency workers from across Nebraska
recalled traumatizing accident scenes when asking for a new level
of workers' compensation coverage.
During a legislative hearing on Monday at the Capitol, the
emergency workers said they had difficulty recovering from seeing
the aftermath of the fatal accidents.
One of the men testifying said a co-worker responded to an
accident where his wife had died.
The bill (LB780) would allow first responders who get "mental
injuries" or mental illnesses from extraordinary work conditions
to get workers' compensation. Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed a similar
bill two years ago.
The city of Omaha, the Nebraska League of Municipalities and
business groups oppose the bill.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska death-penalty supporters got a
sign from Arkansas that a proposed, lethal-injection protocol might
withstand a court challenge.
On Monday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals - which also
covers Nebraska - upheld Arkansas' lethal injection protocol.
The three-drug protocol there is similar to the one expected to
be OK'd by Gov. Dave Heineman.
Nebraska Attorney General spokesman Allen Forkner said that the
ruling reinforces the confidence Jon Bruning's office has in the
proposed protocol.
Last year, Nebraska lawmakers approved lethal injection as a
replacement for electrocution following a 2008 state Supreme Court
decision that struck down use of the electric chair.
In South Dakota...
CENTERVILLE, S.D. (AP) - The mother of a baby who was thrown
from a van during a rollover crash on Interstate 29 in southeast
South Dakota says she thinks it is a miracle her daughter survived.
The 3-month-old infant was secured in a baby seat but the seat
with Adrianna still in it was ejected from the van when it went out
of control on ice and crashed about three miles north of Vermillion
last week.
Mother Trista Voagen of Centerville says the car seat was
properly buckled in but was thrown anyway. She says she found
Adrianna sitting in the upright seat in the ditch, still strapped
in with her blanket over her and her toys sitting beside her.
Voagen says the only way to explain it is that someone was
watching over the family.
HARRISBURG, S.D. (AP) - The Harrisburg School District is
selling advertising on part of the school's Web site, and at least
one parent is not happy.
Jennifer McNamara, who has a daughter at one of Harrisburg's
three elementary schools, says she is worried that ad sales might
send the wrong message to students. She questions if the school
really needs the money.
The South Dakota Department of Education hosts Harrisburg's site
and those of other school districts. State policy does not allow
advertising, but Harrisburg Superintendent Jim Holbeck says
Harrisburg's calendar page does not fall under the policy because
the district owns that specific page.
Holbeck says Harrisburg is "breaking new ground" with its
Internet advertising policy. He says money made from ad sales will
go into the district's general fund.
VERMILLION, S.D.(AP) - The University of South Dakota says the
DakotaDome needs $8 million worth of renovations, and it wants the
Vermillion School District to help pay.
The district uses the dome for high school football games. USD
is asking the district to pay between $1 million and $2 million,
spread over 15 years.
The university's vice president of finance, Rich Van Den Hul,
says the request is only fair since the high school team also calls
the DakotaDome home.
Under a past agreement, the school district paid for new turf
and $15,000 every year. A committee made up of school district
board members, university staff and community members is working on
a new agreement.
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