KWIT: Regional News for 7/24 (2008-07-24)

In Iowa...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa's three public universities are
reporting increases in grants and contracts for the 2008 fiscal
year.
The University of Iowa generated a record $386 million in
external funding. Iowa State brought in $274 million. And the
University of Northern Iowa reported $36 million in funding.
The funding comes from federal, state and local sources and pays
for research, education and services. It's in addition to regular
state spending for day-to-day operations.
The 2008 fiscal year ended June 30th.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa's entire congressional delegation
has joined other members of Congress in introducing a nearly $4
billion plan for federal tax relief for flood, tornado and severe
storm victims.
Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican, and Sen. Tom Harkin, a
Democrat, were joined in the effort by senators from Missouri,
Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas and Indiana. The five members of Iowa's
House delegation also introduced the legislation in their chamber
on Wednesday.
The lawmakers say the proposed legislation, called the
Midwestern Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008, is modeled after tax
legislation Congress passed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Harkin says Iowans are picking up the pieces after enduring
brutal floods. He says tax relief will go a long way toward helping
them rebuild.
Grassley urged fellow lawmakers to act quickly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Aides to Rep. Leonard Boswell say he is
expected to leave the hospital after undergoing surgery.
Boswell, a Democrat, is expected to leave the hospital tomorrow
and work a full week next week as the House nears an August recess.
That's according to Boswell's Chief of Staff Susan McAvoy.
Two weeks ago, the congressman checked in to the Washington
Hospital Center to have a correction to a surgery performed in 2005
that removed a non-cancerous tumor from his abdomen.
The 74-year-old lawmaker faces Kim Schmett, a Clive Republican,
in the general election in November.

LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) - Officials have closed the outside lanes of
an Interstate 80 bridge in eastern Iowa after finding cracks in its
steel framing.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says the lane closings at
the steel-girder bridge in LeClaire are a precaution.
The cracks were found Wednesday in framing under the deck of the
bridge during an inspection by the Iowa and Illlinois departments
of transportation.
Officials say the closures will remain in place until repairs
can be made.
The Illinois DOT is responsible for maintenance of the bridge
and is expected to make repair plans and arrange for the work.

In Nebraska...

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - While other states slash their budgets to
offset weak tax revenues, Nebraska lawmakers may begin getting
pressure to cut taxes.
A committee made up of key state senators was told on yesterday
that revenue growth during the fiscal year that ended last month
outpaced the historical average for the fifth consecutive year.
Total, end-of-year revenues were $117 million more than projected.
Now the state has a record reserve account of about $570
million.
But state budget officials caution that robust revenue streams
were mainly due to strong income tax revenue in 2007 and are not a
sure sign the state economy is booming now.
If senators do look at cutting taxes, Speaker Mike Flood of
Norfolk says, the focus should be on income taxes.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.(AP) - Residents in Nebraska's Panhandle are
assessing property damage after severe storms rake the area.
Officials say the Tuesday night storms produced heavy rain - up
to 4 inches in some areas - as well as hail and winds of up to 80
mph.
Many homeowners suffered roof damage from the hail and trees
downed by the wind. Area farmers are also reporting heavy crop
damage from the hail. Several Scotts Bluff County roads were closed
due to flooding.
Paul Callenius and his family were forced to evacuate their
house north of Scottsbluff when a tree crashed through the home's
roof, tearing a 10-foot hole in the structure.
No injuries have been reported.

In South Dakota...

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bipartisan group of senators has introduced
legislation that would give tribes more resources and assistance to
enforce and prosecute crimes on American Indian reservations.
The bill was introduced today after months of consultation and
hearings held by the senators.
North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan wrote the draft legislation.
Dorgan chairs the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and says crime
levels on some reservations are at "epidemic proportions."
South Dakota Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune are cosponsors.
The legislation is aimed at more aggressive federal prosecution
of reservation crimes. It also would enhance the sentencing
authority of tribal courts and boost resources for investigating
and prosecuting crimes of sexual violence.
The legislation also requires the Department of Justice to file
reports to tribal justice officials that provide details about the
cases the federal government declines to prosecute.
Amnesty International praised the bill, saying it tackles major
jurisdictional challenges that allow crimes against Native American
and Alaska Native peoples to flourish.

WASHINGTON (AP) - South Dakota Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is
expecting her first child in late December.
In an e-mail to friends and supporters, Herseth Sandlin and
husband, former Texas Rep. Max Sandlin, said they were overjoyed to
share the news. She said they are looking forward to a
"particularly blessed holiday."
Spokesman Russ Levsen confirmed the news, saying the pregnancy
will not affect Herseth Sandlin's re-election this year. He said
the late December due date works well with the congressional
schedule, since the House is not expected to be in session at that
time.
Herseth Sandlin, 37, wed Sandlin, a fellow Democrat, in March
2007. Sandlin has four children from a previous marriage.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The governor has asked that flags be flown
at half staff on Friday in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Vrooman,
a South Dakota native who died July 15 during a combat operation in
Iraq.
Vrooman, 28, will be buried Friday at the Fort Sam Houston
National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
A memorial service is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 16 in Sioux
Falls, where Vrooman was born. He attended schools in South Dakota
and joined the Army in December 1999.
Vrooman was fatally injured when an improvised explosive device
went off during a raid on a house.