CNA-5-19-2016

Page 1

THROWBACK NEWS

SEASON OPENERS Creston’s softball and baseball teams open their seasons Monday against Southwest Valley. For previews on the teams, see SPORTS, page 9A. >>

Twenty years ago, nearly 100 people were on hand for an open house and flag-raising ceremony at Frank Phillips Visitors Center. For more THROWBACK NEWS, see page 2A. >>

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Thursday, May 19, 2016

CITY COUNCIL

Uptown Creston traffic lights to come down By JOEL LAMB

CNA staff reporter jlamb@crestonnews.com

Creston City Council unanimously approved a motion Tuesday to remove two sets of traffic lights from uptown, currently located at the intersections of Montgomery and Elm streets and Montgomery and Maple streets. “We’re spending electricity just to have a bunch of blinking red lights out there,” Mayor Gary Lybarger said. Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer weighed in on the potential effect removing the lights could have on traffic uptown. “It’s not going to increase or decrease accidents either way,” Ver Meer said. “The stop signs seem to be working. The flashing red lights are just a visual reminder.” Though the same situation exists at the intersections of Adams and Elm streets, the

CNA photo by JOEL LAMB

An uptown traffic light stands in a state of disrepair at the intersection of Montgomery and Maple streets.

council was hesitant to take the same action on that set of traffic lights because of the intersection’s proximity to the uptown railroad crossing as

well as visibility issues. Kruse. “If there was a tall “Westbound traffic would pickup, a trailer or whatever concern me if the lights it may be, you wouldn’t see weren’t there,” said PubCITY | 2A lic Works Director Kevin

Iowa politicians criticize EPA proposal on renewable fuels DES MOINES (AP) — The latest federal proposal to increase the levels of renewable fuels blended into the U.S. gasoline supply must be increased or it will stifle economic growth, Iowa politicians and industry groups said Wednesday in response to the plan. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, whose state is the nation’s top ethanol producer followed by Nebraska, I l l i n o i s , Branstad Minnesota and Indiana, said he was disappointed by the levels announced Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency oversees the Renewable Fuel Standard program, which aims to increase lev-

els of corn-based ethanol and other renewable fuels blended into gasoline, in part to reduce dependence on foreign oil. “While we’re encouraged that the EPA made slight increases with the volume levels, their proposal falls far short,” Branstad said in a statement. The latest proposal increases production of all types of biofuels in 2017. It also increases biomass-based diesel levels for 2018. The EPA has made proposals annually with criticism along the way. The ethanol industry has pushed back any proposals that would have decreased the amount of ethanol mixed into fuel. Oil companies have also challenged the law, while environmental groups have questioned FUELS | 2A

More work, more pay? New rule extends overtime to millions CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Baccalaureate: Creston High School students perform “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman, led in worship by Aaron Young of Creston on guitar, during the CHS baccalaureate service Wednesday evening in the school auditorium. Pictured, from left, are students Cat Daily and Olivia Hartman, Young and student Jake Hitz. The service included music, a scripture reading by Emily Gravlin, a solo performance by Maddie Travis and a message, “Five Thoughts for Transitioning,” by 2014 CHS graduate Michelle Powers. For video of the performance pictured, visit crestonnews.com.

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Countdown for takeoff: Jeanette Schwabe snaps a photo on her phone of, from left, Autum Schwabe, Cammerin Palmer

and Katrina Schwabe, all of Lorimor, on an Air Methods air ambulance during the emergency medical services (EMS) barbecue in honor of EMS week Wednesday at Greater Regional Medical Center. Afton, Creston and Lorimor fire departments, Creston Police Department and Greater Regional Medical Center EMS were present during the event, and helmets and bicycles were given out to children by the hospital.

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barely exceeds the income of the hourly workers they supervise who receive overtime pay. Under the new rules, released in draft form last summer, the annual salary threshold at which companies can deny overtime pay will be doubled from $23,660 to nearly $47,500. That would make 4.2 million more salaried workers eligible for overtime pay. Hourly workers would continue to be mostly guaranteed overtime. The White House estimates that the rule change will raise pay by $1.2 billion a year over the next decade. Some employers, though, might choose to reduce their employees’ additional hours to avoid paying overtime, thereby making the workers’ schedules more consistent. “Either way, the worker wins,” Biden told reporters Tuesday. Business groups, however, argued that the changes will increase paperwork and scheduling burdens for small companies and force many businesses to convert salaried workers to hourly ones to more closely track working WORK | 2A

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — More than 4 million U.S. workers will become newly eligible for overtime pay under rules issued Wednesday by the Obama administration. The rule seeks to bolster overtime protections that have been eroded in recent decades by inflation. A diminishing proportion of workers have benefited from overtime regulations, which date to the 1930s and require employers to pay 1 1/2 times a worker’s wage for work that exceeds 40 hours a week. Vice President Joe Biden announced the changes at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, Ohio. Being overworked and underpaid is preventing middle-class Americans from improving themselves and from spending time enjoying their lives and families, Biden said. “You’re deprived of your dignity when you know you’re working much, much harder and much, much stronger than you’re getting compensated for,” he said. In the fast-food and retail industries in particular, many employees are deemed managers, work long hours but are paid a flat salary that


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