KWBG HEADLINES ON APRIL 1, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---State Representative Donovan Olson, Democrat from Boone, says he was pleased with the accomplishments of the recently concluded legislative session. Olson says it was the most difficult session he’s participated in, because of the difficult revenue, but he feels priorities were met as well as possible. He says the legislature is bound to adopt a balanced budget and they did.

BOONE, Iowa---The Iowa Department of Transportation has scheduled a public meeting for mid-April to review ideas for the work on U-S Highway 30 in eastern Boone County and western Story County. The project was proposed over the winter when the stretch of road became a circus ride for many. The public meeting on April 15th will be held at the United Community School beginning at 5:00 PM.

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee has maintained is prohibition of allowing organizations to do fund raising at the intersection of South Story Street and U-S Highway 30. The most recent request had come from the Pony Express Riders of Iowa, raising funds for Camp Sunnyside. The Committee has not granted anyone permission to fund raise at that location for several years.

From the Associated Press:

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - There's some good news in a regional economic index that surveys supply managers and business leaders in Iowa and eight other states. The Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region has hit its highest level since May 2006. The result for March was the fourth increase in as many months.

WEST POINT, Iowa (AP) - Fire investigators are trying to figure out what caused a blaze that destroyed a building housing a tax business and an apartment in the southeast Iowa town of West Point. No injuries were reported in the fire, but Fire Chief Chris Fullenkamp says at one point the flames were so intense that firefighters couldn't enter the building.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - A judge in Waterloo says a woman accused of child endangerment in the death of her baby is competent to stand trial. A defense attorney had argued that Tiara Williams wasn't competent because her severe depression makes her unable to assist with her defense. The trial is set to begin Monday.

ROCKFORD, Iowa (AP) - Authorities in Floyd County say a Nora Springs man is dead after his pickup truck collided with a Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school bus. The bus was stopped three miles north of Rockford to drop off students yesterday when it was hit by the pickup driven by 83-year-old Robert Kruger.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)