DAVENPORT, IA- On March 8, 2013, Yusuf Hasan Shariff, age 56, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 15 months imprisonment on the charge of possession of ammunition as a felon, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Shariff was also ordered to serve three years supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

On April 13, 2012, Scott County, Iowa, Sheriff deputies responded to a local gas station when Shariff was unable to pay for gasoline. When Shariff was unable to find a means to pay the bill, he handed the deputy a .32 caliber bullet and said ". . . let's take this to the next level."

During a transport to jail, Shariff made verbal threats to kill the deputy. The Clinton County dispatcher also reported that police had made contact with Shariff earlier that day, and that Shariff made statements about revenge against the police department.

On April 17, 2012, a Davenport police officer conducted a traffic stop of a mini-van driven by Shariff. Shariff ended up crashing his vehicle into a retaining wall near Genesis West in Davenport. When a Davenport police officer approached Shariff, he refused several orders to remain still and to go down to his knees. As the officer approached, Shariff stood up, pulled away from the officer, and then swung at and punched the officer in the mouth. A second police officer arrived and Shariff physically struggled with both officers. As they went to the ground, Shariff obtained control of a knife and stabbed at the police officers. With the assistance of a third officer, Shariff was taken into custody. While being transported to jail, Shariff again made verbal threats to kill a Davenport police officer.

On April 19, 2012, Davenport police officers searched Shariff's Davenport residence and seized an additional 15 rounds of .32 caliber ammunition. On October 22, 2012, Shariff pled guilty to possession of ammunition as a felon, having previously been convicted in 1999 of a felony drug offense.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Davenport Police Department, and the Scott County Sheriff's Office, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.

(DES MOINES) - Local elected officials joined Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds at their weekly news conference this morning to express their support for the administration's property tax reform plan.

The officials note that the plan does not come at the expense of Iowa's local governments.

"If we do nothing, those hardworking Iowa taxpayers will face a two billion dollar tax increase over the next eight years, with half that increase falling directly on Iowa homeowners," said Reynolds, a former local elected official who served as the Clarke County treasurer. "I want to thank these local government officials who recognize our plan is an investment in Iowa's families and small businesses."

Branstad noted that his plan is needed for job creation in Iowa, citing conversations he's had in all of Iowa's 99 counties each year.

"These officials know the important roles local government plays but also know that our property tax system is making Iowa uncompetitive and costing our state jobs," said Branstad. "We have been clear since introducing our reform efforts that any property tax reform must be permanent and all classes of property must benefit. This year, there is one key difference to our proposal: we fully backfill the revenue local governments will lose due to the tax cut."

When fully implemented, the governor and lieutenant governor's reform plan would reduce property taxes by $400 million. Iowa's commercial property taxes are currently the third-highest in the nation, and for years making it difficult to attract and retain jobs in Iowa.

The growing list of local officials supporting the administration's property tax plan is as follows:

1.      Chad Airhart, Dallas County Recorder

2.      Kim Chapman, Dallas County Supervisor

3.      Creighton Cox, Urbandale City Council

4.      Jeremy Davis, Ames City Council

5.      Dave Drew, Woodbury County Sheriff

6.      John Etheredge, Johnson County Supervisor-Elect

7.      Brad Gaul, Cedar County Supervisor

8.      Jarret Heil, Marshall County Treasurer

9.      Harold Higman, Mayor of Akron

10.  Don Kass, Plymouth County Supervisor

11.  Jeff Kaufmann, Cedar County Supervisor

12.  Dick Kirchoff, Mayor of LeMars

13.  Jon McAvoy, Adel City Council

14.  Gary Nystrom, Boone City Council

15.  Alan Ostergren, Muscatine County Attorney

16.  Noreen Otto, Newton City Council

17.  Dale Petersen, Mayor of Sergeant Bluff

18.  Guy Richardson, Greene County Supervisor

19.  Adam Schweers, Mayor of Carroll

20.  Dick Sievers, Remsen City Council

21.  Dawn Smith, Mayor of Durant

22.  David E. Steffens, Mayor of Lake Mills

23.  Renee Twedt, Story County Treasurer

24.  Jayson Vande Hoef, Osceola County Supervisor

25.  Tom Walling, Oskaloosa City Councilman

26.  Stan Watne, Wright County Supervisor

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What: New workshop for creatives, 'Creative Co-Working: Finding Your Focus'

When: Wednesdays March 13, 20 , 27, and April 3rd from 6-7p

Where: The Artful Office, 1700 2nd Avenue, Suite 1, Rock Island, IL 61201

Who: Nikki Jones, Owner of The Artful Office, graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Marketing Communications, specialization in arts, entrepreneurship, and small business. Her young professional resume includes such work as Paralegal and Office Manager for a law office, Traffic Coordinator and General Manager of a graphic design and production house, and Director of Marketing, Merchandising, and Distribution for a popular brewery. Her desire to succeed as an entrepreneur is matched only by her passion for sharing what she learns with other like-minded individuals.

Description: A relaxed, 4-week series of 'coffee talks' at The Artful Office, located in the District of Rock Island. You have creative ideas and goals flying all over the place, and feel a little helpless to nail them down. This series will both motivate you to purse those goals now and help you figure out which ideas go where on your path to success. In addition to inspriring conversation, we'll use worksheets and excersies that transform thoughts into actions. You'll finish the series with a clearer idea of what success looks like for you and how small steps can carry you down that path. Snacks and beverages provided.

Week 1: Defining Success & Why We Simply MUST Do What We Love

Week 2: Using Our Past, Present, and Future to Prioritize Ideas and Goals

Week 3: Uncovering Our Personal Brand (without getting put in a box)

Week 4: Taking Action to Draw Opportunities to Ourselves

Registration: $40 - register online at jonesfordesign.com or on facebook at TheArtfulOffice

 

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(DES MOINES) - Today, results of the AFSCME contract negotiations were made known. Key provisions:

• The contract costs $94 million less than it would have under the contract approved two years ago, providing direct savings to the taxpayers of Iowa.
• Iowa will continue to be one of only six states in the country where the overwhelming majority of state employees pay nothing toward their health insurance

Gov. Terry E. Branstad today released the following statement in response to today's decision on the AFSCME contract.

"I want to commend everyone who was involved in negotiating this contract. The negotiations were aggressive and were professionally conducted by all parties.

"We were able to come to an agreement with AFSCME on two of the three major components of the new contract and for the first time in bargaining history there will be no across-the-board pay increases for the duration of the contract.

"I am disappointed that Iowa will continue to be one of only six states where the overwhelming majority of state employees will continue to pay nothing toward their health insurance.  This is simply unfair to the vast majority of Iowans who pay some, if not all, of their own health insurance cost and whose tax dollars continue to fund this expensive benefit for most state employees.

"I will continue to ask state workers to join those in the SPOC union who agreed to pay just 20 percent of their health care premiums, with the opportunity to pay less as they become healthier and participate in life-enhancing wellness programs.  It is right, it is fair, and it will make our state worker population healthier.  Everyone wins when state workers contribute to make their lives healthier. That said, arbitrating an impasse item like health insurance is a part of our system.  We will live with today's result.

"These negotiations demonstrate that we can obtain fair results.  Unlike two years ago, this administration made sure taxpayers were actually represented in these negotiations.  When Gov. Culver simply took the unions' first demand, taxpayers were socked with a $202 million bill.  As a result of our efforts, the cost of this contract is $94 million less than it would have been under the previous contract. This is real savings for Iowa taxpayers and I am pleased the unions agreed to these terms."

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