First, meteorologis t kaj omara has your first alert forecast, kaj. Plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start cold again, highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east than yesterdays snow and should affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts will remain light and generally under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute on friday. The wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowing snow yet again. Saturday is still on track to be cold and quiet with another snow chance coming our way for sunday. Today mostly sunny high 1824 winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 winds sw 510 alo 14 dbq 14 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high 1824 winds nw 1530 alo 19 dbq 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 the democratic president ial candidates will go head to head tonight in another debate. This comes just two days after Bernie Sanders easily won the primary in New Hampshire. The debate is at the university of wisconsin campus in milwaukee. Wisconsins primary is not until april 5th, but the next caucus for clinton and sanders is on the 20th in nevada. In the iowa caucuses, clinton won with just 0. 2 debate is tonight at 8 pm iowa time, airing on cnn and pbs. In a tv9 followup this morning. Blame for a fire that damaged a duplex in waterloo. It happened around 4 oclock Tuesday Morning at 264 western avenue. Between the first and injured. The duplex is a total loss. Civil Rights Groups in iowa are pushing for legislation that reform the criminal justice members of the naacp and other groups are in favor of a bill that would ban racial profiling and keep juvenile records confidential. They would also like to see lawmakers ban the box on job applications to expand Work Opportunities for people with criminal histories. Ban the box refers to getting rid of the check box on applications that asks if youve been convicted of any crimes. The zika virus is causing national concern. Pregnant women and College Students making plans for spring break have a lot of questions. The World Health Organization has declared a Public Health emergency. The mosquito borne illness is in 29 countries spreading through central and south america and the caribbean. And many are worried because of its link to a serious birth defect. Many ui students have travel plans to destinations with confirmed cases of the zika virus. I think that its definitely something thats serious and it should be a precaution like before we go definitely and be smart about it. Zika virus. The centers for Disease Control advise people traveling to the infected countries to wear long sleeves and pants, and use epa registered insect repellents. Doctors in dubuque say pregnant women are calling with questions about catching the zika virus. It can cause babies to be born with small heads. A dubuque obstetrician urges pregnant women to follow the c dc recommendati ons. Patients who are pregnant and have gone to an affected country, its now recommended that they get tested when they come back, even if they did not have symptoms. Medical providers tell us the zika virus is not a mandatory reportable illness, like the mumps or influenza. A shortage of registered nurses is projected to spread across the country through the year 2030. Thats according to the u. S. Registered Nurse Workforce report card and shortage forecast. And Unity Point Health st. Lukes hospital in cedar rapids is facing a kcrgtv nines brea love joins us from our cedar rapids newsroom. Brea, st. Lukes is looking to hire more than 50 nurses . Yes, 57 to be exact. The demand for nurses is increasing everyday. St. Lukes is encouraging nurses to help fill those positions. Which will in turn keep the hospital out a critical situation. The nursing force is aging, along with the patients they serve. That creates a need for healthcare, with a diminishing number nurses to care for them. Officials at st. Lukes say changes in legislation is diversifying the profession. Nurses are furthering their education and taking jobs within different areas such as clinics and homes to meet the demands of expansion. 47 3042 as healthcare looks different the positions that are required to provide it are changing, and thats providing competition even within our own organization for those resources. Houlihan says they have had ups and downs in past, and she says theyre looking for motivated, caring, individuals. Live in the newsroom, brea love, kcrgtv nine news. Iowa city police are hopeful a new program will help locate people with alzheimers and autism more quickly. Its called lost or loved ones safe and together. Mother and daycare operator meghan 5year old son maddox for the system. Maddox is on the autism spectrum and has gone missing several times. Lost will create a database including the name, description, and a picture of anyone enrolled. Itll also give officers details of how to interact with someone who may have special needs. 20 00 20 its meant to be a tool to give the Police Department information to find someone, but i also really look at it as a training tool because its providing police with information about things that might be triggers for folks with autism. Police also plan to provide electronic tracking devices as part of the program. The devices will give officers and loved ones an exact location of someone who a cedar rapids Family Agency plans to expand its Outpatient Mental Health clinic. Tanager place helps children and families with social and psychological needs. The organization opened its Outpatient Mental Health clinic last june. Today is the kick off event to the next phase of fundraising to reach a 6 point 5 Million Dollar goal. The event is tonight at 5 oclock at the truenorth building. Some people in des moines are getting exercise on the Basketball Court and learning a lesson in empathy. Courage League Sports is hosting a 3 on 3 wheelchair basketball tournament. The facility offers a wide range of recreational sports and activities for kids and adults with special needs. But, this tournament is open to anyone. Courage league hopes people who can walk will learn something about life confined to 2 wheels. They really enjoy having that opportunity to play and share with people what they may be living through everyday. I think it is really important to raise awareness to what others are going through. Last year the tournament brought hardwood. The group hopes to double the number of teams this year. The government is offering more rights to computers than some humans. And amazon has a hidden clause in its terms and conditions that could help save you in a zombie apocalypse. Thats ahead in todays techbytes. Plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start as well. While well start off cold again, highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowing snow yet again. Saturday is still on track to be cold and quiet with another snow chance coming our way for high 1824 winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 winds sw 510 alo 14 dbq 14 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high 1824 winds nw 1530 alo 19 dbq 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 winds nw 515 alo 3 dbq 3 iow 0 now heres abcs reena ninan and Kendis Gibson with this mornings techbytes. Trt oc in todays techbytes tough times for twitter. Its having trouble its rolling out new futures including a time line. The federal government has taken another step toward the truly driverless car. It now says the computer that controls the selfdriving car will be considered the driver. Good news for Companies Like google developing theew technology. Must of us s ver read terms and conditions. Amazon snuck in a klaus that would allow its lumberyard to used in the zombie. It might happen. All right, those are your techbhbes. Have e good day. Ever look at a squirrel and think, yeah, i could use that kind ofenergy . Larabar. Food made from food. Didiover card. I missed a payment. Aw, shoot. Shoot this is bad. No were good this is your first time missing a payment. And youve got the discover it card, so we wont hike up your apr for paying late. Thats great it is great both simultaneously thank you. At discover, we treat you like youd treat you. Get the it card with late payment forgiveness. Erics gotten used to the lingering odors in his bathroom yep, hes gone noseblind he think it smells fine, but his guests smell this. Sfx ding, toilet flushing x music begins febreze air effects heavy duty has up to two times the odoreliminating power to remove bathroom odors youve gone noseblind to and try febreze small spaces heavy duty. To continuously eliminate up to two times the odors for 30 days febreze small spaces and air effects the republican field is down to 7. Carly fiorina and Chris Christie have suspended their campaigns. That means the fight is now in South Carolina. And the democrats have another debate tonight. Abcs lana zak has the latest on race for the white house. Trump sot we may have to stage a phony protest. Thats the only way they show crowds. This crowd is amazing. Donald trump with even more spring in his step following his major win in New Hampshirefo rcing two more candidatesChris Christie and Carly Fiorina out of the race. Trump says hes ready to take on democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton trump sot were going to beat her and honestly women dont like her, in new w mpshire, clinton lolo women voters 44 to 55 and young people 16 to 83 . But nationally, clinton still has the advantage over Bernie Sanders, who tells Abcs Cecilia Vega he has work to do. Vega if the election were tomorrow do you think you could win South Carolina and nevada . Sanders no. Fortunately for us the election is not tomorrow. Gw bush ad nats and another candidate grateful for some extra campaign timejeb bushwho confirms his brother will join him on the trail hitting trump hard yesterday after his fourth place finish in New Hampshire bush sot he is an entertaining person. Unless you are a aoman. Unless you are a hispanini unless youre a pow, unless youre a disabled person. But secondplace winner john kasich says hes unlikely to go on the attack kasich sot im not gonna be a im also not gonna spend my time trying to trash over people. Tag b bk in kasichs home state of ohio, a controversial bill to cut off funding for planned parenthood programs on aids and domestic violce, has passed. Kasich the more than a monthlong standoff in an oregon wildlife refuge cocod be ending thisisorning. The final 4 activists inside the Malheur National wildlife refuge say that theyll leave their weapons behind and surrender to authorities this morning. The fbi and other Law Enforcement haveveeen surrounding them. Authorities also say no shots have been fired. The situation started january 2nd, when protesters took over the refuge to decry what they called government overreach of federal land. Protest leader ammon bundy and several others were arrested last month. The Us Justice Department is of ferguson, missouri, over its police conduct. The department claims the citys police dissoportionately targetet black peoeoe. The City Council Approved a revised version of a deal to overhaul its practices and policies. The two sides had come to the initial agreement after a white officer shot and killed Michael Brown in 2014. That led to an investigation, which found a pattern of racial bias in the Police Department. Now, the department of justice says it has no choice but to file a lawsuit. The residents of ferguson has waited a nearly a year for their city to adopt an agreement that would protect their rights to keep them safe. They have waited nearly a year for their Police Department to accept rules that uld ensure their Constitutional Rights and rules that thousands of other Police Departments follow every day. The city of ferguson has not commented on the lawsuit. Students at one college in eastern iowa arent giving up something for lent. And theyre using social media to spread the message. Youre looking live on our camera. Kaj will be back right after the break with a look at your thursday forecast. Stay with us. Meteorologist kaj omara joins first alert forecast. Plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start as well. While well start off cold again, highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east than yesterdays snow and should affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amouous will remain light and generally under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute on friday. The wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowing snow yet again. Saturday is still on track to be cold and quiet w wh another snow chance coming our way for high 1824 winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 winds sw 510 alo 14 dbq 14 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high 1824 winds nw 1530 alo 19 dbq 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 winds nw 515 alo 3 dbq 3 iow 0 staff at one eastern iowa hospital are learning how to be prepared for any complication during child birth. And its thanks to a new piece of technology and some generous donors. Keep it here on tv9. Its. Youre looking live on our city cam. Its february 11th and this is what you need to know today. 2016 democratic president ial debate tonight in wisconsin. While a diminishing g op field is hitting the ground in s sth carolina. Bill today to privatized medicaid. It stands a good chance in the senate but a tough road in the house. Needs more retire and the job field gets more diverse. The last occupiers at a wildlife refuge in oregon say they will turn themselves in this morning. The fbi is surrounding the area. And hundreds of ash trees on the university of iowa campus will have to come down because of the Emerald Ash Borer. Youre watching kcrgtv9. Now, from your 24 hour news source, this is kcrgtv9 news morning news. First, meteorologis t kaj omara has your first plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start as well. While highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move ino the area. This one should be farther east than yesterdays snow and should affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts will remain light and generally under Cedar Rapids Police are searching for at least one authorities on scene say they pulled over a car that was reported as stolen. Multiple people ran from the car. Police havavapprehended most of f them. Police say they dont believe there is any danger to the public. State senators are expected to debate a bill about the states Medicaid Program today. The bill would end contracts with three private companies that are slated to take over ownership on march 1st. The democrats have a narrow majority in the senate, so the bill will most likely pass there. But it w wl face trouble in the republican controlled house. Speaker Linda Upmeyer said the house floor, because governor branstad will veto. Senator liz mathis is a sponsor of the legislation. She is hoping upmeyer will reconsider if republicans have a good show of support today and in the house. Maybe a lot of republicans and democrats who will suppt this it wont be dead on arrival. Senator david johnson, a wellknown senate republican, is supporting the governor branstad is pushing privatization to help cut costs for medicaid. Recent federal legislation is giving more people access to health care, so there is now a greater demand. Nurses are a crucial part of providing those services, and Unity Point Health st. Lukes hospital in cedar rapids says they dont have enough. Kcrgtv 9s brea love joins us this morning. Brea, hospital Officials Say its in need of more nurses . They do. Currently, st. Lukes needs to fill 57 positions. But witthat demand increasing everyday, keeping up with the job pace is hard. Thats why st. Lukes is encouraging nurses to help fill those positions, keeping the hospital out of a critical situation. The Digestive Health department inside of st. Now. But, its usually packed with patients. 53 44 colonoscopys, upper scopes, we see a lot of patients in and out. Recently hired nurse paula here three months ago. Shes one of the many nurses helping fill spots within the hospital. 54 07 its a good place to work, i like the business of it, you kind of get to know your patients a little bit. And its all about the patients. St. Lukes Officials Say patients are aging, as well as the nursing force, and as they both grow older, nurses will retire, and patients will need more healthcare services. 46 16 that puts a demand for more nursing additionally theres been n ome changes in legislation that really increased access to health care, so you have more of a demand for those services as a result. Those changes have diversified health care, houlihan says healthcare is now mumuh more than coming to a hospital for care. 47 11 thats just one piece of the experience. How health care is changing, is its outreach, to homes, to clinics, things that were previously done in a hospital are being done in an ambulatory basis. And that means there are positions opqn at hospitals. Houlihan says its important take care of patients when they need it. Thats why they are looking toward existing interns and partnering with local colleges to fill the gap. Which they hope will give other nurses the chance to talk about how much they love what they do. 54 31 i like the change everyday, nothings the same everyday. Houlihan says they have had ups and downs in the past, and will continue working to adapt. She says theyre looking for motivated, caring, individuals. Chris, nicole . Thanks a lot brea. Staff members at Finley Hospital in dubuque are learning from a new birthing simulator. The noelle birthing simulator shows the birthing processcomplete with fetal heart souds, and a it also prepares nurses for any complications that might come up during a delivery. The families of longtime finley nurses, beth hoefer and mary riegler, donated the birthing simulator. We can simulate decrcrsed heart rate which happens all the time. And the nurses have to go through the right steps to correct it. Education was very important to her. She was very involved in starting up the neonatal icu. That was her baby, literally. Hoefer and riegler worked for decades in the birthing unit at Finley Hospital. In a tv9 followup this morning. Its back to class this morning for a group of cedar rapids students who lobbied lawmakers for more education funding. Cedar rapids schools superintendent brad buck says the districneeds at least a 3 point 72 percent increase to maintain current staffing and programs. The group of about 75 High School Students talked to awmakers in des moines yestday. One metro sophomore has a good feeling about t tir work. I feel like we got a lot of the outcome. The district says it hasnt made any decisions on cuts, if the School Funding increase isnt large enough. Students in iowa city will be on a new Class Schedule nexschool year. The school board unanimousus approved the change on tuesday. It means elementary School Students will start classes at 755 each morning next fall. Junior high and High School Students will Elementary Students start later than junior and senior High School Students. Down. Eventually. Over the next 5 years, crews will be taking down hundreds of ash trees on the university of iowa cacaus. Thehehave to remove the trees because the Emerald Ash Borer was found on campus along with other parts of johnson county. The invasive beetle is known to spread quickly and kill ash trees. University arborists say they plan to replace all 560 ash trees by about 2020. Many of the trees are 50 to 60 on and around the pentacrest. Five years, if we take down 100 a year, werrgoing to have them down by then, its going to be staggered out, along the street we may take every third one, every other one, not every one. The University Says it hopes to find renewable uses for the wood that is chopped down. One idea is to burn it for Energy Purposes at the ui power plala. Its now the season of lent and students and faculty at Loras College in dubuque are encouraging people to do simple acts of kindness in the time leading up til easter. The committee duit forward made a calendar where each day offers something campus. The goal is to bring joy to other people each day. They can be as simple as, todays act of kindness is hold a door open for somebody, it i i a super easy thingngto do, there e are fun ones such as, you know, put a hand written note in somebodys mailbox, uhm, just as simple as making somebodys day, make somebody loras invites everyone to join in. The committee is using the hashtag duitforward where people can post pictures, comments, and more on twitterer one marion man may be famous for being the mayor. But he has spent his entire life trying to help people during the most sensitive times of their lives. Up next. This mornings weather wise question. Meteorologist kaj omara is up right after the break. First Alert Storm Team meteorologist kaj omara joins us now. Plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start as well. While well start off cold again, highs should make the upper teens to tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east than yesterdays snow and should affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts will remain light and generally under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute on friday. The wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowing snow yet again. Saturday is still on track to be cold and quiet with another snow chance coming our way for winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 winds sw 510 alo 14 dbq 14 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high 1824 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 winds nw 515 alo 3 dbq 3 iow 0 Law Enforcement and prosecutors in eastern iowa are teaming up to put a stop to an epidemic. Heroin isecoming a big problem in iowa and more people are getting informed on the issue. That story and more still to Community Ids again today. The university of iowas graduate s sdent union and the county are helping with the program. Last july, county supervisors unanimously approved a program that let people with or without us citizenship get an id. In 7 months, 765 people signed up. The Auditors Office wants to issue at least a thousand ids. Workers will be at the old apitol mall from11 tl one to up. Cedar rapids area Law Enforcement and prosecutors say they are committed to fighting the heroin epidemic. More than 150 people packed the Cedar Rapids Public Library last night for a town hall meeting on the topic. Speakers focused on how theyre working to stop it through prevention, treatment and Law Enforcement. Cedar rapids police, t Us Attorneys Office and the Area Substance Abuse Council were alllln on the discussion. Police say last year the city had about 250 cases involving heroin and that much of the heroin is coming from illinois. 13 08 15 you see an increase primarily in eastern iowa on the heroin, beginning to get more reports of it showing up in the central part of the state, more of the des moines ames corridor. To the lesser extent to western iowa. It seems to be migrating geographically from east to west. Town hall organizers also hoped to let more people know about what can lead heroin use. Police say prescription pain killer abuse is the gateway to the university of iowa hospitals and clinics is changing its top leadership. Its a part of an effort to bring clinical and educational efforts closer together. The ui Vice President for medical affairs and the dean of the Carver College of medicine will be one position on monday. Cucurent vp for medicalalffairs Jean Robillard will fill the new position. And the college of medicines current dean, Debra Schwinn will come the associate Vice President for medical affairs. That new role will focus on special projects. For nine days, kcrgtv nine and our show you care spsors are honoring nine outstanding volunteers weve selected from here in eastern n wa. We call them our nine who care. This morning, we meet a man who was in the public eye in marion of time serving others. Recently and he has spent decades in that city as a firefighter for decades but also helping people during the most sensitive moments,. 20 years of volunteing at the hospice of mercy but hes also served as a volunteer Unity Point Healthst. Lukes cedar rapids for years. 26 21. Ive always felt that all of us have an obligation to give back because were taking the benefits that others have done to get us to this point so ive always felt weve always had an obligation to give back going back to his decades as a firefighter, rehn said he was willing to run into the fire when others are running out of it. Each of our nine who care honorees will receive 500 dollars to donate to their favorite charities. And this saturday, well announce which one of them will go to washington dc in june to compete for the Jacqueline Kennedy onassis jefferson award for volunteerism. Heres our morning mugshot on your thursday. Its americans for independent living build for freedom fundraiser. Enjoy a night of fun, food, drinks, music and auctions to raise money for post 9 11 the Electric Park ballroom in waterloo from 4 to 10. Tickets are 25 dollars each or 40 per couple and that includes dinner. All money raised will go toward home veterans or organization yoyd like to see featured. Send us an email. Mugshot at kcrgdotcom. Heres what you need to know as you head out the door on your thursday. Iowa senators could debate a bill that uld end the states switch to privatized medicaid today. Three private companies are expected to take ownership of the program on march first. The democrats have a narrow majority in the likely pass. Itll face trouble in the house. Armed occupiers at an oregon wildlife refuge say they will turn themselves in this morning. T the fbi has moved in on the four remaining armed occupiers. A group has occucued the refuge since last month in a dispute over land use. 2016 democratic president ial candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will meet in wisconsin for a debate tonight. That debate will be on p bs and cnn at eight. Republican candidates are focusing on South Carolina. Now, one last look at this mornings weather, kaj. Plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start as well. While well start off cold again, highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east than sterdays snow and should affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts will remain light and generally under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute on friday. The wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowing snow yet again. Saturday is still on track to be cold ahd quiet with another snow chance coming our way for sunday. Today mostly sunny high 1824 winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high winds nw 1530 alo 19 dbq 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 iow 0 we certainly hope your is off to a goostart. Good morning america is next. And well be back with a local news update at 7 25. Also make sure to join us at eleven for the kcrg tv9 news at midday. Have a