Alert forecast,. As you wake up temperatures will start ofin the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will allow for a great start to your friday. A little sunshine will go a long way throughout your late morning and afternoon. With the sunshine and a westerly wind temperatures will warm into the low 40s or highs. Into the evening tempepeatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatatres are pushing 60 dederees both days. Spring isnt too far away. There is a large need for student care and not just the physical part of care. During an open house at the clinic in taylor elementary, she says there should be more Mental Health services. Right now, the united way funds a handful of parttime inschool therapists with 200 thousand dollars each year. That funding is nearly half of what the district received last school year. Thats after the department of Human Services dropped a 150thousand dollar grant from Mental Health services. One district leader says any future cuts point to one outcome. 20 58 48 we have less service, thats the bottom line unfortunately. Services obviously need to be paid for. Some of that can be billed to health insurance, title 19, and have a roll in that. But then grants have to fill in the gaps. The district contracts with organizations like the abbe center and tanager place to provide coununling services. The abbe Mental Health center in iowa city has a new home. It is now on arthur street in the towncrest district, near other medical and Community Outreach organizations. The center had been helping patients out of four buildings on college and van buren streets. A bill is now in the hands of the iowa senate that would protect a rsons electronic data from Law Enforcement searches. The iowa house unananously passed the resolution yesterday. It specifies that investigators would need a warrant to search someones Electronic Communications and data. This would amend the state constitution to add this part. The constitution already specifies protections for a persons body, home, physical belongings and documents. It will need full legislative approval next year more students are taking online courses from iowas three public universities. A new report from the iowa board of regents shows during last school year nearly 26thousand students took at least one online course. Thats up from the school year before, when almost 23thousand took one or more online courses. The momo Popular Online coururs included topics on management and marketing, education, and family and consumer sciences. The board of regents says its trying to increase online learning. Northeast Iowa Community colle is teaching its students about the amount of debt they might owe. The white house says roughly 71 percent of those earning a bachelors degree graduate th debt. That debt averages 29 thousand400 dollars. The institute for College Access and success found the class of 2014 graduated with an avage debt of 29 thtusand732 dollars just in iowa. Thats the sixth highest in the nation. Specialists tell incoming studen, is to make a Loan Management an. The college gives high schoho seniors tools to help them figure out their expenses for all four years of college. Nicc says debt is a big problem, not only forhem, but for the entire community. If students have high student loan payments after graduation, they dont have the money to buy the house. To buy the cars and to contribute to the economy, because their money is tied up in the student loan. Nicc staff are working with iowa film maker adam carroll to help lay out College Expenses for prospective students. Starting next week, nicc will host showings and a discussion of carrolls film broke, busted and disgusted we have a list of times for those events on rg dot com. West des moines could become the first city in iowa to create rules on solar panels. The city is drafting an ordinance regarding Solar Panel Installations at homes and bunesses. Requested permission to install panels on his home. City leaders said city code didnt cover that. The West Des Moines ordinance could eventually affect other cities that follow its lead. Cedar falls utilities is starting the simple solar farm. More than 1200 cfu customers bought into this project, which will start producing energy in march or aprillthose customers wiwi get a aredit on their bill over the next 20 years. An annual event in cedar rapids is making sure High School Students get the most important thing off of their prom check lists. The annual schulte and swanns gown town gives away recycled prom dresses for free. Hiawatha. Donated . Thats right chris and nicole. Can choose from all of these dresses that people in eastern iowa how did gown town get started . How do High Schoolers get involved . Do they need to bring anything . Why do you think this is such an important thing to provide to students . And you took in a lot of donations . Anything else we need to know . Schulte and swanns gownnown returns this saturday to the Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center at 1770 boyson road in hiawatha and will held from noon to 3 if youu in high schoho, youre invited come by, pick out the dress of your charge. No questions asked and dont worry, therell be lots of shoes and ric cessories, too also, if you know a young lady attending prom who might be in need of a dress, please plus, donations are welcome gown, shoes, accessories or all of the you can visit t y of the following locations during busins hours to donate. Citywide cleaners 838 1st avenue ne 341 edgewood road nw 4620 1st avenue ne 3102 mt. Vernon road se herteen and stocker jewelers 101 south dubuque street, iowa city Kirkwood Linn n unty Regional Center 1770 boyson road in hiawatha skeffingtons formalwear inside coral ridge mall, 1451 coral ridge avenue, coralville well thanks. Gown town will be held her at the Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center in hiawatha. Its tomorrow starting at noon. Chris, nicole back to you. Tv9s brea love live in hiawatha. Thanks a lot brea. For once, people are replacing robots not the other way around. And reaction this morning from the return of the tanners. The premiere of fuller house is ahead in techbytes. Good morning its. In the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will low for a great start to your friday. A little sunshinin will go a long way throughout your late morning and with the sunshine and a westerly wind teeratures will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening temperatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 degrees both days. Spring isnt too far away. Thanks. As you wake up temperatures will start off in the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will allow for a great start to your friday. A little sunshine throughout your late morning and afternoon. With the sunshine and a westerly wind temperatures will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening temperatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 degrees both days. Spring isnt too far away. Thanks. Now heres abcs reena ninan with this mornings techbytes trt hey there. In todays techbytes a major reversal by mercedes. The german luxury autotoker replacing robots with humans. You heard that right. They just cant keep up with the tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of pokemon. Its showing no signs of letting up. Events marking the big birthday being held around the world. And fuller house is now streaming on netflix. Fans are beyond excited. Most of the original stars are back for the 80s classic except the olsen twins who say they dont act anymore. Twitter is on fire for fan reaction. Most saying theyre stage up all night and to binge watch. So what are we waiting for . Lets get out of here. Have a great day. Only kraft natural cheese has a touch of philadelphia cream cheese, so whatever you make, super tuesday is next week and that big day could mean nearing an end to primary season. And president obama is moving ahead with plans he has been working toward for nearly eight years. Our Washington Bureau corresponden t alex millelejoins us live to talk the biggest news in washington this week and what we can expect from the election in the coming days. Alex, the president announced plans to close Guantanamo Bay in cuba but its not going over well with republican members of congress. Is there anything they can do to stop the theyre going to tryso fafa theyve bannededhe administration from spending money to transfer prisoners to the us. And secretary of Defense Ash Carter says the Administration Needs congressiona l approval to close Guantanamo Bay. What once had bi partisan support now has become an extremely partisan issue. And of course thehe preedent can use executive action on this as well. He says closing gitmo could lower costs by 85 Million Dollars each year. There are only 91 prisoners left35 expected to be transferred overseas so that leaves 4060 to head to the us. But what he pegs as the bigger issue than money is the way our allies feel about guantanamo. Take a listen. The pentagon hasnt a specific site to move prisoners to but many members of congress are frustrated especially those in South Carolina, colorado and kansas because their states may possibly be forced take in these prisoners. Now onto the president ial race. With Hillary Clinton winning in nevada and donald trump winning in new hampshire, nevada and South Carolina is it possible for a turnaround for the other candidates at this point . Specifically on the gop side its gogog to be difficult but i would say by the time we talk next week well have a pretty clear idea of what is going to happen dont think it can be overstated enough how big trumps win in South Carolina was. Since he got every single delegate rubio could have come in second or 92nd and it wouldnt have made a difference numbers wise. Cruz may win his homeme state of texas which has a high number of delegates and rubio pointed out the other day he thinks hell win floridawell florida about 2 weeks after super tuesday so unless he wins some states on march first hes goig to be in a bad situation as for hihilary shes inna good place becauss shes about to go into her sweet spot of states where she has a lot of support. Sanders is already jumping past South Carolina and campaigning in other states to try to pick back up that momentum. Alex miller live in dc with us this morning. Thanks a lot, alex. Students at one Iowa High School got into some trouble with a chant at a b bketball game. Now, theyre owning up to their mistake and apologizing for the racial and political slur. Youre looking live on our camera. Britley will be back right after the break with a look at your friday forecast. Meteorologist britley ritz joins us now with your first alert forecast. As you wake up temperatures will start off in the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will l low forr great start to your friday. A little sunshine will go a long way throughout your late morning and afternoon. With the sunshine and a westerly wind temperatures will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening tperatures will statamild, wwh lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 0 degrees both days. Spring isnt too far away. This is a live picture this morning of the dolby theatre in los angeles, california. This area will look a lot different on sunday for the academy awards. They will roll out the red carpet where all of hollywoods finest will pose for the cameras for movies biggest night. The oscars are sunday here on kcrgtv9 and you can try your hand at picking the winners. Click on kcrgtv9 movie madness on kcrg dot com. Youll be competing against some of us here at tv9. Then watch the oscars sunday night, starting at 7, on kcrgtv9. The last day of february is rare e Nonprofit Research group in eastern iowa hopes to use that day to teach people about its fight. Stay with tv9. Its. On our r ity cam. Its february 26th and this is what you need to know. 2016 republican president ial candidates try to slow Donald Trumps momentum in the latest debate while the democrats get ready for tomorrows primimy in south cacaolina. Four people are dead and a dozen more injured in a shooting at a factory near wichita, kansas leaving a Small Community in shock. Nurses in the Cedar Rapids CommunitySchool District say the District Needs more Mental Health the city of cedar rapids is worried that it will never see federal funding for its flood protection plan. Now its considering other options. S. And prom can get pretty expensive. Gown town is helping eastern iowa High Schoolers get their outfits for the big night absolutely free. Youre watching kcrgtv9. Now, from your 24 hour news source, this is kcrgtv9 news morning news. Ritz has your first alert forecast. As you wake up temperatures will start off in the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will allow for a great start to your friday. A little sunshine will go a long way throughout your late morning and afternoon. Wind temperatures will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening temperatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 degrees both days. Spring isnt too far away. President ial candidates Hillary Clinton and to make an democrats there will vote in a primary tomorrow as republican candidates come off their final debate before super tuesday. Despite 5 candidates being on stage last night, nearly all of the sparring involvethe top 3. Dold trump, ted cruz and marco rubio battled for much of the debate with cruz into trumps lead, nationally. Rubio went after trump, multiple times on multiple issues. President ial candidate youre the only person on his stage fined for working on your project illegally president ial candidate im the only one on the stage who has hired people. You havent hired anybody. The candidates battlededver immigrgrion policy and positions for much of the first hour, the middle east, the Supreme Court vacancy, health care, and the u. S. Economy. At the same time, Hillary Clinton was campaigning in north charleston, South Carolina. She holds a sizable lead going into tomorrows primary vote. Vermont sator Bernie Sanders spent his time in the midwest yesterday. He spoke in flint, michigan during a a rum. Super tuesday may bring some clarity in both races as 14 republican states and 11 democratic states will hold primaries or caucuses. Studentntat dallas centergrimes are talking about a controversial basketball chant on monday. A group chanted trumps name taunting raciallydiverse perry high school. Perry athletic leaders in perry yeststday morning. Dcgs student body president apologized for their cheer sections repeated trump chants. A School Administrator says students knew they were in the wrong and wanted to own up to their mistake. To be able to understand what its like for other schools or other races and ethnicities and how we can come together as a community and support one another and love eacacther no matttt what our skin color is students and staff from d cg attended perrys district championship basketball game yesterday to show their support. The small commmmity of hesston, kansas, near wichita, is trying to recover this morning. Four people are dead and more than a dozen wounded after a gunman started shooting inside a production plant. T. Police say 38 year old cedric ford opened fire at excel industries where he worked. That plant makes lawnmowe equipment he started shooting around six oclock last night. Police e ficers caught inside the building said they are in complete shock. Never in a million years something you imagine would happen. Peop you work side by side with everyday just in a panic. What do you do . I dont know Kansas Governor Sam Brownback is ordering all flags be flown at half staff in the state totoy to honor the victims. 7 people are expected to survive after a School Bus Crash in jo daviess county, illinois. A vehicle crashed with the bus as the bus was making a turn yesterday morning on highway 20, south of east dubuque. The bus was carrying 10 students, a teachers aide, and the driver. 7 people went to the hospital the driver of the vehicle received a ticket for not reducing speed totovoid an accident. And remember whenever you see news, call newsline nine at 3193659999. You can also send pictures and videos to newsroom at kcrg dot com. In a tv9 followup this morning. A doctor says a man accused of beating and killing a dubuque woman doesnt understand his chargege the doctor who evaluated 20yearold Helmon Betwell says he has a mental disorder. Betwell faces murder and Sexual Assault charges for killing, 66 yearold nancy krapfl. Police say she was taking a walk around 17th street and Central Avenue on september 1st of last year when betwell attacked her. Betwells attorney filed a motion on tuesday requesting a hearing to determine if he was competent enough to stand trial. He also wants betwells criminal proceedings suspended until that hearing happens. The founder of the midamar food company will serve two years in federal prison. A judge delivered that sentence to bill aossey yesterday. Last year, a jury found the 74 year old guilty of several charges relating to a scheme to sell mislabeled meat to several islamic countries. Aossey testified during his trial that he requested and instructed midamar employees to rebox, relabel, and ship beef the sentence also called for three years of supervision after release, a 60thousand dollar fine, and a 180thousand dollar forfeiture. The midamar company was fined 20thousand llars and ordered totoorfeit 600thousand. Aosseys sons, jalel and yahya , have each pleaded guilty to related charges and are still waiting for their sentencing. They each face two to five years in prison. N. Cedar rapids is trying to figure out if it needs a plan b to fund its flood recovery. Congress authorized money for items like flood walls to protect lowlying areas. The city worried that money will never arrive. For now, the city will start flood protection construction this year using city and state money. And it will hope the federal dollars will follow. In 2014, Congress Approved spending 73 Million Dollars as the federal portion of flood protection on the east side of the cedar river. Mayor ron corbett says congress has not found the money for that yet. They all tell us they support our project. And this day, not one penny has been allocated for construction vo cont the mayor says the city will keep fighting for the federal flood protececon dollars promised. Des moines water works will stop dumping excess nitrate that it filters from Drinking Water into the Raccoon River it will pay the citys Sanitary Sewer System to treat the runoff. Thats under a plan to build a pipeline this year that would connect the facility to the the citys sewer system. Were going to go above and beyond the law here and do something we think is right for surface Water Quality here in iowa. This comes after the Iowa Department of Natural Resources identified excessive levels of sulfate and chloride in the discharge. A non profit Research Group in iowa city is trying to let more people know about the fight against Rare Diseases. The John Paul Ii Medical Research institute is launching a Rare Genetic Disease Program to try to find d res to those diseases using adult stem cells. Rare disease day is on the last day of february every year. Researchers at the institute entire month to reaching out to patients and the doctors who treat them. They want to recruit 100 people into their patient registry, who are willing to donate blood and tissue samples. From those samples, the iititute can isolate a alt stem cells and reprogram them into other types of cells. Ceo jay kamath says the major problem is that Rare Diseases dont get funding or enough people involved in clinical trials. Research scientist anant kamath says their research is also aimed at other diseases. 10 39 48 we want to treat people for endstage cardiac failure, we want to treat people who potentially have alzheimers disease. We want to develop better drugs, because our drug pipeline is extremely weak. The institute gets its funding from private sources. From the dress, to the tux, to the flowersrsnd dinner, High School Students can spend a lot of money on prom. Coming up with the money can be hard for some thats where z102. 9s schulte and swann gown town comes in. It provides prom gowns to local gh schoolers in hiawatha where those gowns and accessories are ready to go. Brea, how are the gowns looking this year . Year. Tomorrow plenty of prom goers will take a hold of these dresses. Right now im joined. How did gown town get started . How do High Schoolers get involved . Do they need to bring anything . Important thing to provide to studentnt donations . Anything else we need to know . Schulte and swanns gown town returns this s aturday to the Kirkwood Linn county regional hiawatha and wl held from noon to 3 if youre in youre invited come by, pick out the dress of your dreams and take it home free of charge. No questions asked and dont worry, therell be lots of shoes and ric cessories, too also, if you know a younunlady attending prom who might be in need of a dress, please tell her to come to gown town plus, donations are welcome if you have a new or gently useded gown, shoes, cessories or alal of the above. Z102. 9 will take em you can visit any of the following locations during Business Hours to donate. Citywide cleaners 838 1st avenue ne 341 edgewood road nw 4620 1st avenue ne 3102 mt. Vernon road se herteen and stocker jewelers 101 south dubuque street, iowa city Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center 1770 boyson road in hiawatha skeffingtons formalwear inside coral ridge mall, 1451 coral ridge avenue, coralville well thanks. Tv9s brea love live in hiawatha this morning. Thanks a lot, brea. A new district in iowa city is really taking off. And its bringing more people and businesses to the riverfront. Up next. This mornings weather wise question. Meteorologist kaj omara is up right after the break. First Alert Storm Team joins us now. As you wake up temperatures will start off in the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will allow for a great start to your friday. A little sunshine will go a long way throughout ur late morning a a afternoon. With the sunshine and a westerly will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening temperatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 degrees both h ys. Spring isnt too far away. As you wake up temperatures will start off in the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will allow for a great start to will go a long way throughout your late morning and afternoon. With the sunshine and a westerly wind temperatures will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening temperatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i t tnk most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 degrees both days. Spring isnt too far away. Thanks. Fallen soldier. Theyve decided to name a post office for Sergeant First Class terry pasker who died while serving in afghanistan. That story andore still to come on tv9. Stay with us. Its. Help power the campus. Farmers harvested giant miscanthus grass frfm a Research Field in iowa city yesterday. The university recentnt started burnini the grass in its power plant. This is the second time the university has harvested miscanthus grasses, which appear to beban effective source of energy. The university recently planted the grass on about 350 additional acres and will harvest that next year. The school says its a good use of state resources. This keeps dollars for energy in iowa, so theres no coal or Natural Gas Resources in iowa, but we can grow our own fuelelnd give that moneyyo farmers instead. The university has a goal to be using 40 Renewable Energy by 2020. Starting to take shape. Right now, there are seven projects going on in the riverfront crossing districtthat includes this 1 1 story hotel at the corner of clinton and burlington streets. The district sits directly south of downtown. The city has zoned it for large scale development. City leaders say the district has really taken off. Were really pleased that its developing as quickly as it is, of course we cant predict exactly how long it will take because thats market driven. A Midwest One BankOffice Building was the first building in the district. The city is also working on adding a parking garage next door. The iowa lottery is ending sales of one of its instant scratch games. Lottery officials announced that players have until may 26 to claim their prizes in the 5x scratch game. Officials say games that end are replaced with new games throughout the year. Players can visit iowa lottery retailers to claim their prizes. All of iowas congressmen and senators are co sponsoring a bill to rename a honor of a fallen soldier. Sergeant first class terry pasker died in july of 2011 while serving in afghanistan. He was 39 and just days away from the end of his combat tour. The representativ es havent said which post office will bear his name. Now heres our morning mugshot ononour friday. Its the beyond rubies womens conference. The conference is march third and fourth at the kirkwood center. Engage in an exciting, fun and inspirational atmosphere where women come together to network andd explore new register for both days or attend just one. Enrollment includes lunch, Keynote Presentation and three workshops per day. Workshop topics range from buildidi culture at work to stress relief. For more information or to register visit kirkwood dot edu slash rubies. If you have a nonprofit event or organization youd like to see featured. D. Send us an e eail. Mugshot at kcrgdotcom. Door on your friday. Bernie sanders and Hillary Clinton are battling for door on your friday. Bernie sanders and Hillary Clinton are battling for votes in the South Carolina primary. Voters there will head to the pools tomorrrr. Republican candidates are focused on trying to slow Donald Trumps momentum heading into super tuesday. Prom can get pretty expensive, so z 102. 9s schulte and swann are hosting their gown town event. Area High School Students can pick a prom dress and accessories for free. Gown town is tomorrow at the Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center from noon to three. And the oscars are this sunday. Watch all the action from the red carpet and inside the theatre right here on tv9 starting at six oclock. Now, one last look at this mornings weather. As you wake up temperatures will start off in the upper 20s and low 30s for most. Skies will be partly cloudy which will allow for a great start to your friday. A little sunshine will go a long way throughout your late morning and afternoon. With the sunshihi and a westerly nd temperatures will warm into the low 40s for highs. Into the evening temperatures will stay mild, with lows dropping into the low 30s. Skies will become mainly clear and the start of you weekend looks great. Once again the weather remains fairly quiet, but i think most of you will be ok with that. Especially since our weather gets even better into saturday and will continue into sunday. Temperatures are pushing 60 degrees both days. Spring isnt too far away. We certainly hope your is Good Morning America is next. And well be back with a local news update at 7 25. Good morning, america. Breaking overnight, deadly shooting. The gun was strapped to him. Heas ready to go. The chase to stop the four killed. More than a dozen injured. What were learning this morning about the gunman and the hero cop who brought him down. Fireworks at the gop debate. This guys a choke artist. Donald trump targeted from all sides. If he builds the wall the way he belt trump tower hell be using ill immigrant labor to do it. Rubio rune looking to make it a twomanace overnight. Is it too little too late with super tuesdays away . Marco rubio joins us this morning. A bombshell in court. The shocking video that erin andrews never wanted anyone to see played in court for the jury. The dancing with the stars host in tears as she gets set to testify in that 75 million trial. And get ready for gold. Its almost time foror oscar and