Be wet with rain starting to move across the state by saturday night. On sunday, a strong storm system will pass through the midwest, bringing heavy rain to central and eastern iowa. An inch or rain will be possible, especially in eastern iowa where the highest totals will be possible. Temperatures will remain in the 40s to start next week, but will dip back into the 30s by this time next week. We begin tonight in Webster County where the courthouse is closed. But the government is still open. Vandals broke into the building early Tuesday Morning and damaged it with fire extinguishers. But a hectic 24 hours later the county is back open for business. Roger riley has the story from fort dodge. 50 00 this is vandalism and somewhat considered a disaster vandals sprayed fire extinguishers inside the iconic Webster County courthouse early tuesday, causing the building and cointy government to close. 1700 Tuesday Morning there was some vandalism at the court house we started brining up essential services. The iowa dot brought in an rv with services for drivers licensing operated by the county treasurer. The clerk of court moved into a courtroom which was being remodeled inside the Law Enforcement center. clerk Court Webster co courtelectronic filing system 50 20 computers set up scanning etc. The key in getting back into which got computers hooked up and ready to go. 2 52 it was just a matter of and wiping everything done bringing them back up. 1743 all the essential services of Webster County are up and going today, we are very impressed and proud of the accommodations and team work the county employees put together to make sure the citizens of Webster County are being taken care of authorities still do not know who did the damage. But a reward has been issued to tried to find those who did this. 3445 sheriff james stubbs possibly somebody saw this or individuals with residue on their fingers. 326 maybe we need to beef up security a little bit in our facility. 1837 weve had that discussion for quite a while about what more we can do to protect the courthouse the employees working at the courthouse. As we showed you the courtrooms are being remodeled a lot of security. While government is up and running. Not all of Webster County employees are, some are not working, as there is not space for all employees. In fort dodge rr channel 13 news. Webster county officials plan to have the cleanup completed and open up the courthouse by monday. Theyre asking the public for help finding the people responsible for the vandalism. The courthouse does not have a Security System or cameras. A pilot was forced to make a crash landing in the middle of an iowa interstate this afternoon. It happened just outside council bluffs. Authorities say the plane had just taken off from nearby Eppley Airfield in omaham when the pilot radioed that he was have problems and requested permission to return. Becore he could, witnesses say the plane clipped a power line then crashed in the median of i29. The pilot was unresponsive when he was taken from the scene. His name and condition havent been released. The ntsb will investigate why the plane went down. A crash shutdown traffic on i35 for miles, this morning. The state patrol says a truck lost control and rolled over in a traffic had to be rerouted along highway 28 while the wreck was cleaned up. The driver suffered minor injuries. I35 is back open now. Important data that helps governor branstad create the states budget was released today the revenue estimating conference says. Iowa is growing but at a slower pace than expected. Its anticipated the state will bring in about seven point zero four billion dollars this fiscal year. However that number is nine Million Dollars less than originally estimated. The department of management director says. Falling corn and Soybean Prices play a big part in this. But says right now the numbers arent a huge concern 321329 it soun like a lot of money when you talk about 10 , 20 Million Dollars but out of a 7. 2 billion dollar budget its way less than half of a percent estimates for 20 17 suggest state revenue will grow by 4 percent to 7 estimates for 20 17 suggest state revenue will grow by 4 percent to 7 point three three billion dollars. A rare occurence in washington dc this morning. Something president obama season. 4050 after more than 10 years, members of congress from both parties have come together to revise our National Education law. A christmas miracle. A bipartisan bill signing right here. He signed the every Student Succeeds act into law, one day after the senate sent it to his desk. The bill replaces george w. Bushs no child left behind act that has been universally opposed by educators and lawmakers. President obama and lawmakers say this new law will ease federal sanctions imposed on schools. And it will give more control back to the states. 151212 it creates real partnerships between the states, which will have new flexibility to tailor their improvement plans, and the federal government, which will have the oversight to make sure that the plans are sound. It helps states and districts reduce unnecessary standardized tests, something we talked about a couple of months ago. Board with the new law. He released this statement before the president signed the bill. Iowa and all states deserve a system of accountability and oversight that drives Student Learning and is based on growth and improvement. I appreciate that this legislation restores the proper balance between the role of states and the federal government in education accountability. Republican president ial hopeful ted cruz just got another big endorsement that likely will help him secure the evangelical vote in the iowa caucuses. Influential social conservative, bob vander plaats, announced his support for the texas senator this morning at the iowa state capitol. Vander plaats is best known as the president of the family leader, an evangelical Christian Advocacy Group in the state. The family leader decided not to officially endorse a candidate as a group. But leaders on its board are saying, we like ted. That includes vander plaats, as well as Vice President of the group, chuck hurley, and board chairman, robert cramer. Their individual endorsements mean they hope social conservatives give time. But cruz wont receive any official help from the family leader, including its mailing list or its staff. This time, i really believe im seeing leaders ive been visiting with that are ready to coalesce and unite around senator ted cruz. I also see the infrastructure that senator cruz has, the resources that he has, to be able to go the distance. I really believe and expect senator ted cruz to be the nominee in 2016. 01 20 this isnt the first big endorsement for cruz in iowa. Last month, iowa representative steve king endorsed the senator for the white house. Kings endorsement is seen as another Strong Influence over the social conservative vote in the state. Republican president ial candidate marco rubio came to the metro to make the case his brother is a reason why the country needs major changes in the way it cares for veterans. Rubio took part in a veterans event in West Des Moines sponsored by concerned veterans for america he criticized years of improper care overall lack of accountability for workers whove failed to do their jobs. Rubio wants to make it easier to fire bad employees and wants more flexibility for people like his older brother. Rubio. 3609 my brother mario is struggling hit in the mouth during Training Records werent kept the v. A. Wont cover it. Donald trump has another poll to brag about and proof that what he called a risky move is paying off politically. That risky move, of course, was his call for a ban on letting muslims into the us. Inflating trumps numbers. Donald trumps new poll number is as huge as the sign on his Hotel Project near the white house a trump best 35 support, more than double his nearest rivals, in the cbs New York TimesNational Poll of republicans sot susan mullen, new york city lives in Trump Building 15 19 i believe donald trump is trying to do something for america that no one has ever done. The poll was done after san bernardino, as trump demanded a ban on muslims entering the us a political move that was risky but paid off. Trump said today on fox friends sot voice of donald trump, president ial candidate 32 40i understand that new polls are even higher because people agree with for poll numbers. Trump is getting hammered his name on a golf course in dubai taken down today a push to do that in canada and to ban trump from britain ted cruz is opposing the trump muslim ban sot ted cruz, president ial candidate 531 02ive introduced legislation that would impose a three year countries where alqaeda or isis control a substantial amount of territory. Marco rubios writing off trump sot marco rubio, president ial candidate1 051 09i believe the republican nominee is going to be someone who can win the general election and i dont believe that donald can. Oh yeah . Says the gop frontrunner sot donald trump, president ial candidate1 131 18im getting criticism from people that are running against me that have no poll numbers. I mean, theyre doing very poorly. And trump is doing better than ever. In a firestorm that he is fanning but trump could be in trouble. In iowa. Ted cruz. Getting critical evangelical support in that first in the nation republican primary contest. Is just 3 points, in the polls, behind trump. Im steve handelsman, nbc news, at the trump Hotel Project in washington. He seemed like a longshot at first. But Bernie Sanders is now neckand neck with Hillary Clinton. And his National Campaign manager says dont call him an hear why jeff weaver says it isnt if. But when hell win the democratic nomination. As he sits down with us for an exclusive interview. It usually takes a superresolution microscope to spot a strand of dna. But not in grinnell. Coming up next. Well tell you the inspiration into the giant genetic structure. And tell you what honor it may earn its builders. These grinnell middle schoolers are attempting to set a new record. Its a project thats teaching grinnel seventh graders all about dna and how its structured. But its also set to earn these students a spot in the guinness book of world records. With the Worlds Largest model dna strand. Dna is very, very small, so you obviously have to make a model, but we have a whole bunch of dna, so i was trying to make something really big, and i said, i wonder how big the world record is. and i looked it up, and i said, oh, i think thats something we could probably do. so here we are at this project now. 01 15 so how big is the Worlds Largest model dna strand . Right now the record is set at about 90 feet from a company in china. These grinnell seventh graders say theyre looking forward to unseating those guys when they reveal their model, which should be may look like a simple pattern of red and white beads, but this model is based on a real dna strand that makes hemoglobin in red blood cells. Josh ellis, the teacher leading this group, says it gets the students moving, which is always the best way to learn. Anytime you get the students up out of their seat and moving, rather than just sitting there writing or sitting there listening to you, the more you do yourself the more you personally learn. So that was the goal of making a model in general, was getting them up and moving to learn this sequence. 01 15 about one hundred and fifteen students helped make this project a reality. They expect to finish the model strand early next week, when theyll submit it to the guinness book of world records. If you have bacon in your dna. Then this next story is for you. Today tickets went on sale for the 9th annual blue ribbon bacon festival in des moines. The baconpalooza will be held february 20th at the iowa events center. This years event will be 80s themed. Promising to give you a body by more than 14thousand tickets are available. You can get yours by logging onto blueribbonbaconfestivaldotc om. Clouds will move back in overnight into friday morning as winds begin to die down. Friday looks mainly cloudy with highs in the 50s. This weekend is going to be wet with rain starting to move across the state by saturday night. On sunday, a strong storm system will pass through the midwest, bringing heavy rain to central and eastern iowa. An inch or rain will be possible, especially in eastern iowa where the highest totals will be possible. Temperatures will remain in the 40s to start next week, but will dip back into the 30s by this time next week. Clouds will move back in overnight into friday morning down. Friday looks mainly cloudy with highs in the 50s. This weekend is going to be wet with rain starting to on sunday, a strong storm system will pass through the midwest, bringing heavy rain to central and eastern iowa. An inch or rain will be possible, especially in eastern iowa where the highest totals will be possible. Temperatures will remain in the 40s to start next week, but will dip back into the 30s by this time next week. Its the homestretch for the its the homestretch for the iowa. An inch or rain will be possible, especially in eastern iowa where the highest totals will be possible. Temperatures will remain in the 40s to start next week, but will dip back into the 30s by this time next week. Its the homestretch for the president ial contenders. Coming up next, hear why Bernie SandersNational Campaign manager says the path to victory hear has already been paved. Bernie sanders is neckandneck with Hillary Clinton here in iowa. Thats thanks in part to our guest today. Jeff weaver is senator sanders National Campaign manager. And hes here to give us some insight into this candidate. And into this race, overall. We see it everywhere. I witnessed it firsthand at the Jefferson Jackson dinner. How hungry Bernie Sanders supporters are for what he has to say. Its the same thing that hooked you decades ago. Can you sum it up in a sentence . When you broaden out the ramifications of that platform. Many people. Especially people on the right start to get scared of it. Do you understand why they reject the message . The suppoters are fanatical. But what about people who havent made up their minds . Whats the number one misconception about Bernie Sanders that youre trying to put to rest . A new poll out yesterday, i believe said National Security has taken over the economy as the most would Bernie Sanders do to prevent the next terrorist tack in the us . You knoes a chunk of democratic ts who are learning wards Hillaary Clinton if for nothing else. Becuse they see r d they see a winner. How do u convince people bernienders can win the general ections . No matter who wins the nomination. How long do you and your experts anticipate its going to take . Ll it bewrapped up on super tuesday . Ure a cibook guy. Ure into gaming. A you geeking out ll you have time to watch. Or will you bempgne of the nations faste owing food chains is dealingth a pr if youre doing everything right but find it harder and harder to get by, youre not alone. While our people work longer hours for lower wages, almost all new income goes to the top 1 . My plan make wall street banks and the ultrarich pay their fair share of taxes, provide living wages for working people, ensure equal pay for women. Im Bernie Sanders. I approve this message because together, we can make a Political Revolution and create an economy and democracy that works for all one of the nations Fastest Growing food chains is dealing with a pr disaster. We have the latest on the second major outbreak of illness linked to chipotle in recent weeks. Its our favorite type of story heartwarming story behind this little boys trip to visit santa. And the rivalry is renewed again tonight. Well take you live to ames where the cyhawk hoops matchup tips off in two hours. News at four front door theres a profuse apology and a promise to be safer and cleaner from the ceo of the chipolte restaurant chain today. It comes after a second major outbreak of sicknesses linked to the restaurant. This time in boston. Dozens of College Students are ill after visiting a location there. Chris clackum has the story. Natsound closed sign this Chipotle Mexican Grill in boston was closed again thursday. With the restaurant chains founder and ceo going on today to apologize for causing so many. To get so sick. Theyre having a tough time, and i feel terrible about that nearby Boston College now says more than 140 of its students became sick with a gastrointestinal illness after eating at the restaurant. And led Boston Health officials to order its closure monday. Our goal is to make sure this establishment is safe safe from the norovirus thats a fastspreading airborne bug that causes gastrointestinal distress. With most people recovering after a few days. Ceo steve thorough scrubbing. When we reopen, the restaurant and every single employee will have been tested and assured that they do not have the norovirus. But ells has more than just boston on his mind. With an e. Coli the last two months. Forcing him to retool all of his restaurants how we prepare the food, how we cook the food, and how we serve the food weve had a team of epidemiologists and food Safety Experts to raise our standards. And raising the restaurants reputation to where it was. Chris clackum, nbc news chipotle has seven iowa locations. None of the illnesses have been chipotle has seven iowa locations. None of the illnesses have been linked to any iowa restaurants. You may not know it. But youve probably been violating federal copywright laws at every Birthday Party youve ever attended. But you wont be a lawbreaker any longer. A court ruling released in los angeles this week means happy birthday to you is now in the public domain. The song was written by two sisters in the late 1890s. Warner music purchased the millions of dollars in the last century by charging fees everytime it is sung on tv, in the movies or on the radio. Private parties were rarely if ever charged for singing the song. However a judge says the company doesnt actually own the rights to the words. Just part of the melody. So you can literally sing freely now. Clouds will move back in overnight into friday morning as winds begin to die down. Friday looks mainly cloudy with highs in the 50s. This weekend is going to be wet with rain starting to move across the state by saturday night. On sunday, a strong storm system will pass through the midwest, bringing heavy rain to central and eastern iowa. An inch or rain will be possible, especially in eastern iowa where the highest totals will be possible. Temperatures will remain in the 40s to start next week, but will dip back into he knows if youve been naughty or nice. But he also knows when you need a laugh. Or a snuggle. The 30s by this time next week. Freely now. Clouds will move back in overnight into friday morning as winds begin to die down. Friday looks mainly cloudy with highs in the 50s. This weekend is going to be wet with rain state by saturday nigneed a laugh. Or a snuggle. Santa claus knows how to deal with screaming and scared children this time of year. Earlier this month in ohio saint nick made a special connection with a snoozing child. Suzanne stratford has the story. santaaaaa an exciting milestone for children. Creating precious memories for parents. Especially that all important picture. Daddy got you huh something samantha and josh wade definitely wanted for their two year old son ryland he deserves to experience everything as parents its our job to make sure that happens during labor and delivery ryland experienced a lack of oxygen to the brain which resulted in epilepsy as well as spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsey. Last Holiday Season. Dozens of seizures prevented him from seeing santa but with new medication samantha says they were hopeful this year hes loving hes happy even though hes non verbal he knows how to convey emotions and then they heard of something calming experience for children with special needsno loud music nothing to overwhelm a child 2. 22 they made their appointment for sunday morning at Belden Village Mall in canton. But before leaving. My husband josh was getting ryland ready to go and ryland went into a seizure the toddler became very sleepy. But rather than cancel the family continued on. I mean weve got to keep on going got to give him a chance to experience things and what happened next. A truly magical moment between a small child and incredibly sweet Santa Claus Santa said thats fine took him on his knee cuddled him talked quietly to him for a little bit and was intuitive to rylands needs creating this extraordinary picture. Thats now inspiring other parents with special Needs Children. And reminding us whats truly important this Holiday Season the whole experience was more than i thought it would be it was this weekend parents of special Needs Children are invited to bring their little ones out for a special visit with santa here in the metro. Santa will hold a fully accessible meet and greet with kids at the ramada tropics resort on merle hay road. Just off i80. On saturday. You can find Details Online at special santaeventdotcom. Clouds will move back in overnight into friday morning as winds begin to die santaeventdotcom. Clouds will move back in overnight into friday morning down. Friday looks mainly cloudy with highs in the 50s. This weekend is going to be wet with rain starting to move across the state by saturday night. On sunday, a strong storm system will pass through the midwest, bringing heavy rain to central and eastern iowa. An inch or rain will be possible, especially in eastern iowa where the highest totals will be possible. Temperatures will remain in the 40s to start next week, but will dip back into the 30s by this time next week. The cyclones are going for three biggest upset in cyhawk history. Well take you live to its been a onesided rivalry of late. The Iowa State Cyclones have beaten the hawkeyes on the hardwood two years in a row. And five of the last six years. For the 69th time. Its an age old tradition between iowa and iowa state and tonight it will take place on the Basketball Court inside Hilton Coliseum. Channel 13s Justin Surrency is fans are heading into tonights big game. Almost all iowans have at least a small stake in tonights cyhawk game. Its been known to split towns friends and even families every time these two teams meet. Iowa state students are so excited for tonights basketball game against iowa that they began standing in line on monday just to make sure they made it inside. Cyclone fans have wrapped around Hilton Coliseum for tonights basketball game against the 72 iowa hawkeyes at 6 30pm expectations are extremely high this year for the undefeated Iowa State Cyclones led by new head coach steve prohm. After the hawkeyes Football Team garnered National Attention with an undefeated regular season. Cyclones fans are eager to enjoy that same spotlight on Basketball Court. Were gonna see it tonight especially against iowa this game means everything to us so its going to be a good one but obviously we will win. T just shows how tight of a community we are and we all can come together and we love the cyclones and absolutely everything about them. Well be back in three minutes december this week. But it cant last all winter. Coming up. When we can expect heavy rain. And when well once again be pulling out the winter gear. Working on a budget. The governor gets a glimpse of the funds hes got to work with during the coming legislative session. The latest prediction. And what appears to be dragging down the economy. Rubios pledge. Gop president ial candidate marco rubio visit the metro with a focus on veterans. The changes he wants to make to healthcare and the budget in order to help those whove served. We are just about one month from the opening of the next legislative session. Today the governor got a glimpse at how much taxpayer money he will have to spend. Good evening. And thank you for joining us. Im dan winters. Im lynn melling. In for sonya. This morning the revenue estimating conference or rec met for the third and final time of this year. It gives a glimpse at the while the state is