There debated and passed a minimum wage change in a a matter of weeks. Some small towns voted on their own to opt out. He sees a much slower approach with representativ es of communities talking it over first. At the blue strawberry, owner Mike Monnahan has anywhere between 8 and 12 full time employees depending on the season. All start at least a little bit above the federal 7. 25 an hour minimum wage. But a countywide minimum wage hike would still have an impact here. So his advice to supervisors. Think it through before you act. I think the idea of discussions with local business owners. Is something that would be of value linn county supervisors who listened to wage facts and figures decided to start with just a small step. That would include employees and Community Representatives to see if a higher county minimum wage would have support. And supervisoo want to see what state lawmakers do first. I see a three to six month time line here. Definitely want to watch whats going on in the legislature. But if nothing happens this legislative session you could see something happen in linn county. Oleson says he wants to avoid the protest battles that marked the debate in Johnson County and prompted some communities to reject a higher minimum wage in that county. One Economic Development group leader also encouraged supervisors to avoid an us versus them approach. I would encovrage you to be careful not to craft this as businene versus labor. That the chamber of commerce would necessarily be opposed to this supervisor oleson says hell put an item on the countys agenda next week to begirecruiting possible impact of a higher minimum wage in linn county. Live in cedar rapids, Dave Franzman kcrg tv9 news. Kcrgtv9s joe winters joins us now. Joe, after a few frigid days, things warmed back up a little today in eastern iowa. How long is this warmer weather going to stick around . What a nice change as the cold weather has moved east for r couple of days. Lows tonight stay in the 20s and with a partly cloudy day on thursday we should see some middle to upper 30s throughout eastern iowa. As our next storm approaches thursday night, some light mix could develop friday. Cold arcticcir then pours into the region for the weekend and sticks with us for the early night tonight partly cloudy low 2026 winds sw 510 tomorrow partly cloudy high 3642 bruce and beth. Its been a cold day at the linn county courthouse after a hot water line ruptured last night. Staff had to turn off heat to the courthouse and the Linn County Jail after an eight inch feeder le started leaking. People bundled up in coats to stay warm. Workers thought they had fixed the problem, but then a feeder pipe blew this morning. Now experts have to take a look at the entire system. After the flood of 2008 the basement of this building, the first floor we call it, started out with a clean slate, so the system was put back in brand new. So were looking now to bring in engineers and the craftsman who installed the system and try to determine whats going on. The pipes were leaking ethylene glycol, which is a clear liquid used in pipes to transfer heat. We understand they hope to fix the problem yet tonight, and turn midnight. Cedar Rapids Police are investigating after one man showed up at Saint Lukes Hospital with a stab wound today. Police say a 20yearold man walked into saint lukes around 5 am with nonlifethreatening stab wounds. Roughly one hour later, a second 20yearold man showed up at the hospital with injuries, though he was not stabbed. Officers say both men were injured in an incident at 59 dartmouth street southwest in cedar rapids. Police found a third person at the home, and are working to determine whether others were involved. So far, police have not made any arrests. The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court says the state is making progress in addressing Racial Disparities in the court system. Chief Justice Mark Cady told lawmakers today more than 700 judges, magistrates, and staffers went through inequality training last year. The training aims to help them recognize certain biases that contribute to racial disparity. Cady delivered his annual condition of the judiciary address. The Judicial Branch wants more than 190 Million Dollars in the next fiscal year. Iowa senator Chuck Grassley says he didnt appreciate one part of president obamas state of the Union Address last night. The president acknowledge d that terrorists overseas should be stopped, but he said theyre not a threat to our national existance. Today grassley said he wished obama would have focused more on terrorist threats. I think, though, in a lot of cases hes just plain wrong, i kind of feel that he poopooed the dangersrsf terrorism last night, not enough emphasis on that grassley also said he wished obama would have spoken more about the economy and the middle class. For the first time in history, iowa will host a foreign diplomatic office. Radio iowa reports the epublic of kosovo is planning to open a consulate in the saddlery building in Downtown Des Moines this month. Kosovos only other presence in the us is its consulate in new york city. Kosovo i ia territory in southeastern europe. A senior us defense official says 10 american sailors who were briefly held by iran are now at a us military facility in qatar. This is video released by irans state run tv of the american soldiers yesterday. Nine men and one woman were held in an iranian base in the persian gulf after they were detained. The us military said mechanical trouble caused them to drift into iranian waters. Today, secretary of state john kerry thanked iran for working with the us to resolve the issue. All indications suggest, or tell us, that our sailors were welltaken care of, provided with blankets and food and assisted with their return to the fleet earlier today. The white house says last Years Nuclear agreement with iran probably helped get the sailors released quickly. Also, secretary of state john kerry iran will likely be in compliance with that nuclear plan in the coming days. Last year, diplomts from several countries negotiated with iran to change its Nuclear Program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. But today, House Republicans passed legislation that would give Congress Greater oversight of that nuclear agreement. President obama has promised to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. Powerball says its already sold 85 percent of possible ticket combinations ahead of nights 1point5 5 llion dollar drawing. Many retailers in eastern iowa are taking powerball mania straight to the bank. Weather has moved east for a couple of days. Lows tonight stay in the 20s and with a partly cloudy day on thursday we should see some middle to upper 30s throughout eastern iowa. As our next storm approaches thursday night, some light mix could develop with light snow showers possible friday. Cold arctic air then pours into the egion for the weekend and sticks with us for the early part of the week. Have a great night tonight partly cloudy low 2026 winds sw 510 tomorrow partly cloudy high 3642 winds s 515tomorrow night chance of light mix low 2430 winds s 515friday chance of light snow high 32 low 27 saturday chance of light snow late high 9 low 9 sunday sunny and cold high 1 low 5 high 9 low 8 tuesday partly cloudy high 20 low 4 wednesday partly cloudy high 30 low 16 now heres Katie Wiedemann with a look at what youll see tonight on kcrg tv nine news at six. Volunteers spend countless hours working for no pay. But the united way of dbq says find out how much it costs non profits to get and keep volunteers. A grgrp representing older adults says the cedar rapids area needs a Senior Center. And the group has an idea of where it wants one built. Stay with tv9. Lot have enough room for a Third Program . Considering plans to possibly build a new home for Linn County Public Health and child and Youth Development services. Now a Group Representing older excellent Senior Center as well. On monday, linn county supervisors started the process of a joint building project on this county owned vacant lot. The plan was to put linn unty Public Health a a Child Development services in a combined building. Both county departments have buildings with structural issues. Today, groups representing seniors told supervisors that site would also b perfect for a Senior Center. Its just amazing that this community does not have a place for older adults to go to and a Senior Center, or older adult facility, can be very vibrant. The initial estimate for a joint Public Health and Child Development building here was in the 10 Million Dollar range. Supervisors told the group to begin planning to see if their ideas could work in the same location. Several hundred Business Leaders and community membererfrom the cedar rapids iowa city corridor gathered today to hear about the economy. Charlie evans, who is president and ceo of the Federal Reserve bank of chicago, told the group he predicts a growth of two to two anda half per cent in the Gross Domestic Product this year. And he also expects unemployment to drop below five per cent. A Panel Discussion also focused on local job prospects, and how iowas econoic strength could slow down in 2016 but looks promising beyond that. The Federal Reserve says the economy grew across in most of the us last month and in early january. The chicago Regional Bank was one of nine Federal Reserve banks to report growth. There are 12 Regional Banks in the us. Consumer spending activity showed a slight to moderate growth in most areas. But most manufacturin g industries, excece for automakers and aircraft manufacturers, showed weakening activities. The report, known as the beige book, will be used for central bank meets later this month. Allterrain vehicles are banned from roads in many states, including iowa. But small communities across the nation are increasingly bending the rules for riders. Atv manufacturer s warn their vehicles arent stable on flat roads high speeds. And Public Health officials are worried about crashes on roads that kill more than 300 riders each year. Iowa law allows counties to open their county highways to atv riders if they choose to do so. Quite a few businesses in eastern iowa are cashing in powerbaa jackpot. Businesses get a cut of each ticket they sell, and theyre selling a lot of tickets. Stay with tv9. Thats still astronomical tonights drawing. Powerball says people have already selected 85 point eight per cent of possible number combinations. Businesses are also cashing in on the jackpot, because they get a small portion of every ticket they sell. There are dozens of businesses in Johnson County that sell powerball tickets. Mainly gas stations, grocery and convenience stores. This is video from inside the first avenue hyvee in iowa city today. Kcrg was there for about 20 minutes, and probably saw about 20 people buy tickets. Businesses in iowa get 12 cents for every ticket they sell. That might not seem like a lot, but it really adds up especially when the line for tickets rarely dies down. Usually when they come in theyll see the line and theyll come over and stand in line and pick up a ticket because they want to be part of the action too if an iowa business sells the get an additional 10 thousand dollars. This jackpot is bringing out many first time players. Tonight at six well explain the challenge thats creating for people trying to sell ththtickets. The dubuque fighting saints made a donation today to help people receiving cancer treatments. Back in november, members of the hockey team aempted to grow beards as part o ono shave november. They also auctioned off several oneofakind team jerseys. Today the saints gave more than 48hundred dollars to the wendt regional cancer center. Weve actually had some team membebe who have lost family members to cancer. So its not only important to our team its important to the whole community. This is the second year in a row the saints raised money for the the w wndt regional cancnc center. Now heres a look at some of what youll see at 5 30 on abc. Coming up, the us sailors on their knees, hands on their heads showing video of them apologizing. The major noreaster on the way. And powerball fever tonight where country, and 85 percent chance someone will win. Ne the officers involved in a shooting from october will not face charges. And we look into what money granted to eastern iowa volunteer organizations goes to. Tonight at 6. Recapping todays top story, the linn county board of supervisors took a small step today in looking at a possible countywide minimum wage increase. Supervisor brent oleson prsented a study from the iowa policy project that analyzed the impact of raising linn countys minimum wage to 10 dollars and 10 cents an hour. Oleson said he thinks linn county should take a slow approach, and discuss the measure with business owners. Lets go back to joe now for a final look at tonights forecast. What a nice change as the cold weather has moved east for a couple of days. Lows tonight stay in the 20s and with a partly cloudy day on thursday we should see some middle to upper 30s throughout eastern iowa. As our next storm approaches thursday night, some light mix could develop with light snow showers possible friday. Cold arctic air then pours into the region for the weekend and sticks with us for the early part of the week. Have a great night tonight partly cloudy low 2026 winds sw 510 tomorrow partly cloudy higig 3642