elias: good morning iowa! i'm elias johnson... sabrina: and i'm sabrina ahmed. it's x:00 a-m on wednesday february 17th elias: good to have everyone with us! and it's great to have central iowa's most accurate forecast with meterologist sam schreier! hey sam! sam: (sam adlibs) sam (sam adlibs) sam: weather adlib: one more day of wearing your hats, gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight

with our low falling into the lower 30s around midnight, but we will keep temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs thursday will top out at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be warm with highs in the mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow chance next. elias: let's get into the

elias: iowa senator chuck grassley faced questions over the future of the supreme court during during a series of town hall meetings in eastern iowa tuesday. as the judiciary committee chairman, he said he had not made up his mind about whether there will be at confirmation hearings for an obama nominee....taking the process quote "one step at a time." this as a scathing editorial from the des moines register describes the situation as an opportunity for our senior senator to be less of a politician and more of a statesman. adding that grassley chose to quote "disregard his constitutional duty by rejecting a nominee who hasn't even been named." sabrina: in the number two spot this morning... sabrina: the empty chair of the late supreme court justice antonin scalia did not go unnoticed tuesday. a black wool crepe has been draped on his chair on the bench in front of his seat. a black drape has also been hung over the courtroom doors. justice scalia will lie in repose at the supreme court building

his funeral will be held on saturday. elias: the third thing you need to know before you walk out the door... elias: at the statehouse, iowa lawmakers are looking to tighten the rules over texting while driving. right now, it is condisdered a secondary offense, meaning officers can't pull you over unless they see you breaking another law. a new bill would move texting while driving to a primary offense. sabrina: number four... sabrina: the u-s surgeon general is now on the ground in flint michigan, investigating the citie's water crisis. data released by the state of michigan says high levels of lead are still being detected in tap water in some flint-area homes. the country's top doctor has been meeting with the community, and the doctor who first reported elevated levels of lead in the blood of flint's children. elias: and finally in the top five... elias: high school wrestlers from across iowa will be at the wells fargo arena today, as the state wrestling tournament gets underway. this morning 2016 dual team

competition, with individuals set to start thursday. look for highlights from local five sports director jon schaeffer this evening. sabrina: urbandale police on the the look out for a witness in saturday's officer-involved shooting.. sabrina: authorities have issued a material witness warrant and want to know if you recognize her... police are looking for 17 years old kiara olson, who is believed to be a witness to the weekend shooting. urbandale police were on a drug call to the holiday inn on merle har road saturday morning, when an altercation led to the shooting of 29 year old ali yahia of des moines . three officers are now on leave while they investigate what happened. the officers say yahia fired at them first in the lobby of the hotel. none of them were hurt. elias: the fatal overdose of a member of iowa heavy metal band slipknot...could change the rules on wrongful death suits. paul gray was found dead in des moines from an overdose in 2010.

her child growing up without one of their parents. she blames her husbands doctor -- daniel baldi for continuing to prescribe him pain pills despite evidence of drug addiction. that doctor has been cleared of any criminal wrong doing in grays death... gray's wife filed the lawsuit four years after the musicians death on behalf of his daughter who wasn't born until after he died... its the timing thats an issue here... because the statute of limitations says these types of wrongful death suits must be filed within two years. his wife's legal team tried to convince the iowa supreme court that those rules should be changed... people don't understand when they have to get medical care. they don't understand when they need to go get experts. elias: the iowa supreme court will be making a written decision in this case. they'll decide by june. sabrina: we're back with meterologist sam schreier... sam: (sam adlibs)

one more day of wearing your hats, gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight we'll stay very mild with our low falling into the lower 30s around midnight, but we will keep temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day

at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be warm with highs in the mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow chance next. sabrina: we may be nearly caucuses...but getting some surprises from the presidential candidates.. sabrina: you may frontrunner donald trump days before the caucus....choosin g to hold an money for veterans groups the event raised six million dollars and this week veterans groups got dollars and this week veterans groups got surprise one hundred thousand dollar

trump foundation. here in des moines, central iowa shelter and services received a fedex envelope with a blank letter inside. behold a check for one hundred thousand dollars -- even though it was written to "the mulberry street veterans outreach program" the shelter knew it was for them. ""then they said the amount, but ddint say when or how much so when the check came we were really thrilled" " sabrina: the shelter, des moines-based puppy jake foundation and support siouxland soldiers, in sioux city, each received checks. a complete list of the recipients is up on our website...we are iowa dot com. sabrina at ((time check)) we'll take a short break, with more good morning iowa still ahead.. elias: coming up, how one young man isn't letting his own disability get in the way of helping others. sabrina: but first...for those traveling into polk

this morning... the sheriff's office has automated traffic enforcement vehicles at two locations.... one at the ...five-thousand block of northeast 22nd street and a second at the ...eleven- thousand three-hundred block of northeast 64th street in bondurant. so take care on the roads today... elias: let's also get a quick look at traffic... this is i-235 at valley west... [current conditions] good morning iowa continues after this!

morning iowa in hd with elias johnson, sabrina ahmed and we are iowas most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam

morning iowa." sabrina: the temperatures may be milder here in the metro....but nothing like the heat wave hitting the west coast. parts of southern california were dealing with temperatures in the nineties tuesday...a taste of summer in the middle of winter. while not unheard of for the area, some are surprised at how long the warmth has stuck around. sabrina: anchor toss to wx sam: adlib toss. sam: weather adlib: one more day of wearing your hats, gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming last us into the off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind our highs into the upper 30s. tonight we'll stay very mild around midnight, but we will keep temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs

at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards stay dry through the weekend with only one chance next. elias: a partially blind teen is raising money to aid veterans with post-combat disabilities. sabrina: the seventh- grader has sold bracelets and baked goods, raising thousands to buy service dogs for the vets. carolyn gusoff

"- --reporter pkg-as follows-- 13 year old matt redlein (red line) knows what it's like to navigate around life's obstacles ( matt redlein, fundraiser) "my brother is blind. i'm blind in my right eye." the result of an inherited condition. (theresa redlein, mother) "when i had brandon 24 years ago they said it was a million and one chance it would ever happen again so when i had matthew and it happened again it was a complete shock." (matthew redlein, 7th grader) "it makes a lot of things a lot harder but really you have to work through it and do the best you can with what you got." what he also got was a big heart--the 7th grader is on a mission. (matthew redlein, 7th grader) "everyone has their own form of a struggle and any way you can make that better you want to help." he started selling bracelets and baked goods at school--from nickels and dimes to hundreds and now thousands of donated dollars. he's raising money to pay for service dogs to help veterans with post combat disabilities. (matthew redlein, 7th

away from them." (carolyn gusoff, reporting) "while a guide or service dog is completely free to the recipient it costs 50 thousand dollars to raise, train and place each one and just sponsoring a puppy costs 6 thousand dollars. (jeff fernandez, guide dog foundation volunteer) "this is phenomenal, the guide dog foundation and american vet dogs get no regular government funding." big brother brandon, a very independent college student, guide dog one day. brother) "a cane is a piece of metal with a tip on the end that it tells you want you need to know. a guide dog tells you ten times that. it would up to me like you have matt has an idea. giving back... despite his own his fundraising will transform lives. very proud of you." time. " all: (reax) elias:

break...when we return... we get to hear the sounds of music not played in more than two centuries...part of a surprising collaboration

most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. certified by weatherrate the independent weather experts" sam weather adlib: put script here in green one more day of

coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but fine. the clouds will breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight with our low falling into the lower 30s around midnight, but temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs thursday will top out at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be warm with highs in the mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow

sam toss back. elias:

this today...a classic piece played for modern ears... " nat pop" elias: visitors to prague's national music museum got to hear history...a rare classical piece made its modern debut. the work is actually a collaboration of legendary rivals....wolfgan g amadeus mozart and antonio salieri. a third composer was credited, using only the name cornetti. the piece was written in 1785 and long to have been thought lost before its discivery last year in some dusty archives. all: (reax) sabrina

for another short break... but when we come back... there's been talk of getting rid of the penny...but what about some of our paper currency? ...but first here's what happened last night on jimmy kimmel live.

"you're watching good morning iowa in hd. we are iowa." sabrina on your money now sabrina a former treasury secretary says there shouldn't be a one-hundred dollar bill. larry summers says the one- hundred dollar bill should be scrapped to make life more difficult for tax cheats and other criminals. he cites a newly-published study from the harvard business school. the study argues

bills would have for legitimate commerce. ...but it says it far more people who are law. sabrina: and an historic deal for the u-s... the secretary of transportation has signed an agreement with cuban officials, re-establishing scheduled air services between the two countries. u-s carriers have two weeks to submit applications for routes they'd like to fly in what will likely be a fierce bidding war. sabrina: and finally...how about a kid- friendly tesla? radio flyer announced it will begin shipping mini tesla model s cars for kids at five hundred dollars each. they include working headlights, a "spacious interior" and a trunk in the front of the car. it can also reach a top speed of six miles per hour. sabrina that's a look at sabrina that's a look at your money this morning... coming up after the break... sam's in with central

forecast... but first...a quick look at traffic... this is i-235 at euclid... [current conditions] good morning iowa returns after this. "you're watching good

"you're watching good moring iowa in hd. we are iowa's most accurate weather iowa starts now " sabrina thanks for joining us on your [day of week] morning, i'm sabrina ahmed. elias: and i'm elias johnson... elias: weather is always first on good morning iowa... in with central iowa's most accurate forecast... meteorologist sam schreier. sam: (adlib toss) sam weather adlib:

gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight we'll stay very mild with our low falling into the lower 30s around midnight, but we will keep temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs thursday will top out at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be warm with highs in the mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow

sabrina: our top story, senator chuck grassley faces questions and criticism over the supreme court. sabrina: the des moines register has put out a scathing editorial...titled --"grassley's supreme court stance is all about politics." elias: it refers to his claim that a supreme court nomination to replace justice scalia, should come from the next president. as chairman of the senate judiciary committee, grassley would have an important role in this process. the editorial describes the situation as an opportunity for our senior senator to be

more of a statesman. choosing instead to quote disregard his constitutional duty by rejecting a nominee who hasn't even been named." sabrina: senator grassley has said his opposition to an obama nominee is based on precedent.,.. saying quote, "that supreme court nominees are not nominated and confirmed during a presidential election year." elias: the ongoing debate was brought up during a series of town hall meetings in eastern iowa... senator grassley responded he'd take the nomination process , quote, "one step at a time." elias: also attending the meetings, members of the activist group why courts matter...who say the senator is playing the issue two different ways. they point to 2008, when he argued the exact opposite...as a judicial nominee from president bush was held up by a democratic controlled senate. here's what he

"the reality is that the senate has never stopped confirming judicial nominees during the last few months of a president's term," elias: we've been getting lots of feedback about senator grassley's actions... cherie mortice says the senator is obstructing the constitution by trying to influence the nomination... adding that quote "grassley proves again that he will leave a legacy of political gamesmanship and manipulation." dennis goodrich reminds us that the supreme court is not the president's or senate's...but the people's. going on to say that the president and senate are quote "....are elected for their full terms to do the business of the people. they are not elected to put off decisions for the next administration." sabrina: and we want you to keep the conversation going as well...so keep those comments coming in to local five. you can connect with us on facebook and

your thoughts. send us an email to: "news at we are iowa dot com" or call us in the newsroom: 1- 800-858-5555 we'd love to hear what you think about this story or any other. sabrina: the empty chair of the late supreme court justice antonin scalia did not go unnoticed tuesday. a black wool crepe has been draped on his chair on the bench in front of his seat. a black drape has also been hung over the courtroom doors. justice scalia will lie in repose at the supreme court building on friday. his funeral will be held on saturday. president obama spoke about the late justice during a press conference tuesday... "obviously justice scalia and i had different political orientations and probably would have disagreed on the outcomes of different cases, but there's no doubt that he was a giant on the supreme court and helped to change the legal landscape." sabrina: the president

plans to name a nominee in due time...it is not expected until after the senate returns from recess on february 22nd elias: we're back with meterologist sam schreier... sam: (sam adlibs) sam: weather adlib: one more day of wearing your hats, gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight we'll stay very mild with our low falling into the lower 30s

temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs thursday will top out at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be warm with highs in the mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow chance next.

if you will be heading downtown today, start expecting there to be a lot more traffic this week... high school wrestlers from across iowa will be at the wells fargo arena, as the state wrestling tournament gets underway. this morning 2016 dual team tournament kicks off the competition, with individuals set to start thursday. look for highlights from local five look for highlights from local five sports director jon schaeffer this evening. elias: in other sports news...the number thirteen cyclones headed to waco last night, taking on number 25 baylor. iowa state looking for for their first win there since 20- 13...a close back and forth between the two

to secure a strong lead...falling 100 to 91 to the baylor bears. cyclones now 7-6 in the big 12 this season. georges niang able to score 24 points...putting him over the two-thousand career mark. sabrina: new this morning....advoc ates against sexual violence take their fight to the state capitol today. sabrina: the iowa coalition against sexual assault plans to rally at the state capitol today... they will join advocates from more than 20 sexual assault programs from across iowa at the state capitol this morning... the group plans to call for sustained funding and legislation to protect and support sexual violence survivors. a briefing and training for participants will be at ten a-m at the capitol. sabrina: if you drive 100th street in urbandale, you may have to find another route starting today. the city will be re-doing the intersection of 100th street and 54th avenue.

street from plug drive to north park sdrive. they're building a five-lane road from plum drive to north of i-35 / i-80, as well as a new bridge of that interchange. the project should be finished in november. elias: at ((time check)) we'll take a short break here on good morning iowa sabra: coming up, we'll take a look at the latest action from the iowa statehouse. elias: but before we go...as you get ready to start your day...be safe out on the roads.... des moines police will have mobile radar set up at three locations... the first at the seven hundred block of m-l-k south bound the second at the 12-hundred blokc of cummins parkway ...north bound and the third at the 25-hundred bound and the third at the 25-hundred block of guthrie - east bound

sabrina while we're at it... a quick look at traffic... this is i-235 at mlk... [current conditions] good morning iowa continues after this!

morning iowa in hd with elias johnson, sabrina ahmed and we are iowas most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. this is good morning iowa." elias: heavy snow caused a mess of the roads on a highway in new york state ...with cars and tractor trailers getting stuck and causing a massive back up hundreds were forced wait in their car for hours. a nuisance quickly became a problem when some started

plows were able to clear the way. elias: (anchor toss to wx) sam: adlib toss. sam: weather adlib: one more day of wearing your hats, gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight we'll stay very mild with our low falling into the lower 30s around midnight, but we will keep temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs thursday will top out at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be

mid 50s, and it's not until next week that we fall back towards average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow chance next. sabrina: state lawmakers sabrina: state lawmakers looking to tighten the rules for texting while driving in iowa sabrina:: right now texting while driving is considered a secondary offense... elias: that means officers can't pull you over for texting unless they see you breaking another law.

would make texting while driving a primary offense. the sponsor of the legislation, senator tod bowman, says it's a way to toughen up iowa's distracted driving laws. "bowman 5:32:18 there's people that think it would provide police another reason to pull you over, it does! when you're doing soething harmful, it does give them another reason to pull you over but a legitimate reason to pull them over." jack: this bill passed in the senate and will survive funnel week. but bowman says the speaker of the house hasn't expressed any interest yet in taking it up for debate. elias: meanwhile, governor branstad remains intent on privatizing medicaid by march first...despite several lawmakers raising concerns... sabrina: they're worried that the 16 items the federal government ordered to be fixed before the program rolls out are still a

"dvorsky 5:08:36 i think we're misleading people, saying theyese things ar completed when they're not. sabrina: today is the final day for iowans on medicaid to pick which of the three managed care companies they want for their health coverage. also, there's still no final word from the federal government on whether this is a go for march 1st. sabrina: and once again, education funding is sitting in committee--even though lawmakers say that it's a top priority this session the senate approved a four percent funding increase for schools next year, the house approved 2 percent. it sounds a lot like last year. but one of the committee chairs told local 5 today that a compromise could be

couple of weeks. elias: we have lots more good morning iowa ahead...but first here's abc's reena ninan and kendis gibson with america's money. america's money us cuba tourism - daily commercial flights will soon be available good morning. topping "america's money" -- commercial flights to cuba may start this fall. >> nearly emajor u.s. airline plans to apply for them now that there's an agreement between the two countries. >> it allows for 110 daily flights to cuba's ten major airports. be ware what you're

the fda discovered lower quality cheeses made from wood pulp in one brand of grated parmesan. >> ploomberg found oh brands had it in levels that exceeded legal amounts. just in time for easter, hershey's new carrot cake kisses. >> they'll be sold eggsxclusively at walmart. >> remember, folks. they don't count as vegetables. >> a lot of kids will be sad about that. that's "america's money." if you're looking to save money on your medicare part d prescriptions, walgreens says, carpe med diem. seize the day to get more out of life and medicare part d. just switch to walgreens for savings that'll be the highlight of your day. now preview the cost of your copay before you fill.

vo: you get used to pet odors in your car. you think it smells fine, but your passengers smell this... eliminate odors you've gone noseblind to for up to 30 days with the febreze car vent clip.

vo: so you and your passengers can breathe happy."now, we are iowa's most accurate forecast with meteorologist sam schreier. certified by weatherrate the

sam weather adlib: put script here in green one more day of wearing your hats, gloves, and winter coats because we are starting up a warming trend and it's going to last us into the weekend! we'll start off cold in the morning with a quick flurry moving through the state, but most roads will stay fine. the clouds will stick around with a breezy southeast wind that will help move our highs into the upper 30s. tonight we'll stay very mild with our low falling into the lower 30s around midnight, but we will keep temperatures moving up late tonight through the entire day thursday. highs thursday will top out at 57 degrees, but we'll stay into the 50s through midnight. i think we're going to see low 60s on friday, but both thursday and friday's warmth will come with a very strong wind. saturday we're going to still be warm with highs in the mid 50s, and it's not until next week that

average. we look to stay dry through the weekend with only one small rain/snow chance next. sam toss back. sabrina:

now....not all dogs want to just walk around... sabrina: "dario"....a two year old leonberger...see med to be more interested in his handlers pockets, than showing off to the crowd of last night's westminster kennel club dog show.. as they made their way around the show area, the canine spent more time trying to get the treats from the handlers pockets...than putting on his best prance for judges... sabrina: and as for the winner of the kennel's 140th

show, that goes to the german short-haired pointer..."c-j". the best in show, becomes the first german short-haired pointer to win since 19-87...and only the third in history to win the kennel's top honor... all: (reax) elias: time for another short break here on good morning iowa .... a quick look

day....when we return, a look at the top stories in our morning

"you're watching good morning iowa in hd. we are iowa." elias:: welcome back everyone....as we wrap up our first hour, let's take a quick look at the top stories... sabrina: we recap your headlines...in the morning refresh... sabrina: the des moines register has some choice words about how iowa's senior senator is behaving. elias: the empty seat on the u-s supreme court becomes a sign of mourning for the justices. elias: time now for another short break... but when we come back... while the presidential race moves on, some surprising mail comes to some iowa veterans organizations. sabrina: plus sam's in with

another full hour of good morning iowa... is right after this.

moring iowa in hd. we are iowa's most accurate weather team. good morning iowa starts now " elias: good morning iowa! i'm elias johnson... sabrina: and i'm sabrina ahmed. it's x:00 a-m on wednesday february 17th elias: good to have everyone with us! and it's great to have central iowa's most accurate forecast with meterologist sam schreier! hey sam! sam: (sam adlibs) sam (sam adlibs) sam: