Hello NAU I'm Brian Lind today is April 11th, 2011 and this is your Kjack news update
1. The budget deal reached Friday would affect two initiatives contained in last year's health-care law that were bitterly opposed by businesses, killing one outright and slashing funding for the other.
The agreement would eliminate a provision of the health-care law enabling low-income workers to opt out of employer-offered health insurance and shop for more affordable coverage on insurance exchanges to be created in 2014, according to congressional aides and business groups. Under the provision, employers would have had to help pay for the insurance purchased on the exchange. Ending the program would save the government $4 billion over 10 years, but it wouldn't result in any immediate spending cuts because it isn't set to begin for three years.
2. MAPLETON, Iowa -- A small Iowa town remains barricaded after a tornado destroyed much of it Saturday evening, and no one is being allowed back into the city. Monona County Sheriff's Deputy Roger Krohn told the Sioux City Journal as much as 60 percent of the town of Mapleton may have been damaged or destroyed. So far, only minor injuries have been reported in the town with about 1,200 people.
3. Police arrested a smuggler in Argentina on Saturday after finding more than 600 snakes and other reptiles packed in the luggage compartment of a bus, AFP reports.
Police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted the bus in a northern province making its way to Buenos Aires, and began poking into luggage after requesting passengers' documents.
"A passenger came onboard with 40 snakes, plus what he had in the boxes" in the bus luggage hold, said ranger Daniel Chersich, warden of Santa Fe province.
Chersich, who was investigating a wildlife trafficking network and who joined the operation, told the daily Clarin that police "were terrified of opening the bags" upon learning their contents.
The trafficker had loaded the bags with 444 boas, vipers and other snakes; 186 endangered tortoises; 40 lizards, and an armadillo.
The arrested smuggler had boarded the bus in Santiago del Estero, where he had spent three months trapping various species with the intent of sale, according to Cherisch.
4. Weather: High of 56 and a low of 22 at night
5. And that's your Kjack news update remember to tune into Kjack 1680am or check us out on the web at Kjack.org-Kjack your new music access
