Hour and gusts are likely to push over coming up this morning on abc9 news. The death of Us Supreme CourtJustice Antonin Scalia has sent waves all across the country. Including right here in siouxland. One of sioux citys favorite sons returned to the area last night. Well have more on his visit and what he had to say and. A former Iowa Governor giving iowans a forum to voice their concerns over the new medicaid system. These stories and more. On abc9 news this morning. Lukas good morning and thanks for starting your day with us. Im lukas voss. We begin this morning with the passing of Us Supreme CourtJustice Antonin Scalia. His passing has lead to a controversial battle in washinton over who should appoint hihi successor. Scalia was originallyappointed by president Ronald Reagan in 1986. And has sat on the highest bench in thirty years and perhaps most famous for writing several scathing dissents during his tenure as Supreme Court justice. Scalias impact has been felt all across the nation. Even in siouxland abc9 News Reporter elisa raffa has more on how two legal professionals view scalias legacy. He was kind of viewed as the rock star of the court says kyle irvin, attorney at Corbett Anderson law. A great loss for t t Justice System over the weekend asas Supreme CourtJustice Antonin Scalia passed away in texas. Siouxland lawyers and judges are remembering him as a man who cared about not only his career, but the legal system overall attorney klye irvin says scalia stuck by the constituion, and wasnt afraid to use colorful words to do it. Calling scalias tenure as justice as a great legacy. The fact that liberal justices were seeking to go back to history to show what was kind of in the air when the founders were putting together the constitution shows the impact thatcalib had on the court, because we didnt see that as much before scalia says kyle irvin, anderson law. Irvin says scalias death came as a shock. But even more so when conisdering the timing. Right in the middle of a hotly contested election cycle where the vacancy is causing controversy. We like to see vacancies filled because it lends stability, continuity. En theres an opening, that opening can causus delays says judge jeffrey neary. There have already been fighting words between candidates concerning who should fill scalias vacant spot. Local judge neary says the new appointment shouldnt be a political ploy. But rather an apolitical process, saying judges take an oath, regardless of Political Party they align with those people who can apply the law, and do a great job applying the law. The best in the landshould be doing thth job b respective of litical affiliationsns says judge jeffrey neary. Adding to the excitement and controversy, judge jane kelly, iowa native currently serving on the u. S. Court of appeals, has been mentioned as a potential nominee. Judge neary and judge kelly worked their time at the bench and says hes thrilled to see his colleague mentioned even as a potentntl candidate, saying hes honored at the thought of iowa being represented in the highest court in the land. That would be jusus fabulous. It w wld be a real feather in our cap to be able to have someone out of our niche to become a United StatesSupreme Court justice. And shed do a fabulous job if she got the chance says judge jeffrey neary. Lukas the political world also responding. Several republicans suggesting president obama should wait to appoint stice to the vacant spot. Including iowa senator chuck grassley. Grassley says hes against obama appointing a justice statatg quote given the huge divide in the country, and t fact that this president , above all others, has made no bones about his goal to use the courts to congress and push through his own agenda, the pesident should defer the appointment for the remainer of his term critics of grassley have brought up the last time this citing the Justice Anthony kennedy during regans last term as president. Lukas siouxland senator potential scotus appointment. Nebraska senator deb part of he monday in south nebraska for a qanda. The potential appotment. Fischer said, just like Supreme Court juices, we need to look at past precedent in order to make the best decision for scalias replacement. Im just looking at the process and i dont believe that the president should have a confirmed Supreme Court justice at this point in his tenure in the white house. It has been a long long time since that has happened and theres a reasas for it. So i probably would be supporting that the president not have that pointment confirmed. Says senator fischer. Fischer also spoke to nebraskans about other issues facing the nation such as free tuition and manufacturing in the us senator fischer also stopped by our studio for a chat with our own tim seaman. To hear more about what the senator has to say about t e current state ofof the nation and t t president ial racac tune into this thats this sunday at 9 am. Lukas gateway founder ted waitt was back in town last night to speak to briar cliff students. One of sioux citys favorite sons returned to take part at the universitys two week entrapalooza event. The billionaire was able to share his advice on what it takes to be a succesful entrepeneur. Students were able to ask ted questions about his career and its no secret that he was the fan favorite. Its unbelievable. We are just so excited to have him come. Hes such an inspiration to the entrepenuers, says thompson. Its kind of an honor to be in his presence almost. I grew up in sioux city, im a local. Ive lived here my whole enitre life. So obviously ive heard of ted waitt. You hear like norm waitt sr. , the waitt foundation. All really familiar. So to actually meet the personwho started gateway is unbelievable, says thompson. Entrepalooza will warp up next thursday with students participating in a remake of abcs reality show shark tank. Lukas a Fraternity House at the south dakota was vandalized over the weekend. The Phi Delta Theta was spraypainted with a message on one of its walls. University officials says theyre working with police to investigate the matters. And officials from usds greek system say t ts is not reflececve of the fratatnity. Laura roof, director of greek life says, it is a very big statement against the fraternity but the university has no reports on file of any sexual assaults and so theres no reason for us to believe that we need to investigate the fraternity, were really more concerned with their well being at this time. The Fraternity Men are very disappointed in this and do feel targeted crews from usd spent part of their afternoon yesterday cleaning off the spraypaint from the e de of the brick building. We w wl have much more on this. Coming up later on in the show. But up next. Ill take you to the special meeting put on by former Iowa Governor chet culver to help iowans understand the states changes to the medicaid system. Stay with us. Youre watching abc9 news this morning. With. Jessica rae. And meteorologist scott larson. This is abc9 news this dad i know. Spots. Culligan man the problem is your water anncr a culligan wholehouse water conditioning system gets rid of sediment or impurities. So keeping everything spotless is effortless. Mom hey. Dad the culligan man. Culligan man the problem is your water so keeping everything spotless is effortless. Dad spots. Culligan man the problem is your water anncr a culligan wholehouse water conditioning system gets rid of sediment or impurities. Precipitation pass through the area from northwest to southeast. Be on the lookout for some slick spots. Temperatures are currently in the low to mid 30s. We have a strengthening wind from the northwest at 10 to 20 Miles Per Hour and gusts are likely to push over 30 for a time. The stormcast hd shows us a quiet pattern setting up for the next couple of days and cool. Thursday well tap into a southerly flow which willllush temperaturur near 50. Well have some great weather for the weekend todays high is 37 and itll be mostly cloudy and breezy. The low tonight is 21. Tomorrows high is 36 and should be pretty similar to today. Heres the 7 7 day forecast. From northwest to southeast. Be on the lookout for some slick spots. Temperatures are currently in the low to mid 30s. We have a strengthening wind hour and gusts are likely to push over 30 for a time. The stormcast hd shows us a quiet pattern setting up for the next couple of days as it stays cloudy and cool. Thursday well tap into a southerly flow which will push temperatures near 50. Well have some great weather for the weekend todays high is 37 and itll be mostly cloudy and breezy. The low tonight is 21. Tomorrows high is 36 and should be pretty similar to today. Heres the 7 day forecast. Jessica rae scott lukas former Iowa Governor chet culver says hes giving a voice to the voiceless by advocating on behalf of iowans affected by the states new medicaid plan. Culver hosted a meeting to listen to issues medicaid pateints say they are already facing. Abc9 News Reporter bria bell has more on that meeting. Mondays town hall meeting gave ouxland residents a platform to raise concerns about iowas move to priviatized medicaid services. Some say the program, which becomes active on march first, has left them with no sense of direction with many feeling like t program will do more harm than good. We dont always have a voice, says flamsburg. Culver h h taken notes on issues siouxlanders saythey face and planan toepresent those patients in front of state lawmakers by standing with aims also known as advocate for iowa medicaid. We want to make sure they get the best possible benefit. Im taking all of this testimony, we just had 2 hours of it today, nonstop and im sharing it with policy makers both in des moines and in washington d. C. , says culver. Some attending mondays session believe there are too many red flags within the ivitazation plan to o become permanent. I can spot it. I know somethings going onits a game, its a con, its a scam and im afraid of what me and everybody else gonna lose because of whats going on, says catron. A Common Thread between attendees is a lack of doctors they say are that are under contract with one of the mcos or managed care organizations. I have several providers and one of them has already said, we have not been notified. We may y be losing you as a client. they dont have a cononact yet, says flamsburg. I cant see me gettig proper good medical treatment with this kind of plan, says catron. Lukas culver says he has plans to host a rally concerning the new medicaid plan at the state capital on february 24th. Lukas s an anti concussion bill concerning the new medicaid pn at the state capital on february 24th. Lukas an anti concussion bill has passed a Senate Education subcommittee. The proposed bill would require a certified athletic trainer at all iowa School Athletic competitions in sports like football, soccer and wrestling. Senators had plenty to say on the ise of schools paying to provide them. Mr. Chair, the goal this bill is to increase quality of injury assessment by using professional medical providors to decrease the number of life long debilitating injuries. The bill now heads to a full Senate Committee lukas some iowa students are mang sure state lawmakes know they are watching how the legislature allowcates funding for k12educucion in the statat davenport students used their president s day to visit the state capitol. To participate in the we are not worthless movement. The movement encourages lawmakers to uphold equality in the state education system. In davenport, students do not receive the same state Funding Amount perpupil as other areas student 33 15 what do you guys feel is more important . Allowable growth or the funding inequality . Cindy wincncer 34 22 your f fndation aid is most importrtt. And all of t t protections are around that foundation aid. Disparity is more important than state aid. Especially for davenport and about 1 2 the districts of the state. The students also requested to meet with the governor about their issue. They are pushing not only for an increased education budget. But also a chchge in the law that affects their area. Coming up. The popularity of ebooks has long been seen as the death of the bookstore. Well not anymore. Stay tuned to find out why. And. Winter is almost over. But the cold air and snow might have taken a toll on your wallet. Ill explain how. After the break. Of people think bookstores would become a thing of the past. Not anymore. Data from the Us Census Bureau shows bookstores are again on the rise. Bookstore sales rose by twoand ahalfppcent last year. From 10point ninebillion dollars to 11 pointtwobillion. Yearoveryear increase for the industry since 2007. Lukas forecasters expect more than 85 Million People from the midwest to the eastern seaboard to get walloped by freezing rain and snow. But the Winter Weather could melt your savings by spring. Reporter mary moloney explains. More snow means more cold hard cash lost. Snow removal expenses and canceled flights add up. But the snowy weather can impact your bottom line too. Among the things driving up the cost of your snow days the ease of ordering things online. vera gibbons financial expert a lot of us engage in impulse shopping this time of year, as we are sitting around the couch doing nothing. And its particularly easy to do so when you have all of your credit card information stored on some of your favorite sites. Its become too easy to do so. The same goes for ordering comfort food. Multiple meal deliveries can eat away at a budget. Being snowbound n also mean a new years gym membership goes to waste. Consider online workouts at home until mobilization and motivation get better with warmer temperatures. And when youve that workout try throwing on a sweater. vera gibbons financial expert and if you turn the thermostat down 10 15 degrees at night, youre going to save about 10 percent on your heating bill potentially every single year. So there are small things to do around the house to stay home and reduce your bill. Little things so your savings dont melt away by spring. For consumer watch im mary moloney. Lukas scott lukas and scott are chatting about these winter money wasters. Lukas and scott are chatting about these winter money wasters. Lukas and scott are chatting about these winter money wasters. Lukas and scott are chatting about these winter money wasters. Scott good morning siouxland. We had some light mixed precipitation pass through the area from northwest to lookout for some slick spots. Temperatures are currently in the low to mid 30s. We have a strengthening wind from the northwest at 10 to 20 Miles Per Hour and gusts are likely to push over 30 for a time. The dayplanner reveals temperatures holding in the lower to middle 30s today. Scott from northwest to southeast. Be on the lookout for some slick spots. Temperatures are currently in the low to mid 30s. We have a strengthening wind from the northwest dot traffic cams here at. Many folks still waking up and starting their workday. Please drive safely everyone. Scott now youll want to watch your speed in these areas today . Police will be running radars, here. Transit ave. And on lewis blvd. So again. Mind that speed. Still to come. Students at Iowa State University are looking for a replacement for the now banned veisha celebration. Details on what might be the new tradition in ames. Cancellation of the iowa state celebration veisha last year. Students, faculty and Community Members have been meeting and brainstorming for a proper replacement. But even without veisha planned in the spring, one special tradition continued on campus, reporter Claire Powell has more. One pie, great 97 year old traditions die hard. And this one, is helping to fill the void of no veishea. We have to start somewhere. We cant expect that magnitude of things right away. Were trying it this year the cherry pies have been around, well as long as veishea had. But this year, the pies are associated with valentines day. Not the spring festival. I think its great were trying to bring back the Little Things they were so iconic to veiseha students will sell around 1600 pies. Down 13,000 from two years ago. Thats a 25 thousand dollar difference for scholarship fundraising. Hello how are you, i need five, five ok but student body president dan something is better than nothing. They raise money for students. All the money goes to the students scholarships and funding orgs, thats what we wanted to bring back. Somethign that directly effects the stududts breitbach, faculty and commununy members plano spread out a few concerts and Department Activities through the spring. Including the spring Football Game paired with the cyclone market featuring campus grown and raised goods. Back and forth conversations throwing out crazy and not so crazy ideas, trying g fill the void left by teh cancellation of vesihea but some students say there arent enough pies s campus to ease their veishea withdrawls. Nothign will substitute the vesihea parade and teh festival and its distastifying i think but for others, seeing the smiles the pies bring. Brings back a little of that veishea charm. Just seeing people carry 20 pies all out at oce, shows how weekend at the Second Annual pete godee memorial als benefit concert. And we now know how much money was raised to battle the disease. The event drew another packed house raising more than 14 thousand dollars for als or lou gherigs disease awareness and support. Dane godee. Petes son,. Sang