Iowa News

BIDEN        Biden: Romney changed his position on tax cut        COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden says Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney renounced his own tax cut during Wednesday’s presidential debate.        While campaigning in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Biden said a $5 trillion tax cut is the “centerpiece” of Romney’s campaign for president.        But Biden said that during the debate, “We found out he doesn’t have a $5 trillion tax cut. I guess he outsourced that to China.” Biden said President Barack Obama was “presidential” and put forward “a clear specific plan” during the debate. But he said Obama had a hard time figuring out Romney’s positions on issues: “You never know what game Gov. Romney is going to come with.”        Biden said Romney “either changed his positions on some issues or he doesn’t remember them.”

VOTER FRAUD-IOWA        2 Iowa felons charged with registering to vote        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two convicted felons have been charged with election fraud for registering to vote.        The Department of Public Safety announced Thursday that 37-year-old Jason Rawlin, of Indianola, and 37-year-old Stacy Brown, of Kanawha, registered when they obtained driver’s licenses or ID cards from the Department of Transportation.        Rawlin was convicted in Wapello County on forgery charges. He told the agent he believed his right to vote was restored after his release from prison in 2001.        Brown was convicted in 2009 after pleading guilty to possession of anhydrous ammonia. She told the agent she signed a paper when getting a driver’s license without reading it thoroughly.        Both have been charged with election fraud and fraudulent practices, then released.        The cases stem from information submitted to investigators by Secretary of State Matt Schultz.

POLITICAL POSTER FLAP        1934 political poster moved in Dubuque County        (Information in the following story is from: Telegraph Herald, http://www.thonline.com)        DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A 1934 political poster that urged voters to opt for a “straight Democratic ticket” has been moved out of the public’s view at the Dubuque County treasurer’s office.        The Telegraph Herald reports the poster for years was on the back wall of the office. It’s now on an interior wall of the treasurer’s private office.        Treasurer Eric Stierman, a Democrat, says the poster is a historical decoration, not political. But Kim Ruhter, a Republican, raised concerns about the poster being displayed in the courthouse, near a polling site.        Megan Tooker of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board says the poster likely wouldn’t be considered a campaign sign since it doesn’t endorse any active candidate or ballot measure. But out of caution, she recommended the poster be moved.

MINISTER CHARGED        Former Iowa, Nebraska pastor wins 1 resentencing        (Information in the following story is from: The Daily Nonpareil, http://www.nonpareilonline.com)        COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A former minister convicted of three sexual assault charges in Council Bluffs will be resentenced on one of them, now that the Iowa Appeals Court has lowered the severity of one of his crimes.        The Daily Nonpareil reports 57-year-old Efrain Umana had been convicted in January 2011 of second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Umana, who had led churches in Iowa and Nebraska, was given 35 years in prison.        He appealed the convictions, and in its ruling issued Wednesday the Appeals Court said prosecutors didn’t present enough evidence of specific intent to commit sexual abuse. The court returned the case to district court for resentencing on a reduced assault charge.

DES MOINES-COACH SUSPENDED        D.M. school officials cite coach for violations        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines school officials say a suspended high school football coach broke policies for bullying, harassment and corporal punishment in an incident involving a former player.        The Des Moines Register reports school district investigators also concluded that Lincoln High coach Tom Mihalovich (muh-HAH’-loh-vich) violated conduct rules.        The report, dated Oct. 1, says Mihalovich forced the player to submit to bullying, harassment and excessive conditioning drills after the player posted a message blasting the team on Twitter on Aug. 31.        Mihalovich has been on paid administrative suspension since Sept. 4. Two assistant coaches are also suspended.        The coach’s attorney, Marc Ward, says Mihalovich is “stunned by many of the assertions” in the report and questions its release as “legally and ethically unacceptable” since the process is still ongoing.

POWERBALL WINNER-IOWA        Medical assistant, lawyer named winner of jackpot        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Lottery officials say a central Iowa couple has won a $202 million Powerball jackpot drawn last month at a suburban Des Moines convenience store.        Mary and Brian Lohse came forward to claim the prize Thursday in Des Moines. She’s a 42-year-old medical assistant at a pediatric clinic and he’s a 43-year-old attorney with EMC Insurance.        The winning ticket was the only one to match all six numbers in the Sept. 26 Powerball drawing.        The jackpot was the second largest won in Iowa. It ranks 28th among U.S. lottery jackpots        Mary Lohse says she bought the ticket on the day of the drawing at a convenience store-gas station in Bondurant as she was filling up her car.

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