Iowa News

ROMNEY        Romney scratching his head over Obama, Big Bird        VAN METER, Iowa (AP) – Mitt Romney says he’s scratching his head over President Barack Obama’s focus on Big Bird.        The president is featuring the “Sesame Street” star in a new campaign ad mocking Romney’s vow to end federal funding for public broadcasting.        Campaigning in Iowa Tuesday, Romney said “you have to scratch your head when the president spends the last week talking about saving Big Bird.” The Republican presidential nominee said Obama’s focus should be on saving the American people and family farms.        Romney addressed more than 1,000 supporters gathered on a corn field in Van Meter, a small town near Des Moines.        The Big Bird discussion follows Romney’s saying in the debate last week that he would seek to end funding for public broadcasting.

BROKERAGE COLLAPSE-JAIL        Judge rejects Wasendorf’s bid for jail release        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A federal judge has rejected a bid by Iowa investment broker Russell Wasendorf Sr. to be released from jail pending sentencing for misusing $200 million in customer funds.        The Des Moines Register says U.S. District Judge Linda Reade issued the ruling Tuesday in Cedar Rapids. She says Wasendorf failed to convince her that he lacked the incentive and means to flee if released.        The 64-year-old CEO of Peregrine Financial Group pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to misspending investor funds over a 20-year period at his Cedar Falls-based brokerage and lying to cover it up. Prosecutors opposed his release, saying he may try to flee or attempt suicide again to avoid going to prison. Sentencing hasn’t been set.        Wasendorf tried to commit suicide when the fraud was exposed in July.

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY-RATE        Iowa regulators OK MidAmerican rate adjustment        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa regulators have approved a settlement on MidAmerican Energy’s plans to increase electric rates to cover rising costs.        The Iowa Utilities Board says Tuesday the deal allows MidAmerican to increase annual revenue by $38.7 million, or 4 percent, in 2012. The utility temporarily raised rates in March.        For 2013, the increase will raise $37.3 million, for a total two-year increase of 6.7 percent.        Customers now pay about $2.33 more monthly due to the March increase, which will remain for the rest of the year. In 2013, average bills will go up another $1.30.        Regulators say the increase in “reasonable” and less than what the company likely would have received in a traditional rate case.        MidAmerican, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Neb., is Iowa’s largest utility with 770,000 customers.        JAPANESE BATTLE FLAG        WWII battle flag donated to Goodwill in Davenport        (Information in the following story is from: Quad-City Times, http://www.qctimes.com)

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A Japanese battle flag captured by U.S. forces during World War II that was donated to a Goodwill store in Davenport is headed for a museum.        The Quad-City Times says the flag was among items recently donated. Goodwill of the Heartland says the flag was captured after the battle of Tarawa (tuh-RAH’-wuh) Island in the Pacific.        Goodwill listed the flag on its online auction site. But when bids topped $4,000, it got the attention of Jason Wilcox, Goodwill’s e-commerce leader. He says it’s an important part of military history.        Goodwill has donated the flag to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The flag has an inscription along the border that says it was captured from Japanese Imperial Marines on Nov. 24, 1943.        POLICE DOG DIES        Iowa police officer suspended over dog’s death        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines police officer has been given a three-day unpaid suspension for the death of a police dog in a hot car.        The Des Moines Register says an internal investigation laid out discipline recommendations for Officer Brian Mathis. Harley died Aug. 29 after Mathis left him in an unmarked car at the police station for over an hour.        Mathis won’t be eligible for another dog.        Police Chief Judy Bradshaw says Mathis takes full responsibility.        Mathis’ car had an alarm system to protect dogs from the heat, but it only works if the car is running. The department will buy a new system that can pop the doors or start the engine and alert officers if temperatures reach a dangerous level even if the car isn’t running.

HOME INVASION-SHOOTING        Dubuque resident wounds would-be thieves        (Information in the following story is from: Telegraph Herald, http://www.thonline.com)        DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say someone was shot while trying to break into a Dubuque apartment.        The Dubuque Telegraph Herald says officers were dispatched to a report of a burglary around 10:40 p.m. Monday. Two people had knocked on the apartment door and tried to force their way in while using a crowbar to make threats.        Police say an apartment occupant fired a handgun and hit one of the people trying to break in. Both of them fled, and one was later treated at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque.        Police have released none of the names of those involved. No arrests have been reported.

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