Iowa News

OBAMA-IOWA        Obama: ‘Trust matters’ in a presidential campaign        DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – President Barack Obama said at the start of a 48-hour campaign trip that “trust matters” in a presidential campaign and he has kept the same values throughout his political career.        Obama is seeking to contrast himself with what he considers Republican Mitt Romney’s shifting views since leaving the office of Massachusetts governor. Obama told voters in Iowa’s Quad Cities on Wednesday that they can take videotape of things he said 10 years ago or 12 years ago and say, quote, “man, this is the same guy.”        Obama says he hasn’t finished all the work he and his supporters set out to do in 2008, but says he has fought for people every day.        Iowa is the first stop on a 48-hour trip to key swing states.

JINDAL TRAVEL        Jindal on the road in Iowa, Florida for GOP events        BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Governor Bobby Jindal is on the road again for Republican candidates and groups.        Jindal’s office said the Louisiana governor traveled to Iowa on Wednesday for a Mitt Romney presidential campaign event, followed by a speech to the Scott County Republican Party’s Ronald Reagan Dinner.        On Thursday Jindal will attend a fundraiser for Republican John Archer’s campaign for an Iowa congressional seat. Then, the governor will head to Florida for the First Coast Women’s Services Pro-Life Dinner Fundraiser, according to Jindal’s office.        Jindal is scheduled to return to Louisiana today, his spokeswoman said.

EARLY VOTING        Official: Early voting likely will set Iowa record        Early voting for the November election is expected to set an Iowa record, as presidential candidates seek to lock-in votes.        Iowa Secretary of State spokesman Chad Olsen says the state is on pace for a higher percentage of early votes than in 2008, when more than one-third of the 1.5 million votes were cast early.        Olsen says absentee ballot requests this year are more than 40 percent higher than they were at this point in 2008. He says the increase this year is largely due to a competitive race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney.        Democrats traditionally have placed greater emphasis on early voting. They have maintained a lead over Republicans this year in ballots requested and returned, but the margin has narrowed.

GAS LEAK-MONONA        Evacuation ends in Monona after gas leak        MONONA, Iowa (AP) – Officials say an evacuation in part of Monona in northeast Iowa has ended after a natural gas leak.        The Clayton County sheriff’s office ordered the evacuation around 11 a.m. on Wednesday after a construction company hit the gas line while working on a fiber optic line. The order covered a two-block radius and included the downtown area.  Some schools dismissed early as a precaution.        The gas leak was capped and the evacuation was lifted about 1 p.m.        No injuries were reported.

FIRED-BANK-WORKER        Fired bank worker declines offer to return to work        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 68-year-old Des Moines man fired from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage over a minor crime 50 years ago says he won’t accept an offer to return to work unless the company changes its background checks policy.        Richard Eggers says the policy discriminates against low-level workers. He was fired in July for putting a cardboard cutout of a dime in a washing machine at a Laundromat in 1963.        Banks have been firing employees like Eggers since new federal banking and mortgage employment guidelines were enacted. The regulations are aimed at bank employees guilty of identity theft or money laundering.        Wells Fargo spokeswoman Vickee Adams says the company is disappointed Eggers rejected the job offer and didn’t recognize its “responsibility to apply the law equitably and fairly” for all employees.

IOWA CAMPUS-REBUILDING        FEMA to help replace U of I buildings        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The federal government has agreed to replace University of Iowa buildings damaged by flooding in 2008. The decision resolves a dispute between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security inspectors about whether to replace or repair Hancher auditorium and arts and music buildings.        Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General concluded in June the buildings should be repaired instead of replaced contradicting FEMA’s determination to fund new construction on higher ground.        The dispute has held up the rebuilding projects.        The decision announced Wednesday by a Homeland Security undersecretary restores nearly $84 million in state and federal funds for the projects.        University President Sally Mason says in a statement that the action clears the way for construction and allows the university to move forward with the needed facilities.

STOLEN SEMI-ROBBERY        Man accused of stealing semi faces robbery charge        DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A man suspected of stealing a semitrailer in Davenport and leading authorities on a chase on Interstate 80 is now charged with robbing a credit union in Davenport.        Police say 47-year-old Elbert Karr, of Davenport, was arrested late Monday after the chase that ended in neighboring Cedar County.        Police say Karr is also accused of robbing the Family Credit Union earlier on Monday. Karr is charged with second-degree robbery. His case is not listed on the online court system, and it’s unclear if he has an attorney.        Karr faces numerous charges related to the chase.

STOLEN LOTTERY TICKETS        Iowan gets probation for stealing lottery tickets        (Information in the following story is from: Globe Gazette, http://www.globegazette.com/)        GARNER, Iowa (AP) – A northern Iowa woman who pleaded guilty to stealing lottery tickets from a convenience store where she worked has been given a deferred judgment and placed on three years of probation.        The Globe Gazette in Mason City reports Kimberly Bates of Kanawha (kuh-NAH’-wah) was sentenced for second-degree theft on Tuesday in Hancock County District Court.        Under a deferred judgment, the charge will be removed from Bates’ record if she successfully completes probation. Bates must also pay over $1,000 in restitution.

METH SEIZURE        $1 million worth of meth found during traffic stop        CHICAGO (AP) – Two men from Iowa have been arrested after suburban Chicago police say they found nearly $1 million worth of methamphetamine in their truck.        DuPage County prosecutors said Wednesday that the men from Des Moines are in custody after Naperville police discovered 9,800 grams of methamphetamine. Authorities say an officer pulled over 25-year-old Jesus Rubio on a traffic stop, and a police dog detected the illegal drugs.        Authorities say Rubio allowed the officer to search the truck. They say the officer discovered a 19-pound bag of methamphetamine under a pile of shingles in the bed of the truck.        Rubio and his passenger, 20-year-old Edgardo Rodriguez-Sanchez, were arrested on felony drug charges and both were ordered held in lieu of $1 million cash bond.

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