Iowa News

OBAMA-IOWA        Aide: Obama to campaign Saturday in Dubuque        DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – An aide says President Barack Obama will return to Iowa at least once more before Tuesday’s election.        A campaign aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because the event hasn’t been announced says Obama will hold a rally Saturday in Dubuque. The official says no time or location has been finalized.        Obama’s visit marks a final push for Iowa’s six electoral votes in his tight race for the presidency against Republican challenger Mitt Romney. The visit will also get attention across the border in western Wisconsin, which is also considered a battleground state.        Iowa’s getting a flurry of visits by candidates and surrogates. Romney campaigned Monday in Davenport. Bill Clinton is campaigning across Iowa for Obama on Wednesday and Vice President Joe Biden stops Thursday in Muscatine and Fort Dodge.

SMITHLAND EXPLOSION        Man found dead after explosion in Smithland        SMITHLAND, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man who was found dead after an explosion and fire at an old service station in Smithland in western Iowa.        Officials say 76-year-old Robert Jones, of Smithland, owned the building. He was found outside the station’s office after the blast late Wednesday morning.        Smithland Fire Chief Curt Larson says the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The state fire marshal’s office is helping to investigate the fire, which gutted the building.        Smithland is in Woodbury County about 40 miles southeast of Sioux City.

BANK ROBBERY-SHOOTING        2 bank robbery suspects charged in Iowa gun battle        IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Criminal complaints allege two Iowa men fired shots that attempted to kill six Iowa police officers from four agencies during a high-speed chase after a bank robbery.        The complaints filed Wednesday allege that 24-year-old Jeremiah Mumford and 19-year-old William Clayton planned Tuesday’s armed robbery of Maynard Savings Bank. They say the two also admitted to practicing with and preparing weapons to use during the getaway.        Mumford is charged with six counts of attempted murder and four counts of terrorism. Clayton is charged with six counts of aiding and abetting attempted murder and four counts of terrorism.        The terrorism charges allege the men shot at vehicles from four separate agencies “to intimidate or influence” them.        Bremer County Attorney Kasey Waddling said Clayton was believed to be driving while Mumford fired shots.

IOWA BABY-DEATH        Iowa mom convicted in baby’s death granted parole        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines woman sent to prison for the 1998 death of her infant son has been granted parole.        The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Board of Parole voted 3-0 on Wednesday to release Heidi Anfinson. She pleaded guilty in 2009 to multiple acts of child endangerment in the drowning of her 2-week-old son whose body was found in Saylorville Lake. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison.        Anfinson served nine years of a previous 50-year sentence for second-degree murder when the Iowa Supreme Court granted her a new trial.        Supporters say Anfinson was suffering from severe postpartum depression at the time of her son’s death.        Anfinson will be on parole until October 2013 and is restricted from living or working with minors.

CROP REPORT-NEBRASKA        Nebraska corn, soybean harvest nearly complete        LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska’s corn and soybean harvests are nearly completed well ahead of schedule, but the winter wheat crop is off to a poor start.        The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its latest update on the state’s crops on Wednesday.        The USDA says 94 percent of Nebraska’s corn crop has been harvested. Normally, the corn harvest is only about half done at this stage.        About 98 percent of the soybean crop has been harvested. That’s also ahead of the average of 85 percent done at this point.        The winter wheat crop has been slow to emerge because of the drought, and some farmers have replanted their fields. About 74 percent of the winter wheat has emerged. That’s behind the average of 93 percent at this time of year.

WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS        Iowan pleads guilty in theft of wrestling belts        (Information in the following story is from: The Ottumwa Courier, http://www.ottumwacourier.com)        OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – One of two men accused of stealing championship belts during a TNA pro wrestling show in Iowa has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.        Joel Luke of Ottumwa pleaded guilty to fifth-degree theft and was sentenced to two years of probation.        Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, based in Nashville, Tennessee reported a heavyweight championship belt, worth $6,000, and a replica, valued at $400, were stolen in August in Ottumwa. Both belts were recovered.        Luke was originally charged with second-degree theft.  The newspaper says he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge last week.        Another man, Forrest Jamison, also of Ottumwa, is charged with accessory. His case is pending.

Admin Log In