Iowa News
HEALTH EXCHANGE GOP govs of Iowa, Neb. differ on health exchanges LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Iowa and Nebraska are turning down different paths to comply with the federal health care law. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said Friday that his administration will continue to work on a state-based exchange. But he left open the possibility of defaulting to a federal program. In Nebraska, Governor Dave Heineman declared the state-based exchange too expensive and told the federal government to build one for his state. Both governors are Republicans. The different approaches reflect a broader struggle among Republican governors who now have to submit to a law they feverishly oppose. Both governors insist that they’re making a good-faith effort to follow the law, despite a lack of guidance from the federal government. But Democrats from both states say the governors haven’t done nearly as much as they could have to prepare.
WATER DISTRICT INVESTIGATION Local Iowa water official being investigated (Information in the following story is from: KCCI-TV, http://www.kcci.com)
CRESTON, Iowa (AP) – The longtime manager of the Creston Water Department is under investigation, but officials aren’t saying why. KCCI reports Creston’s mayor confirmed that Steve Green is being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the state auditor. Green has managed the water department for about 30 years. He is suspended with pay while he is being investigated.
WATERLOO POLICE SHOOTING Waterloo officer shoots, kills 22-year-old man WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A Waterloo police officer’s decision to shoot and kill a fleeing 22-year-old man is being investigated. The Iowa Criminal Division of Investigation says the incident happened near a Waterloo bar around 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning. Officials say that Officer Kyle Law responded to a report of a shooting at the New World Lounge Two, and he say Derrick Ambrose pointing a gun at a crowd. Law ordered Ambrose to drop his gun, but Ambrose fled and Law chased after him. During the foot pursuit, Law says that Ambrose stepped out from behind a tree, and Law shot him. Ambrose was struck in the head and died. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Law has been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.
WRONG-WAY FATAL 1 dead in head-on crash on I-380 in Cedar Rapids CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Cedar Rapids police say a driver may have been going the wrong way on Interstate 380 before a head-on collision that killed one person and injured another. Police say the crash happened shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday. Police say one of the vehicles was driving southbound in the northbound lane of I-380 before the crash. One driver died at the scene of the accident. The other driver was flown the University of Iowa Hospitals with life-threatening injuries. The names of the drivers were not immediately released.
HOMELESS MAN DIES Iowa officials investigate death of homeless man COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Council Bluffs officials are investigating the death of a homeless man who became trapped after falling into a hole he was digging. The 34-year-old man was found dead along railroad tracks in Council Bluffs. Police said Sunday the man was digging a hole either for shelter or to store his belongings and fell in. Police aren’t sure how long the man was in the hole before his body was discovered. The man’s name was not immediately released because police were trying to locate his family.
LAKE RESCUE Omaha police rescue 2 people, dog from Carter Lake CARTER LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Omaha, Nebraska police officers rescued two people and a dog from Carter Lake after their boat capsized. An officer spotted the overturned boat in Carter Lake, Iowa, Sunday and called for help. Paramedics were worried that 55-year-old Kay Dunn and her 32-year-old son, Nathaniel Nelson, could develop hypothermia if they were in the water too long. Four other Omaha police officers responded and helped get the two people and their dog out of the water. The two people who were rescued and one officer were taken to the hospital to be checked for hypothermia after being in the water for about 20 minutes. The dog, Buster, was taken to the Nebraska Humane Society to get checked out.
BANK FRAUD SENTENCE Former Iowa home builder sentenced for bank fraud DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa home builder has been ordered to repay $379,533 and serve one month in prison for bank fraud. A federal judge sentenced 70-year-old Walter Zimmerer last week. Prosecutors say Zimmerer took out loans in 2007 and 2008 to build homes in Bettendorf and LeClaire, Iowa. The loans were set up to allow Zimmerer to continue drawing money out during construction as long as he was current on his payments to subcontractors. Zimmerer fell behind on his payments to subcontractors but created false documents to show he was current. Eventually he defaulted on the loans. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of bank fraud. In addition to serving a month in prison, Zimmerer will have to serve 12 months of home confinement and two years of supervised release.
BIBLE BEE-IOWANS Iowa boy wins 2nd place and $10,000 in Bible Bee (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 10-year-old Iowa boy won second place and $10,000 in the National Bible Bee. The Des Moines Register reports that Taylor Bontrager of Kalona, perfectly recited numerous Bible verses through nine rounds of competition in Sevierville, Tennessee. Taylor Bontrager was one of three contestants who recited scripture perfectly. So the written test they all took earlier determined the winners. Two other Iowas – Taylor’s 15-year-old brother, Joshua Bontrager, and Andrew Adams, 13, of Clive – also competed, but they were eliminated in earlier rounds.
CAMPBELL-IOWA ST Iowa State beats Campbell 88-68 AMES, Iowa (AP) – Tyrus McGee scored 16 points off the bench and Iowa State beat Campbell 88-68 on Sunday night. Will Clyburn added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cyclones (3-0), who registered assists on 22 of 32 baskets in Ames. Iowa State broke open a tight game with a 14-0 run late in the first half and held a relatively comfortable lead the rest of the way. Darren White had 20 points for Campbell (2-2), which is picked to win its division of the Big South this season.