Iowa News

GRADUATION RATE-IOWA        Feds say Iowa’s graduation rate highest in nation        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Education says Iowa had the nation’s top graduation rate in the 2010 school year, with about 88 percent of students graduating.        The Des Moines Register reports the figure narrowly beat Wisconsin’s 87 percent rate.        Nevada had the lowest rate, with 62 percent graduation, just ahead of New Mexico’s 63 percent rate.        The 2010-2011 academic year was the first time all states used uniform standards to measure the number of students who graduated.        Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass commended educators for the high graduation rate but noted in a statement Monday that low income students, non-native English speakers and those with special needs performed at a lower level than other students.

TRADE MISSION-IOWA        Lt. Gov. Reynolds will head trade mission        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will lead a trade mission to Vietnam and the Philippines in February intended to expand exports of Iowa pork and create new opportunities for the state’s manufacturers.        The trade mission will run from Feb. 22 through March 2 and will include stops in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila.        The state economic development department is organizing the trip and has invited Iowa company representatives to participate for a fee.        The governor’s office announced the trip Monday.        In a statement, Reynolds says Vietnam and the Philippines are growing markets and that such trade missions made sense as Iowa tries to expand trade outside the United States.

SOLDIER KILLED        Iowa native killed while serving in Afghanistan        JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa native has been killed after insurgents attacked his U.S. Army unit earlier this month.        The Iowa National Guard announced Monday that 23-year-old Sgt. Joseph A. Richardson died on Nov. 16 during a patrol in the Paktika province of Afghanistan. The Guard says enemy insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.        Richardson spent most of his childhood in Algona and moved to Booneville, Ark., after the 9th grade.        Family members released a statement Monday describing Richardson as a friendly, energetic person known to joke around with loved ones.        Richardson is survived by his wife, Ashley M. Richardson, as well as his parents, two sisters, a brother and other relatives.        The attack also killed 24-year-old Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, of Greer, S.C.

HALAL FOODS-INVESTIGATION        Federal probe targets halal food supplier in Iowa        IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The maker of a popular brand of food for observant Muslims says in court documents that it is facing a potentially crippling investigation into whether it falsely labeled meat products as being processed in compliance with Islamic law.        Midamar Corp. says that investigators seized its bank account and records under search warrants executed at the Cedar Rapids firm last month. U.S. District Judge Linda Reade last week upheld the government’s seizure of more than $454,000 in bank funds.        No charges have been filed, and Reade ruled that the government’s affidavit supporting its warrant can remain secret.        In filings, Midamar says it’s been told the grounds for the seizures relate to allegations that it improperly branded and sold meat products as meeting Muslim dietary requirements called halal when they did not.

KETTLE THEFTS        Salvation Army plans kettle checks after thefts        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Salvation Army will begin unscheduled checks of busy kettle locations in the Des Moines area after the theft of two kettles.        One kettle was stolen Nov. 16 from a Des Moines Hy-Vee store and the other was taken Friday from a West Des Moines Wal-Mart.        The Des Moines Register reports that in response, the Salvation Army will make random checks to ensure paid bell-ringers and volunteers are watching over kettles.        Salvation Army spokesman Arvid Huisman says someone should have been staffing the Wal-Mart kettle when it was stolen. The other kettle was stolen overnight.        Besides money in the kettles, each container and stand cost more than $160 to replace.        The Salvation Army in Des Moines relies on kettle donations for about 40 percent of its holiday revenue.

CEDAR RAPIDS CRASH        Cedar Rapids police ID woman who died in crash        (Information in the following story is from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/)        CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Cedar Rapids police have identified a 30-year-old woman who died in a hit-and-run crash that left four children with minor injuries.        The Gazette reports police identified the woman killed as Jennifer Hopkins.        She died in the Sunday afternoon crash that occurred when a sport utility vehicle in which she was riding collided with a car in an intersection. She was thrown from the SUV and died at the scene.        Police say the driver of the SUV ran from the crash. Police were searching for the man, but they haven’t named him or specified his relationship to Hopkins.        A man and his four children were in the car. The children were treated for minor injuries and released.

CLUB THEFT        Former club treasurer accused of theft in Iowa        DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A former club treasurer has been accused of stealing about $27,000 from a club in an eastern Iowa town.        A news release from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office says 38-year-old Kris Oetzmann surrendered last week and already has left custody awaiting trial. Court records say his arraignment on a felony theft charge is scheduled for Dec. 20.        The sheriff’s office says Oetzmann, of Donahue, is accused of stealing money from the Donahue Sportsmen’s Club, which he served as treasurer from Jan. 31 through Sept. 18.        A public phone listing for Oetzmann couldn’t be found. His attorney, Alicia Gieck (GEEK), declined to comment on Monday.

 

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