IA News
Sun, 04 May 2008 7:40:51 CDT

Latest Iowa news, sports, business and entertainment:
NEW PRISON
Corrections officials begin working on new prison plan
FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) - Iowa corrections officials are
beginning work on a $131 million dollar maximum-security prison
project in southeastern Iowa - even though it won't begin housing
prisoners until the year 2014.
Corrections staff will begin selecting engineers and architects
by November for a handful of prison projects including the 800-bed
prison in Fort Madison.
That's according to corrections department director John
Baldwin.
The Iowa Legislature approved the money for the prison projects
after a long debate about whether the new prison should remain in
Fort Madison.
Officials say construction on the new prison is expected to
begin in July 2010 on a farm north of the city.
Baldwin says officials haven't yet decided whether the
penitentiary's existing maximum-security unit in Fort Madison will
remain open.
SPANISH TEACHER SUES
Former Spanish teacher sues Anamosa school district
ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) - A former Anamosa High School Spanish
teacher claims she was discrimated against because of her Spanish
origin.
Maria Theresa Lizama Lidon has filed a lawsuit against the
school district and the principal.
Lidon, who is from Spain, says she was harassed by students and
parents and accuses the district of doing nothing about her
situation.
She says complaints also were made about her accent, and one
said she taught too much of her class in Spanish.
Lidon's lawyer says she worked for the district from August 2006
to the end of the school year. He says she felt she had to resign
or her license wouldn't be renewed.
The lawsuit, filed in U-S District Court, seeks back pay for the
position Lidon says she was forced to resign. It also seeks front
pay, damages for employee benefits that were lost, prejudgement
interest and attorney fees and costs.
CLEAR LAKE DREDGING
Clear Lake dredging project will begin early
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Department of Natural Resources
officials say they are pleased that a dredging project at Clear
Lake in northern Iowa will begin a month early.
Fisheries biologist Scott Grummer says the barge company in
charge of the project is running ahead of schedule and wants to
begin the work early next month. The company had been scheduled to
start the pumping in July.
Once the pumping begins, Grummer says it will run 24 hours a day
until the lake freezes in the fall.
Grummer says an early start is positive for the project, which
is expected to remove more than 2 million cubic yards of sediment
and increase the water depth from about 6 feet to 24 feet.
The project's completion is scheduled for fall 2009.
TEEN SENTENCED
Teen sentenced in deadly crash that killed her boyfriend
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A central Iowa teenager has been
sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after a deadly crash that
killed her boyfriend.
Christa Smith, of Des Moines, pleaded guilty to homicide by
vehicle and drunken driving. Police say the 18-year-old was driving
with a car full of teens last Fourth of July when she lost control.
Authorities say Smith's boyfriend, Tommy Carpenter, was thrown
from the vehicle and killed.
Smith's attorney told WHO-TV in Des Moines that Smith will
likely serve her time at the prison in Oakdale. The attorney says
it's up to the parole board just how long Smith remains behind
bars.
LOTTERY RECEIPTS
Iowa lottery to begin offering receipts
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Starting tomorrow (Monday), gamers who
buy lottery or scratch tickets in Iowa can receive a receipt.
The new system is the second phase of the Iowa Lottery's
enhanced player security program, which began in March.
Receipts will be available for every instant-scratch or lottery
ticket that is checked or cashed. Two receipts will be printed -
one for the retailer, and one for the player.
When a player wins a prize, the receipt will show the amount
won, eliminating any confusion about the pay out.
Lottery officials say adding receipts is designed to make sure
that players are paid the prizes they are rightfully owed.
The Iowa Lottery began in 1985 and has awarded more than
$2-(b)-billion in prizes.
TIRE FIRE
Firefighters battle Cedar Rapids salvage yard blaze
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - A half dozen fire crews have
extinguished a fire at an eastern Iowa automotive salvage yard.
Firefighters began battling the blaze at K's Acres Inc. in Cedar
Rapids late Friday night. Officials say it took 16 firefighters,
three engines and a ladder truck to finally bring the fire under
control by yesterday (Saturday) morning.
Cedar Rapids Fire Battalion Chief Brad Brenneman calls it a
major fire. He says it engulfed an entire corner of the salvage lot
that was filled with tires.
No injuries were reported. Officials say a city street was
closed as firefighters put out the blaze.
An investigator will look into the cause of the fire.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-05-04-08 0615EDT

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