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Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, May 12th 2017

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May 12th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Republican congressman who campaigned on repealing the Affordable Care Act is cautioning constituents that the House GOP replacement bill is just “a tweak of Obamacare.” Two-term Iowa Republican Rod Blum indicates that the GOP bill would have gone further if he had his way. Blum and others are understating the impact of the bill that, if enacted, could drop millions from their insurance by next year.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An audit of the University of Iowa athletics department says administrators failed to adequately monitor information technology purchases, allowing wasteful spending and creating a major risk for equipment theft. The report cites missing iPads, unnecessary travel and improper credit card spending. The department’s IT director left his job in February as auditors were nearing the conclusion of their inquiry.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — A teen convicted of fondling three kindergarten students while volunteering at an eastern Iowa elementary school has been sentenced to a state training school. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the teen, now 16, was sentenced Thursday to the school in Eldora, and a judge recommended he stay there until he’s nearly 20. However, the school has discretion to decide how long he’ll stay. He’ll also have to register as a sex offender.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Greg Forristall, a Republican state representative from southwest Iowa, has died. Colin Tadlock, a spokesman for House Republicans, said Thursday that Forristall’s wife, Carol Forristall, contacted legislative staff to confirm the Macedonia lawmaker died Wednesday. He was 67. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer said in a press release that Forristall had been battling cancer.