A dispatcher for the Pottawattamie County Communications Center received an award Monday afternoon for helping to save the life of a man who had fallen, was unconscious and not breathing.

(from left to right) Council Bluffs Interim Fire Chief Larry Wohlers – Becky Francis – Sheriff Jeff Danker. (Pott. Co. S/O photo)

Operator Becky Francis, who joined the unit in 2009, was honored by the Sheriff’s Office and Council Bluffs Fire Department with a Life Saving Award.

Sheriff’s officials say just before 11-a.m. on June 1st, 2013, Francis answered a 911 call from the son of the unresponsive male. She assisted the son in giving CPR instructions to his father until rescue crews could arrive and assume additional life-saving measures.

The man survived and left the hospital a week later.

The City Council in Council Bluffs has received word a business that has been in the community for years, will be closing its doors in May, leaving about 250 people without jobs. The Omaha World-Herald says Griffin Pipe Products officials notified the Mayor and some members of the Council about the closing, on Monday. The notice, from U.S. Pipe Holdings of Hoover, AL., a subsidiary of U.S. Pipe and Foundry of Birmingham, AL., said Griffin Pipe will close its doors on or about May 3rd.

U.S. Pipe purchased Griffin Pipe early this year, and in mid-February approximately 60 employees at the Council Bluffs plant were let go. At the time of the layoffs, a letter allegedly sent to the affected employees said they could be rehired at a later date if the demand for the company’s ductile iron pipe increased.

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A 54-year-old Gretna, NE., woman already serving time for tax evasion has pleaded guilty to stealing the $4.1 million on which she didn’t pay taxes. Caroline Richardson made her plea Monday in Douglas County, NE., District Court in Omaha. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 18th. She faces up to 10 more years in prison. She’s already serving a five-year term.

Prosecutors say Richardson stole from Omaha-based Colombo Candy and Tobacco in 2010 and 2011 while working as company controller. Prosecutors say she used the money to gamble at Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Colombo has sued Ameristar, saying the casino knew about Richardson’s job and her approximate salary and should have known Richardson was gambling with ill-gotten money.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The first jury trial stemming from a contentious statewide crackdown on election-related crimes is set to begin, and a former Iowa felon charged with illegally voting is expected to fight the charge today. Kelli Jo Griffin of Montrose is scheduled to stand trial for perjury in Lee County. Prosecutors say that she signed an affidavit falsely claiming that she was not an ineligible felon when she voted in the Nov. 5 municipal election. Griffin has pleaded not guilty.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill allowing online voter registration in Iowa has passed in the Senate and been sent to the House. The measure passed 48-0 yesterday with no debate. Under the bill voters must provide the same information required on other voter registration forms. They would use the Secretary of State’s website to electronically register. Concerns about how electronic signatures will be verified are to be worked out in the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Several Iowa counties have issues on ballots tomorrow. Des Moines voters will decide whether to approve an increase in the fee charged on their utility bills to repay $40 million the city borrowed to pay a court-ordered refund of previously over-collected franchise fees. Story County voters will decide whether to approve borrowing up to $19 million to pay the city of Ames’ share of a convention center development at Iowa State University. Bond issues also are on the ballot in Pottawattamie County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa pharmacist has been acquitted of 15 counts of health care fraud after a jury rejected allegations that he fraudulently billed an insurance company for life-saving drugs sent to hemophilia patients. The federal jury returned the verdict yesterday after a weeklong trial in the case of Michael Stein. He’s the owner of Pharmacy Matters in Iowa City. It was a defeat for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Des Moines and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are looking for an inmate they say never returned to a work release facility in Sioux City. Fred Scaletta with the state Department of Corrections says in a news release Monday that 21-year-old Eddie Sandoval-Rouillard failed to return to the facility from an assigned program meeting. He was placed on escape status Sunday.

Eddie Sandoval-Rouillard

Sandoval-Rouillard was transferred to work release on Feb. 14. He’s been serving a 10-year sentence for willful injury causing serious injury. Authorities say Sandoval-Rouillard has tattoos on his right ankle and left hand.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More veterans would be eligible to receive financial assistance when purchasing a home under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate. The Senate unanimously approved a measure Monday meant to expand eligibility requirements for veterans seeking grants through the Military Homeownership Assistance Program. The legislation, which coincides with Gov. Terry Branstad’s initiative to better support veterans in Iowa, now goes to the House.

Current law limits grant eligibility to veterans who served beginning on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The bill would extend eligibility to veterans who served during the Persian Gulf conflict, beginning Aug. 2, 1990, and ending April 6, 1991.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Danielson says expanding eligibility would hopefully further the program’s success. Similar legislation being considered in the House would allocate more money to the program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has passed a bill that would make it illegal for landowners to allow drinking on their property by anyone under 21. The bill, which passed 48-0, makes it a simple misdemeanor for the first violation and imposes a $200 fine. A second offense and future offenses carry $500 fines.

The bill also holds juveniles responsible by making it a simple misdemeanor for anyone aged 18, 19, or 20 to drink alcohol in violation of the bill and imposes a fine of $200. A second offense carries a fine of $500 and a third offense carries a $500 fine and the loss of a driver’s license.

Sen. Robb Hogg, a Cedar Rapids Democrat, says the bill sets expectations for parents and communities. It moves to the House.