SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City gynecologist has been fined $7,500 for botching a hysterectomy by mistakenly removing his 29-year-old patient’s healthy ovaries. The Iowa Board of Medicine fined 50-year-old Doctor Kevin Hamburger on Thursday for the July 2011 surgery and has ordered Hamburger to submit a plan describing how he’ll avoid future errors. Hamburger is also being sued for damages by the patient, Erin Rehan. Her lawsuit says she was told by Hamburger that her ovaries would not be removed during the procedure. Rehan is seeking more than $10,000 in damages.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With Iowa facing a psychiatrist shortage, one lawmaker thinks giving income tax breaks to psychiatry students will be enough to encourage them to practice in the state. Republican Representative Dave Heaton’s bill was reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee this week. It would waive state income taxes for psychiatrists with school debt who choose to practice in medically underserved areas of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad says eligible Iowa residents should take advantage of a program that helps them prepare and file tax returns online for free. Branstad says the Iowa Free File program lets residents with low and moderate income use tax preparation software for free. Those with an income of $57,000 or less are eligible for the service.

POSTVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The Postville Fire Department chief has identified the body found in a Postville apartment fire as that of 61-year-old Marlin Schutte. Chief Jeffrey Bohr released Schutte’s name in a news release yesterday. The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office believes Schutte lived in the apartment. The fire was reported shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday, and heavy smoke and flames led to two other nearby fire departments being called to help.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Historians are gathering in Des Moines this weekend to talk about the Underground Railroad and the Iowa Freedom Trail, which passed through southwest Iowa, and included a safe haven at Hitchcock House near Lewis.

John Brown Freedom Trail in 1859 (Map from the State Historical Society of Iowa at www.iowahistory.org)

This year’s Iowa Statewide Underground Railroad Gathering will take place today (Saturday) at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. The event is free. Historians are expected to discuss topics including the Underground Railroad sites and museums in Iowa, as well as some historical legal issues behind the trail. The state Department of Cultural Affairs and others are sponsoring the event.