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NW Iowa college settles lawsuit over human trafficking

News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The board of a northwest Iowa community college has accepted a settlement with international students who accused the school of human trafficking. Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City will pay two-point-three million dollars to settle a lawsuit involving ten students from Brazil. College President Terry Murrell talked to reporters after a special board meeting Wednesday afternoon and took full responsibility for the program’s problems. “We got too deep into something we were not overly familiar with, and we didn’t do a good job. And not doing a good job certainly had implications to those students,” Murrell says. “To those students, I would say, ‘We wish you luck and hope you are able to pursue your education and career goals.”’

Murrell says he thought the program would have success like others at the school when it was launched in 2019. “The J-1 Program is complex, it’s complicated,” he says, “and I don’t think we appreciated that when we stepped in, and all of that is my fault.” In April, the college’s board of directors approved paying three-million dollar to students from Chile who filed a lawsuit in 2020. The students said they were promised a free, two-year program with internships but were instead forced into working manual labor jobs to pay off tuition.

Murrell disputed that claim, saying the students were free to leave at any time and were paid for every hour they worked, plus free tuition and other amenities. He expects insurance to cover most of the cost. The dismissal of the lawsuit, which also includes college employees, is expected to be finalized in federal court in 60 days.

(by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)

Treasurer Smith Highlights College Savings Iowa as Savings Vehicle for K-12 Education

News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – As families plan for the upcoming school year, State Treasurer Roby Smith is reminding Iowans how the College Savings Iowa 529 plan can be used to achieve a variety of education savings goals, including K-12. “College Savings Iowa continues to expand the mindset that 529 plans can only be used for traditional two- and four-year college,” Smith said. “For families that want to put money aside to pay for K-12 tuition at a public or private school, while also receiving all the tax benefits 529 plans provide, College Savings Iowa could be the answer.”

Up to $10,000 per year per student can be withdrawn from a College Savings Iowa account to pay for tuition expenses in connection with enrollment at a K-12 institution. “We’re here to help support families in their education savings journey, whatever that may be for them and their student,” continued Smith. “It’s what College Savings Iowa is all about.”

In addition to K-12 tuition, money invested in College Savings Iowa can be used to pay for tuition; room and board; computers; textbooks and other qualified education expenses at any eligible higher education institution in the U.S. or abroad. This includes colleges, universities, trade schools and apprenticeship programs. Additionally, up to $10,000 can be used for repayment on any qualified education loan of the Beneficiary or a sibling of the Beneficiary.

As a 529 plan, College Savings Iowa also offers tax advantages such as tax-deferred earnings and tax-free qualified withdrawals. Plus, there is an added tax benefit of deducting up to $5,500 in contributions per Beneficiary account from 2024 Iowa income taxes.

To learn more about the Plan, visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com or call (888) 672-9116. Connect with College Savings Iowa on Facebook, Instagram and X to stay informed on current events and updates. For additional details about the Plan, read the Program Description.

Iowa courts see delays, disruptions due to shortage of court reporters

News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Wapello, Iowa [KCCI-TV] – A shortage of court reporters in Iowa is causing some disruptions and delays. Southeast Iowa’s District 8, for instance, covers 15 courthouses, but only has 11 court reporters. KCCI reports experts say the decline is due to retirements outpacing the number of people graduating from court reporting school. There are also fears that the job will become obsolete as technology advances. Wapello County Attorney Steviee Grove disagrees. She said court reporters are the official word.

Iowa Judicial Branch court reporter’s position.

The Iowa Supreme Court is certifying some voice writers as court reporters to help with the shortage. The judicial system is also exploring higher-income opportunities and tele-work.

Unleaded gasoline prices in Iowa hold steady, according to Triple A

News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) –  Triple-A reports the average price for a gallon of diesel fuel in Iowa fell three cents a gallon over the past week. Wednesday’s average price for diesel in Iowa was 31 cents a gallon lower than the national average. Unleaded gasoline was averaging three-28 ($3.28) a gallon in Iowa yesterday (Wednesday). That’s the same as last week.

Creston man arrested on warrants and a drug charge

News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County man was arrested Wednesday evening on a drug charge and warrants. According to the Creston Police Department, 30-year-old Patrick Riley Iiams, of Creston, was arrested at the Bomgaars Store in Creston, just before 6-p.m.  Iiams was charged with Possess Drug Paraphernalia. He was also taken into custody on warrants for Domestic Abuse Impeding flow of Air/blood, and for Failure to appear on a charge of Theft in the 5th degree and Consumption of alcohol in a public space/1st Offense.

Iiams was being held without bond in the Union county jail until seen by a judge.

Miranda Wins 2024 Iowa Women’s Amateur

Sports

July 25th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

WATERLOO, Iowa — Rising University of Iowa senior Paula Miranda fired a 72 (E) at Sunnyside Country Club to win the 100th Iowa Women’s Amateur on Wednesday. Miranda shot a three-round 218 (+2) to claim the title.

It is the second straight year that a Hawkeye has won the event as Kaitlyn Hanna won in 2023.

“It was pretty special,” said Miranda. “Especially with it being the 100th anniversary of this tournament and with Kaitlyn winning last year. It is pretty special that the trophy gets to stay with the Hawks. I was really proud of myself today.”

The Puebla, Mexico, native finished with three birdies, 12 pars and three bogeys during her final round. She had a pair of birdies on the front nine and she birdied the par three 18th to finish at even par.

“I am very happy for Paula,” said head coach Megan Menzel. “She has put in a very consistent year of hard work, and it is great to see it paying off. She is a great competitor and a proud Hawkeye. It is great to see the Iowa Women’s Amateur trophy in Iowa City two years in a row!”

Miranda qualified for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur for the first time in her career last Thursday finishing as the individual runner up at a qualifying event at the Franklin Bridge Golf Club in Franklin, Tennessee.

(Updated 12:05-p.m.) 2 die in separate Iowa accidents Wednesday

News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(State News) – Two separate crashes in Iowa Wednesday, resulted in two deaths and one person injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports a crash late Wednesday morning in central Iowa’s Jasper County, claimed the life of a man from Polk County. 41-year-old Michael Croy, of Des Moines, died when the car he was driving collided head-on with a pickup truck. The accident happened south of Newton. Croy was traveling north on County Highway S 74 at around 11:50-a.m., when for reasons unknown, his vehicle crossed the center line of the road and collided with a southbound pickup driven by 62-year-old Karl Peters, of Monroe (IA). Croy died at the scene. Peters was transported to a hospital in Newton. Both men were wearing their seat belts. The crash remained under investigation.

And, at around 6:12-p.m. Wednesday, a pedestrian died in northern Iowa’s Cerro Gordo County, when they were struck by an SUV. The accident happened in Mason City, as the SUV, driven by a 17-year-old female from Mason City, was traveling southbound on Plymouth Road. The pedestrian who was struck, was identified as 42-year-old Jennifer Dawn Buls-VRBA, of Mason City. She was transported to the hospital in Mason City, where she died from their injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

Thursday State Softball Tournament Schedule

Sports

July 25th, 2024 by Jim Field

at Fort Dodge

Class 5-A Championship:

  • 5:00 PM – WDM Valley vs. Pleasant Valley

Class 5-A Consolation:

  • 3:30 PM – Ankeny vs. Urbandale

Class 4-A Championship:

  • 7:30 PM – Carlisle vs. ADM

Class 4-A Consolation:

  • 6:00 PM – North Scott vs. North Polk

Thursday State Baseball Tournament Schedule

Sports

July 25th, 2024 by Jim Field

Class 2-A Semifinals: (at Carroll)

  • 4:30 PM – Underwood vs. Chariton
  • 7:00 PM – New Hampton vs. Sumner-Fredericksburg

Class 4-A Semifinals: (at Cedar Rapids)

  • 5:00 PM – Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. Johnston
  • 7:30 PM – Dowling Catholic vs. Iowa City High

It’s time to pick a peck of Iowa sweet corn, ideally from that kid on the corner

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Teenagers with hand-lettered signs and pickup trucks packed with stacks of sweet corn are being seen on street corners in many Iowa cities as we’re smack dab in the middle of prime time for that delicious veggie. Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture specialist at Iowa State University, says if you haven’t spotted a local grower yet and decide to head to the supermarket for sweet corn instead, you -may- be still getting local ears. “Some grocery stores will get regular, daily batches from local farmers, and some of it is shipped up usually from Florida,” Steil says. “It really depends on the type of corn that’s being grown, too. Some varieties just store better, especially under refrigeration.”

Sweet corn is best when you get it right from the field, so if it’s been on a semi and sitting on a store shelf for a while, it may get squishy and starchy. Steil says the best bet is buying from that kid in the pickup, but if you head for the store instead, it may not be quite as fresh. “If you’re really concerned about it, you can ask the produce folks if this was corn that they got in that day, or if they know where it came from,” he says. “If it’s local and it came in in the last day or two, it’s probably quite fresh and good to eat. But just because it came in from Florida, it doesn’t mean it’s bad either.

There are certain varieties that can store really well for seven to 10 days.” Some Iowans will want to freeze a batch of that sweet corn to pull out in the wintertime for a pleasing taste of summer.  “If you want to keep it long-term, you’re going to blanch the cobs and usually cut the kernels off and then freeze it,” Steil says. “You want to do all that process as quickly as possible. This isn’t something that you would buy at the store, then let it sit on your counter for a while, and then do it a few days later. It would be something you want to do as soon as you get the corn for the best flavor.”

If you just plan to eat the sweet corn, be sure to keep the ears in the fridge. If it gets warm, the sugars will degrade faster and the taste won’t be as fresh.