DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state of Iowa is proposing to settle a lawsuit filed by three men who worked at the Department of Revenue and claimed they were harassed by another male coworker who followed them into the restroom and secretly videotaped them. The lawsuit was filed by Daniel Wagner, Lloyd Lofton and Joshua Bates, who claim when they reported Kenneth Neal Kerr’s intrusive behavior to supervisors they failed to appropriately act, and it continued for several years.

Kerr was investigated and fired in 2015. He was charged and pleaded guilty in 2016 to invasion of privacy and sexually motivated stalking. The three men sued their supervisors and the state in 2017. The State Appeal Board will consider a recommendation by the state solicitor general to settle the lawsuit for $900,000 at a meeting Monday.

A traffic stop Nov. 28th in Page County resulted in the arrest of 20-year old Cody Dale Sleep, of Bedford. He was taken into custody for O.W.I. 1st Offense and transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office where his bond was set at $1,000.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a Clarinda man was arrested sometime over the past couple of weeks on felony Election Misconduct and Perjury charges. On November 19th, the Page County Attorney presented a complaint to the Page County Sheriff, alleging 29-year old Bradley Aeron Haley, of Clarinda, committed the offenses, following a complaint filed by the Page County Auditor. The Page County Sheriff’s Office then began an investigation into the complaints. Haley was arrested in Clarinda, and was being held in the Page County Jail on $10,000 bond pending future court appearances.

Authorities in Red Oak say Red Oak Police and Red Oak EMS/Fire took a report Saturday evening of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident in the alleyway of 108 W. Elm Street. Upon further investigation, it was discovered 64-year old Russell Duane Tyler, of Shenandoah, was backing his van, when he struck Wanda M. Olson, pinning her between his van and a van owned by a woman from St. Joseph, MO.

Olsen was transported by EMS to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for medical evaluation. Officials say the accident happened on private property. Damage to the second van was estimated at $400.

In other news, Red Oak Police are investigating a vehicle hit-and-run property damage accident. Officials say sometime between 9:30-p.m. and 11:50-p.m. Friday, someone sideswiped two legally parked vehicles on Eastern Avenue. Damage to a 2014 Chrysler 200 owned by Ricky Behrens, of Red Oak, and a 2007 Town and Country Van owned by Dale Fish, of Red Oak, amounted to $5,500 altogether. The incident remains under investigation.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of business leaders suggests the economy is slowing down in nine Midwest and Plains states as the U.S. trade war with China continues. The overall index for the region slipped into negative territory at 48.6 in November from October’s 52.6. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below that suggests decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says the ongoing trade war and slow global growth is hurting manufacturers in the region. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests over the past week. Sunday afternoon, 45-year old Dorothy Marie Thompson was arrested following a traffic stop in Council Bluffs, for Driving While Revoked or suspended for OWI test failure. Sunday morning, 40-year old Marlon D. Nelson, of Omaha, was arrested in Council Bluffs on a nationwide warrant out of Arkansas for being a Fugitive from Justice on an original Parole Violation charge. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop. At around 4:38-a.m. Sunday, 51-year old Gerald Thomas Tapp, Jr., of Washta, IA, was arrested for Driving While license suspended or revoked, after a deputy on routine patrol saw a truck on the side of the road, and conducted a welfare check.

Saturday evening, 68-year old Walter C. Mummey was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after his vehicle was found in the water near 145th and Rosewood. Mummey was transported to Jennie Edmundsen Hospital for treatment before being placed under arrest. Saturday morning, 39-year old Nicholas M. Gaer, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in rural Crescent for Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Theft in the 2nd Degree, after he allegedly broke into and burglarized a residence in the 19,200 block of Badger Avenue. His bond was set at $10,000.

Friday night, 50-year old Richard Allen Sullivan, of Treynor, who was being held in the Pott. County Jail, was charged with Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order, after allegedly having committed the same offense on multiple, different occasions, by leaving numerous voice mails. Thursday morning, 38-year old Damian Allen Govig was arrested following a traffic stop in Shelby, and charged with Theft in the 2nd Degree – Possession of Stolen Property. He was taken into custody after law enforcement saw a man pushing a motorcycle on the shoulder of Tamarack Road and 400th Street. The cycle came back as stolen out of Omaha.

An investigation Thursday into a disturbance at a residence on Wilshire Avenue in Pott. County, resulted in the arrest of 42-year old Jeff Riemenschneider. He was taken into custody on two counts of Child Endangerment with Substantial Risk, and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, causing bodily injury. And, Last Wednesday a 15-year old female from Treynor was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree/Possession of Stolen Property. The teen was referred to the Juvenile Court System.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A fire in the Des Moines suburb of Clive has destroyed the home of a firefighter who was at work when the blaze broke out. The fire was reported early Saturday while Lt. Gerrit Foreman was at work at the Windsor Heights Fire Department. Foreman, a firefighter and paramedic, splits his time between Clive and Windsor Heights.

Foreman’s wife and two of their children escaped the fire but the blaze destroyed their home, leaving only the chimney standing. A third child was away when the fire started. Foreman told The Des Moines Register “I’ve spent a majority of my time protecting other people, and I couldn’t protect my family.”

Clive Fire Chief Rick Roe says a GoFundMe account to aid in the family’s recovery has already raised more than $20,000.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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FORT DODGE – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a correctional officer was assaulted by an inmate at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility at approximately 10:15 p.m., Sunday. The officer was responding to a cell where inmates had started a fire. When the officer opened the door to the cell, an inmate began striking the officer with close fists and kicks. When the inmate attempted to attack another officer, oleoresin capsicum spray (pepper spray) was used to subdue the aggressive inmate. Staff immediately used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire in the cell, and no damages or injuries were reported as a result of the fire.

The officer that was assaulted was evaluated and treated by institution medical staff for their injuries. The inmate appeared to have not suffered any injuries.  This incident remains under investigation.

The Creston Police Department reports seven arrests over the past week. A little after 2-a.m. Sunday, 28-year old Ashton Olson, of Creston, was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond. And, 40-year old Joseph Bartlett, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Sunday afternoon for Driving While Barred. He was released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court.

On Saturday, 27-year old Garrett Woodhull, and 50-year old Johnny Agans, both of Creston, was arrested at their residences on charges of Domestic Abuse/Assault – Simple Misdemeanor. Both were released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond, each. Creston Police say 39-year old Brad Lemon, of Creston, was arrested Friday at the Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Warrant for Violation of Protection Order. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

Last Thursday, 20-year old Bradford Boyer, of Creston, was arrested for 2 counts each of Burglary in the 2nd Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 5th, along with Attempted Burglary 2nd Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd, and Public Intoxication. He was released from the Union County Jail on a $30,900 bond. And, on Nov. 27th, 27-year old Shanda Kile, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Failure to Appear on the original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense. She was released from the Union County Jail on original bond until Forfeiture Hearing.

In other news, Creston Police says a resident of the 500 block of N. Maple Street reported Nov. 28th, that sometime around 6:30 am on that day, someone entered her vehicle that was parked at her residence and took cash, (4) Six Packs of Pop, and documents pertaining to the vehicle. Estimated loss of $80. A man residing in the 600 Block of N. Pine also reported on the 28th, that sometime between 2am-10am on that date, someone broke into the garage at his residence, entered a vehicle that was parked in the garage and took a Black/Brown with gold trim Taurus 9mm handgun, a black/grey SCCY CPX2 9mm handgun, 5 knives and a chainsaw. Estimated loss of $1,650.00