IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says Iowa’s new “stand your ground” law is too vague in rejecting an appeal by a man convicted of manslaughter. The law says a person is immune from legal liability if they’re justified in their use of reasonable force against someone threatening them. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that Johnson County Judge Paul Miller ruled Tuesday that 24-year-old Lamar Wilson doesn’t qualify for immunity because evidence doesn’t show he was justified when shooting his gun.

A trial jury in February found Wilson guilty of voluntary manslaughter and other charges for a shooting in the Iowa City pedestrian mall last year that killed one and injured two others. Wilson’s lawyers filed a motion for a new trial last week, citing issues with potential witnesses and the jury selection.

A new partnership provides community college students who transfer to one of the three state-supported universities another way to take advantage of the college credits they’ve earned. Iowa Department of Education community college bureau chief Jeremy Varner says the partnership with the National Student Clearinghouse allows students to do what’s called a reverse credit transfer. “They can take credits that they earn at the university and transfer them back to community college they came from to earn an associate degree,” Varner explains. “So essentially these students have already earned a two-year degree — but historically they haven’t received that on the way. This reverse credit transfer process provides a vehicle for them to earn that.”

Varner says the two-year degrees can be beneficial to students in several ways. “Associate degrees have labor market value. So a student if they don’t complete a four-year degree or they stop out on their way, we know the research shows that an associate degree provides them a benefit in the labor market. Employers are looking for students with college degrees,” Varner says. He is not concerned a student might get their two-year degree and then think they don’t need to complete all the work for the four-year degree. He says students who transfer expect to get a four-year degree, and he says the two-year degree could help them get a job that helps support them as they complete the four-year degree.

Varner says studies show individuals who earn associate degrees finish four-year degrees at higher rates and earn more money. He says this program supports the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which calls for 70 percent of Iowa workers to have education or training beyond high school by 2025.”Employers are very thirsty for skilled labor and this helps meet their needs in terms of finding employees with college degrees,” Varner says.

Students can take advantage of the program by agreeing to have their university transcripts sent back to their community colleges, which will determine whether the students’ university courses have met requirements for degrees or other credentials. The state’s three public universities are encouraging students who have transferred in with 30 or more community college credits to participate.
For more information, visit Iowa’s Reverse Credit Transfer website.
<http://www.transferiniowa.org

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been delayed several months for a man accused of killing an Iowa City cab driver. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that attorneys for Curtis Jones asked a judge for more time to prepare. Jones had been scheduled to begin trial April 9. The new starting date is Nov. 5. The trial has been moved to Davenport because of pretrial publicity in the Iowa City area.
Jones also has pleaded not guilty to the April 2017 fatal shooting of Iowa City bail bondsman Jonathan Wieseler. The trial in that case is set to begin July 16.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 32-year old Troy Edward Grindle, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday afternoon for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

And, at around 6-a.m. today (Wednesday), 23-year old Jacob William Avery, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Failure to Maintain Control, following an accident on Morton Avenue. Sheriff’s officials say Avery was eastbound on Morton, driving a 2001 Ford in a careless manner. The vehicle went out of control and spun out. It then left the road and went into a yard at 501 Morton Avenue and struck a mailbox before coming to rest against a tree. Avery and his passenger fled the scene. Both were located a short time later. No injuries were reported.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman held in the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant Tuesday, for Disorderly Conduct in a place of business. Once served, 35-year old Staci Lynn Ashley, of Council Bluffs, was returned to the custody of jail staff. And, a man held in the Pott. County jail was served with a warrant, Tuesday, for being a Fugitive from Justice. 34-year old Daniel Troy Smith, of Council Bluffs, was then returned to his cell.

Monday afternoon, a traffic stop on a Ford F-150 for a moving violation, resulted in the arrest of 46-year old Dustyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, for OWI/2nd offense. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Talk about a false start. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and his neighbors are headed back to court in their long-running property dispute after a settlement both sides announced in February never came together. The settlement was reached hours before a trial to consider whether Ferentz and his wife would be required to remove or trim trees and other landscaping they erected in an easement.

A judge had previously ruled that the Ferentzes didn’t have to join the Saddle Club Road Homeowners Association founded by the other neighbors, or pay its $9,500 assessment for road maintenance.
Lawyers told the court last week that the parties have been unable to reach consensus on “certain material terms” needed to execute the settlement.

Judge Christopher Bruns has ordered all parties to appear for a June 1 hearing in Cedar Rapids. He says he’ll decide then whether to reset the case for trial.

Iowa’s largest auto insurer says the Hawkeye State saw a dramatic increase in hail storms last year and made the top ten list of states with the most expensive losses. State Farm reports paying out 96-million dollars in hail damage claims in Iowa last year, compared to only about 10-million the previous year. State Farm agent Drew Edmond says if you’re on the road and hear on the radio hail is coming, take immediate action. “Get to as safe of a place as you can, whether that means your own garage or just someplace that’s enclosed so you don’t have to withstand as much damage as you would driving or having your vehicle exposed to the elements,” Edmond says, “That’s the foremost thing to do when the storm is coming or when you’re in the midst of the storm.”

If you’re at home during a hail storm, he suggests quickly making a move to limit potential damage in every room with windows. “Definitely closing the drapes, closing the blinds and the shades,” Edmond says. “What this can do is reduce the blowing glass that’s broken by the hail. That’s something you can do while the storm is taking place.” While hail can hit during any time of the year, the most popular season for hail is spring. If you have roof damage after a hail storm, document it with pictures, make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, save receipts and take pictures of your repairs. When hiring a roofer, Edmond says don’t rush into a contract, don’t let yourself be pressured into signing anything and don’t pay up front.

“Get multiple estimates from roofers and don’t just go with the first roofer you see,” Edmond says. “Definitely make sure that it’s someone local that you’re going to be able to get a hold of. A lot of times, if it’s not a local person, they might leave and you’ll never be able to get a hold of them again.” When remodeling, he says to consider impact-resistant roofing to reduce hail damage. The insurer says Iowa ranked ninth among the 50 states for most hail damage in 2017. Texas, Illinois and Minnesota were the top three, with number-one Texas reporting 610-million dollars worth of losses, more than six times Iowa’s figure.

(Radio Iowa)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Le Mars man has been given two years of probation for using counterfeit cash at a Sioux City casino. Woodbury County District Court records say 27-year-old Kurt Jones pleaded guilty Tuesday to forgery. He was fined $750 and given a deferred judgment, which will allow his conviction to be removed from court records if he successfully completes the terms of his probation.

Police say Jones, Brittany Derby and Jackelen Hartsock made several cash transactions Aug. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Police say the bills were later found to be counterfeit. Derby and Hartsock also have been given probation.

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

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The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently presented a check to Justin Williams of the Atlantic Soccer Association in the amount of $1,400.00 to go towards the purchase of new goals for the league.  The goals will be used at the current complex, but once the improvements are made to the Atlantic Sports Complex, the goals and others purchased by the association, will be moved out to those playing fields.  The sport of soccer continues to grow in the Atlantic area and the organization says it is excited to see the improvements made.

The 10th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament which is scheduled for August 11th is the only fundraiser they hold each year.  The Foundation looks forwards to another great day of golf, silent auction and lunch.  Come out to see members of the Foundation, and help them raise money to donate back to the community that Trevor loved.  The Frederickson Foundation is a 501(c)3 non profit so all donations are tax deductible.