IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa says an 18-year-old student died in a residence hall after a caller to police reported he was unresponsive and intoxicated on Saturday night. In a statement Monday, UI officials said that witnesses saw student Sean Wu of Cedar Rapids suddenly tense up “as if he was having a seizure and collapsed.”

UI police officers arrived at Daum Residence Hall at about 10:47 p.m. Saturday, three minutes after a caller reported that Wu had been drinking earlier in the evening. Wu was transported to the hospital, where he later died.

A university statement says that “losing a fellow student and member of our university family is difficult” and that students are encouraged to reach out if they need help.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa bill that would have eliminated public access to many 911 calls is dead this session. Caleb Hunter, a spokesman for the Iowa Senate’s Republican majority, confirmed Monday the legislation has been taken off the debate calendar.

The bill would’ve declared that 911 calls involving injured victims are medical records and exempt from Iowa’s open records law. All calls regarding minors also would have been confidential.

The legislation was introduced in response to the release of 911 calls to The Associated Press that exposed a string of gun accidents in Iowa. While the bill was approved unanimously in the Iowa House, opposition mounted after the AP reported on it.

Hunter says some Republicans had concerns about the bill’s impact on body cameras, since the measure included language regarding video.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A small-town Iowa newspaper editorial writer has won the Pulitzer Prize for taking on powerful agricultural organizations after a water utility sued the paper’s home county and two others over farm pollution. Art Cullen, who owns the Storm Lake Times with his brother John, says his editorials were about government transparency.

The counties sued by the Des Moines Water Works secretly received money from agricultural groups to fight the lawsuit and the 3,000-circulation twice-weekly newspaper pushed in its reporting to lift the veil of secrecy on who was paying to fight the lawsuit.

The 59-year-old Cullen says he feels vindicated the information was released and he’s proud of the Pulitzer, which recognized him for “tenacious reporting, impressive expertise and engaging writing that successfully challenged powerful corporate agricultural interests in Iowa.”

An Audubon man wanted since 2012 for Violation of Probation was arrested in Emmet County on Saturday, April 8th.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office arrested 29-year-old Randy Travis Kurth on the outstanding warrant.

Kurth plead guilty in 2011 to 2 counts of Carrying Weapons, Reckless Use of Fire, Harassment 1st Degree, and Theft 4th Degree. Charges were filed in 2012 after Kurth allegedly violated the terms of his probation.

Kurth was located in Emmet County on Saturday and transported to the Audubon County Jail and held on $6,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in district court on Monday, April 24th at 1:30pm.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republicans may order the state to foot the bill for a new family planning program that excludes funding for Planned Parenthood. Key GOP lawmakers confirmed Monday they plan to use state money to fund the estimated $3 million program, which requires Iowa to forfeit millions in federal Medicaid dollars.

Such a move would tap the Iowa Department of Human Services to pay for the program amid separate budget cuts, raising criticism from Democrats that the GOP plan is short-sighted. The move — first reported by the Bleeding Heartland blog — would stray from Gov. Terry Branstad’s original suggestion to use separate federal grant money to pay for the program that purposely excludes health clinics that provide abortions.

Republicans say despite budget cuts, defunding abortion-providing clinics remains a top priority.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, today (Monday), said six people were arrested over the past week on various warrants. 53-year old Patrick Russell Darling, of Greenfield, was arrested April 5th on an Adair County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $2,000.

28-year old Wichang Gach Chawech, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested April 2nd by the Iowa State Patrol on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court on a Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, charge. He was later released on his own recognizance.

24-year old Kayla Dawn Herring, of Chapparral, NM., was arrested in Greenfield April 5th, on a valid warrant for Probation Violation. She was later released on $2,000 bond. 21-year old Cole Aaron Molyneux, of Huxley, was arrested at the Story County Jail April 6th, on a warrant for Violation of Probation on an original Trafficking of Stolen Weapons charge. He was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail. And, 34-year old Joshua James Kimmel, of Des Moines, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol April 8th on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Malicious Prosecution. He was later released on his Own Recognizance.

The Adair County Sheriff reports also, 23-year old John James Bucklin, of  Solon, was arrested April 4th, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after the vehicle he was a passenger in was pulled over for speeding on I-80 in Adair County. The driver received a warning for speeding and was released. Bucklin was later released on $1,000 bond.

Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, has announced that grants totaling more than $114,562 were awarded to Audubon County nonprofit agencies. The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Audubon County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the ACCF Board of Directors:

Organization/Project/Award….

• Audubon Community Cinema – Rose Theater renovations; rebuild marquee, exterior façade, stage curtain $33,262.82
• Audubon County Fair Board/Audubon County Agricultural Society- Renovate Educational/Historical building on fairground $7,200.
• Audubon Recreation Foundation – Build bowling lanes at facility $40,000.
• City of Kimballton – Epoxy floor in main hall and hang sign above Town Hall entrance $10,000.
• Exira Community Cub/City of Exira – Phase 3 of Rec Center storage area, additional seating and new entrance $20,000.
• Exira Lions Club/City of Exira – Scoreboards for two baseball/softball fields, upgrade red ball dirt infield $4,000.

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services.  Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible. Audubon County agency representatives received their checks on April 10th.

The Atlantic Police Department released details Monday on multiple arrests over the past weekend.

On Saturday, April 8th officers arrested 19-year-old Nathaniel Riesberg of Atlantic for Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana) and Gathering where Marijuana is used. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

Also Saturday Officers arrested 20-year-old Shane Jenkins of Atlantic for Possession of Controlled Substance, Controlled Substance Violation, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, and Gathering where Marijuana is used. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

On Sunday, April 9th Officers arrested 37-year-old Matthew Baker of Wiota for OWI 1st Offense, Child Endangerment, Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

Also Sunday Officers arrested 23-year-old Kayla Compton of Atlantic for Child Endangerment. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say firefighters have found the body of a man inside a burning house in Sac City. The Sac City Fire Department says police officers arrived at the fire around 7:35 a.m. Monday. A woman outside the home told them her husband was still inside. Heavy smoke kept the officers from going in.

The department says firefighters entered the house when they arrived, and they found the body of 84-year-old Dale Cook. His wife, 76-year-old Barbra Cook, was taken to a hospital for treatment. The fire cause is being investigated.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Sioux City school district’s budget director has been placed on leave after raising concerns about the superintendent’s management style.
Documents obtained by the Sioux City Journal say the district placed John Chalstrom on paid administrative leave Feb. 13. The move wasn’t announced publicly.

Chalstrom had accused superintendent Paul Gausman of creating a hostile workplace and threatening his job if he shared alternative budget options with school board members outside regular board meetings.

Chalstrom brought his concerns to Dan Greenwell, a businessman and frequent critic of Gausman and his administration. Board members learned of Chalstrom’s concerns after Greenwell spoke with two leaders and emailed remaining board members.
Gausman has denied these claims.