DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An 88-year-old man with previous sex abuse convictions could spend the rest of his life in prison after being accused of grabbing a state mental-hospital worker between the legs. The Des Moines Register reports William Cubbage faces a Nov. 15th hearing to decide whether he’s competent to stand trial. Cubbage, who was convicted of numerous sex crimes from 1987 through 2000, is a resident of the state mental hospital at Independence. He gained notoriety after he was accused in 2011 of molesting a 95-year-old woman at a Pomeroy nursing home, where state officials placed him without notifying other residents.

As first reported by the Storm Lake Times, Cubbage could get life if convicted of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse because of his previous convictions.

CARROLL, Iowa (AP) – A newspaper investigation shows two Carroll County Sheriff’s employees used county equipment and other resources to promote and conduct gun classes from which they collected tens of thousands of dollars. The Carroll Daily Times Herald reports Deputy Tom Fransen and Administrative Assistant Shanna Balukoff have held the classes since December 2010 and charged $50 per person. Those who attend the classes get a certificate they can use to obtain a permit from the sheriff’s office to openly carry a firearm.

The county received none of the money from the classes, even though the certificates say “Sponsored by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.” State law bans public employees from using public resources for personal gain, and the state auditor’s office has begun an investigation.

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

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The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Three people were hurt during a collision Friday evening in southern Iowa’s Clarke County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 32-year old Eric Glen Wallace, of Van Wert, 25-year old Christina Lynn Chandavong and 22-year old Vincent Oscar Marks, both of Wichita, KS, were transported to a hospital. Chandavong and Marks were taken to the Clarke County Hospital, while Wallace was transported to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

The Patrol says a 2014 Ford F-150 driven by Marks was northbound on Highway 69 at around 5:45-p.m., when Marks attempted to turn west into a driveway. In the process, he turned in front of a southbound 2002 Ford Crown Victoria, driven by Wallace. The vehicles collided head-on. The pickup and car came to rest in the west ditch south of the driveway, while the pickup rolling onto the driver’s side.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past week or so. At around 12:30-a.m. Friday, 22-year old Chevy Van Sauer, of Creston, was arrested for allegedly breaking into a farm building and stealing a Polaris 500 UTV. Sauer was charged with Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Theft in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5,000. And, at around 9:40-p.m., Friday, 20-year old Cody Dean Hagle, of Orient, was arrested during a traffic stop, for Driving While Suspended. His bond was set at $300.

On Wednesday, Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 49-year old Edward Lee Avila, of Cromwell, for Interference with Judicial Acts, after allegedly leaving a threatening phone message on a judge’s voicemail. Avila was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

And, on Oct. 21st, 21-year old Jacob Davis, and 18-year old Alisha Brodsack, both of Cromwell, were arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Their arrests were the result of a traffic stop, where Davis was pulled over for having a defective headlight. During the stop, Davis was found to have a Suspended license and was placed under arrest. Upon further investigation, it was discovered both Davis and Brodsack were allegedly in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. They were brought to the Adams County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond each, pending a court appearance.

Police in Red Oak have arrested a woman wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation, and Theft in the 2nd Degree. 29-year old Barbara Jean Izer, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:15-p.m. Friday, in the 400 block of E. Oak Street. Izer was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $7,500 cash bond.

The F-B-I’s review of a new batch of emails that could be connected to its closed investigation of email sent through Hillary Clinton’s private server rippled through the presidential race Friday — just as Clinton and Donald Trump campaigned in Iowa.
“The investigation is the biggest political scandal since Watergate and it’s everybody’s hope that justice at last can be delivered,” Trump said, to cheers from a crowd last night. Trump supporters began gathering in Cedar Rapids in the late afternoon.

When Trump arrived just after 8:30 and started talking about Clinton, the crowd roared with its “Lock her up!” chant. The F-B-I discovered the emails in their new “sexting” investigation of Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton’s closest aide. In 2011, Weiner was forced to resign from congress over a previous round of sexting. “As you know, I’ve had plenty of words about the FBI lately, but I give them great credit for having the courgage to right this horrible wrong,” Trump said, to cheers. “Justice will prevail.”

Clinton spoke to the national media before she left Iowa early Friday evening. She called on the F-B-I to release “the full and complete facts immediately” and told reporters she’s “confident” the F-B-I’s conclusion this summer that no one would be charged “will not change.” Earlier in the day, Clinton addressed crowds in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines billed as “Women Win” events.

“We’ve got to keep our foot on the gas. Donald Trump says he can still win and he’s right,” Clinton said, and the crowd replied: ‘No.” Clinton continued: It’s true. You know this has been such an unusual election. I don’t take anything, any place or anyone for granted. I’m going to work as hard as I can all the way until the end,” she said, to cheers, “all the way until the close of voting.”

During her remarks in a high school gym in Des Moines, Clinton mentioned the student at the school who’s in critical condition in the hospital. “My heart goes out to Yore Jieng, the 14-year-old Roosevelt High School student who was shot in broad daylight, driving in a car with his sister,” Clinton said. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, his classmates and his community, but thoughts and prayers alone are not enough.”

Clinton repeated her call for “comprehensive background checks” for gun purchasers and other proposals she said had “broad support” from the American public.

(Radio Iowa)

A new poll finds six-term Republican Senator Chuck Grassley holding a “comfortable” double-digit lead over Democratic challenger Patty Judge. The Quinnipiac University Poll found Grassley had the support of 56 percent of those surveyed, compared to 38 percent support for Judge. That’s an 18 point lead. Sixty-percent of independent voters and 95 percent of Iowa Republicans surveyed support Grassley.

Grassley had a 33 percent advantage among male voters. He also had an edge among women, but it was narrower, at seven percent. The Quinnipiac Poll may provide a glimpse into early voting trends in Iowa. Judge holds a 15-point lead over Grassley among Iowans who’ve already voted. That suggests Democrats may hold a double-digit lead in over-all absentee balloting in the state.

The Quinnipiac Poll results announced yesterday on the presidential race in Iowa found 61 percent of the state’s early voters support Clinton, compared to 27 percent who’ve voted for Trump.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:53 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have charged a woman with election misconduct after officials reported she voted twice. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says officers charged 55-year-old Terri Rote with first-degree election misconduct Thursday after being notified by elections officials that she had submitted two absentee ballots. She was booked into the Polk County Jail and released after posting a bond. Polk County Attorney John Sarcone says it one of the few examples he’s seen of alleged voter fraud.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the driver injured earlier this month when his tanker truck burst into flames at an ethanol plant in Council Bluffs has died. John Ticer with the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office says 61-year-old Kenneth Dale Krumwiede of Walthill, Nebraska, died Sunday at an Omaha hospital.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state board has voted to pursue open records complaints against Burlington police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation over records regarding a fatal shooting. The Iowa Public Information Board voted 5-3 Thursday to reinstate charges in connection to investigative records about an officer’s accidental shooting of Burlington resident Autumn Steel in January 2015. Authorities say they properly released records as required by law.

NORWALK, Iowa (AP) — A fifth-grade teacher in central Iowa has been named the state’s teacher of the year. Education officials announced Friday that Shelly Vroegh of Lakewood Elementary School in Norwalk was selected as the 2017 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Four other teachers were named as finalists. Officials at a Friday press conference highlighted her work as a district mentor and elementary math curriculum leader.