Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Charles Grassley says farmers were “screwed” by the Trump administration’s decision to allow some refineries to not blend ethanol with gasoline as required under federal law. During a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program Friday, Grassley was asked his thoughts on 31 refinery exemptions the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued for 2018. He responded: “They screwed us.” President Donald Trump has promised farmers he would support ethanol production.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced the mastermind of the largest organic fraud scheme in U.S. history to 10 years in prison, saying he cheated thousands of customers into buying products they didn’t want. U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams says Randy Constant was responsible for a massive fraud that did “extreme and incalculable damage” to consumers and shook public confidence in the nation’s organic food industry.
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A grand jury has found no criminal wrongdoing by a Union Pacific railroad officer for the November shooting of a Mason City man. Cerro Gordo County Attorney Carlyle Dalen tells the Globe Gazette that the grand jury opted not to indict Union Pacific Special Agent Louis Miner after convening this week. State investigators say Miner stopped Nathan Lee Olson for trespassing on UP property on Nov. 29 and an altercation ensued before Miner shot Olson near a railroad crossing in Mason City.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — A grand jury has cleared a South Sioux City police officer of any criminal wrongdoing in a shootout that left the officer wounded and the suspect dead. Sioux City, Iowa, television station KCAU reports that the grand jury made the finding Friday. Investigators say Luis Quinones Rosa fired first at Officer Brian Van Berkum outside a bar, hitting the officer twice. Police say Van Berkum returned fire, fatally wounding Rosa.