The largest for-profit college in the country is closing immediately, but it’s not clear how many Iowa students may be affected. I-T-T Technical Institutes offered courses on-line and has operated attendance centers in the Des Moines suburb of Clive and Cedar Rapids, but the Cedar Rapids campus was closed and the Clive campus already had been targeted for closure.

I-T-T lost its accreditation and is under investigation for fraud. The U.S. Department of Education in August announced the school could not enroll students who were depending on federal financial aid. Federal grants and loans were I-T-T’s main source of revenue. Attorneys general from 20 states — including Iowa — have been investigating complaints against the school.

More than 40-thousand students had enrolled in I-T-T courses for the quarter that started this month. It’s unclear how those students can transfer credits to other schools or even if that’s possible.

I-T-T offered courses in business, information technology, nursing and health sciences. Federal officials say students who were defrauded by the school can apply for loan discharges.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) granted permission for a Bible Reading Marathon to take place on the courthouse block grounds, Sept. 19th through the 25th. Their action followed an explanation of the event from Sheryl Ieckel, of Atlantic. She said after a similar event was spearheaded at the State Capital in January, Governor Terry Branstad on April 26th, signed a proclamation that encouraged all Iowans to participate in the historic 99 county marathon.

In his proclamation, Branstad also encouraged “Individuals and families in Iowa to read through the Bible on a daily basis each year until the Lord comes.”  50 counties were able to hold bible reading session during the intended time frame for the event from June 30th through July 3^rd.  Ieckle says the remaining counties are being asked to hold their reading session this month. She says the event in Cass County is planned for Sept. 19^th through the 25^th, from 7-a.m. to 7-p.m.

People will gather on the east lawn of the courthouse and read in 15-minute blocks for the 80 or so hours it will take to read the bible from cover to cover. Cass County Supervisor Chuck Rieken said he was not opposed to having the event held on the courthouse grounds, since it will not interfere with parking or access to the courthouse, but he warned it would mean other groups in the future, cannot be excluded in making similar requests.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom from Religion Foundation raised constitutional concerns over the proclamation, arguing the government should be “neutral” toward religion. The “First Liberty Institute” has said it will defend Branstad if he is sued over the matter.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors, per Iowa Code, passed a resolution abating the taxes on parcels of land owned by the City of Atlantic. And, they accepted the termination of lease agreements for County-owned crop and pasture ground, but rejected requests by the current tenants to have their three-year leases renewed beginning next Spring, at a lower rate.

The Board, in years past, has put County-owned land up for bid, and they will do so again next Spring, because they didn’t want to go against the practice they had already established.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 27-year old Caleb Benjamin Frederickson, of Lorimor, was arrested Tuesday evening at his home. Frederickson was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. He was being held at the jail in Creston, on $50,000 bond.

A man and a woman from Creston were arrested on drug charges, Tuesday. Creston Police report 22-year old Jami Michael and 26-year old Benjamin Rafter were taken into custody just before 9-p.m. Tuesday, on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Michael was being held in the Ringgold County Jail, while Rafter was held in the Union County Jail. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.

And, early this (Wednesday) morning, 57-year old Martin D. Kelly was arrested at 302 N. Pine Street in Creston, for Possession of Meth with the Intent to sell or manufacture under 5 grams. His bond was set at $50,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has decided to let an attorney who took more than $99,000 from a client resume practicing law. The Des Moines Register reports the justices ruled unanimously to reinstate Michael Reilly’s law license. The court ruling released Friday said Reilly had worked hard to overcome a gambling addiction that led to the theft. Several western Iowa lawyers had written letters vouching for his character.

Reilly lost his license in 2006, after authorities learned that Reilly had taken settlement money given a family he’d represented in a lawsuit over an injury to a young boy. Before he can practice law again, Reilly will have to finish 30 hours of continuing legal education and pass an ethics exam.

A teenager was injured during a single-vehicle accident Tuesday morning, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 14-year old Destiny Elizabeth Bryne, of Lewis, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by private vehicle following the accident that happened at around 8:45-a.m. on Park Road, about one-half mile west of the Lewis Road.

Officials say a 2002 Pontiac driven by Byrne, was westbound on Park Road when she lost control of the car, which rolled into the north ditch. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $5,000. The accident remains under investigation.

(9-a.m. News)

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As we come upon the 15-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation, the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency and others  recognize September as National Preparedness Month. Disasters can and will happen, it’s a matter of when and where they strike next. Being prepared not only lessens the risk for severe injuries or loss of property, but makes you a better Iowan for acknowledging those risks and being prepared for any type of emergency.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman says there are several simple steps that can ensure that you, your family and your place of business are prepared. Those steps include making an emergency plan, building an emergency kit and being aware of the hazards in your area that could impact you.

For more preparedness tips, visit www.beready.iowa.gov  Preparedness information will also be posted throughout the month on the Montgomery County EMA Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/MontgomeryEMA

For more information on Preparedness Month sponsors, visit:
Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov
Iowa Emergency Management Association, www.iowaema.com
Safeguard Iowa Partnership, www.safeguardiowa.org
National Weather Service Des Moines, www.weather.gov/dmx

Governor Terry Branstad leaves today (Wednesday) for a two-day trip to Atlanta. It’s another business prospecting venture for the governor. “The companies we call on, on these trips, are confidential,” Branstad says. Branstad is revealing “most” of the Atlanta-based companies he’ll visit already have operations in Iowa, so he’ll be talking with “decision-makers” about expanding in Iowa.

“I think these calls are important,” Branstad says, “and I’ve done this throughout my tenure as governor and they’ve led to some good things happening.” About five million people live in the Atlanta metro. The typical commute for the average Atlanta worker is 13 miles — the longest in the country. A recent Texas A-and-M study found Atlanta drivers spend 52 HOURS every year, stuck in rush hour traffic.

“One of the benefits we do have in Iowa is a very short commute time and we don’t have the congestion and the cost of living that are true in a lot of other places in the country,” Branstad says. According to the U.S. Census Burea, the longest commute times in Iowa are in rural areas.

The average Guthrie County worker spends 27 minutes on the drive to work. Workers in Iowa’s largest county — Polk County — have an average commute time of 19 minutes. Forty-seven of Iowa’s 99 counties have a longer commute time than Polk County.

(Radio Iowa)