MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge has sentenced a Colorado man to life in prison in the death of his estranged wife nearly two decades ago. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports District Judge Mark Kruse on Thursday sentenced 58-year-old Michael Syperda, of Rifle, Colorado, to the life term for the death of Elizabeth Syperda. She was 22 when she disappeared in July 2000 in Mount Pleasant, and her body was never found. Court records say the couple had been estranged before her disappearance because she was leaving him for a woman.

Michael Syperda declined to speak before he was sentenced. He showed no emotion when the judge handed down the mandatory life sentence in the Henry County courtroom. Despite the lack of a body, murder weapon or crime scene, Kruse says he based his guilty verdict on circumstantial evidence, including threats made by Syperda.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cindy Axne, the Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 3rd District congressional seat, is calling on Rep. David Young to reject a telephone poll that includes a statement about the death of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts and misstates Axne’s position on immigration. The 15-minute poll asks voters whether the statement would affect their vote. The statement says Tibbetts’ assailant is an immigrant in the country illegally and says Axne “wants to join extreme liberals” in abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Axne says Thursday that she has never supported abolishing the agency and finds it unconscionable anyone would politicize Tibbetts’ death. A spokesman for Young says his campaign has nothing to do with the poll, has no knowledge of who is behind it and rejects politicizing Tibbetts’ death.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) A Dubuque-based company reported on Thursday, fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $2.2-million. Flexsteel Industries Inc. (FLXS) said it had net income of 28 cents per share. The furniture maker posted revenue of $113.1 million in the period. For the year, the company reported profit of $17.7 million, or $2.23 per share. Revenue was reported as $489.2 million. Flexsteel shares have decreased 17 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has declined 14 percent in the last 12 months.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies this (Friday) morning, arrested 20-year old Dustin Lee Jones, of Red Oak, for Driving While Suspended. In addition, Jones, who was taken into custody near Highway 48 and 140th Street at around 2:25-a.m., was cited for Possession of Alcohol under Legal Age.