United Group Insurance

Transamerica to refund $97.6M to investors who were misled

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Transamerica and several related entities have agreed to repay $97.6 million to investors who were misled as part of a settlement with regulators. The Securities and Exchange Commission says investors were misled about the quantitative models that were used to manage their investments. Transamerica didn’t admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

The SEC said the investment models used contained numerous errors and didn’t function as promised. Investors had been promised proven models developed by Aegon USA Investment Management.

Investigators say Transamerica and Aegon stopped using the faulty models after the errors were found without telling investors. The settlement money will be paid to affected investors.

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska planning casino despite lawsuit

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Native American tribe is still planning to open a casino on the Iowa-Nebraska border despite a pending legal challenge from both states. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska announced Monday that the newly named Prairie Flower Casino will open in late October on tribal land in Carter Lake, Iowa.

The project’s first phase will include 9,500 square feet of space, 200 slot-style games and a full-service bar and snack bar. Officials from Iowa state government and Council Bluffs are suing federal officials who approved the project in hopes of stopping the casino. They say the new casino would compete with state-licensed casinos in Council Bluffs that generate millions of dollars taxes and charitable contributions.

Nebraska joined the lawsuit because Carter Lake directly borders the state. Nebraska’s constitution bans casino gambling.

Civil rights groups push Iowa law banning racial profiling

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August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights organizations in Iowa are appealing to the Iowa Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds to ban racial profiling after two young black men filed a lawsuit against Des Moines police for a traffic stop they say was unconstitutional.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) says 30 states have laws prohibiting racial profiling, but Iowa doesn’t. The group and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa say they plan to push next year a bill introduced this year in the Iowa Senate that would prohibit racial profiling. They’ve asked Gov. Kim Reynolds to create a racial profiling study committee, something a spokeswoman for Reynolds says is under consideration.

The police video of the July traffic stop of 23-year-old Montray Little and 21- year-old Jared Clinton has been viewed millions of times online. It shows Little being handcuffed and his car searched for no apparent reason. Their lawsuit alleges numerous civil rights violations.

Gov. Reynolds announces members of new Work-Based Learning Advisory Board

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Monday) announced the members of the new Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning Advisory Board. The governor established the virtual clearinghouse by Executive Order No. 1 to expand high-quality, real-world work-based learning experiences for K-12 students. This is in keeping with the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training by 2025. The clearinghouse will go live by July 1, 2019. The Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning is a joint venture of the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEA) Learning Online. In addition to facilitating K-12 school-business partnerships, the clearinghouse will assemble an inventory of established and newly created work-based learning options for K-12 students as well as for students in post-secondary education and training programs.

Iowa Education Director Ryan Wise and Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend will lead the clearinghouse advisory board, which includes representatives of business and industry, education, nonprofits, elected leaders and students. Fareway Stores, Inc. is the first business to partner with the state on the clearinghouse. Iowa already has a number of successful work-based learning options to expand upon. That includes the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s STEM BEST program, with 37 projects involving 39 schools or school districts and more than 360 employers with face-to-face school-business partnerships. It also includes the Statewide Work-Based Learning Intermediary Network operated by Iowa’s 15 community colleges to provide a range of options from job shadowing to internships.

The 2018 Legislature approved Gov. Reynolds’ $250,000 budget recommendation for the clearinghouse as part of the Future Ready Iowa Initiative. A list of the Advisory Board members can be found here: https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/Clearinghouse%20Board%20Members.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Mills County Sheriff’s report (8/27)

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) reports five arrests. 20-year old Jerred Douglas Weidner, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and striking fixtures upon a highway, following an accident Saturday evening at 195th Street and Highway 34. Authorities say Weidner was driving a 2018 Nissan Altima that was reported to be erratic and hit a sign. Weidner continued north on 195th and was located by Deputies at 195th and Allis Road. The vehicle had damage to its windshield and roof.  Bond for Weidner was set at $3,000.

Also, arrested Saturday, was 21-year old Dylan Seth Harris, of Malvern, who was charged with OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 25-year old Joshua Blake Andersen, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Bond $1,000). Friday afternoon, 27-year old Jamiee Rina Miner, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Revoked and Failure to Provide Proof of Liability (Insurance). Bond was set at $1,000.

And finally, 23-year old Brandon James Worcester, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday night for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Concealed Weapon. His bond was set at $3,000.

Slain student’s father thanks Hispanic community

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The father of slain Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts has thanked the Hispanic community for its support during the long search for his daughter. A Mexican farmworker suspected of being in the U.S. illegally has been charged in Tibbetts’ death. Speaking Sunday at a ceremony for his daughter, Rob Tibbetts didn’t directly address comments by President Donald Trump and others who seized upon the suspect’s citizenship to argue for changes in U.S. immigration laws.

However, The Des Moines Register reports Tibbetts said that in the weeks he was searching for his daughter, he encountered Hispanics in Brooklyn, Iowa, who were sensitive and kind. He says members of the Hispanic community have “the same values as Iowans,” and that he considers them “Iowans with better food.”

Single vehicle accident in Page County

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A woman was flown from the scene of a single-vehicle accident Saturday evening, in Page County. Authorities were notified of the accident that occurred about two-miles south of Coin, at around 5:40-p.m. The investigation showed that 42-year old Kimberly Ann Smith, of Shenandoah, was driving a 1997 Ford Taurus eastbound on 290th, when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control on the gravel road and entered the south ditch. The car rolled over and came to rest on its top.

Smith said the last time she remembered was at 2:00 PM. Smith was the only occupant in the vehicle and the driver according to her. She sufferedinjuries and was taken by LifeNet Helicopter from the scene to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, for treatment of undisclosed injuries. No charges have been filed at this time. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Shenandoah Ambulance service, Coin Fire & Rescue, and LifeNet Ambulance service.

Search warrant leads to arrest of a man in Coin

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that a search warrant executed late Sunday night by Page County Deputies at 409 Lincoln Street in Coin, resulted in the arrest of a man on drug charges. The search warrant and charges were part of an ongoing investigation into illegal substances. 44-year old Jason Ludwig Reents, of Coin, was arrested on charges of Tax payment required for possession (class D felony), Possession of drug paraphernalia (a simple misdemeanor), Manufacturing of a controlled substance (marijuana) (class D felony), Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) (a serious misdemeanor), and Unlawful possession of prescription drug or device (a serious misdemeanor). Reents was transported to the Page County Jail where he was held on $12,300.00 bond pending appearance in front of a Magistrate Judge

Council Bluffs man charged after young son shoots himself

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The father of a young boy who shot himself while staying at a suburban Des Moines hotel is now charged with child endangerment causing bodily injury. The felony charge against 29-year-old Jonathan Hauser of Council Bluffs resulted from the August 19th shooting at the Sterling Inn hotel in Clive. Police say Hauser’s two-year-old son found a loaded gun in a suitcase and picked it up and pulled the trigger. The child was shot through the chest and neck, but police say he survived as was released from the hospital. Hauser was booked and released on a promise to appear in court again on September 4th.

Ringgold County man arrested on drug charge in Montgomery County

News

August 27th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a man from Ringgold County was arrested Sunday night, on a drug charge. 25-year old Mark Donald Cooley, of Mt. Ayr, was arrested at around 9:15-p.m. and charged with possession of marijuana. Cooley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.