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Iowa early News Headlines: Thursday, Feb. 15th 2018

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CTY, Iowa (AP) — Latinos in Iowa City, Iowa, faced the nation’s most significant inequality when applying for conventional home loans in 2016, with an analysis showing they were nearly four times more likely to be denied than whites. The disparity appeared to be driven by a high rate of rejections for prospective Latino borrowers reported by a single financial institution, Hills Bank. That’s according to the analysis by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting.

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Iowa say seven students in the Storm Lake School District have been arrested on criminal charges for sharing nude photos on their phones. Assistant Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole tells the Sioux City Journal that the investigation began Feb. 6, when police were called to Storm Lake High School about multiple students sending nude photographs via text messages to other students.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for making a bomb threat against a Davenport community college. Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old America Yegile Haileselassie, of Bettendorf, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to interstate communication of a bomb threat. Investigators say that on Nov. 4, 2015, papers found on a Scott Community College printer with the threat were traced back to Haileselassie’s email address.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A new trial date has been set for a Dubuque man accused of killing a woman who police say he met just hours earlier. Court records say Michael Piantieri had pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and his trial was scheduled to begin next Tuesday. The records say the new starting date is Aug. 7. Police say he killed 42-year-old Beverly Puccio, who was found dead inside her home late Dec. 3.

Gas Station/Convenience store robbed in Council Bluffs

News

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs responded at around 9:15-p.m., Wednesday, to an armed robbery at the Nomi Petro Mart, located at 3609 9th Avenue. Upon officers arrival, they determined an unknown white male came into the business with a black handgun and demanded money. The man was dressed in all black, wearing a mask, and there was a red design on the back of the jacket.

The suspect left on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. The case is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with information about the suspect is encourage d to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP.

Robinson scores 18 as Wolverines beat Hawkeyes 74-59

Sports

February 15th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Lately, Duncan Robinson has found himself pondering his legacy. Senior co-captains Robinson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman each scored 18 points to help No. 22 Michigan beat Iowa 74-59 on Wednesday night. It was a win that both young men looked at as another stepping stone toward greater achievements.

Luka Garza scored 22 points to pace the Hawkeyes (12-16, 3-12), losers of four straight. Isaiah Moss added 12 points and Tyler Cook scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The Hawkeyes came into the game second in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 80.1 points per game, but Michigan became just the third team to hold Iowa under 60 points this season. Iowa opened a quick 7-0 lead, but 12 first-half turnovers by the Hawkeyes turned the game in Michigan’s favor.

The Hawkeyes have played three straight games against ranked opponents and lost all three by a combined margin of 252-216.  Iowa is now 0-4 against ranked opponents this season. Sophomore guard Jordan Bohannon has hit 30 successive free throws, four shy of the school record set by Chris Street in 1993. Bohannon’s last missed free throw was Jan. 4 against Ohio State.

The Hawkeyes play host to Indiana on Saturday.

Police: 7 northwest Iowa teens arrested in sexting case

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Iowa say seven students in the Storm Lake School District have been arrested on criminal charges for sharing nude photos on their phones. Police have not named the juveniles, and The Associated Press doesn’t typically name juveniles charged with crimes.

Assistant Storm Lake Police Chief Chris Cole tells the Sioux City Journal that the investigation began Feb. 6, when police were called to Storm Lake High School about multiple students sending nude photographs via text messages to other students.

Authorities say six Storm Lake High School students and one Storm Lake Middle School student were arrested on suspicion of charges ranging from felony exploitation of a minor to misdemeanor dissemination of obscene material to a minor.

Police say several cellphones were seized in the investigation.

Relationship therapist offers advice for safe online dating

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A relationship therapist is reminding Iowans on this Valentine’s Day that online dating, while more popular than ever, can also be dangerous. Jennifer Gage, who works at the Cedar Rapids Relationship Center, told KCRG-TV that online dating can be a great tool for meeting people, but there’s no substitute for meeting face to face.

“Talk to the person, get to know them a little bit, but then meet in person,” Gage said. The FBI recently reported, in 2016, the agency received more than 15,000 reports linked to romance scams – with online criminals stealing more than $230 million dollars from unsuspecting victims.

“We hear all the horror stories of people who aren’t always truthful online and so by meeting in person you get to see this person in front of you,” Gage said. Dating websites can help give people confidence online that they may not have in large public settings, according to Gage.

She advises clients, when they’re meeting an online date for the first time, to take a friend and meet in a public place at a busier time. In addition, she warns people to never go to someone’s house they don’t know and they shouldn’t give that person their home address.

(KCRG via Radio Iowa)

Eastern Iowa man sentenced to 5 years for bomb threat

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for making a bomb threat against a Davenport community college. Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old America Yegile Haileselassie, of Bettendorf, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to interstate communication of a bomb threat.

Investigators say that on Nov. 4, 2015, papers found on a Scott Community College printer read: “There is a bomb at Scott Community College. It will explode at noon today.” A search found no bomb, and investigators traced the threat to Haileselassie’s email address.

Officials say Haileselassie made the threat after learning he was going to be suspended for stealing a book. Prosecutors say Haileselassie’s sentence was lengthened because he sent false anonymous tips naming someone else as responsible for the threat.

Braddyville man arrested Wed.

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A rural Braddyville man was arrested Wednesday (today) at the Page County Sheriff’s Office. 57-year old Edward Paul Swanson was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Swanson posted a $1000 cash bond and was released pending further court proceedings. Swanson was at the Sheriff’s Office on other business at the time of his arrest.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s report (2/14)

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 10-a.m. today (Wednesday), of 47-year old Shelby JoAnn Olivares, of Red Oak. The woman was arrested in the 200 block of N. 2nd Street, in Red Oak, on two warrants for Contempt of Court. Her cash bond was set at $600. And, at around 10:10-a.m. today (Wednesday), 41-year old Tommy Joe Lovell, of Red Oak, was arrested in the same area as Olivares, on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. His cash bond was set at $5,000.

GARY SYMONDS, 79, of Atlantic (Svcs. 2/24/18)

Obituaries

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

GARY SYMONDS, 79, of Atlantic, died February 13th, in Treynor. Funeral services for GARY SYMONDS will be held 2-p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24th, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family will be held one-hour prior to the service, on Saturday (from 1-until 2-p.m.)

Burial will be in the Victoria Township Cemetery in Massena.

GARY SYMONDS is survived by:

His wife – Joann Symonds, of Atlantic.

His daughters – Kelly (Jack) Hendrix, of St. Joseph, MO., & Stacy (Mike) Gray, of Omaha.

His sisters – Barb (Leland) Nelson, and Carolyn Symonds, all of Anita.

4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Iowa developer, city push for greyhound track demolition

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A developer and city officials are working to demolish an abandoned greyhound track in northeast Iowa and replace it with a business park. The Waterloo City Council voted Monday to add the Waterloo Greyhound Park to the city’s contract with Deer Creek Development. The move could allow for incentives to raze and redevelop the deteriorating structure, which has broken windows, graffiti and overgrown weeds. The track shuttered more than 20 years ago.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the developer will need to cooperate with National Cattle Congress Inc. and the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, who are in a legal dispute over the property’s ownership. Deer Creek official Mike Youngblut is hopeful the groups can reach a solution, but “an infinite number of moving parts” complicate the process.