INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Simpson College in Indianola says it will cover tuition costs of Iowa students whose families have an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less.

The Des Moines Register reports that the college announced its plan Monday, with Simpson President Jay Simmons saying in a statement, “There has been a lot of talk about making college affordable. We decided it was time to take action.”

Gary Steinke, president of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, say no other Iowa private college has such a program.

To qualify, students must be a 2018 Iowa high school graduate and state resident, submit a federal student aid application and have a 2016 adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less. They also must live on campus and pay room and board fees, which this year totaled $8,370.

Students would pay for any tuition increases.

OELWEIN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in northeast Iowa are investigating the shooting death of a zebra. KCRG-TV reports Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Wolfgram confirmed the Oct. 31 shooting of the zebra in Oelwein, but he wouldn’t comment on a claim by the animal’s owner that a neighbor was too blame. Mike Henninger says he found the 2½-year-old zebra named Taz dead from a gunshot wound. The death came after months of threatening texts, photos and videos from a neighbor, including images of him shooting a stuffed zebra.

On Saturday night, a neighbor identified by Henninger called KCRG and denied killing the zebra. Wolfgram says an investigation of the shooting is continuing.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa at half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Thursday, November 9, 2017, to honor those killed and injured in Sunday’s mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. This order is in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s order that was issued Sunday. Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

A van that collided with a cow Saturday morning in Page County caught fire, but no one was injured. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was notified about the accident near the intersection of Highway 2 and Hackberry Avenue, at around 3:15-a.m.  Officials say 56-year old Carol Anthony Colton was driving a 1999 Ford E-350 Super Duty Econoline van eastbound on Highway 2, or about 7 miles east of Shenandoah, when a black cow entered the road and was struck by the van, which ended-up on fire. Damaged to the vehicle was estimated at $8,000.00. The cow, owned by Bruce Ketcham, was valued at $2,300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother accused of leaving her four children home alone while she traveled to Europe has pleaded not guilty. Court records say Erin Macke filed a written plea last week to four counts of child endangerment and one of transferring a firearm to a person under 21. Police said the latter charge was filed because a firearm was left at home within the children’s reach. Records don’t show a trial date.

Police have said Macke, of suburban Des Moines, tried but failed to make child care arrangements for her children — two age 12, one 7, one 6 — before leaving Sept. 20 for a vacation in Germany. Police say the father of one of the children was called by his child the next day, and he called police.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two people were hospitalized after a fire at their apartment building in the Cedar Rapids suburb of Marion. The fire was reported around 6 a.m. Sunday at the three-level building. Firefighters rescued one of the two from the second floor and the other from a third-story window. Their names haven’t been released. The fire displaced 11 people from 10 apartments. The fire cause is being investigated.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say 15 people were hospitalized after breathing in carbon monoxide that had built up at a central Iowa church. Medics and police officers sent around 2:45 p.m. Sunday to the Church of God in Marshalltown found several people inside complaining of headaches and breathing difficulties.

The first responders helped people out of the church for treatment and eventual trips to a Marshalltown hospital. Eight of the victims later were taken to hospitals in Iowa City and Des Moines. Authorities say they found a gasoline-powered generator in the building basement that had been running to provide heat and lights.

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) — Grocery giant Hy-Vee is branching out from its food-selling roots to restore houses in a small southern Iowa town in an effort to attract and retain workers. The Des Moines Register reports that the grocery store chain is renovating at least four homes in Chariton. The company and its subsidiary Midwest Heritage Bank have given $250,000 to the Chariton Valley Regional Housing Trust Fund.

The company employs about 1,300 workers at a local distribution center and another 75 employees at its Chariton grocery store. City officials say the aging housing options in the town of 4,300 make it difficult to attract employees. Mike Armstrong is chairman of the trust fund board. He says volunteers are doing most of the labor on the first project to cut down on costs.

Voters in two Shelby County communities will have a Public Measure on their ballots.

In Elk Horn, voters will determine if a Capital Improvement Reserve fund and levy a tax not to exceed .67 ½ cents per thousand dollars of valuation, should be used for swimming pool maintenance and repair and construction for municipal buildings, for a period of 10-years.

And, those heading to the polls in Harlan, will determine whether or not the nine member Library Board of Trustees should be comprised of at least five (5), but no more than eight (8), adult Harlan residents who would be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The Trustees would consist of at least one, but no more than four adult residents from Shelby County who are not from Harlan, are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Shelby County Board Supervisors.

The Measure says the position of any resident Trustee shall be vacated if such member moves permanently from Harlan. Any non-resident Trustee shall be vacated if they move out of Shelby County or into Harlan (With the exception that, if at such time that a non-resident member moves from Shelby County into Harlan, that member may serve out the rest of his/her term). The position of any Trustee will be deemed vacated if a member is absent for six consecutive regular meetings of the board, with the exception of an illness or temporary absence from the Harlan. Shelby County vacancies in the Board shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, except that the new Trustee shall fill out the unexpired term for which the appointment is made.