The board that governs the three state universities is delaying a decision on tuition increases. Board of Regents president Michael Richards released a statement today (Tuesday) that the board will not do its tradition first reading of a proposed tuition increase at its meeting next week in Cedar Falls. He says the board needs additional time to consider the proper tuition increase, and that they don’t want multiple tuition increases during the year.

The Regents raised tuition two percent last December, and then had to raise it again by three percent after state budget cuts. The presidents of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Northern Iowa each recently recommended to the board’s tuition task force that tuition be raised seven percent.

The U-I and I-S-U want to keep that same increase each of the next four years, while U-N-I proposes gradually reducing the increase each year.

(Radio Iowa)

Specialists with Iowa Workforce Development have been helping the workers at the Ferrara Candy Company in Creston after the announcement last week that the plant would close later this year. I-W-D’s Elizabeth Waigand says the good news is they have some time before the more than 200 workers are out of a job.

She says Ferrara won’t be closing until December and that makes it easier than if the company would have closed immediately. “Even though it is an unfortunate situation — it does give us and our community leaders time to plan.” Waigand says another positive factor is the state unemployment rate is low and many companies have been looking for workers to fill jobs. She says Workforce Development got calls soon after the Ferrara announcement from some 40 businesses who are interested in the company’s workers.

“We know that they have skill sets that other business are eager to take these employees on. But there will be people that may want to change their careers at this time of life,” Waigand says. She says workers who want to move in a different direction can get help with training to learn new skills. Waigand says she did a quick online search and found some 664 jobs available in the eight-county area, which means there are many opportunities available.

She says that number is actually higher than the listings as one company many be looking for five positions with the one listing. While the prospect of finding a new job looks good for the Ferrara workers, she says they will still be dealing with the emotional loss of a job they may’ve had for many years.

“If I lose my job, it’s not just losing some of my income. It’s also losing friends that I worked with for 10-plus years, you’re losing the routine of getting up every day and going to my job. It’s losing what you know how to do best — so that takes time,” according to Waigand. She says Workforce Development also helps the workers cope with they psychological impact of losing their job. Waigand says it’s something they talk about in the community and remind everyone about.

“Don’t expect people just to be on their top of spirits — because it takes time,” Waigand says. “We know that we are going to support these employees and find the next career that is right for them. But, it’s going to take time to cope with this.” Waigand says they have been meeting with the employees and will continue meeting with them and others in the community to prepare them for the plant closing.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Council Bluffs, today (Tuesday), released images of a vehicle whose occupant or occupants is believed to have been involved in shooting incidents Sunday morning. The still-frame images are from surveillance video. They show a white GMC or Chevy Z71 extended cab truck. If you have seen a vehicle matching the images shown below, please contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867). Police warn you should not approach the truck or the occupants, who are considered to be armed and dangerous. (A summary of the original story about the incident follows…)

Council Bluffs Police are investigating a shots fired incident. Authorities say that at around 8-a.m. Sunday, officers responded to several 911 calls of shots being fired in the 600 block of Stutsman. A white, possibly Chevy, pickup truck was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Upon arrival officers located several vehicles and a residence that had sustained damage. No injuries were reported. The area was closed off to traffic while Council Bluffs Crime Lab processed the scene and collected evidence.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 36-year old Tanya Lynn Snyder, of Audubon, was arrested at around 11-p.m. Saturday, for Assault on a Peace Officer, and Interference with Official Acts. Snyder was arrested following an incident at the Audubon County Jail, after she was arrested by Audubon Police. Snyder was released from custody after appearing before a magistrate.

And, two people were arrested Monday night in Audubon County. 61-year old Douglas Duane Morgan, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 9-p.m. on a charge of Driving While Barred, following an incident that occurred near Leroy Street and South Park Place, in Audubon. Morgan was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $2,000 bond.

A passenger in the vehicle, 54-year old Virginia Katherine Raysbrook, also of Council Bluffs, was arrested on two Audubon County warrants. She was charged with Possession of Cocaine, following an investigation into an incident that happened in March, 2017, at a residence in Brayton. The incident remains under investigation. ‘

Raysbrook was also charged with 13 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order, stemming from an investigation into a violation that happened with an inmate at the Audubon County Jail. She was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $1,300 bond.

(12-p.m. News)