DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say flash flooding is occurring across several counties in northeast Iowa, thanks to heavy rains. The National Weather Service said Thursday that 1 to 2 inches an hour have fallen in spots, and more thunderstorms are expected to produce another 1 to 2 inches. The same storms also may also be capable of producing hail and strong winds.

The service says water is covering some streets in Hawkeye and says there’s water over the pavement on U.S. Highway 18 west of Hawkeye. The service also says at least three tornadoes were reported Wednesday evening in parts of southern Floyd County and northern Butler County. Two machine sheds were destroyed southeast of Marble Rock, and trees were knocked down in several areas. It’s unclear whether the storms caused any injuries.

A survey conducted last year at the University of Iowa shows 1 in 5 female students said they were raped. UI Sexual Response Coordinator Monique DiCarlo says freshmen are most vulnerable as 11-percent reported they were raped in their first semester on campus. “It’s the first time they’re away from home in a significant way and they’re establishing intimate relationships for the first time,” DiCarlo said.

The results of the sexual assault survey were presented at a news conference Wednesday on the Iowa City campus. DiCarlo said the UI’s response plan involves adding staff, but also extensive education and student involvement. “The reason we’re doing that is our climate data suggests students are most likely to tell their peers about an incident and so we want to make sure that students are prepared to hear their peers’ disclosure and they know an effective way to respond,” DiCarlo said.

The plan also involves expanding resources for people accused of sexual misconduct. Nearly 2,700 students responded to the “Speak Out Iowa” survey conducted last year. DiCarlo noted the response rate to the survey was only 9.3 percent and three-fourths of the respondents were women.

(Radio Iowa)

Two-hundred-50 workers in Dubuque were notified Wednesday that the furniture plant where they work is closing. December of NEXT year is the target date for closing the Flexsteel plant in Dubuque. Flexsteel executives say the plant dates back to 1897 and is “inefficient for manufacturing and costly to maintain.” Flexsteel’s corporate headquarters is in Dubuque.

Flexsteel’s president says the company hopes to find a new facility in the Dubuque area, but must ensure its manufacturing operations are competitive. Flexsteel plans to invest 25-million dollars in manufacturing infrastructure over the next two years.

Flexsteel’s roots date back to the 1800s in Minnesota. In 1936, the company moved to Dubuque. Eight years ago Flexsteel closed plants in Pennsylvania and Indiana. Flexsteel operates facilities in seven other states as well as China, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A third top official of Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign has been sentenced to three months in prison for conspiring to cover up campaign payments to a former Iowa state senator. Deputy campaign manager Dimitri Kesari was convicted of conspiracy and three charges related to false campaign reporting, the same charges for which a jury convicted the campaign’s chairman Jesse Benton and its manager John Tate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A special election has been scheduled to fill the District 45 seat left open by the recent death of Iowa Democratic Sen. Joe Seng. Gov. Terry Branstad says Wednesday a special election will be held Dec. 27 to select a senator to represent the eastern Iowa district that includes Davenport. Branstad says he wanted to hold the special election on Nov. 8 but Roxanna Moritz, the county auditor who will oversee the special election, says that early date would have complicated ballot printing.

VINTON, Iowa (AP) — A Benton County jury has found David Miller guilty of a lesser offense in the death of his girlfriend, whose body was found beside a stolen truck in Miller’s driveway last year. Miller was convicted Wednesday of voluntary manslaughter in the Oct. 25 death of 25-year-old Sabrina Janish, of Shellsburg. Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction. Miller was also convicted of two counts second-degree theft. He will be sentenced at a later date.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State University Research Park is facing a major financial loss after a once-promising tenant was allowed to fall behind on rent for years before going bankrupt. The Ames business hub says it’s likely the single biggest creditor of Etrema Products and is owed roughly $480,000 in uncollected rent.