Thousands of military service members, including nearly 100 Iowans, will be receiving millions of dollars in debt relief after becoming victims of a predatory lender. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says an agreement has been reached with Rome Finance Company. “It will provide $92 million in relief for over 17,000 service members around the country, in regard to some outrageous price gouging and interest rates that have been charged to service members over the last few years,” Miller said at a news conference Tuesday morning at his office.

The agreement, which involves 12 other states, also requires Rome Finance to forgive debts and repair the victims’ damaged credit scores.

AG Tom Miller and James Wilson

Iowa Air National Guard Staff Sergeant James Wilson, who grew up in Winterset, said he bought a computer that ended up costing $5,000 because of deceptively high interest rates. “I’m mostly angry and slightly embarrassed with myself,” Wilson said.

The agreement forces Rome Finance to forgive his outstanding balance of $2,500. Wilson said he signed up to purchase the laptop in 2010 and felt the online company appeared trustworthy. A statement on the website claimed the company was “military friendly.” The purchasing deal allowed the company to take a monthly payment directly from Wilson’s military pay.  “The gentleman I spoke with on the phone and through instant messaging, as he helped set up my allotment…he was very friendly, thanking me for my service the whole time. He just walked me through it and made it really easy,” Wilson said. “From my perspective, it was just a simple way to get a laptop.”

Active duty military members are an easy target for predatory lenders, according to Wilson, since many enlist right out of high school.  “I joined the military when I was 17 and I didn’t even have a checkbook at the time,” Wilson said. “I feel better knowing that this company isn’t able to do this to service members in the future.”

The agreement requires Rome Finance to liquidate. Miller said Rome Finance, which is based in California and Georgia, charged interest rates of up to 200 percent.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A state recreation area near Council Bluffs is scheduled to reopen soon. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the Wilson Island State Recreation Area will open its gates Monday. Workers are currently adding fire rings and picnic tables.

The park was originally scheduled to reopen more than a month ago. It was delayed by storms and flooding in June that caused damage to the area. The park has been under cleanup and restoration for several years. Its campground has been closed since it was flooded in 2011.

A Nebraska man was injured during a motorcycle accident Tuesday evening, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says 52-year old Thomas Graser, of Omaha, was flown by LifeNet helicopter from the scene of the crash on Interstate 680 eastbound to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The accident happened at around 7:30-p.m. near the 17-mile marker, or about 4-miles west of the Beebeetown Exit, as Graser was driving a 2007 Harley Davidson.

Officials say for reasons unknown, the cycle went out of control and entered the median before crashing. The accident remains under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) — Searchers have found the body of a person who may have drowned while fishing on a Union County lake. Someone called authorities Monday evening to report an empty boat on Twelve Mile Lake, about four miles east of Creston. A search resumed Tuesday morning, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 45-year-old Richard Lee Gander, of Creston, was found by a dive team about 10:20 a.m.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 17-year-old boy fell about 80 feet from a cliff at an eastern Iowa park. The Clinton Fire Department says the teen fell from a bluff Monday afternoon at Eagle Point Park. The teen was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. His condition has not been released.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Davenport man was found passed out in front of a convenience store with a stolen cheeseburger from the business in his pocket. Iowa City police say 34-year-old Eric A. Manning was arrested early Sunday near a Kum & Go store. Manning is accused of stealing the microwavable cheeseburger and two packages of cheese while he was inside the store. He later told police he drank some whiskey, but he refused a blood alcohol test.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is seeking federal aid to help 22 Iowa counties affected by recent severe weather. Funding from the public assistance program would help rebuild damaged infrastructure including roads, bridges and culverts. The severe weather between June 26 and July 7 produced damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, hail and thunderstorms.

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) — Searchers have found the body of a person who may have drowned while fishing on a Union County lake. KCCI-TV reports someone called authorities Monday evening to report an empty boat on Twelve Mile Lake, about four miles east of Creston. An investigation indicated the boat’s occupant had drowned, and crews searched the lake until nightfall.

The search resumed Tuesday morning, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office says a body was found by a dive team about 10:20 a.m. Authorities later identified the body as 45-year-old Richard Lee Gander, of Creston.

The Audubon Police Department reports the arrest last Thursday (July 24th, of 51 year old Allen Alfred Riesenberg, of Audubon. Riesenberg was taken into custody for Simple Assault, and later released on a promise to appear in court. And, on Monday, 44 year old Steven James Nellor, of Audubon, was arrested on a  charge of Public Intoxication – 3rd or more offense. Nellor was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he was held to appear before a magistrate.

The Iowa DNR reports the city of Creston discharged about 10,000 gallons of wastewater to an unnamed tributary of the Middle Platte River on Monday, July 28th. A shut-off valve failed around 2 p.m., causing an electrical shortage at a Creston wastewater lift station at Highway 34 and Industrial Parkway. The discharge to an unnamed tributary occurred when portable pumps were unable able to keep pace with the wastewater flow.

The discharge was stopped at 5:30 p.m. when a pump was obtained that could handle the flow until electrical repairs are complete. Officials say  the health risk was minimal due to high water levels in the tributary and Middle Platte River. There was no reported fish kill.

The DNR is monitoring the situation.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A memorial marker honoring a prohibitionist preacher shot to death in 1886 has a permanent home at a Sioux City museum, and volunteers are raising money for a new one. The marker for George Haddock is currently on display at the Sioux City Public Museum. The piece was excavated during construction of the new Hard Rock casino in the downtown area.

The Sioux City Journal reports the circular, metal artifact was set in 1936. It includes the date Haddock died. Cornerstone World Outreach, a Sioux City church, has raised $20,000 to help pay for a new memorial marker. The monument has not been constructed and it’s unclear where it would be placed.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Democrats trying to pick up a Republican-held congressional seat in Iowa are seizing on disclosure records about the GOP candidate that they say gives heft to their charge that he’s a Washington insider.

The records show that Republican nominee David Young raised more than $500,000 in donations for Sen. Chuck Grassley’s 2010 re-election campaign, even while Young served as Grassley’s full-time chief-of-staff. Young reported being paid $51,000 by Grassley’s campaign, receiving a 10 percent commission on the money he raised.

Young is running against former state Sen. Staci Appel for the seat representing Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from Des Moines to southwestern Iowa. The seat is being vacated by 10-term Rep. Tom Latham, a popular Republican.

Young says he’s proud of the work he did for Grassley.

A western Iowa man was injured after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a deer this (Tuesday) morning, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol says 50-year old David M. Baatz, of Pacific Junction, was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha. Baatz was traveling west on Eastman Road at around 6:40-a.m., when a deer ran out of the south ditch and onto the traveled portion of the road. The animal hit Baatz’ 2001 Kawasaki on the left side, causing the cycle to crash onto the same side.

Baatz was able to remove the cycle from the road with the help of a passing motorist.