Iowa is part of a federal and state settlement with H-S-B-C Bank over alleged issues with mortgage settlements. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller’s spokesman, Geoff Greenwood, says Iowans will see some of the 470 million dollar settlement. “Over the years, H-S-B-C we alleged had engaged in mortgage servicing abuse. This is the same type of thing we had seen throughout the industry over the years of lost documents, incorrect information that’s on documents, foreclosures that really shouldn’t have happened,” Greenwood says.

H-S-B-C has agreed to make changes in how they operate. “This settlement requires them to go through new servicing standards. They have to up their game when it comes to wanting to foreclose on a borrower,” Greenwood says. “We are trying to make sure that when they file documents, that the documents are accurate, that they have done everything they can to avoid a foreclosure, and make it a fair playing field for the borrower.”

He says some 600 Iowans could be getting part of the settlement. “Those borrowers are going to get contacted by a settlement administrator sometime later this year — they’ll have to submit some paperwork — and they’ll be eligible for a payment,” Greenwood explains. The amount each Iowan will get in the settlement depends on how many borrowers file. It covers those who lost their home to foreclosure from January 1st, 2008 through December 31st, 2012.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa police have confirmed that a research goat has been captured after being on the loose for over a week. Dispatchers confirmed “William the Goat” had been captured but could not provide any details. The police department posted a statement saying the goat was back in a pen at the University Research Park. The male goat escaped on Jan. 29 while being transferred from a portable carrier to a vehicle.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A Knoxville house fire killed a 77-year-old woman and injured her husband. Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt says around 11 p.m. Sunday dispatchers received a call about a Knoxville house engulfed in flames with a woman inside. Emergency responders took Patricia Henning to a nearby hospital, where she later died. Her husband, 79-year-old Ronald Henning, was injured and taken to a burn unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Utilities Board is meeting to consider whether to approve a hazardous liquid pipeline permit for an oil pipeline that will stretch 346 miles across the state diagonally from the northwest to the southeast. Texas-based Dakota Access is building the so-called Bakken pipeline to carry a half-million barrels of oil per day from North Dakota to Illinois crossing Iowa and South Dakota. Iowa is the only state that hasn’t yet approved a permit.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man charged in Iowa with killing his wife will stand trial in September. Twenty-eight-year-old Rogelio Morales, of Hubbard, Nebraska, will stand trial for first-degree murder Sept. 20 in Woodbury County District Court. Morales is accused of killing 21-year-old Margarita Morales, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, on April 19 near a Sioux City residence.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five people have been arrested on drug charges. On February 2nd, deputies arrested 32-year old Mickie Gene Weppner, of Plattsmouth, NE, on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine and Ongoing Criminal Conduct, an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Prohibited Acts, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Weppner was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $52,000 bond.

Last Friday, as the result of a traffic stop, Cass County Deputies arrested 29-year old Melaney Lynn White, of Council Bluffs, on two counts  of Possession of Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 29-year old Samuel Lavern Huffman, of Anita, was on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both subjects were taken to the Cass County Jail. White was released the following day on her own recognizance; Huffman was released on $2,000 bond.

Also arrested last Friday, was 54-year old Henry Herman Miller, Jr., of Atlantic, on a felony charge of Sponsoring a Gathering, and misdemeanor charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Miller was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. On Sunday, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year old Angel Nicole Knowles, of Elk Horn, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and on an Audubon County warrant. Knowles was also cited with Minor in Possession of Alcohol. Knowles was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day.

Last Saturday, deputies in Cass County arrested 38-year old Eric Allen Smith, of Council Bluffs on a felony OWI 3rd Offense charge. Smith was also charged by the Atlantic Police Department with two counts of Assault. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $3,000 bond.

Deputies in Cass County last Friday, arrested Selena Marie Hansen on two Cass County District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Hansen was also charged with Interference with Official Acts, Driving Under Suspension and various traffic citations stemming from an attempted traffic stop on January 13th, 2016. Hansen was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $7,400 bond. Also arrested Friday, was 29-year old Nicole Amaris Bittner, of Avoca, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Bittner was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $2,000 bond.

And, on Thursday, February 4th, 31-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, turned himself in at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Violation of a Protective Order. Mardesen was booked and released on his own recognizance.

The Atlantic Police Department reports four arrests took place Saturday. 24-year old Mark Fredericksen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for allegedly violating the terms of his probation, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. 52-year old Robert Keithley, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for OWI/1st offense. 29-year old Tony Mack, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault, and, 38-year old Eric Smith, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday for Simple Assault, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

All four men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An event in Des Moines about increasing skilled labor in Iowa has been scheduled for April. The Future Ready Iowa Summit is aimed at closing the state’s so-called skills gap in the workforce. The all-day event on April 19 at Hy-Vee Hall is expected to include participation from business leaders, educators and students.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called for Iowa to increase opportunities for education and training beyond high school. He announced an initiative last year that seeks to have 70 percent of Iowans with that extra education and training by 2025.

Specifics about how much such an initiative would cost have been vague. Branstad said during a Monday press conference that the summit will be funded through grant money, private donations and a small registration fee.