LAKE MILLS, IA (IRN) – A Lake Mills man has been ordered to pay restitution and stop deceptive sales of unregistered securities. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart has ordered Randall A. Finer to stop all sales of securities and to pay restitution in an amount over $614,000 plus interest. Finer allegedly solicited funds from 24 investors, “guaranteeing” a return of 20% or more on day trading. Finer is not licensed to sell securities or act as an investment adviser.
WATERLOO (IRN) – Six Waterloo men and one Cedar Falls woman were charged in federal court with various gun charges. KWWL-TV reports that most charges relate to felons in possession, as well as drug charges. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
DES MOINES (IRN) – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in April from 4 percent in March. Iowa Workforce Development reports that the state’s jobless rate was 4.4 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent in April, well above Iowa’s rate. A total of 23,000 more Iowans are working now than a year ago.
DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A 19-year-old faces six felony charges, including two counts of reckless homicide, for allegedly driving while intoxicated and causing a head-on crash that killed his passenger. The Dubuque Tribune Herald reports that Cody J. Berry was driving east on Julien Dubuque Bridge at about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 17 when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a westbound semi-tractor trailer head-on. Berry’s passenger, Gavin J. Gremmel, 18, of Dubuque, was killed in the crash.
DES MOINES (IRN) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture is responding to two probable cases of the avian flu in Adair and Webster counties. The Adair County case is a commercial laying operation with an estimated 975,000 birds, while the Webster County facility is a commercial laying operation with an estimated 160,000 birds. With the new announcements, Iowa now has 66 cases of the disease in the state.
WASHINGTON, DC (IRN) – The USDA reports that 96% of the Iowa corn crop has been planted, three days ahead of the five year average. Soybean planting has reached 70%. Wet conditions delayed planting last week, with only 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork statewide. Cattle producers have concerns about muddy feedlots while crop farmers are experiencing spraying delays. Farmers are also evaluating the need to replant corn in low-lying areas.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Board of Regents is considering increasing efforts to prevent sexual assault on campus. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the proposed Campus Safety and Security Subcommittee, which would meet at least twice a year, would review campus safety and security reports and issues at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.
OMAHA, Neb. (IRN) – Students at schools in Nebraska and Iowa are joining others around the nation in planting milkweed plants to help attract monarch butterflies. The Omaha World-Herald reports that students at St. Margaret Mary School in Omaha and St. Albert School in Council Bluffs are involved in the effort. The two schools were among 10 Catholic schools in the Midwest that received grants to start butterfly-friendly gardens.