IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – An Iowa City business owner is accused of assaulting and sexually abusing an employee last month. KCRG-TV reports 49-year-old Donald E. Born, of Solon, owner of Iowa Business Supply, allegedly grabbed the woman by the back of her head and smashed her face into her desk multiple times and then punched her in the face at least four times, before sexually assaulting her. Born faces multiple felony charges.
STORY COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The National Association of Counties has recognized Story County with one of its annual Achievement Awards for the county’s strategic planning program. The county is being recognized for their plan that set the groundwork for programs and initiatives including a bridge maintenance plan, equipment replacement plan, and the consolidation of county assessments, among other accomplishments.
DES MOINES (IRN) – A second longtime patient has died shortly after being transferred out of the state mental hospital at Clarinda, according to the Des Moines Register. The Clarinda facility was closed last month as part of a controversial move by Gov. Terry Branstad. Critics have accused Branstad of moving too quickly to shift care of the patients, including fragile, elderly Iowans who were in the geriatric psychiatry program at Clarinda.
DES MOINES (IRN) – A Pleasant Hill man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison on federal child pornography charges. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa sentenced Corey Lee Steffen, 37, Monday. Steffen was caught in 2012 at the Pleasant Hill Public Library using its internet connection to collect and distribute child pornography on his laptop computer.
HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – Lawmakers are calling for a special legislative session after Governor Terry Branstad vetoed $55 million in funds for Iowa schools. KWWL-TV reports Democratic lawmakers from Linn County and supporters gathered Monday night at Hiawatha Elementary School. They want Republicans to join them in overriding the veto. Support from 2/3 of the legislature is necessary.
OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – An Oskaloosa company is lighting up the Statue of Liberty, according to KCCI-TV. Musco Lighting has lit up Mount Rushmore, Ground Zero, the White House and many sports venues. New LED lights worth hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by the company will debut at dusk tonight on Liberty Island.
JOHNSTON, IA (IRN) – The National Weather Service reports that smoke from Canadian wildfires descended to ground level over much of northwest Iowa Monday evening. They advise that anyone with breathing difficulties as well as the very young and elderly avoid going outside until the smoke clears.
CEDAR RAPIDS (IRN) – The trial is scheduled to begin today for the Midamar Corp. founder accused of orchestrating a halal beef export scheme in which products bound for Malaysia and Indonesia were mislabeled and documents falsified to deceive USDA inspectors. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports William Aossey, 73, of Cedar Rapids faces multiple charges of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. Halal beef is beef butchered according to Islamic law.