DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Projections for Iowa’s budget are down again, and could force spending cuts when lawmakers return in January. The $7.2 billion budget in effect since July is down by about $130 million. Iowa’s economy is growing more slowly than expected. Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for poor budget priorities.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is taking the US Secretary of Education to court and accusing her of breaking the law and putting American students at risk for fraud. Attorney General Tom Miller announced Iowa is joining other states in a lawsuit against the US Department of Education and Secretary DeVos. Miller says the DOE is illegally ignoring the “gainful employment rule” that is meant to stop for-profit schools from defrauding students. The rule requires a college to prove that it is actually training students.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are investigating a drive-by shooting in which witnesses say they heard 10-15 shots fired. KCCI-TV reports a bullet pierced the front window of a home, and witnesses say the gunfire was rapid fire. The gunman is still at large, and it’s unclear if anyone was injured.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Three Des Moines police officers will not face charges for fatally shooting an armed woman earlier this year. WHO-TV reports a grand jury decided Tuesday that the officers were justified in shooting Tiffany Potter. Potter stopped her car when the three officers started to follow her. She then ran and fired a gunshot before an officer fired back.
DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man has admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud people throughout the U.S., primarily the elderly. KCRG-TV reports 33-year-old Tobey Hines pled guilty Thursday to wire fraud. Hines would call a person on the phone, falsely telling that person a relative was in jail. The caller then asked the person to wire money for bail to get the relative released. The scheme netted over $225,000 for the group, and jail time.
DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – Halloween parade-goers in Dubuque may notice something is missing this year – the candy. WQAD-TV reports city leaders, police, and YMCA organizers made the decision that throwing or handing out candy would not be allowed this year due to safety concerns. Police say they’ve seen kids run out in the street to gather candy, almost being hit by floats or cars.