WASHINGTON, D.C. (IRN) – President Donald Trump has commuted the prison sentence of an Iowa kosher meatpacking executive who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for money laundering. Sholom Rubashkin was convicted in 2009 of financial fraud for bilking the plant’s bank by submitting fake invoices that made the company’s finances appear healthier than they were so that it could borrow more. His prosecution came after federal authorities raided the plant and arrested 389 illegal immigrants in 2008. The commutation is Trump’s first in office.
OAKLAND, IA (IRN) – The Iowa Medical Examiner says fire directly led to the deaths of a school bus driver and a teenage student outside Oakland on December 12th. The autopsy report says the deaths of 74-year-old Donnie Hendricks and 16-year-old Megan Klindt were accidental. Federal investigators say it will be months before it’s known what caused the Riverside school bus to catch fire.
WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A flagship store at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines is putting rumors to rest about its alleged departure. WHO-TV reports Von Maur officials say it has no plans of leaving the mall. Both the Gap and Baby Gap stores at the mall will soon be closed, and Younkers is at risk of closing. About a dozen of the mall’s 100 store spaces are already vacant. Retailers say online shopping is to blame.
IOWA (IRN) – Iowa’s population grew last year, but it didn’t keep pace with the country’s growth, according to the United States Census Bureau. Iowa now sits at a population of near 3,146,000 people, an increase of only about .5%. Idaho is the fastest growing state, with a 2.2% increase.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Phase one of a $250 million project north of the Des Moines River and just south of downtown Des Moines will be called Linc at Gray’s Station, according to KCCI-TV. The first two buildings to be constructed will contain 195 units. Amenities include a dog park, swimming pool, yoga studio, bike storage and plenty of space for biking and walking.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Money will be a little less tight around the holidays for two bookshop employees in Iowa City after a gift from a best-selling author. KWWL-TV reports Terry Cain, an employee at Prairie Lights, and Wendy Jones, of Iowa Book, both received a “holiday bonus” from author James Patterson. A total of $350,000 was handed out this year to employees from more than 300 bookstores. Cain and Jones were the only two from Iowa. Patterson says, “these bonuses are my humble acknowledgment of booksellers’ commitment to putting books into the hands of readers.”