AMES – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned an indictment charging an Ames man several crimes against children. According to the indictment, Carl Dale Markley faces fifteen counts of sex trafficking by fraud and coercion, one count of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography. He’s accused of attempting to use fraud and coercion to cause fourteen victims to engage in commercial sex acts between 2004 to April 2023. Each of the sex trafficking charges carries a 15-year mandatory minimum prison term, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

AMES – The Iowa Board of Regents have approved a request for additional funds related to the CyTown project next to Jack Trice Stadium. WHO-13 reports they approved Iowa State University’s request for $9.2 million to finish the first phase. The project’s budget is now $37.7 million and the additional funding would come from a variety of sources at ISU, including donors and the athletic department.

IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.2 percent in October, up from 3.1 percent a year ago. The state’s labor force participation rate decreased from 68.6 percent to 68.4 percent, but remains 0.3 percent higher than one year ago. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in October, and the national labor force participation rate fell to 62.7 percent. The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 56,000 in October from 52,800 in September.