DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A judge says a Dubuque man is competent to stand trial on charges that he raped and killed a woman. The Telegraph Herald reports Helmon Betwell allegedly attacked 66-year-old Nancy Krapfl in 2015, as she was walking in Dubuque. A defense expert says Betwell has an intellectual disability that prevents him from understanding legal proceedings. The judge says that subnormal intelligence is just one consideration in a competency decision.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – An Ottumwa man is behind bars for beating a man up and stealing his pants. 19-year-old Marquis Bedford and a juvenile co-defendant repeatedly punched and kicked the victim in the head until they heard police sirens, when they ran after stealing the victim’s pants and wallet. Bedford late attempted to bribe a witness with a PlayStation 4 gaming console, asking her to tell authorities he wasn’t involved. He’s in jail.

SAC CITY, IA (IRN) – A 57-year-old northwest Iowa woman and her son have pled not guilty to marijuana charges. KCCI-TV reports Glenda Turnquist, of Schaller, and her son, 34-year-old Keegan Cross, were found with 80 marijuana plants, growing lamps, watering pumps, potting soil and fertilizer. Cross is also accused of using his grandfather’s credit card to buy gear for the pot operation.

WEVER, IA (IRN) – Governor Terry Branstad cut the ribbon on the new $2 billion dollar Orascom fertilizer plant in Lee County yesterday. Helping fund the construction were $107 million in state tax credits and hundreds of millions of dollars in federal tax breaks. Democrats say the project is an economic disaster that helped lead Iowa into deficit problems. The factory will eventually employ 200 workers, costing the state and federal governments $2.5 million dollars per job created.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A former spokeswoman for the Iowa Board of Regents has filed a lawsuit alleging the termination of her employment was motivated by age and gender discrimination. KCRG-TV reports Sheila Koppin says her duties were absorbed by two male employees, including one hired at a salary $24,000 higher than what she earned in her 29th year.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – The Iowa City City Council voted Tuesday night to change its open container ordinance to allow drinking beer and wine in the streets and sidewalks of downtown Iowa City during special events. It would allow patrons to move between restaurants with an open container. Downtown businesses support the change.