KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A southeast Iowa jury has found a former boarding school director guilty of abusing students. WGEM-TV reports on Friday jurors found Benjamin Trane guilty of intent to commit sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and child endangerment. Trane was the owner and director of Midwest Academy in Keokuk. The school was closed in January 2016 after being raided by federal, state and local officials. Earlier in the trial, Trane had at times tearfully rejected charges he sexually and physically abused children at the school.

OSKALOOSA, IA (IRN) – A plane hit a powerline north of Oskaloosa yesterday, killing the pilot. Authorities are investigating.

BOONE, IA (IRN) – A Boone meat packaging facility has been operating without a license, according to WHO-TV. A consumer complaint led to an inspection at Lambert & Ewers Smoked Meats. It was also found that the company had also been storing products at unsafe temperatures and in unsanitary conditions.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – A mom has given the ultimate gift to her daughter: the gift of life, again. Eva is just 20 months old. When she was born with kidney disease, her mom knew it would be a long road ahead, including almost 10 hours a day of dialysis for two years. When she was big enough to receive a kidney, her mom volunteered. After three weeks of recovery, the duo headed home — without the dialysis machine.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The fire that destroyed Plaza Lanes in Des Moines earlier this week was accidental in nature. The Des Moines Register reports the fire started on the north end of the building, where the restrooms were located. The loss is estimated to be $7.5 million. The building was insured, and the owners say they will rebuild.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former employee has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage resident at the Youth Emergency Services & Shelter in Des Moines. KIMT-TV reports 20-year-old Zachary Campbell, of Urbandale, is charged with sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. Shelter officials say Campbell no longer works there.

IOWA (IRN) – The recent deaths of two teenage girls sparked an investigation of Iowa’s Department of Human Services. On Friday, a report released by the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group paints a picture of overworked, under-trained employees in a department with low morale. The report blames “recent legislative changes in collective bargaining, budget cuts, workload and a culture that seems heavily compliance focused” as the reasons for problems in the agency.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A nonpartisan group that reviews Iowa’s finances has estimated a shortfall of about $37 million in the current $7.2 billion state budget. The Legislative Services Agency provided the data in a report this week. The agency adds that the next state budget, set to go into effect in July, has an expected shortfall of about $65 million.

MUSCATINE, IA (IRN) – Santa Claus paid a visit to the Muscatine City Council Chambers Thursday night, according to KWQC-TV. He interrupted the meeting grabbing presents out of his bag for Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson. Santa then attempted to give coal to the city council, but was escorted out.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa has assessed $1.5 million in penalties against the three companies that managed the state’s Medicaid program for failing to meet performance standards, according to the Des Moines Register. More than $1 million of those penalties were assessed against AmeriHealth Caritas, which recently terminated its contract with the state because it said it was losing too much money.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person has died and four children were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out at a mobile home park in Davenport overnight, according to WQAD-TV. The cause of the fire isn’t known.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Federal drug charges have been filed against five men arrested in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports a search at a hotel after a traffic stop yielded $40,000 worth of methamphetamine and $25,000 worth of marijuana. Two of the men also face firearm charges.

MARION, IA (IRN) – Police officers in Marion responded to a home Wednesday after getting a call for harassment, according to KCRG-TV. What they found instead was illegal drug activity. Six people are facing multiple charges, including two juveniles and a 61-year-old woman.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The new tax bill will likely hurt nonprofits. It’s estimated that yearly donations could drop by 16 percent to $22 billion per year, with most Americans switching to standard tax deductions. That impacts organizations who rely solely on charitable contributions. KCCI-TV reports Michelle Book, CEO of Food Bank of Iowa, says with fewer people itemizing, fewer people will be donating, and more Iowans will go hungry. Book calls the new tax law “catastrophic” for nonprofits.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It’s the end of an era at Des Moines’ Christ The King School. WHO-TV reports for nearly three decades lunchroom manager Eileen Miller has faithfully kept the students fed. As she served her last tray this week students and staff applauded. While Eileen will be hard to replace, she’s willing to share her secret–”just serve food they like and serve it with a smile.”

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.”