Brown Talks About Proposed Bed & Breakfast Venue
(Le Mars) — Earlier this week, the Le Mars City Council approved a Mainstreet Challenge Grant in the amount of $37,500 for The Browns to construct a Bed and Breakfast venue in the upper level of the Central Avenue Events Center building,
the former Hi-Lite bar. Michaela Brown says she thought of the idea as another way to cater to people interested in listening to the Browns musical concerts.
Le Mars city officials have approved other Mainstreet Challenge Grants that have included the renovation of the American Legion Hall, the Le Mars Beauty College, and most recently the renovation of the upper level of the Claussen building to
include apartments. Brown says they hope to utilize the grant money for the installation of six suites.
Brown discusses the layout of the building.
Senate Republicans Want To Appeal Sexual Harassment Case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Senate Republicans who lost a sexual harassment and gender bias lawsuit are seeking a new trial.
The Des Moines Register reports that the two assistant attorneys general who defended the Republicans filed a motion Wednesday, saying the $2.2 million verdict may have been awarded because of an improper argument by Kirsten
Anderson’s lead attorney. Mike Carroll had urged jurors to “send a message” to Statehouse leaders, but the attorneys’ motion says Iowa law doesn’t let jurors award punitive damages.
Anderson was fired in 2012 as the caucus communications director hours after handing in a memo detailing rampant sexual harassment in the caucus office. Jurors ruled July 18 that she’d suffered emotional distress and damages in the workplace.
Carroll said Thursday that he didn’t agree with the arguments.
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Des Moines City Officials Submits Proposal For Federal Court Location
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines officials have devised a plan to keep the proposed federal courthouse replacement from being built at the old YMCA site downtown, preserving the property for private development.
The City Council’s scheduled to vote Monday on an agreement that would require Des Moines to buy the land from Hubbell Realty Co. for $5.2 million if Hubbell doesn’t develop the land by May 31 next year. Hubbell would withdraw the
property from consideration for the courthouse in return.
The federal government’s selection of the YMCA site was a setback for city officials, who want the courthouse built in the Market District, which is transforming from an industrial area into a district of apartment buildings, restaurants and shops.
Courthouse construction is set to begin in 2019.
Des Moines Has New Born Baby Under Safe Haven Law
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say another newborn has been turned over to state custody under Iowa’s safe haven law.
The Iowa Human Services Department said in a news release Friday the child was born July 25 and released to state custody. The department didn’t say where the birth took place.
The department says it’s the 29th time the law has been used to protect the welfare of an infant since the law was approved following a 2001 case in which a teenage mother in eastern Iowa killed her home-delivered newborn.
The law lets parents hand over custody of babies up to 14 days old without fear of prosecution.
Clinton County Courthouse To Close Due To Structure Concerns
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa courthouse will be closed for the next two weeks because of a structural problem.
Clinton County maintenance crew found a collapsed support beam in the courthouse’s basement Thursday.
A preliminary inspection found that the beam failed because of normal wear and tear.
County spokesman Eric Van Lancker says the inspection found other beams that need to be addressed. He says engineers will shore up the beams during the building’s closure in order to make the building safe enough to occupy.
Van Lancker says more permanent work will need to be done afterward. He says engineers will create a plan to fix the building’s support using columns of bricks.
Court functions and the clerk of courts office will temporarily relocate to the county administration building.
