Denison Car Dealer Pleas Not Guilty To Fraud Charges
DENISON, Iowa (AP) – A man who operates a vehicle dealership in western Iowa has been scheduled for trial on theft and other charges.
Crawford County District Court records say 57-year-old Robert Adams entered written pleas of not guilty Wednesday to 14 counts of theft, one of fraudulent sales practices and one of specified unlawful activity. His trial is set to begin Sept. 25 in Denison.
Customers say Adams didn’t forward to the appropriate agencies or entities money paid for title transfers and warranty contracts and protection plans. His Adams Motor Co. also is accused of selling vehicles without paying off loans still owed on them, which meant buyers couldn’t get clear title.
The Iowa Transportation Department is moving against the dealer license issued to Adams.
State Auditor To Review Medicaid
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s auditor says her office will review the state’s claims of savings under its privatized Medicaid program.
State Auditor Mary Mosiman confirmed the move in a statement Thursday night. She didn’t provide details on the scope of the review but says any findings will be released publicly.
Mosiman says the review is in response to a letter from Democratic Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque, who says the Iowa Department of Human Services has given inconsistent information about program savings since switching to a
private program.
DHS oversees the health care program for the poor and disabled, but private insurance companies provide coverage. The agency has defended reports of reduced services and officials say they’re addressing problems.
A DHS spokesman says officials are “happy” to walk through the costs with Mosiman.
Regents Approve Tuition Rate Increase
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The Board of Regents has raised base tuition 3.8 percent for University of Iowa resident undergraduate students for the coming school year.
The board also raised nonresident undergraduate tuition 2.1 percent at its Thursday meeting in Cedar Falls.
The increases in graduate tuition rates depend on the students’
programs.
Regents called the increases necessary after two years of midyear budget cuts.
Campus Security Officer Claims He Was Wrongfully Fired
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A University of Iowa campus police officer claims that he was unfairly fired days before leaving for a lengthy military deployment overseas.
Jeffrey Williams argues in a legal petition that his May 3 firing
violated a state law that gives veterans job protections in public
employment.
Williams was placed on leave April 19 during his final shift before he was leaving for a one-year deployment with the Air National Guard. Williams says his termination came after an internal affairs investigation related to his search for drugs in a residence hall.
A judge has scheduled a July 12 hearing in the case. The 30-year-old Williams says he had no prior discipline and was terminated without a hearing required by law. He’s seeking reinstatement.
The university hasn’t responded in court to his petition. A spokeswoman was looking into the reason for his termination.
Cedar Rapids Woman Charged With Intentionally Driving Car Into River
CEDAR RIVER, Iowa (AP) – A 35-year-old Cedar Rapids woman is accused of intentionally driving her car with her two children inside into the Cedar River on a chilly evening in March.
Linn County Court records say Alicia Cole is charged with two counts of child endangerment causing injury. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.
Authorities say firefighters and police were sent to Cedar Rapids’
Mohawk Park around 4:45 p.m. on March 11. They found that boaters already had helped Cole and the two children from the sinking car.
A court document says all three “were exposed to potential hypothermia and drowning.”
