Neunaber Ruling May Not Be Delivered Until January
(Le Mars) — It will likely be next year before a judge rules on the case of an Akron, Iowa man charged in the death of his mother. Judge Steven Andreasen has given attorney until December 31st to file additional briefs regarding the case of Jonathan Neunaber. A closed hearing to determine Neunaber’s mental competency was held last Friday. Any new briefs and exhibits filed related to the case hearing will be confidential and available only to the judge and the attorneys. Neunaber has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his mother, 80 year old Esther Neunaber. Her body was found last July with the body of her husband Donald Neunaber. The coroner ruled she was beaten to death, and he had died of natural causes. Neunaber remains in custody in the Plymouth County jail.
DNR Officials Investigate Diesel Fuel Spill In Storm Lake
STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials are investigating a diesel fuel spill in Storm Lake that has reached the Poor Farm Creek, a tributary of the Raccoon River.
Authorities say they do not know how much fuel spilled from the One Stop Shop convenience store in Storm Lake.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the spill was discovered Tuesday, but likely occurred Monday evening.
The source of the spill is under investigation. The department said in a statement that it believes the spill came from the overfilling of a vehicle.
Regents President Says University Of Iowa Should Have Gotten Bids For Consulting Work
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The president of the University of Iowa’s governing board says the school shouldn’t have awarded contracts to a prominent Republican Party consultant without competition.
Bruce Rastetter told Iowa Public Radio on Tuesday that he was unaware of the school’s no-bid contracts with Matt Strawn until he read an Associated Press story about them. He says Strawn is capable but “the optics of this are not pretty” and that competitive bidding should be done in such situations.
Rastetter says the board will review a policy that allows universities to award contracts worth less than $25,000 without obtaining quotes from multiple vendors. He expects the board will adopt changes in April.
The AP reported last week that Strawn’s company has received $322,000 in UI social media consulting and polling contracts since 2013.
Council Bluffs Park Officials Prepare For Invasion Of Emerald Ash Borer
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Council Bluffs park officials have decided to treat most of the city’s ash trees to protect them from the invading insect known as the emerald ash borer.
Parks Director Larry Foster says the emerald ash borer is an inevitable threat to local ash trees and city crews will begin removing 29 of the unhealthiest trees next year. The city plans to spend nearly $59,000 on removing the unhealthy trees.
State officials say 29 counties in Iowa have reported seeing the insects.
Foster says that while the city has plans for the trees on public ground, property owners will need to determine their own course of action to deal with the insect.
