Buena Vista Student Arrested For Racists Graffiti
STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an arrest has been made after racist graffiti was found scrawled on several residence hall doors Buena Vista University in northwestern Iowa.
A racial slur was written last week on the door of African American students, “illegal” was written on the door of a
Latino student and “KKK” and a swastika were left on the door of white students.
Storm Lake police say Ryan Bills, a 19-year-old student from Las Vegas, has been arrested and charged with two counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime, a serious misdemeanor.
Bills’ attorney did not immediately return a message Wednesday seeking comment.
A school spokeswoman says Buena Vista President Joshua Merchant and other administrators met with the targeted students on Monday.
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Glenwood State Resource Cente Employee Sentenced For Abuse
GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – The first of six former Glenwood State Resource Center workers charged with mistreating facility residents has been convicted of abusing a severely autistic man.
24-year-old Kayla Stevenson was convicted Tuesday in Mills County District Court of wanton neglect of a resident. She faces up to two years in prison when she’s sentenced.
A video shown at her trial showed Stevenson hitting the 19-year-old resident in the head twice with the heavy end of a butter knife as he’s held down by another worker. Her attorney argued the incident amounted only to “taps” on the head that caused no injury.
Earlier this year, 13 workers at the center quit or were fired over abuse allegations. An Iowa Department of Human Services investigation found several clients were physically abused or subjected to verbal abuse or neglect.
The center provides services for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
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Governor Reynolds Says She Will Present A Plan To Cut Taxes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants to give details on a proposal to cut taxes in Iowa during a key legislative speech early next year.
Reynolds told reporters Wednesday she’d like to provide information about a tax plan during her Condition of the State address on Jan. 9. She says releasing those details are contingent on Congress passing its sweeping tax overhaul. The
federal legislation is expected to make changes to how Iowa collects taxes.
Reynolds’ remarks come days after a budget panel said Iowa’s incoming revenue remains below projections and mid-year cuts to government spending are possible. The Republican governor argues tax cuts will spur economic development. She hasn’t offered details about her tax plan, though she’s indicated an interest in lowering business taxes and income taxes.
Girl With Cancer Who Lost Her Hair Was Disciplined After Wearing Hat To School
WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – A school district in southeast Iowa has apologized after disciplining a student who is recovering from cancer treatment and violated the dress code by covering her head.
The Hawk Eye reports that 15-year-old Chloe Terpenning was disciplined last week at West Burlington High School for not following the school’s dress code regarding head wear. Chloe is currently in remission following chemotherapy treatment for stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Superintendent David Schmitt says West Burlington Independent School District apologizes to Chloe for their insensitive approach to dealing with her hair loss. Schmitt says it was an “error of judgment” and that the district has taken action to prevent this from happening again.
Chloe started a petition Friday to end to the head wear policy for
current and future cancer patients.
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Council Bluffs Police Investigating Homicide Of Homeless Man
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Police in Council Bluffs say they’re investigating the death of a homeless man whose body was found near a warehouse as a homicide.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that the body of 34-year-old David Simpson was found Monday morning by a man walking his dog.
Simpson’s body was found in a grassy area near a vacant warehouse on First Ave.
Officials with the Iowa State Medical Examiner Office conducted an autopsy and determined Simpson’s cause of death was homicide by blunt force trauma.
No arrests had been reported by Wednesday.
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