Home News Tuesday Afternoon News, October 5th

Tuesday Afternoon News, October 5th

State Lawmakers Vote Down First Redistricting Proposal

(Des Moines) — The Iowa legislature had gathered at the state capitol building today during a special session to vote on the proposed new legislative and Congressional redistricts, as submitted by the Legislative Services Agency.  State lawmakers turned thumbs down on the initial proposal.  Now the Legislative Services Agency has 30 days to come up with a second plan.  If that plan should also fail to get approval by the state lawmakers, then the Legislative Services Agency would devise a third plan, which would then be adopted by the Iowa Supreme Court.  The original plan that was voted down today had several legislators within the same proposed district.  One such example would have Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars situated in the same district as Republican lawmaker Skylar Wheeler of Orange City.

 

 

 

 Grassley Supports Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act, But No Gun Restrictions

(Washington, DC)  —  U-S Senator Chuck Grassley says he supports reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act — but without some of the gun restrictions that won House approval this spring.  Grassley says says while he’s supported expanding rights for victims over the years, including firearms restrictions for accused domestic abusers is a no go for him and other Republicans.  The House-passed bill would bar people with temporary restraining orders and individuals convicted of stalking from owning or possessing a gun.  The Iowa Republican said, “there’s no disagreement on the original Violence Against Women Act. It’s when you try to get guns involved and the Second Amendment issues involved.”  The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing this morning (Tuesday) on the Violence Against Women Act.

 

 

 

Cedar Rapids Police Identify Suspect in 1971 Murder Close Cold Case

(Cedar Rapids, IA)  —  The Cedar Rapids Police Department cold case unit is closing  its investigation into the 1971 murder of 17-year-old Maureen Brubaker-Farley.  Detectives say they used D-N-A technology to identify and confirm George M. Smith as the suspect.  There will be no prosecution in the case because Smith is already dead.  The body of Brubaker-Farley was found September 24th, 1971 in a wooded ravine.  An autopsy determined that Farley had been hit in the head causing a skull fracture which caused her death.  The evidence also suggested that Farley had been sexually assaulted.  Police Chief Wayne Jerman said in a statement, “I am extremely proud of the generations of Cedar Rapids officers that contributed to bringing this once cold case to a resolution.”

 

 

 

Northeast Iowa Man Sentenced to Life For Sexual Abuse of Children

(Independence, IA)  —  The sentence is life in prison for a northeast Iowa man convicted of sexually abusing children.  Buchanan County court records show 63-year-old Clarence Widner of Jesup was found guilty of third-degree sexual abuse as a subsequent offender in September.  The court found Widner performed a sex act on a teenager against their will between October of 2018 and November of 2019.  He was previously convicted twice in Black Hawk County of lascivious acts with a child in 1985 and 1995.

 

 

 

Body of Missing Waterloo Woman Recovered From River

(Waterloo, IA)  —  Authorities report the body of a missing Waterloo woman has been recovered from the Cedar River.  Waterloo police say relatives of Juana Rubio found some of her personal items along the riverbank near a bridge over the river Monday around 11 a-m.  Waterloo Fire Rescue searched the water and located a woman’s body, which was then identified as Rubio’s.  She was last seen late Saturday night outside her home about three blocks from where her personal items were found.  Officers do not suspect foul play in Rubio’s death.  An autopsy is being done to determine the official cause.