Around Iowa: 4 more Iowa counties declared disasters
Gov. Terry Branstad has issued another disaster proclamation for four more Iowa counties affected by flooding and damage from recent storms.
The proclamation issued Thursday covers Benton, Butler, Mahaska and Tama counties. It means state resources can be used to respond to areas affected by June storms.
The proclamation also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for Tama County. That program offers grants to some low-income households that suffered damage due to the storms.
More information on the program is available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website.
AKRON
2 elderly deaths under investigation
Authorities are investigating the deaths of two elderly people whose bodies were found inside a house in northwest Iowa.
Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo said at a news conference Thursday that the causes of death were violent in nature. He did not elaborate but said the deaths were not from suicide or natural causes.
Investigators say they're looking for a person of interest in connection to the deaths. They have released a man's name, but he is not a suspect and no charges have been filed.
The elderly people, whose names have not been released, were found Wednesday night inside a house in Akron, a small rural community that borders South Dakota.
CEDAR RAPIDS
Fire at recycling center contained
Firefighters have contained a fire at a Cedar Rapids recycling center that produced black smoke for miles and injured one person.
City officials say the fire was reported Thursday morning in the scrap yard of CC Recycling. Responding firefighters found a pile of scrap vehicles and other items on fire.
Most of the fire was extinguished within an hour. A recycling center employee suffered possible burn injuries and was taken to a hospital.
Authorities believe the injured employee was draining gasoline from a scrap vehicle when the liquid leaked onto the ground and was ignited by a spark.
Nearby buildings were not affected. Additional equipment will be brought in so firefighters can check for hot spots around debris.
JEFFERSON
Groundbreaking kicks off casino project
Construction equipment has begun dirt work on the recently approved casino in Jefferson but local and state officials gathered Thursday to turn a few spades of dirt themselves in the ceremonial groundbreaking celebration to officially kick off the project.
The Wild Rose Jefferson casino project was awarded a gambling license June 12 by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
The $40 million project including an events center, sports bar, restaurants and an Iowa store will add 275 jobs. A 71-room hotel also will be built.
The casino is going up at the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4 in Jefferson. It is scheduled to open for business late next summer.
COUNCIL BLUFFS
Woman gets life for abuse of stepson
A western Iowa woman has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection to the torture of her mentally disabled stepson.
Rebecca Beyer received the sentence Thursday at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse.
Authorities said Beyer abused the man, now 21, in February 2013. She was convicted in May of first-degree kidnapping and willful injury causing serious injury.
The man testified that Beyer burned him and locked him inside a garage. He said he was attached to a wall with a dog leash.
The man's father faces charges in the case, and his trial is scheduled to start in August. The man's stepbrother pleaded guilty earlier this year to an accessory charge as part of a plea deal.
FAIRFIELD
Part of building torn down over concerns
Part of an old building in eastern Iowa has been torn down over concerns it might collapse.
The Fairfield Fire Department says it responded to an emergency call Tuesday afternoon about the structural integrity of the building, located near the town square. Businesses and apartments near the building were temporarily evacuated.
Officials say the north wall of the building appeared to be leaning outward, and there was concern it would collapse into the street. An excavating company came in and tore down some of the structure to avoid potential injuries.
The building had been home to a printing company until a few weeks ago. It is now fenced off and will eventually be completely torn down.
IOWA CITY
Man accused of attempted blackmail
An eastern Iowa man has been accused of trying to blackmail administrators who oversee a major high school football program.
Police say Daniel Lee Stone of Solon was arrested Wednesday after DNA evidence linked him to several letters that allegedly threatened administrators at Regina High School in Iowa City.
Administrators say they received letters last summer that claimed the school's football coaching staff was providing performance-enhancing drugs to the student athletes. The letters made several demands in exchange for silence on the allegations.
An investigation into the letters' allegations turned up nothing.
Stone has been arrested on suspicion of third-degree harassment. He faces an additional charge of inference with official acts stemming from the time of the arrest.
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