Iowa News
November 13, 2019
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A woman who has led nonprofit organizations focused on global food security and the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity is the new president of the World Food Prize Foundation. Barbara Stinson will succeed Kenneth Quinn, the former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia whose 20-year leadership established an international presence for the Des Moines, Iowa-based foundation. The foundation awards the $250,000 World Food Prize annually to individuals who work to reduce world hunger.
GILMAN, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in central Iowa say at least one person was injured in a mobile home fire. Firetrucks were sent to the home in Gilman around 3 p.m. Tuesday. Fire Chief Randy Mommer told station KCCI that the injured person was being treated and likely would be sent to an Iowa City hospital. The fire cause is being investigated.
MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) – Lawyers for the man charged with killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts are asking a judge to throw out evidence discovered during a faulty interrogation, including the victim’s body. A court hearing is scheduled Wednesday to consider the issue. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in her death.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s UnityPoint Health and South Dakota-based Sanford Health have abruptly halted plans to merge. The Des Moines Register reported the development Tuesday, saying Sanford CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft confirmed the news. No reason for the decision was given, but Krabbenhoft said in a statement that those who worked on the merger “are disappointed that the UnityPoint Health board failed to embrace the vision.”
Illinois News
November 13, 2019
CHICAGO (AP) – Student journalists at Northwestern University tried to apologize after their peers complained about coverage of a speech on campus and protests of it. They wound up facing criticism from journalists around the country disappointed in the students saying they were sorry for basic reporting practices. The Daily Northwestern’s editors apologized for publishing photos on social media of protesters outside last week’s speech by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
CHICAGO (AP) – Attorneys of a Chicago man who went to prison for a 1991 killing and Cook County prosecutors agreed on tossing the man’s conviction because of misconduct by a police detective. However, prosecutors on Tuesday said they are unwilling to drop murder charges against Demetrius Johnson, who was convicted in the killing of Edwin Fred. A prosecutor told Judge Leroy Martin that although Johnson may have been framed by ex-Detective Reynaldo Guevara, “there are witnesses who identified Mr. Johnson.”
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois High School Association has ended its appeal of a judge’s decision to allow Chicago Public Schools athletes to run in the state cross-country meet. The IHSA filed the appeal Nov. 4, but the appellate court decided not to rule immediately. The IHSA barred CPS runners from the competition because of the Chicago Teachers Union strike. Executive Director Craig Anderson says while the organization is within its rights to enforce its rules, an appeal ruling would be ineffective.
DECATUR, Ill. (AP) – A 5-year-old central Illinois kindergartener needed the help of a good Samaritan to get home Monday after she was left in blowing snow at the wrong bus stop. Decatur Public Schools officials said Tuesday they are investigating why Alltown Bus Service left the girl two blocks from where her mother was waiting for her. A college student heard the girl calling for help. She gave him her mother’s telephone number. Amanda Hammer said she thanks God “it wasn’t a creep who came along.”
Wisconsin News
November 13, 2019
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – More than 234,000 voters in Wisconsin would be made unable to vote unless they register again before the next election under a lawsuit filed by a conservative group. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty was filing the lawsuit Wednesday. It alleges that the Wisconsin Elections Commission broke the law when it decided to wait up to two years, rather than 30 days, to deactivate voters who may have moved. The lawsuit comes after the Elections Commission rejected a complaint last month.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The state Assembly has refused to concur with a bill that would stiffen penalties for repeat drunken drivers. The bill would increase the minimum time in prison for a 5th or 6th offense from six months to 18 months.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The state Assembly has signed off on a bill that would define autocycles in state law and establish registration fees for the vehicles. Autocycles are three-wheeled vehicles that can seat one or two people. The Republican-authored bill would define an autocycle as a vehicle with three wheels in contact with the ground, seating that doesn’t require straddling and a steering wheel. The bill would establish a $45 annual registration fee.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin council could ban officials from discussing a water quality study without permission, raising concerns about the quashing of free speech. The Lafayette County Land Conservation Committee drafted a resolution that threatened journalists who report on the study but don’t run an official news release verbatim. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the panel removed that from the resolution Tuesday. But it approved a plan to ban board members from speaking about the study.