The Iowa Business Council has released its second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey, measuring member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. The second-quarter survey’s overall economic outlook index is 67.08, the fourth positive quarter in a row; any number above 50 suggests growth. The index has not been this high since the second quarter of 2018. The highest level of optimism came in sales, with anticipated increased hiring levels close behind.
Authorities identified three people found dead in the northern Iowa city of Algona as two young brothers who were shot to death by their father, who then killed himself. The Iowa Department of Public Safety Wednesday night identified the boys as 6-year-old Logan Phelon and 3-year-old Seth Phelon. The boys died of gunshot wounds, and investigators said their deaths were considered homicides. The department says 32-year-old Christopher Phelon also was found dead from a gunshot wound. His death is considered a suicide. Someone called 911 after discovering the bodies Monday night. Authorities announced how they died and their names after an autopsy.
A Council Bluffs police detective has been arrested over allegations he attempted to strangle his adult son during an argument over a dent in the son’s car. 59-year-old Detective Craig Schuetze was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of domestic abuse assault and strangulation with bodily injury. The 19-year veteran of the Council Bluffs Police Department has been placed on administrative leave. Court documents say Schuetze became upset after finding a dent in his son’s car and during the resulting argument put his hands around his son’s neck, squeezing.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has joined 37 other attorneys general in a lawsuit against Google, alleging it closed the Android app distribution ecosystem to competitors. Miller said the states are accusing Google of using its dominance to unfairly restrict competition with the Google Play Store, harming consumers by limiting choice and driving up app prices. The lawsuit alleges that Google works to discourage or prevent competition, which violates federal and state antitrust laws. It also says consumers are forced to pay Google’s commission, up to 30 percent, on in-app purchases of digital content, adding that is a much higher commission consumers would pay if they had other payment processing systems available.
An Iowa State University employee was arrested after authorities said she was accused of, and admitted to, making unauthorized transactions using the school’s credit cards. Officials said 25-year-old Miranda Richmann, then a secretary in the Human Development and Family Studies department, attempted transactions with various stores and banks. Officials said the unauthorized transactions attempted added up to nearly $128,000, although many attempted purchases were denied by vendors as unauthorized. Officials said Richmann admitted to making unauthorized transactions last month, including attempting to withdraw money to pay her attorney fees and other debts. The university said in a statement she is no longer employed there.
A Waterloo man has been charged with second-degree robbery after an incident at a Taco Bell in Cedar Falls last Saturday. 21-year-old Kalani Moore entered the fast-food restaurant on University Avenue and demanded money from the safe. Investigators say Moore indicated he had a weapon and entered the business with a face covering. Moore was not given access to cash and left the business a short time later, police said. If convicted, Moore could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Court records also show police suspect Moore had unsuccessfully demanded money from the cash register after pulling up at the drive-through window at 5 Corners Liquor about 25 minutes before he arrived at Taco Bell.
