From the Associated Press
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo’s black police chief says his 15-month tenure is a “case study” for what leaders face as they make overdue changes to improve policing and community relations. Joel Fitzgerald became the first black chief in Waterloo’s history when he was hired last year. Mayor Quentin Hart credits him with helping usher in a transformation of the department that has been popular with residents and several changes to improve trust and treatment of citizens. But the chief and the mayor are facing blistering attacks from retired officers and a political group who say morale in the department is at an all-time low. Fitzgerald says the leaders are being targeted for unfair criticism because of their race.
AMES, Iowa (AP) — An 57-year-old Iowa man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing his roommate during a fight over the cost of a video game. David Sean Hunter, of Ames, was sentenced Friday for first-degree murder in the November 2019 death of 37-year-old Christopher Swalwell. The stabbing happened after Hunter gave Swalwell his credit card information in order to create an account for a game on Swalwell’s Xbox. While Hunter thought the charge would be $1, the charge was actually $15.99. Assistant Story County attorney Tiffany Meredith said Hunter was so angry over the charge that he went to confront Swalwell in his room.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha Marine killed last month in Afghanistan was remembered as a hero who died while trying to help others. The Rev. Suzanne Howe spoke of Bible scriptures during the funeral Friday for Marine Cpl. Daegan Page. He was one of 13 U.S. service members killed Aug. 26 in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport. Howe said Jesus stood in the breach between good and evil, and that Page was killed as he “stood in that breach for as many of his fellow human beings as he could.” After the service, Page’s remains were taken to Omaha National Cemetery for burial. Page was born in Omaha. He lived in Red Oak, Iowa, before moving with his family to Omaha. He enlisted in the Marines in 2017.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The city of Davenport will pay its insurance carrier about $260,000 as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by a former fire chief who alleged she was fired because of her age and gender. City attorney Tom Warner said city leaders looked forward to a trial on the lawsuit and were disappointed the insurance carrier decided to settle the lawsuit. Former Fire Chief Lynn Washburn-Livingston, who is 63, sued the city in 2017. She contended she was fired after complaining about how she was treated in the department.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate for August held steady at 4.1% as the number of unemployed residents increased slightly. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the number of unemployed Iowans increased by 300 to 67,900. The number of residents with jobs dropped by 1,600 to stand at 1.59 million. Iowa’s unemployment rate is ranked 17th nationally. Nebraska had the nation’s lowest unemployment rate of 2.2%. The national unemployment rate for August was 5.2%.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s four congressional districts would include two that lean heavily toward Republicans, one that favors Democrats and one that both parties would have a chance at winning under proposed redistricting maps from a nonpartisan agency. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency must follow detailed guidelines to ensure population balance among Iowa’s congressional districts and to prevent political influence in the initial drafting of changes. The newly drawn lines also appear to place 54 state lawmakers in districts with another incumbent, forcing people to run against each other, move or quit. Public hearings are set for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Legislature then is scheduled to meet in special session beginning Oct. 5.
