DES MOINES, Iowa (WOI/KCRG) – Former IPERS (Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System) Chief Benefits Officer Steven Herbert was fired in May for several violations, including sexual harassment, a new letter says. According to the letter obtained by WOI, Herbert was terminated on May 7 after an investigation found numerous misconduct violations. The day Herbert was terminated was the same day that former IPERS CEO Greg Samorajski resigned from his role. Both Herbert and Samorajski had previously been placed on administrative leave in the spring over allegations of misconduct. The letter reveals that Herbert was in violation of the state employee handbook, the IPERS employee handbook and IPERS ethic policy. IPERS is currently conducting a search for a new CEO and chief benefits officer. IPERS General Counsel Elizabeth Hennessey is continuing to serve as acting CEO in the meantime. The state previously said the investigation doesn’t pose a risk to the trust fund valued at more than $45 billion and won’t impact payments to its 400,000+ members.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC/KCRG) – Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA01) on Wednesday urged President Donald Trump to sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which has passed both the House and Senate. The measure is aimed at lowering housing costs, increasing housing supply and limiting the influence of large financial institutions in the housing market. Miller-Meeks’ comments came after Trump said he will not sign the bipartisan housing bill. Trump has tied his position to his support for the SAVE Act, separate legislation that would require strict proof of citizenship to vote. In her remarks, Miller-Meeks said she supports the SAVE Act, but stressed that housing affordability remains an urgent priority for Iowa families.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – Police are investigating after a woman was found dead at the Des Moines Airport on Wednesday morning. According to Des Moines Police, the unresponsive woman was found inside the terminal around 7:00 a.m. CPR was initiated, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no apparent evidence of foul play or criminal activity. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the woman’s cause of death. Operations at the airport continued as normal on Wednesday.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau/KCRG) — President Donald Trump said this week his new deal with Iran will open a market for American farmers, but Iranian officials said Wednesday it won’t happen. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman said the potential relief may be coming too late for many farmers facing low prices, high costs and uncertainty about whether a new market would materialize. Lehman said shifting news about the deal has made it difficult for farmers to plan. Farmers in Iowa have scrambled to adapt after fertilizer prices and gasoline skyrocketed at a critical time of the season. Trump said Tuesday that farmers should get help soon if Iran agrees to the new deal. According to the President, the deal would unfreeze Iranian assets controlled by the U.S. and use them to buy American crops. Trump said the unfrozen money would be used to buy food “exclusively through the United States” from American farmers, including corn and soybeans. Lehman said the plan is arriving after some farmers already made changes based on fertilizer availability and cost, including switching to crops with different fertilizer needs. Lehman said farmers need predictability to make planting decisions and target prices.
