From the Associated Press (11:20 a.m.):
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The nation’s egg producers are in the midst of a multibillion-dollar shift to cage-free eggs that is dramatically changing the lives of millions of hens in response to new laws and demands from restaurant chains. In a decade, the percentage of hens in cage-free housing has soared from 4% in 2010 to 28% in 2020, and that figure is expected to more than double to about 70% in the next four years. The change marks one of the animal welfare movement’s biggest successes after years of battles with the food industry. The transition has cost billions of dollars for producers who initially resisted calls for more humane treatment of chickens but have since fully embraced the new reality.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says some misdemeanor trials can be held without the defendant present in cases where the person on trial is intentionally trying to delay justice. The court upheld the conviction of a Le Mars man who was charged with driving while intoxicated in 2017. Randall Hurlbut’s trial was delayed three times and he didn’t show up for his trial in February 2020, saying he couldn’t get a ride. The judge proceeded without him and he was convicted. He appealed, saying his constitutional right to face his accuser was violated. The state Supreme Court concluded in such cases that defendants cannot try to delay justice by not showing up for trial.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City police say a man is in custody after a standoff began when officers realized he had a gun inside a police car. The standoff occurred Thursday at Heelan High School. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra was touring the school at the time. Police Chief Rex Mueller says officers stopped a suspect in an armed robbery near the school and placed him in the police car. Officers found he had a micro-compact handgun. After about an hour of negotiations, police fired a chemical agent into the car and the man, 36-year-old Emanual Pleitez, surrendered. He was taken to a Sioux City hospital.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The top executive of a nonprofit regional planning commission that helps cities and counties apply for grants and plan economic development projects has been arrested for theft and forgery. Court records show Timothy Ostroski of Creston, the executive director of the Southern Iowa Council of Governments was arrested Wednesday by Creston police. Court documents indicate he’s alleged to have used another person’s name on four of the organization’s checks without permission leading to four felony forgery charges. The documents also allege he took more than $10,000 from the organization over 19 years by writing checks for cleaning services that were never provided then depositing the checks in his own account. An attorney representing Ostroski did not immediate respond to a message.
ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) – A state audit has found nearly $86,000 in questionable spending of public money in the Iowa State University Extension Office in Jones County, including thousands spent for personal travel, alcohol, groceries and a video game console. The Iowa State Auditor’s Office said in a report released Thursday that its special investigation identified more than $52,000 of improper spending and nearly $34,000 of unsupported expenses over a four-year period when the office was run by former extension director Jennifer Fischer. Fischer was fired in September 2020 after questions were raised about her use of an extension credit card.
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Firefighters say two construction workers suffered minor injuries when strong winds knocked down part of the wooden framework of a Fort Dodge strip mall under construction. The Messenger says the accident happened Wednesday morning on Corridor Plaza property, just north of a Burger King restaurant. Fort Dodge Fire Department Lt. Nathan Conrad said that at the time of the collapse, winds were gusting to more than 30 mph. Officials say one of the injured workers was 14 feet above ground when the collapse happened. Both injured workers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
