IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – On Wednesday, a judge granted approval to a settlement that would see the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) Board of Regents pay current and former employees over the timing of their paychecks. Before 2020, UIHC used to have a system in which employees would get their base pay for one month on the first day of the following month. Overtime and other adjustments were paid the month after that. (For example, on December 1st, an employee was paid their November salary and overtime adjustments from back in October.) However, State law requires employers to pay wages within 12 days of the payday in which the wages were earned. Court documents show that UIHC tried to argue that documents employees signed when they were hired allowed for the timing of people’s pay to be changed. A judge determined on March 29, 2022 that the Hospital was in the wrong and would have to pay approximately 8,000 current and former employees over the timing of the paychecks. However, the exact figure the Hospital would have to pay wasn’t determined until Wednesday, when it was announced that UIHC and the nurses’ group proposed a class and collective action settlement that would have the hospital pay $15,000,000. The judge granted that motion.
WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – Waterloo police identified the man killed in a shooting this past weekend. Police said 45-year-old Muharrum Johnson, of Waterloo, was shot just before 1 p.m. on Saturday at East Fourth Street and Mulberry Street. First responders took him to the hospital, where he later died. Police have not announced any arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call Waterloo Police or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers.
AMES, Iowa (KCRG) – On Wednesday, Iowa State players Hunter Dekkers and Jake Remsburg, and former Iowa State football player Dodge Sauser resolved their criminal cases by pleading guilty to a reduced charge of underage gambling. Former University of Iowa kicker Aaron Blom and baseball player Gehrig Christensen took the same deal. Each player was previously charged with Tampering with Records for engaging in a scheme to disguise their identities and manipulate online transactions in order to create the appearance that the transactions were made by family members and not them. The pleas end the criminal portion of the case for the student-athletes, but have no bearing on how the NCAA will rule on potential eligibility. Each individual will pay a fine of $645 and receive no additional sentencing as part of the agreement.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Wednesday, a judge announced that the verdict for Dinkins will be given at a hearing on September 15th. Dinkins is accused of killing Breasia Terrell, who disappeared in July 2020. Fishermen found her body months later in Clinton County. The state argues that the chain of events presented proves Dinkins committed the crimes. Prosecutors highlighted video evidence of Dinkins buying bleach at Walmart and bullets found with the remains. Dinkins’ lawyers argue the state didn’t prove he committed murder or kidnapping, noting a lack of DNA evidence. The hearing will take place at the Scott County Courthouse at 9:05 a.m. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole.