090919 532 Voters in Storm Lake and Sergeant Bluff will decide tomorrow on school bond issues. School officials say growing enrollment means the districts will run out of space. The bond issues require a 60 percent "supermajority" to win approval. The Sgt. Bluff-Luton School system has failed to gain approval for three previous bond issues. Western Iowa Tech Community College is reaching out to countries around the world and bringing international students to the area. WIT president Terry

090919 504 Voters in Storm Lake and Sergeant Bluff-Luton will decide tomorrow on school bond issues. School officials say growing enrollment means the districts will run out of space. The bond issues require a 60 percent "supermajority" to win approval. The Sgt. Bluff-Luton School system has failed to gain approval for three previous bond issues. Today Wells Enterprises of Le Mars announced another acquisition. The company that makes Blue Bunny ice creamed signed a purchase agreement with Eden

090919 4342 Wells Enterprises Inc. has signed a purchase agreement with Eden Creamery, to acquire Halo Top, a low-calorie brand of ice cream. The sale is expected to be completed in September. The move is the latest in a series of acquisitions by the Le Mars-based family business as it pursues its longtime goal of becoming the nation's leading ice cream maker. Storm Lake and Sergeant Bluff voters will have a chance to approve or reject school bond issues tomorrow. School officials say enrollment

090919 404 Voters in Storm Lake and Sergeant Bluff-Luton will vote tomorrow on school bond issues. School officials say growing enrollment means the districts will run out of space. The bond issues require a 60 percent "supermajority" to win approval. In Sergeant Bluff, the $33 million bond issue is smaller than three previous referendums and those failed overwhelmingly. The proposal calls for $26.6 million for a new lower elementary school and around $4.7 million for a new athletic complex.

Several states are ditching their Republican primary next year, paving the way for the president’s re-nomination. However, the Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann says holding a caucus every cycle is just good for the GOP. Nebraska state emergency officials who faced record floods this summer are now scrambling to boost their ranks with more workers to help residents recover and rebuild their communities. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency plans to hire 17 new employees in the

Iowa's attorney general says his office is joining a multistate investigation to determine whether Facebook has violated any antitrust laws. Attorney General Tom Miller says Facebook's dominance over communications and information is concerning and warrants the investigation he's leading along with 8 other attorneys general including the state of Nebraska. Miller says the goal is to determine whether Facebook's actions "may have endangered user data, reduced the quality of consumers' choices, or

Authorities say a Sioux City man looted the checking account of a nursing home resident. Woodbury County court records say 52-year-old Ronald Taylor is charged with dependent adult abuse. His attorney didn't immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press. Taylor's next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 13. Court records say Taylor held a power attorney for the man, who has dementia and can't handle his finances. The records say Taylor spent nearly $23,000 of the man's money since

090519 532 District Judge Tod Deck had no conflict of interest while presiding over Tran Walker's double-murder trial, according to a Woodbury County defender and assistant county attorney. That means Walker will be sentenced for killing two companions Sept. 20 in Woodbury County District Court, according to the Sioux City Journal. A Woodbury County Public defender and First Assistant Woodbury County Attorney reviewed two juvenile court cases involving Walker and found nothing to show that Deck

It’s been found that District Judge Tod Deck had no conflict of interest while presiding over Tran Walker's double-murder trial. Walker's case will proceed to sentence, scheduled for Sept. 20 in Woodbury County District Court, according to the Sioux City Journal. Walker was convicted for killing two companions. A Woodbury County Public defender and First Assistant Woodbury County Attorney reviewed two juvenile court cases involving Walker and found nothing to show that Deck had any involvement

090519 432 A Texas health and human services official has been named the new director of the Iowa Department of Human Services today. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Kelly Kennedy Garcia to head the department that oversees the state's Medicaid program, mental health centers, and child welfare services. Garcia is now the deputy executive commissioner at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Garcia previously managed the Texas Medicaid program and once served as a senior adviser to