KWIT: Regional News for 11/5 (2009-11-05)

In Iowa...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa Department of Public Health is
now reporting four additional 2009 swine-flu-related deaths in the
state.
The victims reported Wednesday are identified as an adult in
Dubuque County, an adult in Polk County, an adult in Mills County,
and an adult in Monona County. All but one individual had medical
conditions that increased the risk of complications.
To date, Iowa has reported 11 confirmed H1N1 deaths in the
state, including ten adults and one child.
The IDPH medical director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, says that
while school-age children have been most affected by the swine flu
virus over the past several weeks, surveillance is starting to show
an increase in adult illness.

SIOUX FALLS, Iowa (AP) - A U.S. Customs Enforcement agent says a
federal informant was rejected twice for a job at an Iowa kosher
slaughterhouse after presenting fake documents.
The agent, Michael Fischels, testified Wednesday that the
informant was hired on the third try after presenting legitimate
documents provided by investigators.
Fischels testified for the defense during the federal fraud
trial of former Agriprocessors Inc. manager Sholom Rubashkin.
Rubashkin is on trial in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls,
S.D., for 91 counts of financial fraud.
Fischels was a lead investigator in the case that led to an
immigration raid at the Postville, Iowa, plant in 2008.
Fischels testified that the informant entered the plant wearing
a hidden recorder and transmitter.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says
the states should continue to have a role in protecting consumers
from fraudulent practices.
Miller is leading a group of 40 state attorneys general in
urging Congress to uphold the role of the states in enforcing
consumer protection laws.
In the letter released Wednesday, the attorneys general noted
weakened consumer protections and limited enforcement authority
already have damaged many consumers and the economy. The letter was
sent to key congressional leaders as Congress considers legislation
to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.
The letter asks Congress that the states be given authority to
enforce federal law and be allowed enforce state consumer
protection laws for state- and federally chartered financial
institutions.
The attorneys generals claim allowing the states to enforce
federal standards will maximize government resources.

In Nebraska...

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A Lincoln man has been sentenced to 12 1/2
years in federal prison following his conviction for conspiring to
distribute methamphetamine.
A news release issued Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office
says 25-year-old Christopher Lang was sentenced Tuesday in federal
court in Lincoln. Lang also was ordered to forfeit two handguns, a
shotgun and $476.
Lang was arrested in March after authorities searched his home
twice and found methamphetamine both times.
A phone message left with his attorney late Wednesday wasn't
immediately returned.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers have begun their special
session to deal with a projected $334 million shortfall in the
state's two-year budget.
Initially it appears that lawmakers will work with Gov. Dave
Heineman's proposal instead of drafting their own entirely new
budget-cutting plans. But lawmakers have until the end of the week
to introduce bills.
State senators have generally been positive about Heineman's
plan to spread the cuts throughout state government, but some
concerns have been raised about proposals to limit education
funding and take some of the money farmers contribute to checkoff
funds.
Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha says if the Legislature does cut
funding for schools, districts may just increase local property
taxes to avoid hurting education.

In South Dakota...

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a Pierre man to 10
years in prison for sexually molesting a 4-year-old girl.
Twenty-five-year-old Josia Fuerst (FIRST) pleaded no contest to
three separate counts of sexual contact with a child under the age
of 13.
Prosecutors said the child attended a day care run by Fuerst's
family. They said the abuse lasted several months.
At the sentencing Tuesday, the girl's mother told Circuit Judge
Lori Wilbur her daughter has had counseling and deals with the
effects every day. She said she wanted Fuerst to be sentenced to
the maximum of 45 years.
Fuerst tearfully apologized in court.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Sioux Falls police are investigating a
Wednesday afternoon robbery at First Savings Bank east of the
downtown area.
The call came in at 12:39 p.m. A short time later, police
reportedly stopped a vehicle that officers said might have been
used in the getaway. The vehicle, which has Texas license plates,
was towed away.
There are no reports of any injuries.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - The state parks division is proposing a
special motorcycle permit to get into Custer State Park during the
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally each August.
It's on the agenda for the Game, Fish and Parks Commission
meeting in Pierre Thursday and Friday.
A seven-day entrance permit now costs $6 a person or $12 for
two. Officials say making change for either $6 or $12 causes delays
and backs up traffic, so they're proposing a flat $10 fee per
cycle, whether it has one rider or two.
The parks division says it sells 50,000 to 60,000 entrance
permits for cycles during the Sturgis rally.