712 Digital Group - top

Iowa early News headlines: Wed. 12/12/12

News

December 12th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — An Ankeny man who killed his infant daughter two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison. Ryan Trowbridge was convicted in October after a bench trial of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. Prosecutors say injuries on 4-month-old daughter Rylee were consistent with being grabbed and shaken.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — An attorney for a man facing charges in a double homicide in Manchester wants part of a police interview kept out of his client’s upcoming trial. Brandon Ahlers’ attorney argued at a hearing Tuesday that police expressed or implied leniency during an interview in return for Ahlers’ statements. Ahlers is charged with aiding and abetting in the killings of Richard and Janet Sweet in May 2011.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a construction worker in Davenport who was killed after becoming trapped underneath a bulldozer. Thomas McLachlan was operating the machinery Tuesday morning when an embankment he was grading gave way and the equipment tipped over. Hawkeye Paving posted on its website that McLachlan has been the company’s lead operator since 1987.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former city clerk in Scarville has been given jail time for tampering with city records. The Mason City Globe Gazette (http://bit.ly/USuAtp ) reports Jolene Carter was sentenced Tuesday in Winnebago County District Court to 30 days in jail. Prosecutors say Carter issued paychecks to herself totaling nearly $8,000.

(AMES) – The annual survey from Iowa State University shows farmland values increased almost 24-percent over last year for an average cost per acre of eight-thousand-296 dollars. The 23-point-seven-percent increase marks the third straight year the land values have increased by 15-percent or more. The survey notes this is significantly higher than the 18-percent increase reported by the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank in October. I-S-U economist, Mike Duffy says the difference in survey estimates could be due to values increasing more rapidly in the past few months than earlier in the year. He says better than expected crop yields and the level of land sale activity due to the proposed changes in land related taxes contributed to the increasing values. O’Brien County had an estimated 12-thousand-862 dollar average value, the highest average county value. O’Brien County also had the highest percentage increase and highest dollar increase in value, 35-point-two percent and three-thousand-348, respectively. Osceola, Dickinson and Lyon counties also saw 35-point-two percent increases. (from Radio Iowa)