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Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 4th 2014

News

March 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The first jury trial stemming from a contentious statewide crackdown on election-related crimes is set to begin, and a former Iowa felon charged with illegally voting is expected to fight the charge today. Kelli Jo Griffin of Montrose is scheduled to stand trial for perjury in Lee County. Prosecutors say that she signed an affidavit falsely claiming that she was not an ineligible felon when she voted in the Nov. 5 municipal election. Griffin has pleaded not guilty.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill allowing online voter registration in Iowa has passed in the Senate and been sent to the House. The measure passed 48-0 yesterday with no debate. Under the bill voters must provide the same information required on other voter registration forms. They would use the Secretary of State’s website to electronically register. Concerns about how electronic signatures will be verified are to be worked out in the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Several Iowa counties have issues on ballots tomorrow. Des Moines voters will decide whether to approve an increase in the fee charged on their utility bills to repay $40 million the city borrowed to pay a court-ordered refund of previously over-collected franchise fees. Story County voters will decide whether to approve borrowing up to $19 million to pay the city of Ames’ share of a convention center development at Iowa State University. Bond issues also are on the ballot in Pottawattamie County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa pharmacist has been acquitted of 15 counts of health care fraud after a jury rejected allegations that he fraudulently billed an insurance company for life-saving drugs sent to hemophilia patients. The federal jury returned the verdict yesterday after a weeklong trial in the case of Michael Stein. He’s the owner of Pharmacy Matters in Iowa City. It was a defeat for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Des Moines and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.