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Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Oct. 21st 2015

News

October 21st, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A jury is deciding the fate of two aides to Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign who are accused of secretly paying a state lawmaker to endorse their boss. Deliberations are to resume in the Des Moines federal trial of former campaign chairman Jesse Benton and ex-deputy campaign manager Dimitri Kesari.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of a committee examining casino licensing in Iowa says he plans to reintroduce legislation next session that would create a smoke-free casino in the state. Senator Wally Horn says his bill would offer guidelines for such a casino. The Democrat is from Cedar Rapids, where local leaders have pushed for a smoke-free casino.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 3.6 percent last month. State officials say the number of people in the state with jobs climbed to 1.64 million in September. Iowa’s 3.6 percent rate was tied with Utah as the nation’s sixth lowest.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Sioux City have voted to demolish a condemned mansion in the city’s Rose Hill neighborhood. The move to tear down the 125-year-old home ends the city’s long deliberation about what to do with it. City officials awarded a $60,000 demolition contract.