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Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, May 15th 2016

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May 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:30 a.m. CDT

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — A judge has declared the Warren County Courthouse no longer habitable and says court employees are at risk. The Des Moines Register reports that Chief Judge Arthur Gamble of Iowa’s Fifth Judicial District issued the finding this week. He also told Warren County supervisors that if the county doesn’t act soon, the court will begin a process to compel them to provide suitable court facilities, as required by law.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Officials are seeking to hire correctional officers for the new maximum security prison in Fort Madison. The Fort Madison Daily Democrat reports that those interested in applying must be a high school graduate or have earned a GED certificate. Eligible applicants also must pass a background check, panel interview, psychology exam, recorded observation and judgment test, drug screening, medical exam and have a valid driver’s license.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Sioux City school board has approved offering $20,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the mother of a student sexually exploited by former educational specialist. The Sioux City Journal says the board approved the offer Friday with no discussion. The lawsuit says the negligence of Sioux City Community Schools and IowaJAG Inc. was responsible for 30-year-old Erick Deleon’s ability to have contact with the 16-year-old girl after school hours.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Randall Payne won’t learn of his fate until at least Monday, when a Des Moines County jury is scheduled to resume deliberating whether Payne was responsible for the death of his 22dayold son. The Hawk Eye reports that the jury spent about three hours deliberating Friday. Payne is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment counts. If convicted of the murder charge, Payne faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.