DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Banking giant Wells Fargo has informed employees that it will lay off 400 workers in the Des Moines area. Local bank spokesman Steve Carlson told the Des Moines Register that the company notified employees in the home lending department on Thursday. The layoffs go into effect early next year. The layoffs announced Thursday were among 1,000 positions cut companywide.

Wells Fargo employs more than 15,500 people in Iowa, including about 14,000 in metropolitan Des Moines. The San Francisco-based bank announced in September it planned to reduce its national workforce by more than 26,000 jobs. The bank has faced several investigations in recent years over practices including the opening of accounts without customers’ consent, charging clients for unnecessary insurance policies, and imposing unfair fees tied to mortgage rates.

Montgomery County conducted its first post-election audit Thursday under a new law designed to monitor and protect election processes.  Auditor Stephanie Burke said Thursday, “The audit was a perfect match to the result recorded on the election tabulator.”

Iowa law now requires that after each general election, the Secretary of State will choose, at random, one precinct in each Iowa county to be audited. County auditors must then supervise a hand count of the ballots from that precinct and compare the results from the presidential or gubernatorial election, depending on the year, to the voting machine count from election night.

In Montgomery County, the Secretary of State chose the Absentee precinct. The process for auditing the absentee precinct is a little different than auditing all other precincts. During the absentee audit, the same machine is used and at least 50% of the ballots must be ran through the machine during the audit. 800 ballots were counted. The machine count and hand count matched perfectly.

“That’s what we like to see,” said County Auditor Stephanie Burke. “the hand count shows that our machines are accurately counting the ballots.” Burke said that the new law is in response to concerns about computer hackers altering election results. “Since our voting machines, as well as our programming and tabulating computers, aren’t hooked up to the internet, hacking the vote is highly unlikely, but not totally impossible,” she said. “Being able to rely on paper ballots should give us confidence in the integrity of our voting system.”

Four precinct election officials, representing the two major political parties, conducted the count under the supervision of Elections Clerk, Beth Peterson, and Auditor Stephanie Burke. As required in the law, the Auditor’s Office notified the county chairs of both of the two major political parties. The process was witnessed by a representative of the Montgomery County Democrats.

Questions about the post-election audit and other election matters may be directed to the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — For the first time this year, a monthly survey of bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states indicates the regional rural economy is shrinking. The overall index of the Rural Mainstreet survey for November sank to 49.9, the first time it’s dipped below 50 since January and down from October’s 54.3. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the farm sector continues to be weakened by tariffs and low commodity prices.

Jeffrey Gerhart, CEO of the Bank of Newman Grove in northeastern Nebraska, says the tariffs are affecting farmers’ income and are “bad policy from the White House.” Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today (Thursday), announced that USDA is investing $501 million in 60 projects to help improve health care infrastructure and services in rural communities nationwide. Included among the projects is the Glen Haven Home, Inc., in Glenwood, which is receiving $400,000 to provide additional financing to lease and renovate six cottages for skilled nursing care services, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation. The new facility will be able to serve up to 69 residents in family-style living in each cottage. Additional funding includes a $4.6-million Community Facilities Direct Loan and a $641,000 applicant contribution.

And, St. Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home in Carroll, is receiving a little more than $12.6-million in a Rural Development investment used to construct a free-standing cancer center on the campus of St. Anthony Regional Hospital. The center will combine all of the cancer services into one area. The facility will provide improved radiation and medical oncology services and house the upgraded linear accelerator. Currently, cancer services are spread throughout the hospital, and there is not space for an upgraded linear accelerator. Additional funding includes a $3.6-million Rural Development Community Facilities loan guarantee, and a $1.22-million applicant contribution.

Secretary Hazlett said “Creating strong and healthy communities is foundational to increasing prosperity in rural America. Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to partnering with rural leaders to improve quality of life and economic development through modern and accessible health care.” Hazlett made the announcement as part of USDA’s commemoration of National Rural Health Day, which is held annually on the third Thursday of November to focus on the specific health care issues facing rural communities. The Department is investing in 60 projects through the Community Facilities direct loan program. These investments will expand access to health care for approximately 2 million people in 34 states.

(Updated) DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of Iowa National Guard soldiers have been told they were overpaid after a year-long deployment in the Middle East and must make immediate plans to repay the money. The Quad-City Times reports that about 366 soldiers with the 248th Aviation Support Battalion were informed of the issue shortly after returning from Kuwait and Iraq. Lt. Col. Michael Wunn is a spokesman for the Iowa National Guard. He says the overpayments range from $2 to $4,500. He says soldiers have been given multiple options to repay the funds, and many have already taken steps to do so.

Soldiers can write a check to repay their debts, have the Army keep all of their monthly checks until they’re paid off, or have monthly or weekly payments deducted from their pay. “We understand this creates a hardship for those affected,” Wunn said, noting that soldiers don’t have to repay the full amount by the end of the year. Wunn says the problem seems to originate from an issue at the demobilization station at Fort Hood in Texas. He says some battalion members continued receiving active duty pay or entitlements after their active duty ended.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said it’s unacceptable that a payroll error could cause soldiers financial hardship. “The Army must work with each individual soldier to ensure that they do not face any financial harm or difficulty,” he said. “I encourage any service member in Iowa who was affected by this failure at the Department of Defense to reach out to my office if you are in need of assistance.”

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — (UPDATED) Dozens of students were sent to hospitals Thursday after a building with high levels of carbon monoxide was evacuated at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in suburban Des Moines, officials said. An overnight security officer detected a strong odor a little before 6 a.m., academy director Judy Bradshaw said. The officer contacted 911 and then used an intercom system to evacuate the 86 students, most of them sleeping. Nearly 60 students with elevated blood levels of carbon monoxide were sent to six hospitals, and Bradshaw said other students who’d been exposed but displayed no symptoms were also taken to hospitals as a precaution. The unnamed security officer was taken as well.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include vomiting, headaches and dizziness, and high exposure can lead to death. Johnson-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department Chief Jim Clark said at a news conference that his firefighters found the highest level of carbon monoxide in the building basement. There were lower levels in the upper floors where students lived and attended classes during their training to become Iowa law enforcement officers. The academy sits on the grounds of Camp Dodge in Johnston.

Three ambulances carried a total of nine people with the highest carbon monoxide blood figures or severest symptoms to hospitals, Clark said. Because of the sheer number of students affected, he said, many were taken to hospitals in Des Moines Area Regional Transit buses. It’s unclear so far how many — if any — of the students will remain in the hospitals. Also unclear is what caused the carbon monoxide buildup. Bradshaw said that, to her knowledge, the building didn’t have carbon monoxide monitors. The building has been aired out but won’t be used until the problem’s been found and fixed, she said. The Iowa National Guard has arranged for classrooms and barracks space for students next week. Bradshaw canceled classes for Thursday and Friday.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thousands of students, staffers and others have rallied in protest of racist notes and robocalls at Drake University in Des Moines. A police-estimated crowd of 3,500 cheered Wednesday when student speakers said racists aren’t welcome. Several people carried signs condemning the racist acts; others handed out blue buttons that read “Do Better.”

University officials say racist notes were left under the dorm doors of two minority students in the past week, warning them to leave. And officials report that about 250 Drake phones received 75-second robocalls Monday that said African-Americans should be “expelled” to Africa.

A university spokesman says police reports will be filed about the racist notes. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek says the person or people responsible could be charged with harassment. Any students involved also could face university discipline.

MAURICE, Iowa (AP) — Residents and officials have gathered to celebrate the opening of a new airport in northwest Iowa that’s expected to fuel area business and development. The grand opening of the $32 million Sioux County Regional Airport on Wednesday marked the culmination of a nearly 20-year effort. It features a 5,500-foot  runway that can handle business jets. There’s also a parallel taxiway, a terminal, several hangars, fueling systems, safety approach lighting, a weather station and other features.

The airport replaces airports in Orange City and Sioux Center that were limited by their shorter runway lengths. It sits about a mile from Maurice. Construction began in 2015 at a 493-acre site that was previously farmland. The project was funded by a mix of federal, state and local funding and private sources.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, provided the School Board with an update on capital projects and district needs for the future. Barber said the “catwalk” between the Middle School and Washington Elementary is finally finished after being closed due to an accident earlier this year, involving a truck. With regard to capitol projects, the first priority is to continue with the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement cycle. The tentative plan calls for replacing two, large units above the high school gym and a medium-size unit for the office. The price would fall between $55-thousand and $130-thousand dollars, so cost estimates, according to Barber, would be a requirement.

He said also, Transportation Director Dave Eckles has applied for a diesel replacement grant for one of the District’s buses. The bus fleet, he says, is in good shape right now, so they can wait another year or so for their next purchase. Additional grant dollars may be available through Volkswagen in the future to purchase a bus. An audit by a roofing company and the district’s insurance company, Barber says, and an analysis of the district’s roofs show they are in good condition, but administrators feel that it will be important to begin a cycle of having a roof project each year. That he said, can wait for another year. Barber said also, the high school track needs to be repaired.

In future meetings, District Technology Director Roger Warne will be presenting to the Board his thoughts on a technology plan that includes achieving goals for implementation and costs associated with, a three-year cycle. Barber said also, they are looking at options to continue the transition to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting on a continuous cycle until all the lights are converted to the energy and cost-saving lights.

And finally, Superintendent Barber said he has inquired about the cost of replacing the parking lots, with the high school parking lot a priority, since it continues to deteriorate. He says the best approach appears to be to remove and replace the surface, to the base can be improved that would ensure a long-lasting, concrete parking lot. Discussion about those projects are expected to begin in December. Those talks would include the current budget for PPEL (The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education, and the projected costs to each of the Capitol Projects.