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Iowa News Headlines: Tue., Nov. 26th 2013

News

November 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

LECLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — The Coast Guard says a towboat sank in the Mississippi River near the Quad Cities-area community of LeClaire, releasing oil into the water. The Stephen L. Colby struck a submerged object Monday, which caused the vessel to sink. The Coast Guard says nine members aboard made it to safety. About 100,000 gallons of petroleum products are reportedly on board the sunken towboat operated by Marquette Transportation Co. A representative declined comment Monday night.

ALBIA, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys for an Iowa man accused of killing his pregnant wife have argued for a reduced bond. The Des Moines Register reports attorneys met to discuss Seth Techel’s request to lower his bond from $750,000 to $75,000, and remove restrictions on travel and whom he can contact. Seth Techel is charged with first-degree murder in the May 2012 death of Lisa Techel. Both of his trials this year have ended in mistrial. Prosecutors say they will try him a third time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say there were more than one million visitors at the Iowa State Fair over an 11-day period this year. The final attendance tally was announced Monday. Visitors came to the fairgrounds in Des Moines from Aug. 8-18. Other numbers indicate there were more than 6,600 livestock exhibitors with more than 21,700 animals. New foods totaled 18, with items ranging from new flavors of funnel cakes to a shrimp corndog.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former University of Northern Iowa music instructor has lost a lengthy legal fight to obtain benefits for mental health injuries that she blames on mistreatment by colleagues. The Iowa Supreme Court says it will not review lower court decisions that denied workers’ compensation benefits to Linda Sharp. A state commissioner ruled in 2011 that Sharp’s work environment at the now-closed Malcolm Price Laboratory School at UNI was stressful, in part because one of her bosses had an authoritarian style that caused conflict. But he said Sharp failed to prove her injuries were directly caused by the environment.