712 Digital Group - top

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., Dec. 16 2014

News

December 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is pushing to end the state’s often-criticized Republican straw poll, but other GOP leaders say the event may still go on next year. The poll is traditionally held in Ames the summer before a contested presidential caucus. Branstad said Monday that it could diminish the state’s kickoff caucuses. Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kauffman said he expects the board that governs the party to vote next month on whether to hold a straw poll in August.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have suspended a multi-state lottery game aimed at giving out $1million prizes because of low ticket sales. Terry Rich, president of the North American Lottery Group, says officials decided to suspend future ticket sales of the Monopoly Millionaires’ Club game, just two months after it launched in 23 states. Tickets will be suspended shortly before its last weekly drawing on Dec. 26. Rich says the game did not meet ticket sales expectations, but he did not elaborate.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Officials for a Dubuque museum say they’ve received 16 baby turtles that were confiscated at an airport in Alaska. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confiscated the turtles at an airport in Anchorage, Alaska. They arrived at the museum on Wednesday. More than 200 turtles were recovered at the airport after being packed inside boots in luggage.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Marshalltown officials say a school employee has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old student. The Marshalltown Community School District says it contacted the Marshalltown Police Department on Monday with concerns over an alleged inappropriate relationship between a school district employee and an 18-year-old student. No charges have been filed.