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Iowa early News Headlines: Monday, Oct. 20th 2017

News

October 30th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:09 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A program that helps refugees become farmers is growing, thanks in part to a federal funding boost. Des Moines-based Lutheran Services in Iowa will use a new $24,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer training to refugees about food safety, organic production and crop planning. The money helps fund an effort to evolve the program from one that only offers some community garden plots to one that also provides intense training to help participants start businesses.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Residents of an Iowa city are growing frustrated with the federal government’s lack of action on a long-closed Veterans Affairs hospital that has been allowed to fall into ruin. The Des Moines Register reports that the Knoxville hospital closed in 2004 when the VA decided to move most of its services to a location in Des Moines. The Knoxville hospital has 39 buildings, some of which date back to 1905. Residents say many of the buildings have mold, asbestos, leaking roofs and peeling paint.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old Iowa man who had been reported missing died in a crash in Kansas. KTIV reports that Jake Roos of Ashton, Iowa, was reported missing early Friday morning while he was on the way to pick up a load of cattle.

BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — Police officers from around the country are reaching out to support a fallen Iowa officer’s son. Anamosa police Officer Mitch Kelchen died in a car crash over Labor Day weekend while off duty. After his death, Kelchen’s oldest son, Shane, collected business cards from other officers. But someone at his school destroyed the cards. KCCI television station in Des Moines reports that officers from Kansas City, Kansas, presented a special gift to the family Friday in Bellevue, Iowa.