United Group Insurance

Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, 11/17/2017

News

November 17th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:54 a.m. CST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Keystone pipeline has leaked 210,000 gallons in rural South Dakota but officials don’t believe it has polluted water. Pipeline operator TransCanada Corp. says it has shut down the system that delivers oil from Canada to refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma. There have been 17 leaks of oil and products in the U.S. larger than this one since 2010. The leak was discovered four days before Nebraska regulators are to announce whether they approve an expansion of the Keystone system.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen said Thursday she wants information released from an internal investigation into alleged sexual harassment within the Senate Republican caucus. Petersen sent letters to the GOP-controlled chamber’s two ranking Republican lawmakers requesting that findings from the investigation be shared publicly. Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix has said that can’t be done because of privacy concerns. GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds also wants general findings released.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — An elementary school in eastern Iowa is using a therapy pig to help special education students manage emotions and focus on learning. The Muscatine Journal reports that Frankie the pig serves as a calming mechanism. Students showing signs of emotional distress are asked to sit and read to the therapy pig. The practice has proven to help students recover and return to learning more quickly. Students are also in charge of feeding and caring for Frankie, which has created a sense of responsibility.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The director of the Homeland Security Department’s office of faith-based partnerships has resigned after a CNN report on racially inflammatory remarks he made before joining the federal government. CNN reported that before Rev. Jamie Johnson’s appointment, he often appeared on conservative talk radio. In one clip posted by CNN, Johnson said, “America’s black community … has turned America’s major cities into slums because of laziness, drug use and sexual promiscuity.”