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Iowa early News Headlines: Tuesday, Feb. 5 2019

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February 5th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:350 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state of Iowa will pay $4.15 million to two executive branch employees who were sexually harassed for years by an agency director who had been a longtime friend of Gov. Kim Reynolds. The money will go to former Iowa Finance Authority business development director Beth Mahaffey and its current communications director Ashley Jared. The state appeal board voted 2-1 to approve the deals. State Auditor Rob Sand dissented, saying Jamison and not taxpayers should be required to pay

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would dramatically change the way Iowa selects judges for the Iowa Supreme Court and the district court level has been introduced in the Iowa House. The bill would end appointments by attorneys to judicial nominating commissions and gives the power solely to the governor and legislative leaders.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Police in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny say a grand jury has declined to indict an officer who killed a Missouri man after he pointed a gun at the officer. Police announced Monday that the Polk County grand jury met last week and decided not to indict officer Todd Webb. Webb responded to a reported robbery on Sept. 15 and located a suspect nearby. Police say the suspect, Christopher Lee Leonard, of Springfield, Missouri, pointed a handgun at the officer, who then shot and killed Leonard.