GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – The superintendent of an Iowa care center for people with intellectual disabilities has been fired amid a federal investigation. Jerry Rea was notified in a letter Monday that he was being dismissed from his position at the Glenwood Resource Center. The letter says the dismissal is a result of disregard for policies and procedures. Associated Press efforts to reach Rea on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Rea had been placed on paid leave earlier this month. Few details have been released about the federal investigation. It covers concerns that residents with a range of developmental and physical disabilities were the subjects of sexual arousal experiments.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa business owners need to add one more thing to their list of New Year’s resolutions. An expert suggests businesses of all sizes plan ahead for a digital data disaster should hackers ever break into your computer and access your customers’ files. Consumer advocate Lara Sutherlin says if you store any client data electronically, it’s vital that you are prepared to respond quickly and efficiently. Sutherlin says, “Have a plan in place if you do get exposed to a data breach, to notify your consumers, to notify regulators, to notify law enforcement.”

In perhaps the largest case in Iowa in the past year, the Hy-Vee grocery chain was hit by a data breach that was discovered this summer. Malware was blamed for exposing the payment information of an untold number of customers. It’s unpleasant to ponder, but it’s reality, Sutherlin says, adding, the responsibly for handling a data breach requires two main parts.  “Make sure you’re doing everything you can to shut down further information from being released from your business,” she says, “and that the people that may have been exposed are quickly notified and can act on that information.”

Trying to hide a data breach will only work for a short time before someone notices, and then not only will there be a public relations fiasco, you could face penalties for concealing a loss of information.

(Radio Iowa) — The final days of 2019 are winding down and so are your chances to make a donation that you can claim on your federal income taxes. I-R-S spokesman, Chris Miller, says you have until Today (Tuesday). “Those who plan to itemized deductions should know that charitable contributions are deductible in the year that they are made. So take care of any last minute donations by December 31st,” Miller says.

He says the day you make the donation is the day that it counts. “Keep in mind that donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2019 count for a 2019 tax year deduction — even if the bill isn’t paid until 2020,” Miller says.  Miller says the same thing goes…”If you’re mailing a check — checks to a charity count for 2019 if they are mailed by the last day of the year,” according to Miller. “So, they don’t have to be processed by the bank or the charity — just mailed by the end of the year.”

Miller says if you make cash or other donation, be sure to get a dated receipt so you can claim them as deductions for this year.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Democrats are urging caucus-goers to update their party registration today (Tuesday). Those who register by the close of business on December 31st are guaranteed to be on the list of eligible registered voters on Caucus Night. “That’s going to speed things up quite a bit at the sign-in line.” John Deeth is a volunteer with the Johnson County Democrats. He says making sure your registration is up to date will streamline the check-in process, especially at large precincts with lots of new voters. “By up to date, I mean both your address and your party affiliation,” Deeth says. “Both parties, you have to be registered with that party in order to participate in the caucus.”

Iowans may update their voter registration through the secretary of state’s website or in person at county offices. Caucus-goers will still be able to register to vote or switch their party affiliation at their precincts on February 3rd. “You can update your voter registration on Caucus Night and we welcome people who do that, but it will be faster for you if you get your registration up to date before January 1st,” Deeth says.

You must be a registered Democrat to participate in the Democratic Party’s Caucuses — and you must be a registered Republican voter to participate in the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses. Republican Party officials released a list of G-O-P precinct meeting locations last week.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Kate Payne)

(Radio Iowa) — Some Woodbury County citizens have filed petitions challenging the residency status of County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor. Petitioners accuse Taylor of moving into a Sioux City home that’s outside the district he was elected to represent, while listing another Sioux City home he owns that *IS* in the district as his official address. Taylor says he’s done nothing wrong.
“Nearly six months ago I made the situation known when asked by our county attorney and auditor and know that what I’ve done is legal and will stand,” Taylor says, “…I will look forward to a ruling on that.”

A woman who has often run unsuccessfully for public office in Sioux City has filed a separate legal challenge of Taylor’s voter registration status, arguing he wasn’t a legal resident of the address he used to vote. Taylor is one of the Republicans running in the primary against Iowa Congressman Steve King. The county attorney has said he has a conflict of interest and the county has hired an outside attorney to provide legal advice during a hearing about Taylor’s voter registration. County officials will hold a separate hearing about the allegation Taylor does not live in the district he was elected to represent.

A traffic stop at around 9-p.m. Monday in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Paige Marie Clark, of Red Oak. She was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Clark’s bond was set at slightly more than $566.

Sheriff’s deputies in Adams County responded to a residence in Corning at around 7:42-p.m., Monday, with regard to a fight in progress. Upon their arrival and investigation, it was discovered that 26-year old Andrew Hoenisch, of Corning, had allegedly assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and her ex-husband, following a verbal argument. Andrew Hoenisch was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, and Domestic Assault with bodily injury/1st offense.

A traffic stop on a vehicle with a registration violation Monday night in Anita, turned into a pursuit and resulted in the arrest of a man whose license indicated he was from Pottawattamie County. Cass County Deputy Kyle Quist told KJAN News Deputy Tim Olsen made the traffic stop on a 2016 Ford Taurus, at around 11:25-p.m. The car, driven by 25-year old Kyler O’Brien, of Council Bluffs, took off, leading Olsen on a chase that wound its way on mostly gravel roads.

A Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy placed stop sticks on the road in the area of Highway 173 and Boston Road. The Taurus hit the device and came to a stop just west of there. O’Brien was taken into custody at around 11:46-p.m. without further incident.

He was transported to the Cass County Jail, where he faces charges that include Driving While Barred, Eluding, numerous moving violations, and a weapons charge (for possessing a small switchblade). Assisting the Cass County Sheriff’s Office during the incident, were deputies from Shelby and Audubon Counties, Atlantic Police, and the Iowa State Patrol.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 2:20 a.m. CST

IOWA – Two people died and a total of four people were injured during separate crashes Monday, in Iowa. The State Patrol says 17-year old Noah Moore, of Madrid, died in a Hardin County crash between a car and a semi at around 12:47-p.m. The second fatal crash happened in Cedar County, at around 6:02-p.m., Monday. The Patrol says a 2007 Chevy Impala and a 2016 Ford F-350 pickup collided in the 1800 block of Iowa Highway 38. One of the victims died from their injuries. The other was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital for treatment of their injuries. No names had been released as of early Tuesday morning, pending notification of family.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has approved a competency evaluation of a woman accused of hate crimes in the Des Moines area, including intentionally running over a girl she believed was Mexican. Nicole Poole’s attorney told a judge Monday that he thinks Poole has a mental disorder and is incompetent to stand trial. The Des Moines Register reports that prosecutors didn’t fight the defense request for a competency evaluation. Poole is accused of throwing items at a store clerk and directing racial epithets at him and customers and of intentionally hitting a 14-year-old Hispanic girl and a 12-year-old black boy with her vehicle. Both children survived.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — New U.S. Census estimates show Iowa’s population continued to increase slowly in the last year and now numbers 3,155,070. The July 1, 2019, estimate released Monday was up 108,199 from the 2010 population. Iowa’s population would have been significantly lower if not for international migration, which since 2010 has added nearly 48,000 people to the state. That migration offset nearly 30,000 residents who moved from Iowa to other states during that period. The national population was estimated at 328.2 million.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Jan. 13 hearing has been scheduled for a Dubuque man charged with neglecting livestock and failing to properly dispose of dead animals. Court records say 31-year-old Cesar Gonzalez faces nearly three dozen counts. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him. Officials say several of the 26 animals rescued from the Dubuque farm earlier this month were in poor health. The bones and rib cages of some animals could be seen, and they had matted hair. The animals removed included horses, a pony, goats, sheep, pigs and geese.

Two people died and a total of four people were injured during separate crashes Monday, in Iowa. The State Patrol says 17-year old Noah Moore, of Madrid, died in a Hardin County crash between a car and a semi at around 12:47-p.m.

Noah was a passenger in a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by 20-year old Jayden Moore, also of Madrid. The vehicle was traveling south on County Highway S-27, at the same time a 2001 Peterbilt semi driven by 61-year old Keith Hinders, of Eldora, was traveling eastbound on County Highway D-20. The vehicles collided at the intersection.

Noah Moore – who was not wearing a seat belt – died at the scene. Jayden Moore, and his other passenger, 17-year old Elijah Moore, along with Hinders (all of whom were wearing seat belts), were transported to a hospital in Des Moines.

The second fatal crash happened in Cedar County, at around 6:02-p.m., Monday. The Patrol says a 2007 Chevy Impala and a 2016 Ford F-350 pickup collided in the 1800 block of Iowa Highway 38. One of the victims died from their injuries. The other was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital for treatment of their injuries. No names had been released as of early Tuesday morning, pending notification of family.