WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys are seeking a new trial for a black Iowa teenager convicted of murder after a juror reported other members of the jury made racially charged comments before the conviction. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that jurors testified Thursday about comments allegedly made last year during the trial of 18-year-old Doncorrion Spates. He was found guilty of murder in the 2016 shooting death of Otavioius Brown.

One juror who was called by the defense said a male juror made a comment about African Americans being involved in gangs. The juror said a female juror also commented that black people are “desensitized to killing people.” Five jurors called by the prosecution said they didn’t hear any racial comments and that race didn’t play a role in their decision. Court officials say the hearing will continue at a future date.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new website is helping nonprofits in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area to connect generosity with need. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the SHARE Omaha website launched Thursday. The site includes information about what local nonprofits need in terms of volunteers, money or items. More than 200 nonprofits are listed on the site. The site features nonprofits in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties in Nebraska, and Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison counties in Iowa.

SHARE Omaha Executive Director Marjorie Maas says the platform has an all-inclusive approach and lists organizations of various sizes and with various missions. She says the goal is to make it easier for local residents to find nonprofits that need help. David Scott of the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation proposed the idea in Omaha after seeing a similar project in North Carolina.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former jailer accused of assaulting a Polk County Jail inmate has pleaded not guilty. Polk County court records say 45-year-old Jason Herndon entered the plea last week to an assault charge. His next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14. The records say the inmate suffered a small cut on the inside of his lip Dec. 3. The Des Moines Register reports that Herndon quit his job after being placed on leave.

The inmate told investigators that Herndon was cursing at inmates and calling them names that day. The inmate says that when he protested, Herndon entered his cell and choked him.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of punching a woman, hitting her with a baseball bat and burning her has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. Dubuque County District Court records say 44-year-old Lonnie Vandamme Jr. was sentenced Wednesday. He’d pleaded guilty to kidnapping, willful injury and domestic abuse. Court records say the woman told police the beatings occurred at his apartment in March after they argued. She said he also menaced her with a knife and threatened to kill her. The records say she suffered burns, a broken eye socket, a broken rib and severe body bruising.