(Radio Iowa) — Dordt College in Sioux Center has placed its band director on leave following accusations of inappropriate student contact, according to an email sent to students. Dr. Bradley Miedema is an associate professor of music at the northwest Iowa college and director of instrumental ensembles. The provost of Dordt College confirms Miedema will remain on leave, pending the college Board of Trustees decision on the issue. Brandon Huisman, vice president of enrollment and marketing at Dordt, says the college recognizes the seriousness of this issue. “We’re working with those involved to move forward in ways to acknowledge the seriousness of these actions in ways that we believe will lead to Christ-centered resolution, healing and hope,” he says.

Huisman says he cannot reveal details of the allegations because it’s a personnel matter. The Dordt College Board of Trustees will review the matter at its regular meeting next week.  “We value of students’ and employees’ well-being and we are committed to ministering to those affected by this situation,” Huisman says.

Other faculty are teaching Miedema’s classes and overseeing rehearsals. Concerts will go on as scheduled. Dordt College is associated with the Christian Reformed Church. It and has a student body of about 15-hundred and 85 full-time faculty.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Farm Bureau’s Health Benefit Plans that go on sale November 1st are getting a thumbs down from Republican Congressman David Young AND Cindy Axne, his Democratic opponent for Iowa’s third district seat. The Farm Bureau plans were designed as a cheaper option for Iowans who buy their own insurance, but the Farm Bureau will be able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions.  “I do not like that fact that they do not protect those with pre-existing conditions, so I have a real problem with that bill,” Young says.

Young’s fellow Republicans in the state legislature and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds approved the sale of these so-called “skinny” plans that may not be available to Iowans with pre-existing conditions.Young says he doesn’t like it, but he’ll leave it up to state officials to decide how to proceed.  “But at the federal level I’m doing what I can at the federal level to make sure those with pre-existing conditions are protected,” Young says.

Axne says the Farm Bureau’s “skinny” insurance option is “unfortunate.” “A lot of plans are out there that provide very little coverage and don’t do much to help people,” Axne says, “and this is another one that does that.”

Young has voted to repeal President Obama’s Affordable Care Act which has provided federal subsidies so low income Americans may buy insurance. Axne says she’d vote to “shore up” the Affordable Care Act and keep provisions like letting young people stay on their parent’s insurance until age 26. “I would like to see a public option, so that everybody has an opportunity for an effective, affordable plan,” Axne says.

Axne and Young appeared together on Iowa Public Television last (Thursday) night for an hour, answering questions on issues like raising the federal minimum wage. Young says states should set the wage floor for their areas. Axne supports raising the federal minimum wage. Young opposes raising the gas tax to finance infrastructure like roads and bridges. “I think it’s a tax on working Iowans. I would like to see some parity and equity, though, in how we pay for our roads and bridges. We have a lot out there who are driving on our roads and bridges who aren’t paying into it, necessarily, with electric vehicles, propane, different kind of fuels, flex-fuel vehicles,” Young says. “I think if you’re going to play on those roads, you’ve got to pay.”

Young says federal officials are investigating how a “per mile driven” tax might work. Axne says the nation’s infrastructure is crumbling and “multiple options” should be CONSIDERED, including a per mile tax. “I’m not going to say yes or no right now to that,” Axne says. “We haven’t seen a gas tax (increase) in a heck of a long time. We need to look at what might be an opportunity for us to find those funds.”

The two took to their partisan corners when it comes to the G-O-P tax cut package Young voted for in December. Young says constituents tell him it’s putting more money in their pockets. Axne says it’s primarily helping upper income Americans and corporations.

(Radio Iowa) — Thousands of people are expected in Winterset this weekend for a celebration of the area’s famous covered bridges. Heather Riley, executive director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, says this is the 49th year for the Covered Bridge Festival. It’s usually the busiest weekend of the year for visitors to the county’s six historic bridges – some of which are over 140 years old. “We have all kinds of maps and information here in our office and everyone is welcome to go out on their own to visit the covered bridges, but a better idea is to hop on one of the buses hosted by our local Rotary club and get a bridge tour that way,” Riley said.

The Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, scheduled for 9 am to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday, typically draws around 20,000 people over the two days. The bridges inspired a 1992 best-selling novel that was adopted into a movie starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. “Around the time the book and movie were so popular, we just had massive amounts of motor coaches here for the festival. We don’t really see that so much, although we do see some motor coaches, they aren’t coming by the dozens like they did 25 years ago when the book and movie were very fresh,” Riley said.

Fundraising continues for the effort to rebuild one of the county’s covered bridges. The Cedar Bridge has been destroyed by arson twice, with the most recent fire about a year-and-a-half ago. “Our hope is that we’ll be cutting the ribbon on the rebuilt Cedar Bridge this time next year, in time for our 50th celebration of the Covered Bridge Festival,” Riley said. I

n addition to tours of the famous overpasses, the Covered Bridge Festival includes a parade, arts and crafts vendors, demonstrations, kid’s activities, and live music — all centered around the Madison County Courthouse in downtown Winterset.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say the teenage son of a man killed in a Huxley house fire has also died from his injuries. Huxley Police Sgt. tells the Des Moines Register that 17-year-old Daniel Van Ersvelde died Wednesday at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. His death came three days after the fire that killed his father, 47-year-old Brett Van Ersvelde. The teen and his mother were both pulled from his bedroom by firefighters Sunday evening. Two teenage daughters were able to escape.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three Nebraska farmers have agreed to plead guilty to fraudulently marketing non-organic corn and soybeans as certified organic as part of a multi-million-dollar scheme from 2010 until 2017. Documents filed in federal court in Iowa show that Tom Brennan, James Brennan and Michael Potter each intend to plead guilty to wire fraud. Their attorneys didn’t immediately reply to phone messages. Prosecutors say they sold non-organic grains to an Iowa company that marketed them nationwide as organic.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor has issued a disaster proclamation for 19 counties in response to severe weather that raked much of the state earlier this month. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the proclamation Thursday in the wake of Oct. 4 storms that including damaging winds, heavy rains, flooding and tornadoes.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A man has been given 50 years in prison for stabbing to death a woman in her northeast Iowa home. Court records say 54-year-old Garry James was sentenced Wednesday in Dubuque. Authorities say he killed 53-year-old Michelle Kinney on July 21. Friends found her body two days later on the floor of her blood-spattered kitchen in Dubuque. James pleaded guilty to second-degree murder,

WINDSOR HEIGHTS—Heavy rainfall and extensive flooding throughout most of the state makes many Iowa streams unsafe for recreation. While fast stream currents are the biggest risk for people, high waters can also carry dangerous debris and bacteria. “For their own safety, we’re recommending people stay out of the water until several days after streams return to normal,” said Ted Petersen, supervisor of DNR’s Windsor Heights field office.

“Following heavy rains, almost 100 communities from Keokuk to Waterloo, from Dubuque to Clarinda have reported wastewater discharges since October 1,” he said.

“Widespread heavy rainfall overwhelmed city treatment plants and a number of livestock operations have reported overflowing manure storage systems,” Petersen said. “Most of these facilities have national pollution prevention discharge elimination system or NPDES permits.” Put simply, an NPDES permit allows them to overflow due to heavy rains.

One discharging livestock facility, Cyclone Cattle near Macedonia in Pottawattamie County, has an expired NPDES permit. “Its lagoons have recently been pumped out and there are no animals in the facility.”

Managers of city and industrial wastewater treatment plants, and livestock facilities that are discharging or expecting to discharge should contact their local DNR field office. “We’ll work with them to identify solutions and minimize impacts to nearby streams,” Petersen said.

After hours, facilities can call the DNR emergency spill line at 515-725-8694. The DNR website has more information about spill reporting requirements.