Iowa

State Auditor: Southwest Iowa town mishandled flood recovery funds

Published

2 months ago

September 26, 2024

State Auditor: Southwest Iowa town mishandled flood recovery funds

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – A new special investigation from State Auditor Rob Sand’s office raises questions about how the southwest Iowa city of Hamburg spent disaster relief funds. Sand says he’s found conflicts of interest with a grant program designed to help a the town recover after flooding five years ago.

Sand says family members of a city council member and a city employee unfairly benefitted.

The city provided funding to build two new homes. One of them was owned by City Council member Kent Benefiel, who transferred ownership to a relative. The second home was privately owned and the owner was not related to anyone involved in city government, but Sand’s audit says city officials were unable to provide any reason as to why the funds were used on lots that weren’t owned by the city. Sand’s report says they couldn’t find any records that show either of the two owners had repaid anything on the loans.

“This is pretty egregious. We’re talking about a town here where we had tens of thousands of dollars given out for flood recovery work for these houses and there’s really no excuse for it to have been going to people connected to city government,” Sand said during a press conference Wednesday. “It’s common in our small towns for many people to wear different hats, but these examples of conflicts of interest are pretty egregious.”

Benefiel no longer sits on the City Council.

One of the programs to help rebuild was called the Nuisance Property and Abandoned Building Remediation Loan Program. It provided financial assistance for the demolition or remediation to buildings which are hazardous to public health and health. Four of the six property owners who received NPAB funds were related to Hamburg’s Public Works Director, Alan Dovel. Of the $128,000 paid out, $95,000, or 75%, of funds were paid to siblings and a parent of Dovel.

Dovel no longer works for the city.

Additionally, a different property was acquired under the NPAB program who died during their term. Sand found no relationship in any capacity with the sixth property owner.

Furthermore, the city made a duplicate payment of $50,000 that wasn’t permitted or explained.

Now that Sand’s special investigation is finished, it’s at the hands of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to decide what to do next.

IEDA says their legal team will consult with the Fremont County Attorney’s Office on next steps.

HSEMD says they reviewed Sand’s report and notes the auditor had no findings specific to their agency.

Sand wouldn’t comment on any potential criminal cases but says his report has been given to the Attorney General’s Office, Freemont County Sheriff and County Attorney, as well as the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

READ THE REPORT:

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

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Iowa

Pick ‘Ems: Iowa-Maryland, Iowa State-Utah, Indiana-Ohio State

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Pick ‘Ems: Iowa-Maryland, Iowa State-Utah, Indiana-Ohio State

There is a 4-way tie atop our season standings between John Steppe, Jeff Johnson, Rob Gray and Beth Malicki

Indiana celebrates after defeating Michigan in an NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

The Gazette’s Pick ‘Ems for Week 13 of the college football season including long road trips for Iowa and Iowa State and the top-five showdown between Indiana and Ohio State.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at Maryland (4-6, 1-6)

11 a.m. Saturday (BTN)

Line: Iowa -6.5

Mike Hlas (2-1, 24-12) — Iowa’s No. 3 quarterback for this game is a Maryland blue crab. Iowa 24, Maryland 14

John Steppe (2-1, 26-10) — My editors are excited for a deadline-friendly 11 a.m. start. I’m just excited to use Washington’s outstanding Metro system. Iowa 20, Maryland 13

Jeff Johnson (3-0, 26-10) — Hey, Coach Ferentz. I’ve got some eligibility remaining if you need a quarterback. I specialize in the Tush Push. Maryland 21, Iowa 17

Rob Gray (3-0, 26-10) — Can the return of Cade McNamara save the Hawkeyes’ season? Maybe. But can the “clouds” settle and put Jackson Stratton into the starting spot? It appears possible. Iowa 14, Maryland 10

Beth Malicki (3-0, 26-10) — I’m hosting Thanksgiving and don’t want anyone to bring their own darn food. This isn’t a potluck. This is my chance to show off and stress out. Iowa 20, Maryland 17

Todd Brommelkamp (3-0, 25-11) — Maryland has a single B1G win (by just one point) and gives up almost 30 points a game yet somehow Iowa’s final road trip of the year has become very unnerving. Iowa 28, Maryland 19

No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) at Utah (4-6, 1-6)

6:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox)

Line: Iowa State -7.5

Hlas — Once I was in a bar in the old Denver airport waiting to catch a flight to Salt Lake City. Someone dropped a quarter in a jukebox and played a Hall and Oates record. At that moment, the most amazing thing happened to all of us there. (Continued on Page 13C). Utah 21, Iowa State 20

Steppe — Utah has more national parks than college football wins this year. Iowa State 23, Utah 20

Johnson — “Is it possible the two Utes …” “The two what?” “What?” “Did you say two Utes?” “Yeah, two Utes.” “What is a Ute?” “Oh, excuse me, your honor. Two youths.” Iowa State 28, Utah 10

Gray — If the Cyclones can stop the run, a path to 9-2 swiftly materializes. If they can’t, this is a four-quarter game. Iowa State 27, Utah 17

Malicki — Why am I wearing a splint on each wrist when I sleep? Self-induced carpal tunnel from robust cleaning. Iowa State 31, Utah 24

Brommelkamp — Utah’s controversial loss in the Holy War two weeks ago was the final straw in a lost season for Kyle Whittingham’s team. Make it seven straight setbacks for the Utes. Iowa State 25, Utah 21

No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) at No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 6-1)

11 a.m. Saturday (Fox)

Line: Ohio State -12

Hlas — This is the biggest Indiana football game of our lives, then we have turkey dinner five days later. So delay that move to New Zealand for another week. Ohio State 35, Indiana 28

Steppe — My mother is an Indiana grad. I hope she does her Christmas shopping for me before reading this pick. Ohio State 41, Indiana 31

Johnson — Indiana is a great story, but let’s get real. Hoosiers have played exactly ONE team with a winning record, and that’s Washington, which is a mere 6-5. Ohio State 31, Indiana 14

Gray — Heck, let’s blow it all up. Bluebloods be damned. Er, wait. On second thought … Ohio State 27, Indiana 14

Malicki — I cannot wait for all three of my adult kids to come home so I can be so overwhelmed with delight I can’t sleep so in all the pictures I have “crazy eyes.” Ohio State 34, Indiana 23

Brommelkamp — It’s clear ESPN and the CFP aren’t fans of Curt Cignetti’s upstarts. I am. The Hoosiers will (hopefully) make this a game and prove their many doubters wrong. Ohio State 31, Indiana 24

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Decatur County duo arrested after alleged robbery in Iowa Wednesday, police say

Published

11 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Decatur County duo arrested after alleged robbery in Iowa Wednesday, police say

WEST DES MOINES, Ia. (WCTV) – Two people from Decatur County were arrested in Iowa Wednesday, and face charges related to an alleged robbery, according to a press release from the West Des Moines Police Department.

Daniel Mathes of Bainbridge is charged with robbery in the second degree and theft in the first degree. Lisa Haire of Climax is charged with aiding and abetting robbery in the second degree and aiding and abetting theft in the first degree.

Daniel Mathes and Lisa Haire, pictured above in their mugshots.(West Des Moines Police Department)

Late Wednesday afternoon, police responded to a call of a robbery at a bank, according to authorities. No one was injured, and police determined Mathes and Haire suspects related to the incident, police say.

They were later pulled over by Iowa State Patrol on I-80, and arrested without incident, according to authorities.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook and X (Twitter).

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Iowa State vs. Utah score prediction by expert football model

Published

21 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Iowa State vs. Utah score prediction by expert football model

A notable late-season Big 12 matchup kicks off this weekend as No. 22 Iowa State goes on the road against Utah. Let’s check in with the latest prediction for the game from an expert analytical football model that projects scores and picks winners.

Iowa State sits in a two-way tie for third-place in the Big 12 standings after a two-game losing skid that came to an end last weekend, but the Cyclones need help getting to the league title game.

Utah was the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Championship Game, but slid to just 1-6 in conference play and is on a six-game losing streak, not having won since late September, against Oklahoma State, the other worst team in the league this season.

What do the analytical models suggest for when the Cyclones and Utes square off in this Big 12 matchup?

For that, let’s turn to the SP+ prediction model to get a preview of how Iowa State and Utah compare in this Week 13 college football game.

As expected, the models are siding with the Cyclones against the Utes, but by a close margin.

SP+ predicts that Iowa State will defeat Utah by a projected score of 24 to 20 and to win the game by an expected margin of 4.1 points in the process.

The model gives the Cyclones a solid 60 percent chance of outright victory against the Utes.

SP+ is a “tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” that attempts to predict game outcomes by measuring “the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football.”

How good is it this season? So far, the SP+ model is 315-293-8 against the spread with a 51.8 win percentage after going 23-30 (43.4%) last weekend.

Iowa State is a 7.5 point favorite against Utah, according to the updated lines posted to FanDuel Sportsbook for the game.

FanDuel lists the total at 41.5 points for the game (Over -110, Under -110).

And it set the moneyline odds for Iowa State at -280 and for Utah at +225 to win outright.

If you’re using this prediction to bet on the game, you should take …

If you do, you’ll be in the company of a minority of bettors, most of whom expect the Cyclones to dominate the Utes, according to the latest spread consensus picks for the game.

Iowa State is getting 62 percent of bets to win the game and cover the spread in the process.

The other 38 percent of wagers project Utah will either win outright in an upset or keep the game under 8 points in a loss.

Most other analytical football models also favor the Cyclones against the Utes this weekend.

That includes the College Football Power Index, a computer prediction model that uses data points from both teams to simulate games 20,000 times to pick winners.

Iowa State is the favorite in the game, coming out ahead in the majority 63.2 percent of the computer’s most recent simulations of the matchup.

That leaves Utah as the presumptive winner in the other 36.8 percent of sims for the game.

How does that translate to an expected margin of victory in the matchup?

Iowa State is projected to be 4.8 points better than Utah on the same field in both teams’ current composition, according to the model’s latest forecast.

Iowa State is fourth among Big 12 teams with a 9.5 percent chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff, according to the FPI’s metrics.

That model forecasts the Cyclones will win 9.3 games this season.

Colorado (34.3%) leads the Big 12 in the playoff race, according to the index projections, followed by BYU (31.1%) and Arizona State (13.5%).

Utah has two games left to become bowl eligible, but the index doesn’t foresee that happening.

FPI projects the Utes will win 4.7 games and have an 11.9 percent chance to make a bowl game.

When: Sat., Nov. 23
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

Time: 6:30 p.m. CT | 5:30 p.m. MT
TV: Fox network

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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