Criminal charges filed in film office flap

by O. Kay Henderson on February 8, 2010

in Crime & Courts, Politics & Government, Recreation & Entertainment, Uncategorized

The former director of the Iowa Film Office has been charged with misconduct in office, while a handful of people involved in a movie called “The Scientist” face more serious charges. 

Former Film Office manager Tom Wheeler of Indianola was fired in September after questions were raised about how state tax credits to film and TV productions were being managed.   Wheeler has been charged with non-felonious misconduct in office, a serious misdemeanor.  If convicted, Wheeler faces a fine of up to $1875.  In addition, he could be sentenced to up to a year in prison.  Wheeler’s brother issued a statement Monday evening, accusing the attorney general of  persecuting the former film office director for political gain.

[click to continue…]

Tagged as: Employment and Labor, Taxes

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Governor talks trooper funding, MHI closing

by O. Kay Henderson 02/8/10 2:58 PM

Governor Chet Culver is asking legislators to rethink their opposition to his proposal for financing the operations of the Iowa State Highway Patrol. Culver has called for using state gas taxes to pay salaries and expenses for the state troopers, but legislators are reluctant to divert that money from construction and maintenance of Iowa roads [...]

Read the full article →

Labor-related bills emerge at statehouse

by O. Kay Henderson 02/8/10 6:17 PM

A union-backed bill that rather dramatically died by one vote in the Iowa House last year has been at least partially revived at the statehouse. 
By a narrow, nine to eight vote, the House Labor Committee has approved a bill which would require workers on most state-financed construction projects be paid the “prevailing wage” in the [...]

Read the full article →

Free tax preparation services available for many Iowans

by Pat Curtis 02/8/10 4:25 PM

Thousands of Iowans are eligible for free tax preparation services. Lawmakers are promoting the Free File Alliance — a partnership between Iowa, the Internal Revenue Service and several electronic tax software manufacturers. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says the program is intended for low and moderate-income families.
“Hundreds of thousands of Iowans can [...]

Read the full article →

Tougher water regulations get final approval

by Dar Danielson 02/8/10 3:03 PM

A state committee has signed off on tougher environmental rules aimed at keeping Iowa’s lakes, rivers and streams free of pollution. The new standards place stricter requirements on wastewater treatment plants, planning to discharge into Iowa waterways.
Many cities and counties opposed the tougher rules, saying it will cost too much to upgrade their plants. But [...]

Read the full article →

Senate approves bill raising fines in red light crashes

by Pat Curtis 02/8/10 1:09 PM

Motorists who kill or seriously injure someone while running a red light would face stiffer penalties under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate this morning. The bill was dubbed “Jermiah’s Law” in honor of a young central Iowa man who was hit and killed by a motorist who ran a red light. Jermiah’s mother, [...]

Read the full article →

Dozens air complaints about government reorganization plan

by O. Kay Henderson 02/8/10 12:18 PM

Dozens of citizens crowded into a meeting room at the statehouse today to air their complaints about a state government reorganization plan that will be debated in the House later this week. A bus load of southwest Iowans was there to tout the Mental Health Institute in Clarinda, a facility that would be downsized under [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries