Iowa briefs [Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, IA)]

Iowa Supreme Court justices to consider sentences for teens

IOWA CITY - The Iowa Supreme Court might not be done changing the criminal justice system's approach to teenagers who commit serious crimes.

The court said Thursday that it would review three cases of inmates serving lengthy prison terms for crimes they committed when they were 17. In each case, the offenders argue their lengthy sentences amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

They include a man who was sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years for first-degree robbery; a man serving a life sentence for convictions of second-degree murder and other charges in 1994; and a man sentenced to at least 7 years for second-degree robbery.

The court in August opened the door to shorter sentences for three dozen killers who were juveniles when they were sentenced to life in prison.

Marshalltown man pleads not guilty to charges tied to slaying

MARSHALLTOWN - A 55-year-old Marshalltown man charged in connection with the killing of a Tama man has pleaded not guilty.

Max E. Nelson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to all charged related to the killing of David Warnell, of Garwin.

Nelson faces charges of accessory after the fact, abuse of a corpse and first-degree theft.

Authorities have charged 30-year-old Jeremy A. Gartin with first- degree murder in the killing of Warnell, who was found dead in a Marshalltown house Oct. 1. He had been shot in the head.

Police previously accused Nelson of stealing Warnell's car, but investigators have said little else about the case.

Nelson remains jailed with his bond set at $10,000.

Oelwein man dies of gunshot wounds; wife still hospitalized

OELWEIN - A northeast Iowa man has died of self-inflicted wounds he received in an incident earlier in the week that also left his wife hospitalized.

Oelwein police chief Jeremy Logan said that 44-year-old Myron Dewayne Meador died Wednesday night at an Iowa City hospital.

Police responded to a report of shots at Meador's Oelwein home Tuesday morning.

Meador walked out of the home and was treated for self-inflicted gunshot wounds, then rushed to the hospital.

His 38-year-old wife, Niki Jolene Meador, was found inside the home. She had been shot multiple times and remains hospitalized in Iowa City.

Study finds most Iowans will need help finding health plans

IOWA CITY - A University of Iowa study says Iowans most eligible to buy subsidized health insurance under the Affordable Care Act are going to need help signing up.

The UI Public Policy Center study released Thursday said that those individuals reported being uncomfortable selecting health insurance plans through online exchanges and the majority thought they would need "some or a lot of help."

The study said that population also is more concerned about the costs of health care and more likely to have delayed their care in the last year. That means even after they sign up, they will be looking for help from health care providers on how to use it.

The study was conducted for the Iowa Department of Public Health and based on surveys returned by 498 people.

Smells from new plant annoy Wilton residents

WILTON - Some people in the eastern Iowa city of Wilton are complaining about smells emanating from a new plant that produces animal food.

The issue came up at a Monday night City Council meeting when resident William Locey told members the air was so bad at times that, "you can't breathe it."

City Administrator Chris Ball said managers of the Vitalix plant have assured him the smell isn't hazardous and that the company is considering options for reducing odors.

Those options include capturing fumes from a smoke stack and returning it to the plant and using a water curtain to reduce smells.

Students, teacher fall ill after exposure to sewer gas

GRINNELL - A school official in Grinnell said about 40 students and a teacher were taken to a hospital after being exposed to sewer line gases.

Superintendent Todd Abrahamson said the students and teacher were from Grinnell-Newburg High School.

After being exposed to the gases because of a crack in a sewer line, they complained of headaches, dizziness and nausea and were evaluated at a hospital.

Officials said none of the problems were life-threatening.

The pipe was repaired later Thursday.

Iowa Supreme Court denies appeal in 1982 killing

DES MOINES - The Iowa Supreme Court won't review the sentencing of a northern Iowa man convicted for a 1982 murder.

The Supreme Court denied review of Leroy S. Seiler's case. Seller had appealed after the Court of Appeals in July upheld a Hancock County District Court decision that denied his sentencing appeal.

Seiler was convicted in the murder of 65-year-old Wilmer Gilles, who was beaten to death in his tavern.

A judge sentenced Seiler to life in prison, less 134 days he was jailed before sentencing.

Seiler claimed the sentence was unconstitutional because he couldn't be credited for the day if he served until death.

The Associated Press