Culver announces new director in his office

DES MOINES -- Maquoketa native Phil Roeder will become Iowa Gov. Chet Culver's communications director beginning Oct. 3, Culver's office announced Thursday.

Roeder is currently the director of community relations and legislative liaison for Des Moines Public Schools.

Power Fund Board approves new funding

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) -- The Iowa Power Fund Board approved $7.5 million in funding Wednesday to help Iowans affected by flooding and tornadoes.

The money is intended to help people rebuild to higher energy efficiency standards and to emphasize renewable resources.

Homeowners can apply for up to $10,000 in their disaster reconstruction process. Businesses will be eligible for up to $5,000.

Accidental shooting ends with suicide death

WOOLSTOCK (AP) -- Police say a man accidentally shot and killed his hunting partner in Wright County on Thursday, then committed suicide shortly after leading police to the body.

Officers were notified Thursday morning that a man had accidentally shot his partner in a public hunting area north of Woolstock. The hunter took authorities to a heavily wooded area where the first shooting had occurred. While officers were searching for that victim, the second hunter died of an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound.

Officers were close by when the second shooting occurred. Authorities said that no shots were fired by officers.

Hearing to be held in human trafficking case

DES MOINES (AP) -- A preliminary hearing will be held for a woman accused of helping a man recruit two Nebraska teens for prostitution.

Marcia Ryan is to appear in Crawford County District Court in Denison on Friday.

Ryan, labeled a prostitute by authorities, faces two counts of human trafficking, one count of ongoing criminal conduct and two counts of pandering.

Those are the same charges that Leonard Russell, the man she was accused of helping, was convicted of last week.