Wednesday, November 2, 2016 | Volume 212 | Number 52 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890.
Ames woman charged with murder after fatal shooting By Alex.Hanson @iowastatedaily.com Ames Police have charged a women with murder in the shooting death of her husband that was originally reported to police as an accident in October. Candace Cummings, 35, of Ames, is being held in the Story County Jail on charges of first-
degree murder, a felony, after an investigation of a shooting that took place Oct. 21 in Ames. Candace Cummings admitted in CANDACE CUMMINGS an interview with Ames Police on Tuesday that she shot her husband, Harland “Jesse” Cum-
mings, 36, because of the “stress” from their relationship, said Ames Police Commander Jason Tuttle. Candace Cummings was brought in for additional questioning after an investigation by police. Tuttle said when police responded to the shooting on Oct. 21, the story told by Candace Cummings “didn’t add up,” so they continued to investigate. At the time, police were told
the shooting was an accident at the residence at 206 West Date Court in Ames. Candace Cummings originally told police that someone heard a noise outside their trailer, went to a bedroom and retrieved a handgun and returned to the living room to look outside. When they returned to the bedroom, the gun went off and hit the male victim, Jesse Cummings,
who died at the scene. Candace Cummings and Jesse Cummings were married, and Tuttle said their children were in the trailer at the time but did not witness the shooting. The two were married in September 2009, according to an obituary for Jesse Cummings. He lived in Ames for 16 years and owned Cummings Construction, which he started in 2011.
A CALL FOR CHANGE Classifying a hate crime By Emily.Barske @iowastatedaily.com The United States is seeing high tensions between minoritized groups and majority groups across the country, and Iowa State is no exception. After a woman ripped an Iowa State student’s poster and shouted racial slurs during a Trump rally at a CyHawk tailgate, these tensions were brought to the university’s attention at a large scale. While it’s apparent to many that tensions are high across the country, it’s difficult to know how big of a problem hate crime is. An AP report this summer found that many state police agencies do not report hate crimes to the federal government because the FBI does not require them to do so. While an AP analysis found that “211 Emily Blobaum/Iowa State Daily of the 402 Iowa agencies that report data to the FBI Wesley Harris speaks about his concerns regarding the email sent out to students in response to the white heritage posters that were hung on campus have failed to submit hate crime information at last Thursday during the NAACP community discussion Tuesday. Harris said he doesn’t feel safe on campus. least once from 2009 to 2014,” the Iowa State Police Department is not one of those agencies. Multicultural Liaison Officer Nick Grossman with the Iowa State Police Department By Whitney.Mason said Iowa State alalso how the university administrators reacted. @iowastatedaily.com ready has to report In an email sent out late Thursday morning, the numbers for the administrators said the posters violated univerClery Act, so hate A sense of frustration, fear and misunderstand- sity facility and grounds use policy. crime numbers are “These posters also depict historical references ing guided a conversation Tuesday night between already available to administrators and Iowa State community mem- or messages that could evoke feelings of bias or report to the state. bers during an open discussion in response to the racism,” the email read, which was signed by “In general, it’s a “white heritage” posters found on campus last President Steven Leath, along with Senior Vice very difficult thing for President for Student Affairs Martino Harmon, Thursday. me to accept,” GrossThe posters, which were removed within hours Senior Vice President and Provost Jonathan man said of agencies of being discovered, had what many perceived as Wickert and Vice President for Diversity and Iowa State University - 2 total not reporting their racist messages and empathized with white su- Inclusion Reginald Stewart. 1, on campus, classified as vandalism, motivated by hate crime numbers. Many felt that the email was detached from the premacy. However, many students were not just sexual orientation “Being transparent upset with the fact that the posters existed, but real experiences that many were feeling, includ1, on campus, classified as harassment, motivated by race is what people want ing NAACP Chapter President Keia Carter, who to see.” said the poster was not acceptable and “people University of Iowa - 2 total From his work as a feel threatened by these things.” 1, on campus, classified as intimidation, motivated by multicultural liaison Iowa State’s NAACP Chapter hosted the conethnicity officer, Grossman versation. 1, on campus, classified as vandalism, motivated by believes that hate “It’s just added stress no one’s addressing,” sexual orientation crimes are underreCarter said. “We shouldn’t be scared to sit in our ported. classrooms.” University of Northern Iowa 0 total Iowa’s hate crime Students in attendance were quick to agree No hate crimes reported statute includes aswith Carter’s statement. sault, arson, tresHarmon, who was one of the administrators passing and criminal in attendance, agreed with Carter and the other mischief committed students, and was not afraid to display his frusIowa State University - 1 total because of the pertrations over the posters. 1, occurred on public property, classified as an aggravated son’s “race, color, “Hurtful. Ill-informed and inconsistent,” Harassault, motivated by race religion, ancestry, mon said about the posters. “These individuals national origin, powere slick enough to use ethnicity and a symbol University of Iowa - 0 total litical affiliation, sex, to challenge us as an institution.” No hate crimes reported 2015 sexual orientation, Harmon added that the posters were ultimateage or disability” or a ly taken down due to the institution’s policies, as University of Northern Iowa - 1 total person’s association mentioned in the community-wide email. 1, occurred off campus, classified as intimidation with someone be“I was one of the officers that took down the incident, motivated by race cause of those charposters and it hurt,” said Dwight Hinson, one of
Fear, frustration over ‘white heritage’ posters lead discussion
BY THE NUMBERS REPORTED HATE CRIMES AT IOWA’S REGENT UNIVERSITIES
2014
2015
Emily Blobaum/Iowa State Daily
Malik Burton, president of Black Student Alliance, poses a question during the NAACP community discussion Nov. 1.
NAACP p8
HATE p8
Supervisor candidates on issues By Shannon.McCarty @iowastatedaily.com
Travis Charlson/Iowa State Daily
Martin Chitty, a Republican running for the Story County Board of Supervisors, discusses his vision of Story County during the candidate forum on Tuesday.
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With Election Day in sight, the candidates for the Story County Board of Supervisors gathered to discuss their differences on various issues affecting the county. Candidates Scott Schaben, Martin Chitty, Linda Murken and Lauris Olson all appeared at a forum that was hosted by the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) Action Fund at the Ames Public Library. CCI is a political group that hopes to drive the political debate more toward populist policies and
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action. Chitty, a Republican, and Schaben, a Democrat, are both running to succeed Paul Toot after his death in early May, leaving a two-year vacancy on the board. Scott Schaben, a Republican; Lauris Olson, a Democrat; and incumbent Wayne Clinton, an independent; are running for the four-year term seat on the board of supervisors. Clinton was unable to attend the forum. The forum focused on several areas of concern, including th Bakken Pipeline and minimum wage: Martin Chitty Chitty is from Nevada and has
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worked at FedEx for two and a half decades. He is the president of the Nevada school board, and in late May, was chosen by a committee to fill Toot’s seat temporarily until the November election. The Bakken Pipeline: Do you support or oppose the Bakken pipeline and will you do everything in your power to make sure this contracted inspection group, ISG, protects Iowans and resources? Chitty said he has an indifference to the Bakken Pipeline. He has lived next to one almost his entire life and
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