A new federal grant will help spread awareness about prescription opioid abuse across Iowa. The grant will fund a statewide media campaign to educate teens and young adults about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs. Janet Nelson, at the Iowa Department of Public Health, says young people often think that if a drug is prescribed by a doctor, it can’t be harmful.  “There are a lot of gaps still to fill,” Nelson says, “and that’s what we’re doing with this prevention grant is to continue to spread the word.”

The grant will also help three counties — Polk, Jasper and Scott — to develop additional strategies to reduce problems stemming from prescription opioid abuse. Nelson says those counties were chosen based on rates of opioid-related deaths, treatment admissions, and youth survey results on misuse of prescription drugs. “We’re targeting community members and hospitals and health care providers — especially prescribers — to help reduce the amount of opioids that are getting prescribed, so it’s a community effort.”

The public health department will work with pharmacists and care providers to stop young people from receiving more pain pills than they need.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Colby John Nicholas Rasmussen, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 7-p.m. Thursday. Rasmussen was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says legislators should “explore” passing a law that would shield drug users from prosecution if they seek help for someone who’s overdosing. Three dozen states have enacted some form of a so-called “Good Samaritan” law. “This law immunizes other drug users from criminal prosecution if they call 911 when an overdose is occurring,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds hosted a forum on the opioid crisis, Thursday. She says she wants to see more doctors use the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, but she’s not yet calling for a law that would REQUIRE participation.  “We’ll work with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy and stakeholders to help improve participation in the program and identity ways to automatically notify prescribers and pharmacies when patients are exceeding reasonable doses,” Reynolds says.

Just 43 percent of the Iowans authorized to write prescriptions for opioids and other medications use the program today. The nine-year-old state system that monitors prescriptions and sends alerts about potential abuses is getting an upgrade in the next few months. “Modernizing the way that we use technology is critical to combatting this deadly epidemic,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds says state officials will encourage doctors to follow prescribing guidelines for opioid pain medications, but the governor opposes a new law that would limit how many pills doctors can prescribe at one time. “Especially when you’re looking at a long-term diagnosis, cancer treatment, rural Iowa access issues,” Reynolds says.

The governor expects use of the statewide prescription monitoring system will grow after the technology is upgraded. Reynolds has declared this Opioid Awareness Week.

Reynolds has talked publicly about her own battle with an addiction to alcohol. Her 2018 reelection campaign has released a video in which the governor credits her family for supporting her as she chose sobriety.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s attorney general for the past year has been working with the attorney general of Illinois to investigate Purdue Pharma — the company that has marketed OxyContin. OxyContin is one of the pain medications at the center of the country’s opioid epidemic. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says attorneys general from all 50 states are involved, in one way or another, in pursuing legal action against responsible parties in the pharmaceutical industry. “There’s been a series of meetings recently with the industry in Chicago,” Miller says.

Federal prosecutors announced a criminal investigation of the Purdue Pharma company this week. Ten states have already filed lawsuits against drug makers. On Thursday, Miller — who is a Democrat — joined Iowa’s Republican governor at a forum to examine the extent of the opioid epidemic in Iowa and what state policies could be changed to address it. “I’m a lawyer. I love math and statistics and complicated situations and solutions, but here it’s just so simple,” Miller says, “for me, anyway.”

Miller says opioids should be the pain remedy of “last resort.” He blasts pharmaceutical companies for downplaying the “addictive nature” of opioids. “We should only use opioids in very limited circumstances where nothing else works,” Miller says. “We should use them with a lot of caution and respect and concern about addiction.”

The latest federal statistics indicate 190 Americans die each DAY from an opioid overdose. “A friend of mine recently…broke some ribs, which is a painful injury…and she took herself off opioids after 20 days,” Miller says. “Her doctor wanted to give her a prescription for 30 days. I think there is growing evidence that in the 14-21 days of use of opioids, in a regular prescription, is a real danger point for many people in addiction. But 30 days! What planet has that doctor been living in?”

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against drug makers and marketers, accusing companies of downplaying the risks of addiction to and overdoses from pain medications. In 2007, Purdue Pharma and three of its executives pleaded guilty to misbranding OxyContin and paid 630-million in penalties. Earlier this week, a spokesman for the company said Purdue Pharma is “commuted to being part of the solution to our nation’s opioid crisis.”

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 10/27) The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that a District Court has revoked the pre-trial release (PTR) of a man charged with three counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, and that man is on the run. The order for 35-year old Ben Reece, of New Market, was revoked for violation of terms of his release. On April 4th, 2017, Reece was released on a $25,000 cash bond. His last known address was a trailer park just outside of Shenandoah behind the old Highway 59 motel. He was last seen there at around 12:30-p.m., Thursday. Authorities believe Reece got a tip that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, and cut off his tracking ankle bracelet just before Noon Thursday.

Reece may be operating a gray 2010 Mercury Mariner (Iowa License Plate ENL 844) or a white 2006 GMC Sierra (Iowa License Plate ENL 843) and was last seen in Shenandoah near the 59er Campground at approximately 12:30-p.m., Thursday. Reece is described as a white male, 6-feet tall, weighing about 225-pounds. He has thin blonde hair. If you see him, call 911 immediately or the Shenandoah Police Department at 712-246-3512. Citizens are advised NOT to attempt to apprehend any individuals on their own.

Ben Reece (Photo1)

Ben Reece (Photo2)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:40 p.m. CDT

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says two cousins kidnapped, suffocated and executed a gender-fluid Iowa teenager whom they pursed for sex after a chance encounter at a grocery store. Prosecutor Christopher Perras detailed the 2016 death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson in opening statements Thursday at the trial of Jorge Sanders-Galvez. Perras said Sanders-Galvez and his cousin left behind a “trail of evidence” that would connect them to the crime. Sanders-Galvez’s attorney declined to make an opening statement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says he will seek a 10th term next year. The Des Moines Register reports 73-year-old Miller, a Democrat, made the announcement Thursday. Miller was initially elected to the statewide office in 1978. Except for a four-year stretch in the early 1990s after he made an unsuccessful run for governor, Miller has been the state’s top prosecutor since, making him the longest serving state attorney general in the country.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s veterans department has announced she’s retiring, just months after she took on the job. Jodi Tymeson announced Thursday in a press release that her last day as executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will be Nov. 17. Tymeson was named executive director in April and started May 1. The press release offers no additional information about her short tenure and includes a link for others to apply for the job.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has outlined priorities for combating opioid abuse in the state, but she stopped short of offering specifics on future legislation or additional state spending. Reynolds said Thursday she will prioritize existing initiatives in Iowa that aim to prevent and treat opioid abuse. Reynolds’ staff later released a list of priorities, which included increasing participation in a prescription monitoring program and expanding education on decreasing opioid prescribing.

CRESTON – Iowans interested in the results of DNR studies to improve water quality in Green Valley and Thayer lakes in Union County can attend a meeting Nov. 8. Citizens are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to improve the lakes to the meeting for discussion.

Green Valley Lake is on the state’s list of impaired waters for high levels of algae, low levels of dissolved oxygen, and low water clarity. Thayer Lake is on the impaired waters list for high levels of algae and low water clarity. The studies, or DNR water quality improvement plans, show how these problems are caused by too much phosphorus in the lakes. The problems impact recreation on the lakes and aquatic life.

The plans explore the amounts and sources of phosphorus entering the lakes and offer potential solutions to reduce those levels and work toward fixing the problems. The documents are designed as a guide for local resource agencies, partners, stakeholders and residents to improve the lakes. Staff from the DNR’s Watershed Improvement Program will be on hand to deliver a presentation and answer questions.

The Nov. 8 meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Southwestern Community College, 1201 W. Townline St. in Creston in Room 124 of the Performing Arts Center. Those not able to attend the public meeting can receive more information at www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water-Quality/Watershed-Improvement/Water-Improvement-Plans and can submit comments on the plans by Nov. 27 via:

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources said Thursday, that the wastewater operator for the city of Malvern had reported they discovered a break in a sewer main where it crosses Little Creek about one-fourth mile southwest of town.

The city estimates the discharge rate at 100,000 gallons per day. The untreated wastewater is discharging into the creek, not far from where it flows into Silver Creek.

The city was expecting a contractor to begin repairs soon. The DNR recommends keeping children and pets away from the area until 24 to 48 hours after repairs are complete. The city is collecting water samples in Little and Silver creeks for laboratory analysis.

A call about a stolen vehicle in Page County late this (Thursday) morning, resulted in the arrest of a rural Braddyville man. Deputies responded to 3343 290th Street (about 3 miles NE of Braddyville) at around 11:35-a.m.

During the investigation, a stolen 2002 Ford F-550 Super Duty 4×4 dump truck was recovered.  The truck had been reported stolen from Mills County on October 23rd, 2017.

John David Stone

47-year old John David Stone was subsequently arrested for Felony Theft in the 1st Degree.  Stone was transported to the Page County Jail for processing, and was unable to post a $10,000 bond. He remained in the jail pending future court proceedings.  The stolen vehicle was returned to the owners.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker reports drugs were seized and three people were arrested as the result of a search warrant executed at around 10:10-a.m. Thursday (Today) at 203 East Welch Street in Crescent. Evidence recovered from the home included:

• A white crystal substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine
• A green Leafy Substance that field-tested positive as marijuana
• A stolen handgun
• An undetermined amount of U.S. currency
• And two vehicles.

April Starkey

Bryan J. Brown

Jim W. Metzger

Taken into custody at the residence, was:

• 46-year old Jim W. Metzger, of Crescent, who faces charges that include Possession with intent to deliver/methamphetamine; Gathering where controlled substances unlawfully used. He was also wanted on a warrant out of Colfax County, Nebraska: for Fail to appear/Traffic Offense related.
• 27-year old Bryan J. Brown, and 36-year old April L. Starkey, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested for Felon in possession of a firearm; Possession with intent to deliver/methamphetamine; Prohibited Acts; A Tax Stamp Violation and Theft 4th Degree. Starkey was also wanted on a warrant out of Council Bluffs for Assault.

All three were transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and held without bond.  All three will appear before a judge on Friday, October 27, 2017. The arrests and charges were the result of a multi-agency investigation involving the Iowa Department of Transportation – Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Intelligence and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.