(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of officers in a pursuit of an escaped inmate in central Iowa that led to a crash. Amber Martinez of Des Moines claimed officers were reckless for pursuing Scott Grimes on a busy street in Urbandale, and that led to Grimes hitting her car head on. She was in the hospital for six months after the crash. Grimes had escaped from the Warren County jail and went on a multi-state crime spree before officers spotted him in 2016 and began the chase. An officer called off the pursuit just before Grimes crashed into Martinez — saying the traffic was too heavy.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that no reasonable jury could find that the officer’s pursuit of Grimes meets the high bar for recklessness under Iowa law.

February 17, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for three Iowa companies, which will assist in the creation and retention of 364 jobs and result in nearly $75.5 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Elkader, Manning and Oskaloosa.

Mobile Track Solutions to upgrade Elkader facility
Mobile Track Solutions, LLC develops and manufactures quality construction-grade equipment, including tractors, scrapers and towed implements. The company plans to make improvements to their Elkader facility, which will result in the ability to manufacture additional equipment as well as make further investments in research and development. The project represents a nearly $4 million capital investment and is expected to create 30 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $18.44 per hour. The board awarded tax benefits and a $250,000 forgivable loan through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.

Puck Custom Enterprises to make investment in Manning facility
Founded in 1979, Puck Custom Enterprises designs, develops and manufactures complete systems of equipment to pump liquid through lay-flat hose, offering products under the brands BullDog Hose, US Coupling and Light Speed. The company plans to invest in its Manning facility with new manufacturing equipment. The project represents a $3 million capital investment and was awarded tax benefits and a $150,000 forgivable loan through the HQJ program. It is expected to create 40 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $19.75 per hour.

Clow Valve to modernize Oskaloosa facility
Clow Valve Company, with a foundation in Oskaloosa since 1909, produces valves and fire hydrants for water distribution systems throughout the U.S. The company plans to continue investing in their iron foundry by replacing outdated equipment with state-of-the-art equipment and automation. The project will allow Clow Valve to continue operations and retain 294 employees at a qualifying wage of $24.55 per hour. It represents a capital investment of $68.5 million and the board awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested Wednesday evening at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Child Endangerment. 23-year-old Faith Leann Clemmons, of Emerson, faces two counts of Child Endangerment. Her bond was set at $10,000.

And, early Thursday morning, 46-year-old Sean Eugene Hicks, of Emerson, was arrested for Misuse of 911 Communications. His bond was set at $300.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday morning on 310th and Noyes Avenue. A 2001 Chevy driven by 21-year-old Jamison Detrick, of Shenandoah, was northbound on 310th Street and approaching the intersection with Noyes Avenue, behind a 2011 Ford, driven by 64-year-old Valeri Albertson, of Riverton. Albertson was behind a non-contact snowplow and directly in front of Detrick’s vehicle.

Detrick failed to stop in a clear and assured distance, and rear-ended the Ford. Authorities say the roadway was slick due to a snowstorm at the time.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she’ll have a conversation with House Republicans who’ve proposed regulatory changes for the proposed pipelines for capturing carbon from ethanol plants.  “I’m sure there’s areas where we could tweak and make it better,” Reynolds says, “but we just need to make sure that we’re having an open and honest conversation about what the consequences could be moving forward.”

Twenty-two House Republicans, including the House speaker, have introduced a bill with nine different proposals that would impact when, where or even if the pipelines are built. The bill’s lead sponsor says he’s standing up for landowners along the proposed pipeline routes. Reynolds says a current state law spells out how pipeline companies could be granted eminent domain authority to seize property from landowners who don’t sign voluntary easements for the pipeline. “When eminent domain has to be used, it should be used as a last resort. We should make sure that they’re fairly compensated,” Reynolds says.

And Reynolds says, as governor, she needs to make sure the state supports adding value to Iowa agricultural products, like corn that’s turned into ethanol. “When 55% of our farmers’ corn goes to ethanol and renewable fuels, I need to make sure that’s part of the conversation that we’re having,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds, who spoke briefly with reporters at the statehouse late Thursday, indicated her comments shouldn’t be interpreted as favoring or opposing the House G-O-P bill on pipelines. “I have to be very careful because if I weigh in on anything that’s not a bill of mine, then that kind of gives you all a pass to ask my opinion on everything that gets filed in this building and we’re coming up on our first funnel (deadline) and we’ll see a lot of those well intentioned ideas that won’t make it through the funnel, so I have to not engage too much in the process because that’s what it’s for — unless it’s a bill that I’ve filed and then I definitely will engage,” Reynolds says, “so we’ll watch and see what happens and we’ll have a good conversation about that.”

Friday, March 3rd is the date of the so-called funnel deadline Reynolds mentioned. Bills that deal with taxes or spending are eligible for consideration at any time. But policy bills — like the pipeline bill — have to be approved by a House or Senate committee or they’re no longer eligible for debate.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is reporting a stellar first quarter of the fiscal year. Deere and Company reports net income for the first quarter of one-point-nine billion dollars, that’s up just over a billion from the first quarter a year ago. Quad Cities-based Deere also reports worldwide revenues rose 32 percent, while net sales hit 11-point-4 billion, compared to 8-point-5 billion the year before.

In a news release, Deere chairman and CEO John May said the company’s “performance is a reflection of favorable market fundamentals and healthy demand for equipment as well as solid execution on the part of employees, dealers and suppliers.”

(Radio Iowa) – A new report has found the state’s nursing homes are facing significant financial challenges — and there’s been an 11 percent decline in the workforce for Iowa’s senior care services since the start of the pandemic. The report is from LeadingAge Iowa, a group that represents non-profit assisted living centers, home health care services and nursing homes. Matt Jahn is the Director of Health Services at Stonehill Communities in Dubuque, where there’s a long waiting list. “Because of the continued staffing shortages and the reimbursement challenges to pay more competitive wages for all of our caregivers, we’re kind of at a standstill with being able to move ahead and continue to serve more Iowans that need care,” he says.

Nearly eight out of 10 Iowa nursing home managers say they’ve used temp agencies to fill staffing gaps. Julie Thorson is the President and C-E-O of Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. She says they’re trying to hire and keep full time staff.  “We have done everything from you know the basic – raise wages, of course, and then offer many bonuses,” she says, “whether it’s thank you bonuses or COVID bonuses.”

The report from LeadingAge Iowa found operating costs for providers of aging services increased 16 percent during the past two years. The revenue from patient care, however, rose less than half that amount. The Medicaid program pays for the care of over half of Iowa nursing home residents, but an analysis by the Iowa Health Care Association indicates Medicaid’s reimbursement rates fall about 20 percent short of actual costs.

If Medicaid rates aren’t raised, the report from LeadingEdge Iowa concludes there will be an unprecedented wave of nursing home closures. Last year, 17 nursing homes in Iowa closed and — since the beginning of THIS year — five more Iowa nursing homes have announced plans to close.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced financial assistance for three companies in Iowa in the first round of innovation awards funded through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The startups are located in Algona, Coralville and Des Moines.

Iowa’s SSBCI program, announced in October 2022, is a $96 million investment in growing Iowa’s small businesses, including startups, manufacturers and businesses owned by veterans and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The State of Iowa was awarded the federal small business aid program to expand access to capital for small businesses to help them recover from the pandemic, grow and create high-quality jobs. As one of the four areas established under the initiative, the Innovation Fund increases funding opportunities across Iowa’s innovation continuum to assist entrepreneurs through concept, launch and expansion.

Innovation Fund awards
Manufacturing startup Kinetic Technologies, LLC in Algona streamlines the integration process for collaborative welding robots, improving turnaround time for production. They developed a fixturing product to pair with engineering services to make deployment scalable. The company was awarded a $175,000 Demonstration Fund loan for market planning and entry activities, key personnel and equipment.

Coralville-based IntelliSee creates “Smarter Surveillance for a Safer World” by autonomously monitoring an organization’s existing surveillance cameras 24/7/365 with artificial intelligence (AI) that detects threats, risks, and hazards. The AI’s real-time alerts allow for risk avoidance, prevention and mitigation through quick action and improved situational awareness. The company was awarded a $500,000 Innovation Acceleration Propel loan for product refinement and key personnel.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Bristola is a leading renewable energy technology and maintenance services company targeted at the renewable energy digester and liquids storage industry verticals. The patented technology cleans and inspects digesters and covered storage tanks without disruptions to ongoing operations, eliminating worker exposures and allowing for a more efficient and cost-effective process. The company was awarded a $175,000 Demonstration Fund loan for product refinement, key personnel and equipment.

Award recommendations for the SSBCI innovation funding are made by the SSBCI Review Committee to the IEDA executive director for approval. The committee met on February 7, 2023 for the first time and will meet bi-monthly to review eligible applications. Additional information on application process, deadlines and eligibility can be found at iowaeda.com/innovate.

(Radio Iowa) – Researchers at Iowa State University are studying beavers and the dams they build to determine what impact they may be having on the state’s fragile system of watersheds. The study’s name is the question they hope to answer — “Beavers: Superheroes for Water Quality?” Billy Beck, an I-S-U professor of natural resource ecology and management, says it’s still early in the three-year study, but they’re already starting to see some fascinating results. “We’re not really saying that they’re good or they’re bad at this point,” Beck says. “We just want to get some numbers on what exactly they’re doing for water quality and water quantity. For water quality, we’re looking at do they trap sediments and other nutrients behind the dam, which, nutrients can be problematic in excess, like phosphorus and nitrate.”

Beck, who’s also an I-S-U Extension and Outreach forestry specialist, says beavers were hunted to near-extinction in Iowa more than a century ago but have since rebounded. Some farmers and landowners may be annoyed by the nocturnal rodents because of the flooding caused by their dams. “Flooding is often thought of as a bad thing, but when rivers flood, a lot of good things happen for water quality and water quantity,” Beck says. “There’s a lot of nutrient deposition on our floodplains that goes into long-term storage. It’s a huge sponge that soaks up that flood velocity, preventing excessive downstream flooding.”

ISU Prof. Billy Beck (right) and grad student Andrew Rupiper at a beaver dam study site. (IA Learning Farms photo)

Beavers rarely just build one dam, it’s usually a whole string of dams, so Beck says they’re carefully testing the water in multiple areas. “We’re taking water quality samples from above, we’re checking water quality at a series of places throughout the dam chain, and then finally at the end of the chain,” Beck says. “We’re sampling those for nitrogen or nitrate, phosphorus, sediments, and then things like dissolved oxygen and temperature, things like that.” Early findings indicate that nitrate levels are being reduced by beaver dam chains at the rate of one-to-two parts per million. “Which doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you factor in all the water that runs through there and multiply that by the concentration, that’s a lot of pounds of nitrates that are being removed in that dam system,” Beck says. “Then, comparing that to an equal length of non-dammed stream, that’s a big reduction in that short of a time.”

The study, supported by the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, is looking at beaver dams in north-central Iowa, including along Prairie Creek near Fort Dodge and along Caton Branch, near Woodward. Beck says there’s been much more study in the Pacific Northwest of beavers and their impacts, especially on fish populations, but little is known about them in the agricultural landscape of Iowa.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Week 6 of the 90th General Assembly ended early with an incoming snowstorm. House District 21 Republican Representative Thomas Moore, from Griswold, said in his weekly report, the Health and Human Services Committee met Tuesday afternoon. Bills passed through committee include:

The “Child Care Physicals – Strike” bill, strikes the requirement that all personnel in a registered child care provider must have a physical prior to beginning employment. Moore said the Education Committee passed several bills, including one that requires the Department of Education to accept entry level driver training if it meets the requirements for passenger endorsement and the school bus endorsement training curriculum. Another bill would allow school boards to compensate student teachers.

The “Chapter 12 Reform” bill, he said, would:

·     Remove the requirement that schools submit a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).

·     Allow up to 5 days to be online instruction (snow days).

·     Allow a district to offer sequential courses in the same classroom taught by the same teacher whether it’s AP courses, regular courses, or community college courses.

·     Allow financial literacy to be taught within other courses.

Moore said House File 8 would prohibit instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools in kindergarten through grade six. House File224 is a bill that Moore introduced that relates to the renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners. Teachers with a masters degree and 10 yrs of experience will no longer be required to meet the 5 year re-licensure requirement. They will be responsible for a background check every 5 years. And, HF  HF123 adds an Information Technology Specialist to the list of eligible positions with a waiting of 5 pupils pertaining to Operational Sharing agreements between schools and AEA’s.

Representative Moore said the Economic Growth & Technology Committee met Wednesday, in Des Moines and passed two bills.

Moore said among the Bills that passed through the House this Week was Senate File 181 – Property Tax Rollback Calculation Fix.

“This is not meant to take away money from local governments,” he said, “because in reality, this is not money they ever should have received.”

(Radio Iowa) – A state law is now effect to limit medical malpractice claims for non-economic or so-called “pain and suffering” damages. Governor Kim Reynolds was surrounded by a large crowd yesterday (Thursday) as she held a bill signing ceremony in her statehouse office. “Because of our efforts and that includes everyone in this room — legislators and health care providers, lots of people pulling together to get this across the finish line — we’re in a much better position to recruit and retain physicians in our communities and really preserve access to care for rural Iowans.”

The law took effect as soon as the governor signed it. There is no limit on coverage for medical expenses or economic losses caused by medical errors, but pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice cases are now capped at two million dollars for hospitals and one million dollars for all other health care providers. Starting in 2028, those caps will increase by an annual inflation factor of just over two percent.

“When mistakes happen, Iowans deserve compensation, but arbitrary multi-million dollar awards do more than that. They act as a tax on all Iowans by raising the cost of care,” Reynolds says, “They drive medical clinics out of business and medical students out of state.” Former Governor Terry Branstad started pushing for medical malpractice caps more than a decade ago. Reynolds made it one of her priority issues for the 2023 Iowa Legislature.

“Iowa finally joins the majority of U.S. states in enacting common sense medical malpractice reform by placing a reasonable cap on non-economic damages,” Reynolds said. Kevin Kincaid, the C-E-O of Knoxville Hospitals and Clinics, says the law has been a priority for hospitals. “To recruit the best and brightest, to keep these providers in Iowa, we need to have a stable practice environment,” Kincaid said. “This bill is a crucial step forward in helping Iowa to be a more attractive place to practice medicine.”

Democrats and 16 Republicans in the legislature voted against the law, arguing it was unfair to place a dollar value on when a person’s life is dramatically changed or ended due to a medical error. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst  says there’s no evidence the health care workforce issues Iowa faces are any better in states with medical malpractice caps.

“Our frustration that is was a one size fits all approach,” Konfrst says. “…Iowa patients are the true losers here.” Konfrst says the caps benefit the insurance industry, with no guarantee medical malpractice insurance rates for doctors and hospitals will be controlled.