A new study from the U-S Department of Agriculture predicts it will cost Iowans about 245-thousand dollars to raise a child born in the last year through age 18. U-S-D-A Undersecretary Kevin Concannon, the former director of the Iowa Department of Human Services, says that near-quarter-million dollar figure doesn’t take inflation into account. “That amount will add up to $304,480,” he says.

Concannon, the agency’s Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, says the amount of money you spend depends on how many children you have, the age of the children, your marital status, where you live and your household income. Mark Lino, an economist in the U-S-D-A’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, is the author of the report and says the most expensive age group is teens.

“These are the years when they start to drive so you add them to your auto insurance,” Lino says, “maybe buy them an automobile.” Iowans can consider themselves lucky. Lino says Midwesterners have the lowest child-raising expenses due to lower housing costs in our region. Calculate your potential costs for raising a child here: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/calculatorintro.htm

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Thursday, announced seven cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Iowa: one case each in Buchanan, Clay, Crawford, Monona, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury counties. Additional cases are being investigated in Sac and Shelby counties. Two of the confirmed cases were hospitalized, but are now recovering at home.

In addition to the human cases of West Nile virus, four mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus: two pools in Story County, one from Polk County, and one from Woodbury County. Mosquito pools are a method researchers use to see if insects in an area are carrying the West Nile virus, which can then be transmitted to humans through a bite. A horse in Johnson County tested positive for West Nile virus.

“We are now seeing either confirmed human cases, animal cases, or positive mosquito pools across a large area of the state,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “This is not unexpected as late summer and autumn are the times when mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus are most likely to be circulating. This is why it is important to continue to use insect repellent when outdoors, and to take other protective and preventive measures.”

To Protect Yourself, the IDHP recommends:

• Using a insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children. For example, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old and oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years old.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes, and socks whenever possible outdoors.

To Prevent mosquitoes from gathering:

• Eliminate standing water around the home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs.
• Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes.
• Change water in bird baths every three to four days.

Approximately 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and vomiting. Less than one percent of people infected become seriously ill and rarely someone dies. Since West Nile first appeared in Iowa in 2002, it has been found in every county in Iowa, either in humans, horses, or birds. In 2013, there were 44 human cases of West Nile virus and zero deaths.

Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) welcomed a new transit director Monday, August 18th. Officials announced Thursday that Mark Lander comes to SWITA with 12 years of transportation experience. Lander most recently worked at Werner Trucking out of Omaha, NE the Supervisor of Load Planning for the Southeast Region of the US and their fleet of over 3,000 trucks. While at Werner Lander performed many roles including dispatcher, route planning, fleet coordination, and driver supervision.

SWITA Executive Director John McCurdy says “Mark’s work experience in transportation, as well as leadership skills, made him the ideal person for the position. His knowledge will be an asset to our communities, clients, and staff.”

Lander attended Dana College in Blair, NE, and was an All American Wrestler for the school. Lander is also an assistant wrestling coach at Underwood in his free time. Lander resides in Shelby with his wife Ganna and five-year-old daughter.

SWITA is the public transportation agency for the eight counties of southwest Iowa; Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby. SWITA provides approximately 400,000 rides a year and travels 1.5 million miles. In addition, they employ 60 drivers and 9 office staff in the eight counties served. For more information on SWITA please visit our website at www.swipco.org or call our office at 800-842-8065. SWITA is an equal opportunity employer, lender, and provider.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The candidates running for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat have agreed to three debates this fall. The campaigns for Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst announced Thursday that the candidates will face off around the state. On September 28 they will likely appear in Indianola. They’ll be in the Quad Cities on October 11 and in Sioux City on October 16.

Braley and Ernst are locked in a tight race for the Senate seat, which is open because longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin is retiring. The race will play a key role in the battle for control of the chamber.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A review from the state auditor shows that since 2010, Iowa has paid out $2.4 million in settlement payments, mostly to former employees. Auditor Mary Mosiman on Thursday released a report on the grievance process and settlement payments made between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2014. The report was prompted by discussion during the 2014 legislative session about settlement agreements that included confidentiality clauses.

Mosiman found 2,679 grievances were filed during that time. Most were denied or resolved without payment, and hundreds were settled by providing back-pay. A total of 38 people, most former employees, received settlement payments totaling $2.4 million. The report says 42 current or former employees had settlement agreements with confidentiality clauses.

Branstad signed an executive order on March 24 ending the use of confidentiality provisions.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against a cosmetology school chain, accusing it of defrauding students. The Des Moines Register reports the lawsuit filed Thursday in Polk County District Court accuses the La’ James chain of cosmetology schools of fraudulent practices. It says students experience a high instructor turnover that results in teacher-less classrooms and inconsistent education.

The attorney general’s office also argues that the beauty school chain unfairly charges students who fail to graduate by an arbitrary deadline. Depending on which program they select, students pay at least $4,750 and up to $18,660 in tuition. A lawyer representing the beauty school chain says his client denies any wrongdoing.

The beauty school chain has several locations in Iowa and one each in Illinois and Nebraska.