DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new health care cooperative says it will offer Iowans two insurance plans that rely on a specific hospital network. CoOportunity Health says Monday that they have partnered with the University of Iowa Health Alliance to create the plans. The plans will be available to state residents shopping on the new online insurance exchanges, as well as those seeking insurance through other channels.

The Alliance includes over 50 hospitals and more than 160 clinics across the state. CoOportunity will market these two plans in more than 75 percent of the state’s counties. CoOportunity Health is a nonprofit established with federal loan money to provide health care in Iowa and Nebraska. CoOportunity CEO David Lyons says the cooperative will also offer other plans with wider coverage options.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former state Sen. Staci Appel is running for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District seat. The Des Moines Register reports Appel, a Democrat from Ackworth, filed papers last week with the Federal Election Commission. The filing is a shift from April, when Appel said she wasn’t running for the job and cited family obligations.  Appel served in the state Senate for a single term but lost in 2010. Her husband, Brent Appel, sits on the Iowa Supreme Court.

The 3rd Congressional District stretches from Des Moines to Council Bluffs. It is currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Latham.

DELOIT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 70-year-old western Iowa man has died in an all-terrain vehicle accident. The Sioux City Journal reports a Crawford County sheriff’s deputy found Daniel Teckenburg on Saturday evening near his home in Deloit. Teckenburg was declared dead at the scene of the accident. The sheriff’s office says the ATV apparently rolled on top of Teckenburg while he was spraying weeds.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An intestinal illness that causes diarrhea lasting an average of nearly two months has been identified in nine Iowa counties, including Mills, in southwest Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health says it has identified 22 cases of cyclospora infections. People are infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected human feces. Illness is caused by a parasite. Watery diarrhea, severe tiredness, and nausea are common symptoms and usually begin within a week. Most of those now ill began to notice symptoms in June.

Linn County has the most cases with 10. Others are reported in Benton, Des Moines, Fayette, Mills, O’Brien, Polk, Van Buren, and Webster counties. Other Midwest states also have cases including Nebraska. Health officials recommend washing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly although no specific source has been identified yet.

A judge in Audubon County has sentenced a southern Iowa man to 25-years in prison for his role in a 2011 crash that claimed the life of a Hamlin teen. Judge James Richardson handed down the sentence late this (Monday) morning against 57-year old Kendall L. Ware, of Lineville, despite a request from Ware’s attorney for a new trial, because, he said “No reasonable jury could have determined based on the evidence presented, that (Ware) was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence,” and that his “Being under the influence caused the death,” of 17-year old Kristopher George Crawley, and seriously injured Jason Rattenborg, of Audubon.  He also said the court did not submit to the jury the defense’ instructions based on foundation.

This past May, a jury found Ware guilty of Vehicular Homicide/OWI, and Serious Injury by Vehicle. The judge today (Monday) denied the request for a new trial. Ware had faced up to 30-years in prison on two combined felony charges, and fines amounting to $7,500, but the Judge ordered Ware to serve 25-years on the first charge and 5-years for the second, with the sentences to be served concurrently, or, at the same time. The Judge also ordered Ware to pay $150,000 to Crawley’s family, and to pay Rattenborg’s medical and personal loss costs. He must also pay a $1,500 fine associated with the second charge. Ware’s license was revoked for 6-years. He will be required to live at the Iowa Classification Center in Oakdale for the duration of his sentence.

Ware was the driver of a pickup that collided with an SUV occupied by Crawley and Rattenborg. The accident happened during the late night hours of October 19^th, 2011 on Highway 71, north of Brayton. Ware’s passenger, Mark Anthony Piearson, of Leon, was also injured. Ware had a blood-alcohol content of .205, following the crash, or more than 2½ times the legal limit. During the months following an investigation into the crash, Ware fled the area. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service, in North Dakota.

In a statement to the family of the victims, Ware issued a tearful, choked-up apology, and asked for their forgiveness, and said he has lived with the nightmare of his actions ever since the crash happened. The mother of George Crawley also issued a statement, saying her life has been forever changed as well, and that forgiveness was not something that would happen any time soon. She also said she had been dealing with depression since the loss of her son.

Crawley’s father showed a picture of his son to Ware. He told him Ware stole his son from him, and the man he could have become. Rattenborg’s mother also spoke, and said both she and Jason were devastated by the incident. She said he wants the memory of that night to go away, and wishes he could have died too, with his best friend.

A former Harlan Community High School teacher has seen his teaching license permanently revoked. According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Lee G. Nelson voluntarily surrendered his license following a complaint filed against him. Nelson taught at Harlan Community for 35 years, retired in 2002 but has since filled in roles at the school district.

Recently, Nelson was hired by the Harlan Community school board as a mentor for the music program with the new band director for the high school Chaz Neuvirth. Nelson resigned from that position in April of this year. The Harlan Community School District has been legally told not to comment on the situation. Nelson had an opportunity to contest the allegations made in the complaint, but waived his rights.

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners accepted Nelson’s resignation of his teaching license and permanently revoked it on June 21st.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)