The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a district court ruling in a case involving the duties of nurse practitioners. Several physician associations went to court seeking to throw out two administrative rules that permit advanced registered nurse practitioners to supervise technicians during fluoroscopy — a type of x-ray. The physicians argued the Iowa Board of Nursing and the Iowa Department of Public Health exceeded their authority in approving the rules to allow the supervision. The district court agreed, and threw out the rules.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruling says the district court erred in second-guessing the Department of Public Health and nursing board. It says A-R-N-P’s have been supervising the procedure for many years and nowhere in the voluminous record are there any reports of an injury resulting from the practice. The ruling went on to say the visual images provided by the fluoroscopy improve patient safety,  and the practice also improves access to health care for rural Iowans while  helping lower costs.

Justice Mark Cady wrote a dissent to the opinion, saying registered nurses may be qualified to supervise fluoroscopy, but the legislature has left it for the medical profession to make this decision, in partnership with the nursing profession and did not leave it to the nursing board to decide. Cady says the nursing board clearly acted well beyond its authority, contrary to a clear legislative directive.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved an agreement with the bargaining unit representing the County’s Secondary Roads Department. The action, which came during the Board’s meeting today (Friday) inAtlantic, essentially cleans-up the language in the agreement, and doesn’t make any monetary or policy changes. 

The Board also approved the abatement of taxes on a nuisance property belonging to the City of Anita since November, 2012. Auditor Dale Sunderman said the taxes amounted to $230. The Supervisors also approved the assignment of a County held tax sale certificate of purchase, to the City of Cumberland. Sunderman said in July 2012, the City acquired possession of the west half of Lot1 in block 14. The City decided it also wished to acquire an adjacent property that belonged to the same owner, inLot2 of block 14. Sunderman says the property had acquired last year had a total $108 in taxes due. The newest property has 3.5-years worth of taxes due, or $644.

Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall said the County is better-off giving the certificate and property to the City in exchange for the taxes being paid and the County abating $300 worth of those taxes. Part of the agreement stipulates the City of Cumberlandwill proceed to get both properties in the City’s name because they have been up for sale long enough, that they can immediately apply to have a tax sale on those properties. Once the City applies, it takes 90-days for the process to run its course.

The Board Friday also approved a 6-month agreement with Solution, LLC. for licensed County software code support and information technology services. The agreement will cost the County an additional $50 per month.  In other business, Supervisor Gaylord Schelling, members of the County Public Safety Committee and representatives with the City of Atlantic will take a tour next week of the former Sitel building at 1206 southwest 7^th Street. The tour is part of a fact-finding mission pertaining to the possible relocation of the County’s Communications Center to a building outside of the courthouse. No action will taken during the tour on approving the site. The tour begins at 9-a.m. Thursday, June 6^th, and will likely include other members of the Board of Supervisors, as well.

The Clarinda Police Department is requesting help from the public in solving a recent rash of residential garage burglaries & vehicle break-ins. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports for about the last 30 days, there have been a significant number of such crimes. Brothers says items ranging from power tools, electronic devices and miscellaneous, personal and household items, are being stolen.

He says that his officers have followed up on numerous leads and continue to do so, but no arrests have been made in connection with the burglaries and break-ins. The Chief asks that people keep a watchful eye on their neighborhoods and immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. He also requests that anyone with information regarding the person(s) responsible for committing these crimes contact the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194. Information that leads to an arrest and indictment is eligible for a cash reward from the Page County Crimestoppers fund.

Brothers also reminds Clarinda citizens to keep their vehicles locked and either remove valuables from the vehicle or keep the valuables out of sight. He advises property owners to use exterior lighting at night such as motion sensor lights, and to keep garage structures locked and secured, and keep shrubbery around the property trimmed. Brothers also reminds citizens to let their neighbors know when they are going to be away and ask them to keep an eye on your home while gone.

(8-a.m. News)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A 2- or 3-year-old boy has been injured in a fall from a second-floor apartment window in Council Bluffs. Police say the boy fell through a screen at the Featherstone Apartments. He was taken to an Omaha, Neb., hospital, for treatment of a possible head injury. His name and condition haven’t been released.