(Radio Iowa) – A few legislators are working to merge proposals from Iowa’s governor and attorney general to boost sentences for fentanyl related crimes AND make an overdose reversal medication more widely available. Dale Woolery, director of the Governor’s Office on Drug Control Policy, says officials estimate about nine out of 10 opioid overdoses in Iowa in 201 were due to fentanyl. “We think it’s important to strengthen deterrence where we can on the drug trafficking and also make lifesaving tools more available to Iowans,” Woolery says.

Molly Severn, an aide to the governor, says Iowa’s crime lab processed 96-thousand pills containing fentanyl last year. “Counterfeit pills are relatively easy to make, market and distribute,” Severn says. “They can be purchased person to person, online and even social media, making them too easily available to anyone with a smart phone, including young Iowans.”

Attorney General Brenna Bird has proposed a bill that would boost sentences for selling or providing ANY illegal drug that causes a death. The legislation Governor Reynolds is proposing is targeted to fentanyl. A House subcommittee advanced a bill that contains the governor’s plans this (Wednesday) morning after a public hearing. Talia Sopp, a University of Iowa medical student, told lawmakers she previously worked at an addiction treatment center for teenagers and has helped distribute Naloxone. “It’s an absolute tragedy that even one person dies of an opioid overdose when we have this medication to reverse it,” she said. “Naxlone is much like a fire extinguisher. Everyone should have it. Hopefully you never need to use it, but you never want to be in a situation where you need it and you don’t have it.”

Sopp says drug kingpins know drugs are laced with fenanyl, but low level distributors and users don’t know the illegal drugs they’re handling are contaminated with fentanyl.  “I have yet to meet someone who says their drug of choice is fentanyl,” Sopp said. “…Therefore I think it’s unfair to penalize someone for sharing fentanyl with a friend when they don’t know that fentanyl was in the drugs.”

Sopp is urging legislators to table the idea of enhanced penalties for fentanyl related crimes.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Council Bluffs man was arrested twice this week. 35-year-old Phillip Lee Hensley was arrested Tuesday night (2/14) at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Criminal Mischief, and Felon in Control of a firearm. Hensley was also charged Wednesday (2/15) in Mills County with Theft in the 1st Degree. His total bond on all charges amounts to $10,000.

And, 58-year-old Andrew Klusaw, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on Allis Road at around 2:15-a.m., Wednesday (Today), for Interference with Official Acts. His bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $300.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, approved Township Clerk wages, acknowledged Homestead and Military Disallowances, with letters being sent those affected persons, and a payment from ARPA funds for the Fire Alarms from Johnson Controls. The Board tabled action on an appointment to the Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority, because there are no candidates who have expressed interest at this time. The Board also tabled action for at least a couple of months, on a RenoDry Dehydration System for the Courthouse. The County was quoted on a rate for the service of $15,370 back in September.

The Adair County Supervisors heard a request from Lucas Queck, Secretary for the County Veteran’s Affairs Commission.

The Board approved his five-percent request on the line item from the new county budget. The Board discussed a Pipeline Ordinance, but took no action because there is still too much that’s unknown, whereas attorneys and the legislature is concerned. Board Member Jodie Hoadley shared her thoughts.

She said “It’s just something we need to look at and educate ourselves on.” Supervisor Matt Wedemeyer said ultimately it’s up to the public and land owners to determine what the County’s role will be.

And, the Adair County Supervisors received a report from County Engineer Nick Kauffman. Board Chair Jerry Walker was authorized by the Board to sign the front (Title) page for Culvert and Culvert Extension Projects on N-25 Grand River and W15 Eureka, respectively.

Payment for the Grand River project will be derived from the LOST funds. The Eurkea Culvert Extension would costs the County about $12,600, assuming it receives Hungry Canyon’s funding toward the remaining total of $58,000. Kauffman will submit the request to Hungry Canyons for approval.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education are partnering with the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) and its chairman Jake Steinfeld to participate in the DON’T QUIT! campaign which aims to reverse growing trends in mental illness and childhood obesity. NFGFC will gift a state-of-the-art DON’T QUIT! fitness center to three elementary or middle schools in Iowa.

“Since becoming Governor, my administration has made historic investments in Iowa’s mental health, including the first-ever children’s mental health system in our state,” stated Governor Reynolds. “I believe in supporting mental health in a variety of ways and am excited about how the DON’T QUIT! campaign can help improve the mental and physical health of school-age children by providing fitness centers for three Iowa schools.”

Steinfeld, also known as fitness icon “Body by Jake”, has spent the last 40 years promoting the importance of physical activity to combat childhood obesity, and has seen firsthand that the benefits don’t stop there. “Exercise has been proven to provide a positive effect on a child’s mental health as well,” Steinfeld said. “Our kids are our most precious resource and by providing them with a strong foundation in health and fitness, we will be helping them excel beyond their wildest dreams. It’s inspiring to see elected leaders like Governor Kim Reynolds champion the DON’T QUIT! vision and we look forward to bringing the campaign to Iowa.”

The NFGFC’s goal is to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world. To date, it has provided fitness centers to 42 states plus Washington, DC. This year, the campaign will benefit four more states: Iowa, Vermont, Wyoming, and Montana. Each fitness center is financed through public-private partnerships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Amerigroup Foundation, Wheels Up and Nike, and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. Fitness Supply provides the fitness equipment.

Schools interested in receiving a fitness center can apply starting Tuesday, February 14, 2023, until Sunday, March 26, 2023. School districts will receive more information about the application process from the Iowa Department of Education and can visit https://natgovfit.org/apply-now/, then click on the Iowa button to download the application. Schools are asked to submit a short video expressing why they deserve a new fitness center and what they plan to do with it.

Physical activity and exercise are shown to help prevent and treat more than 40 chronic diseases, enhance individual health and quality of life, and reduce health care costs. In schools, studies show that physical activity improves academic achievement, increases confidence and self-esteem, reduces discipline problems, cuts absenteeism, and fosters better interpersonal relationships.

For more information about the NFGFC, visit www.natgovfit.org.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Based on the impending winter storm warning issued by the National Weather Service, Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reminds Clarinda residents, that on street parking will be banned when two(2) or more inches of snow accumulate. The ban will remain in effect until the snow fall ceases and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb. Vehicles left on the street during a snow emergency parking ban may be ticketed and/or towed.

(Radio Iowa) – A coalition of groups is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the state law that banned smoking in most public places and urging lawmakers to do more. Threase Harms of the Iowa Tobacco Prevention Alliance says the adult smoking rate has fallen 33 percent since the Iowa Smokefree Air Act passed. Representatives from the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association are calling on lawmakers to increase the state tax on tobacco products and close a loophole that allows smoking on the gaming floors at the state’s casinos.

The coalition also wants e-cigarette use banned in the same places where it’s not legal to smoke a cigarette or a cigar.

(Radio Iowa) – Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids is closing two programs, downsizing a third, and laying off 28 full and part time workers. Both the dental technology and the energy production and distribution technologies programs were cut due to low enrollment and they will also eliminate the college’s behind-the-wheel portion of its Class A Commercial Driving License program which had 45 students in Fiscal Year 2023.

Kirkwood President Lori Sundberg said these decisions aren’t made easily or quickly. “If it’s been pretty flat for some period of time and there are high costs associated with this it kind of tells us that you know the demand is not as strong,” Sundberg says.

Kirkwood closed its Belle Plain and Tipton facilities last year and is consolidating the Johnson County and Iowa City campuses. The executive director of Community Colleges for Iowa, Emily Shields, says unlike their four-year counterparts, community colleges change their offerings at quicker pace.

“Community colleges have to really constantly evaluate their programs and whether they’re responsive to a community’s needs to the region’s industries, and kind of keeping up with the times,” Shields says.

Community Colleges for Iowa promotes Iowa’s 15 community colleges.

(By Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)