(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds and two dozen other Republican governors are urging President Biden to end the national public health emergency for COVID in April.

Ending the national public health emergency will mean emergency Medicaid insurance coverage for millions of Americans will end. In Iowa, Medicaid enrollment is 48% higher than before the pandemic. Reynolds and the other governors say some individuals are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage under traditional rules, but the national public health emergency is keeping them in the program and that’s negatively impacting states’ budgets.

Reynolds ended her own statewide public health emergency in February and she says it’s time for the federal government to do the same.

President Trump declared COVID a national emergency in March of 2020. President Biden has extended the order through next month and is expected to extend it again through April. Reynolds and the 24 other GOP governors are asking Biden to let the pandemic declaration expire at that time.

(Radio Iowa) – A company that makes a nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses is pushing to expand access to the medication in Iowa. Larry Lanier is a lobbyist for Emergent Biosolutions, which manufacturers the opioid reversal drug naloxone and sold under the brand name NARCAN. “Our country’s in the midst of an epidemic right now that’s invading our communities, our neighborhoods, our families,” he says. “It’s taking the lives of our citizens and, even worse, it’s killing our children.”

Iowa law lets pharmacists dispense naloxone without a prescription, but the pharmacy keeps a record of who gets it, which could discourage people from picking up a kit. Other states let non-profits, businesses and other organizations register to distribute naloxone kits anonymously. Lanier is asking Governor Reynolds and Iowa lawmakers to adopt that policy.

“There are community organizations that are very good at that. It’s called secondary distribution,” Lanier says. “As we move into 2023, we look forward to an opportunity to converse and collaborating with you, Governor Reynolds, and with the legislature to talk about ways that we can increase community distribution in Iowa.”

Lanier made his comments during an online forum hosted by Governor Reynolds. In 2021, 258 Iowans died of an opioid overdose — a 21 percent increase from the year before.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests, and an injury accident. Those taken into custody include:

• On Sunday, Dec. 18: 35-year-old Kyle Lee Davis, of Glenwood, for OWI/2nd offense ($2,000 bond).
• On Saturday, 40-year-old Kandall Omax Brown, of Omaha, for Domestic Abuse Assault (No Bond), and
• on Dec. 14th, 52-year-old Bryan Allen Dennis, of Omaha, on a warrant for Failure to Appear ($2,000 bond).

The sheriff’s office said also, 43-year-old Brian Doyle, of Imogene, was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by an unknown individual, after the 2007 Jeep Doyle was driving hit a patch of ice as he was westbound in the 36000 block of Noyes Avenue,  on Dec. 13th. The Jeep rolled over into a waterway culvert. The accident happened at around 9:30-a.m.

Authorities say he was driving too fast for the weather conditions and lost control of the vehicle. He was cited for Failure to Maintain control.

The were two other accidents reported, one of which was on the 13th, the other on the 15th. No injuries were reported in either incident.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say there were two accidents late last week (In addition to the previously reported accident involving 16-year-old Colby Waltz, of Bagley). Authorities say at around 4:30-p.m. Friday, a two vehicle accident occurred in front of 610 McPherson Street, in Casey. An investigation revealed a 2012 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 45-year-old Amber M. Shearer, of Casey, was backing out of a parking spot. She failed to notice a legally parked 2014 Chevy Impala and backed into the car, causing $5,000 damage to the Impala. No injuries were reported. Shearer was cited for Failure to provide proof of financial liability (accident insurance), and for Unsafe backing on a Highway.

And, at around 4:42-p.m. Thursday, a 2008 Ford F250 super Duty pickup driven by 20-year-old Trenten Lee Custer, of Jefferson, was traveling east on Highway 141 in Guthrie County, when he tapped the brakes as he was approaching the intersection with Oak Avenue. The pickup went out of control and slid into the north ditch, near Oak Avenue. The vehicle struck the ditch, hit a culvert and flipped onto the driver’s side, causing $15,000 damage. There were no injuries reported, and no citations issued, as the road was covered by snow and blowing snow.