(Radio Iowa) – More than two years after being demolished by hurricane-force winds, the Marion Public Library has opened the doors to its new facility. When library director Bill Carroll was first hired, there were still walls missing, following the powerful derecho in August of 2020. Carroll says Thursday was a day to celebrate, as the new 18-million dollar facility debuted.) Carroll says, “Our primary library facility was damaged beyond repair during the derecho, so for us to be opening today, literally right across the street from our old location, is a momentous occasion for our community.”

While the facilities are fully accessible, the library is calling this week’s event a “soft opening,” promising a celebration at a later date. The library is part of the Metro Library Network, a consortium that includes the Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha public libraries.

(reporting by Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Health and Human Services officials are starting the process of significantly updating the state’s child welfare system. The state’s contracted with the Change and Innovation Agency to extensively review and update the state’s policy and procedures along with working to completely replace the I-T system. Janee Harvey, an administrator with Iowa H-H-S, says the current I-T system is so outdated, it’s causing workforce retention issues. “You have to use F7, F12, F1 buttons to navigate through the system,” Harvey says. “We literally have had staff see it, try and learn it and they’re like, ‘I can’t. I want to do this work. I can’t learn the technology you’re telling me to learn.’”

Harvey says they’re updating everything to best serve Iowa children and families. “Quite simply, the question that we need to be able to answer is, are families better off because HHS knocked on their door,” she says, “and unfortunately too often the answer is no.” The system overhaul comes as Iowa has seen several high-profile child abuse cases highlighting failures in its current system.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic,Iowa) – One person was transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, following a three-vehicle accident at 7th and Walnut Streets. The collision occurred at around 7:34-a.m.  Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue….

Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Chief Hogue says the male driver of the red HHR, which came to rest against a tree on the IWCC property, was taken to the hospital. The three individuals in the Chevy Malibu did not appear to be injured. They left the scene in a personal vehicle following the initial investigation. The driver of the vehicle who was waiting at the light, was not hurt and left the scene in their vehicle, following the initial investigation.

No names were released. Atlantic Police were assisted at the scene by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Fire an Rescue, and Cass EMS.

Cass EMS along with Atlantic Fire and Rescue were dispatched at around 7:34-a.m. to a three-vehicle injury accident in Atlantic. The collision occurred at 7th and Walnut Streets. Additional information is not available.

(Radio Iowa) – The director of the University of Iowa Public Safety Department says the introduction of alcohol sales in Kinnick Stadium has led to some positive changes. Director Mark Bullock told the Board of Regents he didn’t anticipate that happening. “I was personally, I think, like many others, not skeptical, but curious about how that was gonna turn out. And I saw a study that was done by our emergency department that actually showed what I believe is a 40 percent decrease in hospital admissions on game days since the sale of alcohol started,” Bullock says. Some 70-thousand people turn out on Saturdays, and he says there appears to be less drinking in the parking lots before the game.

“One of the things that you notice that I think is just an interesting indicator is the amount of trash at the entrances, at the gates, people aren’t taking alcohol with them to the gates because they can get it inside,” he says. Bullock says that cuts some of the excessive drinking before the game. “We’re seeing less people come through the gates heavily intoxicated than we did before — and it’s making for from our perspective a better game day experience,” Bullock says.

Mark Bullock (Board of Regents photo)

Alcohol sales at Kinnick Stadium were first allowed in the 2021 season. A report by the U-I evaluating that first season found while alcohol-related offenses were the leading cause of arrests, there was a significant decrease in the total number of alcohol-related arrests and alcohol-related medical emergencies during football games at Kinnick. A U-I report shows net sales at Kinnick Stadium were two-point-four million dollars in the first year.