(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents, Tuesday, approved plans for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a facility in North Liberty that includes a hospital that local health officials spoke out against. C-E-O Suresh Gunasekaran told the Regents the hospital is part of a double building. The right hand side of it is a hospital and on the left hand side of it is an academic and clinic building. Together the proposed budget is 395 million,” Gunasekaran says.

The State Health Facilities Council approved the plan on a 4-1 vote after voting 3-2 against the plan in February. The administrators at other hospitals in the area argued the new hospital will expand beyond specialty care and take away their patients. Gunasekaran’s presentation to the Board of Regents mirrored his remarks in the State Health Facilities hearing. “The justification for this building is the continued need for expanded clinical care at U-I Healthcare. As well as the need, every time we expand our clinical capacity, to also expand our academic capacity,” he says.

A member of the board asked Gunasekaran how they were going to avoid the cost overruns of millions of dollars when they built the U-I Children’s Hospital. He says they have put several safeguards in place to try and prevent that from happening. “One such feature is the construction manager at risk. Where one outside party is responsible for the total scope of the project and managing all of the component parts,” according to Gunasekaran. “We also took it one further step to allow that manager to participate in the design process and the development of the budget.”

He says they’re also getting input from those on campus. Gunasekaran says they’ve collaborated with the University of Iowa Design and Construction Services throughout the entire process — which he says is different than the last time.  A University of Iowa spokesman says this building is out in the open — which makes construction easier. Construction is expected to begin later this month, with completion in 2025.

(Radio Iowa) – The executive director of the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross is on assignment in New Orleans, helping to coordinate the agency’s relief efforts in the region following Hurricane Ida. The category-four storm came ashore August 29th with winds of up to 150 miles an hour and Leslie Schaffer (SHAY-fur), of Des Moines, says and the goal now is to help residents on the Gulf Coast to recover. “We’re just trying to put an operation together that helps the people,” Schaffer says. “There’s such great need here, a lot of destruction, a lot of flooding, and people are still without power, they’re still without plumbing.”

While most of New Orleans has seen electricity restored, Schaffer says many outlying areas are still without power, which makes life miserable as the humidity is high and temperatures are topping out in the mid 90s. Red Cross response vehicles are fanned out in Louisiana, helping residents with whatever they need, from clean-up kits and hot meals to shelter and mental health counseling. “We go out and deliver the service and we know the American public will support us, so we go out there and do what we need to do,” Schaffer says. “Supporting the American Red Cross financially is the most efficient and effective way to help down here.”

Officials say 91 deaths are confirmed in relation to Ida, including 13 in Louisiana. Schaffer says some Iowans may want to get more involved than making a financial donation. “If they’re interested in helping in the future, they can contact the Red Cross and become a Red Cross volunteer and be ready when we have the next disaster — and I can guarantee you, there will be more disasters,” Schaffer says. “We need to build our capacity in Iowa.”

To help those impacted by Hurricane Ida, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word “IDA” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Ames, Iowa —Two people died during a crash Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 35, south of Ames. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash involving a semi and numerous other vehicles, happened on southbound I-35 at around 1:50-p.m., near mile marker 106.

Troopers say a 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by 32-year-old Matthew Rewiltzer, of Eagle Bend, MN, was in the left lane, when the rig failed to stop in a safe distance for vehicles ahead of it, that included a 2016 GMC Canyon and a 2005 GMC Econoline van. Those vehicles were stopped due to traffic congestion. After the semi hit the GMC’s, it continued forward, striking another semi and two additional semis and a van.

The driver of the GMC Canyon, 81-year-old Gordon Martens, and his passenger, 70-year-old Nora Martens, both of Van Meter, died at the scene. Both were wearing seat belts. The crash, which closed the southbound lanes of I-35 until approximately 6:30 p.m., remains under investigation.