(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans who serve in the U.S. House are backing a bill to expand and improve mental health services for veterans who live in rural areas. The bill has been named in honor of a veteran from Davenport. “Five years ago, retired Sergeant Brandon Ketchum took his life after he was unable to get the mental health support that he needed.”

Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says Ketchum was a Marine who cleared 92 roadside bombs in seven months in Iraq. He ultimately did two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.  “But like so many of his fellow veterans, Sergeant Ketchum struggled with addiction, depression and PTSD related to his time in uniform and when he sought in-patient hospitalization in 2016 from an Iowa VA, the treatment rooms were all full and he was denied in-patient treatment,” Axne says. “Hours later, Sergeant Ketchum took his life.”

Sgt. Brandon Ketchum

Axne is lead sponsor of a bill that would require a Veterans Administration study of how to improve mental health services for veterans in rural areas. It also calls for spending one-point-two million dollars a year to expand the number of mental health professionals who serve veterans in rural America.  “We don’t have enough adequate mental health services across this country for our veterans,” Axne says. “An HHS study found that 50% of returning veterans who need mental health treatment will receive it. These mental health services are even harder to find in rural parts of our country like Iowa.”

Axne testified about the bill at a recent U.S. House Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, a veteran who serves on the panel, says the government needs to do better by its veterans. Former Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack sought similiar changes shortly after Ketchum’s death.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), said that on or about 9-p.m. on May 2nd, the Page County Sheriff’s Office along with the Shenandoah and Coin Volunteer Fire Departments responded to 1734 230th St in rural Coin, after a citizen called in that the residence had burned down. Upon the arrival of first responders, the structure had already been completely destroyed.

Agents from the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation responded and are assisting local agencies with the fire investigation. Remnants have been recovered and submitted to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification purposes.

The Fire investigation is ongoing and no other details are being released at this time. Citizens are encouraged to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office with any information they may have about the fire at 712-542-5193.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Rights is adding a group to its juvenile justice division, a committee made up entirely of young people. The Youth Justice Council will be comprised of youth who have had experience in the juvenile justice system. Kayla Powell, the D-H-R’s youth development coordinator, says young people are known for taking action on issues.

Powell says, “I’m excited that we’ll be able to resource that energy and resource that expertise and really mobilize their ideas to get a better juvenile justice system in Iowa.” Since it’s a new approach to the state’s juvenile justice system, Powell says she’s working on making sure other committees are ready to partner with youth. Jill Padgett, a juvenile justice specialist at the department, says they don’t yet have all the details, but they are working on creating a sort of guidebook for the group.

“I think by creating this intentional space for a youth-driven, youth-directed subcommittee, it’s affirming that belief that your voice is heard, and it matters,” Padgett says. “And it’s really up to us and up to the decision makers to amplify their voices.” Padgett says part of the foundation for the new group is researching how other states have been successful. The official launch date is set for fall of this year.

(reporting by Kassidy Arena, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – The Governor’s office is confirming that the Commandant at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown has been fired. A spokesperson for Governor Kim Reynolds’s office confirmed that Timon Oujiri was removed from his post last Wednesday, May 5th. Division Administrator Penny Cutler-Bermudez is serving as acting commandant.

Oujiri was appointed to IVH in May 2017. There has been no word on what led to Oujiri’s removal and no comment yet from IVH.