SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota-based Sanford Health and Iowa’s UnityPoint Health have announced plans to merge in an agreement that would create a sprawling health system in the Upper Great Plains and Midwest. The two providers announced their plans Friday. The Argus Leader reports if the merger is approved by regulators, it could be finalized by year’s end.
The providers said the merger would place the company among the top 15 largest nonprofit health systems nationwide. The new organization would employ more than 83,000 staff, 2,600 physicians and have more than $11 billion in revenue.

UnityPoint operates 32 hospitals and has relationships with 280 physician clinics throughout Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Sanford Heath’s organization includes 44 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and nine countries.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Officials with the Harlan Police Department report a collision between a car and a motorcycle resulted in the death of a man from Harlan, Thursday. Police and Rescue crews responded to the scene at around 6:20-p.m., at the intersection of 9th and Chatburn Avenue. When Officer’s arrived, they attempted to aid the motorcyclist until Medivac arrived and determined him deceased at the scene. 55-year old Scott Alan Petersen, of Harlan, was driving his motorcycle westbound on Chatburn Ave/Highway 44 when 24-year old Riley Jean Kay attempted to turn East on Chatburn from 9th Street.

Authorities said her view may have been obstructed by a vehicle in the northern most lane traveling West, slightly ahead of Petersen. An Iowa State Patrol Traffic Investigator was called in and is conducting an investigation. Chatburn Ave. between 8th St and 12th St was closed off for approximately two hours. Harlan Police were assisted at the scene by Medivac, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Harlan Fire Department.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Officials say air is leaking from the inflatable dam used by Waterloo to raise the Cedar River level for summer boaters. Waterloo city engineer Jamie Knutson says the leak was detected Thursday during normal maintenance, but it’s uncertain exactly where on the dam it is and how much air is rushing out. Knutson told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that the city won’t know how soon the leak can be repaired and at what cost until a contractor can start working on it.

The city has inflated the bladder dam since 2009, raising the Cedar River level by about 4 feet. It’s usually inflated in June and deflated in October. Knutson says boaters would be wise to be extra cautious on the river this year, given the loss of the liquid safety margin.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a Sioux City eye clinic manager stole more than $6,100 in a credit card scheme and planned to use customer information to take out loans. Woodbury County court records say 36-year-old Amy Inniss-Reyes, of Sioux City, is charged with theft and tampering with records. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press.

A criminal complaint says Inniss-Reyes was managing two Exact Eye Care branches between April 19 and May 30 when she used three of her credit cards to obtain fraudulent refunds. The complaint says she also told investigators that she made copies of 20 patients’ personal records, intending to use them to obtain loans. The copies were recovered from her home.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 5.

In an update to their previous report, the National Weather Service in Des Moines says the hottest weather of the year thus far will impact Iowa through the upcoming weekend. High temperatures will top out in the upper 80s to mid-90s each day, with overnight lows only in the 70s each night. Heat index values will approach 100°F each afternoon/evening, making this easily the hottest stretch of weather experienced since last summer. The hottest temps are likely in the western half of Iowa. A Heat Advisory is in effect for three counties in Northwest Iowa.

The latest information puts the Heat Index (how it feels) in Atlantic, Council Bluffs and Sheldon at around 103 degrees, Sioux City 105, 101 in Carroll, Des Moines and Ft. Dodge, 102 in Algona and Ames, and 100 in Estherville. Other locations will have a heat index of 95-to 97-degrees. If planning outdoor activities, avoid prolonged exposure to the heat and be HEAT SMART.

Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the United States! Here are a few tips on staying safe during episodes of dangerously hot weather:

• First and foremost, minimize your time outside, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Stay in an air conditioned building.
• If you must be outside, wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
• Drink plenty of water or natural juices if you are out in the heat, even if you do not fell thirsty. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages.
• Think about others! NEVER leave children in a car on even a moderately warm day as conditions in the car can quickly heat to unhealthy levels. Check on the elderly or other people at risk.

For more information, check the National Weather Service’s Heat Safety page.

Officials with the Creston Police Department, Thursday, said one of their beloved, retired K9’s has died. In their social media post, authorities said “It is with great sadness the Creston Police Department announces the passing of retired K9 “Minko”. Minko was a German Sheppard born in 2009 and started with the Creston Police Department in 2011 with K9 handler Jared Auten. In 2012 Minko went to Officer Jayrd Merritt where he continued service for 4 more years. In December 2016 Minko retired to farm life with his former handler Jayrd. Minko served our community with pride and will be missed.”

Creston Police Officer Jayrd Merritt and K9 “Minko.” (Photo from the Creston P-D’s Facebook page)

Police in Red Oak arrested 28-year old Kirsten Lynn Wilwerding, of Red Oak, at around 8:40-p.m., Thursday.  The woman was taken into custody in the 300 block of E. Market Street, for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:10 a.m. CDT

WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) — A northeastern Iowa man has been arrested for having no license and driving to a court hearing _ on his tractor. Television station KCRG reports that 54-year-old Jeffery Johanningmeier, of Wadena, was stopped Wednesday by deputies when he pulled up to the Fayette County Courthouse on his John Deere tractor. Deputies say he had made the nearly 15-mile trip for a court appearance, but did not have a valid driver’s license, which has been suspended for nonpayment of child support.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that changed the way Supreme Court justices are selected in Iowa. The lawsuit filed in May by a group of Democratic lawmakers and lawyers against Gov. Kim Reynolds was dismissed Thursday by a judge who says they don’t have legal standing to sue. Judge Sarah Crane, appointed to the bench by Reynolds last year, dismissed the case. Nate Willems, an attorney for the plaintiffs says it will be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.

DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) — The police chief of a small eastern Iowa town has been placed on paid leave while facing accusations that she misreported the hours she’d been working. Black Hawk County court records say Katherine Krieger, of Jesup, is charged with theft, felonious misconduct in office and four counts of records tampering. Her attorney said Thursday that Krieger intends to plead not guilty.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers has partially opened the Mississippi River to barge traffic, but farmers in Iowa are still worried about the financial impact of the slow recovery of shipping on the waterway. Dozens of barges have been at a standstill during this devastating flood season. Robb Ewoldt tells the Quad-City Times that he has around $80,000 worth of soybeans in storage at his farm in Scott County, waiting to be shipped down the river.