(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has unanimously voted to let adults who were adopted get a copy of their original birth certificate that likely shows the names of their biological parents. Representative Marti Anderson of Des Moines says under current state law, that requires a court order.  “Today, about half of all states allow adult adoptees some form of access to their original birth certificate,” she says, “without the complexity of going to court.” Anderson says.

Anderson was 19 when she gave up a child for adoption in 1970. Anderson was only able to connect with her daughter in 2018 because each took an Ancestry-dot-com D-N-A test. “This bill is about the rights of a person…to find out about their ethnicity, medical history, family information and culture,” Anderson says. An original birth certificate may be the only piece of paper showing the NAME a child was given at birth as well as the actual DATE they were born. Anderson says some adoptive parents choose to list the adoption date as their child’s birthday.

If the bill becomes law, biological parents would fill out a form to indicate whether they’d like to be contacted by the child they’re giving up for adoption or if they’d like their names redacted from the birth certificate. Representative Brian Lohse of Bondurant says biological parents would be given medical history forms than an adoptee could get when they become an adult.

“So that they know what’s lurking in their genes,” Lohse says. If the bill clears the Senate and is signed into law by the governor, state officials would launch a public relations campaign to reach parents who have already given up a child for adoption — so they can fill out those forms, if they wish.

(Des Moines, IA) After an announcement Tuesdays morning from the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is recommending that all Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine administration in the state should halt until further guidance is issued. IDPH has communicated this guidance to local health officials and vaccine providers throughout the state.

The State is working with local public health and other vaccine providers to substitute Moderna and Pfizer vaccines where Johnson & Johnson has been allocated. IDPH was informed that the Johnson & Johnson allocation to the state will be suspended for the next two weeks. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine represents a relatively small percentage of the allocation Iowa has received to date, so at this time, the pause is not anticipated to dramatically slow the pace of vaccinations in the state.

If any Iowan has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last month and presents with any of the following symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately either through their health care provider or urgent care/ER:

• Severe headache
• Leg pain
• Abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath

IDPH is not aware of any cases occurring among the Iowans who have received this vaccine.

The Red Oak Police Department reports no injuries resulted from a two-vehicle accident on Tuesday. Officers were called to the accident at the intersection of Joy Street and N 1st Street.

After investigation it was determined that a 2012 Chevy Impala, owned and operated by 88-year-old Joanne Vivian Wegler of Red Oak, was eastbound on Joy Street and failed to yield at the intersection with N 1st Street. The Impala struck a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, owned and operated by 46-year-old Angela Sue Vanderhoof of Red Oak, broadside after being unable to brake in time. Wegler was cited for Failure to Yield and Vanderhoof was also cited for Failure to have Insurance.

Damage to the Pontiac was estimated at $4,500 and was considered a total loss. Damage to the Impala was estimated at $3,000.

Red Oak Police was assisted by Red Oak Rescue and Red Oak Fire at the scene.