(Radio Iowa) — Executives with seven large pharmaceutical companies were testifying about bounding prescription drug prices this (Tuesday) morning before the U-S Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley. Prices for insulin, used in treating diabetes, have jumped 500-percent or more and Senator Grassley says the reasons why are unclear, as the drug itself hasn’t changed in many years. “Last year, I contacted several insulin makers to understand what led to these extreme hikes in prices,” Grassley says. “Today’s hearing will explore the complex pricing schemes of drug companies and the industry practices that are behind the price of prescription drugs.”

The federal government is the largest consumer of prescription drugs, and according to Grassley, the largest victim of the bounding prices. He says pharmaceutical companies receive billions of dollars a year from federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.  “It seems like I hear about high drug prices almost every one of my county meetings that I have, even recently, last week in nine different counties,” Grassley says. “So this is an important issue for Iowans.”

Grassley says patients and taxpayers deserve to hear from the industry leaders about what’s behind this “unsustainable trend” and what can be done to lower costs. Research and development is expensive, he acknowledges, but prices on drugs that haven’t changed in decades shouldn’t suddenly jump 300, 400 and 500-percent or more without cause. “Under our free market system, they have a right to not only set their price, but if they can get away with it, to gouge,” Grassley says. “I’m not sure at this point that I want to make that latter accusation but I can make it from the standpoint of my constituents thinking so.”

This hearing is an opportunity for companies that produce life-saving medications to explain how they price these treatments, Grassley says, and whether the status quo is acceptable. Top executives from seven major pharmaceutical companies will testify, including AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer and Sanofi.

Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education, Monday evening, approved early retirement requests from two, long-time teachers. Superintendent Casey Berlau told KJAN News, one request was from Bev Johnson who teaches Business and Family and Consumer Science at the CAM High School. The other was from Peg Wheatley, 3^rd Grade Teacher at the South Elementary School. He said it’s difficult to see them go because each has over 30-years of experience.

Johnson has been in education for 36-years, while Wheatley had served for 38-years. In other business, the CAM School Board approved contracts for Barbara Coston as para-educator at the North Elementary, and Jeff Hoover, who will serve as a long-term Sub, filling-in for the vacancy created when Rex Mehrhoff passed away earlier this month.

And the Board set a Public Hearing on the 2019-2020 School Calendar as their next meeting on March 17^th. They also made some changes to the current school year calendar to account for snow make-up days. He said “Basically, we’re moving the end of Quarters to the end of March. Instead of March 17^th, the end-of-quarter will be March 21^st. March 22^nd will be a half-day for students and a half- Teacher work day.” The Board also decided school will be held the Monday after Easter, as a make-up day.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report a man wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Possession of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon, was picked-up from the Mills County Jail, Monday. 42-year old Michael Lee Butcher was transported to the Pott. County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond. And, a 35-year old woman was transported from the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York, NE., to the Pott. County Jail, this (Tuesday) morning. Amber Rae Bergantzel was wanted on a warrant for Forgery, and on a hold from another correctional facility.

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

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The Alzheimer’s Association is offering a free educational class for the general public on Friday, March 1st, at the Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar Street, Atlantic, IA 50022. The class, entitled “10 Warning Signs,” will be held from 2:00-until 3:00 p.m. The meeting is designed for you to learn the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Organizers will separate myth from reality and address commonly-held fears about Alzheimer’s in America. You’ll hear also from people who have the disease, and find out how to recognize the signs in yourself and others.

Spokesperson, and class facilitator, Amanda Brophy says, “This class will be very beneficial for anyone who wants to know what to look for with regards to Alzheimer’s disease or has questions about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our goal is to equip our communities with the knowledge, resources, and support they need as they age or continue on the journey of living with this disease. We want to connect them to a community of people who care and understand what they are going through, as well as provide them with the resources and information necessary to understand the disease.”

For more information about this educational program and to register, contact Amanda Brophy at abjrophy@alz.org or 712.454.5035. You can also visit alz.org/crf to find out more.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old Burlington resident has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, accused of fatally stabbing another woman during a fight. Des Moines County District Court records say Kaylee Wilson entered the plea Monday. The court records say she intends to claim self-defense at her trial, which is scheduled to begin April 30.

She’s accused of stabbing 23-year-old Mallery Doak on Jan. 22 during a fight in front of Wilson’s Burlington home . A criminal complaint says the two had been arguing in instant messages over a man who’d fathered one of Doak’s children. Wilson reported that Doak threatened her for spending time with the man and said she was headed over to Wilson’s house.

Wilson told investigators that she then armed herself with a kitchen knife and hid it in her waistband awaiting Doak’s arrival.

The Creston Police Department reports four people were arrested Monday, on separate charges. 31-year old Lansey Rene Cheramie, of Creston, was arrested Monday morning at the Wal-Mart store. He was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). Cheramie was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond. Later that same morning, 19-year old Kimberlyn Calie Albrechtsen, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on two Union County warrants for Class-D Forgery. Albrechtsen was being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail. Her bond was set at $15,000.

Monday afternoon, 20-year old Brianne May Lawson, of Greenfield, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart. She was taken into custody for Trespass/1st offense. Lawson was released from custody at the scene, on a citation to appear in court. And, Monday evening, 25-year old Kathryn Lee Roberts, of Creston, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. Roberts was transferred to the custody of Clarke County authorities.

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

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DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A March sentencing has been scheduled for a nurse accused of stealing medications from patients at a nursing home in Dubuque. Dubuque County District Court records say 38-year-old Jenny Tjaden, of Bellevue, pleaded guilty to tampering with records and to unlawfully obtaining prescription drugs. The Telegraph Herald also reports that she pleaded guilty in a separate case to driving while intoxicated. Her sentencing is set for March 7.

Court records say Tjaden was working as a nurse at Stonehill Franciscan Services in October when she stole prescription drugs from three patients.

Key lawmakers are advancing a plan to continue providing state incentives to Iowa school districts that merge with others. The financial incentives for mergers, along with extra state money for neighboring districts that begin sharing buildings as well as teachers and staff, are set to end next year. Dave Wilkerson of the School Administrators of Iowa says the extra state support eases the burden on taxpayers if a district enters a merger with a significantly lower property tax base than its neighbor.  “If you’re been in one of those districts when a reorganization takes place — and I was teaching in a district when that did, this helps,” Wilkerson says.

School districts that merge or enter what are called “whole grade sharing” arrangements get state incentives for the first three years the deal is in place. Representative Cecil Dolecheck (DOLE-eh-check), a Republican from Mount Ayr, is chairman of the House Education Committee. “I have a couple of school districts in my area right now that are talking about the possibility of whole grade sharing with another school district that could lead to sharing or dissolution or whatever,” Dolecheck says. “I think these are important to allow those talks to take place, those discussions to take place.”

About 19 percent of Iowa school districts currently have “whole grade sharing” agreements.