(Radio Iowa) – Democrats in the Iowa Senate say there’s a nursing home crisis in Iowa and the Senate Oversight Committee should launch a bipartisan investigation.

Senator Claire Celsi, a Democrat from West Des Moines, said some facilities are not being properly managed and it’s “a life and death issue” for some nursing home residents. “Our state’s current nursing home system is fundamentally broken and failing to protect Iowans,” Celsi says.

There are over 400 nursing homes in Iowa and Celsi said the state should be employing far more than 49 nursing home inspectors. She points to Michigan, which has a similar number of nursing homes and 47% more inspectors. “We need accountability in our nursing homes,” Celsi said. “…We need the help of our Republican colleagues to make these changes and to make any new laws.”

Republicans hold the majority of seats in the Iowa Senate and control the debate agenda, including what gets committee review. A spokesperson for Senate Republicans was not immediately available for comment.

Senate Democrats hosted a statehouse news conference this morning that included retired state employees who worked as nursing home inspectors. Mary Weaver of Rippey is a retired registered nurse who worked in the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. She’s concerned about a friend in an eastern Iowa nursing home who isn’t being bathed regularly and recently waited 90 minutes for assistance in getting to the rest room. “This is not the kind of treatment we want for our older Iowans,” she said. “This is inhumane. This is neglect.”

Dean Lerner was director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals for a decade. “I don’t know whether to cry or scream about these horrific events that are going on in our nursing homes,” Lerner said.

John Hale, a long term care advocate, spoke during a news conference in the Iowa Capitol on Dec. 14, 2023. (RI photo)

John Hale, a consultant who focuses on long term care issues, said there aretoo many “head-shaking instances” of abuse and neglect in Iowa nursing homes. “Where’s the outrage from legislators?” Hale asked. “Where’s the outrage from the governor, from leaders of state agencies, from prosecutors or from the good apples in the nursing home industry that are tarred by the bad apples?”

Hale estimates $800 million in state tax money will go to Iowa nursing homes this year and he said there must be more accountability.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue reports that between November 27th and December 13th, the Atlantic Police Department (APD) held its 11th annual canned food drive to benefit the local food pantry. The event is a grade level competition for students attending the Atlantic Early Learning Center through 5th grade.

This year the groups collected a grand total of 3,949 items that were donated to the Atlantic food pantry. In the 11 years of this program a total of 45,228 items have been collected and donated.

1st grade Hogue

2nd grade Johnson

3rd grade Benning

3rd grade Smith

4th grade Johnson

5th grade Mattson

Kindergarten Rasmussen

Chief Hogue said “We would like to congratulate the following classes on winning the competition this year:

Kindergarten – Mrs. Rasmussen’s class – 258 items

1st grade – Mrs. Hogue’s class – 240 items

2nd grade- Mrs. Johnson’s class – 222 items

3rd grade – Mrs. Benning’s class – 96 items

3rd grade – Mrs. Smith’s class – 96 items

4th grade – Mrs. Johnson’s class – 217 items

5th grade – Mrs. Mattson’s class – 158 items

(Not Pictured** the 3 year old pre-school winners.)

“The Preschool students will receive snacks and drinks for a class room party and the elementary students will receive a pizza party. These parties will be sponsored by The Atlantic Police Community Charitable Organization. Thank you to all of the parents and grandparents who help support the children in this effort. It is a great benefit each year to our local food pantry and a great representation of how wonderful our community is!!”

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Officials with Cass Health have announced CCHS has been recognized with two 2023 Performance Leadership Awards for excellence in both Quality and Patient Outcomes. Compiled by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Awards honor top quartile performance (i.e., 75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals.

“For seven consecutive years, Cass Health has achieved these two awards. It’s particularly meaningful to us to be recognized for excellence in the areas of quality and positive patient outcomes. What better to be known for than quality and outcomes in healthcare? As a rural hospital, we are deeply connected to this community and our patients—many of whom are neighbors, family, or friends. We strive to do our very best for every patient, every time, and awards like this reflect how we truly care for each individual and their improved health,” noted Brett Altman, CEO.

The Performance Leadership Awards are based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. INDEX data is relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health around the country to measure and monitor performance across several areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

“Wherever we go in rural America, we witness first-hand the commitment, determination, and compassion with which rural hospitals serve their communities. Rural healthcare truly is mission-driven,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. “Let us recognize the efforts of this year’s Performance Leadership Award winners and all those driven to deliver high quality care throughout rural communities.”

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Lottery is on a pace to surpass the record for sales set last year. Lottery C-E-O Matt Strawn detailed the numbers through November today (Thursday) for the Lottery Board. “Two-hundred-14 million, 532-thousand-943 dollars. That represents a five-point-one-four percent year over year increase in sales,” Strawn says. The record for sales in the last fiscal year was 481-point-five million dollars. He says the proceeds to the state are also on a pace to beat last year’s record. “The lottery proceeds through November, again the first five months of fiscal ’24, proceeds of 49-million-416-thousand-943 dollars. This represents a three-point-one percent year over year increase in proceeds,” Strawn says.

The record for proceeds set in the last fiscal year was a little more than 108 million dollars. Lottery retailers are also looking at another record for commissions. “Retail partners did earn a record 31-point-three million in sales commissions during the last fiscal year, and then turning to this year through November, fiscal year ’24. Sales commissions paid to retailers exceed that pace and five-point-seven percent year over year,” Strawn says.

The increase in sales is due in part to large lotto jackpots. There’s also been an impact from the economy, including increase in scratch ticket sales as gas prices have come down.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House have voted to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says there are credible allegations that may connect Biden to his son Hunter’s business dealings. “We have been able to trace through numerous shell companies many of the transactions that funnel dollars directly from the Chinese Communist Party through the Biden family,” Hinson says. “That to me is significant, in terms of following the money.” Hinson says the impeachment inquiry gives the House Judiciary Committee a stronger legal position as it seeks access to some materials.

“It makes it so that we can actually force compliance with our subpoenas and it’s our solemn duty to get the facts the American people,” Hinson says, “especially as the White House continues to stonewall congressional oversight.” Third district Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant says the inquiry gives congress the power to effectively conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. “I think anybody right now would say there are a lot of questions when it comes to the president’s actions,” Nunn says. “When we look back at just what’s been presented to us through public information, we know that the president has received money from his son, Hunter Biden, in situations that absolutely bear greater scrutiny.” Nunn says he went to congress to hold D-C politicians accountable and the inquiry will show whether the president’s conduct merits impeachment.

“I’m going to be impartial on this going forward, but I want to make sure that congress and the American people have the facts presented to them,” Nunn says, “and simply burying our heads in the sand here is the simply the same kind of soft on crime, defund the police kind of attitude that has made other communities less safe.” Fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull says Biden has been uncooperative and evasive with congressional committees and the impeachment inquiry brings congress one step closer to uncovering the facts about the Biden family’s foreign business dealings. First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she was proud to support the impeachment inquiry, which she says it the next necessary step in the methodical process Republicans have taken to investigating the president.

Biden says Republicans are choosing to waste time on a baseless political stunt rather than focusing on the urgent work that congress needs to get done.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is criticizing the U-S Department of Education for delays in releasing the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Grassley, a Republican, says bureaucrats at the ed department have failed to offer clear guidance to students, families and universities on how to navigate the application form, which he says could impact access to aid for many thousands of students, while also penalizing farm families. “Farmers may, because of inflation of land prices, may have a lot of wealth, but they may not have the income to send their kids to school,” Grassley says, “and particularly if they’ve got more than one kid in college, then maybe they won’t qualify for Pell Grants and guaranteed student loans.”

Grassley says the redesigned FAFSA was supposed to streamline the federal financial aid process and help one-and-a-half million more students, including over 13-thousand-500 Iowans, to access the maximum Pell Grant award. The new FAFSA was made possible through bipartisan legislation Congress passed in 2020. He says that was three years ago and we’re still waiting. “This is an effort to socialize aid to colleges for the first time since the 1960s. We can’t penalize small business and farmers because they might have a lot of wealth,” Grassley says. “You’ve got to base it on the income because if the families don’t have an income, then their kids aren’t going to go to school.”

Federal education officials announced earlier this month the new FAFSA would be available by December 31st, but Grassley says they neglected to specify a date and warned of processing delays in the coming months, escalating uncertainty for students and their families.  “Usually that’s done by October 1st and so it’s going to take these colleges a long time to get on top of it,” Grassley says, “and so you aren’t going to be able to know whether you’re going to be able to afford to go to college just because of the slowness of the bureaucracy.”

Grassley is calling on the department to focus on implementing the simplified FAFSA process, rather than transferring student loan debt to the taxpayers.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Davenport men were sentenced yesterday related to their involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy.  According to public court documents, Jordan Thomas Hopper, 25, and Austen Michael Thomas, 26, were part of a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl from 2020 to 2022. The fentanyl was pressed into blue pills with “M30” on them (meant to look like prescription Percocet pills). The conspiracy resulted in numerous overdoses.

At sentencing, the Court found Hopper to be responsible for three overdoses caused by the ingestion of pills containing fentanyl. Hopper was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison. Thomas was not specifically found to be responsible for any overdoses but was also sentenced related to his unlawful possession of a firearm. Thomas was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.

Others charged as a part of this conspiracy include: Linder Kai Divos, 27 of Davenport, who was sentenced to 14-and-a-half years in federal prison; Kathan Daniel Wiley, 23 of Davenport, who was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison; and Marshall Matthew James Carver, 26 of Davenport, who is pending sentencing.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department.

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa/KCRG) – Police are investigating reports of a teacher assaulting two students at a Cedar Rapids school. One parent told KCRG TV that on Monday a teacher at Johnson STEAM Academy yanked on her son’s hoodie, choking him. Another parent said the same teacher slapped her daughter in the face. The school district confirms a teacher has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation unfolds. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors have not filed charges.

The Cedar Rapids Community School District released the following statement:

“Cedar Rapids Community School District is aware of the reported incident and is thoroughly investigating said situation consistent with the law and our policies and procedures. The staff member has been placed on administrative leave during the process. Being an active student and staff investigation, we cannot comment on the details. Student safety and well-being are the utmost priority as we continue building safe and secure learning environments for all.”

(Madison County, Iowa/KCCI) — A former EMS worker is suing Madison County after she was fired last year. KCCI says the woman claims she was discriminated and retaliated against. Kayla Whitten and Madison County Ambulance Service Director Tadd Davis were terminated during an internal investigation. A third employee, Bryan Snyder, resigned.

In her lawsuit, Whitten claims she was facing sexual harassment from other paramedics that Davis knew about. Davis allegedly told the other EMTs to stop, but Whitten says they did not listen. Whitten also details in her lawsuit that she entered a relationship with another EMT, Bryan Snyder, who was separated from his wife at the time, and that Whitten became pregnant. Whitten says she was fired after the two broke up.

She claims the Madison County Board of Supervisors told her they “could not trust her because she was pregnant by a married man.” The county has denied many of Whitten’s claims and says her employment was terminated for legitimate and non-discriminatory reasons.

The case has since been moved from Madison to Warren County. A scheduling conference is set for next week.