It’s an even-numbered year, so that means legislators who have decided to retire rather than seek re-election are given an “open mic” moment.  In the House, retiring representatives give floor speeches. Clel Baudler of Greenfield kicked the speech-a-thon off this week with a nearly 20-minute speech. “A man, in his lifetime, has good days and bad days and I hope this decision I’ve made to retire is a good one,” Baudler said. In the Iowa Senate, the public farewells last far longer, sometimes for hours. Colleagues start things off with compliments, shared humor and sometimes an outright roasting, then the retiree gets to speak. Mark Chelgren of Ottumwa spoke for nearly half an hour after his peers finished. Retiring Senator Rick Bertrand started his 20-minute speech by admitting to being a bit numb.

Bertrand used part of his speech to settle old scores with former Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix. Bertrand revealed he met his wife 23 years ago at the Waveland Tap in Des Moines. It’s the same bar where Dix was pictured kissing a lobbyist — images posted online that prompted Dix to resign last month. Bertrand called that karma. Senator Bob Dvorsky, of Coralville, is retiring after 32 years in the legislature and he offered a few “principles” about the legislative process. “You can probably get most things passed here as long as you don’t care who gets credit for it,” Dvorsky said. “…The second one is we deal in raging incrementalism.”

Dvorsky gave a relatively short, five-minute-long goodbye speech and, like many exiting lawmakers, he choked up at the end. “We’re here as public servants and we can be proud of that and I will miss all that dearly,” Dvorsky said. “And one other thing I will miss — I will miss all of you.” Once the reminiscing, advice, compliments and emotional goodbyes are over, SOME of the retiring senators get a piece of furniture. Lawmakers who’ve served at least 20 years in the state senate get to take the chair from their senate desk. Neither the House nor the Senate will be in session today (Friday). Next week, more farewell speeches are on tap. One retiring senator has yet to be recognized and 15 other retiring members of the House will have the option of giving farewell remarks.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s Joni Ernst is among a group of bipartisan U-S Senators who have introduced legislation to provide more federal money for mental health services to rural residents. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says a 2016 study by the C-D-C found ag workers have a higher suicide rate than any other occupation. She says the bill would establish helplines, provide suicide prevention training for farm advocates, create support groups, and reestablish the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network “We do require the Farm and Ranch Stress Committee to develop a long-term strategy to address the issues of farmer mental health. Because we do know in those rural areas we are lacking services that you might be able to find in the greater metro areas of our rural states,” Ernst says.

Ernst says they are hoping for a collaboration at all levels to give farmers more options for help. “What we would like to do of course is see those services develop –whether it’s through the extension services through additional mental health counselors — tapping into existing resources out there,” Ernst explained. She says the high rate of suicide within the agricultural community underscores the urgent need to act right away. She says the seed funding would help get some of the additional resources off the ground and they hope the legislation would be included in the farm bill and it would provide about 10 million dollars each year.

Ernst says existing services — such as hotlines — will be reviewed to be sure it is worthwhile to put federal money into them. “We have seen examples in the past where hotlines just certainly haven’t lived up to the expectations,” according to Ernst. “So, that’s one thing that we need to continue to provide oversight on to make sure if dollars are going to hotlines, whether they are existing or new structures, that they are providing the necessary supports.”

The bill is called the Facilitating Accessible Resources for Mental Health and Encouraging Rural Solutions For Immediate Response to Stressful Times or “FARMERS FIRST” Act.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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CRESCO, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a hospital auxiliary. Howard County Court records say 57-year-old Rebecca Creger, of Cresco, is charged with theft and ongoing criminal conduct. A court hearing is scheduled Monday for her.

Authorities say Creger wrote nearly $21,000 in checks to herself last year while she was treasurer of the Regional Health Services of Howard County Hospital Auxiliary. She told an investigator that she needed the money for medical bills and that she wanted to pay it back.

A complaint has been filed against the Atlantic Education Association with regard to Collective Bargaining. According to reports, a complaint by the Atlantic School District alleges the Education Association, which represents the District’s Certified Staff, violated Chapter 20.10 of the Iowa Code, with regard to the Public Employment Relations Act (Collective Bargaining).

The District’s Board of Education held a regularly-scheduled Board meeting April 11th. In attendance were various public employees of the District. The complaint alleges also in attendance, were persons who had participated in the negotiations process between the Board and Association. During the meeting, various District public employees addressed the Board regarding topics of bargaining, including topics of bargaining that were outlined in the 2017-2018 agreement and that were being negotiated as part of the 2018-2019 agreement.

Education Association President Mike McDermott denied any allegations of impropriety, and indicated he’s disappointed the legal matter will interfere with contract talks. The legal issue must be resolved before a contract settlement can be reached. Atlantic Superintendent Steve Barber said in a statement to the media, that “The District has filed a complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board requesting a decision in regarding the process of negotiations and comments made by Public Employees. The District looks forward to continuing to work with the Association in negotiation and finalization of an agreement for the 2018-2019 school year.”

The Education Association has 10-days to respond to the complaint, but can request an extension if more time is needed to formulate a response.

Today (Friday) is an unofficial holiday for marijuana users, which has prompted an enforcement campaign from the Iowa State Patrol. Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Nate Ludwig says “The term 4/20 is synonymous with drug use, so that’s why we’re conducting this project (today) through Sunday.” Ludwig says drug-impaired driving is becoming a bigger issue on the state’s roads. “I know the fatality rate attributed to those that are impaired has gone up over the last few years,” Ludwig says. “When people think of impaired driving, they just think of drunk driving from alcohol. But, it’s anything – whether you ingest it, absorb it, smoke it – anything that’s going to impair your cognitive ability to operate a vehicle is impaired driving.”

The Drug Impaired Driving enforcement campaign will involve more officers on roadways looking for erratic drivers who could be under the influence of drugs. Ludwig says many marijuana users believe it’s harmless to smoke-up and get behind the wheel. “And they’re wrong because anytime you do that, the chemical that’s in it is going to slow your reaction time, impair your cognitive performance, and it’s going to make it more difficult for you to drive down the road and be safe,” Ludwig said.

The enforcement campaign involves Iowa and five other states; Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The Lawrence, Kanas Police Department recently posted a message to Twitter saying “Hey potheads planning to toke up on 4/20, stay off the roads. Stock up on Cheetos and Mt. Dew BEFORE you spark.”

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Charges have been filed against an Iowa City woman who told police she drank several cans of beer one day last October before providing day care to an infant who died later that day.
Court records say 49-year-old Wendy Young is charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person. Young’s next court date is April 30.

Officers called to Young’s home Oct. 18 found the child unresponsive. The infant was pronounced dead later at a hospital. The records say Young acknowledged drinking 10 to 12 cans of beer before the child arrived. Police say Young still had alcohol in her system eight hours after she started watching the child.

Authorities haven’t provided more information about the child.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 27-year old Kirsten Lynn Wilwerding, and 25-year old Dustin James Danick, both of Red Oak, were arrested at around 11-p.m. Thursday. Wilwerding and Danick were taken into custody in Stanton, for Violation of a No Contact Order. Their bonds were set at $300, each. And, Red Oak Police report 61-year old Pamela Jean Sickles, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:20-p.m. Thursday, for Public Intoxication. Sickles was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa – The Iowa State Patrol reports a man walking alongside Highway 71 in northwest Iowa’s Dickinson County, was struck and killed by a semi Thursday morning. 23-year old Casey Spaeth, of Spirit Lake, died after being struck by the truck after he abruptly entered the road from the shoulder. The driver of the semi was identified as 42-year old Jason Dean Johnson, of Sioux Falls, SD. Officials say he tried to avoid hitting Spaeth, but was not successful. The accident happened in the area of 255th Avenue and Highways 9 & 71 just east of Spirit Lake,at around 11:17-a.m., Thursday. It remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother who left her four children home alone to travel to Europe has been given two years’ probation. The Des Moines Register reports Erin Macke was sentenced Thursday in Polk County District Court for four counts of child endangerment. Police say 31-year-old Macke of Johnston failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day vacation in Germany.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds traveled to a private political event in Rhode Island this week. The Tuesday evening event was organized by a local Rhode Island GOP fundraiser who posted a picture of himself and the governor at the event on his Facebook page. The Republican governor had originally planned to be in New York City starting Wednesday for Iowa economic development meetings, but her staff said Tuesday afternoon she would stay in Des Moines to work with lawmakers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa received nearly $51 million Thursday from tobacco companies _ the state’s annual share of a 1998 landmark legal settlement in which tobacco companies pay states for smoking-related health care costs. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office says that in the last 20 years, Iowa has received more than $1.2 billion in payments under the settlement. The latest payment included a regular annual sum of $39.7 million as part of a master agreement and an additional payment of $11.2 million to the state.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials in eastern Iowa say a Marion man has been arrested in the January killing of at 18-year-old Cedar Rapids woman. Cedar Rapids police say 19-year-old Kyler Jacob Junkins has been charged with first-degree murder and burglary in the death of AnnaElise Edgeton, whose body was found in her apartment on Jan. 13. Police say Junkins was involved in breaking into Edgeton’s apartment and shooting her.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 31-year-old Johnston mother who left her four children home alone to travel to Europe has been given two years’ probation. The Des Moines Register reports Erin Macke was sentenced Thursday in Polk County District Court. She could have faced up to eight years in prison.

Macke entered Alford pleas in February to four counts of child endangerment. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction.

Police were called to her home in September by the children’s father, who said the kids — two aged 12, one 7 and the other 6 — had been left alone the day before. Police say Macke failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day vacation in Germany.