Two high-profile celebrity deaths this week have vaulted suicide back into the headlines, as suicide rates in Iowa are rising. T-V chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade reportedly took their own lives. Dr. Jonathan Sikorski, a psychologist in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says Spade was known to have depression, anxiety and may have been bipolar, all of which can be treated.

“Bipolar, absolutely, depression, absolutely, you have that chemical imbalance but really, when it comes to suicide, no one is immune,” Dr. Sikorski says. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Iowans between the ages of 15 and 34. A report from the Centers for Disease Control finds the suicide rate in Iowa rose more than 36-percent between 1999 to 2016. Sikorski says to be watchful of certain signs in friends, co-workers and loved ones.

“If you see them all of the sudden talking about how they feel like they’re being a burden to others or they have pain they feel is just unbearable or they, all of the sudden, start giving things away,” he says, all could raise a red flag. Sikorski says people can sometimes be pushed over the edge without being clinically depressed or suffering from other mental health issues.

“There’s always that risk that you have this right combination of little sleep and just life stressful events,” he says, “that no one’s really above being in that point of desperation.” Sikorski, who works at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, says if you believe a friend or family member is at risk, you should sit down with them and have a talk.

“One of the best things you can do is just straight-up asking them,” he says. “Say, ‘I know you’ve been feeling really low and having a hard time. Do you feel safe? Have you thought about hurting yourself or others?’ Talk to them about if they have any reason to live. A lot of times when people are really down, they’re like, ‘I don’t want to be here but I have my kids.'” On average, one person dies by suicide in Iowa every 20 hours. For help, contact the Iowa chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (https://afsp.org/)

(Radio Iowa)

A member of the nine-person board that governs the three state universities has abruptly resigned. Subhash Sahai (suh-BAHSH suh-HY), a doctor from Webster City, was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Terry Branstad in 2013. His six-year term was scheduled to end next spring. The board’s president announced Sahai’s immediate departure from the board in a news release, but gave no reason for Sahai’s resignation.

Sahai came with his family from India to Iowa in 1967 when he was 18 years old. He went to the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State and earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa. He’s been a doctor in Webster City since 1976. Sahai was absent from yesterday’s (Thursday’s) Board of Regents meeting. In 2015, Sahai was the only member of the board of publicly raise concerns about the private meetings other board members had with Bruce Harreld before Harreld applied to be president of the University of Iowa.

Sahai supported Harreld’s hiring, but argued the private meetings left the impression Harreld had been chosen before the formal hiring process started. Governor Kim Reynolds will name a replacement to serve out the remaining 10 months of Sahai’s term on the Board of Regents.

(Radio Iowa)

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police in the northern Iowa’s Mason City say two apartment complexes near an overflowing creek have been evacuated. Police say the decision to evacuate Autumn Park and Chelsea Creek apartment complexes on Friday came after nearly 6 inches of rain fell in the area, swelling nearby Chelsea Creek.

Police said the creek’s water levels were slowly receding Friday, but that the threat of more rain later Friday and Saturday still posed a flooding threat. Because of that, the apartment residents were being asked to stay away from the complexes. Police say a Salvation Army emergency shelter will remain open until the threat passes.

City officials say water still covered low-lying roads in the city on Friday.

CARROLL—Wastewater flowed into a drainage ditch on the east side of Carroll Thursday afternoon after a bridge contractor struck a sewer main. The Iowa DNR says Dixon Construction and the city of Carroll acted quickly to plug the pipe and divert the untreated wastewater.

Carroll city officials estimate less than 500 gallons were released near the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and N. Grant Road. An unknown amount of wastewater traveled 1.4 miles through a drainage ditch before reaching the Middle Raccoon River.

The city hopes to complete repairs today (Friday) once parts are available. DNR will continue to monitor the situation and consider appropriate enforcement action.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a body found on a Des Moines sidewalk was that of a 17-year-old boy. Police identified him as Tyrese Parson, who lived in Des Moines. Officers and medics sent the scene around 6:30 a.m. found the body. Police say he’d been shot and that the case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been reported.

Officials with the Estherville Police Department say the death of an 11-month old child is under investigation. Jasmine Rodriguez Sebastian was transported to Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville at around 2:48-p.m., Monday, and subsequently transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Jasmine died at the hospital Wednesday, June 6th. The Estherville P-D, Emmet County Attorney’s Office, Iowa Dept. of Human Services, and Iowa DCI are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Additional information will not be released by authorities at this time.

The Atlantic Police Department reports four people were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 47-year old Beverly Carroll, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Child Endangerment, a controlled substance violation, keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substance violation, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.  30-year old Amber Stephens, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Possession of a controlled substance (meth), and two counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug. 48-year old Craig Griffin, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday, on a Cass County warrant for Failure to appear in court. And, 40-year old James Darrow, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.

On Wednesday, 34-year old Ryan Richard, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. On Tuesday, 29-year old Katherine Coleman, and 19-year old Drew Miller, both of Atlantic, were arrested on separate Cass County warrants for Probation Violation. All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s auditor says her office will review the state’s claims of savings under its privatized Medicaid program. State Auditor Mary Mosiman confirmed the move in a statement Thursday night. She didn’t provide details on the scope of the review but says any findings will be released publicly. Mosiman says the review is in response to a letter from Democratic Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque, who says the Iowa Department of Human Services has given inconsistent information about program savings since switching to a private program.

DHS oversees the health care program for the poor and disabled, but private insurance companies provide coverage. The agency has defended reports of reduced services and officials say they’re addressing problems. A DHS spokesman says officials are “happy” to walk through the costs with Mosiman.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A University of Iowa campus police officer claims that he was unfairly fired days before leaving for a lengthy military deployment overseas. Jeffrey Williams argues in a legal petition that his May 3 firing violated a state law that gives veterans job protections in public employment. Williams was placed on leave April 19 during his final shift before he was leaving for a one-year deployment with the Air National Guard. Williams says his termination came after an internal affairs investigation related to his search for drugs in a residence hall.

A judge has scheduled a July 12 hearing in the case. The 30-year-old Williams says he had no prior discipline and was terminated without a hearing required by law. He’s seeking reinstatement. The university hasn’t responded in court to his petition. A spokeswoman was looking into the reason for his termination.

(Updated) The Iowa State Patrol has released additional information with regard to two recent accidents on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Lt. Joel Ehler, ISP Post 3 District Manager, told KJAN News an accident today (Friday), on I-80 westbound at around 4:40-a.m., took place when a female driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, crashed into the back of a semi tractor-trailer. The accident happened one-mile east of Exit 64. Ehler said the 16-year old was driving at a high rate of speed, and that alcohol was involved. The teen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Mercy hospital in Des Moines by Mercy Helicopter, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The owner/operator of the semi, 39-year old Randall Bartee, was not injured in the crash. Assisting the State Patrol at the scene were the following: Anita Rescue & Wiota 1st Responders; Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Atlantic Police; IA DOT and the Cass County Emergency Management Agency.

The other accident happened at around 8:11-p.m. Wednesday, on I-80 eastbound at the 69.5 mile marker. In it’s initial report, the Patrol said a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 18-year old Caleb Lee Clemon, of Soldier, Iowa, ran into the side of a 2016 Volvo semi tractor trailer registered to Nationwide Transportation in Omaha, and driven by 70-year old Andre Lee Slusher, of Lake Milton, OH. Clemon was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by mechanical means. He was transported from the scene by Midwest Air to the UNMC in Omaha. Additional information on his status was not available. The report said he was wearing a seat belt. The car was totaled in the crash. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Lt. Ehler said the accident report was not fully complete, and additional information will be released later. Sources say however, that it appears Clemon’s vehicle was pulled off onto the shoulder of the Interstate along with a group of other vehicles, due to the heavy rain in a severe thunderstorm. He apparently pulled back onto the road into the path of the semi’s trailer and became wedged underneath.