Governor Terry Branstad isn’t closing the door on a bill that would adjust Iowa’s medical marijuana law.  “I’ve indicated a willingness to work with the legislature on this as well as other issues,” Branstad says. “I reserve judgment until we see it in its final form, but certainly this is an issue there is some strong interest in.”

Iowa decriminalized possession of cannabis oil for treatment of chronic epilepsy in 2014, but cannabis oil isn’t sold in the state. Advocates have been pressing state officials to set up a system for growing and dispensing cannabis oil in Iowa. Plus, they want Iowa doctors to be able to prescribe it as treatment for a wide range of chronic conditions.

“We have been open to and met with people about resolving this issue throughout the session,” Branstad says. Branstad isn’t specifying what he might accept, but he says it’s important to keep marijuana out of the hands of people who would use the drug “for illicit purposes.”

“What we have is cannabis oil which is basically designed to treat a particular medical condition and the question is whether that should be expanded to some others and whether you could have it produced in the state of Iowa,” Branstad says.

Twenty-three states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Illinois residents suffering from any of 40 different conditions can get a state permit to buy marijuana from state licensed dispensaries. Minnesota residents can buy the drug in liquid or pill form as treatment for a handful of specific illnesses, as well as terminal conditions.

(Radio Iowa)

Last Friday, about three-thousand calls were made to the state “call center” created to help figure out benefits for Iowa Medicaid patients and the health care professionals who treat them. Friday was the day Iowa’s 560-thousand Medicaid patients were switched to a private managed care system. Governor Terry Branstad describes the transition as “smooth.”

“Nothing of this magnitude is going to be totally glitch-free,” Branstad says. “But the reports I’ve been getting is that it’s relative smooth and, you know, there are all kinds of opportunities for people to call if they have a glitch or a problem, to get that corrected as quickly as possible.”

State officials say the average wait time for people who’ve been calling the hotline for help was about two minutes on Friday. Administrators also say call volume was just about the same as it has in the weeks leading up to the switch. Branstad invited representatives of each of the three private companies now managing Iowa’s Medicaid system to his weekly news conference — to tout new “add-on” services each now offers to Medicaid patients, like smoking cessation and well-baby programs.

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 10:10-a.m. w/more details)

A woman from Guthrie County was arrested last Thursday after hiding in a most unusual place: her oven. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 800 block of Ashton Avenue, in Guthrie Center. As a result of the search warrant, 25-year old Gabrielle Looper was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for probation violation. Deputy Kent Gries, with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, told KJAN News the woman was taken into custody without incident, but not before authorities encountered some obstacles.

Gries said they first had to force entry into the mobile home using a prybar. When they made entry, they were greeted by a couple of vicious dogs. One of the deputies was bitten by a canine in the home. Instead of using lethal force to subdue the dogs, authorities used a fire extinguisher to force them back.

Once inside, deputies conducted a slow, methodical search. Gries said they knew Looper was in the home based on her medical history. She had just given birth three weeks ago. He says their first priority was to find the baby. Deputies secured the baby and spread out throughout the house, where they found Looper hiding in the oven.

The door to the oven was closed. Gries said authorities had received intelligence beforehand indicating they were likely to find her there. There were actually two ovens in the trailer house, which was a dead giveaway something was amiss, according to Gries. One of the ovens was non-functional and was specially modified so the bottom could hide a person.

32-year old Joseph Crawford was also arrested at the scene, for interference with official acts. Both were transported to the Guthrie County Jail. The Iowa State Patrol and Panora Police Department assisted in executing the search warrant. The child was voluntarily turned by over by Looper, to her grandmother. Gries said they took a picture of the unusual oven because it serves as a reminder that people will go to extreme lengths to hide themselves from authorities, in order to avoid prosecution.

Image from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A nondenominational Christian nonprofit agency is opening a shelter in Sioux City for homeless, single fathers and their children. The Sioux City Journal reports that Gospel Mission began construction on the $600,000 facility in the fall of 2015. The apartments are scheduled to open later this month.

Gospel Mission will give families food and resources to find daycare and work. The apartments include various kitchen appliances, a laundry machine, a living area with a TV and bunkbeds. Residents will be allowed to stay for six months, with the end goal of getting the family back on its feet. Gospel mission already has a shelter for single women with children. A dedication and open house for the new shelter is scheduled for April 17.

The deadline for filing our federal tax returns is two weeks away and Iowans who need a hand completing the chore can get free help from the A-A-R-P Foundation. Lynette Lee-Villanueva, is vice president of the foundation’s Tax-Aide program, which has more than three-dozens sites across Iowa. Lee-Villanueva says, “We help individuals who are lower-to-moderate income and specifically those who are over the age of 50 but we do serve all ages.”

The program boasts 41 locations in Iowa this spring that are staffed by a total of more than 200 trained, certified volunteers. “You can find a site either through our website, which is aarp.org/findtaxhelp, or by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-AARP-NOW,” Lee-Villanueva says. “In both instances, you’ll be asked to put in your ZIP code and you will then find a site that is nearest to you.” Iowans who are seeking tax help should bring along a photo I-D and the Social Security numbers of everyone who will be included on the return.

She says some people literally bring in all of their financial information in a shoebox. “We ask that you bring in your income statements for the year, your W-2, your 10-99, whatever form that is in, and then of course your shoebox of expenses or receipts you might have as well,” Lee-Villanueva says. “We also ask if you have last year’s tax return, that you bring that with you. It helps our volunteers to get an idea of what your previous year’s return looked like.”

This is the 48th year for the AARP’s Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax help program. People do not need to be a member of AARP or a senior citizen to use the service.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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Most people wait until there is a crisis to plan for long-term care. The Finances of Caregiving is a new series of five 2-hour workshops to help families plan together for the care receiver’s care. The series begins this Thursday, April 7th, at the Montgomery County Extension Office in Red Oak from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

Long term caregiving has significant financial consequences for caregivers, particularly for women. If it is necessary for the caregiver to leave work or reduce hours, they will need to prepare for retirement while providing care. The Finances of Caregiving program guides you through finding and collecting that information. During the workshop, caregivers and care receivers may create an information binder to help family members when a crisis does occur.

To register, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office of Montgomery County, 400 Bridge St., Suite 2 in Red Oak, ph. 712-623-2592. A nominal fee covers a financial binder.

The workshop series is sponsored by the ISU Extension and Outreach council of Montgomery County as part of an effort to address family caregiving issues and improve the health of family caregivers and their family members in a holistic way.  The next learning opportunity after this is the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program, a series of six 2-1/2 hour classes designed especially for family caregivers. The series will start in May in Villisca. Dates, times, and location are being firmed up by the coalition.

The Creston Police Department is reporting four recent arrests. Early Sunday morning, 29-year old Casey White, of Creston, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Assault, with Injury. White was later released from the Ringgold County Jail on $1,000 bond. Sunday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 35-year old Brian Whitfield, of Creston, on a charge of Simple Assault. Whitfield was later released on $300 bond.

Saturday night, 39-year old Travis Wambold, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He was also later released on $300 bond. And, Friday night, 20-year old Haylee Pierce, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. She was later released on $300 bond, as well.

The area’s top news at 7:05-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a man on an assault charge Sunday night, in Villisca. Authorities say 47-year old Robert Lee Herbst, of Villisca, was arrested for simple assault, following an incident that occurred at around 10:25-p.m. in the 400 block of E. 5th Street, in Villisca. Herbst was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.