(Radio Iowa) Officials with the Iowa Donor Network are releasing numbers for 2023 to celebrate the extraordinary impact of organ and tissue donation. Network spokeswoman Heather Butterfield says during the past year, 123 “donor heroes” in Iowa gifted a remarkable 350 organs for transplant. She says a record was also set last year. “We had an unprecedented 1,027 tissue donors, and each tissue donor has the opportunity to enhance the lives of 50 to 300 people,” Butterfield says, “so we’re talking about thousands and thousands of lives saved, thanks to the generosity of donors from right here in Iowa.” Over the past few years, she says more Iowans have checked the box to identify themselves as donors on their drivers’ licenses.

“Iowa Donor Network has seen a remarkable 40% increase in organ donors since 2019 and a 21% increase in organs transplanted,” Butterfield says, “which just shows the incredible commitment that Iowans have to saving lives.” Regardless of age or medical history, she says anyone can register to save lives as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. “The most common way is at the DMV when people get their license. If they’re already a donor, it’ll say the word ‘DONOR’ right there on the front of your license,” Butterfield says. “If you aren’t registered, you can simply go online to our website, IowaDonorNetwork.org, click the ‘Register’ button, and it takes less than three minutes to sign up.”

Butterfield says the selflessness and generosity of Iowa’s donors creates a lasting legacy of hope and healing.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Thursday night, arrested 30-year-old Dallas Eugene Davis, of Red Oak, following a call about a domestic incident in progress in the 1000 block of E> Washington Street. Officers arrested Davis for: Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense;  Assault with bodily injury to a law enforcement officer; 3 counts of Child Endangerment, and Interference with official acts.

Davis was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans intend to examine the activities of agencies that provide temporary workers, like traveling nurses, in Iowa nursing homes. “We pay for as a state, roughly 50% of the bill…in nursing homes through Medicaid,” Grassley says. “And right now we’re seeing every time we put more money into the sytem, these out-of-state companies continue to skyrocket the rates.” Grassley says it appears the agencies are also “poaching” staff from nursing homes.

“What is the number one priority when it comes to providing care?” Grassley says. “It’s making sure you have proper staffing levels and continuity of care and that’s why we’re going to look at it.” In December, Senate Democrats called on Senate Republicans to launch an investigation of cases of abuse and neglect in Iowa nursing homes. Grassley says as House members being drafting next year’s budget the state agency that inspects nursing homes, those issues will be examined, along with nursing home staffing issues in general.

“Whether it’s accountability for the individuals in the home or its for the taxpayer, I think it’s something we need to engage in,” Grassley says. Grassley made his comments on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S. Six months ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determined 42 percent of Iowa nursing homes had a shortage of nurses and other staff who provide direct care to residents. That’s nearly double the national average and Iowa nursing homes have begun to rely on temporary agencies to fill key roles.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley has been discharged from a hospital in the Washington, D.C. area where he was being treated for an infection. On Tuesday, Grassley’s U-S Senate office announced Grassley was receiving antibiotic infusions as treatment for an infection. His office announced late Thursday afternoon that he’d been released from the hospital and expects to be back to work next week. Just over an hour after that announcement, Grassley posted a message on the social media platform X in his typical syntax, thanking people for the well wishes and prayers, saying he’s happy to be home and he looks forward to getting back to work.

Grassley, who is 90, had hip surgery in January of last year to repair a fracture. He is the oldest currently serving member of the U-S Senate.