(Radio Iowa) — As dozens of Iowans die every year from opioid overdoses, the state is sponsoring a new initiative offering every law officer in the state a free two-pack naloxone kit. Kevin Gabbert, the state health department’s opioid treatment program director, says the kits are easy to use and they’re genuine life-savers. “This nasal spray can be used to provide naloxone to the person and it’s something that’s done through the nose,” Gabbert says, “and the intent is that it will reverse the opioid overdose that’s occurring and allow time until medical care can be provided.”

Gabbert says if the spray is used on someone who is -not- having an overdose, there are no ill effects. In 2017, there were 206 opioid-involved deaths in Iowa. Preliminary data for 2018 shows that number has dropped to 137. Until those numbers drop to zero, Gabbert says it’s important that our police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and others are prepared. “Quite often, our law enforcement personnel are the first to a scene when a suspected overdose has occurred,” Gabbert says. “Having the ability to administer naloxone without delay could mean the difference between life and death. In some cases, it may actually be the law enforcement officer whose life is in danger because of accidental exposure to an opioid or suspected opioid.”

There are about six-thousand law officers in the state and it’s unclear how many individuals or departments may request the kits. The state is planning to make one large purchase, at a discount. “Typically, if a person were to go to a pharmacy and purchase the two-pack Narcan kit that we’re providing, it would be about $150,” Gabbert says. “We’re able to purchase it directly from the manufacturer and obtain what they call ‘public interest pricing,’ and so we can get it for $75 for the same two-pack kit.”

The program is being sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public Health, with support from the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association and the Iowa Police Chiefs Association. Law agencies can request the free kits by calling the IDPH at 515-281-7689.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa legislature has unanimously voted to cut some government red tape that low-income Iowans encounter as they try to kick an opioid addition. Medicaid patients getting prescription meds like Methadone for substance abuse treatment must get approval from a private company managing Medicaid before the medication can be dispensed. Senator Marinnette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa says that creates problems for low-income Iowans, because Medicaid won’t pay for the prescription unless it’s authorized beforehand. Lawmakers want state officials to make at least one medication for opioid addicts available without prior authorization.

“This helps to fix that problem,” Miller-Meeks says. “In addition to which, when we have a provider shortage in our state, we don’t want our providers spending hours on the telephone in a day or weeks, trying to get prior authorization.” Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City agrees. “It is very important that we offer this opportunity to the providers,” Ragan says, “and I think it’ll make a huge difference in many lives.”

Advocates say the next step is expanding the number of Iowa clinics where recovering addicts can get the prescription medications that are part of their substance abuse treatment plan.

(Radio Iowa) — More than one-thousand motorists got citations from the Iowa State Patrol for texting while driving last year and the numbers are still climbing. Patrol Sergeant Nathan Ludwig says it’s now a primary offense, meaning, you can be pulled over just for texting.”I think the misconception people have is that you can still text if you’re at a red light or a stop sign and that is not the case,” Ludwig says. “If you’re on the travel portion of the roadway, you cannot be texting, writing, sending or receiving a message.”

April is National Texting and Driving Awareness Month and Ludwig has some advice to motorists when it comes to their phones. “Just have your phone out of your hand when you’re driving,” he says. “It’s better because that way, you’re not concentrating on that, you’re looking down the road, you’re seeing what’s going on. Studies show that if you glance down at your phone for five seconds at 55 miles an hour, that’s like traveling the length of a football field. You’re covering a lot of ground when you’re looking down at your phone.”

Ludwig says the patrol is educating Iowans about the continuing problem. “We’re out there every day trying to enforce the law of people having the phone out of their hands,” he says. “We’ve got a YouTube video out and our Facebook messaging, basically because it’s National Texting and Driving Awareness Month, just to get people to know the dangers of it.”

See the video called “Windshield Time” at the Iowa State Patrol Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/IowaStatePatrol/videos/2456733737683662/

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 79-year-old man has been convicted again of stabbing to death his former apartment manager in Des Moines. Polk County District Court records say Norman Wadsworth was found guilty Thursday of second-degree murder. Police say Wadsworth stabbed 58-year-old Darlene Crook about 70 times on Oct. 15, 2014, at the apartment building where he used to live. He became homeless after he was evicted. Wadsworth’s sentencing is set for April 29.

He’d been found guilty at his 2016 trial. The Iowa Appeals Court overturned the conviction, questioning Wadsworth’s competency to stand trial. Wadsworth subsequently was treated and then judged competent to stand a second trial. Before it began a judge ordered Wadsworth to take medication during the trial that the judge said was important to maintaining Wadsworth’s competence.

The Audubon Community School District’s Board of Education met during a special session Wednesday evening, to hold a public hearing with regard to the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget. Superintendent Brett Gibbs said there were no public comments, and given the current situation, that’s not unexpected. He said about a dozen years ago, before he became Superintendent, the tax levies were around $15 or $16 per thousand dollars valuation, and that drew the public. Since then, the tax asking has come down to around $11 or $12/$1,000…which is essentially a “non-issue” with the district patrons.

The levy for the 2019-20 Budget went down nearly 6-cents, to $11.68/$1,000. Gibbs said that’s attributable to two main factors: The District Valuation went up by $8-million, and there was an increase in enrollment, along with more State aid. Gibbs said people may not understand that the district has very little control over the levy because of how it’s set up in Iowa. He said workshops are held where the budget levy is developed through a formula. The State tells each district how much they can spend. The only levies the district has control over is the Management Levy and Early Retirement, but those don’t amount to a whole lot.

In other business, the Audubon School Board, Wednesday, approved the FY2019-20 Bargaining Agreement with Audubon Education Association. He says they settled at 3.27%. Earlier in the week, the Teachers Association moved quickly to approve the offer. Contracts will be issued soon and voted on during the Audubon School Board’s regular meeting 7-p.m. Monday, April 15th. During that meeting, the Board will act on approving salary increases for staff who are NOT represented by a Collective Bargaining Unit.

The Creston Police Department reports six separate arrests over the past few days. 29-year old Trevor Jack Dillon Loudon, of Creston, was arrested today (Friday) at around 7:40-a.m., on a Clarke County warrant for Failure to Appear (FTA) in court. Loudon was transferred to Clarke County for processing. He had also been arrested at around 8:43-a.m. Thursday, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree, and later released on a $300 bond.

Also arrested Thursday morning, was 32-year old Shaune William Tindle, of Des Moines. He was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended, plead guilty in magistrate court, and was released. 19-year old Garrett Breann Abel, of Greenfield, was arrested Thursday night for OWI/1st offense. She was later released on a $1,000 bond. Wednesday morning, 18-year old Hunter Gunnard Linne, of Creston, was arrested at his home on a warrant out of Jones County. Linne was released on a $10,300 bond.

And, on April 7th, 20-year old Brianne May Lawson, of Greenfield, was arrested in Creston for Trespassing in the 1st degree. She was released on a Promise to Appear in court.