Republican delegates from southwest Iowa will gather this (Tuesday) evening in Corning, for a Special Nominating Convention. The event begins at 6:30-p.m. at the Corning Opera House. At least four Republican candidates…Tom Moore of Griswold, John Hartkopf of Atlantic, Ian Barris, of Atlantic and Doug Borkowski of Elliott…have expressed an interest in filling the Iowa House District 21 seat left vacant by the death of State Rep. Jack Drake of Griswold.

The Democratic Party Nominating Convention will be held this 6-p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 12th, at the Massena Public Library. Delegates eligible for these conventions are the precinct committee members from Iowa House District 21 elected at the 2014 precinct caucuses or those elected by their county central committee after the caucuses.

House District 21 covers portions of Pottawattamie and Cass Counties and all of Adams and Union Counties.

The state’s ban on utility disconnections is now in place as a protection for those who may fall behind on their bills during cold weather. Iowa Utilities Board spokesman, Don Tormey, says you have to be signed up for a couple of programs to be protected from having your utilities shut off. “Households that qualify for low income home energy heating assistance or weatherization program assistance are protected from natural gas or electric service disconnection during the moratorium period — which started November 1st and it goes through April 1st of 2016,” Tormey says.

The programs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and you can contact your local Community Action Agency to sign up. Tormey says the programs provide some help to people who’re struggling to pay. “It doesn’t pay the entire energy bill, it’s meant to supplement it and lend assistance to low-income qualified customers,” Tormey explains. He says the weather has been pretty warm so far this fall and people may not be thinking about the program.

“While they cannot be disconnected from that service during the moratorium, the board also urges all LIHEAP and weatherization customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter so they can avoid accumulating high debt, and then facing potential utility service disconnection when the moratorium ends,” Tormey says. The weatherization program helps low-income participants insulate their homes to help save on heating bills.

For more information on either program, go to the Iowa Utilities Board website or call the board at 1-877-565-4450.

(Radio Iowa)

Multiple reports of sexual assault prompted University of Iowa Police to issue a campus-wide “Hawk Alert” early this morning (Tuesday). UI Police say they received three reports of a male groping women. The incidents occurred in the areas of the UI Hospital, the main library, and Hospital Ramp 4. The suspect is described as a white male, about five feet 10 inches tall. He was wearing a red flannel shirt, with ripped jeans and flip flops.

U-of-I Police are urging anyone who sees someone matching the suspect’s description NOT to approach him and call law enforcement.

(Radio Iowa)

A spokesman for the state’s 118 hospitals says there’s too much uncertainty about the Branstad Administration’s push to switch more than half a million Medicaid patients in Iowa to a managed care plan on January 1st. “Put the brakes on this. Allow people time to talk things out, make things work and implement a plan that works for everybody.” That’s Scott McIntyre, the vice president of communications for the Iowa Hospital Association. He says the Branstad Administration still hasn’t provided hospitals with the “rate card” hospitals must use in discussions with the four private companies that will manage care for Medicaid patients.

“Hospitals really don’t have that starting point from which to negotiate a contract or from which to make financial plans,” McIntyre says. State officials have given hospitals and other Iowa health care providers a January 1st deadline to sign contracts with the managed care companies. On Monday, Branstad confirmed his administration will enforce a 10 percent penalty in Medicaid reimbursement to Iowa health care providers that fail to sign managed care deals by January 1st. McIntyre says lawyers tell him the state doesn’t have the authority to impose that 10 percent penalty.

“We don’t even know the base rates at this point, so we are talking about 10 percent of what?” McIntyre says. “It’s kind of another example of putting the cart before the horse and not being clear on what the state’s plans are.” After initially opposing the idea, Branstad in 2013 did approve expanding the number of poor Iowans who qualified for Medicaid. That has led to a reduction in so-called “charity care” in Iowa hospitals, but McIntyre says hospital executives fear those gains may be lost in the switch to “managed care” for Medicaid patients.

“Our concern, one of many, regarding this plan is that these companies will deny care. Folks will go to the emergency room anyway, which won’t be covered even if they do have insurance, and once again our charity care costs will go up and those costs impact everybody,” McIntyre says. “The hospitals really don’t have a choice but to pass along that impact.” Governor Branstad says 25 other states have shifted Medicaid patients into managed care and have saved money in the process.

(Radio Iowa)

The Clarinda Police Department reports a drug-related arrest took place early this (Tuesday) morning. At around 1:30-a.m., officers went to 206 W. Main Street, Apt. #4, to arrest 24-year old Thomas Jeffrey Engstrand, of Clarinda, on an outstanding, probation violation warrant, issued by the Page County District Court. Pursuant to the arrest, Engstrand was found in possession of controlled substances believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana when he was being processed at the Page County Jail.

Engstrand was charged for possession of the substances as well as introduction of controlled substances to a jail facility. A search warrant was also executed at the apartment. Evidence found at the scene indicated the alleged illegal use and distribution of controlled substances. Additional charges against Engstrand are pending.

He was being held at the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – A monument in Cedar Falls has been dedicated to fallen soldiers and veterans, including five brothers who died during World War II. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the Black Hawk County Freedom Rock was dedicated near Veterans Park Monday. Brothers Albert, George, Francis, Joseph and Madison Sullivan of Waterloo are among the images on the Freedom Rock painted by Greenfield artist Ray Sorensen II.

The monument also features Medal of Honor winner Robert Hibbs of Cedar Falls, a U.S. Army second lieutenant killed in Vietnam in 1966. Iowa Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Ron Albrecht says the images on the monument were significant because they represented veterans from various generations. The monument is a part of the expansion of Veterans Park. A dedication is expected next summer once the expansion is completed.

Cass County Engineer Charles Marker, today (Tuesday) provided the Board of Supervisors with an update on various bridge projects. And, there was good news for those who use the Cass County Landfill, where a bridge on a road leading to the facility had been closed for replacement.

Marker said the landfill road bridge [#292] is open for traffic. The only work remaining is seeding the area around the bridge. That task has been suspended because they are past the permanent seeding date in September. The area has temporary seeding in-place. A permanent seeding mix will be laid down in the Spring of 2016.

Marker said also, the asphalt approaches are being poured for the Griswold Golf Course Bridge [Bridge #83]. Once those are installed, work on the bridge guardrails will commence. He says the bridge should be open sometime later this month. And, work is progressing on Bridge #247, south of Anita. Steel beams are currently being set in place. Afterward, the corrugated steel decking will be tack welded in place, in preparation for a gravel overlay. And, Marker reports the County sheds are fully stocked with salt and sand in preparation for the first snow storm.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved the appointment of Kate Winston, from Atlantic, to the County Civil Service Commission. The Board received applications from Winston and Steve Jacobs, also of Atlantic, both are Democrats. The position requires a Democrat, and preference is given to gender balancing. The other members of the Commission are men.

And, the Board unanimously voted against requests by the County Recorder and Treasurer for the hiring of a permanent half-time employee, who would serve both offices.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. 37-year old Marie Ann Johnson, of Afton, was arrested Nov. 3rd and transferred from the Polk County Jail to the Ringgold County Jail, on a Union County warrant for probation violation. Olson was being held on $5000 bond. And, on Saturday (11/7), 32-year old Cassy Lyn Holcomb, of Sioux City, was arrested and transferred from the Woodbury County Jail to the Ringgold County Jail, on a Union County warrant for probation violation. Holcomb was being held without bond until seen by a Judge.

At least one person was taken into custody following a pursuit this (Tuesday) morning, in Shelby County. The chase began sometime before 8-a.m. and ended at Timber and 150th with an arrest. Additional details are currently not available.

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

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