With Ric Hanson.

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Lead paint on window frame/sill

A few recent incidents are serving as a reminder that childhood lead poisoning continues to be a serious concern in Iowa. Kevin Officer, with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), says one Iowa toddler was recently hospitalized with unusually high blood-lead levels. Health inspectors found several lead-based paint hazards in the child’s home, which was built more than a century ago.

“One the issues he had was he was actually picking at the paint and putting it in his mouth,” Officer says. In another recent case, a toddler was treated for lead poisoning after biting around windows in a rental home built in the early 1900s. Officer says children could be at higher risk for lead poisoning if they live in homes built before 1960. Seven years ago, Iowa passed a law requiring kids be tested for lead poisoning before they enter grade school.

“There has been, since about 2008, much more awareness of lead poisoning and the need to have kids under the age of six tested,” Officer says. Lead poisoning is a more widespread problem in Iowa, compared to other states, because Iowa has a lot of older homes in rural communities. “In Iowa, we have a lot of rental properties and those properties aren’t always maintained as well over the years,” Officer says. “Those are a lot of the ones where we do see problems with renters who come and go and the maintenance isn’t always up to where it should be to maintain that paint.”

An Iowa law that took effect in 2011 requires contractors and landlords to be “lead certified” to do work in homes and child-occupied facilities built prior to 1978. More information about lead screening and the proper method for lead paint removal is posted on the IDPH website.: www.idph.state.ia.us/LPP/Default.aspx

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Creston report the arrest Saturday afternoon of a man on a Union County warrant for Domestic Abuse by Strangulation, and False Imprisonment. 55-year old Michael Alan Fry, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:15-p.m. and later released on $5,000 bond.

40-year old Dwain Michael Ripperger, of Afton, was arrested early Sunday morning by Creston Police, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ripperger was later released on $1,000 bond.

Sunday afternoon, 18-year old Brandon Lane Barrett, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Jail on warrants for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Conspiracy to Commit a non-forcible felony, and Burglary in the 3rd degree. Barrett was being held in the jail on $5 ,000 bond.

Also arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on Sunday, was 52-year old Louis Michael Bender, of Creston, who was charged with Driving While Suspended. Bender was subsequently released on $300 bond.

On Friday, 57-year old James Matthew Portwood, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County LEC on two warrants for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He was later released on a bond of unknown amount.  And on Saturday, 22-year old Trevor James Perrigo, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. He was later released on $300 bond.

Creston Police said also, a resident reported that someone had taken a pair of “Beats by Dre” headphones. The item was taken from 401 S. Vine Street sometime between January and February. The loss was estimated at $500.

The 7:05-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The top Democrat at the statehouse says a wide-ranging bill that’s eligible for debate in the senate needs “additional work” before senators would consider making changes in the state’s gun laws. “There are people in law enforcement that have suggested they see some things that could be significant improvements in our current law.” That’s Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs. Gronstal says establishing a uniform license for permits to carry a concealed weapon seems most likely, along with a move to create a statewide database of permit holders.

“So that law enforcement in Pottawattamie County would know something from Scott County and would be able to make that uniform. Also, that if somebody was stopped, they could quickly ascertain whether or not that person did have a legal permit,” Gronstal says. “So I think there are some law enforcement people working on whether they can come up with some compromise on that piece of legislation, but all of that is a work in progress at the moment.”

Gronstal says another bill that would get rid of the state’s ban on “silencers” which suppress the sound of a gunshot likely could pass the Senate. The House — on March 10th — passed a bill that dealt with suppressors and concealed weapons permits as well as a collection of other gun-related issues. Critics are calling for senators to shelve that bill because one section of it would essentially do away with Iowa’s three-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun. Gronstal isn’t addressing that specific concern, but he offers this:

“I think it’s unlikely we will consider the House bill.” Gronstal says senators are, instead, working on rewriting their own bill. Representative Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, is a gun rights advocate who argues there’s no three-day waiting period in Iowa for the purchase of “long” guns, like rifles and shotguns, so there’s no reason to have it for handguns.

In 2010 the legislature made significant changes that made it easier for Iowans to acquire a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Thousands of Iowans applied for and got a permit, which lasts for five years. That means tens of thousands of those permits will come up for renewal in 2016 and Windschitl says legislators should at least take steps to make the renewal process smoother.

“And make sure the sheriffs were having the training requirements in the legislation they felt were necessary for public safety and, at the same time, making sure we weren’t being too stringent or restrictive on Iowans exercising their Second Amendment rights,” Windschitl says. Windschitl is a trained gunsmith who works for the Union Pacific Railroad AND for his family’s gun shop in Missouri Valley.

(Radio Iowa)

This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa as residents statewide are encouraged to be prepared for spring and summer storms. Each day of the week will focus on a different severe weather topic, and Mike McClure with the National Weather Service says today (Monday) they’re calling attention to the dangers of flash flooding. “In any poor drainage areas or near creeks, streams and rivers, it’s one of those great ideas to be prepared ahead of time. What would you do in case of flash flooding? Where would you go? Get your preparedness in order right now, ahead of time.” Other topics on the calendar for this week include severe thunderstorms, family preparedness and tornadoes, with a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday morning.

McClure says this is also the time to refresh yourself on the difference between a warning, which means severe weather is occurring or imminent, versus a watch, which means conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather. “It’s not an exact science, so the goal here is to not get locked in on the counties that are in a watch, because severe weather doesn’t fall nicely and neatly, unfortunately, as we’d like it to and that’s why we say, if you’re in or near a watch area be prepared and stay alert.”

The first tornado reported in Iowa last year happened in late March causing minor damage in Clarke County, with a statewide total last year of 55 tornadoes, the highest since 2008.

(Iowa News Service)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A hotel in western Iowa had to be evacuated for several hours after carbon monoxide levels spiked in the pool area and several guests became dizzy. KETV reports two people were taken to the hospital for treatment and two others needed oxygen at the Council Bluffs hotel.

Firefighters say carbon monoxide levels in the pool area of the Quality Inn and Suites motel were dangerously high Sunday. Authorities say a malfunctioning pool heater appears to be the source. Guests were allowed back in the hotel after the carbon monoxide was cleared out.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill in the Iowa Legislature would expand some time-off entitlements for adoptive parents. The legislation would essentially require an employer that offers some form of paid time off or other entitlements for the birth of a child to do the same for an employee who’s adopted a child in the past 12 months. The Senate has passed the measure, and supporters are pushing it in the House.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A hotel in western Iowa had to be evacuated for several hours yesterday after carbon monoxide levels spiked in the pool area and several guests became dizzy. Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment and two others needed oxygen at the Council Bluffs hotel. Guests were allowed back in after the carbon monoxide was cleared out.

(Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com )

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 46-year-old Texas man has been arrested in connection with a scheme to collect a multimillion-dollar Hot Lotto jackpot that was won in 2010. Earlier this year, an Iowa man who worked for a lottery company was arrested after authorities say he violated state law when he bought the $14.3 million ticket and then tried to get others to help him claim it. Authorities say the Texas man will be brought to Iowa to face fraud charges.

SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Wiltjer scored 24 points and the second-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 87-68 win over No. 7 seed Iowa. The Hawkeyes couldn’t overcome the Bullsdogs’ efficient offensive performance in the first 20 minutes of yesterday’s game. Jared Uthoff led Iowa with 20, and Aaron White added 19.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County said Sunday, a Union County man sought by sheriff’s deputies in that county, was arrested Thursday night  on charges that include OWI/2nd offense and Driving While Suspended. 38-year old Robert Hiatt, of Creston,  was taken into custody just before midnight and brought to the Adams County jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In Iowa, adoptive parents are closely watching a bill in the Legislature that would expand some time-off entitlements when they bring a child home. The legislation would essentially require an employer that offers some forms of paid time off or other entitlements for the birth of a child to do the same for an employee who’s adopted a child in the past 12 months.

The Senate passed the measure Thursday. Rep. Joel Fry, a Republican from Osceola, is seeking bipartisan support in the House. Most people in the country rely on private benefits or unpaid leave through federal law for the birth or adoption of a child. Iowa could become one of the only states requiring some time-off entitlements for adoptive parents.