DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A newspaper investigation finds that a company chosen to manage Iowa’s newly privatized Medicaid system has a history of alleged mismanagement and at least $23 million in fines in more than a dozen states. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa Total Care, a Centene subsidiary, was awarded a state Medicaid contract in May despite scoring nearly 14 points lower on its evaluation than when Iowa rejected its application in 2015.

The newspaper found that at least 300 sanctions were levied against Centene and its subsidiaries since 2013, including failing to promptly pay medical claims. A federal lawsuit filed this year also alleges Centene has failed to provide adequate access to doctors in at least 15 states. Centene spokeswoman Marcela Hawn says the company knows it must earn Iowa residents’ trust and develop partnerships with providers and the community.

Sunday (July 1st) marked the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the Smoke-free Air Act that former Governor Chet Culver signed into law. The law banned smoking in bars, restaurants and outdoor entertainment venues. Adam Angstad has worked as a server at the Hamburg Inn in Iowa City for 12 years and he told K-C-R-G T-V before 2008, someone could have a cup of coffee and a stogie in the smoking section. “It’s not like the smoke would stop at the smoking section, it would drift through the whole place so that was always kind of a silly thing to do,” said Adam Angstad.

Angstad says he still heads home in need of a shower after work, but with the implementation of the Clean Air Act he had one less smell to worry about. “You just smell like French fries and sausages when you get done. You don’t have to like wash off smoke,” Angstad says. David Danskin first started biting into the Hamburg burgers in the sixties. Although, he put the cigarettes down more than 15 years ago, Danskin told K-C-R-G T-V he’s happy the smoke has cleared. “Even when I smoked I didn’t much like being around it,” said Danskin. It’s just an irritant. Smells bad.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, it’s also hazardous to your health. They estimate it contributes to 41-thousand deaths among nonsmoking adults, each year. Those who do light up — Griffin Ford — understand why the law is in place. “If I were a non-smoker I wouldn’t want a bunch of people smoking around me,” he explains.  Although, that understanding comes with its drawbacks.  “In the winter I would just like to stay inside just to smoke a cigarette but for the most part it doesn’t bother me,” Ford says.

There is one exception to the Clean Air Act — you can legally smoke on the gambling floor of the state’s casinos. Efforts in the last ten years to change that exception to the law have failed.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Kim Reynolds is not promising to appoint a woman to the all-male Iowa Supreme Court.  “First of all, it’s about getting the right person,” Reynolds says.  Iowa Supreme Court Justice Bruce Zager is retiring September 3rd. Reynolds will choose his replacement from a list of three nominees submitted to her by the Iowa Judicial Nominating Commission. Only two women have ever served as justices. There are seven men on the state’s highest court today. Reynolds is seeking HER first full, four-year term in office this November. Reynolds says she won’t make being the first female governor the cornerstone of her campaign.

“I want people to select me because they think I’m qualified and I’m the best person. I don’t want to fill a slot,” Reynolds said. “That’s how I feel about that.”  The Judicial Nominating Commission will meet NEXT Monday, July 9th, to interview the Iowans who applied for the opening on the state’s supreme court. Fifteen of the 22 applicants are women.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with Midwest Partnership EDC have announced that Adair, Guthrie, and Audubon Counties have met the requirements for Home Base Iowa Designation.  A formal Ceremony will be held in each county on Friday, July 6th.  Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, and Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend have been invited to attend the event.  Local Veterans will also be addressing the crowd, including Sgt. 1st Class Lucas Queck in Greenfield,  Command Sgt. Major Curtis McClellan in Guthrie Center, and Lt. Col. Donald Mosinski in Audubon.  The mission of Home Base Iowa (HBI) is to provide veterans and transitioning service members and their families, with opportunities and benefits for a successful transition in Iowa — a place to call home.

In 2014, the Iowa Legislature overwhelmingly passed the HBI Act, which provides the following incentives:  state income tax exemption on military pensions, $5000 military homeowner assistance, permissive veteran preference in employment, streamlined occupational licensure processes and in-state tuition assessment to eligible U.S. veterans and their families.

The public ceremonies will take place in…

ADAIR COUNTY:  from 9:30-to 10-am on the courthouse lawn in Greenfield

GUTHRIE COUNTY:  from 11-to 11:30-am on the courthouse lawn in Guthrie Center, and in

AUDUBON COUNTY:  from Noon-until 12:30-pm, in the City Park on the town square in Audubon (Governor Reynolds is unable to attend that ceremony)

An inmate at the Pottawattamie County Jail faces additional charges following an incident 28-year old Cody Robert Cordell, of New Market, was charged with Assault, after he allegedly struck a 50-year old inmate from Blockton. The other inmate suffered apparent, minor injuries during the incident that happened at around 8:40-p.m., Friday. A man who was on a “Sheriff’s hold” at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs following a rollover accident last Thursday night, was presented with a warrant for OWI/1st offense and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. 24-year old Christopher C. Shook, of Council Bluffs, was released from the hospital and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

A woman from South Dakota was arrested Saturday night for Child Endangerment without injury, and Domestic Assault with Injury, for an incident that happened in the 15,000 block of Old Morman Bridge Road. 26-year old Mila Renae Dumarce-Stozenko, of Sioux Falls, was arrested at around 9:20-p.m. in connection to minor injuries suffered by her 25-year old spouse. A call early Sunday morning about a truck in the ditch off Interstate 80 in Pott. County, resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Ty Robert Johnk, of Walnut. Johnk was charged with OWI/1st offense, after a deputy arrived at the scene near mile marker 49, where he found Johnk’s 2004 Dodge pickup in the ditch. The man was taken into custody at around 5:30-a.m., after the Deputy observed Johnk showed signs of impairment.

A traffic stop on an SUV at around 10:20-a.m. Sunday on I-80, resulted in the arrest of a Virginia man on drug charges. 28-year old Chad Alan DePriest, of Richmond, VA, was arrested for Possession with the intent to deliver/Marijuana, and Possession of Marijuana. Deputies found 7.7-pounds of pot inside the vehicle, in several vacuum-sealed packages. And, a man laying on the ground next to a scooter was arrested for 4th Degree Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance. A Pott. County Deputy observed 40-year old Michael Aaron Watts, of Council Bluffs, next to a Genuine Buddy Scooter. The scooter was confirmed as having been stolen from a man in Orlando, FL. The Deputy woke Watts up, and placed him into custody. 1 gram of meth was taken into custody as evidence.

An eastern Iowa man was seriously injured during a motorcycle accident Sunday night, in Sac County. According to Sheriff Ken McClure, 55-year old Ricky Zickefoose, of Brighton, was riding a 1985 Honda motorcycle westbound on 280th Street at around 8:30-p.m., when he failed to stop at the posted intersection with Sac County road M-54. Witnesses said he was operating the cycle at highway speeds when he drove off the road at the T-intersection and entered a corn field. Zickefoose was transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City by Sac County Ambulance, and then flown by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Business remains strong in nine Midwest and Plains states, but a new monthly survey suggests that growth is slowing as concerns about trade and tariffs increase. The region’s overall economic index decreased to 61.8 in June from May’s 67.3, but any score above 50 indicates growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the trade concerns and more interest rate increases are likely to slow the region’s economy.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.