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After hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Iowa House has approved a bill that would legalize possession of an oil derived from the marijuana plant as a treatment of severe epilepsy. The bill passed shortly after 3:30 a.m. on a 75-to-20 vote. Representative Jarad, a Republican from Washington, was the bill’s floor manager. “We’ve been working on this bill an awful lot today,” Klein said. “Where we stand right now is I think that Iowans can be very proud. We’ve come together between the parties, between different factions, urban (and) rural legislators to put together what I believe is a good piece of legislation.”
Representative Bob Kressig, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, credited a small group of parents, mostly mothers, who have epileptic children for lobbying legislators day after day on this issue. “What we’re offering today is hope for these families,” Kressig said. A pharmacist who is a member of the House estimates about 100 patients in Iowa might get a doctor’s recommendation to take the oil if this proposal becomes law. The lifespan of children diagnosed with intractable epilepsy is dramatically shortened not only by the condition, but by the powerful prescription and experimental drugs they take to try to reduce the duration and intensity of their seizures.
The Iowa Senate has approved the bill to decriminalize cannabis oil. The House this morning (Thursday) made some changes in the bill before passing it shortly after 3:30 a.m. Senators must review the bill again and vote to approve the alterations.
(Radio Iowa)
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Marshalltown police are moving ahead with plans to acquire a 24-foot-long, 10-foot-high military vehicle. The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports Police Chief Mike Tupper told City Council members Monday his department wants to obtain the Caiman MTV Defensive Vehicle through a military exchange program.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature is debating budget measures and a few remaining policy bills in an effort to finish the 2014 legislative session. With several major budget bills remaining and two of Governor Terry Branstad’s priority measures hanging in the balance, debate began yesterday afternoon with the goal of finishing late in the evening.
OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) — A planned sale of The Inn at Okoboji is off and the hotel’s owner says there are now no plans to sell the historic lakefront property. Brian DePalma, who heads North Texas-based DePalma Hotels, told the Sioux City Journal “the sale is not happening and there is no plan to relist it right now.” DePalma Hotels has operated the 200-room hotel since 2011, when it entered foreclosure. The hotel dates to 1896.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A decision to exclude some vendors from a popular farmers market in downtown Cedar Falls has prompted complaints that event organizers are limiting competition. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports hog farmer Carl Blake complained Monday night to the Cedar Falls City Council and asked officials to investigate why he and others had repeatedly been denied the chance to join the market.
A fifth-grade teacher at the Treynor Community School District has been placed on paid administrative leave. The Daily Non Pareil reports Mike Travis, who also is an assistant softball coach, is under investigation by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Jeff Danker said Travis had been placed on leave following allegations of misconduct with at least one student.
Treynor School District Attorney Joseph Thornton told the Omaha World-Herald the issues with Travis do not involve any current students. He said it was basically a “personnel matter,” but declined to comment further.
Danker said an investigation is underway he hoped it will be wrapped-up next week. No charges have been filed.
Nearly a dozen young professionals in Atlantic were recognized Wednesday for their achievements and commitment to excellence in their profession and/or community. The 11 individuals received their awards during the Inaugural Young Professionals of Atlantic (YPA) Dessert and Luncheon held at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.
The YPA is comprised of a group of persons ages 21-to-40, whose mission is to “Connect, engage, and attract young leaders into the Atlantic Community while promoting Atlantic and the surrounding area.” The organization has been established in Atlantic for several years.
YPA Vice-President Lucas Mosier said the young professionals who received awards Wednesday had been nominated in 11 different categories including: education, food/drink/hospitality, health, non-profit/government, professional services, retail/sales, technology, skilled labor/trade, Agriculture, and start-up entrepreneurs.
The winners in their respective categories include: Media-Bennett Blake-Meredith Communications; Education: Nick Ross, Teacher and Coach at Atlantic High School; Food/Drink/and Hospitality-Jacob Weitzel-Owner of Weitzel’s Restaurant; Health-Brad Peerbolte-Peerbolte Chiropractic; Government-John Lund-Assistant to the Atlantic City Administrator; Professional Services-Tom Welchans-Certified CPA, with Gronewald-Bell-Kyhnn & Company; Retail-Hans Krengel, Howards Clothing; Technology-Matthew Klein, Communications Systems and IT Coordinator for AMU; Skilled Labor-Andy Elings, Camblin Mechanical; Agriculture-Ryan Houser, Lindeman Tractor; and Entrepreneur-Brandi Eckels-Owner of, Lou Lou’s Boutique.
And the Young Professional Choice Workplace Award was presented to the Cambridge Law Firm. The award recognizes a company that effectively attracts, retains and develops young professionals.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Rep. Matt Windschitl has been elected speaker pro tem, a top leadership position in the Iowa House. The 30-year-old Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, replaces retiring Rep. Steve Olson, of DeWitt, who resigned the post Wednesday.
Windschitl was first elected to the House in 2006 and has served as an assistant majority leader for the past five years. The speaker pro tem is part of the leadership team and presides over the chamber when the house speaker is absent.
Reps. Jarad Klein, a Keota farmer, and Lee Hein, a Montezuma farmer, were elected assistant majority leaders.
An aide to Iowa Senator Tom Harkin will be in Shelby County, Thursday, to kick-off a summer tour highlighting Harkin’s partnership with Iowa Communities throughout the years. Harkin’s office says the “In the Footsteps of History” tour will include all 99 Iowa counties and feature local projects aimed at keeping communities healthy and safe, keeping them thriving through targeted education, research, and economic development projects, along with promoting local agriculture and conservation, while at the same time mitigating disasters.
Harkin’s State Director Rob Barren will tour the Danish Windmill from 1-until 2-pm Thursday, 38-years to the day that the Iowa Senator helped in the reconstruction of the windmill.
He’d been invited to help with the project after Harkin successfully got the windmill released from New York, where it was being held due to import levies. Harkin also worked to ensure Elk Horn received a refund for the levy.
The windmill was bought by Elk Horn officials in 1976, after the large structure graced the Danish landscape for 127 years.
Police in Harlan are investigating two recent thefts. Officials say on April 26th, a set of golf clubs valued at $3,000 was reported stolen from the cart shed at the Harlan County Club. And, on April 19th, someone broke into the coin operated laundry machines and took coin boxes, from the laundry room at the Hillcrest Apartments in Harlan.
The Harlan P-D reports also, the arrest on a domestic abuse assault charge, of 41-year old Monica Gonzales, of Harlan. The woman was taken into custody for allegedly striking her sister, on April 26th.
An Anita man was arrested earlier this week on drug charges. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 33-year old Terry Lee Chaney, of Anita, was arrested Monday on charges of Driving While Barred, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Chaney was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.
The Sheriff’s Office reports also:
Authorities in western Iowa are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Glenwood. Officers from the Glenwood Police Department responded today (Wednesday) to 302 N. Walnut, following a report of an intoxicated and suicidal subject. That subject was later identified as 36-year old Joshua Sandlin.
Sandlin was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, where he was pronounced dead. His death remains under investigation by the Glenwood Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
An autopsy is pending at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.
An investigation into an alleged incident of sexual abuse in Shelby County has resulted in the arrest of a former area physician. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says 81 year old Wing Tai Fung, of Scarborough, Canada, who was wanted on a warrant issued on Nov. 5th, 2013, was arrested Monday, April 28th, at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Fund is charged with Felony Sexual Abuse in the 2nd degree in connection with a sex act that allegedly involved a child under the age of 12. The incident is alleged to have occurred when Fung was a medical practitioner in Shelby County.
Officials say with assistance from the U.S. Customs Service Enforcement and the Chicago Police Department, Fung was arrested when he flew from Canada to Chicago. He appeared in court in Chicago on Tuesday and waived extradition to Iowa. Fung was subsequently transported to Shelby County and booked into the jail. He was later released on $100,000 bond. Fung is scheduled to appear in Shelby County District Court on May 15th.
If convicted on the Class B Sexual Abuse charge, Fung faces a mandatory minimum of 17.5-years in prison, and a maximum prison term of 25 years. In either case, the term cannot be suspended.