Legislators have sent the governor a bill that would let Iowa schools offer American Sign Language to students as an option to fulfill their foreign or “world” language requirement. Representative Jon Jacobson of Council Bluffs says there is an “acute need” for a new generation of sign language interpreters.

“Not only is it a United States language, but in all continents across the world they use ASL,” Jacobson says. “It is the third-most requested interpreted language that is requested in our court system.” Representative Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines says as a high school teacher, she had many deaf students. “It was a profound experience for all of us,” Gaines says, “and I think it’s important that we include Sign Language as a world language (in schools).” Representative Art Staed of Cedar Rapids is also an educator.

“It also gives an opportunity for all of us and all of those young children who are not deaf to be able to communicate with their classmates,” Staed says. Senator Mark Lofgren of Muscatine, says it will help deaf students meet the foreign language requirement for graduating from high school. “This bill also expands opportunities for other high school students by providing more options for languages,” Lofgren says. “Considering American Sign Language a world language may encourage students to engage more in the deaf community. According to a study by the University of Vermont, American Sign Language is the fourth most-used language in the United States. Because of this, it is important to provide more opportunities for students to learn American Sign Language.”

The bill cleared the Iowa House unanimously earlier this month and the Senate gave it unanimous approval yesterday (Monday).

(Radio Iowa)

Tens of thousands of Iowans are at risk of having their utility services disconnected next week when a winter heating moratorium comes to an end. Christine Taylor, with the Iowa Department of Human Rights, oversees the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.

“We’ve had approximately 73,000 people approved for the program, so once the moratorium is over, all of those people are at risk,” Taylor said. Under Iowa law, utility customers approved for LIHEAP cannot have their natural gas or electric service cut off due to unpaid bills between November 1 and April 1. Taylor is encouraging those customers to contact their local community action agency if they’re unable to catch up on their utility debt.

“They may be eligible for crisis assistance, which might help them stay connected,” Taylor said. LIHEAP is a federally funded program. Iowa households that qualified this winter received an average payment of $450 to help them pay for utilities. According to Taylor, Iowans who qualify for LIHEAP could also avoid losing gas and electric service with a note from their doctor.

“If they have a medical condition that would cause a serious issue, they can certainly contact their utility company and possibly get a note from their doctor that explains how detrimental it would be to turn off their utility service,” Taylor said. All utility customers in Iowa, including those who don’t qualify for energy assistance, can often maintain their service by entering into a payment agreement with their provider to pay accumulated debt over time.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, said 52-year old Ralph David Springs, Jr. of Glenwood, was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $2,000. And, 33-year old Michael Scott Shipley, of Burlington Junction, MO., was arrested Monday for Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $300.

The Harlan Police Department has released a report on arrests. On Sunday, 27-year old Zachary David Schwager, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop near 1200^th St and Linden Rd.  Schwager was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated and driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway.

Last Saturday, 30-year old Chase Corey Carter, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 59 and Cyclone Avenue.  Carter was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated, second offense.

On Friday, 40-year old Patrick Edward Hallas, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 59 and Lincoln Avenue.  Hallas was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while revoked and insufficient number of headlamps. And, 45-year old Larry Monroe Lange, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service at the Shelby County Jail.  Lange was charged with public intoxication.

On March 20th, 49-year old Dawn Michelle Van Scoyk, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in the 800 block of Hill St.  Van Scoyk was charged with driving while suspended, and failure to obtain security against liability.

Other arrests:

• Joseph Martin Zaccone, age 48, of Harlan, was arrested March 17th following a traffic stop.  Zaccone was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating while intoxicated.
• Tabbatha Christine Collier, age 37, of Missouri Valley, was arrested March 16th following a report of a reckless driver.  Collier was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Kaleigh Marie Turner, age 27, of Harlan, was arrested March 15th, on an active Shelby County warrant.  Turner was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with failure to appear on several charges.  Anthony Joseph Koester, age 33, of Harlan was also arrested March 15th.  Koester was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with interference with official acts. And, Paula Kathryn Koester, age 30, of Harlan, was arrested March 15th, for driving while suspended following a traffic stop at 12^th and Cyclone.
• Daniel Harvey Pash, age 37, of Harlan, was arrested March 14th, on an active Shelby County warrant.  Pash was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with theft 2^nd. Amanda Layne Hanover, age 42, of Harlan was arrested March 14th an active Shelby County warrant. Hanover was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with theft 2^nd. And, William Joseph Bullock, age 34, of Harlan, was arrested March 14th on an active Shelby County warrant.  Bullock was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with theft 5^th.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Boone man after a traffic stop in Corning on Tuesday. At 12:50pm Deputies stopped 28-year-old Alexander Welsh of Boone for speeding and no seat belt. Welsh was stopped at 9th and Benton Streets in Corning and a hand gun was later found in the vehicle. Welsh was charged with Carrying Weapons and taken to the Adams County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office said today (Tuesday), that on March 23rd, at approximately 11:45-p.m., a Page County Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a Red Mazda pickup on Highway 71 in the 2800 block for a traffic violation. That’s about one-mile mile south of Shambaugh. During the investigation on the traffic stop, 44-year old Jason Leigh Carter, of St. Joseph, MO., was issued a citation for Operating without a driver’s license.

Carter was also arrested for Possession of a controlled substance, Methamphetamine, and O.W.I. 1st offense. He remains in the Page County Jail on $2,000 bond.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Federal prosecutors say Genesis Medical Center has agreed to pay $1.88 million to settle a Medicare overpayments case. The office of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa said in a news release Tuesday that the settlement resolves allegations that the Davenport hospital violated the federal False Claims Act from 2013 through 2016 by keeping overpayments for inpatient admission claims.

The release says the claims should have been billed at a lower reimbursement rate for either outpatient or observation services. The release says the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only.
Genesis Vice President Paul Bollinger says Genesis resolved the matter to avoid costly and protracted litigation and says the settlement is not an admission of error.