(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass County (Iowa) Democratic party report that on November 14th, first-term State Representative Josh Turek (House District 20: Council Bluffs, Carter Lake) visited Cass County to discuss voter concerns and legislation he’s championing. Born with Spina Bifida, and the first person who uses a wheelchair to be elected to the Iowa State Legislature, local party officials say Representative Turek brings important personal experience and perspective to legislation impacting Iowans with disabilities.

Last Spring, Representative Turek introduced HF403, legislation referred to as Work Without Worry, which is a Medicaid Buy-in plan for permanently disabled Iowans seeking employment. As Turek explained, currently in Iowa only 7% of permanently disabled individuals are employed, and this is mainly due to the low income and asset limits to qualify for Medicaid; Medicaid is the only health insurance coverage available to many Iowans with disabilities, and current laws prohibit people on Medicaid from earning more than $15,000 or holding assets of value more than $2000. Turek’s legislation would allow Iowans with disabilities the opportunity to work without the fear of losing their Medicaid
coverage.

Denise O’Brien (L) with State Representative Josh Turek in Cass County.

Representative Turek, according to the local organizers, is also passionate about banning cancerous carcinogens from
catheters, which many people with disabilities rely on. He introduced The Better Caths for Iowa Act (HF 387), and in addition to working on legislation in Iowa, he has visited Washington D.C. to lobby for similar laws at the federal level. For more information on this issue visit bettercaths.com.

Additional legislation Turek has introduced in Iowa includes HF502 Capping Insulin Prices, HF79 Housing Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans, HF121 Reducing Driver Registration Fees for Disabled Veterans, and HF692 Funding Mental Health Professionals in Schools.

The Cass County Democrats hosted Representative Turek at their November monthly meeting, which was open to the public. For more information on the Cass County Democrats, monthly gatherings, or to join the Cass County Democrats email newsletter, contact casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems or on Instagram @CassCountyDemocrats.

The Cass County Democrats’ December gathering will be a holiday party and cookie bake-off fundraiser held Tuesday, December 12, from 6-8 PM at Heritage House (1200 Brookridge Circle, Atlantic, IA 50022). All are welcome.

Council Bluffs, Iowa – Based on precipitation over the last week, officials with Pottawattamie County Emergency Management has requested the State Fire Marshall lift the current ban on burning in Pottawattamie County, effective today (Monday, 11/27/23).

Open burning is now allowable throughout the county EXCEPT in any municipal city limits where there is a standing ordinance prohibiting open burning on a regular basis. Before burning within any city limits, check with your local fire department or city clerk to determine whether your community has such an ordinance.

Residents are to continue using extreme caution whenever burning. The county is still experiencing abnormally dry conditions and seasonal outlooks indicate that will remain the case or even deteriorate in the upcoming months.

Emergency Management urges all residents to sign up for Alert Iowa emergency notifications at https://pcema-ia.org. During emergencies or critical events communication is key, and the Alert Iowa system is our primary method of distributing alerts and information.

(Radio Iowa) – Police in Fort Dodge are trying to determine what lead up to a dog attack that left a woman seriously injured Friday. Brooke Bickford reports: