A new study finds almost one in every three Iowans is obese, a number that’s bounded from about one in five at the start of the new millennium. John Auerbach, president and C-E-O of Trust for America’s Health, says more Iowans need to get serious about their diet and exercise. “The Hawkeye State is more or less where it was last year, which is 13th from the bottom,” Auerbach says. “It’s not a good ranking. It represents a percentage of about 32% of the population in Iowa who are overweight or obese.”

Kansas was the only state on this year’s report that saw a decrease in its obesity rate while five states had an increase. The rest, like Iowa, remained steady. Over the 14 years of these reports, Iowa’s numbers have continued to inch upward, like our waistline measurements. “It is concerning. By comparison, Iowa’s obesity rate in 2000 was 21% of the adult population and now it’s at 32%,” Auerbach says. “We haven’t really turned the corner yet.”

On the optimistic side, Auerbach says Iowa’s numbers may finally be stabilizing as we’ve been hovering around 32-percent for a couple of years now. “The fact that Iowa is leveling off now in terms of its obesity rate is encouraging,” Auerbach says. “We need to see additional progress in terms of programs and policies in the state in order for us to reverse the upward trends we’ve seen since 2000.”

Auerbach’s list of recommendations includes: investing in prevention at the federal, state and local levels; prioritizing early childhood policies and programs like Head Start; maintaining progress on school-based policies and programs, including full implementation of nutrition standards for school foods; and expanding health care coverage and care, including a full range of obesity prevention, treatment and management services.

The top-ranking states, those with the lowest obesity levels, are Hawaii, Massachusetts and -tops- Colorado, where the obesity rate is 22-percent. The lowest-ranking states on the list are: Alabama, Mississippi and -last- West Virginia, with an obesity rate of almost 38-percent. See the full report at: http://stateofobesity.org.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of business leaders suggests more economic growth lies ahead for nine Midwest and Plains states. A report released Friday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 57.5 in August from 56.1 in July. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says it “points to solid growth for both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing for the rest of 2017.”

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.

Four people were arrested in Adams County over the past week on drug-related charges. Sheriff’s officials say one of the arrests took place this (Friday) morning. Deputies pulled over a vehicle traveling 82 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone at around 12:45-a.m., and as they approached the vehicle, detected a strong odor of marijuana. When asked about the odor, the driver, Holly Shumaker, of Roscoe, IL., handed deputies a small baggie containing marijuana.

A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of marijuana, two marijuana grinders, two smoking devices and rolling papers. Shumaker was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts. A passenger in the vehicle, Ashley DePursia, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense.

An investigation into a vehicle on the shoulder of the road near Highway 34 and Notchwood Avenue at around 10:11-p.m. on Aug. 26th, resulted in the arrest of 18-year old Brandon Logan, Jr., of Clarinda, and the referral of a 15-year old to Juvenile Court. Authorities say when deputies approached Logan, Jr., who was the driver of the vehicle, they detected the odor of alcohol and marijuana coming from the vehicle. They also observed pieces of marijuana on Logan’s pants and a marijuana grinder in plain view.

Logan consented to but failed, Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, and was placed under arrest for OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The 15-year old was referred to Juvenile court for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Minor in Possession of Alcohol.

And, at around 3:30-p.m. Aug. 24th. Sheriff’s Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop for speeding on Highway 34 at Fig Avenue, on a vehicle driven by Trevor Gray, of Blanchard. Upon establishing Probable Cause, they searched his vehicle and recovered numerous baggies of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a digital scale. Gray was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also cited for Excessive Speed, and Towing an Unsafe vehicle. A warning was issued as well, for Improper rear tail lamps.