IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa Health Care says it’s going cashless for clinic services. Patients won’t be allowed to cover co-pays or other medical expenses with cash or checks, starting Saturday.

System spokesman Tom Moore told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that going cashless will help the system save money on administrative costs. He says about 3 percent of the payments received by the University of Iowa Health Care are in the form of cash or checks.

University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital has been cashless since its new building opened in February.

Police in Creston are reporting just one recent arrest. 27-year old Spencer Jordan Leitzel, of Creston, was arrested Thursday night for Driving While Suspended. Leitzel was brought to the Union County Jail and later released on a $300 bond.

An accident involving a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) in Atlantic Thursday afternoon resulted in an Atlantic man being transported to the hospital. Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson this morning confirmed to KJAN News 50-year old Rex McDermott was involved in the crash that happened at around 4:57-p.m.

Lt. Paul Wood told KJAN News Thursday evening, that the UTV McDermott was operating had been traveling south on Mulberry Street when he failed to stop at the intersection with 10th Street. The machine crossed 10th Street and struck a utility pole guy wire on the south side of 10th Street.

The impact caused the 4-wheel machine to flip onto its side and land on a residential driveway. McDermott was ejected from the machine and transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital before he was flown by LifeNet to a hospital in Omaha.

Witnesses told police the man was traveling faster than the posted speed limit prior to the crash. The accident remains under investigation, with charges pending.

photo by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

The three Republicans from Iowa who serve in the U.S. House have voted for bills designed to deny federal money to so-called “sanctuary cities” and ensure immigrants who are in the country illegally are detained if they’re charged with a serious crime. Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron, was among the lead sponsors of the “No Sanctuary for Criminals Act” because of the tragic death of Sarah Root. She’s the 21-year-old from Council Bluffs who police say was killed on an Omaha street by a drag-racing drunk driver who fled the country.

“Her father, Scott Root, testified before the committee and he said this: ‘They bailed the killer of my daughter out of jail for less money than it took to bury her and he was out of the country before we could have the funeral,'” King said during House debate this afternoon. “Those words were some of the most chilling and mournful words that I have heard in this congress.”

Sarah Root’s mother, Michelle, sat in the gallery of the U.S. House as King and Congressman David Young of Van Meter spoke in favor of the bill. “My vote today is about policy, but it is in honor of Sarah Root.”  Congressman Young noted President Trump supports the two bills.  “Yesterday, I was at the White House with President Trump and the parents and relatives of those daughters and sons who were killed they those who are here illegally,” Young said. “Their stories are very heavy and they should weigh on all of us.”

Young called Sarah Root’s death “senseless.” “In late January of 2016, Sarah’s parents — Michelle and Scott Root — started their day with joy. You see, on that day their beautiful daughter, Sarah, graduated. She had the whole world ahead of her, but for Michelle and Scott the day ended with loss and tragedy,” Young said. “…Sarah was killed by a drunk driver here illegally…and then through incompetence and uncertainty about the law and policy or both, but for sure a lack of common sense, Sarah’s killer was released and today Sarah’s killer is free.”

Young praised the Root family for their political activism. “They fight to make sure no other parent or loved one has to go through the tragic ordeal they had to go through,” Young said. “…They continue to advocate and so must we.” Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque also voted for the bills, but debate time was limited and he did not speak on the House floor. Iowa’s other Congressman, Dave Loebsack of Iowa City, was among the Democrats who voted “no” on both bills.

(Radio Iowa)