Over 73-thousand employees in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities could become state-licensed “direct care workers” if a bill that’s cleared the Iowa Senate becomes law. Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says a task force worked for the past five years on the idea. “This bill is truly a step in the right direction to ensure that those who take care of the most vulnerable of Iowans have the training and qualifications to do so,” Jochum says. 

A-A-R-P lobbied for the legislation, arguing that if barbers, plumbers and massage therapists have to be licensed, then direct care workers who provide basic care to elderly, ill and disabled Iowans should, too. The bill would create a state board that would establish how many hours of education or training would be required to earn a direct care worker license. The board would also take complaints and keep a list of direct care workers who’ve been the subject of complaints. Jochum says by making the job a profession, that may address the “radical” turn-over of direct care workers. “We have anywhere from 60 to 67 percent turn-over annually that’s costing our taxpayers and employers about $189 million a year from the turn-over itself as we have to retrain and get everybody back up to speed,” Jochum says.

Iowa would become the first state to license direct care workers if the bill becomes law. The legislation faces a deadline as it must clear a committee in the Iowa House by the end of this week to remain eligible for consideration.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

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Local elected officials, area citizens, Local Emergency Planning (LEPC) Committee members, Emergency Management Coordinators and others, are invited to attend an April LEPC workshop to be held at the Cass County Community Center, in Atlantic. The workshop runs from 8:30-a.m. until 4:30-p.m. April 12th, and will feature speakers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EMA officials from around Iowa, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), DNR, the Iowa Department of Homeland Security/Emergency Management, and more.

A $15 workshop fee covers all the materials you will receive, breaks, and a luncheon. Each workshop attendee will receive a notebook with copies of all the workshop presentations, and a CD-ROM packed full of information. The workshop is limited to 50 participants, and reservations are required.

Send your check or money order payable to: 2012 LEPC Workshop, Iowa DNR, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319. You also need to include your name, organization you are affiliated with (if any), your address (including City, State & Zip code), a daytime phone number, and your e-mail address. For questions, call 515-725-0302.

A downloadable program schedule and registration form is available here:

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/epcra/lepc_flyer2012.pdf

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A former West Harrison School District High School & Middle School Principal has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Simple Assault, in connection with an alleged incident involving a female student in January. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Mike Loftin was arrested after he turned himself in to authorities. Loftin later posted a $300 bond and was ordered to appear in court April 27^th. If convicted, Loftin could be fined up to $625 and face up to 30-days in jail. He’s accused of pulling down the warm-up pants of a 15-year old girl on January 20^th, when the teen came out of a locker room, just before the teen and other students were to board a bus for a basketball game. Loftin was fired from his job at the end of January.

A reminder from KJAN and Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon: The 2012 Annual Cass County National Weather Service Storm Spotter Program training will be held Wednesday night, in Lewis. The free program is open to the general public, and is recommended for emergency responders. It takes place in the Lewis Fire Station, beginning at 7-p.m. Wed., March 14th.

Each year, meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) travel to most of the 51 counties they serve to provide a comprehensive multi-media spotter training presentation. The classes are hosted by local emergency management officials, fire departments and a few amateur radio clubs. There are several opportunities for you to attend one of these classes free of charge. The classes typically last one-to two-hours.

The courses cover information about severe weather climatology, severe thunderstorm types, different weather threats and how to identify them, how to report severe weather, spotter safety and severe weather communications. For more information, contact Mike Kennon, at 712-254-1500.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports, at the close of business Monday, Frank Waters had filed papers for re-election to the Cass County Board of Supervisors, representing District 5. Waters joins Supervisor’s Chairman Duane McFadden, Auditor Dale Sunderman, and Sheriff Darby McClaren, on the list of candidates who have filed for re-election to their respective County Office. The last day to file election papers for the June 5th Primary, is March 28th.

A public hearing will be held this evening on the 2012-2013 Budget for the Atlantic Community School District. The hearing takes place during the Board’s regular meeting at 7:30-p.m., in the Media Center at the Atlantic High School. Action on approving the certified 2012-2013 budget will following later in the evening.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will hear a mentoring report from Margo Magill, and a progress report on construction at the Middle School, from Jerry Purdy with Design Alliance. Action items (other than on the budget) include: approving bus bids; the awarding of a contract for banking services; approving Drivers Education fees for Summer 2012 & 2012-2013 school lunch prices; an adjustment to the 2011-12 District Calendar; and other matters.

Prior to concluding the meeting, the board will discuss Fall 2011 test data.

403 AM CDT TUE MAR 13 2012 …PATCHY DENSE FOG CONTINUES OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA…

FOG HAS DEVELOPED OVER MUCH OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. PATCHY DENSE FOG WITH VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES HAS ALSO DEVELOPED GENERALLY BETWEEN THE HIGHWAY 18 AND INTERSTATE 80 CORRIDORS.

THE FOG IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE THROUGH 830 AM CDT AND MAY EXPAND SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE AREA PRIOR TO SUNRISE. PERSONS TRAVELING EARLY THIS MORNING SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AREAS OF DENSE FOG AND VERY LOW VISIBILITY.

REMEMBER TO ALLOW YOURSELF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION SAFELY. USE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND SLOW DOWN IN AREAS WHERE VISIBILITY IS EXCEPTIONALLY LOW. THE MORNING COMMUTE WILL GENERALLY TAKE LONGER AND EXTRA CAUTION IS ADVISED WHILE TRAVELING THIS TUESDAY MORNING.

CONDITIONS SHOULD BEGIN IMPROVING BETWEEN 800 AND 830 AM CDT THIS MORNING.

A growing number of Iowa business owners are confident about boosting their staffing levels in the coming months according to a new survey from Manpower, Incorporated. Karen Miller, Executive Vice-President at Manpower in Des Moines, says 22-percent of the Iowa employers surveyed plan to hire new employees in the second quarter of 2012. Four-percent plan decreases in staff levels, resulting in a “Net Employment Outlook” of 18-percent. “That’s significantly different than last year at this time – which was a 10-percent (outlook),” Miller said. The 18-percent Net Employment Outlook for Iowa remains much higher than the national figure of 10-percent.

“We seem to be in a bubble of prosperity here in the state of Iowa,” Miller said. “That’s good news for both employers and job seekers.” The top job prospects in Iowa, according to the survey, include positions in construction. Employers also plan to increase staffing levels in the areas of durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, and financial and business services. More than 18,000 employers are surveyed in the U.S. as part of the quarterly Manpower report. A new report on Iowa’s unemployment rate is due later this morning (Tuesday) from the Iowa Workforce Development agency.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)