Hy-Vee pharmacies are now offering over-the-counter the drug that can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. A state order allows Iowa pharmacies to go through training to be able to sell naloxone without a prescription. The director of prevention services at the Area Substance Abuse Council in Cedar Rapids, Erin Foster, says Hy-Vee’s decision is a good start to making sure naloxone is available to those who need it.

“If someone wanted to obtain naloxone before the standing order, they actually would need to go to a medical provider and get a prescription for it. It kind of takes that barrier out of going and talking to a medical provider, which we know there’s a stigma against substance use,”Foster says. Foster says the pharmacies appear to be slow in moving on this.

“Our agency actually did a quick survey not too long ago to see who was actually utilizing the state standing order, and sadly not too many pharmacies had jumped on board with that yet,”Foster says. She says two doses of naloxone in the Cedar Rapids area can cost between 140 and 280-dollars. She says people still need to seek immediate medical treatment after using the drug.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is reporting two, recent drug-related arrests. Today (Thursday, May 11th), 19-year old Seth Alan Nelson, of Atlantic, turned himself in at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on a Sheriff’s Office felony warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana. Nelson was booked into the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

And, on May 5th, 23-year old Joy Margaret Foley, of Omaha, was arrested in Cass County on charges of Possession of Alprazolam 1st Offense; Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug; and Theft 4th Degree. Foley was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released the following day on $1,000 bond.

In other news, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office say 28-year old Leslie Ann Olwell, of Atlantic, was arrested Monday on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Harassment 1st Degree. Olwell was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $2,000 bond. And, 39-year old Richard Lee Wegenke, of Lewis, was arrested today (Thursday) on a charge of Violation of No Contact Order. Wegenke was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held until hearing before the magistrate.

A western Iowa legislator has died. State Representative Greg Forristall, a farmer from Macedonia, has died of cancer. Forristall was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006. He represented House District 22, which included parts of Pottawattamie County. A date for a special election for House District 22 will be announced at a later date.

Forristall’s health declined precipitously in the past several months and he was unable to participate in many legislative activities. Fellow Republican Linda Upmeyer, the speaker of the House, said Forristall was a “dedicated public servant” and “an advocate for the arts and education.”

Foristall’s wife, Carol, is a retired music teacher. She served as his clerk in the House. Funeral arrangements are pending. Forristall, who was 67, grew up on his family farm near Macedonia. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1972 and then earned a master of arts degree in 1973 from the university.

Governor Terry Branstad said he “Was sorry to hear about Greg Forristall’s passing. Greg bravely fought cancer for months while going above and beyond to fulfill his legislative duties and serve his constituents in western Iowa.  He was an outstanding legislator and will be greatly missed.  Carol and the Forristall family are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds said “Greg was a passionate legislator who served as Vice Chair of the House Education Committee and also served on the House Labor Committee. For 11 years, he fought hard for children’s education, job growth and protecting Iowa’s small businesses.  Kevin and I want to extend our prayers to Carol and the Forristall family during this difficult time.”

(Radio Iowa)

Four people from Michigan were injured this (Thursday) morning, when the Recreational Vehicle they were in went out of control on Interstate 80 westbound between the Walnut and Avoca exits and rolled into the median. The accident happened at around 8:50-a.m. near mile marker 43. According to reports, the injured were members of a Christian Rock group, “Ammunition Band,” from the Detroit area.

The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of the 1999 Coachmen RV, 19-year old Viviana Elise-Alaniz Garcia, of Lincoln Park, MI, and her passengers: 25-year old Jonathon Lee Moriconi, of East China, MI; 21-year old Nathan Paul Barringer, of Livonia, MI, and 26-year old Sean Joseph Mueller, of Fair Haven, MI., were transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, by Avoca, Harlan and Shelby Rescue squads. None of the accident victims were wearing seat belts. Their injuries were believed to be non-life threatening.

The Patrol says once the RV went out of control, it rolled onto the driver’s side and came to rest partially in the median and partially in the left lane of I-80 westbound. Traffic in the area was snarled for some time, while crews worked to remove the victims, their vehicle and trailer containing musical instruments and other property.

The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Investigators say an inmate accused of shooting two deputies, killing one, in an Iowa jail escape somehow managed to unlock his shackles inside a transport van. Court records presented Wednesday at 24-year-old Wesley Correa-Carmenaty’s initial court hearing say he was in handcuffs and leg shackles May 1 when he was taken from a courthouse to the Pottawattamie County Jail. But he had unlocked them by the time the van reached the jail.

Police say a struggle ensued between Correa-Carmenaty and the deputies, and that Correa-Carmenaty managed to grab one’s gun. Police say he shot Deputy Mark Burbridge in the head and Deputy Pat Morgan in the abdomen before taking both deputies’ guns, ammunition and the keys to the van. Burbridge died; Morgan is recovering.

Correa-Carmenaty was recaptured in Omaha, Nebraska.

A Nebraska man was sentenced Wednesday in Pottawattamie County to 10-years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 25-year old Brandon David Kinnear, of Omaha, is also subject to three years of supervised release following his 120 month term of imprisonment.

Kinnear pleaded guilty on January 19, 2017, to the charge. On August 30, 2016, Kinnear was walking in Carter Lake, with the grip of a handgun visible just above his waistband. Carter Lake Police Officers stopped Kinnear and found him in possession of a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Kinnear was prohibited from possessing a firearm as the result of a 2013 felony drug conviction in South Dakota.

The Carter Lake Police Department, the Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.