DES MOINES, Iowa –  As part of the ongoing review of testing procedures at the Fire Service Training Bureau, The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) has obtained additional information from a State Fire Marshal database system which identified the existence more firefighter tests that were improperly scored.

In an effort to reconcile these improperly scored tests for our fire service partners, an additional 739 firefighters at 94 fire departments have been notified that tests taken through the Fire Services Training Bureau were improperly scored and have offered those firefighters an opportunity to re-test at no expense.  The FSTB is committed to the most accurate and complete scoring of all exams.

All certification and accreditations programs are entirely voluntary and are NOT required by the State of Iowa or nationally, although some fire departments require their firefighters to be certified.  The Department of Public Safety, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Fire Service Training Bureau is committed to providing quality training and looks forward to the continued support of Iowa’s professional fire service.

The Fire Services Training Bureau is committed to offering free test retakes for individuals affected by the improperly scored exams. Refresher and retesting opportunities are being extended through much of 2017.  To date, over 350 firefighters have taken advantage of retesting opportunities offered by the FSTB.

The Iowa Fire Services Training Bureau is part of the State Fire Marshal Division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The FSTB provides quality training and education for Iowa’s fire and emergency services through certification, field programs, training conferences and special programs.

State regulators heard pitches from six companies Tuesday to do a market survey of the gambling industry and a review of proposals for a casino in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko says they will review the plans and likely select a firm at next month’s meeting. He says they could select one or more of the companies as they have selected more than one company in the past to get a read on the market.

There are three casino proposals for Cedar Rapids and Ohorilko says they are in the process of setting up times to hear presentations on each one. “I think those will be announced in April,”Ohorilko says, “there still some dates and locations being worked out with respect to meetings dates for the next fiscal year. But I anticipate that the decision will be made in April as to what the process will look like, with the final decision coming late fall.”

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted 4-1 to deny a gambling license for a Cedar Rapids casino back in 2014 in part because of concerns about the impact on existing casinos. Ohorilko isn’t sure if a new gambling market study will impact any decision on the latest attempt to bring a casino to the city. “It’s hard to say, it’s up to each of the individual commission members. There are a number of criteria that play into whether or not a decision to approve or deny a gambling license should occur,” he says.

The studies have become commonplace as the I-R-G-C is faced with the decision on adding new casinos to the mix. “Those market studies have played a more significant impact the past few instances where applications have been considered,” Ohorilko says, “but it truly is up to the individual commission members to determine what weight they would play. Not only on that factor — but other factors.”

The commission approved a casino for Greene County in June of 2014 after denying the license to Cedar Rapids. Studies at the time showed the Greene County casino would have the least impact on the other casinos. The firms include several which have done previous studies of Iowa’s gambling industry. All have headquarters out of state, except for one from Cedar Rapids.

(Radio Iowa)

Employers, employees, doctors and lawyers testified last night at a public hearing at the state capitol, quarreling over a bill that would change Iowa’s workers compensation system. Steve Stouffer, president of Tyson Fresh Meats, says the system is “being played” by lawyers. “It’s become more of what I would call a ‘litigious lottery,'” Stouffer told legislators.

Workers’ advocates say the bill G-O-P lawmakers have proposed skews the system so it will “biased” against injured workers. Kelli Harrison is a regional representative for the United Auto Workers union. “These folks are real people. They’re not robots. You can’t just put a little grease in there and they’re o.k.,” she says. “We’re talking about hard-working men and women.”

Paul Gregoire of Emerson-Fisher Controls in Marshalltown says the workers comp system is “out of balance” and becoming a drag on Iowa’s economy. “What we’re doing is we’re pushing companies either away from the state who might locate here or getting companies to not expand like we like to up in Marshalltown for those kinds of reasons,” Gregoire says.

John Kuhnlein, a doctor from Ankeny who is an occupational specialist, suggests the bill is “inherently unfair” and will shift costs from the employer to taxpayers who’ll have to pick up the tab. “These injuries will not go away,” he says. “When a claim is denied, as these bills make it easier to do and with little penalty for being wrong, these individual will still need medical care.”

Scott Folkers, the vice president and general counsel for Winnebago Industries, says workers comp in Iowa has become an “out of control locomotive.” “That has led to progressively larger indemnity awards for injured workers,” Folkers says. “That puts more money in the system, which attracts more attorneys.”

Dr. Mark Taylor, an occupational specialist, says the bill will create “instability” for workers. “Iowa’s work comp system should not be at the mercy of the ever-changing political winds,” Taylor says. The bill IS a priority for Governor Branstad and Republican who now control the debate agenda in the Iowa House and Senate. Branstad says recent court rulings and regulations have thrown the workers comp system out of whack.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday morning of 19-year old Seth White, of Orient. White was arrested on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance – 1st Offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

And, two men were arrested in Creston Tuesday, on warrants for Violation of Probation. 28-year old Christopher Schell was arrested at his home on a Taylor County Warrant for the charge of Violation of Probation on the original charge of Intent to Deliver Marijuana and OWI. Schell was released to the custody of Taylor County. 22-year old Danny Guzman, of Des Moines, was arrested on a Union
County Warrant for the charge of Probation Violation on the original charge of
Accessory to a Felony. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2000
bond.