The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting a reversal from two consecutive years of declines in new H-I-V diagnoses. Jerry Harms is the agency’s H-I-V/AIDS surveillance coordinator. “In 2015, we had a 27 percent increase in our new HIV diagnoses,” Harms says.

The HIV Surveillance Report for 2015, released today (Thursday), shows there were 124 new HIV diagnoses last year, up from the 98 cases reported in 2014. Harms says the reason for the increase is unclear.  “But, what we’re sort of thinking is 2014 was the first year of full implementation of the Affordable Care Act and it’s possible that fewer tests were performed (that year) because providers were dealing with a bunch of new patients. Maybe in 2015, they were more prepared to test folks,” Harms says.

Iowa joins other Midwestern states, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota, that reported an increase in new HIV diagnoses in 2015. The state of Nebraska, however, reported a decrease in new cases. “Some are up and some are down. You know, just like we can’t explain the decline (in 2014) and then the increase (in 2015) all that well…it’s a little hard to compare from state to state,” Harms says.

Around 2,500 people in Iowa have been diagnosed and are living with HIV. According to Harms, Iowa is considered a “low prevalence” state. “At the end of 2015, we had about 80 per 100,000. And, to compare in the Midwest, that number was around 165 per 100,000. The national number was almost 300 per 100,000,” Harms says.

The I-D-P-H report shows the number of deaths among HIV-infected persons diagnosed in Iowa continues to decrease since peaking at 103 deaths in 1995. In 2015, there were 20 HIV or AIDS-related deaths in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs woman who left her infant with an abusive boyfriend has been given two years of probation. The Daily Nonpareil reports 20-year-old Kuira Lawton pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts Tuesday and was also sentenced to a suspended prison term of six years.

Prosecutors say Lawton failed to protect her baby because she would leave the child with Rodney Weatherwax, who’s since been convicted of child endangerment causing injury. He was given 20 years in prison. A court document says Weatherwax injured the baby at least three times between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30 last year. The 5-month-old child suffered at least 20 fractures. Lawton told doctors that Weatherwax punched the child in the face.

State officials are working with Lawton on child visitation rights.

Police in Glenwood report two people were arrested this (Thursday) morning, on OWI charges. 39-year old Michelle Weilage, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Her bond was set at $1,000. And, 27-year old Cody Sparks, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

LAWTON, Iowa (AP) – A former city clerk in northwest Iowa has pleaded not guilty to a Nebraska charge filed in a child sex case. The Sioux City Journal reports 61-year-old Douglas Furlich, of Lawton, entered the plea Wednesday in Dakota County District Court in Dakota City. The felony charge is child enticement by use of an electronic communications device. The Lawton City Council in Iowa fired Furlich after his arrest.

The Nebraska State Patrol says Furlich posted an ad online saying he was “looking for a younger guy.” Officials say an undercover officer responded, pretending to be a 15-year-old boy. Court documents say Furlich went to a South Sioux City, Nebraska, park in June to meet the boy. Furlich was arrested there.

The Harlan Police Department reports two recent arrests and one incident of theft. Officials say 20-year old Austin VanAernam, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday for Disorderly Conduct, after officers were called to assist Medivac with a person injured in an altercation. Authorities say assault charges may be pending.

On Friday, Harlan Police arrested 51-year old Amy Jo Ross, of Harlan, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, after she allegedly broke into a woman’s residence in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue.

And, the H-PD is investigating the theft of a small garden trailer. The trailer was reported missing from a home in the 800 block of Tarkington, on Monday. The loss was estimated at $100.

(8-a.m. News)

Two Union County men were arrested Wednesday evening on drug charges. Creston Police said 39-year old Steven Knowles and 18-year old Kane Farlow, both of Creston, were arrested at around 6:30-p.m. near Highway 34/Industrial Parkway.

Farlow was being held in the Union County Jail on charges that include Felony Eluding Causing Bodily Injury, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,000.

Knowles was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana,
Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,000.