A passenger in a vehicle that crashed into a tree Sunday morning in Emerson was transported to the hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Levi Allen, of Red Oak, was riding in a 2016 Chevy driven by Adam Lundgren, of Essex, when the accident happened at around 6-a.m., Sunday.

Authorities say the vehicle was northbound on Highway 59 approaching Crawford Street in Emerson, when Lundgren fell asleep at the wheel. When the vehicle went off the right side of the road, Lundgren over-corrected, causing the vehicle to cross the center line into the southbound lane of Highway 59. When the vehicle went off onto the left side of the road, Lundgren panic-braked before the vehicle struck a tree.

Levi Allen was transported by Red Oak EMS to the Red Oak Hospital. Lundgren was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

In other business, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Joseph Lee Hastie, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday night for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300.

Governor Terry Branstad isn’t closing the door on a bill that would adjust Iowa’s medical marijuana law.  “I’ve indicated a willingness to work with the legislature on this as well as other issues,” Branstad says. “I reserve judgment until we see it in its final form, but certainly this is an issue there is some strong interest in.”

Iowa decriminalized possession of cannabis oil for treatment of chronic epilepsy in 2014, but cannabis oil isn’t sold in the state. Advocates have been pressing state officials to set up a system for growing and dispensing cannabis oil in Iowa. Plus, they want Iowa doctors to be able to prescribe it as treatment for a wide range of chronic conditions.

“We have been open to and met with people about resolving this issue throughout the session,” Branstad says. Branstad isn’t specifying what he might accept, but he says it’s important to keep marijuana out of the hands of people who would use the drug “for illicit purposes.”

“What we have is cannabis oil which is basically designed to treat a particular medical condition and the question is whether that should be expanded to some others and whether you could have it produced in the state of Iowa,” Branstad says.

Twenty-three states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Illinois residents suffering from any of 40 different conditions can get a state permit to buy marijuana from state licensed dispensaries. Minnesota residents can buy the drug in liquid or pill form as treatment for a handful of specific illnesses, as well as terminal conditions.

(Radio Iowa)

Last Friday, about three-thousand calls were made to the state “call center” created to help figure out benefits for Iowa Medicaid patients and the health care professionals who treat them. Friday was the day Iowa’s 560-thousand Medicaid patients were switched to a private managed care system. Governor Terry Branstad describes the transition as “smooth.”

“Nothing of this magnitude is going to be totally glitch-free,” Branstad says. “But the reports I’ve been getting is that it’s relative smooth and, you know, there are all kinds of opportunities for people to call if they have a glitch or a problem, to get that corrected as quickly as possible.”

State officials say the average wait time for people who’ve been calling the hotline for help was about two minutes on Friday. Administrators also say call volume was just about the same as it has in the weeks leading up to the switch. Branstad invited representatives of each of the three private companies now managing Iowa’s Medicaid system to his weekly news conference — to tout new “add-on” services each now offers to Medicaid patients, like smoking cessation and well-baby programs.

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 10:10-a.m. w/more details)

A woman from Guthrie County was arrested last Thursday after hiding in a most unusual place: her oven. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 800 block of Ashton Avenue, in Guthrie Center. As a result of the search warrant, 25-year old Gabrielle Looper was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for probation violation. Deputy Kent Gries, with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, told KJAN News the woman was taken into custody without incident, but not before authorities encountered some obstacles.

Gries said they first had to force entry into the mobile home using a prybar. When they made entry, they were greeted by a couple of vicious dogs. One of the deputies was bitten by a canine in the home. Instead of using lethal force to subdue the dogs, authorities used a fire extinguisher to force them back.

Once inside, deputies conducted a slow, methodical search. Gries said they knew Looper was in the home based on her medical history. She had just given birth three weeks ago. He says their first priority was to find the baby. Deputies secured the baby and spread out throughout the house, where they found Looper hiding in the oven.

The door to the oven was closed. Gries said authorities had received intelligence beforehand indicating they were likely to find her there. There were actually two ovens in the trailer house, which was a dead giveaway something was amiss, according to Gries. One of the ovens was non-functional and was specially modified so the bottom could hide a person.

32-year old Joseph Crawford was also arrested at the scene, for interference with official acts. Both were transported to the Guthrie County Jail. The Iowa State Patrol and Panora Police Department assisted in executing the search warrant. The child was voluntarily turned by over by Looper, to her grandmother. Gries said they took a picture of the unusual oven because it serves as a reminder that people will go to extreme lengths to hide themselves from authorities, in order to avoid prosecution.

Image from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A nondenominational Christian nonprofit agency is opening a shelter in Sioux City for homeless, single fathers and their children. The Sioux City Journal reports that Gospel Mission began construction on the $600,000 facility in the fall of 2015. The apartments are scheduled to open later this month.

Gospel Mission will give families food and resources to find daycare and work. The apartments include various kitchen appliances, a laundry machine, a living area with a TV and bunkbeds. Residents will be allowed to stay for six months, with the end goal of getting the family back on its feet. Gospel mission already has a shelter for single women with children. A dedication and open house for the new shelter is scheduled for April 17.