(Radio Iowa) – State Ombudsman, Bernardo Granwehr, says his office fielded almost 65-hundred complaints in the fiscal year that ended in July. “That’s about a five percent increase from the previous fiscal year. And we’re up really almost 60 percent from fiscal year 2014,” he says. Granwehr says the vast majority of the increases in complaints came from inmates in state prisons and county jails. He says they take a preliminary look at all complaints.

“But in terms of complaints that actually lead to an investigation — I would say probably 20 to 40 percent would be would be just an estimate of what we would further look into,” Granwehr says. “….most of them we find that the government is doing its job properly and has handled the situation appropriately.” He says one of the first things that they ask is if the person has taken advantage of the grievance process that is available or whatever process is available in trying to resolve their situation.

“We often say, please take advantage of that process first. And then if there is an issue, or you continue to have an issue, you certainly can always call us back. But the yeah, that should be the first resort to take advantage of those existing processes for resolving complaints,” Granwehr says. He says drug testing has created some of the complaints, as he says there have been a good number of false positives. Granwehr says the state agency with that knowing they are expected to have supporting evidence in addition to those positive tests. He says hiring an outside agency to scan the mail has addressed the issued of drug-soaked paper materials getting into prison.

“By basically scanning that material, and sending those scanned things to inmates, it continues to ensure that they have their rights to an access to communication with the outside world, but you know, deprives that avenue for smuggling the drug in,” Granwehr says. You can see the entire report on the Ombudsman’s website at: www.legis.iowa.gov/Ombudsman/

Police in Red Oak arrested a man on active Mills County warrants, Monday. Authorities say 21-year-old Nicholas Sebastian Turnbull, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:25-p.m. on the warrant for Failure to Appear on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana – 1st offense, and OWI/1st offense. Turnbull was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Braden Gray was arrested in Villisca, Monday evening, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Failure To Appear on an original charge of Driving while license is denied or revoked. Gray was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(UPDATED) Accidents in Boone and Chickasaw Counties, Monday, claimed two lives. The Iowa State Patrol reports 34-year-old Brian Allen Lage, of Ogden, died in a collision that took place at around 5:20-p.m., in Boone County. Lage was driving a 2010 Chevy Silverado pickup, when his vehicle rear-ended a 2021 Kenworth Construction truck registered to Manning Ag Service.

The accident happened as the Kenworth, driven by 63-year-old Edward B. Adams, of Pleasant Hill, was slowing to turn left from Highway 30 westbound into a private field drive near R Avenue. Lage, who was wearing his seat belt, died from his injuries at the hospital in Boone. The accident remains under investigation.

The second accident, in Chickasaw County, happened at around 11:55-a.m. in Lawler, as 21-year-old Joseph Alan Gathje, of Lanesboro, MN, was attempting to load a tracked vehicle into a semi-trailer flatbed. The tracked vehicle rolled off of the trailer and into the ditch, pinning the Gathje, who died at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has ruled that a state law that would ban most abortions is still unconstitutional and the permanent injunction barring it from taking effect remains in place. In 2018, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill to make most abortions illegal after a fetal heartbeat is detected. That’s about the sixth week of a pregnancy. Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa immediately sued and prevented the law from taking effect. A district court judge issued a permanent injunction in 2019.

A Polk County District Court judge has ruled she has no authority to lift that order and her ruling goes on to say it’s the Iowa Supreme Court, not the district court, that will decide what legal standards should be used to review abortion-related cases.

Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s very disappointed in the district court’s ruling and appeal the decision immediately. Reynolds says this summer, the Iowa and U-S Supreme Courts made clear there is no fundamental right to an abortion and the fetal heartbeat law passed by representatives of the people should take effect.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 12, 2022) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Ida County, Iowa.

The affected site is a commercial turkey flock.

(Radio Iowa) – Local Republican committees in at least six Iowa counties have voted to censure U.S. Senator Joni Ernst for her vote to have the federal government recognize same-sex marriages. The move means all states must recognize same-sex marriages from other states, but Ernst says it does not force states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“Iowa has recognized same-sex marriage since 2009,” Ernst says. “The vast majority of Iowans, even a majority of Republicans, do support same-sex marriage.” County party officials who’ve criticized Ernst say her vote violates the Iowa G-O-P’s platform, which calls for the REPEAL of laws that recognize same-sex marriage.

“After hearing directly from Iowans and taking a close look at the amended language that was presented in the Senate, I believe that the bill does protect religious freedoms,” Ernst says. “and it simply maintains the status quo in Iowa.” Woodbury County Republicans have not voted to censure Ernst, but the group’s Facebook page features a local pastor criticizing Ernst for denying what the pastor refers to as Biblical law.

During a conference call with Iowa reporters, Ernst said the bill codified exemptions for religious institutions that do not wish to recognize same-sex unions.  “This is incredibly important that I get these points out,” Ernst says. “The bill does not provide a federal right for same-sex marriage.” According to Ernst, the bill also has new and explicit protections for non-profit religious organizations. Ernst was among a dozen Republican senators who supported the bill. And Ernst says she understands there are a number of efforts to censure her for that vote.

“I stand by my vote,” Ernst told reporters, “and I hope that more people will actually read the bill and understand that we have just improved upon religious liberty protections, not just in Iowa but across the United States.” This summer, the Mahaska County G-O-P voted to censure Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire for her support of the initial bill on same-sex marriage. On December 1st, the Des Moines County G-O-P voted to condemn both Miller-Meeks and Ernst.

The Wright County G-O-P’s Central Committee is another group that’s voted to censure Ernst and its Facebook page is calling for a constitutional amendment defining legal marriage as the union between one man and one woman.

(Radio Iowa) – State tax collections are continuing to grow significantly, but tax cuts that take effect soon will likely alter that trend. Net state tax revenue is up six-point-seven percent over the past five months. Jeff Robinson, a fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency, notes the top state income tax rates for individuals and corporations will be reduced January 1st.

“Retirement income will become exempt from income tax,” Robinson says. “In addition, the state’s inheritance tax will be further reduced.” In October, a panel of experts predicted those cuts will lead to a two-point-seven percent reduction in total state tax collections.

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets again this Wednesday to review the latest data and settle on a new prediction. The panel’s total tax estimate will be used as a starting point for state budget decisions.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man wanted on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation, was arrested today (Monday), in Red Oak. The warrant for 50-year-old Floyd Raymond Henry II, of Red Oak, was based on the original charges of a Controlled Substance Violation, and Carrying Weapons. Henry was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond, while awaiting extradition to Mills County.

(Atlantic, Iowa, 12/12/22) – This fall, the Atlantic Lions Club pancake supper and bake sale raised $2,500 for free mental health support groups in Cass County organized by NAMI Southwest Iowa (the Southwest Iowa affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, otherwise known as NAMI). Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says NAMI Southwest Iowa currently offers in-person peer support groups at 2:00 PM on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic (1607 Hazel St., Atlantic, IA 50022), as well as virtual peer support groups at 10:00 AM every Monday and 6:30 PM every Thursday. NAMI Southwest Iowa also offers a virtual family support group at 6:30 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Additional NAMI Southwest Iowa in-person support groups are available in Clarinda and Council Bluffs.

NAMI Southwest Iowa Executive Director, Anna Killpack, who attended the pancake supper with her son and his friends, said “This donation means so much to us,” said . “NAMI support groupsprovide community and understanding to people struggling with mental health challenges. Connection with others is so important for all of us – we need to know that we are not alone. The recognition from such a prominent community club, such as the Lions Club, speaks volumes in our effort to normalize taking care of our mental health.” Atlantic Lions Club Member Vicki Nordskog commented, “The Atlantic Lions Club cares about people in our community, and we know mental health support is a huge need for many.”

From L to R, NAMI Southwest Iowa Board President Jason Swain, NAMI SWIA Executive Director Anna Killpack, Brigham Hoegh, and Atlantic Lions Leon Hodges and Vicki Nordskog (Photo supplied)

Mental health was identified as the top health need in Cass County in the 2021 Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment. NAMI peer-led support groups are free and for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a brain health condition. No diagnosis is required to attend. NAMI Family Support Groups are free, peer-led support groups for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms. Participants of both groups gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and groups are led by trained leaders.

As their website states, NAMI believes the battle against mental illness is something that doesn’t have to be fought alone. In addition to free support groups, NAMI Southwest Iowa offers free educational classes and presentations on mental illness. For more information on all NAMI Southwest Iowa services, visit https://namisouthwestiowa.com/ or contact info@namisouthwestiowa.com or 712-542-7904.

Each NAMI Southwest Iowa support group costs approximately $3,000 a year to fund. Program costs include print and digital marketing, staff time to coordinate and promote the groups,
program leader stipends and mileage, supplies such as resource materials, and group snacks. Thanks to an annual commitment of $500 from Cass Health, and the donation of free meeting space at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, NAMI Southwest Iowa has now secured funding to offer the peer support group in Cass County through 2023. If sufficient funding is raised, there could also be an in-person family support group offered in Cass County, in addition to the peer support group. Individuals and organizations interested in contributing funding for these support groups can contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870 for more information.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. For information on community wellness events or
resources, follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty. Healthy Cass County welcomes participants from across Cass County. Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa will receive more than 70 million dollars in an opioid settlement with the two largest pharmacy chains in the country. Attorney General Tom Miller released information that says the money is coming from a nearly 11 BILLION-dollar nationwide agreement with C-V-S and Walgreens. Miller and Attorney’s General from other states accused the two chains of ignoring red flags on opioid prescriptions and failing to detect and prevent the abuse and diversion of the drugs.

C-V-S is paying five BILLION dollars and Walgreens five-point-seven BILLION. Both have agreed to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioids. Iowa’s now part of opiod agreements that are expected to bring the state around 320 million dollars.