(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital now has new technology to provide dialysis to its smallest patients. Doctor Jennifer Jetton says the machine can provide dialysis for infants weighing between five and 20 pounds. “For those babies, we have not had machines, dialysis machines that have been designed specifically for that size. And we’ve had to make do with equipment that is designed and F-D-A approved for adults,” Jetton says.

The Cardio-Renal Pediatric Dialysis Emergency Machine (CARPEDIEM) was developed and has been in use in Europe since around 2013, and she says they’ve been just really anxiously waiting to have access to it in the United States. “Just because it is so much smaller. And it is designed specifically for babies in mind. So like the amount of blood that’s out of the body at any one time is much, much smaller than the scales and the accuracy are very precise down to one gram,” she says. Doctor Jetton is a pediatric nephrologist, and says they have been training and establishing protocols for the machine. She says it is not something they will use a lot right away.

“But I think a few times a year is what we are kind of anticipating maybe more than that. I think in the center that first started using it, it started in Cincinnati, children’s they had like one patient, and then all of a sudden they had two and then they had three kids,” she explains. “So again, once you have it, and it’s out there, then the options, you know, cases where it can be beneficial become more, more clear.” Doctor Jetton says the machine helps the babies get through kidney problems. “They’ve developed something called acute kidney injury, where their kidneys are temporarily not working very well. And they need help with getting rid of all the fluids that they need, as part of like their nutrition or medications, and then help with balancing all their body salts like their sodium and potassium,” Jetton says.

She says those are the two main things that the kidneys do normally. Jetton says any new therapy requires lots of preparation before it is put into use. “Anytime you’re talking about a baby within the intensive care unit who’s sick enough to need dialysis, it’s risky. And so there’s a lot of work that goes into training the team and making sure that we’ve thought about safety in every possible way for these kids,” she says.

Jetton says it has been an entire team effort to get the machine and work out all the training and protocols so they can put it into use.

(Radio Iowa) – President Biden will visit an Iowa ethanol plant today (Tuesday) to highlight steps to expand the use of “homegrown” biofuels. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a waiver so E-15 — gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol blend — can be sold nationwide all year long. Under current regulations, E-15 cannot be sold in most of the country between June 1st and September 15th.

The leader of a trade association for the ethanol industry says this is welcome news for all American drivers seeking lower cost options at the pump. The U-S-D-A is providing 100 million dollars in grants for installing or upgrading gas station equipment that can dispense gasoline with higher blends of ethanol and diesel with a higher concentration of a soybean-based additive.

The event is being covered by the national press corps. The White House has not released any information about how the public can attend the event. Expect security to be tight and some detours in the area.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst says expanding the biofuels industry is a national security issue. “It’s not only important for the United States — clean energy! — but it sure is a great way to push back against Vladamir Putin,” Ernst said.

Ernst was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and has lobbied the Obama, Trump and Biden Administrations on policies to expand ethanol production. That includes refusing to issue waivers so oil refinerites don’t have to blend ethanol into gasoline and allowing fuel blended with 15 percent ethanol — E-15 — to be sold year-round all around the country. Anti-smog rules have prevented E-15’s sale in most areas during the summer months. Ernst says Biden’s trip to Menlo was a surprise. “With everything that is going on, I just did not anticipate that he would be traveling right now. His approval levels are very low, but at the same time, you know, he needs to be out engaging with the public. We’ve got high inflation. We’ve got high gas costs…He needs to get out and he needs to explain his position,” Ernst said. “He needs to engage with constituents — and maybe that would help.”

Iowa’s other U.S. Senator, Republican Chuck Grassley, says promoting biofuels and allowing summer sales of E-15 is far better than pursuing expanded crude oil production from Middle East countries and Venezuela. The chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party has said he’s thrilled Iowans can hear directly from Biden about the agenda Democrats are pursuing to lower costs for working families. This is Biden’s first trip to Iowa as president. Biden was last here four days before the 2020 General Election, for a drive-in rally on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

(Radio Iowa) – Advocates for people who were sexually abused as children continue to lobby Iowa lawmakers to give survivors more time to file lawsuits against their abusers. Last year, the Iowa Legislature removed the state’s legal time limit on criminal charges against people accused of sex crimes against children.

But advocates say giving more time for survivors to file lawsuits in civil court will help hold educational, athletic, and religious institutions accountable when their employees sexually abuse minors. Kathryn Robb is executive director of Child USA Advocacy.

“Why should we have a public policy that allows sexual predators to walk free and be protected by the passage of time?” she asks. Kylie DeWeessays she was sexually abused by an Iowa school employee as a minor. She says when she learned about the statute of limitations, her time to file a lawsuit had already run out.

“I can tell you firsthand that the only way to expose the abusers and institutions that allowed it to occur is by putting pressure on lawmakers now,” DeWeess says. She’s urging Republican lawmakers to make it a priority to end the time limit on when child sex abuse victims may file civil lawsuits against their abusers — and get the policy passed before the 2022 legislative session ends.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids Police have one suspect in custody for the shooting early Sunday that killed two people inside a Cedar Rapids nightclub and injured 10 others. Authorities say the two people who were shot to death were at the club to celebrate a mutual friend’s birthday. Michael Valentine was 25 years old. Nicole Owens was 35. Both were from Cedar Rapids.

On Monday, Cedar Rapids Police arrested 32-year-old Timothy Ladell Rush on charges of second degree murder, willful injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm and possession of a firearm as a felon. The chief of police said during a news conference on Sunday that investigators believe two gunmen were involved in the shooting at the Taboo Nightclub.

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation relating to the weight limits and hours of service requirements for the transportation of crop inputs for planting season.

“Unprecedented economic and foreign policy challenges have disrupted the food supply chain and worsened the inflation we are seeing across the country,” said Gov. Reynolds. “But Iowa farmers stand ready to answer the call, as they have always done. This Proclamation is intended to help our farmers meet this global challenge by providing regulatory relief for the transportation of crop inputs necessary for a timely and successful planting season.”

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through May 11, 2022. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, other agricultural seed, water, herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), manure (dry and liquid), gasoline, diesel #1, diesel #2, ethanol, and biodiesel to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday to hear arguments over U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer’s appeal of a district court judge’s decision that has thrown her off the June 7th Democratic Primary ballot.

The ruling issued Sunday night declared three signatures on Finkenauer’s nominating petitions invalid, due to errors in the section of the signature line where a date is to be listed. With the three signatures thrown out, Finkenauer does not meet the minimum threshold in two counties where her campaign had to collect at least 100 signatures. Finkenauer says the ruling is “outrageous…deeply partisan and a massive gift to Washington Republicans who support Chuck Grassley’s reelection to the U.S. Senate.

Two other Democrats — Mike Franken and Glenn Hurst — have been competing with Finkenauer for the chance to face Grassley in the General Election.

Saturday, April 23rd is the deadline for county auditors to begin sending Primary ballots to Iowans who are overseas. That makes end of this week the printing deadline for the ballots, according to the secretary of state’s office. It means Finkenauer is hoping for a ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court in the next few days if she hopes to have her name printed on the Democratic Primary ballot.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa students of any age can access free, live tutors online through a program called Brainfuse HelpNow, which is marking its first full year in the state. Any day of the week, between the hours of 2 and 11 P-M, the program’s Jack Rothstein says tutors are available to help answer practically any question ranging from basic reading skills all the way to university physics courses.

“HelpNow provides access to live tutors for kindergarten up through adult learners,” Rothstein says. “If I live in the state of Iowa, I have access to Brainfuse HelpNow. That means if I’m working on my math homework and I’m stuck, I can log on and connect with a live tutor for free.” The program employs more than three-thousand tutors nationwide who are available through the Online Classroom where there’s a Whiteboard and a chat window.

“So many kids today, they don’t even like to talk on the phone and many prefer to text and chat and that’s the preferred method of communication,” Rothstein says. “With the Whiteboard, students can copy and paste or upload assignments or papers that they’re working on.” There’s also a Writing Lab where students can upload virtually any sort of writing assignment and get a critique within 12 to 24 hours.

“The Writing Lab is very popular,” Rothstein says. “It can be used for the proverbial ‘What I Did Over Summer Break’ paragraph when I start a new school year, up to maybe I’m applying for college and as part of my application I need to do an essay.” There are also practice tests, electronic flashcards and other study tools available for free. Through funding provided by the Iowa State Public Library, there are several other online programs designed to help Iowans.

“JobNow provides access to live job coaches, interview coaches, resume coaches and unemployment benefit navigators,” Rothstein says. “VetNow provides access to VA benefit navigators, college-level tutoring and career transition support for veterans.” All you need to take part is an Iowa library card and the ability to log on to: https://home.brainfuse.com/iowa/

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says it appears efforts to contain bird flu are working to prevent the outbreak from growing far worse.  “Those that have laying flocks and those that are also poultry producers have really upped their game since 2015 when HPAI first came through Iowa…making sure they have all the biosecurity measures in place,” Ernst says. In the massive bird flu outbreak in 2015, the virus spread among commercial operations. Officials from the U-S-D-A and the Iowa Department of Agriculture say it appears this year’s outbreak is being spread by wild birds that come into contact with backyard flocks and commercial poultry operations.

Ernst says when a sick flock is detected, there’s a quick and coordinated response from federal, state and local officials.  “I feel better about it this time around,” Ernst says, “so we’ll just plan and pray for the best.” Ernst met with poultry producers in Clarion earlier today (Monday). Scientists believe this current strain of bird flu is similar to the virus that has been periodically circulating in Europe and Asia.

“It’s just like with COVID, it’s just something that will be around and that’s why the biosecurity is so important,” Ernst says. “After we learned that lesson in 2015, a lot of measures have been taken since then.” The outbreak of avian influenza among wild birds in America is far more extensive than it was seven years ago. The virus has been confirmed in 40 wild bird species in 30 states.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests from last week. On April 6th, 50-year-old Jason Edward Caldwell, of Stuart, was arrested by Deputies for Driving While Barred, Reckless Driving and having defective tires. His arrest was the result of an investigation into a 1998 Ford F-150 pickup that had crashed into a ditch at 190th Street and the Stuart Road, at around 8:50-p.m. on Dec. 25th, 2021.

At the time, Caldwell has a temporary restricted license (TRL) with multiple withdrawals in effect. His license was barred for Habitual Offender until 11/11/24. When speaking to the investigation deputy, Caldwell claimed he was working at a bar in Stuart, which turned out not to be true, and meant he was in violation of his TRL.  He was cited for the offense and released.

And, on April 4th, 25-year-old Layne Douglas Ruby, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While License Denied/Revoked or Suspended. When he was pulled over for speeding, Ruby did not have his required Ignition Interlock Device installed in his vehicle, and his TRL was invalid. He was released later the same day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report four arrests from the past few days. Saturday afternoon, 60-year-old Mark Alan Schmahl, of St. Joseph, MO., was arrested for OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance ($2,000 bond). And, 36-year-old Nicholas Lynn Wolfe, of Malvern, was arrested at around 1:50-a.m. Saturday, for OWI/2nd offense ($2,000 bond).

Friday afternoon, 35-year-old Daniel John Vornbrock, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Barred ($2,000 bond). And, at around 10:30-p.m. Thursday, 35-year-old Danis Marita Brown, of Omaha, was arrested for Poss. of Contraband in a Correctional institution, and Trespass in the 1st Degree (Bon $5,300).

Sheriff’s officials said also a man from Pottawattamie County was transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, following a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon, in Mills County. 43-year-old Brian Deyo, of Council Bluffs, was operating a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Highway 34 at around 4:30-p.m., when he locked-up the brakes as he was preparing to turn north onto Hilman Road.

The cycle cut in front of a car in the turning lane and crashed at the intersection at slow speeds. Deyo was unconscious and bleeding from the right side of his head before he was flown from the scene to the hospital.