(Radio Iowa)- A Michigan based health care provider has purchased the Keokuk hospital that closed on October 1st and may reopen the facility as a Rural Emergency Hospital. Governor Reynolds signed a bill into law yesterday (Tuesday) that sets up the state licensing process for Rural Emergency Hospitals. These hospitals will be eligible for higher reimbursement rates for treatment of Medicare patients along with a monthly payment from the federal government.

Rural Emergency Hospitals must keep an emergency room open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and may provide outpatient services, but they must discontinue in-patient care. Insight is the name of the Flint, Michigan, company that bought Keokuk’s closed down hospital. Insight’s chief strategy officer says with the necessary regulatory and financial support, the company aims to begin providing medical services in Keokuk later this year.

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, a sponsor of the bill that created the Rural Emergency Hospital framework, says it’s a reform that will be a lifeline for rural communities. Governor Reynolds says the concept will help ensure Iowans, no matter where they live, can access emergency care. State Senator Jeff Reichman, a Republican from Montour, says the new Rural Emergency Hospital designation will help rural communities and struggling hospitals. Reichman was in the governor’s office yesterday when she signed the bill into law.

(Radio Iowa) – The board of Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant has voted to close the school at the end of the academic year on May 3st. Board president, Bill Miller, spoke on a conference call and says “this is a profound decision that will be deeply felt by everyone in our community and throughout southeast Iowa.

Miller says they have been considering their options for the past several months, following an intensive analysis of Iowa Wesleyan financial operations and considerable exploration of all feasible strategic alternatives. The school still owes 26 million dollars to the U-S-D-A for a loan.

The school’s 878 students will be able to complete their studies at other schools and the school will hold graduation ceremonies for seniors. The school has about 110 full time employees, 35 of those are full time faculty, 75 full time staff members and about 74 adjunct faculty.

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds released the following statement in response to the announced closure of Iowa Wesleyan University:  

“Today, my thoughts are with the students, faculty, and staff who are stunned by this announcement, and the people of Mount Pleasant who have long revered the university as a pillar of their community. The state is committed to supporting them during this time of transition. I have directed the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Workforce Development to reach out to community and business leaders, and work together to keep the local economy strong. 

“It wasn’t until February 3, 2023, that my office received a request from the university for $12 million for ongoing operating costs. As I’ve said many times, we endeavor not to spend one-time federal dollars on ongoing expenses. To better understand their request and the financial health of the university, my office engaged an independent, third-party accounting firm to conduct due diligence. The firm reported that Iowa Wesleyan had a $26.1 million loan from the USDA, using their campus as collateral, that could be recalled in full as early as November 2023. Additionally, Iowa Wesleyan’s auditor cited ongoing concerns about the university’s fiscal health, stating “significant operating losses and reduced liquidity raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.” The firm also highlighted that that while enrollment at Iowa Wesleyan has grown over the past three years, their financial health has continued to deteriorate over the same period. 

“Based on this and other factors, the independent accounting firm determined that providing one-time, federal funds would not solve the systemic financial issues plaguing the university. If the state would have provided the federal funding as requested and it was used to finance debt or other impermissible uses according to US Treasury guidelines, the state and taxpayers could have been liable for potential repayment to the federal government. Moreover, the state has separately received $122 million in requests from other universities and community colleges across the state. 

“With this information, I made the difficult decision to not pursue the university’s funding request.” 

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday of 27-year-old Wyatt Lee Sargent of Council Bluffs for Driving While Suspended 14 times by the State of Iowa. Sargent was arrested at 2:27 p.m. at Highway 34 and O Avenue in Montgomery County. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $491.25 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed former State Auditor Mary Mosiman to lead the Iowa Department of Revenue. Mosiman has been the Iowa Department of Revenue’s deputy director and head of its tax division since 2019.

Mosiman is a certified public accountant and served as Story County Auditor for a decade. She was working as a deputy in the Iowa Secretary of State’s office in 2013 when Governor Terry Branstad appointed Mosiman to serve as state auditor. She won a full term as state auditor in 2014, but lost her 2018 race for reelection.

Mosiman takes over as head of the Iowa Department of Revenue tomorrow (Wednesday).

Reynolds appointed former House Speaker Kraig Paulsen to lead the tax agency in 2019, but for the past 16 months he’s also been director of the Iowa Department of Management. Paulsen will stay in that role as the governor’s top budget advisor. A news release from the governor’s office says as director of the Department of Management, Paulsen will be able to manage a state government realignment plan. The bill outlining that plan has passed the legislature, but Reynolds has not yet signed it into law.

(Radio Iowa) – A compromise between Iowa’s trucking industry and trial lawyers would create new liability protection from lawsuits filed over accidents involving commercial vehicles. The Iowa House, on a 58-42 vote, has approved a bill that would set a five million dollar cap on so-called pain and suffering damages in most lawsuits filed over wrecks involving commercial vehicles like semis and tow trucks. “It’s a fair resolution by two parties that I thought wouldn’t come together on this,” said Representative Bill Gustoff, a Republican from Des Moines.

The liability protection would limit rising insurance rates for trucking companies, according to Gustoff. “These costs get passed along and so it’s hard. It costs trucking companies. It costs farmers. It costs employees. It costs consumers,” Gustoff says, “because everything we eat, wear, use — if you have it, it came on a truck.”

Representative Jon Dunwell, a Republican from Newton, was seriously injured 22 years ago when he was hit by a commercial truck while riding a bicycle. Dunwell said increasingly high verdicts in tort liability cases, though, are a drag on the U.S. economy and he backs the bill. “I recognize the importance and value of the tort system, but I want to also make sure it has some boundaries on it because of the expense for American families,” Dunwell said.

All 58 “yes” votes came from Republicans. Democrats and a few Republicans opposed it. Republican Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids cried as she talked about a great aunt who was killed decades ago when the car she was in struck a truck parked, without its lights on, in the middle of a highway at night. Her family didn’t sue, but Jones said she won’t vote to limit what other families in similar circumstances can do. “I don’t see this bill as being generous to victims. Iowans aren’t looking to get run down by semi trucks,” Jones said. “Lawyers aren’t taking risky, frivolous cases. Iowa juries aren’t awarding more than a person deserves.”

Representative Sami Sheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, said the bill is fundamentally wrong. “This bill is being sold as a way to make Iowa competitive with other states,” Sheets said, “but it is critically important to note that not a single other state specifically exempts the trucking industry from liability.”

Earlier this year, most Republicans in the Iowa Senate voted for a $2 million cap on non-economic damages in lawsuits filed over trucking accidents. Governor Reynolds has previously proposed a $1 million limit, so it’s unclear if the Senate will accept the $5 million cap.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report three recent, separate arrests. On Sunday, 33-year-old Tyler Eldon Buckner, of Emerson, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $10,000.

Last Saturday, 23-year-old Selena Lynn Brown, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Mills County for Driving While Barred ($2,000 bond). And, on Friday, 45-year-old Tomas Enrique Nieves was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia (Bond $2,000).

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. On Saturday (March 25), 42-year-old Daniel Thomas, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $10,000.

And, on Friday, 37-year-old Michael Phillips, of Glenwood was arrested for driving under suspension, bond set at $300 cash or surety (posted bond).

(Radio Iowa) – The housing market in Iowa continued its holding pattern in February. The Iowa Association of Realtors reports there were 33 more homes sold in February compared to January. But compared to one year ago — home sales were down nearly 25 percent. That coincides with a 22 percent drop in the number of homes listed in February of this year compared to last February. Association president Krista Clark says interest rate hikes have caused homebuyers to give more thought to their needs instead of making a split-second buying decision. She also says sellers have been increasingly cutting prices and offering incentives to attract cautious buyers.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation Tuesday morning (Today) from Cass County Extension Director Kate Olsen and Beth Olsen, Director of Public Health, with regard to the use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act/Covid Relief) funds, for a Wellness Coordinator position. The funds would used to expand the current hours per week that person works, from 20-to-40. Kate Olsen said the Wellness Coordinator serves to address the local public health priorities and assist in long-term pandemic relief efforts. Kate explained some of the tasks a Wellness Coordinator is responsible for.

She said they had been exploring the possibility of expanding the position prior to the departure of the previous Wellness Coordinator.

She said the person they’re looking for as a Wellness Coordinator doesn’t necessarily need to be someone who has public health service or providing skills. It’s someone who connects appropriate persons or organizations and coordinates their involvement in the wellness process.

Kate Olsen said they feel there’s enough work for the person selected to keep them busy at least a couple of years. They would work out of the Cass County Extension Office. The request was taken under consideration. It will be included as an action item for the Board at their next meeting on April 4th.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved an updated Public Safety Commission Articles of Agreement between the City of Atlantic and Cass County, for the Dispatch Center. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said the agreement “Is a bargain for everybody involved.” It makes it “abundantly clear,” that this concerns the consolidation of communications in the County. It does not affect Public Safety or Law Enforcement. It does pave the road for future changes to the bylaws.

The Board also passed a Resolution regarding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Supervisors and Zion Recovery Services, with regard to an Opiod Settlement Assignment Agreement. Board Chair Steve Baier said they began working last August to determine what the funds must be used for, and Zion fit the bill. Baier read from the Resolution…

The Board then received a report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

(Radio Iowa) – April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says law enforcement officials are hoping it will be the month Iowa law is changed — to forbid motorists from handling a smart phone while driving.  “People are drifting across the center line and they’re having head-on collisions. There’s a reason for that,” Dinkla says. “Vehicles just don’t — for a random reason — go across the center line on their own. Those drivers are doing something inappropriate.”

Iowa law currently bars texting while driving, but Dinkla says it’s not working to curb distracted driving. “In law enforcement we have those big marked nice pretty vehicles that have the lights and the stickers all over it. What do people do? It’s just like a lot of times when you see that officer and you’re speeding, you’re going to hit the brakes and slow down,” Dinkla says. “It works that way with the phones. The devices go down. It’s tough to see.”

Dinkla says investigations of recent fatality crashes in Iowa show drivers’ smart phone use was a factor. “We’ve got people watching how to install drywall on YouTube. They’re watching movies. A recent text showed a girlfriend was going to go buy some cupcake mix to bake her boyfriend some cupcakes when she crashed. That text was still on the device when the officers arrived,”Dinkla says. “This is out there. It’s way prevalent and we need it to stop.”

Dinkla made his comments on Iowa Public Radio. Last week the Senate voted 47 to three to approve a bill that would bar drivers from handling a smart phone. The bill must clear the House Transportation Committee this week or it’s no longer eligible for consideration this year.