Police in Creston report 45-year-old Kevin Eugene Early, of Creston, was arrested recently at the Dollar General Store, on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Early was cited for the offense and released at the scene, on a Summons to Appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the Iowa House of Representatives have sent a bill to the governor that would ban certain topics from government diversity trainings and school lessons. The original bill referred to a list of divisive concepts that would be off-limits. The bill was adjusted to say teaching about slavery, sexism, segregation and racial discrimination are fine, but teaching that the state and country are fundamentally or systemically racist is banned. Representative Steven Holt is a Republican from Denison.  “We don’t have to use racism to teach against racism,” Holt said. “We don’t need to have to be racist and scapegoat entire groups of people in order to teach against racism.”

Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton, says Republicans made cosmetic, but not substantive changes to the bill. “It doesn’t make what was-in my opinion, and I think the opinion of many, many people, a very problematic bill any better,” she said. Wolfe and other Democrats say the policy could prevent implicit bias training and limit discussions of systemic racism.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

The 7:06-a.m. News broadcast from Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Democrats on a House committee joined Republicans in voting for the House G-O-P’s latest tax plan. It includes more than two dozen tax changes, but notably does NOT include using state tax dollars rather than county property taxes to support Iowa’s mental health system. SENATE Republicans and Governor Reynolds back that move, but House Republicans say it’s a big policy shift that needs more work. Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque, a Democrat, agrees.

“I understand that the Senate bill proposes to make what many could consider potentially radical changes to how we deliver mental health in this state based on who pays for it,” Isenhart says, “and I agree with Speaker Grassley that we have not really considered all the ramifications.” House Ways and Means Committee chairman Lee Hein, a Republican from Monticello, acknowledges the debate among Republicans over tax policy isn’t resolved, however.

“I’m hoping we’re getting close to being at the end, but anything can happen and ‘stay tuned’ I guess would be my message,” Hein said. The HOUSE is planning to debate some state budget plans today (Thursday) and perhaps tomorrow (Friday), but there’s no universal agreement on state spending among Republicans in the House and Senate. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville says there is no end in sight for the 2021 legislative session.

“Here we are now, swinging into May, and Republicans are kind of squabbling with each other over the budget and taxes…and don’t really have a clear sense of how to get out of this mess that they’ve made for themselves.” Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says Senate Republicans want to resolve the tax impasse before making final decisions on the state budget plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Officials with City Hall in Atlantic say at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, a council member asked how citizens could report complaints since the city no longer had the old system for reporting online. City Clerk Barb Barrick says citizens can report issues here:  https://atlanticia.seamlessdocs.com/f/citizenreportingform

The link can also be found on the city’s website (at atlanticiowa.com) or the city’s Facebook page (City of Atlantic). Just a reminder:  Junk vehicles and barking dogs cannot be reported on this form.  For those issues, please contact the police station at 243-3512.

Atlantic, IA—Cass County Health System was recently named one of the country’s top 20 critical access hospitals as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. This elite group of hospitals was selected from the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s 2021 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital list, which was released earlier this year. The determining factors for the top hospitals are based on the results of the Hospital Strength Index and its eight performance measures: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and financial efficiency.

“To be named in the Top 20 out of 1,350 critical access hospitals in America is an amazing accomplishment and reflects the talent and hard work of our staff. Everyone on our team is contributing in every way they can to live our mission to provide a superior experience to our patients, families, and the communities that we are privileged to serve. Our vision is to be the best rural hospital in the country—and we are clearly headed in the right direction. This is one of the highest honors we could receive, and we hope that the community feels as proud as we do,” said CCHS CEO Brett Altman.

The rankings were recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), and an awards ceremony will be held during NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Missouri.

Atlantic, IA — This past year presented many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations never before imagined, and many of us struggled with our mental health as a result. The good news is that there are tools and resources available that can support the well-being of individuals and communities.  Registered Nurse Karmen Roland, Senior Life Solutions Program Director for the Cass County Health System, says the pandemic has not made dealing with stress and depression any easier. Roland said “If you found that it impacted your mental health, you aren’t alone.

That’s why this Mental Health Month, Cass County Health System’s Senior Life Solutions team is highlighting what individuals can do throughout their daily lives to prioritize mental health, build resiliency, and continue to cope with the obstacles of COVID-19, by highlighting #Tools2Thrive. The website www.mhanational.org, Roland says, is a great tool to help you assess your mental health and create a plan to cope.

May is Mental Health Month was started 72 years ago by national organization, Mental Health America (MHA). Karmen says Senior Life Solutions wants to remind everyone that mental illness is real, and recovery is possible.

By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, it is possible to find balance between life’s ups and downs and continue to cope with the challenges brought on by the pandemic. For more information, visit www.mhanational.org/may or call CCHS Senior Life Solutions at 712-250-8100.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House and Senate have unanimously voted to create a new crime for driving at an excessive speed and causing someone else’s death. Representative Jon Thorup of Knoxville, is a state trooper. “This bill increases the penalty for speeding 25 miles per hour or more in cases where such speeding results in the death of a human being,” Thorup said. “The penalty would become a Class C felony.”

According to the Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies Association, it’s difficult to appropriately charge a speeding driver involved in a fatal accident if prosecutors cannot prove the driver was intoxicated or intentionally targeting someone. The bill passed the House unanimously on March 23rd. It passed the Senate yesterday (Wednesday) on a 48-to-zero vote. The Iowa State Patrol issued 85 percent more tickets to drivers caught going 25 miles an hour or more over the speed limit in the first six months of last year compared to the previous four-year average.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is among several members of Congress asking the U-S Army Corps of Engineers to make flood control its priority in managing the Missouri River. Grassley notes that it’s not the first time he’s asked the Corps to make the change, but he’s optimistic he’ll be heard this time. “I sure hope so,” Grassley says. “We’ve got a new administration in. I think they’ll look at it a little bit different with the government involvement. Of course, it’s almost 100% government involvement.”

Grassley, a Republican, joined the bipartisan group representing Iowa and three other states in signing a letter to the Corps this week. The federal agency’s failure to prioritize flood control in the past is being called a “real problem” by the lawmakers, as the waterway is a vital resource.  “The private producer benefits from it, both agriculture and manufacturing, whether it’s taking things down the river or up the river,” Grassley says. “It’s not just locks and dams, there’s a lot of other things that are involved, but I believe that we’re getting their attention.”

Flooded-Hamburg-on-April-2nd-2019-Photo-by-Fremont-County-Emergency-Management-

The letter encourages the Corps to simply follow federal law with the Missouri River as outlined in the Water Resources Development Act.  “It’s the best way to get your surplus crop to market,” Grassley says. “It’s pretty important economically.”

Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat, and Republican Senator Joni Ernst also signed the letter. On Wednesday, the Fremont County town of Hamburg, which was hit hard by Missouri River flooding in 2019, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a major project that will raise the levee eight feet.

The 8:06-a.m. newscast w/Ric Hanson.

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