DES MOINES, Iowa – Health disparities in the United States are getting more attention, between the pandemic and last year’s social-justice protests. In Iowa, certain barriers are being addressed, including mistrust of health agencies and providers. State health officials have said Iowa mirrors national data for people of color experiencing negative health outcomes. They have noted that the state’s Black population has the highest rate of mortality in almost every cause of death, not including suicide.

Izaah Knox, executive director of Urban Dreams, a statewide nonprofit that helps reduce racial barriers, said he feels that, in terms of outreach, the health-care industry has lacked a strong presence in marginalized neighborhoods. “I think the biggest thing,” he said, “is that too many times organizations, hospitals – or anybody that all of a sudden wants to reach out – only comes out every once in a while, and if it’s of benefit to them. ” He said that’s why his group is partnering with others, such as the American Heart Association, to maintain a consistent presence. The Heart Association is advocating for increased state funding for a program to help marginalized Iowans get healthier foods at a lower cost. The group has said expansion of tele-health is another priority in closing these gaps.

Nalo Johnson, division director of health promotion at the Iowa Department of Public Health, agreed that improved engagement can help make these communities more resilient, especially during public-health emergencies. She said the state is trying to ramp up support for lower-level agencies in this area. “Providing resources around translation; providing connections from what we are hearing or seeing at the federal level, in terms of resources or information,” she said.

Through grant opportunities, the department also is trying to reduce disparities for diseases such as hypertension. Community groups have said policymakers need to bolster infrastructure in poorer neighborhoods, so residents can be more mobile and improve their physical health. On its website, the American Heart Association has more information on efforts to end structural racism and other initiatives to improve health outcomes in states such as Iowa.

(By Mike Moen/Iowa News Service)

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(Radio Iowa) – Committees in the Iowa House and Senate have approved a bill to require 100 percent in-person classes in Iowa schools. Republican Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson says parents in some districts haven’t had the choice to send their kids to school every weekday. “As Iowa reopened its schools in the fall, the learning experiences have not been equitable for our children,” Thompson said. “National studies show that keeping children out of the classroom has resulted in significant learning loss.”

The bill is a priority for Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. Representative Tracy Ehlert, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids who is a teacher, says the bill is being fast-tracked before adequate safe guards are in place for students and educators.  “We are telling you what is going on and what is happening in these schools,” Ehlert said.

The Centers for Disease Control released a report this week showing there’s little evidence in-person classes in K-through-12 schools are contributing to the rapid spread of Covid-19. The C-D-C researchers did recommend schools require face masks, maintain social distancing and improve ventilation systems to keep infection rates low.

(Radio Iowa) – It would be illegal to use a hand-held smart phone while driving under a bill that’s being proposed again in the Iowa House. Susan Cameron Daemon is a lobbyist with the Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies Association — a group that’s been supporting a “hands-free” law for years. “Iowa is one of the few states that does not have this law,” she said, “and we know that it works and saves lives.”

Michael Triplett, a lobbyist for the Alliance for Automobile Innovation, says the companies in the alliance developed the technology in dashboards that now makes hands-free driving while talking on a cell signal possible. “You can access your phone while keeping both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road,” he says. Matthew McKinney, a lobbyist for Nationwide Insurance, asked legislators to consider also banning the use of other types of electronic devises, like Kindles, that could be held to read while driving.

“Whether it’s a communication device that actually communicates or whether it’s an electronic device and you’re distracted, you shouldn’t be,” he says. Matt Eide, a lobbyist for the ride-sharing company Uber, asked legislators to make an exception for Uber drivers. “They have to press some buttons to accept rides,” Eide says, “and they are going to use their phones, generally.”

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau first proposed a ban on handling a cell phone while driving in 2015, and former Governor Terry Branstad lobbied lawmakers, but the bill has repeatedly failed to pass the legislature. Iowa *is* among the 48 states that ban texting while driving.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says any NEW fuel pumps installed in Iowa should be able to dispense gas with at least a 10 percent blend of ethanol — and the governor says B-11 — 11 percent biodiesel — should be the standard for diesel pumps.  “As we look forward to this year’s legislative session, I am excited to advance policies that will grow the biofuels and ag industry,” Reynolds says. “…That means making biofuels the clear choice for Iowa drivers.”

Many retailers offer two, three or even four blends of fuel from one pump and this would not require that EVERY option be a higher blend of biofuel, but it would require E-10 and B-11 at least be offered from newly-installed pumps. A spokesman for the governor says a draft of the legislation Reynolds proposes will be released soon. Reynolds says governors in Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota are considering similar requirements for new fuel pumps.

“Minnesota has already taken some steps to help drive higher blends and so I think collectively we have a responsibility,” Reynolds says. “We’re better together.” Reynolds also is asking Iowa legislators to expand the state grant program for installing fuel pumps that dispense higher blends of biofuels. The program has a three million dollar budget this year. Reynolds suggests it should be 10 million dollars next year.

“That will help accelerate and help fund the installation of higher-blend compatible infrastructure,” Reynolds says. State records indicate there are more than 40-thousand gas pump meters in Iowa. Two years ago, Reynolds issued an executive order requiring the use of biodiesel in state-owned vehicles with engines that run on diesel. She’s asking legislators to pass a law this year to make that permanent state policy.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and his colleagues will be sworn in this (Tuesday) afternoon as jurors in the impeachment trial of former President Trump, even though it may be the second week of February before the proceedings get underway. “In a sense, the trial starts today, but then there’s been a gentleman’s agreement on all sides with all senators that we would give the president’s defenders two weeks,” Grassley says. “They’ve gotta’ have time to prepare the case.”

House leaders delivered the single article of impeachment to the Senate last night, charging Trump with incitement of insurrection in the January 6th attack on the U-S Capitol. The Constitution stipulates the U-S Supreme Court’s chief justice, currently John Roberts, would be in charge of such proceedings. However, as the former president pro tem of the Senate, Grassley, a Republican, says he’ll be swearing in the chamber’s longest-serving Democrat, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who will instead preside over the trial.

“For a president, it’s very clear that the chief justice must preside and a year ago, he did preside,” Grassley says. “Now, it isn’t President Trump that’s up. It’s Citizen Trump.” Some are questioning whether a -former- president can legally be impeached. “I suppose we’re going to be discussing among ourselves the legitimacy of even having an impeachment of a citizen,” Grassley says, “when the Constitution always talks about the president being impeached.”

Grassley says it’s a “reasonable argument” but he adds, “I’m not a lawyer” and says he’ll listen to the constitutional experts who will be testifying about how to move forward.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says she believes it’s unconstitutional to try a president for articles of impeachment after he leaves office. Ernst was a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump while he was in office. She is among several Republican senators to question the impeachment proceedings, casting doubt on whether Democrats can get the needed Republican votes to convict Trump.

Ernst told reporters Tuesday that Trump exhibited poor leadership and has some responsibility for a Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. She says he should have more quickly told the crowd to remain peaceful. However, Ernst said she’s not sure his actions meet the definition of inciting an insurrection as alleged by the impeachment article prepared by the House..

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports that on March 2nd, 2021 a special election will be conducted for the CAM Community School District. All eligible electors of the district may vote in this election. The purpose of the election is to adopt a Revenue Purpose Statement specifying the use of revenues the CAM Community School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund.

A request for an absentee ballot may be requested from the Cass County Auditor now, but a ballot may not be mailed out until February 1. Beginning February 1st, a person may vote an absentee ballot at the Cass County Auditor’s office at the courthouse in Atlantic, Iowa. Last day to vote an absentee ballot at the Cass County Auditor’s office is March 1.

See the Notice of Election and 2021 CAM CSD Special Election SAMPLE Ballot for information regarding the public measure to be voted upon.

The Absentee Voting with Notice and Sample Ballot will be published in the Anita Tribune on about February 11, 2021.