DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party is agreeing to recount the tallies in about two dozen of more than 1,600 precincts as part of the ongoing process to resolve the weeks-long question of who won Iowa’s tarnished presidential caucuses. Campaign officials for former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders asked for a combined 23 precincts to be recounted after the state party invited campaigns to request recounts in light of results of a recanvass which showed Buttigieg finishing a tiny fraction of a percentage point ahead of Sanders in the delegate equivalency.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds says a state board has recommended an appropriate compromise on the amount of the key chemical that should be allowed in the cannabis products licensed for sale in Iowa. “I’m comfortable with where the board ended up,” Reynolds says, “so they just met and I think that might be similar to the House bill just passed through committee.”

The state board that oversees Iowa’s medical marijuana program last Friday recommended a four-and-a-half gram limit on the amount of T-H-C in cannabis products. T-H-C is the chemical that advocates say provides relief for a variety of medical ailments.  “It doesn’t mean that in the future this is where it has to end,” Reynolds says, “but I think that’s pretty significant progress.” The board also recommended setting NO T-H-C limit for terminally ill patients and allowing others to buy higher T-H-C amounts if they have a doctor’s recommendation to do so.

“That was a compromise that was made by the Cannabidiol Board. They’re listening to individuals that are listening to individuals who are impacted and all of the stakeholders involved in it,” Reynolds says. “…I think that’s appropriate…and I’m comfortable with that.” Reynolds made her comments today (Friday) during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs this (Friday) evening on Iowa P-B-S.

A Senate committee this week approved a bill that would allow a far higher amount of T-H-C in medical cannabis products sold in Iowa. Lawmakers in both the Senate AND the House say they’ve been waiting for the governor to publicly state what level would be acceptable to her, since Reynolds vetoed a bill on the topic last year.

(Radio Iowa) — An Iowa State University study looks at why those who cook meth not only consider it a crime but also — a lucrative job. Lead author Jacob Erickson, in the I-S-U sociology department, says researchers did extensive interviews with more than 30 meth cooks, most of them in halfway houses or assisted living facilities. Erickson says the goal was to learn about meth cooks’ motivations — to help with prevention and rehabilitation efforts.

“Many of them initially suggested that being able to produce meth and getting money from selling that meth was a reward in its own right,” Erickson says. “The meth cooks also really enjoyed what we refer to as intangible rewards, things like increased social status among their peers, as you might guess.” Erickson says the study offers insight into the world of meth production and an understanding of why cooks chose this lifestyle.

“Some of them really developed a level of pride, viewing the way they cook meth as being superior to the way other people cook meth, viewing proper measurements or the use of glass tools versus plastic tools,” Erickson says. “Various things that to you or I might seem inconsequential or nonsensical, but to them, in their minds, were very important.” Many of those questioned had held legitimate jobs, but said the lifestyle and mental effects of the drug made it difficult to stay employed.

Some admitted making serious mistakes on the job, including car crashes and injuring co-workers. Erickson says cooking meth takes a critical toll on every aspect of a person’s life. “Socially, economically, biophysically, obviously using meth is very hard on them physically, being when they’re cooking meth they’re around noxious chemicals and gases,” Erickson says. “Socially, it breaks down and erodes family connections. Oftentimes, many of them lose their ability to maintain steady employment.”

Researchers say many of the former meth cooks were from low-income backgrounds with limited educations, which may have influenced their decision to start using meth. The I-S-U report is being published in the Justice Quarterly journal.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — West Des Moines police say the death of a man whose body was found frozen in ice doesn’t appear to be a criminal act. Investigators identified the man Friday as 42-year-old Yohanes Gebrehiwot, of Des Moines. He was reported missing on Feb. 13. His body was found Tuesday in a ditch along a road that runs parallel to Interstate 80. Police are working with the State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Former Iowa governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been hired to monitor Purdue Pharma as the OxyContin maker goes through bankruptcy. His job is to ensure the company is following an agreement that it not overstate the benefits of opioids or downplay the risk of addiction. Purdue filed for bankruptcy protection as part of its effort to settle thousands of lawsuits over its role in the national opioid crisis. Vilsack is to report to Purdue’s directors and to the federal bankruptcy court handling the case. The Democrat worked on rural opioid issues under former President Barack Obama.

Multiple law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant for illegal narcotics this (Friday) morning at a residence in Creston. Creston Police report during a search of 1003 S. Sumner Street, #19, one gun was recovered along with drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine.  Authorities say 30-year old Eric Wayne Shinn was arrested and charged with Possession of Meth with the Intent to Deliver (a Class-C Felony), Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Class D Felony, and on a Union County warrant. Additional charges are possible. Shinn was being held in the Union County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Creston Police were assisted at the scene by deputies with the Ringgold, Adams and Taylor County Sheriff’s Offices.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — A man who authorities say shot at his landlord and a police officer has been arrested in eastern Iowa’s Delaware County. Court records say Kenneth Noble is charged with attempted murder. Police say a landlord in Manchester had asked for an officer to stand by while the landlord entered an apartment Thursday to make repairs. Police say Noble was inside, and he shot at the landlord. Police say he missed but then shot at and missed the officer, who fired back and also missed. Noble soon was taken into custody.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer reports this (Friday) morning its first quarter income rose, while net sales fell. Officials with Quad Cities-based John Deere say the U-S farm sector is beginning to recover as farmer confidence improves with a relaxation of trade tensions and higher ag exports. Brent Norwood, Deere’s manager of investor communications, summarized the sales figures. “Enterprise net sales and revenues were down 4% to about $7.6-billion,” Norwood says, “while net sales for our equipment operations were down 6% to about 6.5-billion.”

Deere’s net income for the quarter rose to 517-million dollars, compared to 498-million in the first quarter last year. While many Iowa growers encountered a series of setbacks from flooding last year, farmers across the region have endured several years of financial challenges due to trade troubles. Norwood says diplomatic resolutions in Washington are helping to bolster attitudes.  “John Deere completed the first quarter with a solid performance and sees early signs of stabilization for the U.S. ag industry,” Norwood says. “Sentiment improved as some progress was made addressing market access for U.S. farmers through the passage of USMCA and the Phase One trade agreement with China.”

Focusing on Deere’s two largest divisions, sales of farm equipment fell four-percent in the quarter, while construction and forestry dropped 10-percent. “Markets such as Brazil got off to a slower start even as underlying fundamentals and farm production remains high,” Norwood says. “At the same time, markets for our construction and forestry division slowed, dampening results as the division takes actions to manage inventory levels and adjusts to lower levels of demand.”

Earlier this month, Deere announced plans to lay off more than 100 workers at its Dubuque Works, effective in early April, due to sluggish market conditions. It marked the third round of layoffs in recent months at the northeast Iowa factory which makes construction and forestry equipment. Norwood is looking to the year ahead with optimism for the ag division. “Our tractor order book for Fiscal Year 2020 is healthy with a strong sold-ahead position,” he says, “indicating a positive reception to our newly redesigned ADAR, featuring an industry first, fully-integrated, four-track option for a rigid-frame row crop tractor.”

Deere employs about 74-thousand people worldwide.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests they’re optimistic about the economy over the next few months. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the Rural Mainstreet Survey, and he says the signings of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement and the China trade agreement have boosted economic confidence across the region. The overall February survey index declined, however, to 51.6.

Organizers say scores above 50 suggest a growing economy, while scores below 50 indicate a shrinking economy. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

(Radio Iowa) — Republicans on a Senate committee have voted to place new limits in medical malpractice cases that involve the death of a patient. A bill that cleared a Senate committee this week would set 750-thousand dollars as the new cap on so-called “non-economic” damages that a family, children or spouses could receive. Senator Zach Whiting, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says these are the kind of intangible losses that are commonly referred to as “pain and suffering.” “There’s a concern, particularly in the medical community, that uncapped non-economic damages could have a negative impact on access to care for Iowans….as a physician may no longer see a high-risk patient,” Whiting says. “…They may no longer offer high-risk or cutting-edge procedures.”

Critics say the bill is unfair to families who’ve lost a loved one due to a medical mistake. Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, voted against the bill in committee. “If you pass this bill and it becomes law, you will take away from the jury the right to say that when medical professionals just totally screw up and kill somebody…recovery is limited to $750,000,” Hogg said.

In 2017, the Republican-led Iowa legislature enacted a 250-thousand dollar limit for emotional pain and suffering damage awards when health care providers are found liable for medical negligence. However, that “cap” or limit does not apply if a patient dies.