Republican Iowa Senator Tom Shipley, from Nodaway, was in Atlantic Thursday, to join Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and others for a tour of the Whitney building, which is being renovated into living and business spaces. Shipley said “It’s really going to be a first-class facility,” thanks to public and private sector investments. He said “To its credit.. Iowa is very easy to work with,” where tax credits for that type of projects is concerned. “The Federal Government,” conversely he says, is not so user friendly to work with. The Iowa system worked very very well, these tax credits get a lot of attention..they will get a lot of attention throughout the next session.” He says they will continue to be used for that purpose when other means can’t get the job done.

Shipley said there’s been some rumblings out of Washington to get rid of the Historical Tax credits, and something needs to be done to put those funds under State control. He says there would be more dollars for States to work with if the Feds stepped out of the picture, because the administrative costs would be cut. Shipley says during the upcoming session, the Legislature will take a close look at water quality issues. Other matters include the SAVE dollars for school districts in Iowa.

He says they’re also looking at the Senate’s version of the Tax Reform Bill, but that hinges on what action is taken in Washington, D.C. He says the current system is too complex and burdensome. It will also depend on a report due out the middle of this month from the Revenue Estimating Committee.

Shipley serves District 11, which includes Pottawattamie, most of Cass, Adams, and Union Counties. He was first elected to the Iowa Legislature in 2014, and has announced he is running for his second term in office.

Glenwood Police, Thursday conducted two arrests. 51-year old Sherry Harvey, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was being held without bond until seen by a magistrate judge. And, 33-year old Jessica Whetsel, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Theft. She was being held on a $300 cash only bond

The Iowa Insurance Division issued consent orders with Mutual Med Insurance Services, LLC (Mutual Med), Todd C. Vershaw of Long Grove, Iowa, and Kevin J. Carr of Burlington, Iowa that will return $165,000 to 33 public entities in Iowa.  The investigation centered on public entities that have been associated with the Iowa Governmental Health Care Plan (IGHCP).  Mutual Med, Vershaw, and Carr denied the findings of facts and conclusions of law contained in the consent orders.

The controversy arose from the Iowa Insurance Division’s allegation that, beginning in 2005, Two Rivers Insurance Company, Inc., which was Mutual Med’s subagent, used the actual premium amount from the insurance company and then recalculated a “premium,” which also included additional Two Rivers’ compensation and failed to disclose to the IGHCP members the amount of this added compensation.  Mutual Med took no affirmative steps to ensure that the added compensation was disclosed to the IGHCP members.

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said “Mutual Med was responsible for overseeing the activities of their subagent.  Companies cannot turn a blind eye to the acts of those for whom they are responsible and we will continue to hold all parties accountable for their action or inaction. In Iowa, premium is determined by insurance companies and reported to this office.  Any compensation apart from premium, any partial self-funding charges or any other producer or administrator fees or charges must be clearly disclosed so that these amounts and their purpose can be understood by insurance purchasers.”

The $165,000 will be distributed equally among the IGHCP government entities that choose to participate. In addition, the consent orders address other violations of insurance law unrelated to IGHCP.  Vershaw and Carr each had their insurance producer license suspended for 30 days and were assessed a monetary penalty of $7,500 each.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A man who was married to a southeast Iowa woman who went missing in 2000 has been arrested and charged with killing her. The Iowa Public Safety Department says 52-year-old Michael Lee Syperda was taken into custody Thursday in the Glenwood Springs area of Colorado. A Henry County grand jury indicted him Wednesday on a charge of first-degree murder.Authorities intend to have him extradited to Iowa. Department agent Ryan Kedley declined to say what led to the arrest after so many years. Elizabeth Syperda was last seen July 16, 2000, in Mount Pleasant. Family and friends think she may have gone walking to meet Michael Syperda, who lived nearby. The two were estranged at the time.

A Pottawattamie County man was arrested Thursday night following an incident in Avoca, involving his girlfriend. Pott. County Sheriff’s officials say 35-year old Andrew Paul Nelson, of Avoca, was arrested for Domestic Assault with Injury. Deputies had been called to his residence after his 28-year old girlfriend reported she had allegedly been assaulted. The woman suffered minor injuries. Deputies arriving on the scene were told the suspect (Nelson) had left. He later called them to discuss the matter, and was placed under arrest at around 10:30-p.m.

And, a Pottawattamie County man told a Deputy who stopped him Thursday morning, that he knew he was going to be arrested. 27-year old Nicholas Paul Gilmore, of Council Bluffs, also asked the Deputy to call his dad as well as his boss. Gilmore, who was also on Probation, was instead allowed to call his dad on his own cell at the scene, before he was taken into custody. The traffic stop occurred just before 10-a.m., after the Deputy, who was traveling in the opposite direct to Gilmore’s vehicle, did a random check of the front license plate. Records show the Gilmore was the registered owner/driver of the car, and that the driver’s license had been barred in the State of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than 200,000 people enrolled in Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program have been formally switched to new coverage following the abrupt exit of an insurance company. UnitedHealthcare took over coverage Friday for affected patients, after AmeriHealth Caritas effectively withdrew Thursday from Iowa’s health care system for the poor and disabled. AmeriHealth Caritas announced Oct. 31 it would drop coverage because of failed contract negotiations with Iowa over money.

The state has signed new contracts with UnitedHealthcare and another company, Amerigroup. But Amerigroup said it doesn’t have capacity to take new patients, requiring most AmeriHealth Caritas patients to be switched to UnitedHealthcare.

It’s unclear when patients will have choice again. UnitedHealthcare plans to hire about 400 employees to respond to the addition. Iowa’s roughly $4 billion program serves more than 600,000 people.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — A judge has set a February trial starting date for a Charles City man’s second sex abuse trial. Court records say the new date of Feb. 20 was set Thursday for 61-year-old Douglas Lindaman, who’s pleaded not guilty to a sex abuse charge. The trial had been scheduled to begin Oct. 30 in Franklin County, where the trial had been moved because of pretrial publicity. But he was granted a continuance.

Lindaman was sentenced last year to 10 years. The Iowa Supreme Court later vacated the conviction, because Lindaman was allowed to represent himself without knowingly waiving his right to an attorney. Lindaman is accused of performing a sex act on a 17-year-old without the boy’s consent. Lindaman was running for a school board spot when arrested in 2015.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce remind area residents that the annual Lighted Parade will fill downtown Atlantic with holiday cheer this Saturday, December 2nd, beginning  at 6-p.m. Each float will have a holiday theme, lighting and music. Awards will be given for: Best Overall, Best Holiday Spirit, presented by McCurdy Investments and Twinkle Twinkle, presented by Atlantic Feedwater Systems.

AtlantiCash will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Winners will be notified before the parade. Fireworks, sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son and Meyer & Gross Real Estate, kick off the Christmas magic over the Rock Island Depot, starting at 6 PM.

Before the parade, Santa will be in his Cabin at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. Santa’s Reindeer as well as free Carriage Rides will also be at City Park from 3 – 5:30 PM. Santa’s Cabin is presented by the Atlantic Rotary Club.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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