DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad’s effort to privatize Iowa’s Medicaid program continues to move forward, though critics are raising questions about the projected cost savings, how contracts have been awarded and just how this will impact patients.  On Tuesday a legislative oversight committee will hold the first of two scheduled hearings to review the privatization plans.

Branstad says the move to private management will mean more streamlined service at a lower cost, but some involved in the Medicaid system and patients are questioning whether they will still get the care they need. Iowa’s Medicaid program provides care to poor children, families and disabled people, as well as some low-income adults. It is funded with $4.2 billion in state and federal dollars.

An Associated Press investigation into sexual misconduct by law enforcement officers in the U.S. identified some 1,000 in six years who lost their licenses for sexual assault or other sex offenses or misconduct, including possession of child pornography, voyeurism and sex on duty. The findings are based on an analysis of state records for an administrative process called decertification, but the AP found that policies regarding decertification vary widely from state to state.

Forty-one states provided information, three did not, and six states and the District of Columbia said they did not decertify officers for misconduct. In determining whether a decertification was sex-related, the AP relied mostly on the reason a state provided, but cause was not always clear. Some states gave no reason for a revoked license, or used terms such as “conduct unbecoming an officer” or “voluntary surrender” for officers the AP determined, through additional reporting, had committed sex-related crimes or misconduct.

In Iowa, the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy decertified 53 officers, seven for sex-related misconduct. Agencies must notify the state when an officer resigns and explain why if there is a “substantial likelihood” that certification could be revoked or suspended as a result. Noncriminal misconduct, in addition to convictions, can prompt decertification.

For the second day in a row, Police in Red Oak were led on a pursuit following a traffic stop. This (Sunday) morning at around 12:30, officers attempted to stop a 2014 Ford Fusion for failure to obey a traffic control device, at the intersection of Oak and Broadway Streets. The car sped-off, with the pursuit continuing through Red Oak for a short period of time. Authorities say the car was traveling in a reckless manner and the driver had a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The vehicle was later found in the 1500 block of Summit Street. The driver was identified as 29-year old Michael Kent Webb, of Red Oak.

Upon further investigation, Webb was found to allegedly by under the influence of alcohol. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Felony Eluding, OWI/1st offense, and cited for numerous traffic violations. No injuries to police officers or damage to patrol vehicles took place during the pursuit. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in the case. Webb was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

Early Saturday morning, 22-year old Rocky Alan James Runyon, of Hastings, was arrested following a pursuit that also began in Red Oak.  The chase spanned three counties and ended in Fremont County. Runyon was charged with eluding. He was also charged with Driving While Revoked, and cited for numerous traffic offenses.

A man and woman were arrested Saturday evening on drug charges, in Fremont County. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports 42-year old Victor and 44-year old Ann Ingram, both of Shenandoah, were arrested at around 5-p.m., in Sidney, following an investigation into the illegal delivery of methamphetamine. The Ingrams were each charged with Delivery of Meth and Conspiracy to Deliver Meth. The couple was brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center, where Ann Ingram was being held on $50,000 bond, and Victor Ingram’s bond was set at $150,000. An investigation into the couples’ activities is on-going.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said also, 19-year old’s Skylar Bruning and Garret Helvig, both of Shenandoah, were arrested following a traffic stop at around 2-a.m., Saturday. Bruning was charged with OWI/1st offense, while Helvig faces a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. Both men were being held in the Fremont County Jail, with Bruning’s bond set at $1,000, while bond for Helvig was set at $300.

The Iowa State Patrol says a woman walking onto a roadway late Saturday night after leaving a convenience store in Shenandoah, was struck by a pickup truck. 61-year old Carol Jean Teebo, of Red Oak, suffered serious head injuries and was transported by Shenandoah EMS to the Shenandoah Hospital and later flown to Omaha by LifeNet helicopter.

The patrol says a 2002 GMC Sierra K2500 pickup driven by 36-year old Ethan Benjamin Johnson, of Shenandoah, was making a left turn from W. Thomas Avenue onto S. Sycamore Street just after 11-p.m., when Teebo left a Casey’s store and walked onto the roadway before she was hit.

The accident remains under investigation.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters have quickly extinguished a blaze in a high-rise dorm in the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. Department officials say the fire was reported just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday on the ninth floor of Slater Residence Hall. No one was hurt.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa school official says a school bus driver accused of hitting a 15-year-old student after the boy apparently refused to heed his seat assignment instructions had worked for the district fewer than three months. Sixty-year-old Robert Scarbrough of West Des Moines was arrested Thursday after some students left the bus and told a nearby sheriff’s deputy about the incident, which was recorded on a cellphone by at least one student.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) —Texas Senator Ted Cruz had a group of Iowa conservatives applauding and waving campaign signs as he railed against a common adversary. But it wasn’t one of his Republican rivals for president, or even Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Instead he was talking about Wednesday’s CNBC debate moderators. Cruz told about 1,000 Iowa Republicans in Des Moines Saturday that conservative talk radio hosts like Sean Hannity should moderate the next Republican presidential debate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Marco Rubio continues to poke at Jeb Bush during an Iowa Republican forum, as the rivalry between the two Florida Republicans intensifies. Rubio told more than 1,000 leadoff caucus faithful in Des Moines Saturday, “we must turn the page and allow new leaders and new principles.”

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Saturday afternoon, on an assault charge. 40-year old Troy Allen Myers, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:45-p.m., after police were called to 210 W. Reed Street, for a reported disturbance. Following an investigation, Myers was taken into custody on a Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault, charge. He was being held Saturday in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in Iowa City have quickly extinguished a fire in a high-rise dorm in the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. Department officials say the fire was reported just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday on the ninth floor of Slater Residence Hall. Everyone in the dorm made it out safely before firefighters arrived.

Fire officials say the fire was contained to one dorm room and was extinguished within six minutes of firefighters’ arrival. No injuries were reported. Investigators say the building sustained minor smoke and fire damage. It sustained more water damage, because the blaze triggered the building’s sprinkler system.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a fall bird migration series on weekends in November. The program series will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. on most Sundays in November. All programs are family friendly and each one stands on its own.

Programs will begin with an indoors presentation, after which participants will head outside to view and identify migratory birds in their natural habitats. Participants can bring their own equipment, but binoculars, field guides and spotting scopes will also be available.

The scheduled programs are Birding Basics on Nov. 7 and 8, Advanced Birding on Nov. 14 and 15 and Wetland Basics and Duck Math on Nov. 21 and 22. A program titled Wetland Food Cycles will take place on Nov. 28.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS