Lavon Eblen speaks withe Iowa Western Community College Atlantic Campus Director Ann Pross about their “Jazz and Wine” fundraising event this upcoming weekend.
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Lavon Eblen speaks withe Iowa Western Community College Atlantic Campus Director Ann Pross about their “Jazz and Wine” fundraising event this upcoming weekend.
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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A review by an independent consultant says the $1.3 billion in reserves held by Iowa’s dominant health insurer is “reasonable and prudent” for now. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart hired Risk and Regulatory Consulting, LLC, to review whether Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield had the right amount of customers’ money in reserves.
Its report released Wednesday says Wellmark is holding an appropriate amount given the risks the company faces. The report says a smaller future surplus might be needed if the insurance market stabilizes following full implementation of federal health reform.
Some Democratic lawmakers, including gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch, demanded an investigation into Wellmark’s reserves, contending much of that money should be returned to policyholders. Wellmark provides coverage for more than 2 million people in Iowa and South Dakota.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City woman says she’ll think of her husband this weekend as she drives to Omaha in a car stuffed with hundreds of stuffed bears and other animals. Kerry Ruehl and her children will take more than 500 bears to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where her husband Mike “Bear” Ruehl was treated for cancer at times over a dozen years. He died Feb. 6 in Omaha at age 60. For his funeral, the family asked that people bring a stuffed animal.
Kerry Ruehl tells the Sioux City Journal that during her husband’s treatment, they watched sick children in strollers or pulling their IVs. They didn’t think it was fair. She thought this was a way her husband, who loved working with children, could continue spreading cheer.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says a statue of Norman Borlaug will be installed in the U.S. Capitol next month. Branstad will attend the official installation on March 25, which is the 100th anniversary of Borlaug’s birth. In 2011, Iowa officials agreed to replace a statue of Sen. James Harlan at the U.S. Capitol with one of Borlaug. Borlaug was a Cresco native who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his role in combating world hunger.
South Dakota artist Benjamin Victor created the sculpture. The statue is finished and is in Aberdeen, South Dakota, awaiting transport to Washington. Each state can display two sculptures in the Capitol. The Borlaug statue will replace one of former senator and Interior Department secretary James Harlan. The Harlan statue will return to Iowa.
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Wednesday) said the recently released 2012 Census of Agriculture preliminary data show Iowa has seen dramatic increases in the total value of agriculture production, value of crops sold and value of livestock sold. The growth has allowed Iowa to move in to 2nd place nationally in each category since the last Census of Agriculture in 2007.
“The impact of Iowa’s agriculture industry is tremendous, and it continues to grow,” Northey said. “The growth over the last five years is a testament to the hard work, creativity and persistence of our farmers. Even with the recent softening of commodity prices, Iowa agriculture is well positioned to continue to be a key driver of the state’s economy.”
Iowa’s total value of agriculture production increased more than 50 percent from $20.4 billion in 2007 to $30.8 billion in 2012. The value of crops sold in Iowa increased by 2/3 from $10.3 billion to $17.4 billion. The value of Iowa livestock production increased by 1/3 from $10.1 billion to $13.5 billion.
Iowa moved from 3rd nationally in each category in to 2nd place national, passing Texas in the total value of production, passing Illinois in the value of crops sold and passing California in the value of livestock sold. Additional preliminary Census of Agriculture date can be found at www.AgCensus.usda.gov. The final census results will be released in May and will include U.S., state and county data on livestock inventory, crop acreage and production, energy, land use practices, and production expenses.
JEAN DUNSHEE, 88, of Clarinda, has died. Funeral services for JEAN DUNSHEE will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., March 4th, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Clarinda. Ritchie Funeral Home in Clarinda has the arrangements.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-to 7-pm Mon., March 3rd. Online condolences may be left at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be directed to the Southwest Iowa Humane Society , American Legion Post 98 Auxiliary or the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Burial will be in the Clarinda Cemetery.
Jim Field speaks with John Nunez and Christopher Miller from the IRS talking about tax fraud and scams.
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Area News and funeral announcement with KJAN News Directcor Ric Hanson.
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