DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – UPS plans to move much of its Des Moines air shipping operations to Illinois. The company announced Thursday that the move to Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford will eliminate 123 jobs at the UPS facility at Des Moines International Airport. Rockford has a larger sorting facility with extra capacity and is closer to major markets.

UPS spokesman Jim Mayer says all 123 people will be offered similar positions elsewhere in Des Moines. The move of 13 flights a week begins July 16. Mayer says the change will not affect UPS customers in the Des Moines area. UPS will continue to operate one nightly flight from Des Moines.

About 900 people work for UPS in the Des Moines area. The company says it doesn’t expect that number to change.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – The world’s most experienced spacewoman says she’s thrilled to get an extra three months off the planet. The commander of the International Space Station, Peggy Whitson, told The Associated Press on Thursday that five months into her mission, she’s still not bored. She misses cooking, though, and a diverse menu. She’s afraid there isn’t much chocolate left, to celebrate Easter this Sunday.

Earlier this month, NASA announced Whitson – a native of Beaconsfield, in Ringgold County – will stay up until September, stretching her mission to nearly 10 months. NASA is taking advantage of an empty seat in a Russian Soyuz capsule for her return.

The 57-year-old Whitson – the oldest woman to fly in space – is on the verge of setting a U.S. record for most accumulated time in space. This is her third space station stint.

Officials with Vested Interest in K9’s have announced Cass County K9 “Vader” was selected to receive medical reimbursement health care coverage. In a press release, the organization said “Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) nationwide charity located in East Taunton, MA, whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit is pleased their “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” program which launched in 2016.  The charity will supplement their initial donation of $10,000 in 2016 by donating an additional $10,000 in 2017 toward medical reimbursement programs for some self-funded K9 units.

Cass County K9 Vader (photo provided)

“The ‘Healthcare for K9 Heroes’ grant will be awarded to departments who have the financial burden of raising funds to support their K9 unit, who have no more than three K9s, and who have previously been awarded a vest through Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Law enforcement dogs ages two through seven will be eligible. The medical reimbursement insurance policy will cover illnesses, injuries—including those sustained in the line of duty—diagnostic testing and therapies.  In 2016, the pilot program for the charity awarded twenty-four K9 recipients with an annual policy at the cost of just over $10,000.00.

“Selected as 2017 recipients to date are: Cass County, IA Sheriff’s Office, K9 Vader, Dalton MA Police Department, K9 Max, , Ballard County KY Detention Center, K9 Abby, University Hospital of OH, K9 General, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, WA K9s Grizzly and Chicka and Attica, IN Police Department K9 Dirk.

“The Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. grant will allow for the provision of a Trupanion prepaid annual policy. The plan allows the freedom to use any licensed veterinarian, speciality center, or the emergency hospital in the United States, and Puerto Rico.

“The program will be administered by Trupanion. Cass County has been fortunate in previously receiving bullet and stab resistant vest for both of their K9 teams.  Cass County K9 Vader, who is handled by Deputy Quist, now will have extra protection medically because of this grant.  The K9 team meets the qualifications listed above because the program is run through forfeiture funding, has previously been awarded a vest, meets the age requirements, and Cass County currently has two K9 teams.

“Trupanion, a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, offers injury and illnesses coverage for working and service dogs— both on and off duty. For nearly two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners and working dog owners peace of mind so they can focus on their dog’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is honored to support these brave K9 heroes and is committed to providing the highest value in medical insurance to help them receive the best veterinary care.

“In addition to the healthcare reimbursement program, the non-profit has provided over 2400 law enforcement dogs with bullet and stab protective vests in 50 states, at a cost of 1.9 million dollars. For more information, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations accepted via mail to: Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718 or via the website: www.vik9s.org.

“Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States and Canada. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Omega General Insurance Company. For more information please visit Trupanion.com.”

Police in Red Oak, Thursday night, arrested 44-year old Floyd Raymond Henry II, of Red Oak. Henry was taken into custody at around 10:25-p.m. for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond until making an appearance before the magistrate.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Thursday of 50-year old Kristine Courtney Ryan, of Elliott. Ryan was taken into custody for Theft in the 2nd degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree, following an incident in the 500 block of 5th Street, in Elliott. Ryan was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

It’s unclear EXACTLY how House Republicans intend to go about “defunding” Planned Parenthood. Republicans on a House subcommittee last (Thursday) night set aside three MILLION dollars in state money to pay for contraceptives, exams and other reproductive health services for Medicaid patients in Iowa, but there’s no language in the bill specifying which clinics qualify. The intention, though, is to prevent any of that money from being spent at health facilities where abortions are performed.

Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames admits since she and other Democrats are a minority in the legislature, they do not have the votes to stop this. “But we can let Iowans know what’s happening and I think that’s probably the most important thing we can do today,” she says.

A key Republican in the House says the details of the G-O-P’s plan may be released sometime today (Friday). Wessel-Kroeschel says the bottom line is the state is giving up matching federal dollars for the Medicaid program, while the G-O-P’s budget plan reduces the Iowa Department of Public Health’s budget by 10 percent. “This could put us at a public health risk,” she says. “It is absolutely unconscionable that you leave $3 million on the table when you are doing those kinds of cuts.”

The Republican-led Iowa SENATE passed a bill back on February 2nd that would deny state tax dollars to facilities that perform elective abortions. Legislators are rushing to craft the final details of a OVERALL spending plan for the state budgeting year that begins July 1st. Lawmakers hope to wrap up the 2018 legislative session next week.

(Radio Iowa)