The Atlantic Police Department released details Thursday on two recent accidents in Atlantic.

On Wednesday, December 7th at 12:05pm officers responded to an accident on 5th Street near the intersection with Walnut Street.  A vehicle driven by Jacquelyn Wickey of Atlantic was traveling southbound in the 400 block of the alley between Walnut and Elm Streets coming up to the 10 block of east 5th. Another vehicle driven by Janice Duben of Atlantic was westbound on East 5th Street passing the alley intersection.  Wickey entered the intersection and struck the right side of Duben’s vehicle. No injuries were reported. Wickey was cited for Failure to Yield Entering a Street and her vehicle received $800 damage.  Duben’s vehicle received an estimated $1,000 damage.

On Thursday at 9:28am officers responded to a two vehicle accident at the intersection of 7th Street and Cherry Street in Atlantic.  A vehicle driven by Ruth McMillen of Lewis was westbound on 7th Street and coming to the intersection with Cherry Street. McMillen attempted to get in the turn lane to turn left on Cherry Street and struck a vehicle driven by Megan Santana of Atlantic. No injuries were reported and McMillen was cited for Failure to Yield making a left turn. McMillen’s vehicle sustained an estimated $3,750 damage and Santana’s vehicle sustained an estimated $3,950 damage.

Iowa’s next governor says she has prepared for the responsibilities ahead. A reporter and photographer for a central Iowa television station staked out the Des Moines airport last (Wednesday) night, catching Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds as she returned from a family vacation in Mexico. Reynolds was interviewed live on the “Local 5 News” at 10 o’clock on W-O-I Television.

“It’s great to be back in Iowa and I’m really, really excited and proud of Governor Branstad — first of all — for this new assignment and this new role,” Reynolds told WOI. Reynolds says no one is more qualified than Branstad to serve as ambassador to China. As for HER new role as Iowa’s first female governor, Reynolds told W-O-I:

“I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Governor Branstad for six years now and I have had the opportunity to learn from the best governor in the nation,” Reynolds told WOI’s reporter. State officials have not announced when the transfer of power from Branstad to Reynolds will occur.

Branstad must win confirmation from the U.S. Senate for his new posting in China. That senate vote would take place sometime AFTER Donald Trump is sworn in as president on January 20th. Both Branstad and Reynolds are expected to appear with Trump tonight (Thursday) at Trump’s “Thank You Tour” rally stop in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa w/permission from WOI-TV)

A plan to speed up approval for new drug treatments has cleared congress this week and it includes a proposal from Senator Joni Ernst. Ernst is a co-sponsor of the “Mental Health Reform Act” — and those provisions are now part of the larger piece of legislation that’s headed to the president for approval.

“It focuses on streamlining the many, many different mental health programs that we have in existence in the federal government,” Ernst says. “It focused them, brings them together and makes them much more efficient.” Supporters say it’s the most significant piece of mental health-related legislation since congress passed a bill eight years ago requiring equal insurance coverage for mental and physical health. The new legislation sets up grants for states, to attract psychiatrists and psychologists to rural areas and beef up community-based mental health care resources.

“We are very hopeful with this legislation we’ll be able to prevent problems in the mental health area with our constituents in Iowa,” Ernst says. The bill calls for federal funding of training for local law enforcement who are often the first responders to someone suffering a mental health crisis. On a separate but related issue, Ernst is asking for more information from Veterans Administration officials on two cases in which Iowa vets committed suicide after seeking help from the V-A.

(Radio Iowa)

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters say a child has died in a fire at a rural central Iowa house. The fire was reported around 8 a.m. Thursday in a house northwest of Perry. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that firefighters were told a child was trapped in an upstairs area of the house.

Fire officials say that when crews arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Officials confirmed that a child died in the fire. The identity of the child has not yet been released. The Iowa State Fire Marshall’s office is helping with the investigation. A cause of the fire has not been determined, but fire officials said they do not suspect foul play.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released dashcam video of a traffic stop in which a white Iowa police officer shot and paralyzed an unarmed black motorist. Cedar Rapids officer Lucas Jones shot Jerime Mitchell on Nov. 1. The video was released Thursday after prosecutors announced Tuesday that a grand jury declined to charge Jones.

The county prosecutor defended the jury’s Monday decision, saying Jones fired in self-defense during a scuffle in which Mitchell was trying to drive away. Mitchell’s supporters have criticized the decision because the grand jury never heard testimony from Mitchell, who disputes the officer’s version.

In a statement Wednesday, Mitchell said Jones was combative. Mitchell says he got back in his truck to try to get away from an attacking police dog before Jones jumped on him and shot him.

Officials with SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council) report the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has approved expansion of the target area in the city of Elk Horn’s Housing Rehabilitation Community Development Block Grant to include all homes within city limits.

SWIPCO is seeking two more applicants for the housing rehabilitation program.  Up to $24,999 in home repairs per home, with additional money for lead abatement, is available for this five year forgivable loan. Applicants must be income qualified, be the homeowner of record, and live in the residence.  SWIPCO staff is available to help all homeowners through the application, income qualification, and rehabilitation process.

Community Development Director Amber Carcel says “With the expansion of the target area to anyone within city limits we are able to include homeowners who would have been excluded before and hope to have more applicants.”

The funds are made possible by a Community Development Block Grant the City of Elk Horn received from the Iowa Economic Development Authority in 2015.  Elk Horn was awarded $304,000 for the repair of eight homes.  Six homes have been approved and are in the rehabilitation process.

Interested applicants should contact SWIPCO at 712-243-4196 for more information.