(Radio Iowa) — During the late stages of the 2018 campaign, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds proposed letting Iowa women buy “the pill” without a prescription. She plans to press the 2019 legislature to pass a bill that would make birth control pills available in Iowa without a doctor’s prescription. “This is another opportunity for us to have bipartisan support in something that makes sense,” Reynolds says.  In 2016, Democrats in the Iowa Senate passed a bill to make this the policy in Iowa, but Republicans in the House tabled the proposal. Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake says not all birth control pills are alike and legislators will have to seek input from the medical community. “There are reasons that a physician would prescribe one over another,” Upmeyer says. “If someone has a predisposition to breast cancer, you want to make sure you’re paying attention to your estrogen levels.

Upmeyer said also, “Maybe there is one that is incredibly safe that people could agree to put on the shelf. I don’t think we’re opposed to that, but I do think we want to make sure it’s safe for Iowans to have that access.” Democrats strongly criticized Reynolds for signing a bill last May to ban nearly all abortions and Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen of Des Moines says they are skeptical of this proposal, too. “Iowa is in a really sad state as far as women’s health care goes,” Petersen says. “It’s getting harder and harder for women to find places and providers to get family planning services.”

Petersen says many women want more effective long-term contraceptives rather than birth control pills and the Republican effort to “defund” Planned Parenthood clinics has reduced access to those long-term options, especially in rural areas. The outline Governor Reynolds sketched during the campaign called for keeping birth control pills behind the pharmacy counter, but letting women buy them without a prescription. Her proposal did NOT cover other birth control options.

A traffic stop this (Friday) morning in Creston, resulted in the arrest of a woman on drug and other charges. Creston Police say 38-year old Shea Lynn Woollums, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and for Driving under Suspension. Her bond was set at $1,300.

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

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CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been accused of sexually abusing a woman and children and using his cellphone to record the acts. The charges against Clinton resident Timothy Geerts include seven felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 40 felony counts of sexual abuse and dozens of misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy.

Clinton County court records say a woman who knows Geerts reported last week that she found the photos and videos on his cellphone. The court records say Geerts later acknowledged taking the photos and videos and his participation in many of the sexual acts shown. He also acknowledged recording people using a bathroom in his home. His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11.

The Griswold Class of 2020 is collecting 100 bags with 25 pairs each, of gently worn used and new shoes. The shoes will be used to create micro-enterprises in developing countries like Haiti, Ghana, and others. The Class of 2020 will also receive $1000 to fund Jr. Class Prom in the process. You can help by collecting a bag with 25 pairs of shoes and returning them to any of the drop off locations by tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 5, 2019). Drop off locations include: The Griswold Community Middle School/High School, Houghton State Bank-Griswold, Rolling Hills Bank-Griswold & United Group Insurance-Griswold.

A man who attempted to hand his kids some food while driving, caused a collision Thursday morning, in Creston. Police in Creston say 34-year old Joseph Beaman, of Creston, was traveling south on Lincoln Street at around 7:40-a.m. Thursday, when his 2005 Buick van struck a legally parked 2004 Toyota Camry. Damage from the accident amounted to $11,000. There were no injuries, and no citations issued.