(Radio Iowa) — State health officials report a rise in the number of foodborne illnesses involving a bacteria called campylobacter (CAM-pee-loh-bak-tur). Cases topped one-thousand statewide for the first time in 2016 with more than 600 cases reported in the first half of this year. Barb Fuller, a human sciences specialist with the Iowa State University Extension, says it’s usually associated with chicken.

“The biggest cause is eating raw or under-cooked poultry or things that are contaminated by raw poultry — so if you didn’t wash your cutting board or change your plate when you take something out to the grill,” says Fuller. “It can also come from things like raw milk or unpasteurized milk, but chicken is the biggest cause.”

The campylobacter bacteria is present in the intestines, liver and giblets of poultry and can be transferred to other parts of the animal when it’s slaughtered. Fuller says the bacteria is common, but it can be eliminated with proper cooking. “About 33% of chicken that you buy in the grocery store is probably contaminated with bacteria,” said Fuller. “You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, you can’t taste it, so sometimes we think about chicken with salmonella, but campylobacter is a big problem.”

Symptoms of the illness can be severe in people with weakened immune systems, but she says most people only develop a mild reaction to the infection. “It does cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and maybe nausea or vomiting,” said Fuller. “It causes those general sort of things you might think of when you ate something. It takes about two-to-five days and the symptoms last about a week.”

Even though you may recover in about a week, you can still be contagious for several weeks, so Fuller says you need to be careful being around other people — especially those who may be at a higher risk for a foodborne illness. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control estimates there are 1.3 million cases of campylobacter infection every year.

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a total of 23 Iowa school districts and schools will be able to bolster their computer science teacher workforce, due to a state appropriation of $500,000. The funding is part of a broader effort to expand computer science education across the state. This effort aligns with the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which is about preparing more Iowans for rewarding, high-demand jobs and getting employers the skilled workers they need.

Reynolds said “This investment provides students with the tools they need to excel within a 21st-century digital economy. Teaching computer science and other STEM-related courses is an essential component to any child’s education. That’s why Iowa is preparing our young people for success in cutting-edge careers with programs like this.”

The Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund, along with voluntary statewide computer science standards, were established as part of legislation signed into law in 2017. SF 274 supports our effort to provide high-quality computer science instruction in every elementary, middle and high school. Schools will use the incentive fund to pay for professional learning or university coursework for teaching endorsements in computer science.

The incentive fund drew 31 applications representing 39 public school districts and non-public schools in urban, rural and suburban parts of the state. One application represented a team of elementary, middle, and high schools within Great Prairie Area Education Agency in southeast Iowa.

Award recipients will report on their progress by the end of the 2019-20 school year.

Among the recipients is the Earlham Community School District.

Police in Red Oak have arrested a man on an assault warrant. 25-year old Jesse Dean Uhlmann, of Red Oak, was taken into custody just before 11-a.m. on the Red Oak Police Department warrant for Assault with intent to inflict serious injury, and a warrant for leaving the scene of an accident.

Uhlmann was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a$2,300 cash bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced today (Wednesday), that four Cass County (IA) residents were sentenced Tuesday in Council Bluffs, for their role in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

50-year old Mary Mayo and 34-year old Tony Martin Mayo Jr.,  31-year old Jessica Lynn Gross, and 25-year old Alex Lee Pleis, were sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone. Mary Mayo was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to be followed by 48 months of supervised release. Tony Martin Mayo was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Jessica Lynn Gross was sentenced to time served and 60 months of supervised release. Alex Lee Pleis was sentenced to time served and 36 months of supervised release.

In late August of 2015, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration received information regarding the illegal distribution of prescription drugs in and around Cass County, Iowa. Using a confidential informant, the DEA determined Mary Mayo obtained prescriptions for oxycodone, hydrocodone and other controlled substances from medical professionals through false representations of injury or illness and related pain management.

Mary Mayo then used her Medicare/Medicaid benefits to obtain controlled substances from local pharmacies. She also obtained oxycodone from a co-defendant, Rebecca Canfield. Once the prescription drugs were obtained, Mary Mayo negotiated a price for the pills with a known buyer. If an agreement was reached, Mary Mayo had a member of her family deliver or assist in the delivery of the controlled substances.

During the yearlong investigation, DEA arranged the purchase of oxycodone and hydrocodone from Mary Mayo and the pills were delivered to a DEA agent, who was working in an undercover capacity. With the exception of Rebecca Canfield, all co-defendants are members of Mary Mayo’s family.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined Mary Mayo was receiving Social Security benefits she was not entitled to. As part of her sentence, Mary Mayo was ordered to pay restitution to Medicare/Medicaid, and the Social Security Administration.

The case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General; Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; United States Social Security Administration-Office of the Inspector General; Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have charged a 31-year-old man with killing a woman and her two children at a Des Moines residence. Police said Wednesday that Marvin Esquivel-Lopez was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He’s accused of shooting 29-year-old Rossibeth Flores-Rodriguez, her 11-year-old daughter, Grecia Daniela Alvarado-Flores, and her 5-year-old son, Ever Jose Mejia-Flores.

The three bodies were found around 11 p.m. Tuesday by officers sent to the Laurel Village apartment complex. Police say Esquivel-Lopez lived at the same address.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the deaths of a woman and two children found shot inside a Des Moines residence. The bodies were found around 11 p.m. Tuesday by officers sent to the Laurel Village apartment complex. The names of the deceased and their relationships have not been released. Police say the deaths are being investigated as homicides. No arrests have been reported.

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died after a tractor rolled over and trapped him underneath it in northwest Iowa. Deputies were sent to the scene after someone called 911 around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office says the man had been raking hay in a ditch about 3 miles northeast of Sibley. It appears the tractor’s left front wheel went into a culvert, causing it to roll. The sheriff’s office identified the man as 49-year-old Ned DeBoer, of rural Sibley.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued an alert with regard to a “Preventive Genetic Testing” scam. The scam is reportedly hitting Iowa senior citizens. Officials say companies focus on health fairs, community events, residential housing (Wherever seniors might gather), and fraudulently tell a senior that Medicare will cover the cost of a preventative genetic (DNA) test. They say all the senior has to do is give the company your Medicare number.

The scams may be referred to as: a cancer screening test; DNA screening test; Hereditary cancer screening test; Dementia screening test; Parkinson’s screening test, or Pharmacogenomics (Drug sensitivity) test. The IDPH says seniors who give out their Medicare number to someone other than their own healthcare provider, risks having that number exploited on the “dark web.” Medicare DOES NOT cover a DNA test. It only covers one specific test for diagnostic purposes (Colorectal cancer screening) that meets a very prescribed criteria.

Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that was not medically necessary, and/or was not ordered by a beneficiary’s treating physician. Information on Medicare scams should be shared with the Senior Medicare Patrol, at 1-800-351-4664.

Salem Lutheran Home Administrator Kelley Laswell says there are some changes taking place at the facility in Elk Horn. Laswell says the Chronic Confusion or Dementing Illness, (CCDI Unit) or, Memory Care Unit as it is more commonly known, will not be closing, but rather will be opening its doors. The Governing Board voted on June 18, 2019, to unlock the Unit and we started the notification of families and staff. Memory care is still provided and is care planned for each resident on an individualized basis.

Laswell says “We have started the process to integrate residents from the Unit into our General Population. We will be adding delayed egress door s to our main entrances before we will be officially opening the doors, but our goal date is August 1, 2019.” Statistically, she says, the next 5-to 6-years for facilities in general look pretty grim, as the baby boomer generation is not yet ready for nursing home care . There is a bit of a gap, and in order for facilities to stay open and survive they need to do what they can to stay operational and financially sound. Our memory care unit has had low census for the past year, with little to no referrals.”

“Staffing, she says, “also plays a factor in this decision as we can provide much better staffing ratios and quality of care with the staff from the Unit being included in the general population numbers.” According to Laswell, “This is going to be a big change not only for our residents but also for our staff and families. We ask that you keep Salem Lutheran Homes residents, families, staff, and volunteers in your prayers during this transition time.”

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Salem Lutheran Home at 712-764-4201, to set up a time to visit with Laswell.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Tuesday, south of Clarinda, resulted in the arrest of 45-year old Clayton Elmer Grashorn, of College Springs. The man was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. His bond at the Page County Jail was set at $566.