(Radio Iowa) – As driverless cars become more popular on our roads, researchers at the University of Iowa are studying ways to make those cars transmit simple messages to pedestrians that it’s safe to cross in front of them. U-I Professor Jodie Plumert says they’re testing out one potential signal so computerized cars can let those on foot know they’re being “seen” by its cameras. “It had a light on the top, like a little dome light, and it was red,” Plumert says, “and then as it approached the intersection, it either turned green when the car began to decelerate, or it turned green just after the car came to a stop in front of the pedestrian.” The concept is being tested in a virtual reality lab at the U-I using projections of vehicles on giant screens that surround real kids, about a hundred of them so far, all between the ages of eight and 12. Plumert, a professor of psychological and brain sciences, says the results so far are revealing.

“When the cars were decelerating gradually and the green light came on early, children did enter the road before the car came to a complete stop,” Plumert says. “But when the green light came on, just after the car came to a stop, the children waited for that light to come on before they entered the road. So they were sort of treating it like it was a crosswalk signal and if it came on early, it was like, ‘Okay, I can go,’ and if it came on late, they waited for it to come on.” Autonomous vehicles need to be able to relay key information to pedestrians, she says, before even more of them enter the flow of traffic.

“This issue of — even if it were a car with a driver — if cars are decelerating gradually, seeing kids being willing to start crossing before that car came to a complete stop was another aspect of the study that was interesting — and also concerning about children’s traffic behavior.” Driverless vehicles are quickly gaining in numbers and Plumert sees them being used in big cities like Los Angeles already as a taxi service, as well as for making deliveries of shipments large and small. “This is kind of a whole new world,” Plumert says, “because here these these vehicles might be driving around and there’s no driver in there to communicate with you, like wave to you or make eye contact to say, ‘Yep, I see you and I’m gonna wait until you cross the road here.'”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety projects there will be three-and-a-half million vehicles with self-driving functionality on American roads by next year, and four-and-a-half million by 2030.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials may now offer far larger tax incentives for up to two businesses that plan to spend at least a BILLION dollars on a new facility. Yesterday (Wednesday), Governor Kim Reynolds approved up to 93 MILLION dollars in tax incentives for the so-called “MEGA” program.

“This legislation presents a tremendous opportunity for Iowa,” Reynolds said. To qualify as a “MEGA” or “Major Economic Growth Attraction,” the business would have to be engaged in research, advanced manufacturing or bioscience. Reynolds says there are seven “certified” development sites in Iowa that would qualify as a location since a business has to build on at least 250 acres to qualify for the MEGA program.

“There’s also a component that helps some of our rural communities that helps some of our rural communities really try to participate in the process,” Reynolds says. The new law provides some state money to help 88 Iowa counties that are outside of urban areas improve tracts of land, so it’s immediately ready for business development.

Reynolds says there “possibly” may be a business that’s ready to spend over a BILLION dollars in capital on a MEGA site in Iowa.  “We want those big investments, those capital investments in our state,” Reynolds says, “and we need to be competitive for that as well.” Reynolds signed the MEGA incentive program into law yesterday (Wednesday). She also signed legislation that will cut Iowa’s personal income taxes by a billion dollars next year.

“As far as we’ve come, I’m also confident that we’re not done yet,” Reynolds says. “…It increases our competitiveness and sends an unmistakable message to the rest of the country.” Reynolds has said she wants to eliminate the state income tax by the end of 2026.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill Governor Reynolds has signed into law has connections to her husband’s lung cancer treatment. The law, which will go into effect July 1st, requires insurance plans to cover biomarker testing. The tests of blood or other genetic material helps doctors determine the best course of treatment for diseases like cancer. The governor’s husband, Kevin, was diagnosed with lung cancer last fall and had a biomarker test.

“I can tell you that it definitely makes a difference and it really ties the treatment to a specific marker, so it really does matter,” Reynolds said. “Especially where we’re going with technology innovation and just all of the research that’s being done, this is the future.”

Reynolds made her remarks Wednesday during a bill signing ceremony in her statehouse office. A month ago Reynolds told reporters her husband, Kevin, is doing well and using a breakthrough immune therapy pill as part of his treatment plan.

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024 – Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:

• 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF” with lot code 117 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “PRIME RIB BEEF STEAK BURGERS PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “85% LEAN 15% FAT ALL NATURAL ANGUS PREMIUM GROUND BEEF” with lot code 117 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing “80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.
• 1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four “90% LEAN 10% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES” with lot code 118 and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the label.

The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number “EST. 86P” printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.

The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, this (Wednesday) evening, administered the Oath of Office to the City’s newest Police Officer. Adam Roberts, who was hired in April 2024, and is a graduate of the Clarinda High School. Roberts will complete his field training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at the end of August. His family was present in the Council’s Chambers to witness the event. Officer Roberts has served as an assistant coach for the Atlantic Archery team for the last several years. He and his wife Megan moved to town in 2010. The couple has four children.

Mayor Garrett congrats Officer Roberts following the Oath of Office.

The Council then proceeded to act on an Order to close 6th Street, between Poplar and Chestnut, every Thursday from 3-until 7-p.m., effective June 1st through Oct. 10th, for Produce In the Park. Additionally, during that same period, from 4-until 6:30-p.m. Chestnut Street will not be closed for other events. It also allows a Produce In the Park banner to cross Chestnut Street, from late May though mid-October.

The Council approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, representing the City’s Public Works Department (Street Dept. & Wastewater Dept.). The agreement was previously ratified by Union membership, and is in effect from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the second reading of an Ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, with regard to RAGBRAI ®, to help the local RAGRAI Committee deal with the public health and safety issues that can be created by an influx into the City of a large number of people. RAGBRAI arrives in Atlantic on July 22nd. Riders will depart the following day. The Council approved an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, as unanimously passed by the Personnel & Finance Committee, and is recommended for updates every five-years.

They’ll also passed an Order to refer a request for vacating a “Phantom” right-of-way (ROW), to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Grace Garrett:

The request is for an area that begins at the corner of W. 4th and Laurel Streets, terminating westward, at a phantom railroad ROW. The Atlantic City Council reviewed and acted to approve the Contract and Bonds for the Sunnyside Park Splashpad project. The contracts & bonds had not been made available to local project manager Snyder & Associates Engineers, in time for the Council to review the documents. Snyder’s Dave Sturm:

The Council previously passed a resolution awarding the project to the Hensley Group, LLC, out of Muscatine, in the amount of $552,084. They also passed a resolution approving updates to the City’s accounting, record-keeping, human resources management, bank reconciliation, financial reports software, and the FY 2024 Budget Amendment to pay for the update. Councilperson Elaine Otte said the Personnel and Finance Committee took a look the current gWorks Program.

A resolution passed approving the “PRN (Pro Re Nata, or “as the situation demands”) Status Police Officer Opening, Job Description, and Compensation,” as explained by Councilpersons Sarsfield and Otte. Councilman Sean Sarsfield:

Councilwoman Otte added:

In her report to the Council, Mayor Garrett reminded residential and commercial property owners not to blow their grass clippings into the street. The clippings make it dangerous for bicyclists and motorcyclists, and is prohibited in the Code of Ordinances. Several locations on 5th and Mulberry Streets (to name a few) had grass clippings on the street, Wednesday evening.

(Radio Iowa/Wisconsin Radio Network) – A healthcare company that’s familiar in northeast Iowa is changing its name. Gundersen Health Systems has merged with Bellin Health. Both are based in Wisconsin. The company will now be known as Emplify Health, although C-E-O Scott Rathgaber says it will take time to make the change.

“You’ll initially start to see when it comes out as Emplify Health by Gunderson and Emplify Health by Bellin,” he says, “to make sure people know that we are honoring those legacies, that we are becoming from those foundations and not tearing them down.” The new name is a new word. Emplify is drawn from both “empathy,” defined as feeling aware of another’s emotions, and the word “amplify,” which means to increase. Rathgaber says the new name will be worked in gradually.

“People will see the same doctors, same locations and get the exact same experience and high quality of care,” he says. Bellin and Gundersen Health Systems merged in December of 2022.

Emplify Health operates clinics and hospitals in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. In Iowa, the system has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Reynolds has signed two insurance-related bills into law this (Thursday) morning. One requires that insurance plans cover diagnostic tests like M-R-Is that are used to detect breast cancer. Forty-nine-year-old Kimberly Pearson of Oskaloosa, a breast cancer survivor, is a nurse who became a navigator for breast cancer patients at Pella’s hospital after she completed her own treatment four years ago.

“I have so many patients who are high risk and we know that and they need better imaging and they can’t afford it because of the limited allowances by insurance,” she says, “so I have just felt very passionate that we need to pursue legislation that requires payment of that.” Pearson says mammograms alone are not adequate for some patients.

“If you have dense breast tissue, a mammogram may not see a mass in your breast until it’s quite large. It’s kind of like a cloudy picture. Breast MRI is much more sensitive, much easier to see through that dense tissue so you can find tumors when they’re much smaller and early and less life threatening,” she says, “and easier to treat.” The other bill the governor signed today (Wednesday) will require health insurance plans to cover what’s called biomarker testing.

Maria Steele, on left, holds her grandson as her granddaughter, sitting on Governor Kim Reynolds’ lap, joins cheers after bill is signed into law. (RI photo)

Biomarker testing checks genes and other indicators, like protein levels in blood, that can be a sign of cancer and other diseases. Maria Steele, a 66-year-old retired nurse practitioner from Des Moines, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer four years ago. “It had spread to my brain and my bones. I had to had to have radiation treatments both to my brain and my bones, but I’m also on targeted therapy which I know what therapy to be on, actually my oncologist knows what therapy I need to be on because of the biomarker testing,” Steele says, “so this is a huge day that this bill was signed.”

Steele’s insurance company originally declined to pay for the biomarker testing, but because of her own experience as a nurse practitioner, she knew how to navigate the system. She says the new law requires insurance companies to cover the test if a doctor orders it. “You won’t have to go through all the paperwork that I had to go through to get my biomarker test covered,” Steele says. “…This is huge for payment for what is standard of care in oncology.” Steele, who as a nurse practitioner ordered biomarker tests for patients diagnosed with liver cancer, says the tests have revolutionized cancer treatment.

“Ten years ago if I had been diagnosed I would have gotten the same treatment that every lung cancer patient would have had but now because the biomarker’s this GPS, so you’re going to get the right treatment and typically fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy, but more importantly, on a personal level, your quality of life is so much better,” Steele says. “I was told that statistically, I had a year to live — four years ago, so I have been able to spend time with my beautiful family.”

Steele’s granddaughter, Penelope, sat on Governor Kim Reynolds lap as the governor signed the bill into law.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has approved the plan that will shrink Iowa’s individual income tax to a single rate of three-point-nine percent next year. Lawmakers say it will amount to a billion dollar cut in state income taxes. “When I took office, Iowa’s personal income tax rate was the sixth highest in the nation at 8.98%. I think we had nine brackets and the list could go on and on. It was certainly clear that we needed to make a change,” Reynolds said. “And that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Reynolds signed an income tax cut in 2018 that was billed as the largest in state history. This is the fifth time she’s approved legislation that reduces income taxes. A group of Republican lawmakers and a few lobbyists joined the governor for a bill signing ceremony in her statehouse office. “All of the tax cuts that we’ve enacted through the legislature and signing into law since 2018 will save Iowans nearly $24 billion over a decade, running through Fiscal Year 2030. Should I say that one more time?” Reynolds asked, laughing as the crowd applauded.

Two years ago, the governor signed a bill that eliminated the state income tax on retirement income and whittled down the corporate income tax rate. Last year, a plan to contain property tax growth become law. “Simply put, we’ve comprehensively transformed our tax code and dramatically increased our competitiveness within a few short years,” Reynolds said.

Democrats who have opposed the tax cuts say Republicans are prioritizing cuts for wealthy Iowans and corporations, while cutting tax revenue to the point the state will be unable to support schools and other priorities.