(Radio Iowa) – The resolution of a disagreement between Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate means five million dollars in state gambling taxes will be used to complete renovations of the Lucas State Office Building. The building, which opened in 1952, is east of the Iowa Capitol. Republican Representative Jacob Bossman of Sioux City says the original plan House Republicans developed for spending gambling taxes did not include funding for the Lucas Building upgrades, while Senate Republicans suggested spending 10 million dollars on the building.

“We originally weren’t funding that project,” Bossman says, “but are acknowledging this money is necessary to complete the DHHS merger and allow everybody to be housed under one roof.”

In 2022, lawmakers approved the governor’s plan to merge the Departments of Human Services and Public Health — but the agencies were housed in two different state office buildings. The Department of Health and Human Services is the largest agency in state government, with over five-thousand employees. The Lucas building has six floors of office space and is named for Iowa’s first territorial governor, Robert Lucas.

(Radio Iowa) – The governor has another week to sign or veto the remaining bills passed by the 2024 Iowa legislature. She’s already approved a billion dollar tax cut AND the state spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The nearly nine BILLION dollar state budget is four-point-two percent higher than the current year’s spending level. The budget for the state’s court system includes a five percent salary increase for Iowa judges.

The governor has signed bills that divert 10 million dollars from Iowa’s Area Education Agencies to set up a new division in the Iowa Department of Education to oversee the A-E-As. As many as 62 new state employees will be hired for the Division of Special Education.

The budget for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources includes a quarter of a million dollars to address accessibility issues at state parks.

(Radio Iowa) – A residential health care program in northeast Iowa that’s offered help for girls and young women experiencing mental health crises for more than 150 years is transitioning away from those services this week. The program at Bremwood in Waverly is run by Lutheran Services of Iowa, which is shifting the focus away from residential care. Lutheran Services of Iowa C-E-O Renee Hardman says one of the big reasons programs like this are shuttering is due to obsolete care models.

Hardman says, “Residential care, the way it has traditionally been provided, probably is a bit outdated given the needs and demands of what these young women need.” Like many mental health care providers, she says staffing and wage difficulty has prompted them to make tough decisions. “It’s a combination of the acuity level of the girl, the 60 percent turnover in trying to recruit and retain staff that are paid at wages that, quite frankly, they could make more at a Walmart or McDonald’s,” she says, “but you can only pay so much based on what you’re reimbursed for.”

Fifteen young women and 50 staff will be affected by the transition. L-S-I hasn’t yet determined the next step for the campus.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood say no injuries were reported following an accident Friday evening at the intersection of 4th and N. Locust Streets. The collision happened at around 5:37-p.m., as a 2010 Nissan Armada SUV driven by 35-year-old Dalena Sammons, of Council Bluffs, attempted to turn from southbound N. Locust Street, eastbound onto 4th Street.

Her vehicle and a 2016 Mazda SUV driven by 19-year-old Nora Dougherty, of Glenwood, collided in the middle of the intersection, causing an estimated total of $25,000 damage, according to the police report.

No citations were issued, but the police reported noted Sammons failed to yield the right-of-way upon making a left turn.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak say no injuries were reported following a collision at around 7:10-a.m. today (Monday), at Highway 48 and W. Corning Street. Authorities say an SUV driven by 49-year-old Gary Wyane Porter, of Red Oak, was heading southbound and had stopped at the traffic light-controlled intersection. A car driven by 19-year-old Cord James Nippert, of Villisca, was also traveling southbound. When Nippert failed to stop in-time, his vehicle rear-ended the SUV, causing minor (estimated at $2,400) damage. No citations were issued. The report noted the car was following too close.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports a Glenwood man was arrested Sunday. 26-year-old Christian Gonzale-Zcardon was arrested for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000. And, this (Monday) morning, 36-year-old Delon Buford, of Omaha, was arrested in Glenwood for Child Endangerment, Domestic Abuse Assault, and Interference with Official Acts. Buford was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a Magistrate Judge.

(Anita, Iowa) – Rescue crews from Atlantic and Anita have been dispatched to a rollover accident on westbound Interstate 80, at the 67-mile marker. Cass EMS and Anita Rescue were responding to the scene as of about 8:27-a.m.  There are reported two people suffered minor injuries. Additional information is currently not available.