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Iowans on the WIC program can now buy groceries online

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Families in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska that take part in the Women, Infants, and Children program can now use their cards to shop online at most Hy-Vee stores in the state as part of a pilot program. Kate Franken, a Midwest WIC director, says shopping with young children can be challenging, and without an online option, fewer healthy foods are accessible. “This became a problem and really clear during the pandemic that the families that receive WIC benefits were not able to redeem those online,” Franken says, “like many of us consumers did at that time.”

Franken says the pilot program was launched in February at one Hy-Vee store in each state and it’s seen great success. “We’re hopeful to expand this around the state and into other retailers,” she says, “but we’ll need partners in the retail community to do that.”

Franken says grocery delivery is available from Hy-Vee for an additional fee, which cannot be paid for using WIC benefits.

FEMA Hiring Staff Members for Iowa Disaster Recovery

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Officials with FEMA report the Federal Emergency Management Agency is hiring Iowa residents to support the severe weather recovery efforts. Positions include Site Inspectors and Public Assistance Program Delivery Manager. The temporary positions are for 120 days and may be extended, in 120-day increments, for a maximum 365-day appointment, based on the needs of the disaster.

All candidates should possess strong computer, communication, interpersonal and customer service skills. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. U.S. citizenship is required. Selected candidates will be required to complete a background investigation, including fingerprinting. FEMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Salaries are comparable to local pay rates.

To see posted positions, visit USAJOBS.gov. Type “FEMA Local Hire” in the search box and “Iowa” in the location box. Detailed job information is provided, including pay, benefits and application deadline for each position.

Iowa restaurants face fines for violating Child Labor laws

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa — Due to a difference in child labor laws at the state and federal levels, some Iowa restaurants could be punished despite following state regulations.  In a law passed last year, Iowa restaurants could have teenagers work later into the night. Allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to work as late as 9 p.m. on school nights and 11 p.m. in the summer. KCCI-TV reports Iowa Restaurant Association officials say the U.S. Department of Labor has been issuing fines to several Iowa restaurants based on breaking federal law.

At the federal level, the teens must be off the clock by 7 p.m. on school nights and 9 p.m. in the summer — a full two hours earlier. It’s a difference that the association’s president and CEO Jessica Dunkin said could cost restaurant owners tens of thousands of dollars.

The U.S. Department of Labor said in a statement that it has done several investigations resulting in child labor violations in Iowa. However, the department also said the problem isn’t unique to Iowa with similar violations happening in several other states. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement saying the Iowa law provides “tailored, common sense labor provisions that will allow young adults to develop their skills in the workforce.”

Senator Chuck Grassley also issued a statement saying “the Department of Labor ought to be working closely with Iowa businesses, not targeting them.” He said he’ll write to the labor department to urge improved communication so that Iowa small businesses and families can better navigate the labor laws.

Iowa care facility nurse fired for ‘callous disregard’ of residents’ needs

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A judge has ruled that a western Iowa nursing home worker who was fired for dismissing residents’ complaints of pain as mere drug-seeking behavior is not entitled to unemployment benefits. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports, that according to state records, Leann McVay, a state-licensed practical nurse, was employed by one of Iowa’s largest nursing home chains, Care Initiatives, until March 18 of this year when she was fired due to issues at Avoca Specialty Care where she worked.

According to evidence presented by Care Initiatives at a recent hearing, the daughter of a resident at the Avoca facility contacted a supervisor at the home in March and complained about the care McVay was providing to her mother. After the supervisor told McVay to call the resident’s doctor for guidance, McVay allegedly responded that there was no need for that because the resident was “drug seeking” and only wanted pain medication the doctor would not provide, the company alleged. The supervisor allegedly reminded McVay such decisions were for the doctor to make, not the nursing staff, and inquired as to whether McVay had examined the resident for signs of a yeast infection. According to Care Initiatives, McVay replied that she was “not doing that” and refused to make the assessment.

The resident’s doctor subsequently ordered that an anti-fungal medication be administered by the staff, but within minutes the resident’s daughter contacted the supervisor again – this time upset and crying. Care Initiatives alleged the daughter reported that when she inquired as to the doctor’s orders, McVay was unkind to her and rolled her eyes. The daughter indicated she did not want McVay to ever again provide care for her mother. Around that time, another resident who was in pain and in tears allegedly went to the supervisor and complained about the care McVay was providing for her chronic pain. When McVay was asked whether she had contacted the woman’s doctor about the pain issue, McVay replied the resident was a “junkie” merely seeking access to pain medications the doctor wasn’t likely to authorize, the company alleged.

According to Care Initiatives, McVay then refused a directive to contact the woman’s doctor, although the physician had previously warned the staff that the woman might be needing additional pain medications to treat a diagnosed medical condition. McVay subsequently agreed to call the doctor, but allegedly reported back to her supervisors that the physician was out of the office and would not be back for a few days. She also was alleged to have made no effort to contact the on-call physician who was covering for the absent doctor.

Within days of those incidents, Care Initiatives said an overnight nurse at Avoca Specialty Care reported to the facility administrator, that McVay had thrown a set of tube-feeding devices at her and hurled an expletive, when she asked the worker is she was “blind,” due to her inability to locate the items.  State records indicate that in February 2024, McVay was reprimanded in response to complaints made by another Care Initiatives facility, Atlantic Specialty Care. The complaints included an allegation that McVay had simply sat in the director of nursing’s chair for an hour while she was on the clock, as well as allegations that she was unavailable to assist the certified nursing assistants. The company also alleged that in 2022, during the pandemic, McVay was disciplined for using her cell phone during work hours, having her protective mask pulled down while at the nurses’ station, and failing to assist aides with resident care.

After being fired, McVay sought unemployment benefits, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge James Timberland. After hearing evidence in the case, Timberland recently ruled McVay was not entitled to benefits due to workplace misconduct stemming from her “callous disregard” of residents and their needs. Timberland ordered McVay to repay the $841 in benefit already collected. State records indicate McVay’s license is still in good standing with the Iowa Board of Nursing, and that she has no history of any prior disciplinary action imposed by the board.

Other Iowans whose unemployment cases were recently decided include:

Nichole Van Houten, who worked for the City of Bondurant as a communications and events coordinator until she resigned in April.

Stephanie Coble-Day, who worked as the school principal for Community Christian School of Fort Dodge until her dismissal in March for allegedly failing to properly complete numerous applications for program funding, failing to properly report a threat of gun violence, and fostering a negative work environment.

Read more about those cases, HERE.

Former Central Iowa insurance agent sentenced to prison for stealing from older Iowans

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI] — A former insurance agent and annuity salesman from Clive will spend 19 years behind bars for stealing millions from older Iowans. KCCI reports 48-yer-old Zachary Flaherty was charged with 17 counts of mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and two counts of money laundering over $10,000. He was charged in April 2023.

In late November, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud. On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced Flaherty to 222 months for wire fraud and an additional six months for contempt, for a total of 228 months, or 19 years. Flaherty was also ordered to pay $2.4 in victim restitution.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Flaherty used his position as an insurance agent and annuity salesman to defraud about a dozen older clients in Iowa and Nebraska out of their retirement savings and other monies. Officials say the victims lost more than $900,000. Prosecutors say the victims also wrote more than $1 million worth of checks that Flaherty deposited to himself, and Flaherty defrauded insurance companies over $650,000.

Investigator recommends Carter Lake Councilperson reprimand & a 90-day plan to restore order & productivity in City Council meetings

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CARTER LAKE, Iowa [KETV) – Disputes in Carter Lake were once again on full display on Wednesday night. KETV-TV in Omaha reports the lone item on the agenda for the special meeting that was more than an hour long was the investigation into City Councilmember Jackie Wahl. Three of the five council members voted to discuss the matter behind closed doors, but that would have required four votes in support.

Councilmembers voted not to publicly release the report. Council members and the city attorney shared some key points, however. The investigator hired by the city said Carter Lake has an opportunity to turn a corner. She wrote that while Wahl acted inappropriately, so did others. Wahl faced accusations from four city employees.

The investigator recommended a reprimand of Wahl, which the other four council members did. She also recommended re-adopting a 90-day plan from 2022 for all council members intended to restore “order and productivity.” That plan does not allow council members to speak publicly against council decisions that have already been made. The investigator also recommended that Carter Lake create the role of city administrator and hire someone from outside the town.

In a lengthy statement provided before the meeting, Wahl said the report was a waste of taxpayer dollars. She said she will not be a “scapegoat” for city-wide issues and she will not resign.

NE man arrested in Mills County on Abandonment of a dependent person, drug & other charges

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a Nebraska man was arrested Tuesday afternoon following a traffic stop in the area of 260th St. and Dobney Avenue. 28-year-old Jose Montes-Regro, of Bellevue, NE., faces charges that include:

  • 4 counts of Abandonment/Neglect of a Dependent Person
  • OWI/1st offense
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance & Drug Paraphernalia
  • Public Intoxication
  • Failure to show proof of automobile insurance
  • Permitting an unauthorized person to drive
  • Failure to use a seat belt, and,
  • Failure to Maintain Control

Montes-Regro’s bond was set at $10,000.  The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 32-year-old Nicholas James Gragg, of Malvern, was arrested Tuesday evening, for Domestic Abuse Assault, Child Endangerment, and Interference with Official Acts. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, late Monday night, Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 18-year-old Jasmine Ameliana Cadena, of Glenwood, for Violation of a No Contact Order. Her bond was set at $300.

Heartbeat Today 6-13-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

June 13th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Aaron Saeugling about the Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm Field Day from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on June 27.

Play

Creston man arrested on an Assault charge Wed. evening

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Creston was arrested Wednesday evening, on an Assault charge. According to Creston Police, 19-year-old Nicholai Quenten McVay was arrested for (General) Assault, at a residence in the 600 block of N. Birch Street, at around 7:17-p.m.  He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $300 bond.

24-year-old State Prison inmate has died

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ANAMOSA, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, on Wednesday, said an inmate at the Anamosa State Penitentiary died over the weekend. 24-year-old Andrew Arnold Redman, Jr., was pronounced dead due to an unexpected medical emergency at 9:53-a.m., Saturday. Foul play was not suspected.

Redman had been serving a sentence for the crimes of Prohibited acts — manufacture, delivery, possession and Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by Felon in Polk County. His sentence began on Feb. 7, 2023.

An autopsy is pending at the State Medical Examiners to determine the cause of death.