(Johnston, Iowa) – The Iowa Army National Guard is set to conduct a comprehensive domestic operation training exercise at Camp Dodge from August 7th through the 10th. Officials say the exercise aims to simulate real-world events, including flooding, a derecho, and hazmat concerns, to enhance the readiness and coordination of our forces during emergency response situations.

The exercise will be conducted in collaboration with multiple Iowa county emergency management teams, fostering interagency cooperation and strengthening our collective ability to respond effectively to crises.

During the training exercise, Iowa Army National Guard units will showcase their ability to swiftly respond to a range of emergency scenarios. The simulated events will challenge participants to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of flooding, a derecho, and hazmat incidents. By replicating these real-world challenges, officials say the Iowa National Guard can assess their readiness, identify areas for improvement, and refine emergency response protocols.

The exercise will include the participation of several Iowa county emergency management teams, private entities such as Mid-American Energy which will allow for a comprehensive and integrated response effort. This collaborative approach will facilitate effective communication, coordination, and decision-making among multiple agencies, ensuring a unified response to emergencies.

The training exercise will be evaluated by personnel from Army Northern Command. Their expertise and guidance will provide valuable insights to further enhance our emergency response capabilities and strengthen partnerships with federal agencies.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congreswoman Ashley Hinson says it’s critical that the U.S. support Taiwan with military hardware as China threatens the independently-governed island. Taiwan produces 60% of the world’s supply of computer chips, while about 14% are made in the United States.

“It’ll take a long time to rehome many of those things here to the United States,” Hinson said early this afternoon, “so it is critically important that we protect Taiwan and our interests there.”

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, made her comments during a foreign policy forum in Cedar Rapids. Hinson is a member of the House Select Committee on China and the committee is hosting a field hearing in Dysart later today about China’s theft of agricultural technology.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, on left, hosts Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher and Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson at The Bastion Institute event today in Cedar Rapids.

“This is a huge threat and I think we’ve kind of been asleep at the wheel for decades in how we’ve handled China,” Hinsaon said at The Bastion Institute forum. “We’ve allowed them into the World Trade Organization. They continue steal our intellectual property…down to our seeds.”

Hinson cites the 2013 arrest of seven Chinese nationals accused of digging up seeds from Iowa farms and sending them back to China. One of the men, caught digging into an Iowa corn field in 2011, pleaded guilty to stealing seeds produced by Monsanto, Dupont Pioneer and LG Seeds.

(Bedford, Iowa) – A jury in Taylor County today (Thursday) convicted a Kellerton man on five felony counts stemming from a November 20, 2022 arson fire in Bedford. Online court records show 69-year old Ellis Earl Houk was found guilty of charges that include: 1st Degree Arson (Class B Felony); Attempted Murder (Class B Felony); Willful Injury -Causing Serious Injury (Class C Felony); Burglary in the 1st Degree (Class B Felony), and Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree (Class C Felony). His trial began on July 26th.

He faces up to 25-years in prison on each of the Class B Felonies, and at least 10-years on the Class C Felonies, plus a fine of up to $13,660. Sentencing was set for Sept. 19th.

According to the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, a fire broke out at 1871 Orange Ave. in Bedford. A female resident of the home was able to escape, but suffered serious injuries. She was treated by Taylor County EMS before being flown to a burn center.

Houk – who was 68 at the time of the incident – was arrested a few days later in Texas and extradited to Iowa.

(UPDATED) – Atlantic, IA – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced that Cass Health was awarded a rural hospital “Center of Excellence” designation. As part of that designation, grant funding to support and improve healthcare delivery in rural Iowa will provide $250,000 in funding each year for three years, totaling $750,000.

Centers of excellence increase access to multi-disciplinary specialty care and are devoted to tackling major health needs and disparities confronting rural Iowans. Cass Health plans to use the grant to focus on fetal and maternal health services in southwest Iowa. According to the Governor’s office, the awarded funds will help regional and local health systems build and enhance systems to ensure rural Iowans have the same access to specialized care as those living in metro areas.

Over the last twenty years in Iowa, there has been a major decline in the number of hospitals that provide labor and delivery services, most often in rural areas. The Cass Health Centers of Excellence program aims to improve rural maternal health services in southwest Iowa. Cass Health Chief Executive Officer Brett Altman said “Over the last three years, Cass Health has developed collaborative partnerships with Montgomery County Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa, and CHI Corning Hospital in Corning, Iowa, to continue to provide maternal health services in Montgomery County and Adams County. Cass Health has also collaborated with Adair County Health System in Greenfield, Iowa, to initiate a maternal health outreach clinic in Adair County.”

CCHS, Atlantic, IA

This regional partnership will provide women in these communities with maternal health services, including prenatal and postnatal care, that they would not have access to otherwise. Sustaining and growing OB outreach clinics in this rural region aim to reduce transportation and financial resource barriers. This will increase routine access to prenatal and postnatal care. “Cass Health is fortunate to be in a position where we can grow as a regional leader in obstetrics care, notably because of the outstanding team of physicians and nurses here and because of our partnerships with healthcare organizations in our region,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Kolton Hewlett.

As counties around Cass have ceased deliveries, Cass Health has increased deliveries as women and families travel to Atlantic for healthcare services. In 2022, Cass Health delivered 144 babies from 34 unique zip codes, representing fifteen counties across three states. Hewlett said “Over the next three years, Cass Health will use this grant funding to continue OB outreach services in Adair County, Adams County, and Montgomery County. We have also established an OB Navigator position which will be instrumental in expanding access to care. This role will navigate expecting parents through the health system, help coordinate care, and remove any barriers the patient may encounter by identifying critical resources.”

Iowa was recently ranked second in the nation among all states for the best health systems based on cost, access, and outcomes.  The other awardees are: 

Mahaska Health : Mahaska Health’s Centers of Excellence will offer services in the fourteen-county region of Jefferson, Appanoose, Davis, Iowa, Jasper, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington. This project aims to improve access to high quality, specialty health care by creating regional hubs of medical expertise. Regional alliances exist in maternal care, obstetrics, and general surgery. This project will build upon these partnerships and expand them to cardiology and oncology. 

Van Buren County Hospital : Van Buren County Hospital’s Centers of Excellence will offer services in Van Buren, Davis, Jefferson and Lee counties. Local partners came together to form the Southeast Iowa Complex Care Network, which will focus on the needs of geriatric patients and will offer an innovative system of collaboration and managed care that will guide patients with complex care needs to all available resources, while simplifying access to services and delivering improved health outcomes. 

Each awardee will receive up to $250,000 per year for three years. Contracts will be established with each awardee later this month to begin this work.