DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An effort to expand access to medical marijuana in Iowa is moving forward in the Democratic-majority Iowa Senate, though it is unlikely the bill will find favor in the Republican-controlled House.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would make medical marijuana available to people with a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Those approved by a doctor could then purchase marijuana products produced in Iowa at state-run dispensaries.

Last year, the Legislature approved a law that allows some residents with epilepsy to use oil with an ingredient derived from marijuana for treatment. But the law did not establish an in-state program for the production and distribution of the oil. Critics say that as a result, the law is effectively useless.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest U.S. Census estimates show the Des Moines metro area is growing quickly while most Iowa counties have declining populations. According to data released Thursday, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area population reached an estimated 611,549, up 7.4 percent from the 2010 U.S. Census. The majority of Iowa counties, however, saw declines, as only 31 of 99 experienced an uptick.

The data show Dallas County had a 17 percent increase, the largest among Iowa counties. The biggest decline was in Fremont County, where population dropped 5.6 percent. All of Iowa’s nine metro areas saw growth. The Iowa City metro led the pack, up 7.7 percent since 2010. Gary Krob, coordinator of the State Data Center, says having growth across Iowa rather than concentrated in one area is promising.

CLARINDA, Iowa (AP) – Officials at the Clarinda Mental Health Institute (MHI) have begun to transfer mentally ill senior citizens from the institution to private nursing homes. The Des Moines Register reports that a spokeswoman for the state facility confirmed Wednesday that only about a dozen patients, who are considered to be some of the toughest cases the institution handles, will be affected. The institute itself is scheduled to close July 1st.

The Department of Human Services says that it is looking for safe placements for the senior citizens. Patient advocates say most of the senior citizens in the program were placed in the institution because private facilities found them too difficult to handle. Department spokeswoman Amy McCoy said that some of the transfers have taken place, but declined to say how many of the residents have been moved.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated $2500 to the Griswold Little League to assist them with expanding their concession stand/restrooms.

Shown: Jody Rossell, Nathan Brownlee and Melanie Petty (photo courtesy Melanie Petty)

The Fund was founded when the family tragically lost Trevor in an apartment fire in 2009. Since then, the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has given out over $100,000.00 in donations back to the communities Trevor was a part of.

Officials say they are blessed with all the support they receive each year at the annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament. This year the tournament will be held on Saturday, August 8th.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) today (Thursday), announced that eligible first-time Iowa home buyers may purchase a home and reduce their federal income tax liability by up to $2,000 a year for the life of their mortgage. Approximately 400 Iowa home buyers are expected to benefit from the program, which is now available for new purchases through a network of Take Credit Participating Lenders throughout the state.

IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison says “The Take Credit program will provide an additional incentive to first-time Iowa home buyers as we move into the spring home buying season. Hundreds of Iowa families will be able to both realize their dream of homeownership and benefit from a significant reduction in their federal income taxes.”

The program provides eligible home buyers with a tax credit against their federal income tax liability every year for the life of their mortgage. The amount of the tax credit for the 2015 program is set at 50 percent of the mortgage interest paid, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year, for up to 30 years. The remaining mortgage interest may be taken as a deduction from taxable income if the home buyer itemizes.

Eligibility for the Take Credit Program requires home buyers to meet household income and purchase price limitations and meet the definition of a first-time home buyer. The federal income limits vary by county, the limits currently range from $65,300 to $111,300 per year. A purchase price limit of $250,000 applies statewide with the exception of federally Targeted Areas where the limit is $305,000. A first-time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned their primary residence in the past three years but also includes home buyers purchasing in a federally Targeted Area and military veterans who have not previously financed a home using a tax exempt bond program.

Jamison said  “Interested home buyers can apply for a mortgage credit certificate through a Take Credit Participating Lender as part of their financing process. Home buyers will need to have approval of the mortgage credit certificate before they close on a home so they should ask their lender about this opportunity early in the application process.”  The certificates are available on a first-come first-serve basis and the program will be closed for further reservations once available funding has been exhausted.

More information is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/TakeCredit.

One person was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, following a collision this (Thursday) morning in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 22-year old Terrence Reynolds, Sr., of South Sioux City, NE, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken by Glenwood Rescue to the hospital, after his 1994 Chevy S-10 pickup hit a 2013 Ford Focus driven by 44-year old Jennifer Rethmeier, of Council Bluffs. Rethmeier was not hurt in the crash.

The accident happened at around 7-a.m. as Reynolds was traveling west on Highway 370 and Rethmeier left the stop sign from the southbound Interstate 29 off-ramp. The woman didn’t see Reynolds’ pickup approaching when she left the controlled intersection to turn onto Highway 370 eastbound.

Three people were arrested over the past week, in Harlan. According to the police report, 26-year old Brittney Dollen, of Harlan, was arrested Sunday, when it was discovered she allegedly altered several checks written by citizens, for the purchase of Girl Scout cookies. Dollen was taken to the Shelby County Jail and charged with six-counts of Forgery.

Last Friday (March 20th), Harlan Police arrested 34-year old Clayton Sorensen, of Harlan, on an OWI charge. Sorensen was also cited for operating a motor vehicle with improper tail lights.

And on March 17th, 30-year old Dane Stevens, of Harlan, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Trespassing. His arrest took place after police investigated a report of a go-cart being driven around the empty lots on Dye Street. Authorities say 33-year old Kylie Stahl, of Harlan, was cited for Trespassing in connection with the incident.

(9-a.m. News)