(Radio Iowa) – The telehealth company Twenty-eight is expanding into Iowa, offering a new option for reproductive health. Co-founder Amy Fan wants to focus on traditionally underserved women, like those who are lower-income, live in rural areas and women of color. More than half of Iowa’s counties are labeled “contraceptive deserts” and Fan says reducing that number can help address other health disparities. “Black and Latinx women, unfortunately, have a much higher maternal mortality rate than white women in the U.S.,” Fan says, “and I think it’s really stemming from access and providing culturally competent access as well.” Twenty-eight says it aims to help the estimated 170-thousand Iowa women in need of some sort of birth control.

Although there are active groups in Iowa to provide birth control to this population, Fan says another option can only help. “I really hope that the more telehealth players there are, the more options women have,” Fan says, “and at the end of the day, the better access will be.” She says there are still additional steps Iowa needs to take in increasing affordability.

(reporting by Kassidy Arena, Iowa Public Radio)

Officials with the Creston Police report two people were arrested on separate drug charges, Tuesday, and one person was arrested this (Wednesday) morning, for assault with a dangerous weapon. At around 10-a.m. Tuesday, 19-year-old Stiller Niles Melton-Clardy, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Melton-Clardy was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana/1st offense. He was later released on bond.

At around 11:20-p.m. Tuesday, 19-year-old Amber Danielle Lacina, of Shannon City, was arrested at the Summit Boat Ramp, and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was cited at the scene, and released.

At around 1-a.m. today (Wednesday), 24-year-old Adam Edward Lee Austin, of Creston, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Assault with a dangerous weapon. Austin was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,300 cash/surety bond.  Creston Police said also, Brett Street Power Washing Services on Elm Street in Creston, reported a padlock was cut on one of their trailers, and a brand new red and black Predictor Generator was stolen, along with two gas cans. The loss was estimated at $590.

(Radio Iowa) – The Wright County community of Clarion is in the process of becoming a sister city to a community in the southeastern European nation of Kosovo. Clarion Mayor Duane Asbe (AS-be) says the agreement was passed last week by the city council. “We did sign a resolution to pursue a sister city relationship,” Asbe says, “so that would indicate to Kosovo that we are willing and supportive of creating a sister city relationship from our side.” While Clarion is the county seat, it’s a rural community of only 28-hundred. Asbe is hoping officials in Kosovo will match them up with a similar-sized town.

“There are four or five different sister cities within the state of Iowa, namely, Johnston, Sioux City, Cedar Falls and actually nearby, Fort Dodge, but we would be the first smaller rural community to pursue this process (in Kosovo).” This past summer, Kosovo’s minister of agriculture visited Clarion and rural areas nearby. The name of the sister city will be announced at a later date. A delegation of Iowans plans to visit Kosovo next spring.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s “pleaded” with ranking officials at General Electric to reconsider plans to buy wind turbine blades from a company in Denmark instead of its long-time partner in Iowa. G-E’s plan to shift production overseas has resulted in T-P-I Composites of Newton announcing the plant’s shutdown in December, eliminating more than 700 jobs. Grassley says G-E listened to his case. “It was a conversation that went well. They said they would look into it but no certainty from it,” Grassley says. “They did say they were going to get back to us but so far, they haven’t gotten back to us on that.”

G-E bought a Denmark-based wind turbine blade maker in 2017 and has placed no orders with T-P-I for 2022. G-E was T-P-I’s biggest customer, and T-P-I is Newton’s largest employer since the pullout of appliance giant Maytag’s headquarters and factory in 2007. Grassley is hoping some of the “green energy” jobs in Newton can still be salvaged. “It’s one thing to shut down a plant and lay off 700 people,” Grassley says, “as opposed to cutting back production and maybe laying off half of it.” Grassley also sent a letter to President Biden, asking him to consider using T-P-I for the manufacturing of blades for a massive offshore wind farm project.

The administration announced earlier this month a plan to build large-scale wind farms all along the East and West Coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. As yet, Grassley says he’s had no response from the White House about using the Iowa factory for that proposal.

(Radio Iowa) – Forest City-based outdoor lifestyle manufacturer Winnebago Industries is setting a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of this century. C-E-O Michael Happe says the company is making the pledge through a campaign led by the Science-Based Targets Initiative.  “We recently strengthened our commitment to sustainability by joining the Business Ambition for 1.5 Degree Celsius, a United Nations-backed global coalition of business leaders,” Happe says. “As part of this program, we are committing to help limit the impact of climate change by setting a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We also announced additional goals on water, waste and product sustainability.”

Happe says the company’s goals include: zero waste to landfills, with 90% diversion of waste by 2030; net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; reduce freshwater use by 30% by 2050; have eco-friendly upgrade options on all their new products by 2025; and product life-cycle assessments by 2030. “We look forward to working with the Science-Based Target Initiative and external validators to develop and enact a plan for achieving this net-zero goal, which represents an important focus of our corporate responsibility strategy,” Happe says.

Winnebago Industries last week reported a record fiscal year with a profit of almost $282 million for the manufacturer of Winnebago, Grand Design and Newmar recreational vehicles as well as Chris-Craft and Barletta boats.

(Radio Iowa) – The funeral for Iowa State Patrol Trooper Ted Benda, who died following an accident, is today (Wednesday) at 11:00 a-m at the Waukon High School. Iowa Congresswoman, Ashley Hinson, spoke about Benda’s death on the floor of the U-S House Tuesday. “This is a devastating loss of a father, husband, son, friend, mentor, and dedicated public servant who made it his life’s mission to keep his community safe in Iowa,” Hinson says. Hinson says Benda had deep roots in Waukon.

“This tragedy is a reminder that brave law enforcement officers often sacrifice for a purpose far greater than themselves,” she says. Hinson wrapped up her brief remarks with condolences to Benda’s family. “I join all Iowans in mourning the loss of Trooper Ted Benda and my heart is with his family, friends, and fellow troopers during this difficult time,” Hinson says. Benda’s squad car crashed on October 14th as he was on his way to assist the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office with a wanted suspect. He died six days later in the hospital.