(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would make contraceptives like “the pill” available to adult women without a prescription is now eligible for debate in the Iowa House. Governor Kim Reynolds announced her support of the move in 2018 and the Republican-led Iowa Senate endorsed it two years ago, but key Republicans in the House opposed the idea. If this year’s bill becomes law, Republican Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says women who show a photo I-D to a participating pharmacist could get a three-month supply of contraceptives from behind-the-counter, then another year’s worth after that. “It requires consultation with a primary care or a woman’s health care practitioner after the initial 27 months,” Meyer says.

Today, Iowa women must go to a doctor and get a prescription for birth control patches and pills. Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames, a Democrat, says the bill will help women who can’t afford frequent doctor’s visits. “This is a good step forward,” Wessel-Kroeschel says. “Since we lost the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver, many women have been really struggling to find birth control.”

Contraceptives wouldn’t technically be over-the-counter medications, so they’ll still be covered by insurance if the bill becomes law. It passed the House Human Resources Committee on a 15-to-two vote Tuesday afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) – A group of Republican legislators say conservative students at Iowa’s public universities are complaining they’re being harassed on campus because of their political views. Representative Holly Brink, a Republican from Oskaloosa, convened a hearing this week with administrators from the three schools. “Iowa State, UNI and the University of Iowa — you are here for Iowans. Iowa is not here for you,” Brink said. “And we will continue to protect and make sure that things are going right for students and the next generation.”

Administrators at the hearing apologized for a series of recent campus conflicts over student free speech rights. David Johnsen, the dean of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, apologized for an email exchange he had with a student. It was a “reply all” conversation distributed to everyone in the dental school.  “We do not want any of our students to have an experience that leaves them feeling unsupported or fearful…To be honest to the committee, we have heard from other students, faculty and staff in our college that we’ve failed them as well,” he said. “…Since October, we’ve been reviewing what happened, how the process worked and didn’t work and we’re working to implement steps that will prevent this from happening again.”

Other lawmakers accused the public universities of failing to teach conservative economic theory and being hostile to students who oppose abortion. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says the three public universities need to develop a plan to respond to thousands of students over the decades who’ve felt there’s one set of rules for conservatives and one for liberals. “Your goal, as universities, is education, not indoctrination,” Kaufmann says, “and so I would just ask that you report back to us.”

A Democrat on the committee warned there are all sorts of disputes throughout state government and the Oversight panel has to be selective in its investigations or it will turn into a full-time grievance committee. In 2019, Republican lawmakers enacted a campus free speech law. It directing Iowa’s public universities and community colleges to ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression on campuses.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest hospital used its entire week’s allotment of COVID-19 vaccines in a single day. Wednesday was the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics’ first day of inoculating people over 65. Hospital C-E-O Suresh Gunasekaran says the quick rollout of one-thousand doses shows the Iowa City medical center is ready to scale up as vaccine supplies increase. “Soon as we get the doses, we have the capability in this community to get that in people’s arms within a day or two,” Gunasekaran says. “Even if the number is 1,000 or 2,000 or 3,000, we really feel like we could do that in a single day.”

Now that the U-K variant of the coronavirus has been identified in Iowa, he says there’s even more urgency to speed up vaccinations. The U-I-H-C is offering appointments to those 65 and older through a random lottery and working with community groups to expand accessibility. Gunasekaran says he understands the frustration of those waiting for a shot, but he says more supplies are becoming available. “There is reason for optimism as we move forward that we’ll be able to get more vaccine,” he says. “The reality is today that we don’t have as much vaccine as we have eligible Iowans. We know the importance of continuing our safety standards, the importance of social distancing.”

Walgreens and C-V-S report getting another 32-thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccines that are available for Iowans 65 or older. They’re being distributed to stores in 11 Iowa counties. Appointments can be made through the pharmacies’ websites. A New York Times report ranks Iowa third to last in the country for administering the vaccines per capita.

Creston Police report two men were arrested on separate, Driving While Barred, charges. 27-year old Zakary Titus, of Des Moines, was arrested at around 9:14-a.m. Wednesday. He was released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in court. And, 44-year old Jeremiah Lee Parcher, of Creston, was arrested a little after 2-p.m. Wednesday. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Numerous accidents have been reported this (Thursday) morning along Interstate 80, both east and westbound. No injuries have been reported. In most cases, vehicles – especially semi tractor-trailers, spun out, or in the case of semi’s, at least partially jackknifed.

DOT Snow plow cam on I-80 near Atlantic. (6-a.m.)

In some cases, both lanes or a single lane was blocked or partially blocked in several locations. Highway 92 eastbound near Treynor was blocked on the right should, due to an accident. Tow bans are being implemented for Pottawattamie, Cass and Mills Counties. If your vehicle enters the ditch or median, it will not be towed until weather conditions improve.

Road conditions as of 6:48-a.m.

Visibility is limited in the area. I-80 from Highway 25 west to Highway 48 is completely snow covered. I-80 from Highway 48 west was partially covered as of 6:45-a.m.

Other roads are also completely or partially covered with snow. For the latest road conditions, go to 511ia.org or call 5-1-1.