(Radio Iowa) — State Auditor Mary Mosiman says she cannot say when a review of the state’s Medicaid program will be released to the public. In June, Mosiman announced her office would examine the data to determine if Medicaid costs have been reduced since private companies assumed management of patient care. The move to privatize the system has become a political issue in the governor’s race. Mosiman, a Republican who is also seeking re-election, says she cannot answer specifics about a work in progress, but Mosiman says the final report from her office will provide “financial clarity” about Medicaid costs. “It will be issued. I just can’t give you an actual date or I would also be behaving politically,” Mosiman says. “…Everything we do in the office is important.”

Rob Sand, the Democrat challenging Mosiman, says he agrees the examination shouldn’t be political, but Sand says the auditor’s office needs to equip voters with the facts about what’s happened since Medicaid was privatized in 2016.  “This is the office that’s supposed to be a watchdog for Iowa taxpayers and I think one thing that a watchdog should be doing is as soon as there’s a major change, you ought to be sniffing around,” Sand says. “We are in a state of upheaval with this issue.”

Sand and Mosiman made their comments this weekend during an appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program. About 680-thousand low income, disabled and elderly Iowans are enrolled in Medicaid. Former Governor Terry Branstad predicted taxpayers would have saved more than 200-million dollars by now due to switching the system to private management. However, a recent report showed per patient costs increased six-and-a-half percent this past year and are projected to jump another 11 percent this year.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past couple of weeks. Yesterday (Sunday), Adams County Deputies arrested Warren Davis, of Winterset, on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear. And, at around 10:40-p.m. Sunday, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 25 and 272nd Street. Upon further investigation, Galen White, of Lenox, was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense.

At around 8-p.m. last Thursday, Adams County Deputies were notified of a suspicious person at Dollar General. Upon further investigation, Donald Gay, of Corning, was placed under arrest for Public Intoxication.

At around 8:40-p.m. Sept. 22nd, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop, and upon further investigation, Crystal Schwartz, of Nebraska was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Sept. 21st, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of 6th and Davis Avenue, in Corning. Upon further investigation, Arvid Hiley, of California, was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated. Hiley was also cited for Open Container-Driver.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Des Moines over the weekend. Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek told the Des Moines Register that a man died Sunday afternoon after he was shot several times.

BUFFALO, Iowa (AP) — The longtime fire chief in the Iowa town of Buffalo died over the weekend. The Quad-City Times reports that Terry Adams died Saturday morning at age 67. Longtime friend Buffalo Police Cpl. Rich Aleksiejczyk says Adams died of natural causes.

BELVIDERE, Neb. (AP) — Headstones will be dedicated Sunday at the southern Nebraska graves of three Union veterans of the Civil War. The Hastings Tribune reports that the group Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will dedicate the new headstones at Belvidere Cemetery in Thayer County. The three served with infantry from Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Volunteer students will be helping plant trees in north-central Iowa’s Mason City next week. On Wednesday, fifth-grade students from Newman Catholic Schools will plant nearly 40 trees along Taft Avenue. On Thursday, students from Mason City Alternative High School will plant between 60 to 100 trees along streets a few blocks over.