(Radio Iowa) – The application period for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) begins on Monday. Iowa Utilities Board spokesman, Donald Tormey, says the program provides a payment to help you with part of your heating bills.

Tormey says if you are behind on your bill, you should always reach out to the utility company.

He says you can sign up anywhere in Iowa.

There is also a weatherization program available. Iowa law protects those in the LIHEAP program who are the head of a household from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service from November 1st through April 1st.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the State of Iowa onto a lawsuit challenging one of the Covid-19 vaccination mandates President Biden has proposed.

Reynolds made her comments last week during a news conference inside a manufacturing plant in Adel. Iowa and nine other Republican-led states are challenging a requirement that workers employed by a company that’s a federal contractor be fully vaccinated. Reynolds says this requirement would affect one-fifth of the nation’s workforce.

Reynolds says thousands of Iowans would be forced to get a Covid shot against their wishes if the federal rule goes into effect. According to the lawsuit, most state agencies are technically federal contractors, so the vaccination requirement would force employees in Iowa’s state government to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Earlier this month, President Biden said vaccination mandates are a way to put the pandemic behind us and accelerate the country’s economic recovery.

Earlier today (Friday), Governor Reynolds signed a new law that lets workers facing the loss of a job over a vaccination mandate to claim a medical or religious exemption. The Iowa Association of Business and Industry calls the law misguided and says it means Iowa businesses are at risk of federal fines if they follow these new state regulations. The group says businesses will ultimately face higher taxes to cover the newly guaranteed unemployment benefits for workers who are fired for failing to get vaccinated.

One person was injured during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Friday morning, in Page County. Authorities says 25-year-old Alexis Kimberly Graham, of Essex, was driving a 2006 Ford Fusion east on 140th Street at around 6:40-a.m., when for reasons unknown, her car entered the south ditch, east of the intersection with Highway 48/H Avenue.  The vehicle rolled twice before coming to rest.

Graham was found out of the vehicle by a passerby, who called 911. Graham was transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center by Shenandoah Ambulance with unknown injuries. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Essex Fire and Rescue and the Shenandoah Ambulance Service. No charges have been filed at this time.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic say “Many individuals are eager for booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially before the holiday season. Based on the current CDC guidance, patients may have a preference, but you can get any booster shot regardless of what type of vaccine you have already had. There are several options on how to get the vaccine booster if you are eligible. All vaccination sites also offer first and second doses; adolescents aged 12 to 17 are only able to receive the Pfizer vaccine at this time.”

Pfizer & Moderna Booster Dose

• If it has been at least 6 months since you received your Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series, then you may be eligible for a booster.
• Those eligible include:
  • 65 years and older
  • 18+ and live in a long-term care setting
  • 18+ with underlying medical conditions
  • 18+ who work or live in a high-risk setting

If you aren’t sure if you live or work in a high-risk setting, visit cdc.gov for more information.

Atlantic Medical Center, RHC offers Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by appointment beginning Monday, November 1. Also locally, HyVee offers Pfizer vaccines and Walmart offers both Pfizer and Moderna; both pharmacies accept walk-ins, but online appointments are preferred. Rex Pharmacy has Pfizer vaccines, and will also have Moderna next week; walk-ins welcome Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to noon, and 2 to 5:30 pm.

Johnson & Johnson Booster Dose

• If it has been at least 2 months since you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are now eligible for a booster shot. Cass County Public Health offers Johnson & Johnson vaccines by appointment; call 712-243-7551.

COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card

• For patients who need their second or booster dose, remember to bring your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with you to your appointment.

Patients are always encouraged to talk to their primary care provider about their questions and concerns regarding vaccines. More information about booster shots can be found at cdc.gov, vaccines.gov, or casshealth.org/covidvaccine.

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds today (Friday) announced that the State of Iowa has joined nine other states in a lawsuit challenging President Biden’s vaccine mandate for all workers employed by a federal contractor, which is one-fifth of the nation’s workforce.   Reynold said Iowa “Is joining a federal lawsuit to challenge President Biden’s unprecedented use of the government to force every employee of every federal contractor in America, including thousands of Iowans, to take a vaccine against their wishes.”

She added, “I believe the vaccine is the best defense against COVID-19, but no one should be forced to choose between making a living or standing up for their personal beliefs. As long as I am governor, the State of Iowa will always stand alongside Iowans and to be sure their freedoms are protected.”

A copy of the federal complaint can be found here.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer, Friday (today), said “Over the last several months, the Page County Sheriff’s Office has been conducting ongoing investigations into illegal drug trafficking in Page County. Some of the arrests made during this investigation include three people from Shenandoah: 64-year-old Donna Sue Aldaz-Loya; 47-year-old Inna Renee Douglass, and 48-year-old Victor Bruce Ingrim. All three face felony charges that include: Gathering where controlled Substances are unlawfully used (a Class D felony); Failure to have a Tax Stamp (also a Class D felony); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Aldaz-Loya was arrested in a separate portion of the ongoing investigation. She was additional charged with: Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing less than 5 grams of Methamphetamine (A Class C Felony); Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing a controlled substance – Alprazolam (A Class C Felony); and Possessing – introducing a contraband into a Jail (A Class D Felony). Aldaz-Loya was held in the Page County Jail until she agreed until she plead guilty in District Court. The plea agreement was handled by the Page County Attorney. Aldaz-Loya was released after entering her guilty plea to the felony charges.

Aldaz-Loya

Ingrim was additionally charged with: Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing a controlled substance – Methamphetamine 5 grams or more (Class B Felony); and Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing a controlled substance – Methamphetamine 5 grams or less (Class C felony). Ingrim is currently being held in the Page County Jail on $36,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Victor Ingrim

And, Douglass was additionally charged with Prohibited acts – Manufacturing – distributing less than 5 grams of Methamphetamine (Class C Felony). She was being held in the Fremont County Jail for Page County due to jail housing issues with other inmates. Bond was set at $10,000, pending court proceedings.

Inna Douglass

Sheriff Palmer says “This drug investigation is ongoing with more arrests probable. The Shenandoah Police Department assisted with the search warrants conducted just prior to the arrests of Aldaz-Loya and Ingrim. Douglass was arrested from a warrant issued for the charges as she was not at Ingrim’s residence at the time of the search warrant there. The investigations conducted by the Page County Sheriff’s Office and search warrants were conducted in Shenandoah.”