(Radio Iowa) – Debate of a plan to ban COVID vaccine requirements in businesses, schools and government agencies has been at least temporarily derailed in dramatic fashion in the Iowa House. A dozen House Republicans joined with House Democrats in voting against even starting debate on an amendment that outlined the plan. The proposal would prohibit hiring and firing decisions that are based on an employee’s COVID vaccination status, unless federal regulations require it. And half of a 50-thousand dollar state fine for a COVID-related firing would be paid to the fired employee.

The proposal also would ban mask mandates for employees, visitors or customers. A spokesperson for G-O-P leaders says there was an understanding that 51 Republicans would vote to starting debate that plan, but when votes were cast, there were only 48.

The final vote was 48 in favor and 50 opposed. Melissa Deatch, a spokesperson for House Speaker Pat Grassley, says it’s not clear whether that’s the final vote on the matter. “That is all going to be determined soon here,” Deatsch said, “but I don’t have any answers on that as of right now.”

Governor Reynolds asked legislators to approve new liability protections for the trucking industry and those were included in the plan that was tabled in the House last (Wednesday) night.

(Clinton County, Iowa) – Two drivers and two passengers in a vehicle died during a head-on collision Wednesday, in eastern Iowa. Another person was injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened just before 5-p.m. in the 4100 block of Highway 136, near Clinton. The accident involved a 2014 Chevy Cruze and a 2014 Honda Odessy van.

A passenger in the van suffered serious injuries, and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. The Patrol says the injured person and one of those who died were wearing their seat belts. The other crash victims were not. No names were released, pending notification of family.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton Ambulance, Andover Fire and Ambulance, the Gooselake and Charlotte Fire Departments.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports nomination papers were filed Wednesday, for a spot on the November General Election ballot. Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns says Richard Hoffman has filed to run for Union Township Trustee. Again, that’s for the November General Election, and not the June Primary.

The filing periods for the November 8, 2022, General Election are:

•U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative and State Office: February 28 – March 18, 2022 (5:00 p.m.)

•County Office: March 7 – March 25, 2022 (5:00 p.m.)

Ag Extension, Soil & Water Conservation District, Hospital Trustee: Anytime up until August 31, 2022

March 7, 2022 was the first day for candidates nominated by petition to file nomination papers for county-wide or township offices with the County Auditor’s office. The last day to file is Friday, March 25, 2022.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, made an official change of command in the Police Department. The Council paid special recognition to Police Chief Dave Erickson, who is retiring at the end of the month, after more than 25-years of service to the City. Mayor Grace Garrett gave a brief biography of the Chief, and his long career not only with the City, but serving our Country in the U-S Marines.

Once his stint with the Corps was over, Erickson worked for the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and a member of the Atlantic Police Reserves from 1996-to 1997.

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett congratulates Chief Dave Erickson for his service to the City & the Country.

With his departure on March 31^st, the Council moved ahead with appointing the Mayor’s choice to succeed him, Devin Hogue, and Lt. Paul Wood as the first ever Assistant Police Chief. Lt. Hogue has served the force in Atlantic since August, 2011. He also spent several years and a substitute teachers with the Atlantic Community School District, and has been very involved in school emergency preparedness and many community programs. The Mayor explained why the Assistant Police Chief’s position was created.

Left to right: Chief Dave Erickson; Lt. Paul Wood; Lt. Devon Hogue.

Lt. Wood has been with the department since Nov. 2004. He’s also served as member of the Atlantic Fire Dept. since 2007. Both men bring extensive experience and knowledge to their respective proposed positions. In other business, the Council appointed of Bev Moffatt to the Beautification Committee. They Adopted the Final, FY 2023 Budget for the City of Atlantic, along with the FY 2023 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Both actions followed public hearings, during which there were no comments. The Atlantic City Council also Amended Seasonal Wages for the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Dept. for 2022, and have passed a resolution “Setting salaries for appointed officers and employees of the City of Atlantic,” for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

One of their final items of business, was to adopt a resolution for the Plans, Specifications and Form of Contract for the Bull Creek Improvement Projects, and, the awarding of a contract for the improvements to Caliber Construction out of Adair, in the amount of $369, 039.03. City Engineer Dave Sturm said they received four bids for the project, all of which came in under the Engineer’s Cost Estimate.

Prior to adjourning the meeting, Mayor Garrett asked business and residential property owners to get into the spring cleaning spirit.

(Radio Iowa) – House Republicans appear poised to vote for a year-long moratorium that would prevent the companies planning to build carbon pipelines from seeking eminent domain to seize property along the pipeline routes. Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton presented the plan in the House State Government Committee and all but one Republican voted for it.

“The name on a deed on a piece of paper that makes you a landowner does not subject you to all this government crap,” Kaufmann says. “That’s what this is about.” House Speaker Pat Grassley says pipeline companies would still able to negotiate easements with landowners, but this would let the legislature weigh in next year if the companies seek mass condemnation of land.

“There are people that want the project, people that have signed up,” Grassley said. “We’re not trying to break those agreements because we respect private property rights on both sides.” Democrats on the committee, like Representative Mary Mascher, didn’t object to the idea, but to the unusual parliamentary move used to advance the proposal.

“My no vote today is not because I don’t want to address this. I think we need to, but let’s do it in the right way,” Mascher says. “Let’s be transparent with our voters, let’s put it on the agenda…and have an opportunity to hear from all sides.” Kaufmann says voters don’t care about legislative procedures.

“Nobody should be surprised what we’re doing here. Give me a break. We do things all the time to make sure that legislation gets accomplished,” Kaufmann said. “The people back home that are affected…they don’t give a shit about the process. They care about results.” The proposal is now eligible for debate in the full House.

(Radio Iowa) – A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association paints a dim picture for Iowa and its aging population. Geriatricians are rare here. Those are primary care doctors who have special training to treat older adults. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the association’s Iowa chapter, say Iowa has a little over two dozen geriatricians and the report says we’ll need well over a hundred by 2050 to meet demand.

“We need an increase of almost 450% for geriatricians across the state,” Livingston says. “Surprisingly, there are only 26 practicing geriatricians in Iowa, which seems very small — and it is — compared to the population and the increasing aging population.” There are four gerontology programs in Iowa — at Iowa, Iowa State, U-N-I and at Des Moines Area Community College. As the prevalence of Alzheimer’s rises in Iowa, so does the need for dementia care workers who can diagnose, treat and care for those living with the disease.

“One thing would be training primary care physicians and other health specialists to recognize diseases like dementia that come across in older age,” Livingston says, “so, training more doctors, even if they’re not geriatricians, to recognize those signs and be able to refer them on to a geriatrician or another specialist.” About six-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including some 66,000 Iowans. The report calls Iowa a “dementia neurology desert,” where the demand for direct care workers is projected to grow by more than 40-percent in the coming years while their availability will likely fall.

“There are 20 U.S. states that have been deemed ‘dementia neurology deserts’ which means they have less than ten neurologists per 10,000 people with dementia and that doesn’t even include people living with other diseases that might see a neurologist,” Livingston says, “so that’s a crisis as well.” In 2018, Iowa had more than 19-thousand home health and personal care aides. The number of these workers will have to increase 34-percent just by 2028 to meet the growing demand. See the full report, 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, at the website: alz.org/facts