w/ Chris Parks

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(Updated with ISP corrected info).) A two vehicle accident in the Denison High School parking on Friday night ended with a fiery vehicle and two teens injured. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident took place Friday night at 10:45 p.m. in the north parking lot of the school.

A 2014 Chevy Silverado driven by 17-year-old August J. Boettger of Arion and a 2004 Ford Ranger driven by 16-year-old Eduardo Gutierrez of Denison, collided head on while both traveling at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles came to rest a short distance away from the crash and the Silverado caught on fire.

Gutierrez was taken from the scene by EMS personnel to Crawford County Memorial Hospital and later flown to UNMC in Omaha by Lifenet. Boettger was safely removed from the Silverado and taken by personal vehicle to Crawford County Hospital to be checked out.

No status on the two individuals is known at this time and no further details of the crash have been provided.

(Des Moines, IA) Following the announcement Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have lifted the pause on the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommends that any vaccine provider in the state who has available Johnson & Johnson vaccine resume administration, effective immediately. 

The pause was recommended after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The FDA and CDC are confident that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 symptoms. They have stated that they will remain vigilant in investigating the risk of TTS blod clots but data suggests the risk is very low.

More information can be found on the CDC website here.

The State of Iowa has a new Medicaid director. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the hiring of her current health policy adviser Elizabeth Matney to the Medicaid post. Matney will take over as director on June 1st. Matney has a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Drake University and a bachelor’s in psychology and philosophy from Texas State University.

Iowa’s Medicaid program oversees care for more than 700,000 poor and disabled Iowans. The program has been much maligned since former Governor Terry Branstad turned it over to private insurers.

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand says he hasn’t made a decision about the 2022 campaign. Sand, a Democrat, won a four-year term as state auditor in 2018 in his first race for elected office.  “Looking at reelection, potentially running for governor, maybe running for U.S. Senate,” Sand says. Last fall, Sand questioned the 21 million dollars in federal pandemic relief funds Republican Governor Kim Reynolds spent on new computer software for some state agencies — the state legislature this year provided state funds instead for the purchase.

“The bigger issue to me is that we’ve got — at this point it’s late April — close to $1 billion sitting in the state’s accounts while Iowans are suffering,” Sand said, “and at any point a special (legislative) session could have been called, the legislature could have passed something to get that money out there to struggling small business owners to make sure that they can get through this pandemic and Iowa’s culture in our small towns maintains what it used to be, so we have a normal to come back to.”

Governor Reynolds has said the state doesn’t have the resources to make all businesses whole after pandemic-related losses. Sand cites the Iowa Restaurant Association’s prediction that a thousand restaurants will close due to the pandemic.  “You have people who have poured their lives into creating a gathering place for their community and it might be the only one there and now this pandemic comes along and through no fault of that business owner they’ve had to shut down and they’ve lost their business,” Sand says. “The fact that they have been unwilling to help, unwilling to assist, to me is wild.”

Sand says Reynolds should have used the state budget surplus to help because federal aid came too late for a lot of Iowa business owners. “It was bizarre to me to see the governor of Iowa say: ‘That’s the federal government’s job,'” Sand said. “She’s elected to look out for the state of Iowa, to serve the people of Iowa and instead of Iowans getting what they need in this time of need, she’s going to do with that money what she wants.” Sand says his critiques of Governor Reynolds aren’t a signal he’s running for governor, however, and may choose to seek reelection as state auditor.

“I’ve got a 4 and a half year old, a freshly-minted 7 year old at home,” Sand said. “These are big questions. They’re hard to balance and there are certainly things that weigh in both directions and I just haven’t finished weighing them.”

Sand made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S. Last weekend, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig was on the program and Naig, a Republican, announced he plans to seek reelection in 2022.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman, Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she voted against the bill that would make the District of Columbia a state because it is unconstitutional. “Our founding fathers were clear that they did not want the federal government to exist within one state. A constitutional amendment would be required to make D-C as state, unless the 23rd Amendment is repealed,” Hinson says. Hinson says the D-C statehood bill is part of an attempt by Democrats to get more power.

“Democrats intent with this bill — coupled with their recent push to expand the Supreme Court — is clear in my eyes. With a razor thin majority in the House and a 50-50 split in the Senate, there have been roadblocks to enacting policies like a 15 dollar minimum wage,” Hinson says. Hinson, who had COVID-19 and recovered is among those calling for everyone to get vaccinated. “I’m ready to get my second shot May 4th. I am encouraging all Iowans to get the vaccine. I believe F-D-A cleared vaccines are safe and effective,” Hinson says. “I think the sooner we can get back to normal the better — and the more people that we get vaccinated, that’s the quickest way to do that.”

Hinson was asked during her conference call with reporters today (Friday) if there needs to be a federal investigation into the murders of two employees at the Anamosa State prison. “I don’t know if a federal investigation is necessary. I know that our state officials are asking questions and looking into this as well,” Hinson says. Hinson says she is confident the state will do a thorough investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Department of Public Safety and the Iowa State Patrol’s Executive Protection Unit have been providing a safe and secure environment for Iowa’s Governors and their families since 1970, starting with Governor Robert Ray. The State of Iowa is continually reviewing infrastructure security protocols and technology upgrades across the Capitol Complex and the Governor’s residence. These reviews have included considerations of the need for security enhancements, such as perimeter fencing at Terrace Hill, since at least 2017.

Additionally, the United States Department of Homeland Security Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency recommended, among other measures, the need for perimeter security fencing at Terrace Hill on more than one occasion, with the latest assessment taking place in January of 2020.

“Security enhancements to Terrace Hill benefit all future governors,” said Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens. “Terrace Hill serves as the family home for our Governors and their families, and we need to provide the safest environment possible for them. These enhancements are part of an overall state initiative to improve the security footprint at our state facilities.”

Repeated threats against our elected officials, to include Governor Reynolds, have been widespread and alarming, and Iowa is one of only a few states in the nation that do not have perimeter security fencing around the Governor’s residence.  The foiled attempt to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has only reinforced our longstanding concerns. The State of Michigan recently installed a perimeter fence at Governor Whitmer’s residence as part of a recent security upgrade.

Terrace Hill is “Iowa’s Home” and tours are available to the public Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Tour reservations must be made 48 hours in advance and can be made by calling 515-242-5841. Terrace Hill also offers public events including an Easter egg hunt and Christmas at Terrace Hill. Please visit the following website for more information: https://terracehill.iowa.gov/visit

(Des Moines) – Iowa’s COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations are on the decline once again. The Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday reported 491 new positive COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths. At 10 a.m., IDPH reported 391,616 total positive tests, 343,617 total recoveries and 5,904 total deaths since the start of the pandemic. IDPH reported 391,125 total positive tests and 5,899 total deaths 24 hours earlier. In the KJAN listening area, there were two more COVID-related deaths in Pottawattamie County, for a pandemic total of 164.

State data shows 2,141,871 vaccine doses have been administered in Iowa, with 930,565 individuals completing the series. Iowa’s positivity rates are continuing to decline slowly. The 7-day average declined from 4.3% to 4% and the 14-day average declined from 4.4% to 4.2%. Virus hospitalizations are back down after showing an increase the previous day. There are now 217 Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 235 a day earlier. There are 51 patients in ICU and 24 patients on ventilators.

In RMCC Regional 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa): 29 COVID patients are hospitalized (down from 31 the previous day); 10 are in an ICU (down 1 from Thursday); 3 were admitted with symptoms of the virus, and there remain four persons on a ventilator.

Urbandale Health Care Center is the only long-term care facility in the state reporting a virus outbreak There are 18 positive cases and eight recoveries among residents and staff within that facility. Iowa reports 2,309 total COVID-19 deaths in care facilities.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

Cass, 1,436 cases; {+1}; 54 deaths
Adair, 970; {+2}; 32
Adams, 342 {+1}; 4
Audubon, 513 {+0}; 9
Guthrie, 1,266 {+0}; 29
Harrison County, 1,904; {+8}; 73
Madison County, 1,699; {+7; 19
Mills County, 1,759; {+3}; 20
Montgomery, 1,095 {+2}; 37
Pottawattamie County, 11,924; {+25}; 162
Shelby County, 1,349 {+0}; 37
Union County, 1,315; {+0}; 32

(Radio Iowa) – It’s time again to check those prescription pill bottles that have been sitting around for a while to see if you still need the medication inside. The director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, Dale Woolery, says Saturday is another “National Drug Take Back Day.” “In hundreds of different communities across Iowa this Saturday from 10 until 2, there will be special collection sites,” Woolery says. He says there’s been progress in not overprescribing painkillers that can end up in the wrong hands — but he says there are still cases of leftover medications. “And Iowans can dispose of those unused medications as part of their spring cleaning,” Woolery says.

Woolery says if you miss the chance to take back your prescription drugs Saturday, there are now many other ways to safely dispose of them. “We have nearly 400 year-round permanent sites in law enforcement centers and pharmacies across Iowa now where all of us can take these medications back on a regular basis,” according to Woolery. “That will prevent the diversion and misuse of opioids and other medications — and it is good for the environment as well.” Woolery says you can go to the Office of Drug Control Policy website and find a list of takeback sites.

More information at https://odcp.iowa.gov/rxtakebacks