DES MOINES, IA (Jan. 22, 2018) — Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative (HSI) announced today (Monday) the 18 finalists for the inaugural HSI awards. Individuals, communities, schools and workplaces will be recognized for advancing efforts to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of Iowans. In the “Community” category, the City of Harlan is an award finalist. Jami Haberl, Healthiest State Initiative executive director, says “The Healthiest State Initiative is proud to recognize the work these finalists have been doing to improve the overall health and well-being of Iowans. They have set a great example for other individuals, communities, schools and workplaces to emulate. We look forward to sharing their stories at the awards event.”

The winners will be announced at HSI’s inaugural award event on Feb. 15 from 5-7 pm at the Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines. Each winner will be granted a monetary gift to continue their work focused on improving the health and well-being of their employees, students or citizens. In addition to the awards, Jamie Pollard, director of athletics at Iowa State University, will deliver the keynote address at the event. Based upon his own experiences — a son who has battled cancer four times and his own health crisis in 2015 — Pollard will share an inspirational message on why health matters.

Purchase tickets today

Tickets for the Feb. 15 event are $25 for an individual or $190 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event visit IowaHealthiestState.com.

It’s week three of the 2018 Iowa legislative session and middle-of-the-year state budget cuts loom large. However, lawmakers say they’re still searching for answers to key details. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed about 20 million dollars worth of cuts — and she’s suggested 10-million dollars won’t be spent in the Medicaid program which provides health care coverage for poor, disabled and elderly Iowa. Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says that much savings in Medicaid seems “counter-intuitive.” “We really want to understand how that would be possible because we’re actually inclined to think that doesn’t make sense,” Upmeyer says.

There are 22 weeks left in the 12-month-long state spending plan. Voting on mid-year budget cuts as soon as possible is the goal, according to Upmeyer, who says state agencies have already begun to hold off on spending. “Frankly, everybody’s on notice based on the governor’s recommendations,” Upmeyer says, “so I think they’re responding to that as they spend their dollars internally.”

Reynolds has recommended cutting the state prison budget by three-point-four million. She’s also recommending a more than five-million dollar cut to the three state universities and a nearly two-million dollar reduction for the 15 area community colleges. In addition to the 10-million dollar projected savings in the state’s Medicaid budget, Reynolds recommends more than three-million dollars worth of cuts elsewhere in the Department of Human Services. The current year’s state budget runs through June 30th.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says a deadline is approaching for anyone who may have been a victim of fraud involving a Western Union money transfer. “Two federal agencies found massive fraud being implemented through Western Union,” Miller says. He says the company “sort of looked the other way” as the fraud happened. The Federal Trade Commission and U-S Department of Justice reached a 586 million dollar settlement where the company will pay back those who were victims of fraud. “The federal government has contracted with a and outside agency — a third party– to implement the settlement, ” Miller says. “They have or are in the process of sending letters to various people who have complained about these types of problems kinds of problems.”

You have until February 12th to make a claim. Miller says his office got information from Western Union on money transfers by Iowans of 500 dollars or more to what are called “suspect countries,” and mailed letters to them. Miller says some 18-thousand Iowans were on the list. “The majority of the transfers were legitimate for one reason or another. But there’s a significant number that weren’t legitimate and we are working through the process of people making their claims,” Miller says.

He says Western Union is asking people for a wire transfer number, but says some people may not have that number. Miller says they are asking federal officials and the company to change their procedure so if a person gives their name, amount and date of transfer and it matches their records that they get a refund.

The refunds cover the time period between January 1st, 2004 and January 19, 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested at around 7:30-p.m. Friday, on assault charges. 46-year old Michael Williams, and 38-year old Christina Williams, both of Creston, were arrested at their home for Simple Domestic Assault. The pair was later released on $300 bond, each. And, Sunday night, 50-year old Edith Davis, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Davis was later released on a $3,000 bond.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa lawmaker says he’s taking full responsibility for his decision to drive drunk. State Rep. Francis “Chip” Baltimore, a Republican from Boone, was arrested Friday morning in Ames near Interstate 35. His blood alcohol tested out at nearly twice the legal limit, and a pistol was found under the driver’s seat.

Baltimore told station WOI that he “made a very, very bad decision to get behind the wheel.” Baltimore, an attorney, is serving his fourth term as a state representative. He is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, a legislative body that has advanced legislation in recent years to add more penalties for individuals arrested for drunken driving.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — An Ames company where a worker was fatally injured says a safety device fell on him. Danfoss Power Solutions said in a news release Sunday that a preliminary investigation determined that a safety hood on a motor testing operation struck 45-year-old John Lavery. The Ames resident died about 4 p.m. Thursday at the hydraulic motors plant.

The company says it is replacing all the other safety hoods with a new design that the company says will prevent similar accidents. Federal officials have joined the accident investigation.