The head of the Iowa Department of Human Services says the state has the ability to fund the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP, into April. DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven says he thinks CHIP will be reauthorized, but also notes Congress has been unpredictable. “We have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst, and so we’re trying to develop some contingency plans just in case,” Foxhoven said.

Congress has yet to renew federal funding for the program, which in Iowa, is called “hawk-i.” That stands for Healthly and Well Kids in Iowa. It provides health insurance for about 60-thousand (60,000) kids from low and moderate income families in the state. Foxhoven admits his agency is “not far along” in developing a plan should funding not be restored. “There’s no question it’ll be a challenge to deal with that if that’s not reauthorized – it’s a lot of kids,” Foxhoven said.

Federal funding for CHIP expired at the end of September. Some states are warning families they may have to end the program soon.

(Radio Iowa, w/Thanks to Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

Officials with the Glenwood Police Department are reporting four recent arrests. On Saturday, 30-year old Nicole Spracklin, of Plattsmouth, NE., was arrested for Driving While Barred, and on a Council Bluffs Police Dept. warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond amounted to $4,000. That same day, 26-year old Corbin Wells, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. His bond was set at $300.

Last Friday, Glenwood Police arrested 22-year old David Barrett, of Glenwood, for Interference with Official Acts, and on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond amounted to $2,300 altogether. Also on Friday, 44-year old Kimberly Streit, of Glenwood, was arrested for being a Fugitive from Justice. She was being held without bond and transported to Omaha.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports traffic delays are occurring on Interstate 80 (especially westbound) in Adair County due to a large grass fire. The delay is between Exit 97 (Redfield) and Exit 93 (The Stuart Road). Proceed with caution.

(Photo’s courtesy Bob Simon)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 29-year-old driver has been charged in connection with a Des Moines collision that killed two people and injured two others. Des Moines police say Ryan Rench faces charges of unsafe passing with enhancements for an offense causing two deaths and an offense causing serious injury. He’s due in court Jan. 16.

Investigators say the crash happened Oct. 21 when Rench’s pickup truck entered oncoming traffic in an attempt to pass another vehicle. Rench’s pickup struck an oncoming sport utility vehicle. Its driver, 56-year-old Kathryn Kinley, and a passenger, 13-year-old Nariyo Lee, were killed. Both lived in Des Moines. Kinley’s other passenger, 12-year-old Kaden Kinley, and Rench were injured.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Supreme Court justice has lifted an order that temporarily blocked the state’s largest newspaper from reporting the contents of records legally obtained from a public court file. Critics had denounced the Dec. 11 order by Justice David Wiggins as an impermissible prior restraint in violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and decades of case law. Wiggins removed the stay Tuesday in an order explaining the court had declined to consider attorney Jaysen McCleary’s request for an injunction blocking publication.

Wiggins had ordered the Des Moines Register and investigative reporter Clark Kauffman to not “disclose or share” information from court records relating to McCleary’s medical and financial history while the court considered his appeals. The newspaper had asked for the stay to be vacated.

AMES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry – Fire Program, in cooperation with US Forest Service – State and Private Forestry, has awarded $224,799 in 50% cost-share grants to 92 of Iowa’s rural fire departments to aid their efforts in protecting Iowan’s and their property from wildfires.  The grants offer valuable funding assistance for wildfire suppression equipment, personal protective equipment, and communications equipment. In the KJAN listening area, the following fire departments have received a cost-share grant:

• Atlantic Fire Dept. -$2,465
• Anita Fire Dept. – $3,500
• Creston Fire Dept. – $3,500
• Grant Volunteer Fire Dept. -$549
• Glenwood F.D. – $1,666
• Menlo F.D. – $978
• Missouri Valley F.D. – $3,500
• Oak Township F.D. (Mills County) – $1,811
• Onawa F.D. – $1,575
• Pacific Junction Fire Dept. – $970
• Prescott Fire Dept. – $3,500
• Schleswig F.D. – $3,500
• Sidney Volunteer Fire Dept. – $3,210
• Stuart Fire Dept. $1,637
• Villisca Fire Dept. – $3,500.

The VFA program is authorized by the 1990 Farm Bill to provide financial, technical, and other assistance through state forestry agencies to organize, equip, and train small, local fire departments in rural communities with populations under 10,000 to prevent and suppress rural fires. Work contributes to healthy forests, forest stewardship, and sustainable economic development. VFA dollars may be used to fund multi-community/fire department projects such as mutual-aid communications networks.

The DNR reminds all fire departments of the importance of submitting Wildland Fire Reports whenever they respond to a wildland fire or provide assistance to a prescribed or controlled wildland fire. Wildland Fire reporting forms are available at www.iowadnr.gov/fire. Departments actively returning these reports receive priority points when the VFA grant applications are scored.  These wildland fire reports are compiled locally and nationally and are reported to Congress.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports 1300th Street, which was closed to remove a bridge over Silver Creek, is now open. The road had been closed since late November. The bridge was replaced with a low water crossing.