DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — House Republicans have announced a new proposal for state oversight of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program that they say emphasizes transparency. The plan released Thursday would require three private companies to provide information for quarterly and annual reports to lawmakers that would show progress under the new system. Data would also be posted online.

A spokesman for the Democratic-controlled Senate, which has its own plan, says lawmakers are reviewing the Republican proposal. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Council Bluffs Democrat, said at a press conference held before the release of the GOP plan that his chamber wants to work with Republicans to reach consensus on the issue. Medicaid provides health care to poor and disabled residents in Iowa. It was switched to private management on April 1.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place Wednesday. 22-year old Robert Douglas Fauteux, of Shelby, on was arrested on charges of OWI 1st Offense (Serious); Possession of Marijuana (Serious); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple). Fauteux was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And, 46-year old Bradley Leo Ranney, of Massena, was arrested on a Cass County District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2000 bond.

For the second time in two months, two lottery prizes worth thousands of dollars are getting closer to going unclaimed . The Iowa Lottery says a 50-thousand dollar winning Powerball ticket purchased at a Casey’s in Altoona remains unclaimed. That ticket was purchased on May 6th of 2015. You have one year from the date of the jackpot drawing to claim your prize in a lottery drawing, so that ticket expires on May 6th of this year.

A Powerball ticket purchased in Ankeny worth 30-thousand dollars is also set to expire in May. The ticket was purchased at a Kum & Go store on May 27th of 2015. Lottery officials are hoping to avoid what happened in March, when a ticket worth 40-thousand dollars that was sold in West Des Moines and one worth 10-thousand dollars that was sold in Manly expired without being claimed. You can check for the winning numbers in each drawing on the Iowa Lottery’s website, or at a lottery terminal where tickets are sold.

(Radio Iowa)

Two people were injured during a collision Wednesday afternoon, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office says Larry Bludorn, of Omaha, and his passenger, Jo Myers, were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, following the crash that took place at around 4:55-p.m. at the intersection of Highway 34 and Hilman Road, just west of Glenwood. Their injuries were described as minor.

Officials say a 1999 Dodge driven by Bludorn was traveling east on Highway 34, when Gavin Kruse, of Glenwood, failed to yield as he was crossing the Highway from Hilman Road. Kruse’ 1997 Ford struck the Dodge on the driver’s side, causing the Dodge to enter the ditch.

Kruse was cited for Failure to obey a Yield Sign.

The Montgomery County Extension Council and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have announced the hiring of Chelsea Cousins as Montgomery County’s Youth Coordinator.  Cousins began working for the Extension Service April 4th.

As the County Youth Coordinator, her primary duties are to strengthen youth development through research-based education and interactive learning opportunities. Cousins will coordinate the planning and implementation of 4-H development and youth outreach programs, such as summer day camps, babysitting clinics, afterschool programs, Family Fun Night and more.

As an integral part of the 4-H program, she will focus on positive youth development by establishing community partnerships, supporting volunteers, county youth council, 4-H youth and committee and other project committees.

Chelsea Cousins is originally from rural Nebraska and was a member of the Nemaha Valley 4-H Club in Gage County. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing, including emphases in Spanish and Ag Journalism.  Cousins brings several years of experience working with youth, leadership development and community collaboration.  Cousins resides just outside of Griswold with her husband.

Chelsea Cousins

She’ll will work closely with Montgomery County’s 4-H program and coworkers, Stephanie Langner, Program Coordinator and office assistant Jodie Smith, as well as other Field Specialists serving Montgomery County. Feel free to contact Chelsea at ccousins@iastate.edu or 712-623-2592 regarding any questions you may have about Montgomery County’s 4-H program and other resources available through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A driver at I-80 Speedway and Eagle Raceway is using the hood of his race car to honor a fallen Omaha police officer. The Omaha World-Herald reports that driver Jim Cahill unveiled the tribute to officer Kerrie Orozco at Omaha Police Department’s northwest precinct on Wednesday. The fallen officer’s mother, Ellen Holtz, from Walnut, IA, christened the race car by spraying it with a bottle of champagne.

Orozco died May 20th, 2015, after she was shot by a suspect as police sought to arrest the fugitive on an assault warrant. Cahill’s four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive Chevy features a large portrait of Orozco, as well as Support Blue and Kerrie On logos.

Cahill plans to test the race car Friday and Saturday at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, NE.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says a woman from Diagonal reported Wednesday, someone had gotten into her “Party Bus” while it was parked at 1678 E. Adams Street, in Creston. A sound system, which included a radio, speakers and amp, were stolen from the bus. The loss was estimated at $500.

A new report shows Iowa is seeing some important improvements in the prevention of child abuse. Sarah Welch, spokeswoman for Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, says while the state’s population has grown over the decades, reports of some types of violence against children have actually dropped. “For example, in child sexual abuse, we’ve actually seen a decline since the ’90s,” Welch says. “A lot of that came at the same time that we increased training and education for children and also for adults on how to create an environment that prevents that kind of situation from happening.”

She says the numbers are also falling in another key category. Welch says, “We’ve seen a decrease in physical abuse and some of that came at the same time that we were working on shaken baby syndrome and how to prevent those kinds of injuries in the first few weeks of a child’s life from the stress of parenting.” Prevent Child Abuse Iowa marked its 40th anniversary in 2015 and she notes the times have very much changed.

“Most people now are aware that child abuse exists,” Welch says. “Back in the ’70s when we got started, that wasn’t even considered an issue for the state and many communities. Now, people are aware it’s an issue and our next step is, how do we prevent it?” April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The group’s annual conference is scheduled for April 25-27 in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy and Montgomery County Sheriff Joe Sampson have announced a permanent Medication Drop box (Iowa Take Back drop box) is now located in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center at 106 W. Coolbaugh Street, in Red Oak. The drop box will be accessible to the public during normal business hours. The special drop box is made possible through a small grant from the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy to address the increasing problem of prescription drug abuse.

Citizens wishing to utilize the medication drop box are asked to place all medications in sealed non-breakable containers and are requested to not include any “sharps” (syringes or lancets) or any other item that could cause injury to personnel servicing the drop box. Remove all personal identification from your unneeded “controlled prescription drugs,” seal the medicines in vials and/or bags, take them to your nearest Iowa Take Back drop box site, and anonymously place your medicines in the secure drop box.

Find additional Iowa Take Back sites at: http://www.iowa.gov/odcp/drug_information/takebacks.html. Most prescription drug drop boxes are located a short distance inside the main public entrance of local law enforcement centers. If you have questions, call ahead to the law enforcement agency.