(Radio Iowa) – A state panel has approved a legal settlement that will pay millions to two adopted siblings of an Iowa teenager who was abused and starved to death by a couple from Perry. Sabrina Ray was 16 years old when her body was found in a home in Perry six years ago. She weighed just 58 pounds. Her adoptive mother was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison. A judge sentenced her adoptive father to 80 years in prison.

The Iowa Appeals Board has approved a five MILLION dollar payment to each of two children who were also adopted by Misty and Marc Ray. Three years ago, a state ombudsman’s report found the abuse Sabrina and other children suffered could have been prevented if state social workers had not dismissed 11 separate allegations against the Rays. The settlement calls for creation of a state task force to address deficiencies outlined in the report from the state ombudsman.

An attorney for the two adopted sisters of Sabrina Ray who are receiving payments from the state says his clients suffered unspeakable abuse and torture and he says the hope is that this settlement marks the beginning of a new era in Iowa’s foster care system. Misty and Marc Ray, who ran a child care center, also took in 23 foster care chidren over a 10 year period and adopted four children, including the teenager who starved to death.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is joining Republicans who’ve expressed doubts that Donald Trump can win back the White House and has endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president.  “I’ve thought long and hard about making this decision, about telling Iowans and telling you where I stand,” Reynolds said. “…I could not and cannot sit on the sidelines any longer.” The Iowa Caucuses are the kick-off event in the 2024 G-O-P presidential race and Reynolds says that means Iowans play a critical role in making what she calls the right choice in 2024.

“We need someone who won’t get distracted, but will stay disciplined, who puts this country first and not himself,” Reynolds said. Reynolds did not directly mention former President Donald Trump, who leads in public opinion polls here and elsewhere, but Reynolds described DeSantis as a candidate who’s looks to the future, not the past. “Someone who most importantly, can win and that person is Ron DeSantis,” Reynolds said, “and it is why I’m so proud to stand here tonight to give him my full support and endorsement for president of the United States of America.”

Governor Kim Reynolds and her husband Kevin joined Governor Ron DeSantis and his family on stage on Nov. 6, 2023.

During an interview with the Des Moines Register, Reynolds said she doesn’t think Trump can win next November. During last (Monday) night’s campaign rally with DeSantis, Reynolds made an indirect reference to Trump’s remark that it was a terrible mistake for DeSantis to sign a six week abortion ban. Reynolds, who has twice signed similar legislation, praised DeSantis for it.

“Someone that knows when life begins and knows it’s a beautiful thing to save a beating heart,” Reynolds said. Reynolds also said DeSantis was the only candidate running for president who stood up to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was Trump’s chief medical advisor during the pandemic. DeSantis thanked Reynolds for the endorsement, telling the crowd that as governor, Reynolds had delivered really big results…when it’s not easy.

“Follow Governor Reynolds’ lead. Take up with our campaign. Caucus for us in January. Bring some friends, bring some family,” DeSantis said. “Iowa has the ability to jump start the comeback of this country.” Casey DeSantis, who spoke just before Reynolds, acknowledged the endorsement may not be politically convenient for Reynolds. “Courageous leaders ignore threats of retaliation and dismiss false promises,” Casey DeSantis said.

Trump has called Reynolds disloyal and Trump posted on his social media site that Reynolds’ endorsement of DeSantis is the end of her political career. A few Trump supporters stood across the street from the DeSantis rally last (Monday) night and a pickup carrying a Trump flag drove around the venue.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, released information about three, non-injury accidents. Sunday afternoon, a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup driven by 73-year-old Linda Kay Bentley, of Menlo, was traveling north on Talon Avenue, when the vehicle left the road.

The pickup went out of control and collided with a bridge guardrail before leaving the bridge and overturning into a creek below. Bentley was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Her pickup sustained $7,000 damage and was declared a total loss. The Guthrie County Roads’ guardrail sustained about $750 damage in the collision.

An accident at around 4-a.m. Saturday in Guthrie County, caused a total of $11,500 damage. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says a 2006 Ford F350 Super Duty pickup driven by 31-year-old Cameron Joel Hester, of Guthrie Center, was traveling south on Justice Road, when Hester apparently fell asleep at the wheel. When the pickup crossed over into the north lane and the driver’s side struck the bridge and then slid against the guard rail, ripping-off the vehicle’s front left tire. The truck came to rest in the east ditch. Hester left the scene of the accident, which was called-in by a passing motorist about 90-minutes after it occurred. Cameron Hester was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Failure to Use a Safety Belt.

And, on November 1st, a 2007 Chevy Equinox SUV driven by 81-year-old Virgil Lee Hoehne, of Panora, was traveling west on Highway 44 at around 7:36-p.m., when the vehicle struck a deer. Damage to the SUV amounted to $5,000.

(Rockville, MD) Officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Monday, announced seven health centers in Iowa are part of the top 10 percent of health centers nationwide receiving a Gold Health Center Quality Leader badge for their achievements in improving health outcomes and providing high-quality care for patients in rural and underserved communities. The digital badges, part of the Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badge program, honor the health centers across the country that have attained the best overall clinical quality performance.

The CHQR badge program recognizes outstanding performance in a variety of clinical areas, including behavioral health, maternal health, diabetes health, heart health, cancer screening, and HIV prevention and care, as well as overall quality performance.

The health centers in Iowa that received a Gold Health Center Quality Leader badge today are:

·      Community Health Care, Inc., in Davenport

·      Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa, Inc., in West Burlington

·      Crescent Community Health Center, in Dubuque

·      Greater Sioux Community Health Center, in Sioux Center

·      People’s Community Health Clinic, Inc., in Waterloo

·      River Hills Community Health Center, Inc., in Ottumwa

·      Siouxland Community Health Center, in Sioux City

A full list of badges and awardees is available here.

HRSA’s Health Center Program is a cornerstone of our country’s health care system, especially for individuals and families who are uninsured; enrolled in Medicaid; living in rural, remote, or underserved areas; struggling to afford their health insurance co-pays; experiencing homelessness; residing in public housing; or otherwise having difficulty finding a doctor or paying for the cost of care.

Today, approximately 1,400 HRSA-supported health centers operate nearly 15,000 service sites. In 2022, health centers provided care for more than 30 million patients, 90 percent of whom had incomes below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. A 2022 survey of 4,000 health center patients nationwide found 97% would recommend their health center to family and friends.

For information on 2023 CHQR badge recipients by national, state, or individual health center levels, visit: https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-centers/chqr

Learn more about the Health Center Program: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/about-health-centers/health-center-program-impact-growth

Sioux City, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Monday, said that on Sunday morning November 5, 2023, the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office requested DCI assistance with a death investigation involving a female inmate.  Jail staff observed the woman having a medical issue.  She was transported by ambulance to Unity Point Hospital in Sioux City where she was later pronounced dead.

The female has been identified as 27-year-old Asiana Primeaux of Marty, South Dakota.  Primeaux was arrested by Sioux City Police at approximately 1:30 AM Sunday on drug charges.  An autopsy has been scheduled for later this week at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, Iowa.

This is an on-going investigation, and no further details are being released at this time.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – The Iowa Department of Corrections, Monday, said 34-year-old Brian Jeffrey Combs, II, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree in Pottawattamie County, failed to report back to the Council Bluffs Residential Correctional Facility as required, Sunday.

Brian Combs II

Combs is a white male, height 6’2″, and weighs 257 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on August 17, 2023.

Persons with information on Combs’ whereabouts should contact local police.

A bankruptcy court has approved the sale of the Mercy Iowa City hospital to University of Iowa. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

A statement from the U-I says they are committed to offering employment to all Mercy Iowa City employees in good standing. The statement says they plan to conduct an in-depth analysis of the health care needs of Iowa City and there will be no immediate changes for patients, employees, or physicians. Their plan is for the two organizations to officially merge in early 2024.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is now caring for the 46 horses that were seized from a property in Dallas County near Madrid (MAD-rid) last week. The Dallas County Sheriff charged the owner of the horses, 78-year-old Linda Kilbourne of Johnston, with livestock neglect — and says more charges are pending. Robyn Dobernecker (DOB-er-necker), the A-R-L’s animal welfare intervention coordinator, says the property owner did not surrender custody of the horses, which means a legal battle looms.

She says it’s taken several days to physically move all of the horses to the A-R-L facility, get them all assessed, and start giving them the medical treatment they desperately needed. Dobernecker says the horses were living in heartbreaking conditions.

It’s incredibly expensive to care for a single horse, and suddenly having nearly four dozen of them — many in poor condition — is putting a strain on the agency’s resources.

The website is A-R-L-dash-iowa-dot-org (ARL-Iowa.org). Dobernecker was at the property in Dallas County last week and has been on many such calls during her career.

If the A-R-L is granted custody of the horses, she says they’ll eventually be put up for adoption, once they’re healthy.

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Hy-Vee stores are once again joining forces to honor Iowa’s military members during Hy-Vee Homefront, Hy-Vee’s annual Veterans Day breakfast. Hy-Vee will host a free breakfast at all Iowa store locations for veterans and active service members on Friday, November 10. Hy-Vee will also be circulating the Iowa Secretary of State’s “Honor A Veteran” postcards, encouraging Iowans to honor a loved one who has served our country.

“We really cannot say thank you enough to Iowa’s veterans and active military members,” said Secretary Pate. “We look forward to partnering with Hy-Vee every year for this opportunity to celebrate the brave Iowa men and women who have stepped up to serve their country and defend our freedoms.” Veterans and active-duty military will be able to receive this free breakfast between 6 A.M. and 10 A.M on November 10 in honor of Veterans Day at any Iowa Hy-Vee store. This event also serves as a way for the community to show their appreciation and gratitude to our local service members.

Secretary Pate’s ‘Honor a Veteran with your Vote’ program is another way individuals can show thanks to Iowa veterans.“These brave men and women have fought tirelessly for our freedoms, including our right to vote, and there is no better way to honor their service than by exercising that right and honoring them with our vote,” said Secretary Pate.

Secretary Pate and Hy-Vee have partnered to supply approximately 36,000 ‘Honor A Veteran’ postcards for Iowans to fill out on Veterans Day. Service members can use these postcards to write a tribute to a fellow service member, a loved one, themselves, or to give to a loved one to complete. These postcards will be returned to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office and tributes will be posted online at sos.iowa.gov/HonorAVeteran and Facebook.com/HonorAVeteran.

Both the person who creates the tribute and the service member, if they are still with us, will receive an ‘Honor A Veteran’ lapel pin from Secretary Pate in the mail. Pin recipients are encouraged to wear their pin with pride while voting. Secretary Pate hopes to inspire Iowans to participate in this breakfast and complete the postcards to honor Iowa service members this Veterans Day.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report two recent arrests. Sunday morning, 50-year-old Orlando Elisha Norwood was arrested at the Harrison County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred, charge. Bond was set at $2,000.

And, Friday afternoon, 33-year-old Bryan Michael Vannausdle, of Creston, was arrested in Mills County, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond at the Mills County Jail was set at $5,000.