(Radio Iowa) – The pandemic may be over, but ripple effects from all the stresses COVID-19 caused are still being felt in Iowa. Dr. Raymond Garcia, chief medical officer at Rosecrance Behavioral Health in Sioux City, says their Iowa facilities saw a significant spike in alcohol-related cases in recent years. Garcia says many people used alcohol as a way to manage stress during the pandemic, but also to socialize with others, even if they could only meet up online through Zoom.  “When you increase the behavior, that can increase the risk for developing a use disorder with the substance,” Garcia says, “and certainly, we saw that happening with alcohol.” Garcia says Iowa is facing an epidemic-level crisis with opioids right now, but he emphasizes alcohol remains the number-one most misused product. Alcohol use was the most common substance use disorder treated at Rosecrance during the past year, accounting for 20-percent of all cases.

“We did see a spike with COVID, and unfortunately, these things have a lasting effect,” Garcia says. “So people who developed a use disorder or maybe they had a recurrence during that period, they’re still struggling to recover from that within the last few years, even though the pandemic is effectively controlled or over.” During the height of the pandemic, a study found there were about 488 deaths — per day — nationwide that were caused by excessive drinking. Garcia says the same study found the number of deaths linked to excessive alcohol use has surged by 29-percent in just five years. He says Rosecrance is seeing a boost in both residential treatment and outpatient services.

“We’re seeing a higher number of people seeking counseling, and seeking medication management,” Garcia says. “Of course, it’s also triggering co-occurring mental health issues, so we’re seeing more people who’ve had their depression, anxiety disorders triggered by this as well, so there’s there’s been some other fallout.” Experts from Rosecrance are holding a free community discussion on alcohol misuse tonight (Tuesday) at 6 P-M at Spencer Hospital in Spencer.

“Anybody who has any concern,” Garcia says, “not only for themselves, but for people in their lives that they are concerned about, their loved ones, their friends, anybody who has any concern at all about this topic should attend.” Rosecrance facilities in Iowa serve more than 7,000 teens and adults every year at outpatient treatment clinics in Sioux City, Cherokee, Davenport, Le Mars, Spencer and Sheldon.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) – Iowa State Patrol has identified the woman killed after a side-by-side struck a deer Saturday night.  According to Iowa State Patrol, 58-year-old Elizabeth A Hackett, of Muscatine, died in the crash.

The crash happened just after 8 p.m. along Burlington Rd in Muscatine. Three injured were taken to the University of Iowa Hospital. Troopers identified them as 30-year-old Nathan J Hackett and 33-year-old Jessica K. Weikert of Muscatine, and 33-year-old Gage D. Curry of Letts.

ISP says four people were in the side by side when it struck a deer, went into the ditch, and rolled multiple times.

The investigation is ongoing.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — [KETV] – An Iowa woman pleaded guilty to DUI homicide by vehicle in the death of a man on Christmas Eve, in Council Bluffs. Police arrested 47-year-old Angela Thurman, of Pacific Junction earlier this year. Police said she hit 74-year-old Juan Avalos, who was standing near his vehicle parked near the intersection of Poplar Drive and Birch Street. He later died.

According to a court document filed on April 10, Thurman pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle – intoxication. A second count of possession of controlled substance will be dismissed at her cost, according to court documents.

She faces up to 25 years in prison. Her license will also be revoked for six years and Thurman won’t be eligible for a temporary restricted license for at least two years after that. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 19 at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse.

DES MOINES, Iowa — [KCCI] – The Iowa House took the next step in advancing a bill that would allow teachers and school staff to obtain a professional permit to carry a gun on school property. House lawmakers passed the bill in a 61 to 36 vote Monday. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk to sign. The Iowa Senate passed the bill Wednesday.

The bill would allow teachers and other school staff to get a permit to carry a gun on school grounds. In order to get a permit, staff would have to pass background checks and attend at least five training courses. Staff at private schools, colleges and universities would also be allowed to get a permit.

Large school districts would also be required to have at least one security officer per high school. School boards would be able to vote to opt out of that requirement. If Gov. Kim Reynolds signs this bill into law, it would take effect immediately.The House already passed the bill in February. That version included a grant program to help recruit and retain school resource officers. The Senate voted to remove that portion of the plan Wednesday and sent it back to the House for review.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has sent the governor a bill to set up state regulations for traffic cameras that generate tickets for speeding. Senator Mike Klemish, of Spillville, says cities and counties will have to get a traffic camera permit from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

“The DOT may grant the permit based on if the local authority can show that a speed camera is the appropriate, necessary and least restrictive means to address the traffic hazards at the proposed location,” Klemish says. Cities and counties will have to submit information to justify the speed limit in the area where a camera is placed, along with data about the number and severity of traffic accidents in the area.

“I think we’ve set up a very robust regulatory framework…and actually require cities and municipalities to prove the concept, to prove they need to have these traffic cameras in these locations,” Klemish says. “We’ve also put in place guidelines for where they can spend their money.” The fines from traffic camera tickets must be used on law enforcement. Legislators have been debating whether to ban or regulate traffic cameras since 2011.

Senator Tony Bisignano, of Des Moines, says there’s a need for automated traffic cameras in urban areas of the state, including the Des Moines freeway where he says it’s too dangerous for police to pull speeding motorists over and issue tickets.  “Those of you in this room who drive I-235 coming to and from the Capitol, if you haven’t sensed that your life’s in jeopardy at times by people who have no regard for your safety and theirs,” Bisignano said.

Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, was the only senator to vote against the bill. The House passed the bill last Tuesday on an 85-to-12 vote.

Des Moines – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau said Monday (today), a Montgomery County woman, 45-year-old Amanda Riggle, of Red Oak, was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony), Fraudulent Practices in the First Degree (Class C Felony), and Theft in the First Degree (Class C Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The charges against Riggle stem from an investigation that began in December 2023. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Riggle filed accident insurance claims containing false information with her insurer. Riggle obtained $11,545 from her insurer which she otherwise would not have been entitled to.

On April 11, 2024, Riggle was arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(Radio Iowa) – The legislature has passed a bill requiring motorists in Iowa to yield not just to pedestrians in crosswalks, but to bicyclists, skateboarders and people on scooters or in wheelchairs. It expands current state law, which says drivers face criminal charges if they injure or kill a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Representative Jon Dunwell of Newton says it’s important to protect others using a crosswalk to navigate traffic.

“Speaking as someone who back in 2000 I was in a bike lane and got hit by a truck and spent seven days in the hospital with four operations, and I can tell you how important it is with bikes and cars on the road that we protect bicyclists and create these safety areas,” Dunwell said. Representative Thomas Gerhold of Atkins says the bill will save lives and prevent injuries.

“Create more awareness from drivers when they are approaching a crosswalk, either marked or unmarked,” Gerhold said. The bill is headed to the governor’s desk. It passed the House at the end of February on an 84 to eight vote and the Senate approved it unanimously last week. The neighboring states of Nebraska, Minnesota and Illinois have similar laws.

(Radio Iowa) – Work is progressing on crafting the new Farm Bill, and Iowa’s Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says he’s hopeful the legislation that’s so important to the heartland will be finalized soon. “We’ve got the text ready to go, but before we can release the text, we have to know the tax score, what it’s going to cost,” Feenstra says. “The Congressional Budget Office has got to create that score because we’ve got to know, how do we pay for this? That’s what we’re waiting for.”

The Farm Bill is typically updated every five years, but a new version didn’t materialize last year, and Congress passed a one-year extension which will last through this fall.  “We’ve been dragging this thing out, but we’re really hoping that by May we can get it out of committee, and then mid-June, get it off the floor of the U.S. House, and then it’s up to the Senate,” Feenstra says. “I know our producers, just talking to them around all of my 36 counties, this is a really big deal.”

Feenstra says there’s a lot of concern over the crop insurance element of the Farm Bill. “With our low commodity prices right now, with soybeans below $12, and corn around $4.30, everybody’s worried because insurance is that safety net,” Feenstra says. “The input costs of putting that crop in, you’ve got to cover yourself and that’s the big, big issue.” He says there’s also a great deal of concern about the export market and finding new free trade agreement areas in which to grow.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – One person was injured and transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, following an accident that occurred at around 7:39-a.m. near 5th and Elm Streets. According to Atlantic Police, a 1996 Ford Explorer was traveling west on 5th Street, when for reasons unknown, the SUV crossed the travel lane and collided with a legally parked 2006 Dodge Durango that was facing east on 5th Street.

The unidentified driver of the Ford was transported to the hospital to be evaluated for possible, minor injuries, and unknown medical issues that may have caused the accident. Richter & Son Towing in Atlantic responded to pull the two vehicles apart, as emergency responders were unable to get the doors open and the driver of the Explorer out of their vehicle for further evaluation. Cass EMS and Atlantic Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Atlantic Police at the scene. Addition information was being withheld at this time. Police ask that anyone with information about the incident call the Atlantic P-D at 712-243-3512.