Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced an influential youth basketball coach to an effective lifetime prison sentence for secretly collecting sexual images of 440 boys and fondling more than a dozen over a 20-year period. U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams sentenced former Iowa Barnstormers coach Greg Stephen to 180 years in federal prison. Williams called Stephen’s crimes horrendous, saying he abused his position of trust to prey upon boys who saw Stephen as a gateway to college basketball.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has secured another win in its fight with Iowa and Nebraska to keep its newly opened casino in western Iowa. The National Indian Gaming Commission ruled in the tribe’s favor Wednesday, saying it has the right to operate the Prairie Flower Casino on land it acquired in Carter Lake, Iowa. Nebraska, Iowa and the neighboring city of Council Bluffs, Iowa, sued to close the casino, saying the tribe had misrepresented its plans for the site.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a bill that makes it a crime to claim pet is a service animal in order to take it into a store or a restaurant. The new law also requires landlords to allow individuals with a disability to have service animals but it also requires the person to provide proof they are disabled and need an animal. Denying a disabled person an animal is a simple misdemeanor but intentionally lying that an animal is a service animal when it isn’t also is a misdemeanor.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Mississippi River at the Quad Cities in Iowa and Illinois has reached a new record high. The National Weather Service website on Thursday afternoon showed the river level at 22.64 feet (6.9 meters), just above the 22.63-foot mark reached on July 9, 1993. Parts of downtown Davenport, Iowa, remain underwater after the river tore through a temporary barrier. Several Mississippi River towns also are seeing floods that are closing in on levels reached in 1993.

(Radio Iowa) — A new report from the American Society of Civil Engineers gives Iowa infrastructure a “mediocre” but passing grade — and suggests raising taxes to improve water quality and finance improvements to bridges, airports and other critical infrastructure. Joshua Trygstad, a civil engineer at a consulting firm in Grimes, is president of the society’s Iowa section.

“Infrastructure is the foundation of everyday lives,” he says. “It impacts all parts of how we live, work and play in Iowa.” Christy VanBuskirk, an engineer from Hedrick, was chair of the group that evaluated 12 different forms of infrastructure and came up with the grades. “In 2019, Iowa receives an overall grade of C,” she says. “That is an improvement from the 2015 grade when infrastructure in our state received a C-minus. We’ve made progress in some areas, but we still have a lot of work to do overall.”

The engineers noted many levees in urban areas have been improved over the past decade, but it’s been difficult to get grants to improve levees in rural areas. Aaron Moniza, a civil engineer from Cedar Rapids, says reliable funding for new levee construction as well as improvements to existing systems are essential.  “In many locations, for each dollar spent on flood mitigation in advance of a flood event, multiple dollars are saved that otherwise would be spent on flood recovery efforts,” Moniza says. “Additional study on flood plain hydraulics is also needed to assess the impacts of climate change and infrastructure activities affecting run-off rates and stormwater volumes.”

The group also suggests the standards for designing and inspecting levees should be uniform throughout the country. The lowest grade — a “D” — went to the more than four-thousand dams on Iowa rivers and streams. The engineers warn the frequency and severity of flooding means MORE “emergency action plans” must be prepared to deal with the failure of dams, including the locks and dams on the Mississippi River.

The group supports raising the state sales tax to help finance water quality improvements and the civil engineers suggest the state’s gas tax should regularly increase at the rate of inflation.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Mississippi River at the Quad Cities in Iowa and Illinois has reached a new record high. The National Weather Service website on Thursday afternoon showed the river level at 22.64 feet, just above the 22.63-foot mark reached on July 9, 1993. Parts of downtown Davenport remain underwater after the river tore through a temporary barrier.

Several Mississippi River towns also are seeing floods that are closing in on levels reached in 1993, the benchmark flood for many areas of the Midwest. Two Mississippi River bridges — one at Quincy, Illinois, and another at Louisiana, Missouri — have been forced to close.

In West Alton, Missouri, 20 miles north of St. Louis, the 500 or so residents were under a voluntary evacuation as the river was expected to crest a half-foot higher than the levee can hold. Officials say the levee is so long that sandbagging isn’t an option.

(Radio Iowa) — A study of some 15 years of data on mosquitoes in Iowa finds you are most likely to contract the West Nile virus from the pests buzzing around the western side of the state. Iowa State University entomologist, Ryan Smith, says the research is the first time they’ve been able to get an idea of the pattern of West Nile transmission. “Those counties in the western region of the state seemed to be at much higher risk. And at least one of the other major conclusions from our study is that that also seems to correlate with the presence of a certain mosquito — Culex tarsalis (cue-lix tar-sal-is) — which is also found predominantly in that region,” Smith says.

Smith says the research indicates the ecology of the western counties is a big factor. “This species really kind of likes more kind of farmland area — especially that that is irrigated farmland. It really thrives in those little ditches and runoff that you might have associated with these areas,” according to Smith. “This Culex tarsalis isn’t really found in your kind of more urbanized areas. So, there is a big distinction that Culex tarsalis is usually found in these more rural areas,” he says. The I-S-U Medical Entomology Laboratory conducts yearly surveillance of mosquito populations, using a network of traps across the state that are regularly emptied and the mosquitoes inside are catalogued. Smith says they reviewed the Iowa data from between 2002 and 2016.

He says the study mirrors those from Nebraska and South Dakota with this mosquito on West Nile transmission an he says it continues all the way to California.”You can almost draw a line kind of through the middle of Iowa, and everything to the left of is where you can find this one — and everything to the right is where you wouldn’t expect it,” Smith says. But Smith cautions that this does not mean you can’t get the West Nile virus from other mosquitoes in the state. “This mosquito seems to be a little bit better at transmitting West Nile virus — but it doesn’t mean that other mosquitoes that we have throughout the state aren’t also involved,” according to Smith. “So, there are several different mosquito species that can transmit West Nile, and we do find those throughout Iowa. So, our study doesn’t say that they are not involved — it just says the one that is most likely involved in human case is this Culex tarsalis mosquito.”

Smith says you should follow the state Health Department recommendations and use a mosquito repellent with DEET and cover up exposed areas when you are going to be out at times when any mosquitoes might be active. Smith says the research answers some of the questions about West Nile transmission, but there are other questions, such as the impact of weather. “We’re starting to understand how some of these factors influence it, but even 15 years of data isn’t fully enough I don’t think to really understand what is going on.
There’s no doubt that weather patterns definitely have an impact on our mosquitoes and on transmission,” Smith says.

Iowa had 103 cases of the West Nile virus in 2018, with five deaths. The Department of Public Health says people who are infected with West Nile may not experience any signs or symptoms. Some people experience minor symptoms like fever and mild headache. Others, however, can develop a life-threatening illness that includes inflammation of the brain.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has secured another legal win to keep its new casino in western Iowa open, despite the best efforts of the states of Iowa and Nebraska.
The National Indian Gaming Commission ruled Wednesday in the tribe’s favor, saying it has the right to operate the Prairie Flower Casino on land it acquired in Carter Lake, Iowa.

While the casino is technically in Iowa, it lies west of the Missouri River, essentially in the heart of Omaha. The neighboring city of Council Bluffs, Iowa — which already hosts three state-licensed casinos — and the states of Iowa and Nebraska sued to shut the Prairie Flower down.

The lawsuit says the tribe misrepresented its intentions by initially announcing plans for a health center on the Carter Lake lot.

The Des Moines Register reports 21 Iowa high schools appear in the top third of U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 national rankings. Ten schools ranked in the top 2,000 schools in the country and 11 more ranked within the top 3,000. The Atlantic High School ranks 34th in Iowa, and is the highest ranked high school in the Hawkeye-10 public schools (Harlan 51, Glenwood 91, Shenandoah 99, Clarinda 103, Denison 125, Creston 130, Lewis Central 132, Red Oak 216-319).

The rankings are made up of the top 12,245 high schools in the country. Each school is ranked by a weighted mix of five factors: college readiness, math and reading proficiency, math and reading performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rate. (read more here: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/search?ranked=true&state-urlname=iowa )

The University of Iowa is hosting wildlife day camps in several state parks this summer, and there’s still time to sign up!  Summer day camps are for 3rd – 7th graders and taught by teachers, naturalist staff and college students. Kids will learn about animals, ecology and the outdoors in a fun, safe environment. Day camps are Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Check out the list below to find a wildlife day camp near you! (click on a site below for more information and registration)

Nearby 2019 Camps:
Springbrook (Guthrie Center) June 17 – 21
Stone (Sioux City) June 24 – 28
Waubonsie (Hamburg) July 15 – 19
Prairie Rose (Harlan) July 22 – 26
Lake Manawa (Council Bluffs) July 22 – 26

Thousands of bicyclists will be rolling into Atlantic on July 21^st for an overnight stop during RAGBRAI 2019 – the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The event was last held in Atlantic, back in 2011. RAGBRAI Committee members Billie Hoover and Mike Waters say the riders are in process now of looking for host families. Hoover says they will accept requests from riders until about mid-June. (click on the left side of the audio bar(s) below to “Play” the cut)

Hosts can specify how many riders they are willing to accommodate.

The event offers host families and the riders a chance to make long-lasting friendships. Riders and hosts families alike may go to www.Atlanticragbrai.com, to sign-up. There are links directing both riders and hosts to provide their respective information. As for the hosts, they specify what they are willing to provide and if they have preferences.

The Housing Committee she says, will not place anyone who is not a REGISTERED Ragbrai rider, because registered riders have signed a Waiver of Liability, which protects home-owners and hosts. The riders will be notified through e-mail who their host families are and where they are located. And, the hosts will also be notified about who to expect and what their needs are. Most of the riders will be up and on their way out-of-town to the next overnight stay, the following morning.

Even though Sexual Assault Awareness month has come to an end, the resources for survivors of sexual assault are always available at Cass County Health System. Sara Beth Jones, RN, Lead House Supervisor and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), says “Sexual assault is a crime, and in addition to the physical harm inflicted, it’s also emotionally and mentally overwhelming. When a sexual assault occurs, we advise that the survivor should go to the nearest  Emergency Department as soon as possible.”

SANE nurses. Pictured left to right: Darcy Young, RN, Sydney Amdor, RN, Shelly Atkinson, RN, and Sara Beth Jones, RN. Not pictured, Lori Glassel, RN.

At the Emergency Department, the patient will be cared for by a SANE. A SANE is a registered nurse who has completed specialized training and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of a patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse. Jones said “We always have someone on-call to respond when a survivor comes into our emergency department.” The sexual assault forensic exam is free for survivors. “Worrying about money should be the last thing on their mind,” said Jones. The State of Iowa pays for expenses related to the forensic exam,  including immediate preventive treatment of sexual transmitted diseases.

Survivors also dictate the entire process of the forensic exam. “Anytime they want to take a break or end the exam, we stop — no questions asked. The survivor’s wishes are honored all the way through the process.” Once the exam is complete, all evidence from the exam will be packaged and sealed appropriately. “We’re also here to help connect survivors to resources such as a trained sexual assault advocate,” said Sara Beth. Sexual assault advocates are available 24/7 from the Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program (they also offer a 24/7 crisis line at 1-888-612-0266). These advocates provide information about community services, crisis counseling, legal rights and options, assist with transportation needs, as well as any other needs the survivor might have.

click on the graphic to enlarge

Advocates and SANE nurses work closely with local law enforcement, too, if the survivor wishes to have them involved. “Whenever we can use local resources to assist victims it is a win for us,” said Darby McLaren, Cass County Sheriff. “I think the victim is more comfortable, and we know who we are working with at CCHS which always helps.” Having the SANE nurses available at CCHS also eliminates the need for a deputy to transport a survivor to a larger hospital, which can take several hours. “We currently have five SANE nurses, and our plan is to add three additional SANE nurses, because we are very committed to supporting survivors the best we can,” said Sara Beth.

A call to Clarinda Police Wednesday afternoon from a local bank, resulted in the arrest of a man on forgery, theft and drug charges. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports Officers responded to the unidentified bank, where 21-year old Jason Lee Sarabia, Jr., of Braddyville, had allegedly had presented a forged check in an attempt to obtain cash. Officers arrested Sarabia Jr. on felony forgery and felony theft charges, along with a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge.

Sarabia was taken into custody without incident and was being held in the Page County on $11,000 bail. Additional charges against are anticipated pending the completion of the investigation into the incident. Reports concerning the incident have been submitted to the office of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.