DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Mercy Medical Center wants to build a $31 million psychiatric hospital in the Des Moines area to respond to an extreme shortage of mental health services. The Des Moines Register reports that the new hospital would have 100 beds. Mercy currently has 34 psychiatric beds in its downtown facility. Mercy spokeswoman Laura Vanden Bosch says the facility would be in Polk County, but the specific location hasn’t been determined.

Vanden Bosch says officials hope to have their project proposal before the state Health Facilities Council in July. The council decides whether health care projects are needed or if they’d inflate costs and duplicate available services. Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed a mental health bill that hopes to address the lack of mental health resources in the area.

Republican legislators are setting aside two-and-a-quarter million dollars to finance new internships and apprenticeships associated with the “Future Ready Iowa” program. Governor Kim Reynolds launched the initiative in 2016 when she was lieutenant governor, to encourage enrollment in science, technology, engineering and math or “STEM” courses. Democrats complain the Reynolds Administration plans to spend 425-thousand dollars to advertise the program. Senator Bill Dotzler, a Democrat from Waterloo, says “We don’t need to do this. You know it isn’t right. This stinks.”

That’s . Dotzler says says the money would be better spent helping students pay for college or technical training. And Dotzler objects to the already-signed contract that calls for airing ads touting the governor’s signature “Future Ready” program in September, October and November — during the height of campaign season. “It smells like there’s something in the governor’s wood pile,” Dotzler says, “and it smells like inappropriate use of public dollars for political purposes.”

Brenna Smith, a spokeswoman for Governor Reynolds, says the Future Ready program is a top priority of the governor and Reynolds will continue to make sure Iowans know they may apply for so-called “last dollar scholarships and grants” that can help students land “high-demand jobs.” Reynolds plans to ask legislators to provide the MONEY for the “last dollar scholarships” next year.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Glenwood report the arrest today (Friday), of 24-year old Daniel Gorman. The Silver City man was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $1,000.

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

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The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has donated $500 to Josh Peach for the upcoming kids fishing clinic. The clinic takes place Saturday, June 2nd. at Lake Anita State Park. The Friends of Lake Anita will begin registration for the event at 9:30, with fishing to start at 10.  There will be a short program held prior to fishing.  Each participant will receive a prize and the event is finished off with a hot dog, chips and water provided to the participants.

Lake Anita Park Mgr. Josh Peach (Left), receives a check from Melanie Petty with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund. (Photo submitted)

Fund spokesperson (and Trevor’s mom) Melanie Petty, says “We are happy to help sponsor this wonderful event that gets kids out into the great outdoors.  Fishing is a great sport that you can enjoy all of your life.  If you are new to fishing, the group even has a few fishing rods that they will loan out for the event.”

Petty reminds you also, that the 10th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, August 11th at Nishna Hills Golf Club.  This is the only fundraising event for the year.  If you are interested in entering a team please call or text Melanie Petty at 712-249-3696.  She says “We look forward to a great day of golf and friendship.”  All monies raised are donated back to the community that Trevor loved.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the shooting death of a woman in Davenport. Officers dispatched after a 911 call early Friday morning found the wounded woman. Police say she died later at Genesis Medical Center-East. Her name hasn’t been released. Iowa Criminal Investigation Division agents are trying to find out what happened. No arrests have been reported.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Two men were arrested Thursday night on assault charges, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 21-year old Adam Edward Lee Austin and 23-year old Taran Paul Austin, both of Creston, were arrested at their home at around 9:30-p.m., for Assault. Bonds for both men was set at $300 each.

MIDDLEBURY, Ind. (AP) — A recreational vehicle maker is kicking off a more than $12 million expansion in northern Indiana. The Elkhart Truth reports Forest City, Iowa-based Winnebago Industries held a groundbreaking Thursday in Middlebury on the Winnebago Towable Campus near its current facility. Officials say the expansion could bring up to 125 new jobs to the area by 2019.
Michael Happe, president and CEO of Winnebago Industries, says the company is “confident in the growth in this business. He says it’s a “fantastic opportunity for this business to expand its product line over time and continue to meet rising demand.”

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — The mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing has told a northeast Iowa court that she may use as a trial defense diminished responsibility or intoxication.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the attorney for Cheyanne Harris filed the notice Thursday in Black Hawk County District Court. She and the infant’s father, Zachary Koehn, have pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges. She’s also seeking a trial delay.

Koehn has asked that his trial be moved to another county because of pretrial publicity. Authorities have said the body of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn was infested with maggots when found Aug. 30 in the swing by deputies and medics called to his parents’ Alta Vista apartment.