The Iowa DOT reports (as of 11-a.m.), I-80 westbound is experiencing a 30-minute delay due to an accident between Exits 75 and 70. The left lane is blocked.

A bill to address some of the problems in Iowa’s Medicaid program has cleared a House committee. The State Ombudsman just released a scathing report on the privately-run program. The bill directs state officials to review any case where services are cut by one of the private companies. Legislators call them managed care organizations or M-C-Os. Republican Representative Dave Heaton of Mount Pleasant says the bill also requires state officials to step in if a patient wins an appeal. “The decisions on the services continued will lie with the department and not the MCO,” Heaton said. “I think we need to make sure we have covered that.”

Representative Lisa Heddens, a Democrat from Ames, had been hoping for something tougher. “I know this is a starting spot,” Heddens said, “and I hope we can be able to continue to work on addressing all the problems that still are a part of the managed care companies.”

The bill would require the private companies to pay doctors, hospitals and other health care providers by the contract deadlines — and explain any delays. An independent auditor would randomly check payments, too, if the bill becomes law. Senate Republicans balked at the nearly five-million dollar price tag for a previous version of this bill, so it was scaled back.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report four recent arrests. Today (Friday), 37-year old Daisy Manfroi, and, 35-year old Misty Petterson, of Glenwood, were both arrested for Possession of drug paraphernalia. Their bonds were set at $300 each. On Thursday, 41-year old Michelle Sinclair, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant. Her bond was set at $300. And, 36-year old Justin Wright, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication – 3rd offense. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Update 9:45-a.m.) One person died during an accident this (Friday) morning near the Cass-Adair County line on Interstate 80. One of the accidents happened on I-80 westbound at the 73 mile marker. Two vehicles were involved. Traffic was backed-up for several miles. As of 10-a.m., westbound traffic was being re-routed to White Pole Road (Hwy 6) to Anita, and then north on Highway 148 to I-80. Anita Rescue and Wiota 1st Responders were dispatched to the scene.  A separate, rollover accident reportedly occurred on I-80 eastbound just after 9-a.m., with the vehicle in the south ditch. Additional details are currently not available.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man disguised a video camera as an alarm clock so he could record a woman and her 11- and 12-year-old children when they used a bathroom in their Polk County home.
Court records say 53-year-old Brian Hoffman, of Lidderdale, pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of invasion of privacy, unlawful interception of communication and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The woman described Hoffman as a friend after she called police to report her discovery of the camera. Police say the clock was placed to face the bathroom and the memory card was accessible through a wireless internet connection. Police say the card had several images of the woman and the children naked.

Hoffman told investigators he didn’t know the clock contained a video device.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports 18-year old Mariah Lynn Reed, of Creston, was arrested Thursday afternoon. Reed was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a warrant for Violation of a Protection Order, and Interference with Official Acts. She was transported to the Adams County Jail, and held without bond.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 4 Office in Atlantic reports two bridge replacement projects will begin next month in northern Adair County. Both projects are on Highway 25, less than five-miles south of Interstate 80. The projects include a bridge over the Middle River (1.2 miles S. of I-80), with an estimated cost of slightly more than $2-million, and, the North Turkey Creek bridge, located 4.6-miles south of I-80. That project is estimated to cost a little more than $1.4-million. In both cases, the old bridges will be removed, with a new substructure and piers installed prior to the bridge deck.

Residents in the area of the bridge closures will still have access to their homes, with staggered barricades for local traffic only. Traffic will otherwise be detoured from I-80 on County Road P-28, south to Highway 92, east of Greenfield. Both projects are scheduled to begin May 29^th, with completion in November.

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

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of abducting her three daughters in northwest Iowa has pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors. Clay County District Court records say 26-year-old Danica Arzaga, of Spencer, entered the pleas Wednesday to three counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. The charges had been lowered from felony kidnapping. She was given two years of probation and a suspended prison sentence of six years.

Authorities say Arzaga took the two 8-year-olds and a 4-year-old from their home in Royal on Sept. 19. The children were found abandoned in Sanborn later that day. She was arrested Sept. 20 in Sioux City.
The children had been removed from Arzaga’s custody and placed in another relative’s care.