Iowa’s 19 state-licensed are making an extra effort to reach out to customers this week as part of Responsible Gaming Education Week. Iowa Gaming Association C-E-O, Wes Ehrecke says the casinos have several activities planned throughout the week. “The Responsible Gaming Education Week has always been a time over the last 18 years to focus on heightening awareness with our patrons and treatment providers and staff….that people should go to the casino for the fun and entertainment that it is intended to be and using discretionary dollars,” Ehrecke says.

A big issue being discussed this year is the change in the law on self bans from casinos. “It’s an opportunity to answer questions and get everybody sort of on the same page — kind of a learning curve here,” Ehrecke says. The new law clarifies that the ban only includes the gaming floor areas at the casinos. He says a lot of studying went into changing the law that now gives someone the option of a five-year ban — which had been limited to only a lifetime ban. Ehrecke says treatment professionals believe it may lead to more people taking advantage of it because it doesn’t last forever.

“When people maybe have the loss of a loved one, going through a divorce or loss of a job. It’s not necessarily a compulsive gambler, they just need a time out. Something that’s maybe shorter than a lifetime,” Eherecke says. “So this is giving that opportunity of a better option.”

The new law began July 1st and Ehrecke says those who had banned themselves already have a chance to take another look at the issue. “If they’ve been excluded for at least five years they would have an opportunity to be reinstated,” Ehrecke explains . “So that’s another aspect of this we’ve been trying to help educate and heighten awareness and answer questions — of which there have been plenty of in the last couple of weeks.”

While this week focuses on the effort to stop problem gambling, he says casinos are working on the issue throughout the year. “It’s absolutely important to have a focus on responsible gaming year round, and I applaud our casinos who work with respective area treatment providers. They invite them in on a periodic basis,” Ehrecke says. “Certainly this week there is a lot of attention on staff training and interaction, and just looking at signage and what can we do to improve.”

Ehrecke says there is a lot of information available on gambling and the rules in the state at the Iowa Gaming Association’s website at: iowagaming.org.

(Radio Iowa)

A reminder: The Cass County Democratic Party is holding their 6th Annual School Supply Drive. School supplies collected will be divided among the three county school districts to serve those children who are in the most need.

Supplies can be taken to the Cass County Democratic Party’s booth at AtlanticFest on August 12th. You can also drop off supplies at Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle’s home, located at 10 East 13th Street in Atlantic until the start of the school year (August 23rd). Needed supplies include everything from backpacks to pencils and pens to notebooks to personal supplies such as facial tissue.

Toelle says “We want to provide the children of Cass County with needed school supplies that they might not otherwise be able to afford. This is part of our Democratic mission–to serve those in the community who need our help.” She added, “Later in the year we will also be sponsoring a Food Drive and perhaps a winter clothing drive.”

Toelle stressed that “While the Democratic Party is sponsoring this drive, it is open to all members of the community. It is a non-partisan event for our children.”

One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident at around 6-p.m. Tuesday, in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol says 73-year old Lynda Bugg, of Crescent, Oklahoma, was traveling south on Interstate 29 at mile marker 78, when for reasons unknown, the 2006 GMC 1500 pickup she was driving, entered the median, re-entered I-29, and went out of control in the southbound lanes. The pickup came to rest on its top in the southbound west lane, facing northbound.

The pickup was hauling a bumper hitch camper that came to rest in the west ditch of I-29, still attached to the pickup. Bugg – who was wearing her seat belt – was transported by Missouri Valley Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

BALTIMORE (AP) — A U.S. Supreme Court decision triggering new sentences for inmates serving mandatory life without parole for crimes committed as juveniles has had a far greater effect. The ruling is prompting lawyers to apply its fundamental logic _ that it’s cruel and unusual to lock teens up for life _ to a larger population, those whose sentences include a parole provision but who stand little chance of getting out.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 12 for a man suspected of shooting another man to death in northern Iowa. Court records say Antoine Williams pleaded not guilty Monday in Floyd County District Court to a charge of first-degree murder. Authorities say he shot Mason City resident Nathaniel Fleming several times in Charles City on June 30 before pulling Fleming out of a vehicle and fleeing the scene.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — An Oct. 18 trial start has been scheduled for a man accused of killing another man in central Iowa’s Jasper County. Online court records say Randy Linderman pleaded not guilty Monday to first-degree murder. Authorities say he killed 61-year-old Jose Ramirez Berber in Newton.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — Court records say a man accused of killing another inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary plans to assert self-defense during his trial on a murder charge. The records say Lha Southideth-Whiten has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the slaying of Michael Whitworth during an Oct. 20 altercation in the Fort Madison prison’s cafeteria. The Hawk Eye newspaper in Burlington reports that Southideth-Whiten’s trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 29.

An accident involving a skid loader resulted in the death of a man Tuesday afternoon, in Fremont County. The Sheriff’s Office reports deputies were notified at around 2:30-p.m., about a single-vehicle accident involving a skid loader near the intersection of 370th Ave and 200th Street, which is near Farragut.

Deputies determined 56-year old Timothy Henry Shirley, of Thurman, was operating a John Deere 333D Compact Track Loader, removing trees from a ditch located southwest of the intersection, off 370th Ave.  The skid loader overturned coming to rest with its cab facing down, near the bottom of the ditch.

Upon arrival of rescue personnel, they found Shirley deceased inside the enclosed cab of the loader. An exact cause of death is unknown at this time.  Deputies are awaiting results of an autopsy.  The skid loader was not damaged.  Farragut Fire and Rescue, Shenandoah Fire and Rescue and the Fremont County Medical Examiner’s Office assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

Officials say those Moscow Mules could have a sickening kick if you’ve been repeatedly drinking the cocktail in a completely copper mug. The Moscow Mule contains non-alcoholic ginger beer along with a shot of vodka and a very generous splash of lime juice. Dave Werning is with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.

“The problem with the copper mugs is that copper is a heavy metal and as such it can become toxic, if not fatal, over a period of time, so it’s not an immediate danger,” Werning says. “If we find the use of copper mugs in an establishment we inspect, it’s cited as a violation of the food code and then the establishment is given time to correct it.”

The bar or restaurant has the option of taking any drink served in a copper mug off the menu — or getting new copper mugs, which have a nickel or stainless steel lining inside and a “food-safe” lacquer finish on the outside. Werning says he can’t recall an Iowa bar or restaurant being cited for the use of SOLID copper mugs.

Federal guidelines state the food or drinks with a pH balance below six are not to come into contact with copper — as that can cause food-borne illnesses. “When the pH of the, in this case, beverage is lower than 6.0, the copper leaches into the beverage and then it’s consumed by the person,” Werning says, “and then, over time, it can become fatal.”

Werning says there’s a major reason why most if not all bars and restaurants in the state use the appropriate copper mugs with a lacquered exterior and a stainless steel or nickel lining. A SOLID copper mug is far more expensive.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of business leaders suggested a drop in business conditions but still indicated the economy will pick up over the next few months in nine Midwest and Plains states. A report released Tuesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index dropped to 56.1 last month from 62.3 in June. The May figure was 55.5.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says it “points to solid growth for both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing for the second half of 2017.” The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report several arrests dating back to July 21st. On July 31st, 24-year old Edward James Taylor, of Avoca, was arrested in the 500 block of Main Street, in Harlan.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with driving while revoked and violation of financial liability coverage. And, 22-year old Matthew Allen Strong, of Harlan was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Last Saturday, 43-year old Lyle James Kline, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for a domestic situation in the 1000 block of Baldwin.  Kline was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault.

On July 27th, 55-year old Curt Grant Whiteley, of Harlan, was arrested after a call for a possible intoxicated subject in the 900 block of Farnam.  Whiteley was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

July 22nd, 22-year old Brandon Lee Anderson, of Harlan, was arrested on a Shelby County warrant.  He was transported to the jail.

Only July 21st, 42-year old Dawn M. Nellor, of Audubon, was arrested following at stop in the 600 block of Court Street, in Harlan.   She was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with public intoxication and interference with official acts.

And, on July 20th, 54-year old Brian E Tice, of Carter Lake, was cited for driving while suspended following a traffic stop in the 1200 block of Chatburn, in Harlan.

A collision between a van and a semi in Harrison County this (Tuesday) morning, resulted in the death of a Nebraska man. The Iowa State Patrol reports 37-year old Kevin Bright, of Omaha, died from injuries he suffered when the 2013 Ford van he was driving, struck the rear of a 2010 Peterbilt semi, driven by 51-year old Bradley Davis, of Red Cloud, NE.

The accident happened at around 8-a.m. in a construction zone on Highway 30 at 180th Street. Officials say Davis was eastbound and had stopped at the stop sign in the construction zone, waiting for the pilot car. For reasons unknown, the van, which was also eastbound, hit the rear of the truck. Kevin Bright, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported by Woodbine Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley, where he was pronounced dead.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 31-year-old Sara Sue Batten of Red Oak on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear and Resisting a Court Order. Batten was arrested at 11:19am in the 800 block of East Washington Avenue. She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $100 cash bond.