Several “lawsuit reform” measures passed by the 2017 Iowa legislature are becoming law this Saturday. One new law will shield more than 100 fairs in Iowa from lawsuits over transmission of the bird flu and other diseases from the animals on exhibit. Representative Chuck Holz, a veterinarian from Le Mars, says the State Fair as well as county and district fairs are included. “The liability exemption is contingent upon the fair authority posting a warning sign at conspicuous places at the fair where people visit for the first time, so they would notice it,” Holz says.

The signs are to warn against touching the animals and to encourage fair-goers to frequently wash their hands to prevent the spread of disease. Tom Barnes with the Association of Iowa Fairs says county fairs have had similar warnings in the past, but the new law spells out exactly what they have to say. “There has to be a sign posted at the very first point of entry into the livestock area warning fairgoers of the possible pathogenic diseases,” Barnes says, “and all of our fairs, I know, are getting those signs prepared.”

Barnes says visitors to animal exhibits in other states have sued after contracting infections. State Senator Dan Zumbach, a farmer from Ryan, says going to a fair carries an “inherent risk.” “Some of these risks, such as being kicked or stepped on, are obvious, but exposure to pathogens — however — is not as obvious as a physical injury from an animal, ” Zumbach says. “This bill protects county and district fairs as well as the state fair from liability caused by pathogens believed to be encountered at these fair events.”

This new legal protection for fairs in Iowa passed the Iowa House unanimously. Only one member of the Iowa Senate voted against it. Republicans who hold a majority of seats in the legislature approved several OTHER bills that change the rules for lawsuits. The G-O-P changed liability standards in workers compensation claims, asbestos poisoning cases and medical malpractice lawsuits as well as so-called “nuisance” lawsuits filed against farmers.

(Radio Iowa)

(Delayed post) More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic Police Department reports no one was injured during a two vehicle accident in Atlantic on Thursday afternoon. The accident occurred at 3:05pm at the intersection of 29th Street and Highway 6.  A vehicle driven by Michael Hollinger of Glenwood was southbound on Highway 6 approaching the 29th Street intersection when a vehicle driven by Kyle Klindt of Oakland pulled out in to the intersection and was struck by Hollinger. Klindt was cited for Failure to Yield at a Stop Sign and No Proof of Insurance.  No injuries were reported at the time of the accident and damage was estimated at a total of $15,000.

The state Supreme Court has approved the 2018 operating budget for the state court system that will be the same as it was last year. The Iowa Legislature approved nearly 176 million dollars for the court system budget. There was a budget cut in the 2017 budget, so the court will operate this year with three-million-dollars less than the 2016 budget. The court will continue the statewide hiring freeze that state court administrator David Boyd says left them with 150 vacant positions. Boyd says the cuts in staff will means work gets processed slower and there are fewer judges to decide cases.

“Iowans will not receive the same type of timely response from the judicial branch and the delivery of timely services that it has in the past,” according to Boyd. There are also cuts to training and education programs, as well as office supplies, furniture and non-I-T equipment. All court personel were required to take a day of unpaid leave on May 26th to make up for state budget cuts. The day off for the 14-hundred-46 employees was project to save 364-thousand dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa Health Care says it’s going cashless for clinic services. Patients won’t be allowed to cover co-pays or other medical expenses with cash or checks, starting Saturday.

System spokesman Tom Moore told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that going cashless will help the system save money on administrative costs. He says about 3 percent of the payments received by the University of Iowa Health Care are in the form of cash or checks.

University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital has been cashless since its new building opened in February.

Police in Creston are reporting just one recent arrest. 27-year old Spencer Jordan Leitzel, of Creston, was arrested Thursday night for Driving While Suspended. Leitzel was brought to the Union County Jail and later released on a $300 bond.

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

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An accident involving a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) in Atlantic Thursday afternoon resulted in an Atlantic man being transported to the hospital. Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson this morning confirmed to KJAN News 50-year old Rex McDermott was involved in the crash that happened at around 4:57-p.m.

Lt. Paul Wood told KJAN News Thursday evening, that the UTV McDermott was operating had been traveling south on Mulberry Street when he failed to stop at the intersection with 10th Street. The machine crossed 10th Street and struck a utility pole guy wire on the south side of 10th Street.

The impact caused the 4-wheel machine to flip onto its side and land on a residential driveway. McDermott was ejected from the machine and transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital before he was flown by LifeNet to a hospital in Omaha.

Witnesses told police the man was traveling faster than the posted speed limit prior to the crash. The accident remains under investigation, with charges pending.

photo by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

The three Republicans from Iowa who serve in the U.S. House have voted for bills designed to deny federal money to so-called “sanctuary cities” and ensure immigrants who are in the country illegally are detained if they’re charged with a serious crime. Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron, was among the lead sponsors of the “No Sanctuary for Criminals Act” because of the tragic death of Sarah Root. She’s the 21-year-old from Council Bluffs who police say was killed on an Omaha street by a drag-racing drunk driver who fled the country.

“Her father, Scott Root, testified before the committee and he said this: ‘They bailed the killer of my daughter out of jail for less money than it took to bury her and he was out of the country before we could have the funeral,'” King said during House debate this afternoon. “Those words were some of the most chilling and mournful words that I have heard in this congress.”

Sarah Root’s mother, Michelle, sat in the gallery of the U.S. House as King and Congressman David Young of Van Meter spoke in favor of the bill. “My vote today is about policy, but it is in honor of Sarah Root.”  Congressman Young noted President Trump supports the two bills.  “Yesterday, I was at the White House with President Trump and the parents and relatives of those daughters and sons who were killed they those who are here illegally,” Young said. “Their stories are very heavy and they should weigh on all of us.”

Young called Sarah Root’s death “senseless.” “In late January of 2016, Sarah’s parents — Michelle and Scott Root — started their day with joy. You see, on that day their beautiful daughter, Sarah, graduated. She had the whole world ahead of her, but for Michelle and Scott the day ended with loss and tragedy,” Young said. “…Sarah was killed by a drunk driver here illegally…and then through incompetence and uncertainty about the law and policy or both, but for sure a lack of common sense, Sarah’s killer was released and today Sarah’s killer is free.”

Young praised the Root family for their political activism. “They fight to make sure no other parent or loved one has to go through the tragic ordeal they had to go through,” Young said. “…They continue to advocate and so must we.” Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque also voted for the bills, but debate time was limited and he did not speak on the House floor. Iowa’s other Congressman, Dave Loebsack of Iowa City, was among the Democrats who voted “no” on both bills.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Thunderstorms have loosed a barrage of hail on eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, shattering windshields, damaging roofs and shredding field crops and urban gardens.

Hailstones as big as baseballs were reported in the Omaha metropolitan area, including neighborhoods that had been clobbered by howling winds and tornadoes on June 16. Omaha Public Power District says power outages occurred overnight. At 5:15 a.m. Friday, the utility was reporting 170 Omaha customers without electricity.

Quarter-size hail damaged buildings and heavy rain flooded streets in Sioux City, Iowa.