Child welfare experts at the Iowa Department of Human Services are seeking changes in state law to better protect children whose caregivers are involved with illegal drugs. Under a proposed bill, a wider variety of controlled substances would trigger a child abuse investigation. Jenae Harvey, with the D-H-S Child Welfare Bureau, says several key drugs found in homes aren’t now covered.

Harvey says, “What we’ve seen over the past two years is families where cocaine, heroin, opioids and methamphetamines are alleged, those caregivers tend to be involved with the Department of Human Services repetitively.”

The current law was designed to protect children in homes where methamphetamines were being used, sold or manufactured. Under the proposed bill, a child abuse investigation would be warranted if the drug activity occurs even when the child is not home. Harvey says the D-H-S has had repeated contacts with families where cocaine, heroin, opioids and meth are present.

She says, “We want to have the opportunity to do the necessary safety and risk assessments for the children and get the caregivers the substance abuse treatment they need in order to be the best parents that they can.”

Under the proposed change, the D-H-S would spend more time evaluating the families. A similar bill failed to win passage last year.

(Radio Iowa/Thanks to Joyce Russell, Iowa Public Radio)

(Corrects source of report) — Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports Page County Crime Stoppers is offering a monetary reward  for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons who broke into the Parkview Apartment Complex, located at 1001 E. Main St., in Clarinda. The incident happened sometime during the evening of November 20^th or the early morning hours of November 21^st.

A large amount of flooring material was stolen from the apartment complex, which is currently undergoing renovations. If you have information concerning the burglary and theft, contact the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194. Callers may remain anonymous.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests took place, Tuesday. 20-year old Kameron Myers, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for serious Assault, and for Possession of Marijuana. He posted a total of $2,000 bond, and was released. And, 37-year old Jeremy Potts, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Driving While Revoked. Potts also posted a $2000 bond, and was released.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska man was arrested Tuesday evening on an Audubon County warrant, following an investigation into a person living in a vacant home southwest of Avoca. A Deputy was dispatched to a residence in the 40,000 block of Sumac Road at around 4-p.m., after the home’s owner called authorities saying the residence should be vacant, and that a family member may be there without permission.

The Deputy made contact with 40-year old Patrick Eugene Petersen, of Omaha. A records check indicated Petersen was wanted on a warrant out of Audubon County for Failure to Appear in Court for a compliance hearing, on an original charge of Eluding. Petersen was booked into the Pott. County Jail pending extradition to Audubon County.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 38-year old Kirk Thomas Ring, of Underwood, was arrested Monday night for Obstruction of an Emergency Communication device, following an investigation into a disturbance in Underwood. Officials say a Deputy made contact with Ring’s father, who said Kirk and his girlfriend wouldn’t stop arguing. The father advised the Deputy that when he told his son he was going to call 9-1-1, Kirk took his phone away. A neighbor ended-up calling in the verbal disturbance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines doctor has agreed to pay more than $176,000 to settle federal allegations that his clinic submitted bills for unapproved or counterfeit cancer drugs. The Des Moines Register reports Dr. Magdy Elsawy was accused of purchasing the drugs in 2012 from a company that distributed faulty or fake medications. He denies wrongdoing, and he has not been charged with any crimes.

Federal officials say in settlement documents released Tuesday that Elsawy’s Hematology and Oncology Center of Iowa “improperly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for cancer treatments when (the clinic) knew or recklessly disregarded the fact that the drugs used in those treatments were unapproved, misbranded or counterfeits.”

The clinic’s lawyer, Dulce Foster, said her client’s payment “is in no way a reflection of any wrongdoing.”

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

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The director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says he’ll be forced to layoff employees and reduce services “significantly” if there’s not an increase in the fee for an Iowa fishing license. The 19-dollar annual fee hasn’t been changed since 2003. Those license fees go into the state’s Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund, which is used to run the state-run fish hatcheries and other related services, but the D-N-R’s Chuck Gipp says that budget’s becoming “a challenge.”

“There is no such thing as ‘status quo’ expenses. That continues to go up as health costs go up, as employee salaries and things like that go up,” Gipp says, “so we’re struggling when it comes to having the personnel there.” Gipp has met with groups that represent Iowa hunters, fishing enthusiasts and others to discuss the situation. “It isn’t grandma down the street that doesn’t hunt and fish that’s going to be impacted by revenue increases,” Gipp says. “It’s going to be the actual person that purchased the license that is getting the benefit of the fish hatcheries,” Gipp says.

Gipp’s department operates seven fish “hatcheries” in Iowa that raise 150 MILLION fish each year, for stocking Iowa lakes and rivers. The Fairport Fish Hatchery on the Mississippi River near Muscatine is nearly 100 years old and “should be closed down,” according to Gipp. “The newest facility we have is a fish hatchery at Rathbun,” Gipp says. “But that’s 25 years old and the liners of those fish ponds that grow the fish are now 25 years old and need replacements, so you’re looking at $1 million or more just to replace that type of facility.”

Gipp made his comments Tuesday, during a budget presentation in the governor’s office. Governor Terry Branstad says he’s “neutral” on the idea of raising the fishing license fee.  “The fishermen, if it’s something they really want, then I think they’re going to have to visit with their legislators about it,” Branstad says. “I’m not advocating for it. I’m not opposing it.”

Nearly 400-thousand people purchased an Iowa fishing license this past year. State officials say while there’s been a decrease in the number of hunters, the number of people who fish in Iowa has held steady.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s secretary of agriculture is touting a water quality plan House Republicans advanced earlier this year. Bill Northey says the plan would dedicate “significant” state resources to address water quality concerns. “A real commitment, no new taxes…is a great pattern to work from and we’d certainly be very supportive of that.”

This past January, Republican Governor Terry Branstad proposed diverting some sales tax money levied for school infrastructure projects to water quality initiatives. House Republicans came up with their own plan, using water usage fees and gambling taxes for water quality projects. Neither idea was debated in the Senate, where Democrats controlled the debate agenda. “We recognize that there’ll be good conversations this year at the legislature this year about water quality funding,” Northey says.

Northey, a farmer from Spirit Lake, has been Iowa’s secretary of agriculture since 2007. Northey says farmers in Iowa have been “very active” in trying to control and reduce farm chemical run-off from cropland. Critics say the voluntary approach isn’t working and it’s time for the federal government or the courts to force changes in farming practices.

(Radio Iowa)

An annual report released Tuesday projects Iowa’s prison population will grow by 30-percent over the next decade if current offender behaviors and justice system policies remain in place. Steve Michael is administrator for the Iowa Department of Human Rights’ Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Plan. “This last year, we had more admissions than releases and that’s really the reason we’re projecting the increase,” Michael said.

Nearly 250 more inmates were admitted to Iowa prisons in fiscal year 2016 compared to 2015. While the forecast suggests Iowa’s prison population could grow to 10,648 inmates by 2026, Michael notes there are “major changes” in Iowa’s criminal justice system that were NOT taken into account with this projection. “For example, the criminal justice reform bill that was passed during the last legislative session, which reduced mandatory minimum (sentences) for second-degree robbery and created a new robbery third-degree, which does not have a mandatory minimum,” Michael said.

That bill was signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad and took effect on July 1.
“So, it’ll probably be five years out before we see the benefit of that,” Michael said.

The report shows Iowa’s prison population has dropped since 2011. Iowa’s prisons held a record high 9,009 inmates in April of 2011. On Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Corrections reported 8,312 inmates were being housed in nine prisons around the state.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to experience the magic of Christmas at Santa’s newly renovated Cabin this Thursday, December 1st from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Atlantic City Park.  Share your holiday wishes with Santa in his newly renovated cabin. The cabin’s electrical has been updated by Brown’s Electric. Brymons Interiors, sponsor, decorated the cabin giving it a new whimsical feel. Also, Steve Livengood created a new window for everyone to sneak a peek.

Ouida Hargens, Executive Director, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “Atlantic Rotary owns the cabin and sponsors the cabin for Christmas in Atlantic. Their generous support, along with Brymons Interiors, allowed for all the new updates.  It was time to freshen up the cabin for Santa and he was very happy with the new changes.

Santa’s cabin is open this Thursday, December 1st from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and again on Saturday, December 3rd from 3 – 5:30 p.m. before the Annual Fireworks and Lighted Parade.  Santa will be in his cabin the following dates:

Thursday, December 1st 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 3rd 3:00 – 5:30 pm
Thursday, December 8th 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 10th 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Thursday, December 15th 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 17th 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Enjoy a stroll down Chestnut Street by horse-drawn carriage on Saturdays in December, sponsored by First Whitney Bank. December 3rd from 3- 5:30 and Dec. 10th from 1:30-3:30 p.m.  Free hot cocoa provided by Atlantic BPW, Family Crisis Support Network, MAHLE Engine Components and Meyer & Gross Real Estate. Popcorn provided by Eastside Salon and Meyer & Gross Real Estate.

For more information, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.