DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has named an interim director to oversee Iowa’s transportation department after its last leader resigned. The governor’s office says Mark Lowe will formally take over the Iowa Department of Transportation on Tuesday. Lowe gave an agency budget presentation on Monday following an announcement of his new post.

Lowe replaces Paul Trombino, who resigned earlier this month. Trombino, whose last day on the job is Monday, says he stepped down so he could consider taking a private sector job. Lowe has led Iowa DOT’s motor vehicle division since 2009, and he previously served as the department’s general counsel. There is no timeline for naming a new Iowa DOT director, though officials are now accepting applications.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Medical marijuana supporters are hopeful the Iowa Legislature could expand the state’s limited cannabis oil law. The Des Moines Register  reports that Republican Rep. Clel Baudler plans to propose a bill that would allow the production and distribution of medical cannabis oil in Iowa.

The Legislature passed a law in 2014 that allows Iowa residents to possess cannabis oil for the treatment of epilepsy. That law is set to expire in July. A separate law currently makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute that oil in the state, while federal law prohibits its transportation across state lines.

Threase Harms, who lobbies on behalf of the Epilepsy Foundation and the upper Midwest chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, says the organizations will continue to try and educate lawmakers about the issue to build broader support.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa says a $45 million donation will fund a center to research diseases that affect the brain and nervous system. The Iowa Neuroscience Institute will investigate causes, preventions, treatments and cures. It will be led by Ted Abel, a University of Pennsylvania professor who will join Iowa’s faculty in January.

The gift comes from the university’s largest donor, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, which has now given $195 million. It was founded after the 1981 death of Carver, a Muscatine businessman and philanthropist.

The center will bring together top researchers from across the university, including biologists, computer scientists and engineers. The donation will support laboratories, research projects and faculty salaries. Medical school dean Jean Robillard says the gift will foster “a new era of scientific innovation.”

The state’s top medical officer has issued a “standing order” to pharmacies, so qualified people can get a drug that stabilizes people who overdose on “opioids” like Oxycontin or heroin. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says the drug “Naloxone”  doesn’t “cure” the overdose, but it reduces the impact an opioid overdose has on the respiratory system, giving more time to get the victim to a hospital.

“First responders along with family members and friends to someone at risk for an opioid overdose are all encouraged to become aware of Naloxone, gain access to it and learn how it is administered,” Reynolds says. Iowa is now one of more than 30 states with a law that lets people who respond to emergencies or who are close to an addict get Naloxone. “Recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose can mean the difference between life and death,” Reynolds says.

In Iowa over the past decade, there’s been a 230 percent increase in emergency room visits from patients who’ve overdosed on an opioid.

(Radio Iowa)

Governor Terry Branstad says it may be time for state officials to “carefully” review when video from police cameras mounted on dash boards and police body camera footage may be released to the public. “This is kind of a recent development, these police cameras, and I think it would be appropriate for us to carefully review our laws,” Branstad says.

Cedar Rapids police have not released the video of an officer-involved shooting during a traffic stop on November 1st. The Linn County Attorney has said the video of the shooting is exempt release under Iowa’s Open Records Law. The Iowa Public Information Board told Cedar Rapids media it’s up to the police chief to decide whether the dash camera should be released.

“The Iowa Public Information Board was established to really be able to answer questions that come up on this subject, but if there is an ambiguity or if there’s areas that need to be clarified, it may require legislative action so that’s something that I think we need to carefully look at and determine what would be appropriate to again protect the public safety, but do it in a way that’s fair and even-handed.”

Branstad says in general, he supports “transparency” that makes nearly all government documents and records public, but he says releasing these kinds of videos could “jeopardize” prosecutors’ ability to get a conviction. “Here’s the thing: when you’re looking at these kind of videos, they oftentimes involve a criminal investigation and so you don’t want to…release prematurely items that are important for a criminal investigation, so you have to be very careful about that,” Branstad says.

The Linn County Attorney is convening a grand jury to determine whether the Cedar Rapids policeman was justified in shooting Jerime Mitchell, who goes by the nickname “Danky”. Mitchell was shot in the neck during some sort of altercation with the officer and is paralyzed. Cedar Rapids police have not said why Mitchell was pulled over or what may have led to the altercation.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a Fort Dodge man died after being pulled from Big Wall Lake in Wright County Thanksgiving Day. Wright County Conservation Board and Wright County sheriff’s officials responded to a call around 4:30 p.m. of a man in distress at the game management area and found 55-year old Kevin Simons,  facedown in about 2 ½ feet of water approximately 200 yards from shore.

Simons was pulled from the water, treated at the scene but later died at the hospital. Authorities believe he died from exposure and hypothermia.

The Glenwood Police Department reports four people were arrested on drug charges over the past week. On Sunday, 23-year old Megan Graalfs, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, 19-year old Michaela Goodman, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Thanksgiving Day, 32-year old Cindy Swanson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, last Wednesday, 21-year old Blake Holland, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Glenwood Police also arrested 33-year old Jeremy Williams, of Glenwood, on Sunday, for OWI/2nd offense, assault, and carrying weapons while intoxicated. His arrest followed an accident in Glenwood, where Williams’ 1999 Dodge Intrepid struck the rear of a 2013 Nissan Titan pickup, driven by 42-year old Joseph Edwards, of Glenwood. After the impact, the Dodge continued to push the pickup sideways. Williams eventually drove around the truck and left the scene. Edwards followed the car and called police. Williams proceeded to a residence in the 900 block of Green Street, where he was involved in an altercation before he was taken into custody. Damage to the pickup amounted to $200, while the Dodge sustained $1,500 damage. No injuries were reported.

And, 44-year old Dawn Barrett, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. On Nov. 24th, 19-year old De’One Denson, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports five arrests over the past week. On Nov. 22nd, 26-year old Matthew David Alluisi, of Greenfield, was arrested on charges that include Public Intoxication and Simple Domestic Abuse Assault (for allegedly striking his girlfriend, resulting in no injuries). Alluisi was also arrested on a warrant out of Dallas County. He was brought to the Adair County Jail and later transferred into the custody of Dallas County deputies.

On Nov. 25th, 49-year old Ronald Lee Shedenhelm, of Logan, was arrested by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper on Interstate 80, in Adair County. Shedenhelm was wanted on a warrant out of Wapello County, on an original Driving While Barred, charge. He was brought to the Adair County Jail and later transferred to the custody of Wapello County deputies.

On Nov. 20th, Greenfield Police arrested 31-year old Barrett Martin Driskill, of Afton, and 41-year old Mandi Lea Stowers, of Orient, after the vehicle they were in was stopped near the intersection of Highways 92 and 25. Driskill and Stowers were taken into custody for Violation of a No Contact Order. Stowers faces an additional charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance, 3rd or subsequent offense, after Police found her to be in possession of a toothbrush container that allegedly contained a clear liquid substance believed to be meth. Both subjects were later released on their own recognizance.

And, a central Iowa man was arrested on eastbound Interstate 80 in Adair County at around 8-a.m. on Nov. 20th, after an Iowa State Patrol Trooper stopped a vehicle for speeding. Prior to stopping for the Trooper, the vehicle driven 21-year old Albert Saye Dweh, of Urbandale, was observed by the Trooper, swerving all over the road. The report said Dweh nearly lost control of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The Trooper had to pull beside the man’s car to get his attention, when his cruiser’s lights emergency lights failed to garner Dweh’s attention.

While speaking with Dweh, the Trooper detected a strong odor of alcohol, and saw an open container on the rear passenger side floor board. A container of bourbon was also found in the vehicles’ arm rest. Dweh told the Trooper that he was coming from a baby shower, celebrating a semi-pro football team, and that he had gotten lost before ending up in Harlan, and finally making his way back to I-80.

At the Adair County Jail, Dweh’s Breath Alcohol Content tested at .136, nearly twice the legal limit for intoxication. He was released from the jail later in the afternoon on Nov. 20th, on a $1,000 cash bond, or surety.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Relatives say an 18-year-old died after falling under a car he was holding onto while it was traveling down a gravel road on the southwest side of Burlington. Clayton Connelly was injured around 1 a.m. Thursday. He was taken by private vehicle to a West Burlington hospital and then transferred to an Iowa City hospital. The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office says he died there. He’d lived in Burlington.

The Hawk Eye reports Connelly’s family said he’d been “gravel surfing” with friends. Gravel surfers hold onto vehicles and slide along the surface as the vehicles move down gravel roads. The Sheriff’s Office says Connelly exited the vehicle while it was moving.

The Shelby County “Fire Danger” index continues in the “Moderate” category, this week. Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says the public should continue to call-in and report their planned burns.  Doing so reduces unneeded emergency responses, and allows local chiefs to be more aware of activities in their area. The “Moderate” rating will continue until at least Thursday, Dec. 1st.