Iowans now have easier access to a drug that can reverse a heroin or opioid overdose and prevent it from being fatal. Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved a bill that allowed family members or friends to possess and administer naloxone, but under that bill they couldn’t buy it. Kevin Gabbert at the Iowa Department of Public Health says that was a big gap in the legislation.

Gabbert says, “Where it fell short, it didn’t identify how those persons in a position to assist could access naloxone.” Before adjourning, lawmakers agreed to let any person close to a drug addict get a prescription for the antidote and keep it on hand. Parents of addicts who died of drug overdoses had pushed for the change. The new law took effect on July 1st and is a game-changer for Iowans who are worried about a loved one who’s also an addict.

Gabbert says, “A family member or friend could go to a physician and obtain a prescription because they were concerned or they knew an individual who had a heroin or opioid dependency.” The new law also extends access to naloxone for more emergency medical personnel. This fall, pharmacies should be able to keep standing orders for naloxone so it can be purchased without an additional visit to the doctor.

The legislation includes legal protections for those who administer the drug to reverse the effects of an overdose.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) says $1.7-million in grant funding is being provided for cultural development projects in five, newly designated, and two current, Iowa Great Places communities. The announcement follows the DCA’s approval of an Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board recommendation to designate and award funding to the communities. Among them, is Malvern.

The Malvern Area Betterment Association is receiving $292,900 to strengthen community development initiatives in the City of Malvern, through downtown streetscaping and public art. Other cities receiving DCA grant funds are: Bondurant; Dubuque; Forest City, and Maquoketa.

Madison County and the City of Manning, two current Iowa Great Places, are receiving a total of $209,400. The Madison County Chamber of Commerce receives $41,500 to increase accessibility to the John Wayne Birthplace, through site development, landscaping and property restoration. The City of Manning receives $167,900, to enhance community revitalization initiatives, by expanding Trestle Park, and developing the Trestle Trail.

Created in 2005, the Iowa Great Places program has awarded nearly $17 million to 41 designated Iowa Great Places. The Iowa Great Places program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit www.iowaculture.gov or call 515-281-5111.

Two Union County residents were arrested Thursday evening on drug-related warrants. 28-year old’s Clay Allen Brammer and Tara Lynn Mickael, both of Arispe, were taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m. on warrants issued out of Union County.  Brammer was arrested a warrant for three felony counts of Controlled Substance Violation. Mickael was arrested on a warrant for a single felony charge for Controlled Substance Violation.

Brammer was being held in the Union County Jail, while Mickael was transported to the Ringgold County Jail. Their bonds were set at $50,000 each.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A popular Des Moines music festival plans to check all bags as part of increased security at the event. The Des Moines Register reports  suggestions for heightened security at the 80/35 music festival started last summer, when the event had overflowing crowds. Festival organizer Amedeo Rossi says bags checks will be required at the six entry points throughout the festival grounds for people who want to enter the event.

Bag checks were previously only conducted when entering the paid main stage area of the festival. Attendees were allowed to roam throughout the free areas of the event without being checked. Rossi says some fencing will be used around the grounds to ensure that bags are checked.

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

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AMES, Iowa — The research farms Iowa State University operates in southwest Iowa have a new leader. ISU says Dallas Maxwell has been named superintendent of the Armstrong and Neely-Kinyon research and demonstration farms located near Lewis and Greenfield, respectively. The farms are owned by the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development, a multi-county association of farmers and agricultural businesses, which leases the farms to Iowa State.

Dallas Maxwell

Maxwell has served as interim superintendent since October when Bernie Havlovic, the original superintendent, retired. He also has worked with the beef cattle activities at the farms since 1998. Maxwell is an Iowa State alumnus, earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1977.

The Neely-Kinyon farm is managed as a satellite of the Armstrong farm, which is the location of the Wallace Learning Center. Research at the farms focuses on corn/soybeans, beef cattle, soil management and a variety of other agricultural topics. The farm’s staff includes Randy Breach, Dan Schaben and Jim Rogers who, along with Maxwell, support 75 research projects including on-farm trials and hosts more than 2,000 visitors a year.

(Update 5:55-a.m. – all lanes are open north & southbound, according to IDOT)

A truck driver from Sioux City was injured after he fell asleep at the wheel of the semi he was driving late Thursday evening and struck a guardrail off Interstate 29 and rolled over, in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol says 47-year old Danny Loggins was transported by Missouri Valley Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley, following the crash that took place at around 9:05-p.m. on I-29 southbound, about a mile north of the Missouri Valley exit.

Authorities say after the semi hit the guardrail, it struck cement bridge support pillars. The semi’s tractor and trailer, which was loaded with about 5,000 gallons of a diesel additive, rolled onto its drivers’ side. The interstate was closed in both directions for two hours while a HAZMAT Team responded to assess the situation and clean-up the mess. Officials eventually opened one lane in both directions for a few hours. The latest report from the Iowa Department of Transportation indicated all north and southbound lanes had been cleared and traffic was flowing in both directions.

Missouri Valley Fire and Rescue and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office also assisted the Iowa State Patrol at the accident scene.

Sales tax changes took effect in several Iowa communities last Friday, July 1st. A  seven percent hotel/motel tax officially took effect in the Carroll County community of Manning. A new Boulders Inn and Suites Hotel is scheduled to open in Manning this October. A one percent sales tax went into effect in the tiny southwest Iowa community of Blockton on July 1st. The community plans to use the new sales tax revenue for street repairs.

A one percent local option sales tax is now being collected in 11 cities in Warren County. Indianola plans to use its share of the new tax money to pay for a new wastewater treatment plant. Warren County officials plan to use a quarter of the county’s portion for property tax relief and the rest to finance construction of a new county courthouse and jail. Other Warren County communities have plans to use the money for streets, sidewalks and other city expenses. Warren County voters approved the new tax earlier this year. Victoria Daniels, the public information officer for the Iowa Department of Revenue, says voters knew how the money would be used.

“On the ballot they have to have a revenue purpose statement and say: ‘Here’s what this money will be used for,’ and that’s what the voters are voting on,” Daniels says, “not only that a.) they agree with having this tax, but b.) they agree with the purpose.”

And, the local option sales tax that has been collected in the communities of Storm Lake, Alta, Rembrandt and Lakeside in Buena Vista County is now permanent. It had been set to expire.

(Radio Iowa)

Thanks to a generous donation by the Red Oak Kiwanis Club, and the help of several volunteers, Montgomery County 4-H youth will enjoy a new activity at the 2016 Montgomery County Fair. A Gaga Ball Pit was permanently installed on Friday, July 1st at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on the south side of the 4-H Exhibit Building. A Gaga Pit is wood octagon, made up of eight sides with a 20 foot diameter court for play.

The object of the game is to use a lightweight ball to hit another player below the knees to eliminate them from the “pit”. The last person in the pit is declared the winner. “We are excited to offer a game that youth have enjoyed playing at 4-H camp for several years and now it’s right here at the Montgomery County Fair,” stated Chelsea Cousins, County Youth Coordinator at ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County.

“Kids of all ages, sizes and athletic ability can take part in this activity – it is an easy to catch on, face-paced game with many opportunities to be the last one standing.” The Montgomery County 4-H Youth Council plans to host a 4-H Club Tournament on Saturday, July 16 at 4:00 PM. The public is welcome attend. Pickup games will also be played throughout the week of Fair.

This project would not have been completed without the collaboration of several community players. The Red Oak Kiwanis Club fully funded the project. Thanks to Brian Carlson at the Do It Center for cutting the materials and prepping the construction site at no cost.

Thank you to 4-H parents Bob Peterson, Roger Vial and Beth Vial for coordinating and constructing the project. Thank you 4-H youth Kate Carlson, Hayden VanMeter, Colin Bruce, Alec Selberg and others for helping complete the construction of this project.

(Press Release/Montgomery County Extension)