(Radio Iowa) — A study ranks Iowa above the national average in health emergency preparedness, being ready to respond to everything from tornadoes to terrorism to a tuberculosis outbreak. Glen Mays, director of the National Health Security Preparedness Index, says it measures 129 different areas, from the percentage of bridges in good condition to the prevalence of hazard planning in public schools. “Overall, things are going quite well for Iowa,” Mays says. “You’re right in line with the national average in terms of overall levels of health security protections and in several areas, Iowa is leading the nation, has above-average levels of health security.”

All of the categories are boiled down to a ten-point scale on which Iowa scored a six-point-eight for preparedness, compared to six-point-seven for the United States as a whole. The scores indicate the ability to protect the health status of residents from incidents like infectious diseases, extreme weather conditions and terrorist attacks. In several categories, Iowa was out front nationally. “In particular, in the incident management domain, which is the ability to respond rapidly to a disaster or emergency event,” Mays says, “and also Iowa does very well in environmental occupational health, being able to monitor for hazards in the environment and in the workforce and being able to respond to them.”

Iowa scored poorly in one category, community planning and engagement. It involves the ability to build and maintain strong relationships between government agencies, community organizations and individual households. “Iowa has fewer numbers of volunteers, particularly health professionals that volunteer as part of medical reserve corps, people who agree to go out and respond to hazardous events when they occur,” Mays says. “Part of that is related to Iowa’s large rural populations and you have health workforce shortages that make it a little more challenging.”

Iowa should continue building on its strengths, Mays says, while looking for opportunities to improve in areas where there are deficits. Mays is a professor of health policy at the University of Kentucky. The National Health Security Preparedness Index program is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.     https://www.nhspi.org/

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Court records say a man accused of shooting a Davenport police officer has been charged with attempted murder. Scott County District Court records say 27-year-old Brett Dennis also is charged with weapons possession by a felon. The Scott County attorney’s office says in a news release that Dennis shot Davenport Police Officer Ryan Leabo on April 25 after a foot chase and struggle. The release says Dennis had run away when Leabo tried to talk to him and another man. They’d been seen rummaging through a car.

The release says one shot from Dennis hit Leabo in a leg and a second gunshot was stopped by Leabo’s bulletproof vest. The release says Leabo then shot Dennis in a leg. Dennis later told investigators he wanted Leabo to shoot him. The release says Leabo’s use of force was justified.

An Adams County man was arrested at around 9:10-p.m. Tuesday on drug, assault and other charges, following a traffic stop. Adams County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Phillip Eugene Currin Jr. of Corning. During the course of the traffic stop, the K9 “Baxo” was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics.

While deputies were attempting to detain Currin, he became combative and uncooperative. After further investigation, Currin was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense (marijuana), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (marijuana pipe), Interference with Official Acts, and Assault on a Peace Officer.

Once in the jail, deputies located a pipe used to consume methamphetamine, a small baggie containing methamphetamine, and oxycodone pills concealed on Currin’s person. Currin was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense (methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense (oxycodone), and Possessing Contraband. He was additionally cited for Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability and for having a defective muffler system.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol is conducting an internal investigation into a manager who received $40,000 in benefits to relocate to western Iowa but for tax purposes recently claimed a newly built house 120 miles away as his home. The investigation is looking into whether Lt. Joel Ehler is in compliance with its residency policy and whether the moving expenses were handled appropriately. A spokesman says the patrol is taking seriously concerns raised in a complaint that sparked the investigation.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted a man accused in the 2015 death of his girlfriend’s 4-year-old daughter of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. The Courier reports that Chad Little, of Waterloo, was found guilty Tuesday in a Black Hawk County court and faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified a driver who died following a three-vehicle chase and shooting in Council Bluffs. Police say 18-year-old Ethan Edgar, of Hutchinson, Kansas, was killed. Police say the chase and shooting began when an Omaha, Nebraska, man and his friends went looking for the man’s stolen car and found it at a gas station being driven by Edgar.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A developer needs just one more city council vote before he can implement proposed plans to transform a former Des Moines junior high school into an eclectic space featuring meeting rooms, restaurants, a bar and boutique hotel. The Des Moines Register reports that the council is set to vote May 20 on a request to rezone the property from church and school use to a planned unit development. We Can Build It owner Jeff Young says he hopes to invest up to $8 million to revamp the former school.