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Lawsuit filed against Branstad over mental health centers

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

(Updated 1:45-p.m.)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s largest public employees union and 20 lawmakers have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Terry Branstad over the closings of two mental health centers.

Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, announced Monday that he and lawmakers filed the lawsuit in Polk County District Court. The suit names Branstad and Charles Palmer, the director of the state Department of Human Services.

The lawsuit claims the closings this year of facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant were illegal because Iowa law requires the state to operate them.Branstad’s spokesman Jimmy Centers says Homan is resistant to change. He reiterated that the centers were not suited to offer modern mental health care. A DHS spokeswoman says the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

 

Survivor group wants bishops to seek out victims of priest identified as an abuser

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

An Iowa spokesman for a group that helps survivors of abused by priests says a Catholic priest who was publicly identified in Minnesota as a “credibly accused” child molester also worked in three Iowa towns. Father Paul Kabat worked in Milo from 1995 to 1998, Council Bluffs from 1992 to 1995 and Logan from 1985 to 1992. Steve Thiesen, of Hudson, is the Iowa director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests or SNAP.

Thiesen says they would now like the bishops in the parishes to reach out to each of the parishes in Iowa where Kabat was stationed to see if there are other people who were abused. “And have any of them come forward, report it to law enforcement, it’s up to the victim if they want to report it to the diocese,” Thiesen says.

He says the bishops need to work with any victims and “get that victim healed.” Thiesen says the Catholic bishops have agreed to do this. “The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops all agreed to be transparent and to follow the child abuse policies. And not only the diocesan priests, but the religious men and women, the nuns, they need to do the same thing,” Thiesen says. “They need to come out and let people where members of their communities have sexually abuse teens, kids or vulnerable adults, and let these people get a chance to heal and to seek justice.” to seek justice.”

He says there is another step the church can take to help the victims of priest abuse.
“The bishops and the religious men and women need to back and ask for what we call a window. That allows anybody if the statute of limitations has passed — allow a window, say two or three years — for those folks to come forward to be able to file a civil suit…or a criminal charge,” Thiesen says.

The release of information about Kabat was part of a Minnesota lawsuit settlement that also contained information on six other predator priests.

(Radio Iowa)

Data shows increase in binge drinking among most Iowa women

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An analysis of county data shows that the rates of binge drinking among most Iowa women have increased faster than those of men between 2002 and 2012. The Des Moines Register reports that prevention specialists say the shift has occurred amid an increasingly normalized drinking culture, where the beer tent is the mainstay of town celebrations.

According to the analysis released this spring of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, the largest increase in binge drinking rates in Iowa was in Dickinson County. The county saw a 50 percent increase among females in binge drinking. More than 1 in 4 women in the county were binge drinkers in 2012.

Branstad says special legislative session will not happen

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says a Democratic effort to hold a special legislative session to override his budget vetoes will not succeed. Democratic leaders in the Iowa Senate announced Monday that they were formally reaching out to members to see if they will support a special session. Branstad vetoed several key budget compromises, including nearly $56 million in one-time funding for education.

But Branstad said Monday that lawmakers will not be able to get the necessary support from two-thirds of members for such a session. He said Republicans would not want to come back for a fight on education funding. Branstad said he was exercising fiscal restraint and that the state was making other education investments. He also said schools will have to look at ways to be more efficient.

Hot muggy day ahead, multiple heat advisories/warnings issued

News, Weather

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

This is expected to be Iowa’s hottest day of the year so far.

Counties in orange are included in a Heat Advisory, while those in purple are in an Excessive Heat Warning.

Counties in orange are included in a Heat Advisory, while those in purple are in an Excessive Heat Warning.

Forecasters have posted a Heat Advisory for most of Iowa’s southern half in addition to an Excessive Heat Warning for 11 counties in south-central Iowa. Those are in place from noon through 7 o’clock tonight (Monday). Meteorologist Mindy Beerends, at the National Weather Service, says if you thought Sunday was hot and muggy, today will be even worse.

“We have those heat advisories and excessive heat warnings out,” Beerends says. “We’re expecting heat index values to be around 105 to 110 in the advisory areas and they could be in excess of 110 degrees this afternoon into the early evening in the area under the excessive heat warning, primarily in south-central Iowa.” For Iowans who will be doing work outdoors today, she has some recommendations.

“Take frequent breaks and try to get into the shade or air conditioning throughout the break,” Beerends says. “Try to stay hydrated. Wear light, loose clothing to combat the heat as best you can. If you feel the heat is starting to affect you, take the proper precautions and seek medical attention.”

While Sioux City had the state’s hot spot on Sunday with 94 degrees, Beerends was asked what parts of Iowa will be the hottest today. “At this point in time, it looks like it could be down in southwestern Iowa,” Beerends says. “They’re looking at highs around 98 degrees with other portions of southern Iowa maybe reaching 93 to 97.” Most of Iowa won’t be seeing much of a break from the hot, muggy weather for at least several days.

“We’ll continue to see warmer conditions into the rest of the week,” Beerends says. “We still have 90 degrees forecast across the southern half of Iowa into Tuesday. The dew points will drop a little bit so those heat indices could drop somewhat, but still remain sticky throughout the rest of the week.”

Many Iowa communities are opening emergency cooling centers today in places like shopping malls, churches and libraries for people who don’t have air conditioners.

(Radio Iowa)

Massena City Council to meet this evening (7/13)

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The City Council in Massena will hold a regular session this (Monday) evening, at City Hall. Prior to the start of the 7-p.m. meeting: a Veteran’s Park meeting will be held (at 5:45-p.m.); followed by a Revitalization Workshop (at 6-p.m.); a Nuisance Hearing (Re: Jeanette Schroeder) at 6:15-p.m; a Public Hearing at 6:30-p.m., with regard to the Sale of City Property; a Public Hearing at 6:45-p.m. with regard to the Urban Renewal Plan Amendment, and a review of the bills to be paid.

At 7-p.m., during the regular session, the Massena City Council will act on: A Resolution of Necessity; A Resolution approving an Urban Renewal Plan Amendment for the Massena Urban Renewal Area; A Resolution authorizing an internal advance of funds for an Urban Renewal Project, and other matters. The evening will conclude with reports from various City department heads and the Mayor.

IDPH Mobile App Provides Substance Use Information, Resources

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released a new mobile app that is designed to provide important substance use information to Iowans. The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) app gives individuals and/or treatment professionals the ability to quickly access and self-screen for risky or hazardous alcohol or drug use, provide general health information related to use, and to connect you or a loved one with resources. Links to Iowa-specific and national substance abuse treatment providers/resources are also included.

IDPH SBIRT Project Director Monica Wilke-Brown says “One of the most important features we wanted in the app is the ability of any provider or individual to have access to ‘counseling at their fingertips’ with contact information to locate the nearest resources from anywhere in the state. This app provides both the list of all the licensed treatment providers in the state, as well as a map of the agencies that provide income-sensitive pricing to make treatment services accessible for all Iowans.”

The SBIRT Iowa app may be found on Google Play or in the iTunes App store by searching for ‘SBIRT Iowa.’ The SBIRT Iowa project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

The project makes it possible for Iowans to receive pre-screenings, screenings, brief interventions, brief treatments, and referrals to treatment. Studies show that people who received screening and brief intervention in an emergency department, hospital, or primary care office experienced 33 percent fewer non-fatal injuries, 37 percent fewer hospitalizations, 46 percent fewer arrests, and 50 percent fewer motor vehicle crashes.

Other positive effects include reductions in alcohol consumption, successful referral to and participation in substance abuse treatment programs, and reduction in repeat injuries and injury hospitalizations. For more information on SBIRT, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/sbirt/Project.aspx.

Consumer Scam Alert : You Tube update-related

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Afton Police Chief John Colter reports the Afton Police Department has taken a report from a local citizen concerning a consumer fraud scam. On Saturday the individual was downloading what he thought was a You Tube update to his cell phone, when he received a message claiming to be from the FBI and that the person was being investigated for receiving porn on the cell phone.

According to the message this person needed to pay a $500 fine by Pay Pal Account to a person alleging to be an FBI Agent to regain access to the cell phone. The Afton Police Department was contacted and it was determined to be a scam. The FBI will not contact a person in this manner and will not require a fine to be paid prior to conviction of a crime.

The Afton Police Department encourages people to report scams of this nature to their local law enforcement agencies.

2015-2016 Iowa Bicycle Map now available

News

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation is now distributing the 2015-2016 Iowa Bicycle Map.Bike map Officials say the popular publication has been updated to show new 4-foot or wider paved shoulders and recreational trails completed since the 2012 version was published. As in past versions, the map highlights bike-friendly routes when traveling on two wheels through Iowa by identifying bike trails and traffic levels on all paved roads. The map also includes insets of Iowa’s 16 largest cities.

A person riding a bicycle on a public road has all the rights, and is required to know and obey all traffic laws and rules of the road, applicable to the driver of a motor vehicle. To assist bicyclists in understanding their rights and responsibilities, a section of the map is dedicated to highlighting rules of the road for bicyclists. Bicyclists are urged to always wear helmets, use lights at night, and watch out for road hazards, including parallel-slat sewer grates, gravel, sand, and debris.

The 2015-2016 Iowa Bicycle Map is available online at www.iowadot.gov/iowabikes/bikemap.aspx or by calling the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s Iowa Tourism Office at 515-725-3084 or 888-472-6035.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 7/13/2015

News, Podcasts

July 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

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

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