Iowa’s quest to become the healthiest state in the nation is getting a boost. The latest “Kids Count” survey, which ranks all 50 states for the well being of children, places Iowa near the very top. Laura Speer, a spokeswoman for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, says they look at 16 key criteria, including: education, health, economic well being, and family and community conditions. “Iowa was ranked 4th overall in terms of the well being of its children,” Speer says. “Where Iowa is really a shining star is in the area of health. The state is ranked #1 best in the country in terms of the physical health of children.” Minnesota ranked first overall on this year’s Kids Count report, followed by New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with Iowa a close fourth. Speer says Iowa is a clear leader of all states in several categories.

We looked at things like the percent of low birth-weight babies, the percent of children who lack health insurance, the child and teen death rates and the percent of teens who abuse alcohol or drugs,” Speer says. “In those four measures, Iowa is ranked the best in the country.” In last year’s report, Iowa ranked third in the nation overall, so the state’s fourth-place showing this year represents a slight drop. Iowa’s lost a little ground in one category in particular, according to Speer.

“One of the areas that is most disconcerting is the percent of children living in poverty in the state,” Speer says. “It’s about 16% of all children in Iowa who are living below the poverty line in 2013. That’s actually higher than in was in 2008 when it was 14%.” Iowa’s child poverty level is fairly low compared to many other states but Speer says it was still unfortunate to see that figure rise. The lowest-ranked states on the list are: Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi. See the full report at the Annie E. Casey Foundation website: www.aecf.org.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant has been shut down for repairs roughly a month after a planned outage for maintenance and refueling. The Omaha Public Power District shut down the nuclear plant Monday after a water leak was discovered in one of Fort Calhoun’s four reactor coolant pumps after a seal failed.

The utility says the coolant water that leaked was contained inside the plant and treated. A spokeswoman says Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors are monitoring the repairs. Fort Calhoun sits along the Missouri River about 20 miles north of Omaha.

OPPD says the length of this outage will be determined by the repairs. If needed, the utility will buy electricity from other sources to maintain service. OPPD has more than 360,000 customers in 13 counties in southeast Nebraska.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — President Barack Obama has nominated a U.S. magistrate to fill an opening on the federal bench in Iowa. Obama nominated U.S. Magistrate Leonard Strand, of Sioux City, to replace U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett for the Northern District of Iowa. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley will consider the nomination of Strand before it goes before the full Senate for its approval. Strand graduated from the University of Iowa law school in 1990 and had a private practice before becoming a magistrate judge in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of the first Iowa turkey farms to get bird flu is getting nearing the time at which birds can be restocked but most of the 77 farms affected are still weeks away from introduction of new flocks. Iowa Department of Agriculture officials say all farms have been cleared of dead chickens and turkeys but disposal of manure, compost and other waste continued at 18 farms. All birds that died or were euthanized have been incinerated, buried or taken to landfills.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police say an arrest warrant has been issued for a 21-year-old man suspected in a road rage incident in which a motorist shot another vehicle carrying a couple and their children. Police say a warrant has been issued charging Jamar Cortez Wooten, of Des Moines, with four counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. His location is unknown. The charges stem from an incident July 9.

Iowa’s governor has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff at sites throughout the state in honor of the five servicemen killed last week in Tennessee. Gov. Terry Branstad called for the state-controlled flags to be lowered from Tuesday through Monday. President Barack Obama has ordered flags flown at federal buildings and grounds to be lowered to half-staff until sunset Saturday. The action honors the four Marines and one Navy sailor killed in a shooting last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of the first Iowa turkey farms to get bird flu is getting nearing the time at which birds can be restocked but most of the 77 farms affected are still weeks away from introduction of new flocks. Iowa Department of Agriculture officials said Tuesday all farms have been cleared of dead chickens and turkeys but disposal of manure, compost and other waste continued at 18 farms.

All birds that died or were euthanized have been incinerated, buried or taken to landfills. Iowa lost 34 million chickens and turkeys in the bird flu outbreak that began in mid-April. The last reported case was June 16. One turkey farm in Calhoun County will finish a required 21-day fallow period this week and if tests remain negative may begin restocking.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff at sites throughout the state in honor of the five servicemen killed last week in Tennessee. Gov. Terry Branstad on Tuesday called for the state-controlled flags to be lowered from Tuesday through Monday. President Barack Obama has ordered flags flown at federal buildings and grounds to be lowered to half-staff until sunset Saturday.

The action honors the four Marines and one Navy sailor killed in a shooting last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The state is encouraging individuals, businesses and local governments to take similar action to show respect for those killed.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest today (Tuesday), of 23-year old Thomas Dale Mace. The Atlantic man was arrested on a charge of Serious Assault. Mace was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later on his own recognizance.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man serving a lifetime sex offender special supervision sentence has been listed as escaped from a state work release facility in Sioux City.
The Iowa Corrections Department says 25-year-old Michael Euchner II went on the list Tuesday because he didn’t return from his job.

The department says Euchner was transferred to work release on June 14 to begin his special supervision sentence following discharge of a 10-year sex abuse conviction in Ida County.

Minor injuries were reported following an accident Monday morning in Atlantic, but no one was transported to the hospital. Atlantic Police say vehicles driven by Michelle Flander, of Atlantic, and Curt Mcatlin, of Paton (IA) collided just before Noon, Monday, at 8th and Olive Streets. Both drivers were traveling south on Olive, when Mcatlin stopped to make a left turn onto 8th Street. His vehicle was hit from behind by Flanders’ vehicle, causing a total of $7,000 damage.

Flander, who was injured in the crash, was cited for Failure to reduce speed and/or maintain control of her vehicle.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report the arrest last week of 45-year old Philip Gehling, of Atlantic. Gehling was taken into custody July 15th on charges that include Burglary in the 1st Degree, Domestic Abuse Assault with Intent, Going Armed with Intent, Carrying Weapons, and Violation of a No Contact Order. The man appeared before a magistrate and was subsequently released on bond.

Arrested over the weekend in Atlantic, was 23-year old Joshua Chapalonis, of Atlantic, on a charge of Public Intoxication, 18-year old Garret Pross, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault & Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and 19-year old Selena Hansen, of Atlantic, who was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court. All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources say a Missouri man was found guilty by a jury of illegal deer hunting in southwest Iowa’s Taylor County. 61-year old Michael K. Kahnert, of Branson West, Mo., was found guilty of six counts of fraudulently obtaining resident hunting, deer and turkey licenses, three counts of not having valid non-resident hunting and deer licenses, one count of taking/hunting deer out of season, one count of illegal taking of an antlered whitetail deer, and two counts of illegal taking of antlerless whitetail deer.

He was sentenced on June 18th. Kahnert was ordered to forfeit the antlers and pay more than $11,400 in fines, court costs and liquidated damages. Kahnert has been suspended from hunting or obtaining any licenses for three years.

The state of Iowa is a member of the Wildlife Violator Compact, which is an agreement between participating states that prohibits a person whose hunting or fishing privileges are suspended in one state from participating in those activities in another state, including Missouri.

Conservation Officer Andrea Bevington has been actively investigating residency fraud cases like this since 2009. Unfortunately, this type of case is not unique in her territory. Bevington said “Iowa is known for trophy whitetail deer attracting people from across the United States and other countries. Unfortunately, these trophies sometimes draw individuals who fraudulently obtain resident licenses and rob the opportunity for a deer of a lifetime from a lawful hunter.”

Residency laws were changed in 2009 to identify a growing problem in Iowa of non-residents falsifying records to illegally obtain resident licenses.