(Radio Iowa) — Seven projects in Iowa are sharing just over $660,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to tackle the opioid crisis. The Wayne County Hospital in Corydon is using a $150,000 grant to buy an ambulance equipped with features specifically for opioid treatment. Darien Relph is the hospital’s CEO. “Our oldest model that we have is a 2006 model, and as we look at the reliability pieces of having an ambulance respond to the opioid crisis or any other ambulance emergency, it’s really important that we have up-to-date equipment,” Relph says.

In the past year, Relph says they’ve responded to 770 ambulance calls and 22 were solely for drug-related emergencies. Relph says in overdose emergencies, reversal drugs like naloxone need to be managed with care and by skilled hands. “We need to able to get those drugs to a scene and administer them efficiently and that will definitely be helped by having a grant for an ambulance,” Relph says.

Among the other projects receiving federal funds are those located in Cass, Lucas, Monroe, Harrison, and Buena Vista counties. In Cass County, a grant of $17,500 will be used to purchase a police vehicle with equipment for a K-9 officer. The K-9 vehicle will be used to deter the sale and misuse of illegal drugs, including opioids, and as a response vehicle on the scene of mental health or misuse situations. The K-9 vehicle will serve a population of 14,000.

In Harrison County, the City of Pisgah will receive a $41,000 grant to purchase a used ambulance for the volunteer fire department and first responders. The ambulance is equipped with medical supplies, including reversal medication for opioid misuse incidents. About 250 residents will be served.

Overall, the USDA is investing a little more than $10 million in 85 projects in 22 states to support opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery.

(Thanks to Julie Englander, Iowa Public Radio)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:20 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Black Hawk County deputies have arrested a Waterloo man on charges connected with a July crash that killed a bicyclist. The sheriff’s office says deputies on Monday charged 39-year-old Joshua Summerhays with vehicular homicide in the July 2 death of bicyclist Connie Inks on Highway 218 near Washburn. Summerhays is being held in the Black Hawk County jail.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey suggests the economy remains strong in nine Midwest and Plains states but business leaders are concerned about ongoing trade disputes. The overall economic index for the region slipped to 57.5 in September from August’s 61.1, but it remained in positive territory. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He says he expects business will slow but continue growing in the next few months because of trade concerns and rising interest rates.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former Sioux City special education teacher to probation after she admitted to stealing from a school account for Special Olympics and other programs. The Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Steven Andreasen on Monday sentenced 49-year-old Melissa Dickerson, of Sioux City, to five years of probation. She also must repay $5,063 to the Sioux City school district and complete 100 hours of community service.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the special guest speaker at her annual campaign fundraiser Harvest Festival scheduled for Oct. 13. Reynolds says the festival will be a family-oriented event celebrating “the progress we are making across the state of Iowa.”

The Red Oak Police Department reports an arrest on Monday afternoon. At 3:05pm Officers arrested 44-year-old Kain Jospeh Rinehart of Red Oak at 306 2nd Avenue in Red Oak. Rinehart was arrested on a valid Fremont County Warrant for Probation Violation on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Rinehart was taken to the Montgomery County Jail awaiting extradition to Fremont County.