Senator Ernst Addresses North Korea and Afghanistan
(Maurice) — U-S Senator Joni Ernst visited a Sioux County dairy farm Tuesday morning to gather information about issues facing the dairy industry as it relates to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ernst met with members of the Maassen Dairy Farm of Maurice. Following her tour, she was open to answering questions from the news media. Ernst, is a military veteran, and serves on the Senate Arms Committee. She was asked by reporters what the United States should
do with North Korea’s threats?
Ersnt also addressed the comments by President Trump with regards to the continued U-S military presence in Afghanistan.
The junior republican Iowa senator says the U-S needs to define our strategy for Afghanistan.
Ernst Discusses America’s Healthcare Plan
(Maurice) — Senator Ernst also discussed the dilemmas of America’s healthcare, citing the inability of Congress to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare.” Ernst told reporters that Iowans only have one insurance company to choose from on the exchange, and unfortunately that company, Medica, has increased its rates by 53 percent.
Ernst says she has been contacted by Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, the chairman of the Health, Education and Labor Committee to assist with the discussions of forming a better healthcare plan for the nation.
Iowa’s Insurance Commissioner Worried About Rising Healthcare Insurance Premiums
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state official says Iowa’s individual health insurance market under the Affordable Care Act will collapse if the federal government doesn’t approve a short-term proposal aimed at stabilizing premium costs.
Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen told reporters Tuesday the state has communicated with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to finalize a proposed stopgap measure. The state submitted its final proposal on the measure
Monday.
About 72,000 Iowans have individual ACA-compliant health plans. Ommen estimates up to 22,000 of them will drop coverage in 2018 if no action is taken to offset growing premium costs. The last insurance carrier to offer individual plans expects additional premium increases.
The stopgap measure reallocates federal money to help individuals priced out of subsidies that currently help pay for coverage.
Wife Of Fallen Police Officer Wants Continued Insurance Coverage
ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) – The wife of an Iowa police officer killed during a 2013 standoff is calling for changes to local and state laws to ensure children can continue receiving health insurance after a parent dies. The Messenger reports that Amanda Buenting recently discovered that her husband Jamie Buenting’s insurance through the city will no longer cover her
family. Jamie Buenting died from a gunshot wound while serving as an officer with the Rockwell City Police Department. The Buentings have two children, ages 11 and 13. Mayor Phil Heinlen says Blue Cross/Blue Shield will provide coverage for the dependents of a city worker killed on duty for three years. Amanda Buenting says she plans to take the issue to the state to get coverage until her children are age 26. —
Former Lottery Official Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has sentenced a lottery computer programmer to up to 25 years in prison for rigging a computer program to enable him to pick winning numbers in several lottery games over six years. Eddie Tipton pleaded guilty earlier this summer to ongoing criminal conduct, and on Tuesday he received the prison sentence. Judge Brad McCall also ordered Tipton to repay more than $2 million that the scheme paid Tipton and others. Tipton’s brother, Tommy Tipton, is serving a 75-day jail sentence on a theft charge. A friend of Eddie Tipton’s, Robert Rhodes, of Sugar Land, Texas, will be sentenced Aug. 25 on a computer crime charge. Tipton worked for the Multi-State Lottery Association in Iowa. He fixed lottery games in Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa and Oklahoma between 2005 and
2011.
Powerball Lottery Jackpot Now Passes $700 Million
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Powerball jackpot has increased to $700 million, making it the second largest in U.S. history.
Lottery officials raised the expected jackpot Tuesday, pushing it past a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot won in 2012 by three people.
The prize for Wednesday’s drawing has grown so massive because it’s been more than two months since a jackpot winner, on June 10. The prize remains far less than the record $1.6 billion prize won by three people in January 2016.
The latest $700 million prize refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years. The cash option would be $443.3 million.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot is one in 292.2 million.
Powerball is played in 44 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Republican Treasurer Candidate Told To “Stay Away From Ex Fiancee”
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa Republican Party leader who is running for state treasurer has been ordered to stay away from his ex-fiancée after tracking her whereabouts using the “Find iPhone” app and allegedly threatening her. A judge has granted a temporary restraining order against former U.S. Army captain John Thompson, a member of the Iowa GOP’s state central committee and currently the only candidate challenging Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald in 2018. Thompson denied wrongdoing Tuesday, telling The Associated Press the allegations were meant to embarrass him. His former fiancée and campaign treasurer, MacKenzie Dreeszen, alleged in an Aug. 2 petition she feared for her safety after Thompson threatened her and her sister between mid-July and early August. Thompson acknowledges that he logged into her account and put her phone in lost mode so he could “figure out where she was at.” But he says he did so because he was concerned for her safety. Police were called during one incident at Thompson’s home in Jefferson. No charges were filed.
