Supervisors To Hear Budget Requests From Plymouth County Historical Museum
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a very light agenda for today’s scheduled meeting. The supervisors are expected to approve a diesel reduction grant contract with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the will hear from Judy Bowman, administrator of the Plymouth County Historical Museum as she presents the museum’s budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.
Authorities Arrest 17 Year Old Female For Drug Paraphernalia
(Le Mars) — On Sunday afternoon, Plymouth County authorities arrested a 17 year old female from Sioux City for possession of drug paraphernalia. Truc Ly Thi Nguyen was a passenger in a car involved with an auto accident just north of 270th street and county road K-22 intersection in Plymouth County. She was given a citation and released to her parents.
Lawmakers Still Skeptical About Medicaid Privatization
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa lawmakers have reiterated their skepticism that private health care companies are ready to take over the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program in a few weeks.
Democrats and Republicans on the Health Policy Oversight Committee sought clarity Monday from representatives for the four private companies about the switch to managed care on Jan. 1. Some Democrats criticized the companies for not releasing more specific information about how many health care providers in the state have signed new contracts to provide Medicaid.
The representatives expressed confidence their companies are prepared.
Medicaid provides care to low-income and needy people, including children and disabled individuals. The move to privatization hinges on approval from federal officials, some of whom will visit Iowa and meet with the private companies this week.
Supreme Court To Hear Sexual Harassment Case Against Iowa Trucking Firm
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a longrunning dispute between the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a major Iowa trucking company.
The court granted a petition Friday by Cedar Rapids-based CRST Van Expedited, Inc. to review a decision of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
At issue is whether EEOC has to pay the company $4.7 million in legal fees and costs stemming from a major investigation into allegations that female truckers and trainees were routinely sexually harassed.
U.S. District Judge Linda Reade awarded fees to the company after faulting EEOC for bringing “groundless” claims without first investigating them.
But the appeals panel ruled that CRST cannot recover fees involving claims that were dismissed without any ruling on their merits.
A decision is expected next spring or summer.
Iowa DNR To Hold Public Hearing About Proposed Oil Pipeline
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has scheduled a public meeting for December 16th to discuss the request of Dakota Access for a permit to cross public land so the company can build its Baaken oil pipeline. D-N-R spokesman Kevin Baskins says this issue is separate from the larger picture discussion by the Iowa Utilities Board about whether the company can build the pipeline. Baskins says if the I-U-B rules the overall pipeline can proceed, then the state would become just like other landowners, and have to decide if the pipelines can cross four areas.
Listen to
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Eminent domain is used when a property owner does not want to voluntarily allow access to their land. Baskins says that state lands are also different from private lands as there are no provisions to grant easements or voluntary access to the land.
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He says the pipeline would need to cross public land in four places.
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Baskins says the company would bore under the rivers and then use a trench in the wildlife area. He says the permit would outline what the company can do at the crossings.
Listen to
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He says the public meeting is part of the gathering of information as the D-N-R looks at the permit.
Listen to
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The public meeting is set for December 16th from 5 to 7 p-m in the auditorium of the Wallace State Office Building in Des Moines. Other comments can be made on the permit to the D-N-R until 5 p-m Tuesday, January 5thby email at SLER@dnr.iowa.gov ; or by sending written comments to:
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Sovereign Lands Construction Permit Program
502 E. Ninth St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Mother of Sexual Assault Victim Sues Sioux City School District
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The mother of a sex exploitation victim has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Sioux City school district.
The complaint filed Thursday says the negligence of Sioux City Community Schools and IowaJAG Inc. was responsible for Erick Deleon’s ability to have contact with the girl after school hours.
The lawsuit includes a claim against the former high school soccer coach for assault and battery or sexual exploitation. Thirty-year-old Deleon, the district and iJAG face a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The mother, who isn’t named in order to protect the girl’s identity, is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.
District spokeswoman Alison Benson declined to comment on pending litigation.
Deleon has been sentenced to three years of probation and a suspended five-year prison sentence in the case.
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