Substitute Teacher Charged With Sexual Exploitation Of Students
IDA GROVE, Iowa (AP) – A substitute teacher has been accused of having sexual
relationships with students at two northwest Iowa high schools.
Online court records show 32-year-old John Tietsort, of rural Battle Creek,
is charged in Ida County with two counts of sexual exploitation by a school
employee and three counts of lascivious conduct with a minor.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety says in a news release that while
working as a substitute teacher, Tietsort had repeated sexual contact with a high
school student from Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove Schools and with a
high school student from Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Schools.
Utilities Board Approves Largest Wind Turbine Farm
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Utilities Board has approved a wind turbine
operation that an industry groups says will be the nation’s largest wind energy
project.
Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy is behind the planned $3.6 billion wind
turbine operation that will generate up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity.
MidAmerican Energy said that is enough energy to power the equivalent of 800,000
average households, and the project will see 85 percent of the company’s Iowa
customer needs met through wind energy by 2020.
The American Wind Energy Association says it will be the nation’s largest
wind energy project.
Bill Fehrman, the utility’s CEO and president, announced the project in
April.
The company said Friday in a news release that the location of the 1,000
turbines for the project is still being determined. The project is expected to be
completed by the end of 2019.
Medicaid Patients Tell Lawmakers Of Problems With New System
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some health care providers and patients spoke to a
largely Democratic group of lawmakers about delayed payments and delayed care
under Iowa’s newly privatized Medicaid program.
Providers, patients and heath care advocates shared a range of experiences at
a meeting Monday morning before about a dozen Democrats, plus one Republican and
one independent lawmaker.
Three insurance companies took over the state’s Medicaid program for poor and
disabled residents in April. The transition has been under scrutiny over reports
of delays.
Representatives for the Iowa Department of Human Services, the agency that
oversees the companies, have repeatedly said the reports are not indicative of
systemic problems.
The morning meeting was held ahead of a legislative oversight committee
meeting later Monday that will review a performance report on the new system.
Insurance Regulator Approves Rate Increases
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s health insurance regulator has approved premium
rate increases for four companies ranging from 43 percent to 19 percent.
Documents released Monday by Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart say
more than 75,200 Iowans will pay more beginning Jan. 1.
The biggest increase of 42.6 percent affects 22,000 customers of Wellmark
Blue Cross & Blue Shield.
About 7,700 policyholders of Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa will see an
increase of 37.8 percent if they joined after the federal Affordable Care Act was
passed. Another group of 2,300 enrolled prior to the law will see a 42.6 percent
increase.
The commissioner also approved a 23 percent increase for 42,000 Aetna Health
of Iowa policyholders.
Increases of 19 percent for Medica Insurance Co. and 19.8 percent for
Gunderson Health Plan also were approved.
Iowa OSHA Fines Adventureland Park
ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa agency has proposed fining Adventureland park after
an investigation prompted by the June death of a worker at the theme park.
Officials have said Steve Booher was fatally injured June 7 when the Raging
River ride started unexpectedly as he was helping people off.
The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined the Altoona
park $4,500. The park has 15 days to contest the agency’s findings.
A day after the accident state inspectors reported finding found no safety
defects. But after a lengthy investigation, Iowa OSHA determined that
Adventureland should install devices to ensure that ride assistants are positioned
safely before ride operators let the boats advance.
—
