Le Mars Police Investigate Accident
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department responded to an accident that occurred Tuesday afternoon at about 3:40 p.m. The accident happened on Business Highway 75 (5th Avenue N.W.) and 1st Street Northwest. According to the accident report,
70 year old Judith Stokesberry of Remsen was heading westbound on 1st Street Northwest and 33 year old Charisse Metcalf of Hinton was going eastbound in a parking lot attempting to cross Business Highway 75. Stokesberry says she did not see Metcalf crossing the highway and then turned south when she collided with the Metcalf vehicle. No injuries were reported, and both parties were wearing their seatbelts. Stokesberry was cited for failure to obey a stop sign and yield
right of way. Metcalf was given a citation for failure to provide proof of insurance. Both vehicles sustained between $2,000 to $2,500 in damages.
Medicaid Insurance Companies Report Losing Money
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three private insurance companies that oversee Medicaid
in Iowa say they expect to lose about $450 million in the first year of administering the health care program for the poor and disabled.
Representatives for UnitedHealthcare, AmeriHealth Caritas and Amerigroup disclosed the estimate to lawmakers during a budget committee meeting Wednesday.
The figures account for financial losses since the companies took over Medicaid last April.
AmeriHealth Caritas estimated losses in excess of $200 million; Amerigroup figured losses at about $150 million; and UnitedHealthcare estimated losses in excess of $100 million.
Company representatives and the Iowa Department of Human Services say losses were expected in the first year.
It’s unclear how the figures will impact Iowa’s future Medicaid spending. The state is preparing to negotiate with the companies over how much to pay for each Medicaid patient.
House Sub-committee Passes Expanded Medical Marijuana Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa House subcommittee approved a bill that would legalize medical marijuana oil and create a state-run program to grow and dispense the product.
People affected by epileptic seizures, multiple sclerosis and cancer spoke Wednesday in support of the bill, telling lawmakers cannabis oil helped them. The GOP-led panel unanimously supported the bill, which now moves to the House public
safety committee.
The Iowa Department of Public Health would run the program, and an agency official said it was important participants receive license cards.
Rep. Jared Klein, a Republican from Keota, noted the legislation doesn’t legalize recreational marijuana but only allows cannabis oil for medical treatment. He says 28 states have passed similar bills.
Iowa approved a marijuana oil program in 2014 for treatment of epilepsy. It expires this summer.
Appeals Court Upholds Use of Speed Cameras
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the use of automated speed cameras in Iowa, rejecting challenges in two separate court cases filed by citizens claiming Cedar Rapids cameras violated their constitutional
rights.
In one case six car owners ticketed on Interstate 380 sought class-action status claiming the cameras violate equal protection and due process rights among others.
In the second case Marla Leaf claimed the city failed to clearly prove she was speeding.
The court on Wednesday rejected each challenge saying federal courts have already declared the cameras constitutional.
The attorney representing the car owners says they’ll appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court.
Several other pending court cases in Iowa challenge the legality of automated cameras and a bill to ban them has resurfaced in the Iowa Legislature.
State Has Cut Over 2,000 Jobs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state has cut nearly 2,100 jobs since Terry Branstad returned as Iowa governor in 2011, a point of pride for the Republican but worrisome to some state workers who say the cuts have endangered the public and other public employees. The Des Moines Register’s analysis of data from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services shows Branstad has eliminated at least 2,094 full-time positions in state government. Most of those job cuts occurred in four departments.
Powerball Lottery Worth Over $400 Million
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Powerball jackpot has climbed above $400 million for the first time in nearly three months. The top prize for Wednesday night’s drawing will be an estimated $403 million if paid over 29 years or $244 million
in cash. Powerball is played in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are incredibly small, at one in 292.2 million.
