Grassley Calls For National Strategy to Target Drug Opioid Overdoses
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley is calling on the Biden administration to take action on the nation’s drug overdose deaths which hit a record high in 2020. The Iowa Republican says 93-thousand people died of opioid overdoses last year, “that’s a 30-percent increase from the previous year, so it’s a real problem.” Biden wasn’t sworn in as president until January, but Grassley claims the administration “isn’t serious” about working with Congress to find solutions to the massive amounts of extremely lethal drugs that are being smuggled into the U-S. Senator Grassley is taking part in a hearing this afternoon (Tuesday 1:30 p-m) entitled, “The Federal Response to the Drug Overdose Epidemic.” Grassley is calling on Biden to create “a coordinated national strategy” to address the overdose crisis.
Waterloo Man Draws 346-Month Sentence For Dealing Meth From Mexico
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — An eastern Iowa man will spend nearly 29 years in federal prison for importing meth from Mexico and distributing it in the Waterloo area. Thirty-four-year-old Travis Charles Werkmeister pleaded guilty in February to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Undercover agents bought meth at Werkmeister’s house in Waterloo in 2018. The U-S Attorney’s Office says investigators tapped Werkmeister’s phone in 2019 and were able to intercept thousands of calls and messages between Werkmeister and others in a drug-distribution organization, including the head of the group who’s based in Mexico. Werkmeister is one of 13 people arrested a year ago after a dozen locations in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Roland and Marshalltown were searched.
2/3 of Iowa Corn and Beans Rated ‘Good’ to ‘Excellent’ But More Rain Needed
(Des Moines, IA) — The latest U-S-D-A crop report indicates corn and soybean fields have responded well to recent rain, but Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says more moisture is needed. Last week, hail and high winds did damage some Iowa crops last week, but the damage was “scattered” and not widespread according the U-S-D-A. Under half of Iowa pastures are rated good to excellent and some farmers are feeding their livestock hay to supplement dwindling grazing opportunities. Topsoil moisture levels are now rated adequate or surplus in 67 percent of the state. The growth of corn and soybeans is ahead of the five-year average, with corn conditions rated 68 percent good to excellent. Soybean condition are rated 66 percent good to excellent.
Animal Rescue League, Des Moines Police Save 4 Dogs From Hot Cars
(Des Moines, IA ) — The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says its officers and Des Moines police rescued four dogs from hot cars over the weekend. Two dogs were left in a car in the parking lot of the Blank Park Zoo Saturday where temperatures reached 109 degrees inside. Officers were able to safely remove the dogs by breaking out the back window. A-R-L responded to another call Saturday of two dogs left in a vehicle at the Merle Hay Mall. They were safely removed and under distress with elevated body temperatures. Officials say the owners of the dogs were charged with counts of animal neglect. Anyone who sees a dog in a hot car should call police right away.
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