IOWA (IRN) – Iowa has assessed $1.5 million in penalties against the three companies that managed the state’s Medicaid program for failing to meet performance standards, according to the Des Moines Register. More than $1 million of those penalties were assessed against AmeriHealth Caritas, which recently terminated its contract with the state because it said it was losing too much money.
DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One person has died and four children were taken to the hospital after a fire broke out at a mobile home park in Davenport overnight, according to WQAD-TV. The cause of the fire isn’t known.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Federal drug charges have been filed against five men arrested in Cerro Gordo County. KIMT-TV reports a search at a hotel after a traffic stop yielded $40,000 worth of methamphetamine and $25,000 worth of marijuana. Two of the men also face firearm charges.
MARION, IA (IRN) – Police officers in Marion responded to a home Wednesday after getting a call for harassment, according to KCRG-TV. What they found instead was illegal drug activity. Six people are facing multiple charges, including two juveniles and a 61-year-old woman.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The new tax bill will likely hurt nonprofits. It’s estimated that yearly donations could drop by 16 percent to $22 billion per year, with most Americans switching to standard tax deductions. That impacts organizations who rely solely on charitable contributions. KCCI-TV reports Michelle Book, CEO of Food Bank of Iowa, says with fewer people itemizing, fewer people will be donating, and more Iowans will go hungry. Book calls the new tax law “catastrophic” for nonprofits.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – It’s the end of an era at Des Moines’ Christ The King School. WHO-TV reports for nearly three decades lunchroom manager Eileen Miller has faithfully kept the students fed. As she served her last tray this week students and staff applauded. While Eileen will be hard to replace, she’s willing to share her secret–”just serve food they like and serve it with a smile.”