DES MOINES – Lawmakers are one step closer to passing a bill aiming to shore up losses incurred by rural pharmacies. WHO-13 reports that the measure passed in the Iowa Senate will require pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse pharmacies for the full cost based on national averages and additional dispensing fees. Some Democrats opposed the measure, concerned the insurance companies would pass on those costs to consumers.

SCOTT COUNTY – The Iowa Board of Nursing granted a license to a woman convicted for involvement in a $2.9 million scam. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Chelsea Gless of Princeton has received permission to work as a nurse after initially denying the request in October due to the felony charges. Gless pled guilty to felony mail fraud and served nearly three years in prison before earning a nursing degree in 2024. She’s guilty of defrauding more than 70 clients of Royal Medals Group, mainly older, retired people. The Iowa Board of Nursing has placed Gless on probationary status for three years and barred her from working at retirement communities.

IOWA – Periodic rains throughout the week resulted in just over two days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 27th, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. While needed, the precipitation slowed or stopped fieldwork and cool temperatures hampered crop emergence.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Corn planted reached 34 percent, two days ahead of the five-year average. Statewide, corn emerged was two percent. Twenty-five percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, one day ahead of last year and four days ahead of the five-year average.