COUNTY SUPERVISORS FROM AROUND IOWA GATHERED IN DES MOINES THURSDAY TO DISCUSS STATE LEGISLATION THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR BUDGETS.
A STATE PROPOSAL TO SHIFT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING COSTS TO REGIONAL GROUPS OF COUNTIES WAS AT THE TOP OF THEIR AGENDA.
WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD CHAIRWOMAN JACKIE SMITH SAYS THE SUPERVISORS TOLD STATE OFFICIALS THAT THE COUNTIES NEED A VOICE IN HOW MENTAL HEALTH CARE WILL BE FUNDED IN THE STATE.
SMITH SAYS THE COUNTIES PASSED A POSITION STATEMENT THAT APPROVES SWITCHING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OVERSIGHT TO REGIONS RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES:
THREE OTHER WOODBURY SUPERVISORS, GEORGE BOYKIN, LARRY CLAUSEN AND MARK MONSON VOTED AGAINST THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF FUNDING CONCERNS.
A MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING PLAN HAS YET TO BE FINALIZED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
President Barack Obama decision Friday to announce a birth control compromise is receiving a lukewarm response from Catholic leaders.
Obama backed off a requirement for religious-affiliated employers to provide free birth control coverage even if it runs counter to their beliefs.
The new proposal instead places the cost of free contraception to workers at such institutions on their insurance companies.
Bishop Walker Nickless of the Sioux City Catholic diocese says Obama's decision doesn't go far enough:
Bishop Nickless says this is not just about contraceptives, but a matter of religious freedom:
Under the new policy, religious employers will not be required to offer contraception and will not have to refer their employees to places that provide it.
Instead, the employer's insurance company must provide birth control for free in a separate arrangement with workers who want it. The change will still take effect with an extra year built in, in August 2013.
A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said he believes the original measure violates First Amendment rights, and his office said Friday that he would seek legislation to overturn it.
The Associated Press contributed content to this report.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THE CAUSE OF A FIRE THAT DESTROYED A TWO STORY APARTMENT BUILDING IN RIVERSIDE LAST MONTH WILL REMAIN UNDETERMINED.
THAT BLAZE DESTROYED THE SIX APARTMENT, WOOD FRAME STRUCTURE ON JANUARY 12TH AT 2025 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD.
INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS AND CITY DEPUTY FIRE MARSHALL TROY HEDLUND CONCLUDED THE CAUSE WOULD BE UNDETERMINED DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE REMANTS OF THE BUILDING.
THE STRUCTURE REMAINS UNSAFE TO ENTER, PROHIBITING FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
