Governor Branstad is suggesting bringing in an outsider reviewer to look at the state’s mental health services. The governor says he’ll continue to review a 4-year plan for redesigning how the state provides mental health care. He told IowaWatch.org he knows not everyone will be on board.
Iowa’s DOT is expanding the Highway Helper program to help stranded motorists…but the state won’t be using state workers for it anymore. Instead, IDOT is paying a Wisconsin-based firm more than 90-million dollars to operate the program for three years.
Story County Medical Center is getting a new medical clinic, funded largely with 22-million dollars in loans from USDA. The new unit will include a primary care clinic, physical therapy and cardiac rehab facilities, and business and education offices. It should be finished in two years.
Iowa will get nearly one-and-a-half million dollars as part of the multi-state credit card debt collection settlement with Chase Bank. As part of the agreement, Chase has to reform its unlawful credit card debt collection. More than 13-hundred Iowans were affected.
The remaining section of the Younkers building in downtown Des Moines has a new owner. Locally-owned Blackbird Investments bought both the Younkers and Wilkins Buildings for a new project, which should start in the spring.
Iowa teachers are at ISU for a series of sessions on how to prepare and deliver STEM programs in their schools. The instructors are from across the state, taking part in the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s STEM Scale-Up Initiative. The programs range from human body systems to 3-D modeling with computer design software.
Des Moines is one of the top ten cities for creatives, according to the financial planning website SmartAsset.com. The site placed Des Moines 8th on the list because of its vibrant culture and thriving creative class.
