The state is making some changes the program that provides food for low income mothers and children. Jill Lange, a nutrition consultant for the Women Infants and Children, or WIC program, says a study prompted the changes. Lange says the Institute of Medicine was asked in 2003 to do a review of the foods in the program and that review found the program was not meeting the nutritional needs of the participants. She says they were missing out on things like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and watching the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. Lange says the food guidelines are now more in line with the dietary guidelines for Americans. She says the new guidelines for the program reflect the results of the study. She says they will now provide participants with more whole grains, so they can buy whole wheat bread, brown rice or corn tortillas. They will also get a voucher to spend a certain dollar amount for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Lange says they also had to adjust for changes in the costs of the different foods. Lange says they decrease the amount of some foods given, such as milk and juice, to try and keep the amount of food available stable. The eligibility and amount of benefit given in WIC is determined by income. Lange says they serve approximately 77-thousand Iowans and the demand has grown. Lange says they’ve been setting new records each month in the last year for the number of participants as the economy has been driving the number of participants in the program. The changes will take place beginning in October. You can find out more about the WIC program here .
WIC program making changes in types of food offered
Dubuque man charged with first-degree murder in stabbing
A Dubuque man, who is accused in the death of his friend earlier this month, is now charged with first-degree murder. The Dubuque County Attorney’s office filed the murder charge against 40-year-old Michael Mayton. He is accused of stabbing 38-year-old David Tate in the chest on August 15th. Tate died from his injuries. Mayton is also charged with attempted murder for stabbing 23-year-old Richard Schramm, Junior, who remains hospitalized in stable condition. According to a police report, Mayton and his friends were attacked by a group of people from Schramm’s house. Witnesses said the fight involved people throwing beer bottles and hitting each other with snow shovels. Mayton told police he grabbed a knife from his home, but didn’t remember stabbing anyone. He is being held in the Dubuque County Jail under $100,000 bond.
Teen wanted after chase and crash in Des Moines
A teenager is wanted by the law in Iowa’s capitol city. Police spotted a speeding van in Des Moines about 2:45 this morning and gave chase. The van crashed on a curve, rolled, hit a parked truck and caught fire. Three passengers, all teenagers, were hurt. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Cameron Norwood, of Des Moines, fled on foot. He’s still at large and faces a host of charges, including speeding, eluding police and fleeing the scene of an injury accident.
Economy puts plans for wind tower plant on hold
The global recession is blamed for slowing a European company’s plans to build a factory in eastern Iowa for making towers for wind turbines. The unnamed company is considering both Iowa City and Davenport. Iowa City planning director Jeff Davidson says the plans are still viable because Iowa is a key location for the firm’s expansion. "The size of the components that they are manufacturing are so massive, they don’t like to transport them very far," Davidson says. "That’s part of the reason that Iowa’s such a good location and they like to locate together. In fact, the Clipper plant in Cedar Rapids and the Acciona in West Branch are part of why they’re interested in us." Davidson says Iowa City may have the edge over Davenport due to its proximity to the other wind power component plants. "We’re taking advantage of that already," Davidson says. "If they were to locate here, we feel additional suppliers to the industry would locate here and that would be a great thing for us." Davidson says the plant is expected to eventually create some 130 jobs in eastern Iowa, with more jobs to follow.
King quizzed about freeze in Social Security payments
During a town hall meeting in Atlantic, Congressman Steve King was quizzed about the prediction that there will be no "cost-of-living" increases in Social Security payments for at least two years.
Starting in 1975, Social Security benefits were increased annually through a "cost-of-living" adjustment that’s tied to inflation — but there’s no inflation right now. King, a Republican from Kiron, told the crowd in Atlantic he’s heard rumblings about the freeze in Social Security payments, but doesn’t yet know all the details.
"Somebody has to pay later and we’ve seen a decline in payments into the Social Security Trust Fund because of the economic decline," King said.
According to King, Social Security was going to "break even" in 2016 which means that the amount Americans who’re still working pay into the system will equal the amount that is paid out to retired and disabled Americans.
"Now it looks like it goes even about 2012," King said. "It was going to go broke by 2042. I’m sure that’s accelerated, too." By saying it will "go broke," King means the Social Security Trust Fund will be emptied, too, by 2042.
The trustees who oversee the Social Security system this week said it’s likely there will be no "cost-of-living" adjustments in 2010 or 2011 because the American economy is seeing deflation since energy prices are down significantly from last year. By law, Social Security benefits cannot be cut. But many seniors would see a reduction in their monthly Social Security checks because the government deducts the premiums they pay for the Medicare Prescription Drug Program from their Social Security payments and in January the premiums for the prescription drug premiums will go up slightly. In October, the Social Security Administration will make its final announcement on 2010 Social Security payments.
Congressman King is holding town hall meetings today in Harlan from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 12:30 to 1:30 in Carroll.
(Additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson.)
Cedar Rapids school employee charged with theft
A Cedar Rapids school employee is charged with taking thousands of dollars in school funds. Cedar Rapids police say 42-year-old Jamie May was charged with first degree theft after an investigation into the possible embezzlement of 250-thousand dollars of school funds during the 2008-2009 school year.
The school district website says May works in business services and is responsible for cash receipts. A release from the district says they were made aware of the possible embezzlement by the police department on August 18th and began an internal investigation. The district says May has been place on administrative leave pending her termination.
The district has also contacted the State Auditor’s Office and asked them to conduct an independent audit. That audit could take several months. The district says the embezzlement is covered by insurance.
Defense wants to test fairness of trial for Coralville woman
The attorney for an eastern Iowa woman who is accused slitting the throats of her two sons, killing one and injuring the other, wants her trial moved out of Buchanan County. Michelle Kehoe of Coralville faces one count of first degree murder and another count of attempted murder for the alleged knife attack last October.
Kehoe’s attorney, Andrea Dryer, is asking the court to call a mock jury to see if potential jurors in Buchanan County could offer a fair trial. Dryer says comments on websites lead her to believe the trial should be moved. “Name calling, directing profanities at Mrs. Kehoe, expressing their opinions about what should be done to her,” Dryer said.
Kehoe attended today’s motion hearing, but did not speak. Assistant Attorney General Andrew Prosser, who is helping prosecute the case, said media coverage has been statewide so he believes a fair trial is just as likely in Buchanan County as any other county in the state. Prosser also asked the judge to extend a no-contact order between Kehoe and her surviving son to also include her husband.
Prosser says the meetings between Michelle and Eugene Kehoe are doing “incalculable” psychological harm to their son Sean. “There is potential harm in the fact that this now 7 or 8-year-old child knows that his father is going to see the woman who sliced his throat and his brother’s throat,” Prosser said. “I can’t begin to comprehend the kind of long term damage that fact alone could have.”
Buchanan County Judge Bruce Zager listened to the arguments and will submit a written ruling on the mock jury and no-contact requests at a later date. Another hearing is set for September 18th, while Michelle Kehoe’s actual trial is scheduled for October 28th.
Story contributed by Dave Franzman, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids
