Latest news with #ClarkKauffman
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Canadian wildfires trigger air quality alert in Iowa
The smoke from Canadian wildfires left a thick haze over West Des Moines' Raccoon River Park this week. (Photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capita Dispatch) Smoke from the fires currently ravaging the Canadian wilderness arrived at Iowa's northern border Monday night and will likely impact air quality throughout the state in the coming days. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has announced an air quality alert across Iowa that will be in effect until 6 a.m., Thursday, June 5. During this time, Iowa DNR expects the air to contain an unhealthy amount of hazardous airborne pollutants from the wildfire smoke. 'It's like predicting snowfall,' said Todd Russell, one of the ambient air monitoring staff at Iowa DNR. 'It's difficult to tell how much smoke is up there, how much smoke will reach the ground and how long it's going to last.' Russell said the decision to put the alert in effect came after observing levels of particulates 'multiple times the federal standard' in northern Iowa towns, such as Emmetsburg, for several hours. Areas near the Minnesota border are still seeing high levels of particulates, he said. Based on several models of smoke movement that mirrored the changes the Iowa DNR observed on Monday night, Russell says his 'conservative' estimate is that the smoke will remain at least through Wednesday evening. According to AirNow, a central hub of EPA air-quality information at state and national levels, individuals with lung or heart diseases, children, teenagers, pregnant women, adults over the age of 65 and people more likely to be outside for extended periods are at risk of more severe health effects caused by the smoke. However, AirNow recommends everyone reduce their exposure. 'Stay away from it if you can and minimize your exercise or intake of that smoke if you can't get away from it,' Russell said. As of June 3, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center reports 213 active fires, of which 106 are 'out of control.' The area burned by these fires since the start of 2025 is greater than 4.8 million acres of land. The National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho announced 150 federal firefighters would be mobilized to help suppress fires in Alberta and Manitoba provinces. Minnesota and Wisconsin have similar alerts in effect currently. Real-time updates on air quality and affected areas are available here.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Thanks to those who won't keep their mouths shut
(Photo by Prostock-Studio/Getty Images) Our admiration goes to the Davids of the world: those who stand up, speak out and fight back, refusing to let the Goliaths intimidate or silence them. A recent example is a story by Clark Kauffman, reporter at the Iowa Capital Dispatch. He detailed the allegations in a lawsuit filed by a former certified nurse aide at a nursing home in Fonda, Iowa. The suit was filed against the Fonda Specialty Care nursing home, its parent company, Care Initiatives, and a licensed practical nurse working at the facility. You can read the April 30 story here. The suit alleges that a certified nurse aide observed an 87-year-old resident with a tracheostomy struggling to breathe. The aide sought help from the on-duty nurse to suction the resident's airway. The nurse refused to intervene despite multiple requests from staff members. The aide attempted to contact off-site management but could reach no one. She asked for permission to call 911 and was rebuffed. The resident ultimately died in a manner the lawsuit describes as 'agonizing and painful.' The suit also claims that after the certified nurse aide finished her shift, she received multiple text messages from the facility's administrator to 'keep your mouth shut and keep your opinions to yourself.' She was also instructed not to communicate with the family of the resident who died. The next day, the aide was fired. The facility cited 'resident complaints' as the reason. The nurse aide said she was fired for reporting the incident to the state. KTIV television in Sioux City posted Kauffman's article on their Facebook page, drawing nearly 600 reactions and 200 comments. Responses were candid and often angry. A small sample includes: 'I would never put my parents or anybody I know in a nursing home.' 'The fact that the nursing home tried to cover it up is just as horrible' (as the death). 'My heart breaks for the family and the aides that witnessed it.' 'This makes me sick.' This makes us sick, too. How about you? Imagine being in the shoes of the staff member who allegedly tried to do the right thing, witnessed a horrible death, was fired by her employer, and then had to decide 'what's next?' This nurse's aide chose not 'to keep her mouth shut' but instead to challenge a powerful corporation in court. Some would say that's a fool's errand. We view it as an admirable act of courage. Put this in a larger context. We live in a time where many people, including elected officials, organizations and businesses, find themselves in situations similar to the nurse aide where they are expected to do what they are told and avoid speaking out or acting on what they believe is right. Here are recent examples: Legislators who don't vote the way a governor or president demands. The student on campus who speaks up for Palestinians. The university president or corporate head who doesn't comply with diversity, equity and inclusion directives. National news organizations that write an editorial or airs programs the powers that be don't like. Foreign leaders who disagree publicly with a U.S. government representative. Law firms that challenge governmental actions. Entertainers who bring attention to social injustices. The list could go on and on. It's not a good time to be an independent thinker, to swim against the tide, or to tell the emperor that they have no clothes. The message to all the rulebreakers out there is this: Toe the line. Do what you're told. There will be hell to pay if you disobey. The fact that it's not a good time to speak out is why we need people to speak out. We applaud the certified nurse aide and all those like her who are courageously standing up for what they believe. They are making what John Lewis called 'good trouble.' Davids can and do defeat the Goliaths. Not all the time, not without great difficulty. But is the fight worth fighting? Indeed, it is. John and Terri Hale own The Hale Group, an Ankeny-based advocacy firm focused on older Iowans, Iowans with disabilities and the caregivers who support them. Contact them at terriandjohnhale@
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa's nursing home residents deserve better from state lawmakers
Cropped shot of a senior man at home (Photo via Getty Images) The late newspaper columnist Bill Wundram of the Quad-City Times in Davenport wrote seven days a week for 31 years. Many of his columns, highlighting a wide variety of concerns in his home community, included the refrain, 'Is anybody there? Does anybody care?' That plaintive question came to mind Tuesday as I listened to Iowa senators debate what is likely to be the lone bill this year addressing nursing home regulation. Actually, 'debate' is the wrong word. What happened was a refusal to debate. Democrats introduced 14 bills this session in an effort to address critical failures in Iowa's nursing homes. Failures like the one Iowa Capital Dispatch's Clark Kauffman reported Tuesday that led to what must have been agonizing pain, weeks of suffering and the eventual death of a resident at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon. State inspectors reported that in January, the resident had developed a 'reddened area' on his coccyx, or tailbone. Nursing home staff did nothing, state records show – no assessment, treatment or physician contact – even after the sore developed into an open wound in February. The man 'looked absolutely awful,' an aide told inspectors later. 'There was bloody skin on both sides of the buttocks and continuing down it looked like hamburger,' the aide said, according to inspectors' reports. In March, the man was finally taken to the hospital with a Stage 4 wound that exposed muscle, bone or tendons. He died two days later of a staph infection. Is anybody there? Does anybody care? As anyone who reads Iowa Capital Dispatch regularly already knows, stories like this happen with shocking regularity. Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner brought up several of them Tuesday on the Senate floor: A resident at a care facility in Keota died from complications resulting from a fall after being found lying with bleeding head wound but not being transferred to a hospital until 15 days later. In Wellman, where a nursing home worker found a woman lying on the floor with a 'big goose egg' on the side of her head but was put to bed instead of being provided medical assistance. She was admitted to the hospital the next day and diagnosed with a brain bleed, fractured clavicle and urinary tract infection. She died a few weeks later of her injuries. In Story City, a nursing home was cited for inadequate staffing twice in a month. The second time was after a resident known to need supervision while eating choked to death on a caramel brownie. Not enough examples for you? Here are some others. Nursing home sued after resident falls down concrete stairs in wheelchair Resident chokes to death, home cited for rodents and staffing issues Iowa care facilities recently cited for death, abuse and neglect Nurse faces sentencing for wanton neglect in death of nursing home resident Woman dies at Iowa nursing home recently acquired by private equity firm Burns, 'grapefruit-size' wound and death trigger nursing home lawsuit Care facility fined $9,000 for infection, death Is anybody there? Does anybody care? The bills introduced by Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Moines, would have required more frequent inspections of nursing homes and added 30 new inspectors to do the work. They would have increased fines for violations and allowed family members to install cameras in their loved ones' rooms to help them monitor care. They would have prevented predatory private equity firms from buying out nursing home chains — a situation that has degraded care in Iowa facilities. None of the bills received a hearing before a committee deadline, making all of them ineligible for debate in their original form. That left Democrats to try to attach some of the proposals as amendments to the only nursing home bill the majority party has been inclined to consider. That bill would give nursing home operators an extra opportunity to avoid being cited for critical violations. All of the amendments that would have expanded oversight were ruled out of order on Tuesday. The majority party senators could have chosen to debate these measures anyway. They did not. Is anybody there? Does anybody care? One might wonder what other issues the GOP majority in the Legislature finds more compelling than the safety of our elderly loved ones. As an example, here's what was happening in Des Moines while a man was dying in Sheldon: On March 6, the same day the patient in Sheldon was admitted to the hospital after weeks of neglect, the Republican majority in the Statehouse was pushing its priority bills through the first of two deadlines for committee action. What were those priorities? Well, they kept alive a bill to make sure 18-year-olds can carry a firearm, because that will make the rest of us feel a whole lot safer. They pushed forward election changes that will mean any Iowan with a foreign-sounding name or brown skin will want to carry their passport if they want to vote without a whole lot of red tape. And they backed the badge by passing a law to allow Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to target a county sheriff who said in social media that he wasn't going to comply with detainer requests from federal immigration enforcement unless they were 'valid' ones. What they weren't doing is lifting a finger to make our elderly loved ones safer in long-term care. There's at least one more opportunity this year for lawmakers to do something meaningful for nursing home residents. They could include some of the Democrats' oversight proposals and funding for additional inspectors in the state budget. Sen. Kara Warme, R-Ames, said Tuesday she was 'sympathetic' to the concerns raised by the Democrats – as she was seeking to have their proposals dismissed. 'I'm sympathetic to the concerns raised by the senators, and I believe resident safety is a top priority in our nursing facilities,' she said. Iowa has a lot of excellent nursing homes with caring staff, to be sure. But turning a blind eye to the abuse, neglect and literal torture that residents are enduring in some facilities is the opposite of sympathy. Is anyone there? Does anyone care?
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawsuit: Casey's exploits employees with tobacco-use surcharge
This convenience store on West Des Moines' Grand Avenue is part of the Casey's General Store chain, which is being sued over the tobacco-use surcharge imposed on employees. (Main photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch. Inset photo of company policy is from U.S. District Court records) Casey's General Store is being sued for allegedly exploiting its workers through the discriminatory practice of imposing a tobacco-use surcharge for health insurance coverage. The surcharge, which is alleged to be $35 per pay period, amounts to an illegal 'cash grab' by Casey's that is masquerading as a wellness program, the lawsuit claims. Filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, the lawsuit seeks class-action status but is currently filed on behalf of one Casey's employee, Elizabeth Blalock of Carroll County, Missouri. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Attorneys for Blalock allege that all Casey's workers are automatically assumed to use tobacco unless they submit to a process in which they provide a sworn affidavit stating they do not. Any worker who fails to complete that process by a specified deadline is then required to pay 'tobacco surcharge' for the entire calendar year, even if they do not use tobacco, the lawsuit claims. In addition, Casey's allegedly fails to provide the federally required options that would allow employees to avoid the surcharge. 'The surcharge is structured as a penalty rather than a legitimate wellness incentive,' the lawsuit claims, since the workers 'who miss the enrollment deadline are penalized for the entire year without any opportunity to later demonstrate compliance or avoid the surcharge.' The lawsuit is based on the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. ERISA allows employers to deduct from workers' pay a tobacco-use surcharge, but only in connection with wellness programs that meet specific federal guidelines established in 2014. Those regulations state they are intended to ensure corporate wellness programs actually promote health as opposed to being a 'subterfuge for discriminating based on a health factor.' The lawsuit alleges Casey's is illegally shifting the costs associated with less healthy workers from the company back to those same workers 'who end up subsidizing their healthier colleagues.' ERISA bars any health insurer or medical plan from discriminating against participants by charging premiums based on a 'health-related factor,' including tobacco use. It does, however, allow group health plans to establish premium discounts or rebates' in return for adherence to programs that promote wellness and disease prevention. Casey's, the lawsuit claims, does not meet that standard. 'There is no smoking-cessation program, waiver, or alternative route for tobacco users' to avoid the surcharge, the lawsuit alleges. 'The only avenue for smokers to avoid the surcharge is to quit smoking and then submit that change in status to the benefits department. Thus, tobacco users are penalized based solely on their status as smokers, which violates ERISA's nondiscrimination provisions.' The lawsuit goes on to allege that 'allowing companies like Casey's to exploit their participants and unlawfully extract millions from them under the guise of a wellness program that is, in reality, a cash grab, directly contradicts ERISA's purpose of protecting workers from health-based discrimination. If unchecked, this practice would permit employers to manipulate wellness programs as revenue generating schemes rather than genuine health initiatives.' According to the lawsuit, Blalock has forfeited to Casey's $35 in earnings per pay period — roughly $910 per year — in order to maintain health coverage through the company. Casey's, which is headquartered in Ankeny, is one of the nation's largest convenience store chains, with more than 2,600 locations in 16 states. There are more than 18,000 employees enrolled in the company's health plan, according to court records. In seeking class-action status for their lawsuit, the plaintiff's attorneys argue the amount of money at issue exceeds $5 million, and the number of Casey's workers who might potentially join the case is more than 1,000. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for unlawful imposition of a discriminatory tobacco surcharge and breach of fiduciary duty. Casey's has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. The company did not immediately respond Monday to requests for comment. The plaintiff is represented by attorney Adam J. Wachal of the Koley Jessen law firm in Omaha. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Restaurant inspection update: Sushi violations and ‘body parts of a wild deer'
In the past month, state and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and grocery stores for hundreds of food-safety violations. (Photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch) State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past four weeks, including serious offenses related to sushi preparation, moldy food and 'body parts of a wild deer' that were found in one eatery's freezer. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses over the past four weeks. The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a 'snapshot' in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals' website. Hy-Vee Foods, 420 Court Ave., Des Moines — During a Feb. 21 visit, a state inspector cited this store for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and concluded the person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Code as evidenced by the number of violations related to employee training, cross-contamination prevention, hand washing, cleaning and sanitizing, and food-safety written procedures and plans. In addition, at least one of the workers designated as the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager. The inspector observed that the store's Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points binder — typically used to log information tied to the safe production of sushi — did not contain any of the required parasite destruction documents from 2024. In addition, the store did not maintain the approved variance for the acidification of sushi rice, and it did not appear to be complying with all parts of the HACCP plans and procedures. For example, the manager was to verify the pH-level logs at the end of each shift, but none of the documents from the last six months had been signed by management. Also, sushi workers were not waiting the required 15 minutes before testing pH levels, and were not following other, specific time parameters outlined in the plan when acidifying sushi rice. 'When reviewing the last several months of sushi rice records, a number of areas are not completely filled out,' the inspector reported, noting missing signatures, dates and columns or rows that were missing the numeric values that should have been recorded. When questioned, a sushi worker could not describe for the inspector what to do — such as discarding rice — when specific testing parameters for pH levels were not met. The inspector also reported that several food items throughout the store had been held past their seven-day limit, including deviled eggs that had a discard date of Feb. 19, and several items in the deli department, such as sandwiches and various spreads or cream cheeses that were dated Feb. 18. Also, the floor mixer and the microwave oven in the bakery department were visibly soiled with a buildup of what appeared to be food debris, and raw, ground Italian sausage was being stored directly over ready-to-eat olives in the meat department cooler, risking cross-contamination. 'Discussed with the firm regaining active managerial control of the facility by correcting all violations noted in the report,' the inspector reported. 'This may include, but is not limited to, the following actions: additional training, repairing broken equipment, increased cleaning frequency, and additional oversight of the sushi production and recordkeeping.' The inspector also advised the store to register all employees who are designated as a person in charge for a certified food protection manager course by March 3, 2025. The inspector also discussed with the firm the 're-training all sushi employees and managers.' El Charro, 514 Main St., Pella — During a March 18 visit, this restaurant was cited for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. A state inspector found several prepared and pre-portioned food items in the freezer without any preparation dates to ensure their freshness and safety. Also, sliced steak on the flat-top grill was measured at 95 degrees and had to be reheated to at least 165 degrees before being moved to a hot-holding unit. In addition, house-made salsa was left sitting out at 54 degrees; knives stored as 'clean' in the knife rack were marred by a buildup of food debris; employees were seen handling raw food items and then assembling tacos without washing their hands between tasks; and the ice machine had what appeared to be a buildup of 'mold-like debris.' The inspector also noted that raw shrimp, beef and chicken were all left out to thaw at room temperature; fly traps hanging throughout the kitchen had multiple dead insects adhered to them; several food items were left uncovered throughout the walk-in freezer and cooler, risking contamination; and clean mop heads were stored on top of avocados and an open container of chips. El Dorado, 112 SE 2nd St, Cedar Rapids — During a March 18 visit, this restaurant was cited for 13 risk-factor violations, an exceptionally high number. A Linn County inspector noted that there was no certified food protection manager with any management responsibility on site. In his written report, the inspector wrote that 'all handwashing sinks in the kitchen, bar, and downstairs next to the ice machine are spoiled on sight and touch' and were in need of cleaning. Also, cut lemons and limes were not been kept chilled; there was no sanitizer prepared or being used in the kitchen or the bar, and cutting boards, food-preparation tables, refrigerators and other equipment were soiled with debris of some kind. The inspector also reported that cooked rice was being kept at 110 degrees in a warmer intended for chips, and 'all cooking equipment' was described as 'covered with greasy debris.' The inspector also observed that ready-to-eat foods were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. Fire Creek Grill, 800 S. 50th St., West Des Moines — During a March 12 visit, a state inspector found a package of Parmesan cheese with a buildup of 'mold-like debris' covering the package. Inside a walk-in cooler, the inspector found salad dressings and whipped butter that had been stored uncovered and which contained a buildup of 'dust-like debris.' Also, raw eggs on the cook line were measured at 78 degrees, and wet batter was measured at 76 degrees. The eggs and batter were then discarded. In addition, a package of cheese was dated Feb. 13, 2023, more than two years' prior to the date of inspection, and house-made garlic butter was dated Feb. 26, 2025. The inspector also observed that the walls in the server area near the kitchen were chipped and gouged, and the walls of the walk-in cooler — as well as the cooler's floor, ceiling and shelving — were heavily soiled with a buildup of food debris and 'a mold-like substance.' Masala, 9 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City — During a March 12 visit, a Johnson County inspector cited the restaurant for 12 risk-factor violations, an exceptionally high number, and concluded the person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of food-borne illnesses, staff hygiene, sanitizing, time-and-temperature controls used for food safety, or the hazards associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked food. In addition, the person in charge was not a certified food protection manager. The inspector noted that the cold buffet line was holding food at 56 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder. As a result, kheer, raita, gulab jamun and tamarind chutney were discarded. In addition, the walk-in cooler was holding food at 56 degrees, resulting in multiple bins of raw chicken, as well as multiple five-gallon buckets of masala sauce and curry sauce, being discarded. The inspector also noted that access to the kitchen handwashing sink was obstructed, and the sink itself had no hand soap and was littered with diced food debris, indicating it wasn't used strictly for handwashing. Also, the handles to the food-prep coolers were covered in food debris and grease, as were the vents over a cooking apparatus. 'The kitchen floor between and behind the grills and cook-tops are covered in grease,' the inspector reported. 'The food-contact surfaces inside the kitchen microwave are visibly dirty with food debris.' Asian Snack Shack, 504 Erie St., Storm Lake — During a March 11 visit, a state inspector cited the restaurant for storing raw meats above ready-to-eat pasta, risking cross contamination. Also, food items inside the reach-in cooler were not labeled with the dates of preparation to ensure freshness and safety. In addition, the dough mixer was visibly dirty and the kitchen ceiling was in disrepair. Crave, 1110 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City — During a March 11 visit, a Siouxland District Health Department inspector observed an employee handling ready-to-eat lettuce with their bare hands and noted that food – including various cheeses, sliced melons and lemon butter – were holding at 50 degrees. Also, garlic lemon butter and cooked ribs had been held for longer than maximum of seven days, although the inspector didn't state how much longer. In addition, the dishwasher in the bar area didn't have the required amount of sanitizing solution, and the ice machine in the bar storage room area was visibly dirty. Hyatt Regency, 300 E. 9th St., Coralville — During a March 11 visit, a Johnson County inspector found multiple expired house-made sauces — including mustard dated March 4, garlic aioli dated March 1, squash puree and ragu dated Feb. 25 — that had been held past their seven-day maximum. Also, raw burgers were stored above sliced potatoes, and raw steak was stored above au jus sauce, risking cross-contamination. The inspector also noted that cooked shrimp and cut tomatoes prepared more than 24 hours prior to the inspection lacked any labels with their dates of preparation. Due to some of the violations being repeat offenses, a warning letter was issued. Franklin School, 1315 W. Main St., Marshalltown — During a March 6 visit by a state inspector, this elementary school was cited for six risk-factor violations. The inspector noted that the 'person in charge and staff were unable to explain food-borne illness diagnosis that require reporting' to the state, and were unable to describe symptoms associated with food-borne illness. Also, the pork patties 'in the hot box shipper' were measured at 119 to 129 degrees — not hot enough to ensure their safety — and so the remaining patties at the end of lunch service were discarded. Also, packages of cut melon on the serving line were measured at 51 degrees and warmer, and cartons of milk were measured at 46 degrees and warmer. The cut melon was discarded, while the milk was returned to a cooler. 'Hot and cold foods are placed on the serving line with no means of temperature control,' the inspector noted, adding that one food-service worker had long, shoulder-length hair that was not restrained as required. Little Sioux Event Center, 201 E. Linden St., Cherokee — During a March 6 visit, a Siouxland District Health Department inspector observed two employees handling ready-to-eat buns and cooked chicken with their bare hands. Also, a cheese-based soup that had been cooked the day before the inspection was inside one of the coolers and holding at 48 degrees, having yet to reach the required temperature of 41 degrees or colder. In addition, various items in the salad-preparation cooler — including shredded lettuce, cheese and dressings — were holding at 55 to 57 degrees and had to be discarded. The inspector also found food items — including macaroni and cheese, baked potatoes and cooked chicken — that were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. With regard to the food items that were dated, the inspector found some of the items — including pizza sauce, house-made coleslaw and cheese-based sauces — had been held for more than the maximum of seven days. El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant, 100 W. South St., Mount Ayr — During a March 4 visit, a state inspector found 'body parts of a wild deer' inside a walk-in freezer. The deer parts were discarded. In addition, several house-made salsas and queso were in the coolers holding at temperatures between 45 and 49 degrees, rather than 41 degrees or colder. In addition to those items, the inspector found sour cream holding at 48 degrees, lettuce at 45 degrees, pulled chicken at 45 degrees and chile rellenos at 47 degrees. All of the items were discarded. 'No date-markings on any of the cooked or prepared foods in the entire facility,' the inspector noted, adding that there was no detectable amount of chlorine sanitizer in the dishwasher. 'Shrimp was observed thawing in a bucket of standing water,' the inspector reported. The visit was in response to an illness complaint of an unspecified nature. The inspector concluded the complaint unverified. Hy-Vee Foods, 910 N. Jefferson St., Indianola — During a Feb. 28 visit, a state inspector observed that the hot rotisserie chicken in an end-cap display near the check-out line was holding the chicken 125 to 126 degrees, which was not hot enough to ensure its safety. The chicken was discarded. Also, whole muscle beef was improperly stored below ground bison and ground beef in a display case, and several cold items in a deli cooler were being held at temperatures above 41 degrees, including turkey breast, chicken salad, salsa and egg salad, all of which were discarded. The inspector also observed that the ice machine in the coffee area had what appeared to be a buildup of mold in the ice-dispensing chute. Potros Garcia, 2804 N. Court St., Ottumwa — During a Feb. 26 visit, a state inspector cited this restaurant for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and concluded the person in charge was not following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Code as evidenced by number of violations and repeat offenses found. The inspector observed that raw ground beef was stored above ready-to-eat broccoli and carrots, risking cross-contamination. Also, there appeared to be no process in place to date-mark any of the foods to ensure freshness and safety, and the inside of one cooler had a buildup of 'a black, mold-like substance.' The restaurant last underwent a routine inspection in June 2022. Casa Tequila Authentic Mexican Grill, 1100 Andersen Place, Tiffin — During a Feb. 25 visit, a Johnson County inspector cited this establishment for 11 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and observed that chicken was being cooked to an internal temperature of only 95 degrees. The chicken was returned to the grill and cooked until it reached the minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. In addition, house-made chipotle sauce had no date markings to ensure freshness and safety; house-made salsa and a house-made chicken dish were each dated Feb. 18 had been held for more than the maximum of seven days; and pesticides not labeled for use in the food-service industry were present in the building. Also, peppers were being stored uncovered within a freezer, risking contamination. Due to the repeat nature of some violations, the Johnson County Public Health Department issued a warning letter. Jack's Pho House, 802 S. 3rd Ave., Marshalltown — During a Feb. 24 visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number, and noted that the restaurant did not have a certified food protection manager on staff. The inspector reported that portions of cooked rice were being stored at the room temperature of 71 degrees, and house-made sauces were not date-marked with either their production date or discard date. Also, pots of pho broth were left to cool on the stove top between food-service periods, with no temperature monitoring or refrigeration. In addition, rice noodles and wonton wrappers were left to thaw at room temperature in a storage room, and the scoops used to portion mixes for teas and drinks were stored in a container of standing water. The inspection was prompted by a non-illness complaint regarding poor personal hygiene among the staff. The complaint was deemed unverified. The inspector gave the restaurant six months, until Aug. 21, 2025, to have a certified food protection manager on staff. According to state records, Jack's Pho House was last inspected by the state in October 2020 when a remote, pre-opening inspection was conducted.
