Latest news with #WHO13News
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Julie Stauch announces run for Iowa governor
DES MOINES, Iowa — After years of managing and working in campaigns at the local, state and federal levels, Julie Stauch is making a run for the state's highest office. It's her first time seeking public office, Julie tells WHO 13 News that she is treating it like a job resume with a cover letter and actual resume listed on her campaign website. You can learn more about her background and the different organizations she has been involved with, including the 24 campaigns spanning across all levels of government. Iowa veteran passes halfway point on Appalachian Trail 'Iowans are disgusted with our elected leaders, and we want change,' said Stauch (D). 'We are done with the destruction created by a Governor and Legislators who are destroying every aspect of our state, playing childish games with people's lives. We value our water, our soil, our children's futures, our schools, our communities and our county governments. We need leaders who embrace those values. I am one of those leaders.' Stauch is one of a couple of Iowa Democrats to jump into the field, with State Auditor Rob Sand announced his bid for office just several weeks ago. You can watch the full interview with Stauch with WHO 13's Zach Fisher attached above. Stauch discusses why she decided now was the appropriate time to run, and a campaign trail she plans to circle four times over the next year. Iowa News: Julie Stauch announces run for Iowa governor Iowa veteran passes halfway point on Appalachian Trail Newton nonprofit holds fundraiser to install safe haven baby box Storms move in, along with cooler air Miguel Angel Jimenez wins playoff in Iowa for 3rd PGA Tour Champions victory of the year Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Joni Ernst responds to backlash from her sarcastic comments on Medicaid
DES MOINES, IOWA — United States Senator Joni Ernst is responding to backlash from comments made about Medicaid cuts at a townhall in Parkersburg; and to concern about a video she made over the weekend. Sen. Ernst made the comment of 'we are all going to die', when discussing with constituents last week cuts to Medicaid that are in the current budget bill. Ernst then took to social media on Saturday, saying that she wanted to 'sincerely apologize'. Ernst added in the video posted to social media that she thought everyone understood that everyone will perish from the earth. At the end of the video Ernst states that she was really glad that she didn't have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy, pushing people to turn their faith to God. On Monday a spokesperson with Sen. Ernst gave WHO 13 News the following statement: 'While Democrats fearmonger against strengthening the integrity of Medicaid, Senator Ernst is focused on improving the lives of all Iowans. There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.' Spokesperson for Sen. Joni Ernst (R) The Iowa GOP Chair responded to the criticism of both the comments and the video: 'Anyone who knows Joni — especially the folks who heard her answer tough questions for over an hour — knows Dems and the Main Stream Media are purposefully replacing her core message because it helps their fear-mongering. But the fact is, without Senator Ernst taking a strong stand to protect the integrity of programs like Medicaid, Iowans would be worse off.' Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann The bill sits in the U.S. Senate chamber, after the U.S. House passed through the budget. That bill includes the cuts to Medicaid that are these comments are circling around. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa lawmaker wants ‘stiffer penalties' for online grooming after missing child reunites with family
DES MOINES, Iowa – After a missing teenager was reunited with her family earlier this week, community leaders and lawmakers are calling for a change in how these types of crimes are prosecuted in the state. '…Stiffer penalties,' said State Representative Rob Johnson (D) District 34, Des Moines. 'You can make it so tough, and you even think about doing it and you get caught? You are going to be looking at a much, much stiffer penalty than you were before.' Rep. Johnson told WHO 13 News that he is using the interim of the 91st General Assembly to work on legislation with lawmakers on the other side of the aisle and community members to deter bad actors from committing the events that were alleged this weekend. 'We will stop at nothing to protect our babies,' said Rep. Johnson. Former Marshalltown substitute teacher accused of sexually exploiting student The founder and CEO of Creative Visions also spoke with WHO 13 News about how glad the family is to have their child back, and what the community will do to continue to support the family. 'Counseling is needed, not only for our victim, but her little brother. You see it in him, he is traumatized,' said Ako Abdul-Samad. 'We have to talk about what has transpired, what has traumatized this child and what this child had went through and what other children to date are going through, those children that don't have the result that this child had.' Abdul-Samad reiterated that the community will be there for the needs of the family, whatever those may be. West Des Moines Police Department told WHO 13 News that because of the case being an active and open investigation, there was nothing new to add at this time. Metro News: Iowa lawmaker wants 'stiffer penalties' for online grooming after missing child reunites with family Golfers get practice in pro-am before Principal Charity Classic Round 1 begins Friday New tactile mural, sensory wellness space helps Ruby Van Meter students find calm The Rook Room opens this weekend in downtown Des Moines Iowa's high school musical theater talent on display in Des Moines Thursday Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction is halfway complete on new Des Moines airport terminal
DES MOINES, Iowa — Construction for the new terminal at the Des Moines International Airport is now halfway complete, and officials will share more details on Wednesday regarding what else travelers can expect to see. Construction started in April 2024, but the airport had been planning for this project since 2014, when an analysis found that their current terminal couldn't expand any further. The construction will add additional gates and will help keep up with increasing air travel. The new terminal is expected to open in January 2027. As previously reported, the new terminal will also showcase five public art pieces. The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation successfully fundraised $4 million to have five installations in the new terminal, and the work on these installations is ongoing, according to Sarah Hoodjer, Communications Manager at the Des Moines International Airport. Iowan and her bell play key role in Scripps National Spelling Bee WHO 13 News also previously reported that the current terminal will be torn down and turned into a roadway for travelers to be picked up or dropped off at the new terminal. The only section of the current terminal that will not be bulldozed is the baggage claim area, which will be transformed into an office space. Construction will continue at the airport even after the new terminal is open. Hoodjer said the new terminal will be expanded up to Fleur Drive, and additional projects will be constructed. Another project that the airport is currently working on is expanding its parking garage. According to Hoodjer, the airport has successfully added 1,100 additional parking spots. There are now a total of 2,904 spots for daily and hourly parking near the terminal. The parking garage expansion will be open in June. This comes after the Des Moines International Airport recently announced a new logo and brand this year. They also added five new flights this year. 'It's the place airlines want to come, it's the place Iowans want to fly out of, and we're just excited to keep expanding and making it better,' said Hoodjer. On Wednesday, WHO 13 News will go inside the new terminal for a sneak peek into the construction process. Officials will also share more details on their expansion efforts, including the following projects: New de-icing pads New car rental facility New sky bridge connecting the new parking garage expansion to the new terminal Construction for all three of these projects will begin this summer. The de-icing pads will help increase efficiency at the airport. In January, the general manager for the airport's Integrated Deicing Services, Amanda Berry, joined Today in Iowa live to share the importance of de-icing and demonstrate the behind-the-scenes process. During those interviews, she shared that the airport did not have a designated area for planes to be de-iced. Berry said this often led to her team being in the way and other planes were unable to move around. Now, the construction of the new de-icing pads will make the process more efficient. Chase suspect bitten by K9 after running from stolen truck, DMPD says Construction is halfway complete on new Des Moines airport terminal Principal Charity Classic returns to Wakonda Club this week WDMPD reveals new details after missing 13-year-old found out of state Cool temps keep some central Iowa pools closed over holiday weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Both sides urge Governor for action on PBM reform bill
DES MOINES, Iowa — Those arguing in favor and against the bill reforming Pharmacy Benefit Manager practices in Iowa are calling on the Governor for action. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are the middlemen between pharmacies and insurance companies. They determine the total drug costs for insurers, shape patients' access to medications, and determine how much pharmacies are paid. Pharmacists have supported this bill during the session because they say it will ensure they are paid at fair rates, resulting in them not having to close their doors. Last year was a historic year for pharmacy closures in Iowa, with another 30 of them. Many pharmacies told WHO 13 News this was the result of corrupt practices by PBMs, mainly not being reimbursed at fair rates. Pharmacists and pharmacy owners have advocated for similar reform legislation for the past three years, but were unsuccessful in getting it debated in the state senate. This year, the bill passed the legislature and now waits on the Governor's approval. However, when the bill was sent to the state's executive branch, key corporate players voiced their concerns and urged the Governor to veto the bill. This included companies like the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), the Iowa Bankers Association (IBA), the Iowa Business Council, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). They claimed the bill would negatively impact Iowans by costing them around $340 million annually. In a statement sent to WHO 13 News, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry shared how they reached their data: 'To determine the impact of this bill, we used data publicly available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), along with the $10.68 dispensing fee in the bill. Here is a breakdown: The provision that contains the dispensing fee when paid to independent pharmacies and Iowa's largest pharmacy provider will cost $114,250,00 per year. Allowing any pharmacy to handle specialty drugs that require unique handling,, and administration eliminates the ability of employers to band together and get volume discounting on these drugs that now exists. This provision, which does not benefit small independent pharmacies will cost $135,750,000 per year. A provision that allows drug makers to provide copay assistance to drug purchasers pushes the costs from drug purchasers onto the health plans paid for by employee premiums. This provision does not benefit small independent pharmacies and will cost $66,250,00 per year. The bill contains a new process that allows pharmacies to change the reimbursement they get for drugs if they can show that their main wholesaler charges them more for a drug than had been established in the law. This provision will cost $23,500,000 per year. Taken together, these four provisions create $339,750,000 in new costs of pharmacy care in Iowa.' -Kelsey O'Connor, Marketing & Communications Director for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry However, several small independent pharmacies in Central Iowa have previously told WHO 13 News that this bill would help them because it would ban PBMs from paying pharmacies less money than it costs for the pharmacy to purchase drugs and distribute prescriptions. This includes pharmacies in Oskaloosa, Minden, Colfax, and Eagle Grove. They say this unfair reimbursement rate has been the primary cause of increasing pharmacy closures in Iowa. Brad Magg, the owner of the Spring City Pharmacy in Colfax, Iowa disagrees with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. He said, 'Every state that's passed legislation like this has seen their health insurance cost and prescription drug cost decrease, so for them to keep saying these astronomical numbers for what it's going to cost, they're not true. And they keep changing. Every time they say numbers, they're different. The bill hasn't changed.' Magg said Spring City Pharmacy will be closed in six to eight weeks if the bill doesn't become law. The future of the bill is ultimately up to the state's executive branch. Governor Kim Reynolds has not indicated whether she will sign the bill into law or veto it. WHO 13 News has reached out to her office, but hasn't heard back. She has until June 11th to sign the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
