Iowa News Briefs - Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020

CO injured in Anamosa assault
ANAMOSA –A correctional officer was assaulted at the Anamosa State Penitentiaryin Anamosa, IA at approximately2:17 p.m. this afternoon.
The officer was working at his post when an inmate unexpectedly struck him in the face with a closed-fist strike. The officer placed a call for assistance, and additional staff were able to quickly take the inmate under control without further incident.
The officer was taken to the Jones Regional Medical Center and found to have suffered bruising from the incident. The inmate was uninjured. This incident remains under investigation.

Gov. Reynolds applauds USMCA deal
Today, Gov. Reynolds released the following statement following President Trump signing the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) at the White House:
“President Trump successfully negotiated a strong, balanced and reciprocal trade agreement that will benefit Iowa and the entire nation. Years from now, USMCA will prove to be a major boost to Iowa’s economy, especially for families, farmers, manufacturers and small businesses.
“Mexico and Canada are Iowa's top two trading partners, serving as a key market for our products. This agreement, along with phase 1 deals reached with China and Japan, will expand markets for Iowa producers.
“I want to thank President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer, and the entire administration for securing this critical trade agreement.”

Gov. appoints Oxley to Supreme Court
DES MOINES– Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced her appointment of Dana Oxley as a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court Tuesday afternoon at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
Oxley, of Swisher, currently practices law with Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C. in Cedar Rapids, and serves as an adjunct law professor at the University of Iowa College of Law. Previously, she served as a career judicial law clerk for Judge David R. Hansen on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Oxley received her law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa.
Oxley is the governor’s third appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court. She fills the vacancy that arose because of the death of Chief Justice Mark Cady.

DNR. to host town hall at Starr's Cave
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.
The meeting is set for Burlington, Feb. 26, 7 p.m., Starr's Cave Nature Center, 11627 Starr's Cave Road
The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

Annals of Iowa gets new editor
DES MOINES –The State Historical Society of Iowa has named Andrew Klumpp the new editor ofthe Annals of Iowa,ascholarly journal of Iowa history first published in 1863.Klumppreplaces the retiring Marv Bergman, who has edited the Annals since 1986.
"We're excited to have Andrewjoinour teamas the new editoroftheAnnalsof Iowaand carry on this publication's 157-year tradition," said Susan Kloewer, administrator of the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and publisher of the Annals. "His background as a native Iowan and expertise in teaching and research will serve him well in his new role."
Klumppis a native of northwest Iowa and a Ph.D. candidate in American Religious History at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He completed his undergraduate education at NorthwesternCollege in Orange City, Iowa, and his master's work at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He specializes in religious and intellectual history,and his research examines the intersection of religion, imperialism and settler colonialism in the 19th-century Midwest.

Miller releases top consumer complaints for 2019
DES MOINES—For the second year in a row, auto-related problems topped all categories of complaints reported to theIowa Attorney General’sConsumer Protection Division in 2019.Other top categories were imposter scams and complaints over media services, home improvement projects and home goods and services.
"We could use the Legislature's assistance instrengthening Iowa laws to provide justice to consumers," Attorney General Tom Miller said.
Overall complaints totaled3,225,a 7.7% decrease from 2018. Despite last year’s dip, complaintsto the Consumer Protection Divisionareup 17.5%over the last five years.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds parents the key to a lifelong, healthy smile is early preventive care. Beginning regular dental visits by the age of 1 year, using fluoridated water and brushing twice a day can help prevent painful cavities from forming in a child’s mouth.

February is Children's Dental Health Month
This year, the theme for National Children’s Dental Health Month is "Fluoride in water prevents cavities! Get it from the tap!" 2020 marks 75 years of community water fluoridation, which has been recognized by the CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20thcentury. Water fluoridation is a proven method that decreases dental decay.
To learn more about fluoride and its benefits, visithttps://idph.iowa.gov/ohds/fluoride. If you want to know the level of fluoride in your drinking water, visithttps://nccd.cdc.gov/DOH_MWF/Default/Default.aspx.