Iowa briefs [Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, IA)]

Strawberry Point dismisses police chief

STRAWBERRY POINT - The police chief in Strawberry Point has been dismissed and another city official has resigned.

Strawberry Point Mayor Dale Fox told KWWL-TV that Police Chief Bob Pope was dismissed at a Wednesday night City Council meeting. City Clerk/Administrator Deanna McCusker resigned at the meeting.

Fox said Liz Jaster was named the interim city administrator. The Clayton County Sheriff's Office will take on the city's police duties.

The mayor didn't explain the reasons behind the firing and resignation.

Planned Parenthood expands telemedicine

DES MOINES - Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said it is expanding telemedicine services in clinics around Iowa.

The women's health program said Thursday that three health centers allow patients to consult with health professionals via video conferencing for birth control consultations, birth control method changes and testing for sexually transmitted infections. By the end of the year, Planned Parenthood hopes to have telemedicine offerings at 15 clinics around the state.

Last month, the Iowa Board of Medicine voted to ban a telemedicine system in which doctors distribute abortion-inducing pills.

Camp Dodge lifts

bar against worker

IOWA CITY - A former Iowa Law Enforcement Academy instructor was barred from Camp Dodge after academy officials claimed she was an armed threat, but the Iowa National Guard lifted the restriction after finding no evidence to support the claim.

A December 2012 memo warned Camp Dodge security that Nancy Brady had threatened employees and "should be considered armed when approached." Brady said she was outraged to learn of the ban, insisting she's never owned a gun.

The academy's treatment of Brady has come under scrutiny. She claims she was fired after blowing the whistle on inappropriate behavior.

Branstad stands by plan

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad said federal authorities haven't signed off on Iowa's low income health care expansion because they don't like the use of premiums in the plan.

Branstad said Thursday he stands by the plan. But despite meeting with federal officials in Washington this week, Branstad still hasn't gotten a waiver.

State lawmakers in May approved legislation that accepts federal funding to create a new health plan for some poor residents and to pay the premiums for other low-income Iowans to get private insurance on the new health care exchanges. Starting in 2015, some participants could be subject to small monthly premiums.