DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state board has rejected claims for $1 million payments for 52 prison inmates who were given six times the proper dose of COVID-19 vaccines last year. The three-member State Appeals Board on Monday unanimously denied the claims from inmates who received the extra doses in April 2021. The 52 inmates who each sought a $1 million payment were among 77 prisoners at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison who had been given overdoses of the Pfizer vaccine by prison nursing staff. The mistaken doses occurred after the vaccine was delivered in concentrate form that was supposed to be diluted with saline solution.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Donald Clark, who spent more than 6 years in prison for a sex crime he did not commit, was awarded $12 million by the state district court jury on Monday. Clark was convicted in 2010 of abusing a student during the 2003 school year. He was freed in 2016 after a judge ruled that his now-deceased public defender provided ineffective assistance. The alleged victim admitted to some false testimony and the county prosecutor’s office dropped the case. After six days of testimony and just over two hours of deliberation, jurors found that the state public defender failed to investigate the case against Clark, and that a substandard trial performance led to his conviction and wrongful imprisonment in 2009. After Monday’s verdict Clark said, “No matter what happens from here on out, I’m not only free from prison, but I’m also free from the state’s prison of lies. With this verdict, the rebuilding of my life can continue.” The jury awarded Clark $8 million in past emotional distress damages and $4 million for future damages.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Construction has started on a skywalk over 8th Avenue SE that will connect Mercy’s new Heart Center to the main hospital. Mercy said the work on the new skywalk will last several weeks and will impact traffic on 8th Avenue. Staff said the eastbound lanes of 8th Avenue SE between 8th Street and 10th Street SE will be closed, reducing traffic to two lanes with access to Mercy from 8th Avenue. This is expected to last until Oct. 20. Additionally, all lanes will close on 8th Avenue between 8th Street and 10th Street SE from Oct. 20 through Oct. 24 while crews work to hoist the skywalk into place. While the traffic remains impacted by the work, detours will be marked. Mercy staff said a section of 8th Avenue will always remain open for ambulance access to Mercy’s Emergency Room. Additional road closures are expected in the coming weeks and months as construction continues. Mercy’s Jewel & Jim Plumb Heart Center is expected to open in mid-2023.
CEDAR RAPDIS, Iowa (Iowa’s News Now) – Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids is updating its masking guidelines. Beginning Tues., Oct.4, if individuals are asymptomatic and have not been exposed to COVID within the last 10 days, masks are no longer required in common areas of the main hospital, MercyCare clinics and other Mercy facilities. Hospital and Hospice House staff will continue to mask in patient rooms, exam rooms or other areas where direct patient care is being provided. At MercyCare clinics and in other outpatient settings, staff will mask in exam rooms when providing direct patient care if the patient is symptomatic or if the patient prefers a mask. Masks are encouraged for anyone who is immunocompromised or who has a personal preference. Of course, confirmed COVID-19 patients should continue using approved protocols and PPE. These guideline changes are based on decreased levels of COVID transmission in the community, increased levels of immunity in the general population and more effective treatments. Mercy will continue to monitor and adjust our masking policy based on area transmission rates.
