Near hoover elementary this morning. Thats at the corner at wiley and johnson. Authorities say an earlier pursuit ended in this area. Police say they dont believe there is any danger to the public. State senatoto are expected to debate a bill about the states Medicaid Program today. The bill would end contracts with three private companies that are slated to take over ownership on march 1st. Majority in the senate, so the bill will most likely pass there. Republican controlled house. Speaker linda upmey said she likely wont let the bill on the house floor, because governor branstad will veto. Senator liz mathis is a sponsor of the legislation. She is hoping upmeyer will reconsider if republicans have a good show of support today and in the house. Hopefully shell see that there maybe a lot of republicans and democrats who will support this bill when it gets over there and it wont be dead on arrival. Wellknown senate republican, is supporting the bill. Governor branstad is pushing privatization to help cut costs for medicaid. Recent federal legislation is giving more people access to health care, so there is now a greater demand. Nurses are a crucial part of providing those services, and Unity Point Health st. Lukes hospital in cedar rapids says they dont have enough. Kcrgtv 9s brea love joins us this morning. Brea, hospital Officials Say its in need of more nurses . They do. Currently, st. Lukes needs to fill 57 positions. But with that demand increasing everyday, keeping up with the job pace is hard. Thats why st. Lukes is encouraging nurses to help fill those positions, keeping the hospital out of a aritical situation. The Digestive Health department inside of st. Lukes hospital isnt busy right now. But, its usually packed with patients. 53 44 colonoscopys, upupr scopes, we see a lot of patients in and out. Recently hired nurse Paula Bulicek just started nurses helping fill spots within the hospital. 54 07 its a good place to work, i like the business of it, you kind of get to know your patients a little bit. And its all about the patients. St. Lukes Officials Say patients are aging, as well as the nursing force, and as they both grow older, nurses will retire, and patients will need more healthcare services. 46 16 that puts a demand for more nursrsg additionally theres been some changes in legislation that really increased access to health care, so you have more of a demand for those services as a result. Those changes have diversied health care, houlihan says healthcare is now much more e an coming to a hospital for care. 47 11 thats just one piece of the experience. How health care is changing, is its outreach, to homos, to clinics, things that were previously done in a hospital are being done in an ambulatory basis. And that means there are positions open at hospitals. Houlihan says its important to have a team thats ready to take care of patients when they need it. Thats why they are looking toward existing interns and partnering with local colleges which they hope will give other nurses the chance to talk about how much they love what they do. 54 31 i like the change everyday, nothings the same everyday. Houlihan says they have had ups and downs in the past, and will continue working to adapt. She says theyre looking for motivated, caring, individuals. Chris, nicole . Thanks a lot brea. Cedar rapids area Law Enforcement and prosecutors say they are committed to fighting the heroin epidemic. More than 150 people packed the Cedar Rapids Public Library last night for a town hall meeting on the topic. Speakers focused on how theyre working to stop it prevention, treatment dnd Law Enforcement. Cedar rapids police, the Us Attorneys Office and the Area Substance Abuse Council were all in on the discussion. Police say last year the city had about 250 cases involving heroin and that much of the heroin is coming from illinois. 13 08 15 you see an increase primarily in eastern iowa on the heroin, beginning to get more reports of it showing up in the central part of the state, more of the des moines ames corridor. To the lesser extent to western iowa. It seems to be migrating geogrhically fromo east to west. Town hall organizers also hoped to let more people know about what can lead to heroin use. Police say prescription pain killer abuse is the gateway to heroin addiction. The university of iowa hospitals and clinics is changing its top leadership. Its a part of an effort to bring clinical and educational efforts closer together. The ui Vice President for medical affairs and the dean of the Carver College of medicine will current vp for medical Affairs Jean Robillard will fill the new position. And the college of medicines current dean, Debra Schwinn wqll become medical afafairs. Thth new role will focus on special projects. Staff members at Finley Hospital in dubuque are learning from a new birthing simulator. The noelle birthing simulator shows the birthing process, complete w wh fetal heart t sounds, and a removable abdominal cover. Complications that might come up during a deliveru. The families of longtime finley nurses, beth hoefer and mary riegler, donated the birthing simulator. We can simulate decreased heart rate which happens all the time. And the nurses have to go through the right steps to correct it. Education was very important to her. She was very involved in starting up the neonatal icu. That was her baby, literally. Hoefer and riegler worked for decades in the birthing unit aafinley spital. In a tv9 followup this morning. Its back to class this morning students who lobbied lawmakers for more education funding. Cedar rapids schools superintendent brad buck says the District Needs at least a 3 point 72 percent increase to maintain current staffing and programs. The group of about 75 High School Students talked to lawmakers in des moines yesterday. One metro sophomore has a good feeling about their work. I feel like we got a lot of answers told to us. Hopefully that will have some effect on the outcome. The district says it hasnt made any decisions on cuts, if the School Funding increase isnt large enough. The ash trees will be coming down. Eventually. Over the next 5 years, crews will be taking down hundreds of ash trees on the university of iowa campus. They have to remove the trees because the Emerald Ash Borer was found on campusus along with other parts of Johnson County. The invasive beetle is known to spread quickly and kill ash trees. University arborists say they plan to replace all 560 ash trees by about 2020. Years old and are on and around the pentacrest. Five years, if we take down 100 a year, were going to have them down by then, its going to be staggered out, along the street we maa take everyyhird one, every other one, not every one. The University Says it hopes to find renewable uses for the wood that is chopped down. One idea is to burn it for Energy Purposes at the ui power plant. Not every type of supebowl is er. Today, the domestic violenen Intervention Program in iowa city is holding its annual soup er bowl fundraiser. For 15 to 25 dollars, you can enjoy endless amounts of soup in a new, unique bowl. This event will feature soup from 40 area restaurants. The money will help victims facing the impact of Violent Crime and homessness due to abuse. The event is tonight from 5 30 to 7 30 at the sheraton in downtown iowa city. You can buy tickets at the door. The large republican field is shrinking. As 2 gopers drop out, the Democratic Candidates are preparing for a debate tonight. Those in Johnson County can get community ids. And two groups are working together to get more people signed up. But right now, heres a look at todays opening farm markets. Good morning as well. While well start off cold again, highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east than yesterdays snow and should affefe more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts will remain light and generally under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute on friday. The wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowingnow yet again. Saturday is still on track to be cold and quiet with another snow chance coming our way for sunday. Today mostly sunny high winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 winds sw 510 alo 14 dbq 14 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high 1824 winds nw 1530 alo 19 dbq 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 winds nw 515 alo 3 dbq 3 iow 0 the university of iowas and Johnson County are teaming up to help others get county ids. Last july, county supervisors unanimously approved a program that let people with or without us citizenship get an id. In 7 months, 765 people signed up. The Auditors Office wants to issue at least a thousand ids. An elections technician says this helps people who otherwise might not be able to get a government id, like a drivers license. Its interesting to see the people who actually live in Johnson County then and see where they actually y ame from before you know residing here and growing roots. Theres another id signup today from 11 till one at the old capital mall. Burgegeking. As in the nameme the fast food chain is known for their burgers. But they are about to seller of another american classic food item. More on that in todays 7. Have suspended their campaigns. That means the fight is now in South Carolina. And the democrats have another debate tonight. Abcs lana zak has the latest on race for the white house. Trump sot we may have to stage a phony protest. Thats the only way they show the size of t tse crowds. This crowd is amazing. Donald trump with even more spring in his step following his major win in New Hampshirefo rcing two more candidateschris christie and Carly Fiorina out of the race. Trump says hes ready to take on democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton trump sot were going to beat her and honestly women dont like her, in New Hampshire, clinton lost women voters nationally, clintotostill has the advantage over bernie sanders, who tells Abcs Cecilia Vega he has work to do. Vega if the election were tomorrow do you think you could win South Carolina and nevada . Sanders no. Fortunately for us the election is not tomorrow. Gw bush ad nats and another candidate grateful for some extra campaign timejeb bushwho confirms his brother will join him on the trail hitting trump hard yesterday after his fourth place finish in New Hampshire bush sot e is an entertaining person. Unless you are a woman. Unless you are a hispanic, unless youre a pow, unlee youre a disabled person. But secondplace winner john kasich says hes unlikely to go on the attack kasich sot im not gonna be a pincushion or a marshmallow but im also not gonna spend my time trying to trash over people. Tag back in kasichs home state of ohio, a controversial bill to cut off funding for planned parenthood programs on aids and domestic violence, has passed. Kasich says he will sign it. Lz abc n, the more than a monthlong standoff in an oregon wildlife refuge could be ending this morning. The final 4 activists inside the Malheur National wildlife refuge say that theyll leave their weapons behind and surrender to authorities this morning. The fbi and other Law Enforcement have been surrounding them. Authorities also say no shots have been fired. The situation startrt january 2nddwhen protesters took over the refuge to decry what they called government overreach of federal land. Protest leader ammon bundy and several others were arrested last month. Now for a quick check on your weather with meteorologist kaj omara. Plan on a quiet thursday with a clear start as well. While well start off cold again, highs should make the upper teens to lower 20s. Tonight, another batch of light snow should move into the area. This one should be farther east than yesterdays snow and should affect more of eastern iowa as a result. While amounts will remain light and generally under 1, itll make for a slick morning commute on friday. The wind will pick up behind this system during the day on friday and may cause some patchy blowing snow yet again. Saturday is still on rack to be cold and ququet with another snow chance coming our way for sunday. Today mostly sunny high 1824 winds light n alo 18 dbq 19 iow 22tonight snow likely late low 1420 winds sw 510 alo 14 dbq 14 iow 18tomorrow early am snow, clearing high 1824 winds nw 1530 alo 19 dbq 20 iow 23tomorrow night mostly clear low 33 abcs reena ninan and Kendis Gibson have this mornings americas money. Good morning topping americas money some caution from the fed. Federal reserve chair janet yellen telling congress that Interest Rate increases may be layed. Thats because of the t tmoil on the global markets. During v gold is up nearly 15 . And more automakers are recalling vehicles with those defected air bag andheyre now recalling 1. 7 million vehicles with the takata air bags that can rupture and send sha ral nell to passengers in the car. Burger king is adding hot it willo nationwide on the 23rd of this month. H. A classic hot dog will cost you 1. 99. Bold idea by burger king. A we stop arthritis pain, so you dont have to stop. Because you believe in go. Onward. Todays the day. Carpe diem. Tylenol 8hr arthritis pain has two layers of pain relief. The first is fast. The second lasts all day. We give you your day back. What you do with it is up to you. Tylenol. Adventures from 599, plus up to 300 to spend at sea. Book now, offer ends soon. Valentines day is sunday . So get to kohls super satuay. And save on early birds till 1pm. Like 70 off fine jewelry. Save on dress shirts for him. Or sleepwear and loungewear for her plus take an extra 15 off get kohls cash o m your 24 hour news source, this is kcrgtv9 news Early Morning news. Democratic president ial candidates are in wisconsin this morning. Clinn versus sanders tonight in a debate. The zika virus is causing concern all over the world. And expecting mothers in dubuque are asking questions about their risk. Hospitals across the country are looking for nurses. A changing Health Care System is demanding more services. Good thursday morning its 5 clock on february 11th. Here is a ve look at. First, meteorologis t kaj omara