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Are ‘forever chemicals’ in your drinking water? Check here
The state has created an interactive, online map for Iowans to track whether their drinking water has detectable amounts of cancer-causing chemicals that persist in the environment indefinitely. The map reflects early testing by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — commonly referred to as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” They […]
Iowa’s statewide COVID cases up 73% in past week
The coronavirus infection rate in Iowa spiked in the past week to a level unseen since November 2020, which was the worst month of the pandemic for the state, according to preliminary Iowa Department of Public Health data. There were 17,773 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past week, a 73% increase from a week […]
Judge nomination redo yields same finalists
Derek Johnson, of Fort Dodge, is the newly appointed district judge for the state’s 2B judicial district, which encompasses 13 counties in north-central Iowa. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced his appointment Wednesday, about six weeks after she rejected Johnson’s first nomination for fear of a tainted nomination process. District Judge Kurt Stoebe, who was then the […]
DNR finds ‘forever chemicals’ in West Des Moines drinking water
Treated drinking water that goes to homes, businesses and schools in parts of West Des Moines contains tiny amounts of toxic, synthetic chemicals that have been linked to certain cancers. Those contaminations were discovered in recent weeks by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The state agency seeks to assess the prevalence in drinking water […]
Iowa deer harvest down 6% from last year
The number of deer felled by hunters in recent months in Iowa totaled more than 89,000 at the conclusion of the state’s shotgun seasons and was about 6% shy of last year’s total after those seasons, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “We’ve harvested between 100,000-110,000 (deer) every year since 2013, and I […]
Iowa expected to spend over $9 million for temporary nursing help
Iowa is expected to spend more than $9 million to place 100 out-of-state nurses and respiratory therapists at the state’s larger health care facilities for six weeks of the latest spike of COVID-19 hospitalizations. The state agreed early this month to pay a Kansas company $220 per hour for the nurses it supplies, with the […]
Omicron variant identified in 10 Iowa counties
There have been 26 confirmed infections by the omicron variant of the coronavirus in 10 Iowa counties, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Those counties are, generally, among the most populous of the state. They include: – Black Hawk – Des Moines – Dubuque – Franklin – Jefferson – Johnson – Linn – […]
Des Moines water trustees support regional concept
The Des Moines Water Works board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to negotiate an agreement with other metro water utilities to collectively govern drinking water production in the area. The trustees voted 4-0 to develop a plan to establish Central Iowa Water Works, in which participating utilities will jointly own the facilities that draw water […]
Iowa senators want to legalize marijuana in state constitution
Three Democratic state senators said Tuesday they plan to propose a constitutional amendment that would legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in Iowa for people ages 21 and older. “Marijuana prohibition has been a costly failure,” said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City. “It’s ending across America because it has caused far more harm than good.” […]
Courthouse custodian accused of sheriff’s investigation leak
A longtime custodian of the Sac County courthouse resigned last month after he was caught snooping in the sheriff’s office and admitted he had relayed information about an investigation to an acquaintance who was a “person of interest” in that investigation, according to the county attorney. Mark Von Ahn, 60, who was a custodian for […]
Supreme Court: Polk County can shield secret list of property owners
The list of people and businesses that have requested their Polk County properties to be withheld from search results of a public database is confidential, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday. That ruling overturns earlier decisions by a district court judge, an administrative law judge and the Iowa Public Information Board, which said the county’s […]
5 cases of omicron confirmed in Iowa
The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected five times in Iowa by the State Hygienic Laboratory’s genetic sequencing, the Iowa Department of Public Health said Thursday. “At this time, the delta variant remains the dominant strain circulating the state,” said Sarah Ekstrand, an IDPH spokesperson. The state lab analyzes the genetic material of […]