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Bill would eliminate public notice requirement in newspapers
A bill approved Wednesday by an Iowa Senate committee would create a new state website to publish public notices and eliminate a long-standing requirement for cities, schools and other entities to publish the notices in newspapers. Proponents of Senate File 480 say it would result in significant savings for public entities that are required by […]
Senate committee approves bill to require ‘hands free’ calls in vehicles
A bill in the Iowa Senate that would limit the use of electronic devices by drivers while on traveled portions of roadways received bipartisan support from a committee on Wednesday. “High speed is probably the No. 1 killer on our roadways; the No. 2 is distracted driving,” said Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque. Senate File 207 […]
Iowa COVID cases and hospitalizations continue slow rise
The state’s COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates have been slowly increasing for the past month. On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reported at least a 7% increase in documented infections for the past week, and federal health officials reported an 11% increase in hospitalizations. There were an average of 160 people […]
Pipeline trial testimony focuses on survey notifications
The process Navigator CO2 Ventures used to notify landowners of their intentions to survey private properties was scrutinized Tuesday in the first of several expected court trials to determine whether the surveys should proceed. The case concerns Woodbury County farmland of William and Vicki Hulse. “It’s against my property rights that they can come on […]
Judge says pipeline survey lawsuit should go to trial
A district court judge has denied a request from a carbon dioxide pipeline company to grant it access to private property in Woodbury County without holding a trial, according to court records. As such, a trial scheduled for Tuesday is set to proceed. Navigator CO2 Ventures sued William and Vicki Hulse last year to gain […]
Former Marshalltown water employee decertified for falsifying reports
A former Marshalltown Water Works employee was recently decertified by the state as a water treatment operator because he falsified test results of the city’s drinking water, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. There is no evidence that the falsifications resulted in residents drinking unsafe water, state and local officials said. Mark Gilarski […]
Second bill would allow guns in school and employer parking lots
New legislation that would allow people to have guns and ammunition in their vehicles at schools, colleges, prisons and their workplaces received preliminary approval from an Iowa Senate subcommittee on Wednesday. A similar bill in the Iowa House also was advanced by a subcommittee last week and appears to have broad support for passage. “There’s […]
Legislation would loosen window tint requirements for Iowa vehicles
A bill that received an Iowa Senate committee’s approval on Wednesday would vastly increase the level of tint that is permissible for front vehicle windows in the state. Iowa has among the strictest regulations about front window tint in the nation. Current administrative rules say front driver and passenger windows of a vehicle must allow […]
Iowa COVID hospitalizations, infections increase again
About 142 people infected with COVID-19 were receiving inpatient treatment, on average, at Iowa hospitals last week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was a 6% increase from the previous week, which follows an increase in the infection rate reported by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. On […]
House pipeline restrictions clear committee as deadline approaches
A bill that would require carbon dioxide pipeline companies to get voluntary easements for at least 90% of their routes — among other new requirements — was approved 12-7 by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and will be eligible for consideration beyond this week. “For me, the right and wrong here could not be […]
New legislation would limit drone surveillance of homes and livestock
An Iowa House bill that is meant to curtail the aerial surveillance of livestock facilities in the state might have damaging implications for businesses that use drones to conduct land surveys, advertise agricultural real estate and evaluate storm damage, among other purposes, according to some of those business owners. “I totally understand and support why […]
Open records advocates: Senate bill might delay information requests
A bill that was advanced by an Iowa Senate subcommittee on Monday would delay court litigation over public records requests until the “exhaustion of all administrative remedies.” Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, said the purpose of Senate File 370 is to lessen the attorneys’ fees paid by public entities by requiring most records disputes to first […]