Author
State awards over $2 million to three rural Iowa hospitals
More than $2.2 million in support funding is headed to three Iowa hospitals over the next three years, the governor’s office announced Thursday. Cass Health, Mahaska Health and Van Buren County Hospital will receive up to $250,000 annually for three years from the Centers of Excellence program. The hospitals have announced plans to use the […]
Gear up for Iowa’s annual tax-free weekend
Still need to finish your back-to-school shopping? Save it for Friday and Saturday. Iowans will have an opportunity to save on clothing Friday and Saturday during Iowa’s Sales Tax Holiday. The Iowa Department of Revenue requires businesses selling shoes and clothing to exempt certain items from sales tax. The yearly event happens the first Friday […]
Reynolds reflects on issues facing Iowa’s rural health care providers
Gov. Kim Reynolds hit the road Tuesday to meet with three Sioux County hospital administrators and discuss issues facing Iowa’s rural health care providers. Sioux Center Health CEO Cory Nelson said his biggest ask of Reynolds in the meeting — which was closed to members of the news media — was to maintain a partnership […]
Advocates hail approval of bill aimed at limiting waste of donated organs
Advocates say lives will be saved by legislation led by Sen. Chuck Grassley to change the way organs are procured and transplanted. Grassley’s bill, approved by Congress last week, awaits the president’s signature. It will break up a monopoly held by the same organization since 1986 and allow different organizations to participate in various aspects […]
D.C. Dispatch: Medicare changes, pediatric health care and voter ID
Nearing a month-long break, members of Iowa’s congressional delegation were busy introducing legislation this week, including several bills dealing with health care and agricultural issues. Rep. Randy Feenstra, alongside House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, introduced a bill to “secure American elections.” The legislation would require voter ID laws, strengthen access for election observers to promote accountability, […]
Youth employment experts: It’s hard to find jobs for 14- and 15-year-olds
Despite the recent law passed by the Iowa Legislature to eliminate some child labor restrictions, Iowa youth employment service providers say they have a harder time placing 14- and 15-year-old Iowans in jobs. “That’s definitely the area that’s hurting for our program as well, finding businesses and organizations to keep our 14- and 15-year-olds busy,” […]
Iowa invested most ever to improve roads and bridges in 2022, DOT says
A record amount was invested into Iowa roads and bridges over the past year, the Iowa Department of Transportation announced Wednesday. More than $1.47 billion was awarded to contractors to improve Iowa roads and bridges between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. The spending spanned 839 projects statewide, including investments in Iowa interstates, secondary […]
Reynolds unveils new state logo and slogan: ‘Iowa, Freedom to Flourish’
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that her planned realignment of state government, included in a bill passed in early April and which became effective July 1, is now operational. A new marketing campaign, “Iowa, Freedom to Flourish,” will accompany the realignment and was announced in the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday. A blue logo features the tagline, […]
Reynolds invites GOP presidential candidates to event at Iowa State Fair
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she has invited all of the Republican presidential candidates to join her in one-on-one conversations at the Iowa State Fair. Fair Side Chats will take place throughout the fair, Aug. 10-20, with interviews that will “go beyond just the issues of a presidential campaign and allow fairgoers to see who the […]
Iowa’s U.S. House incumbents each top $1 million in 2023 fundraising
Despite Election Day being over 15 months away, Iowa’s congressional representatives each have pulled in over a million dollars since the first of the year. Only one of the four Republican incumbents has had a challenger announce a campaign. Democrat Ryan Melton announced July 4 he will run again against Rep. Randy Feenstra. Melton lost […]
Field of presidential candidates faces crowd of Christians
Republican presidential candidates worked to appeal to about 2,000 evangelical Christians Friday at a Des Moines conference – in some cases despite critical questioning in on-stage interviews by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Carlson wrangled with former Vice President Mike Pence on his position that the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine with military equipment and […]
D.C. Dispatch: Lawmakers eye expanded grazing, foreign land ownership, stillborn baby prevention
After two weeks off, Iowa’s congressional delegation got back into the swing of things in Washington. Lawmakers focused on restrictions on foreign ownership of land, foreign lobbying, spending by the secretary of agriculture, and more. Citing consecutive years of drought, the Iowa delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging […]