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Candidates for state auditor stress objectivity over partisanship
In the race for state auditor, Democratic incumbent Rob Sand promises voters he will remain committed to serving as the taxpayers’ watchdog, while Republican opponent Todd Halbur believes the job should be separate from partisan disputes. Sand has been a target of Republican criticism during much of his tenure, based in part on speculation he […]
Iowa counties can receive funds to make polling locations more accessible
Every county in Iowa will receive $1,000 to improve the accessibility of polling locations to ensure all Iowans with disabilities can vote in the November election, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced Friday. Pate said the grants are intended to foster a partnership between local governments and advocacy programs to assess how voting sites […]
Iowa to apply for summer food benefits for children, just weeks before classes begin
The state of Iowa is in the process of applying for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food benefits program to supply aid for children experiencing hunger during the summer months. The state’s previous applications for the program were denied. The new application comes just weeks before many Iowa students will return to fall classes. […]
Candidates for state treasurer diverge on office’s role, goals
If elected as state treasurer, former Republican state Sen. Roby Smith would use the position to prevent federal overreach and ensure Iowa tax dollars don’t aid terrorist organizations, his campaign states. Democratic incumbent Michael Fitzgerald said he hopes to continue building on programs he implemented during his time as the longest-serving state treasurer in the […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa’s senators introduce bipartisan bills on foster care, meat packing
Iowa’s U.S. senators introduced bipartisan bills this week before the August recess addressing foster care and meat packing. Meanwhile, Iowa’s representatives addressed tenant protections for manufacturing housing, cybersecurity and additional funding for commercial trucker licensing programs. Sen. Chuck Grassley introduced bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of foster placement in America. The Data-Driven Foster Parent […]
USDA announces more funding to expand broadband to rural areas
The U.S Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the fourth round of a grant and loan program to bring high-speed internet to rural America. USDA’s Rural Development Secretary Xochitl Torres Small said for too long, rural communities have been left out of the digital economy even though they play a fundamental role in […]
Iowa Attorney General’s Office investigates scammer calls
Iowa’s attorney general’s office, along with 50 other attorney generals, has formed a task force aimed at curtailing illegal robocalls in the United States. The task force’s focus is to investigate and shut down telecommunications providers that profit from failing to stop the illegal scam calls. Over 33 million scam robocalls are made to Americans […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa’s delegation works to improve communication systems for severe weather
All four of Iowa’s U.S. representatives supported bipartisan legislation this week to modernize the National Weather Service’s communication networks. Iowa’s D.C. delegation also collaborated on legislation addressing fuel prices, while House members voted along party lines on an effort to ramp up domestic production of semiconductor chips. The weather bill passed the House Wednesday with […]
Inflation exacts a heavier toll on rural Americans than on urban households
Barbara Kalbach is a fourth-generation family farmer and a registered nurse from Dexter, Iowa, and she commutes 17 miles every time she needs to go to work, the store or the doctor. The Kalbachs, along with other rural households, are experiencing a greater strain on their disposable income than their urban counterparts due to inflation. […]
Attorney general’s office investigates surge of solar panel installation complaints
Out-of-state solar panel installers are publishing advertisements riddled with misleading information regarding Iowa’s solar tax credit and charging thousands of dollars to customers who are seeing no change in their electrical bills. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is currently investigating 14 solar panel companies after an increase in consumer complaints. Often the companies are located […]
Iowa company creates virtual reality classrooms for 10 universities
Students from 10 universities around the country can visit historical settings or perform surgery on cadavers, all from the comfort of their homes, after an Iowa company that specializes in virtual reality created digital campuses. During the pandemic, students at Morehouse College in Atlanta reported struggling with online learning. The university came to VictoryXR, a […]
Potential Juul ban will boost other vaping brands, retailers and customers say
Even in the slow summer months in a college town, Aj’s Liquor in Ames sells roughly 160 Juul pods a week to customers between the ages of 21 to 24. But convenience store shelves could be stripped of Juul products, depending on a decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the products’ safety. […]