Briefs
Governor signs ‘Rural Emergency Hospital’ licensing into law
Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a measure intended to help keep some hospitals open in rural Iowa. House File 75 creates a state licensure process allowing some hospitals to get a “Rural Emergency Hospital” (REH) designation. The designation comes from a federal program, in which hospitals stop providing inpatient services but are able […]
Infant formula crisis could recur, former FDA official tells Congress
WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday debated if enough has changed to prevent a repeat of the infant formula shortage, more than a year after a nationwide crisis began. The U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services heard from two experts that while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration […]
Scrapped financial system cost taxpayers $15.7 million
The state of Iowa spent roughly $15.7 million on a financial-management system that was ultimately scrapped before its launch, the governor’s office said Monday. Last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the state had terminated its controversial contract with the software company Workday. The first component of that contract, which was for personnel-management software, was successfully […]
Denver airport CEO withdraws as FAA nominee after attacks by U.S. Senate Republicans
Phil Washington, the chief executive of Denver International Airport and President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, withdrew from consideration in the face of persistent Republican opposition, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed Saturday night. Reuters first reported Washington’s withdrawal and Buttigieg confirmed it in a late Saturday tweet. Republicans had attacked Washington as unqualified for […]
Third person fined for burning tires in eastern Iowa
The state has now fined three people for burning tires to accelerate a brush fire in eastern Iowa in December, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Mike Burken, of Blue Hyll Dairy near Clinton, had a nagging problem of people dumping tires on the dairy property, so those tires went to a nearby […]
Bipartisan former members of Congress call for boost in funding to secure elections
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of former U.S. lawmakers on the National Council on Election Integrity called on Congress on Friday to spend $400 million on election integrity to insulate the system from foreign interference. “The Department of Homeland Security designated our election system as critical infrastructure in 2017,” the four wrote in a letter. “However, […]
Trump, Pence among top GOP speakers at next month’s NRA event in Indianapolis
Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence are among the prominent Republican figures slated to headline next month’s National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Indianapolis. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is also among the speakers at the 2023 Annual Meetings & Exhibit, which will take place from April 14-16 at the Indiana Convention […]
Governor signs transgender medical care, bathroom use bills into law
Transgender youth can no longer receive gender-affirming care or use school bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity under laws signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The governor signed 10 bills into law Wednesday, including a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and a requirement that people can only use school bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond […]
Hands-free driving bill passes Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate moved forward Wednesday with a measure establishing fines for drivers who use their phones behind the wheel without voice-activated or hands-free technology. Senate File 547 was approved by the Iowa Senate on Wednesday on a 47-3 vote. It’s a measure law enforcement officials have asked lawmakers to pass for four years, arguing […]
Iowa’s COVID infection rate wanes but hospitalizations rise
There was an 11% increase last week in the number of people infected by the coronavirus who are receiving inpatient treatment at Iowa hospitals despite declining, documented infection rates, according to state and federal data. About 166 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized on any given day last week, up from 149 the week before, the […]
Bill establishing midwife licensing advances through Iowa House
Midwives would have a licensing process for the first time in Iowa under legislation approved with bipartisan support Tuesday by Iowa House. Iowa is one of 15 states that does not have a licensing process for professional midwives. The bill, House File 265, would create a regulatory board to certify midwifes and ensure they’ve completed […]
Trial delayed for pipeline trespassing case
The trespassing trial of a land surveyor for Summit Carbon Solutions has been delayed for a month because of a pending appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court, according to court records. The appeal asks the high court to review a judge’s denial of a motion to dismiss the case in January. Stephen James Larsen, 28, […]