Briefs
Is feeding firefighters a ‘public benefit’?
State Auditor Rob Sand’s office has taken exception to the city of Griswold springing for beef patties or pizza at a firefighters’ training session and two meetings. The total cost: $210. State auditors wrote that the Iowa Constitution and a 1979 attorney general’s opinion cast doubt on the city’s decision to provide the food without […]
Streams settle down in Iowa, floods still possible
Iowa state environmental officials report that with drier weather in February, stream levels dropped across much of the state. But Tim Hall, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ coordinator of hydrology resources, said even after a winter that was drier and warmer than normal “the chance of flooding remains elevated on both the Missouri and […]
Trump signs bipartisan bill to boost number of ag inspectors
President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Iowa GOP Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst that will provide money to hire more agricultural inspectors to check the food supply at the border. The Protecting America’s Food & Agriculture Act of 2019 also would pay for support staff and specially trained dogs needed at […]
Iowa colleges cancel all international travel for students amid coronavirus fears
Travel plans for students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa have been halted in light of rising concerns over the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and the Iowa Department of Public Health recommended schools postpone or cancel foreign exchange programs for the next […]
Senate passes bill allowing apartment owners to deny applicants with federal aid
The Iowa Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to ban cities and counties from passing local laws to block discrimination against renters who are on public assistance. Des Moines and Iowa City have ordinances that ban the discrimination. Democrats criticized Senate File 2368 as a way for landlords to discriminate against renters because they are racial minorities, […]
Iowa Republicans settle on education funding lower than governor’s proposal
Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate have reached an agreement to meet in the middle and increase per-pupil funding for Iowa schools by 2.3%. That’s about $10 million less than Gov. Kim Reynolds pitched at the beginning of the 2020 session. About $85.57 million of new money will go to Iowa schools through […]
Iowa House passes increased fines for texting in a school zone
People who are caught texting and driving in a school zone will face an increased penalty, under a bill moving forward in the Iowa House. Current Iowa law states violators will be fined $30 if they write, send or view a text while driving within 200 feet of a school. House File 2491 proposes doubling […]
Iowa Dems certify caucus results
The Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee on Saturday voted to certify the results of the 2020 Iowa Caucuses. The results will be sent to the Democratic National Committee. The precinct delegates elected on caucus night will go to the County Convention on March 21. Delegates elected at the County Convention will go to the […]
Iowa Department for the Blind to host first STEM festival
The Iowa Department for the Blind’s first STEM festival will be held Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the department’s headquarters, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines. STEM refers to studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The festival will feature exhibits on educational and career opportunities. State STEM program hub manager Sarah Derry […]
Buttigieg retains his lead after Iowa caucus recount
Pete Buttigieg maintained his narrow lead over Bernie Sanders for state delegate equivalents in Iowa’s 2020 presidential caucus, according to recount results from the Iowa Democratic Party. Following recount requests from the campaigns of both Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the party recounted 23 precincts, which resulted in no changes to the national delegate counts. […]
State investigates manure spill in northwest Iowa
A manure spill near Kingsley in northwest Iowa’s Plymouth County Thursday afternoon sent 2,000 gallons of waste downstream, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported. Some of the manure reached a small tributary of John’s Creek, polluting about a half-mile stretch. Kingsley Sow LLC reported a pipe between a pit and earthen basin loosened, possibly […]
Trump EPA chief to Congress: Cut my funding
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s U.S. EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, wants Congress to make dramatic cuts in his agency’s funding for the next fiscal year. The Trump administration this month asked Congress to slash the EPA’s annual budget by about $2.4 billion for fiscal 2021. That would represent a 26% reduction in the funding the […]