Government + Politics
Lawmakers open session with focus on workforce
Despite a minor glitch with some of their microphones, Iowa legislative leaders were loud and clear about their priorities as they opened the 2020 legislative session on Monday. “Yes, I know the sound is off – you’re just going to have to strain your ears and I apologize for that,” Senate President Charles Schneider, R-West […]
Iowa Legislature 2020: IWILL or IWON’T?
IWILL or IWON’T? That’s a dilemma for Iowa Republican legislators as they open their new session in an election year that could challenge their majority. Will they raise the state sales tax a penny to pay for expensive water quality and mental-health programs? Or won’t they? Here are a few factors lawmakers may consider as […]
Panel lets dust gather on cremation rule
Melissa Bird of the Iowa Department of Public Health walked into a state meeting Friday with a proposed rule that navigated the apparently touchy world of getting a permit to dig up or otherwise retrieve the cremated remains of a person. She walked out with dust. If not ashes. After the board chairwoman expressed frustration […]
Don’t let special interests hijack natural resources fund
I have lived and worked on a small Sac County farm for the past 41 years. During our time on the farm, my family has restored wetlands and used sustainable farming methods. We have planted native trees and shrubs and worked to restore native fish habitats for endangered species. We have planted native grasses in […]
What’s Gov. Kim Reynolds got to worry about?
Gov. Kim Reynolds doesn’t seem to have a lot of worries these days. She’s starting the second legislative session of her four-year term. Her Republican Party controls both chambers of the Legislature. And her campaign just announced record-breaking fundraising for this stage of any Iowa governor’s term. Reynolds sat down with Iowa Capital Dispatch recently […]
Pete Buttigieg on wine caves and white privilege
“I went and looked up the house I lived in as a little kid, just to see what it’s going on the market for now. I think it’s 60,000 bucks,” Buttigieg said.
Longtime DOT staffer named interim department chief
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed longtime Iowa Department of Transportation staffer Stuart Anderson as interim director effective Friday. He replaces Mark Lowe. He resigned effective Friday at the request of Reynolds, who indicated she wanted a change in leadership. Lowe served at-will, meaning he could be dismissed for any reason. He told DOT staff […]
U.S. House votes to check Trump on military action against Iran
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Thursday on a resolution to curtail President Donald Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran without first securing congressional approval. The chamber voted 224-194, largely along party lines, to approve the resolution from Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), which would direct Trump to halt the use of U.S. armed […]
Judge, two attorneys are finalists for Iowa Supreme Court
The State Judicial Nominating Commission on Thursday narrowed the pool of Iowa Supreme Court Justice applicants down to three and now it’s up to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to make the final decision on who will take a seat on the state’s highest court. Following a day of interviewing 12 applicants, the commission selected Joel […]
Auditor says Iowa can’t measure Medicaid success due to bad data
Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand issued a stinging indictment of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system Thursday, saying his office has been unable to collect reliable data to measure the quality of services provided to vulnerable Iowans. “If we can’t assess the quality of care because the data are not reliable, that certainly calls into question […]
Reynolds’ campaign raises record-breaking $1.3 million
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ campaign said she raised over $1.3 million in 2019, breaking the fundraising record for total contributions an Iowa governor has collected the year after an election, according to a news release from the Kim Reynolds for Iowa Committee. Reynolds was elected as the first female governor in 2018 and will not […]
Environmentalists: DNR failing to protect public
Iowa environmentalists charge that the state government is directly threatening the health of swimmers and other recreationalists by failing to adequately inform the public of risks and by falling behind on a federally required warning system. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources “is not meeting its legal obligation to submit the (impaired waters) list by […]